to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life.

24. Q. What is the duty of servants towards their masters?

A. To be diligent in their business; true and just to what they are intrusted withal; careful in the management of their concerns, as if it were for themselves; not profuse or extravagant in any thing which is committed to their care; but thrifty and watchful; not to be eye-servants, but to use the same industry and integrity in their master's absence, as they would do if he were present with them.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Col. iii. 22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Eph. vi. 5, 6, 7. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good-will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. Tit. ii. 9, 10. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again, not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 1 Pet. ii. 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

25. Q. How ought masters to behave themselves towards their servants?

A. With kindness and gentleness; providing for them what is convenient; not laying too much work upon them, nor too rigorously exacting what they do. To have a due regard to their souls, as well as bodies and in order thereunto, not only to allow them a sufficient time for the service of God, but to see that they employ the time so allowed them, to the glory of God, and the promoting of their soul's welfare. And, lastly, to be just in paying them their wages; neither keeping it back from them, when it is due, nor otherwise defrauding them of their hire.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Eph. vi. 9. And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Col. iv. 1. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that ye also have a master in heaven. James, v. 4. Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

26. Q. What is the duty of the younger towards the aged?

A. To give a seemly respect and honour to thein and not to injure or affront them for any infirmities which their age may chance to have brought upon them.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Lev. xix. 32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God. Job, xxxii. 7. I said,

days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. Prov. xvi. 31. The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. 1 Tim. v. 1, 2. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father.

27 Q. How ought elder persons to behave themselves towards the younger?

A. They ought to advise them in their affairs; to encourage them in their duty; to set a good example to them; and prudently to reprove them for, and endeavour to reform in them what they see amiss.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.—Tit. ii. 2, 3. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.

28. Q. How ought those who are in a lower degree to behave themselves towards such as are in fortune and quality above them?

A. They ought to give them honour suitable to what the difference of their ranks and stations may justly require not to envy or backbite them; not to wish or do them any evil, out of any malice or enmity against them for what they enjoy, in character or estate, beyond them.

PROOF SUBJOINED.-Rom. xiii. 7. Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

29. Q. What is the duty of those who are of a higher rank towards such as are below them?

A. Not to behave themselves proudly or arrogantly towards them; not to despise them for their poverty or meanness in the world; but to remember

that they are men and Christians; and, upon both those accounts as high in God's esteem as themselves. That when we be come before the judgment-seat of Christ, we shall all stand upon the same level; all titles, and honours, and distinctions, shall be laid aside; and only the faith and piety of every one be considered. That, in the mean time, the poorest and lowest man may be wise and good, brave and constant, chaste and temperate; and that these in reality make a great man, beyond all the outward trappings of title and retinue. And, lastly, it is their duty to be liberal and charitable out of what God hath given them, to those who are in need; which is the best use that any man can put his riches to, and will turn to the highest account at the last day.

a

b

PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Prov. xxix. 23. A man's pride shall bring him low; but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Rom. xii. 16. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Psal. xli. 1. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 Cor. ix. 9. As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Heb. xiii. 16. But to do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

30. Q. What encouragement has God given us to make us the more careful to observe this commandment?

A. That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

31. Q. What is the import of this exhortation?

A. It contains a promise to those who should honour their father and mother; that they should live long in that good land, to which the Lord was then leading them by the hand of Moses his servant.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Eccles. iii. 9. For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children, but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations. Deut. v. 16. Honour thy father and mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

32. Q. What encouragement does this give to us now?

A. It shews us, in a type, what we may promise ourselves upon our obedience. That as long life, and that in the land of Canaan, their expected inheritance, was the highest temporal promise God could make to the Jews, (as being indeed the foundation of all the present blessings they were capable of receiving,) so, if we carefully observe this command, it shall not only promote our present peace, but shall be a good means to procure us an everlasting inheritance in our heavenly Canaan, and to entitle us to a more than ordinary degree of happiness in it.

PROOF SUBJOINED.-Eph. vi. 2, 3. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.