is, "Remember that a seventh day,"* in every week, be set apart from worldly things and business,† and consecrated to God, by holy and heavenly employments: and a negative part expressed also in these words, "In it thou shalt not do any work," &c. That is, thou shalt not on that day do any such thing or work as does any way hinder thee from keeping an holy rest unto God.

Neo. I pray you, sir, begin with the affirmative, and first tell us what the Lord requires of us in this commandment.

Evan. In this fourth commandment the Lord requires that we finish all our works in the space of six days, Deut. 5: 13. and think on the seventh day before it come, and prepare for it, Luke 23: 54. and rise early on that day in the morning, Psalm 92: 2. Mark 1: 35, 38, 39. Yea, and the Lord requires that we fit ourselves for the public exercises, by prayer, reading and meditation, Eccl. 5:1. Isa. 7: 10. and that we join with the minister and people publicly assembled, with assent of mind, and fervency of affection in prayer, Acts 2: 42. in hearing the word read and preached, Acts 13: 14, 15, 44. in singing Psalms, 1 Cor. 14: 15. Col. 3: 16. and 3:16. in the sacrament of baptism, Luke 1: 58, 59. and in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, so often as it shall be administered in that congregation of which we are members, 1 Cor. 11:26.

Then afterwards, when we come home, the Lord requires that we seriously meditate on that portion of the word which we have heard, Acts 17: 11. and repeat it to our families, Deut. 6:7. and confer of it with others, if there be occasion, Luke 24: 14, 17. and that we crave his blessing, when we have done all this. John 17:17.

Neo. And is this all that the Lord requires us to do on that day?

Evan. No, the Lord does also require that we do works of mercy on that day, as to visit the sick, and do them what good we can, Neh. 8: 12. Mark 3: 3, 4, 5. and relieve the poor and the needy, and such as are in prison, Luke 13: 16. and labor to reconcile those that be at variance and discord. Matth. 5: 9.

Exod. 23: 12.

+ Elton on the Com-page 87.

Also, the Lord permits us to do works of instant neces sity on that day, as to travel to the places of God's worship, 2 Kings 4: 23. to heal the diseased, Hos. 6: 6. Matth. 12: 7, 12. to dress food for the necessary preservation of our temporal lives, Exod. 1: 1. to tend and feed cattle, Matth. 12: 11. and such like.

Neo. I pray you sir, proceed to the negative part, and tell us what the Lord forbids in this commandment?

Evan. In this commandment the Lord forbids idleness, or sleeping more on the Lord's day in the morning, than is of necessity, Matth. 20: 6. He also forbids us to labor in our particular callings, Exod. 16: 28, 29, 30. and to talk about our worldly affairs, and business on that day, Amos 8:5: Isa. 58: 13. And he also forbids us to travel any journey about our worldly business, Matth. 24: 20. or to keep any fairs or markets on that day, Neh: 13: 16, 17, or to labor in seed time and harvest on that day. In a word, the Lord on that day forbids all worldly works and labors, except those of mercy and instant necessity, which were mentioned before. And thus have I also declared, both what the Lord requires, and what he forbids in the fourth commandment. And now neighbor Nomologista, I pray you tell me, if you think you keep it perfectly.

Nom. Indeed, sir, I must confess, there is more required and forbidden in this commandment than I was aware of; but yet I hope I go very near observing and doing all.

Neo. But sir, is the bare observing and doing of these things sufficient for keeping this commandment perfectly?

Evan. O no! the first commandment must be understood in all the rest, that is, obedience to the first commandment, must be the motive and final cause of our obedience to the rest of the commandments,* otherwise it is not the worship of God, but hypocrisy, as I touched before: wherefore, neighbor Nomologista, though you have done all the duties that the Lord requires in this commandment, and avoided all the sins which he forbids; yet if all this has been from such grounds, and to such ends as I told you in the conclusion of the second com

Ursin. Cat. p. 48.

'mandment, and not for the love you bear to God, and the desire you have to please him, you come short of keeping this commandment perfectly.

Neo. Sir, whatsoever he does, I am sure I come far short not only in this point, but in divers others: for though it is true, indeed, I am careful to finish all my worldly business in the space of six days, yet, alas! I do not seriously think on and prepare for the seventh day as I ought; neither do I many times rise so early on that day as I ought; neither do I so thoroughly fit and prepare myself by prayer and other exercises before-hand as I ought; neither do I so heartily join with the minister and people when I come to the assembly, as I ought; but am subject to many wandering worldly thoughts and cares, even at that time. And when I come home, if I either meditate, repeat, pray, or confer, yet, alas! I do none of these with such delight and comfort as I ought; neither have I been so mindful nor careful to visit the sick, and relieve the poor, as I ought; neither can I clear myself from being guilty of doing more worldly works and labors on that day, than the works of mercy and instant necessity, the Lord be merciful unto me. But, I pray you, sir, proceed to speak of the fifth commandment, as you have done of the rest. And, first of all, I pray you tell us what is meant by father and mother.

