CHAPTER LV – Q.5: Or in denying our relations?
CHAPTER LV
Whether it be a denying our Relations?
Quest. 5. 'WHETHER self-denial consist in denying of natural or contracted relations, as of father and mother to sons and daughters, of brothers and sisters, husband and wife, master and servant, prince and people, pastor and flock?'
Answ. You might as wisely imagine that self-denial lieth in hating or denying any of God's works, even the frame of nature; or in denying food and raiment to our bodies, or in denying our own lives, so as to cut our throats. For the same law of nature that made me a man, and requireth me to preserve my life, did make me a son, and require me to love and honour my parents: And it is in the decalogue, the "first commandment with promise," as the apostle calleth it, Ephes. 6:2. It is frequently and expressly commanded in Scripture, that children love, honour, obey their parents; and terrible curses are pronounced on the breakers of these commands; Eph. 6:1. 4. 5:22. 25. Colos.
3:20–22. 4:1. Exod. 21:17. Levit. 20:9. Deut. 21:18; 19. 27:16. Prov.
30:17. Matt. 15:4. 19:19. And if children were not bound to parents, then parents should not be bound to educate children, and then they would be exposed to misery and perish. One would think that there should never such a sect have risen up, that should be worse than the very brutes, who by the instinct of nature love their young ones, and their dams. But the Spirit foretold us, that which is come to pass, that in the last and perilous times, there should be men that are
"disobedient to parents, without natural affection;" 2 Tim. 3:3.