baths themselves, such as neglecting works of necessity or mercy, when called to them; but especially neglect. ing the public or private exercise of God's worship, and that either in whole or in part; when we forsake the assemblies of God's people, or omit worshipping God in our families, or praying and seeking God in secret upon this day. 2. The omission of the careful performance of the duties of the Sabbath, when we are hypocritical, dull, dead, full of distractions, weariness, unwatchful, sleepy, and attend upon ordinances without any heart and life; and the Sabbath-day is the most burdensome of all other days in the week unto us. Matth. xv. 7, 8, Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophecy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Amos viii. 5, Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat? Mal. i. 13, Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts: and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hands?

Q. 3. What sins of commission are forbidden in this fourth commandment?

A. The sins of commission forbidden in this fourth commandment, are, the profaning the Sabbath-day, 1. By idleness, when we spend the day, either in whole or in part, idly neither working in our callings, nor employing ourselves in the duties of God's worship, but loiter away that precious time in our houses or the fields; either in vain and idle thoughts, or in vain and idle discourse, or the like. 2. By doing that which is in itself more grossly sinful; as if, instead of going to the house of God to worship, we should go to the tavern or ale-house, on the Sabbath-day, and be drunk, or go to a base house, or in any house to be wanton and unclean; or if, on the Sabbath-day, instead of hallowing and prais ing God's name, and praying to him, we should swear by his name in our ordinary discourse, or take his name in vain; if, instead of worshipping God with his people, we should persecute God's people for worshipping him,

or rail at them, or scoff and deride them, because of the holiness which is in them. 3. By unnecessary thoughts and contrivances about worldly affairs, unnecessary words and discourses about earthly employments, unnecessary works in our particular callings, or by carnal pléasures and recreations which are lawful on other days: · thus thinking our own thoughts, speaking our own words, doing our own works, and finding our own pleasures, forbidden, Isaiah Iviii. 13, Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are, God's allowing as six days of the week for our own employment, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the Sabbathday.

Q. 1. How many reasons are there annexed to the fourth commandment?

A. There are four reasons annexed unto the fourth commandment, the more effectually to induce and persuade us unto the strict observation of the Sabbath-day. Q. 2. What is the first reason?

A. The first reason annexed to the fourth commandmant, is, God's allowing us six days for our own employment. When he might have taken more time for himself, he hath taken but one day in seven, and alloweth us other six, which is sufficient for the works of our particular callings, and any kind of needful recreations. days shalt thou labour, and do all which thou hast to do. Q. 3. What is the second reason?

Six

A. The second reasond annexed to the fourth commandment, is, God's challenging a special propriety in the seventh day. The seventh day or Sabbath, being the Lord's, which he hath sanctified and set apart from common use, to be employed in his worship, it is theft and sacrilege to alienate this day in whole or in part to our own use, any further than he hath given us allowance. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.

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Q. 4. What is the third reason?

A. The third reason annexed to the fourth cummandment, is, God's own example, in resting himself from his works of creation on the seventh day, and therefore he would have us also to rest from the works of our par ticular calling, and sanctify a Sabbath in imitation of him. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Q. 5. What is the fourth reason?

A. The fourth reason annexed to the fourth com. mandment, is, God's blessing of the Sabbath, by virtue whereof, we may hope for his presence with us in the du ties of the day, and to receive blessings from him upon ourselves. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.

Q. 63. What is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one, in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.

Q. 1. What is the subject of this fifth commandment, or who are the persons of whom the duties of this commandment are required?

A. The subject of the fifth commandment, or the persons of whom the duties of this commandment are required, are relations, especially children, and all inferiors, in reference to their parents and superiors, and inclusively superiors in reference to their inferiors, and equals also in reference one to another.

Q. 2. Whom are we to understand by inferiors?

A. By inferiors we are to understand, not only children, but also wives, servants, people, subjects, the younger and the weaker in gifts or graces.

Q. 3. Whom are we to understand by superiors? A. By superiors, under the name of father and mother we are to understand, not only parents, but also husbands, masters, ministers, magistrates, the aged and stronger in gifts or graces.

Q. 4. Whom are we to understand by equals?

A. By equals we may understand brethren, sisters, kindred, friends, and any acquaintance, between whom there is no great distance or difference in regard of age, estate, place, or dignity.

Q. 5. What are the duties of children to their parents ? A. The duties of children to their parents comprehended in the general precept, Honour thy father and thy mother, are, 1. Inward honour, reverence, and estimation. Mal. i. 6, A son honoureth his father. Lev. xix. 3, Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father: I am the Lord your God. 2. Outward reverent carriage and behaviour. Prov. xxxi. 28, Her children rise up, and call her blessed. 1 Kings ii. 19, The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand. 3. Diligent hearkening to their instructions. Prov. iv. 1, Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Prov. v. 1, My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding. 4. Willing obedience unto all their lawful commands. Eph. vi. 1, Children obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Col. iii. 20, Children obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 5. Meek and patient bearing their reproofs and corrections, with amendment of the faults they are reproved and corrected for. Heb. xii 9, We have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Prov. xv. 32, He, that heareth reproof, getteth understanding. 6. Ready following their reasonable counsel, in reference to their calling, station, marriage, and any great affairs of their lives. Exod. xviii. 24, So Moses hearkened unto the voice of his father-inlaw, and did all that he had said. Judges xiv. 2, And he came to his father and mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath; get her for me to wife. 7. Grate=

ful kindness to them, in nourishing them, providing for them, and bearing with their infirmities, when aged, and fallen into want and poverty. Ruth iv. 15, He shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age. Gen. xlvii. 12, And Joseph nourished his father with bread. Prov. xxiii. 22, Despise not thy mother when she is old.

Q. 6. What are the duties of parents to their children? A. The duties of parents to their children, are, 1. Tender love and care of them, especially when infants and helpless particularly, mothers ought to give suck to their children, if they are able. Isa. xlix. 15, Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb. 2. Training them up in the knowledge of the scriptures, and principles of religion, and giving them good instructions in the laws and ways of the Lord, so soon as they are capable of receiving them. Eph. vi. 4, And ye fathers bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Prov. xxii. 6, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 2 Tim. iii. 15, From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures. 3. Prayer for them, and giving good examples of holiness, temperance, and righteousness unto them. Job. i. 5, Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings, according to the number of them all. Psal. ci. 2, 3, I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. 4. Keeping them under subjection while young, yet requiring nothing of them but what is agreeable to the laws of the Lord. Luke ii. 51, And ́ he went down with them, and was subject unto them. As children must obey, so parents must command in the Lord. Eph. vi. 1, 4. 5. Encouragement of them by kind looks and speeches, and rewards in well-doing, together with discountenance, reproof, and loving and seasonable correction of them for evil-doing. 1 Chron. xxviii. 20, And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong, and of good courage, &c. Prov. xix. 18, Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. Prov. xxix. 15, 17, The rod and reproof give