COMMANDMENT V.

Evan. By father and mother, is meant not only natural parents, but others also that are our superiors, either in age, in place, or in gifts. 2 Kings 5:13. and 6:21. and 13:14.

Neo. And why did the Lord use the name of father and mother to signify and comprehend all other superiors?

Evan. Because the government of fathers is the first and most ancient of all other; and because the society of father and mother, is that from which all other societies

come.

Neo. And are the duties of inferiors towards their su periors only here intended?

Evan. No, but also of superiors towards their inferiors,

and of equals among themselves: so that the general duty required in the affirmative part of this fifth commandment, "Honor thy father and mother," &c. is, that every man, woman, and child, be careful to carry themselves as becomes them in regard of that order God hath appointed amongst men, and the relation they have to others, either as inferior, superior, or equal.

Neo. I pray you, sir, proceed to the particular handling these things; and first tell us, what is the duty of children to their parents.

Evan. Why, the Lord in this commandment requires, that children reverence their parents, by thinking of and esteeming them highly, Gen. 31: 35. by loving them dearly, Gen. 46: 29. and by fearing them in regard of their authority over them, Lev. 19: 3. And this inward reverent esteem is to be expressed by their outward reverent behavior towards them, Gen. 48: 12. And this outward reverent behavior, is to be expressed in giving them reverent titles, Gen. 31: 35. and by bowing their bodies before them, 1 Kings 2: 19. by embracing their instructions, Prov. 1: 8. by submitting patiently to their corrections, Heb. 12: 9. by succouring and relieving them, in case of want and necessity, Gen. 47: 12. and by making their prayers unto God for them, 1 Tim. 2:12.

Neo. And, sir, what are the duties of parents to their children?

Evan. Why, the Lord in this commandment requires, that parents be careful to bring their children with all convenient speed, and in due order, to be admitted into the visible church of God by baptism, Luke 1: 59. and that they, according to their ability, yield and give unto their children such competent food, clothing, and other necessaries, as are fit for them, Matth. 7: 9, 12. 1 Tim. 5: 8.

That they train them up in learning, instruct them in religion, and endeavor to sow the seeds of godliness in their hearts, as soon as they are able to speak, and have the use of reason and understanding, Deut. 4: 10. and 6: 7, 20, 21. That they be careful to check and rebuke them, when they do amiss, Prov. 31:2. that they be careful seasonably to correct their faults, Prov. 13:24. and 19:18.

that they be careful in time, to train them up in some honest calling, Gen. 4: 2. that they be careful to bestow them in marriage in due time, Jer. 29: 6. 1 Cor. 7: 36, 38. and that they be careful to lay up something for them, as their ability will suffer, Prov. 19:14. 2 Cor. 12:14. and that they be earnest with God in prayer, for a blessing upon their souls and bodies, Gen. 48: 15, 16.

Neo. And what are the duties of servants to their masters?

Evan. Why, the Lord in this commandment requires, that servants have an inward, high, and reverent esteem of their masters, Eph. 6: 5, 6, 7. yea, and that they have in their hearts a reverent awe and fear of them, 1 Pet. 2: 18. and this reverence and fear they are to express by their outward reverent behavior towards them, both in word and deed, by giving them reverent titles, 2 Kings 5: 23, 25. by an humble submissive countenance and carriage, either when their masters speak to them, or they to their masters, Gen. 24: 9. Acts 10: 7. by yielding sincere, faithful, willing, painful, and single hearted service to their masters in all they go about, Col. 3: 22. Tit. 2: 10. by a meek and patient bearing those checks, rebukes and corrections which are given to them, or laid upon them by their masters, without grudging, stomach, or sullen countenance, though the master do it without just cause, or exceed in the measure, 1 Pet. 2: 18, 20. by being careful to maintain their master's good name, in keeping secret those honest intents, which he would not have disclosed; and as much as may be to hide and cover their masters' wants and infirmities, not blazing them abroad, 2 Sam. 15: 23. 2 Kings 6: 11.

Neo. And what is the duty of masters towards their servants?

Evan. Why, the Lord in this commandment requires, that masters be careful to choose unto themselves religious servants, Psal. 101: 6. and that they instruct them in religion and the ways of godliness, Gen. 18: 19. that they be careful to bring them to the public exercises, Josh. 24: 15. that they daily pray with them and for them, Jer. 10: 25. that they give them meat, drink, and apparrel fit for them, Deut. 24: 14, 15. and see to them that