| Question | What is required in the fifth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, 1 inferiors, 2 or equals. 3 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Should parents provide for their children?
Yes.
What man is there among you, who if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 7:9
And instruct them?
Yes.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Proverbs 22:6
And correct them when needful?
Yes.
The rod and reproof give wisdom,
Proverbs 29:15
But should they abstain, from severity and passion?
Yes.
Parents, provoke not your children to anger,
Colossians 3:21
Is it the duty of parents to pray for their children?
Yes.
Give unto Solomon, my son, a perfect heart,
1 Chronicles 29:19
And to pray with them?
Yes.
Thus David returned to bless his household,
2 Samuel 6:20
And to set them a good example?
Yes.
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart,
Psalm 101:2
And to keep a watchful eye over them?
Yes.
It may be my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts,
Job 1:5
And will this in the end turn to their own advantage?
Yes.
For he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him,
Proverbs 23:24
Should servants honour their masters?
Yes.
They must count them worthy of all honour,
1 Timothy 6:1
And obey them?
Yes.
Ye servants obey in all things your masters,
Colossians 3:22
And be just and faithful to them?
Yes.
Showing all good fidelity,
Titus 2:10
And patiently bear their reproofs and corrections?
Yes.
Not answering again,
Titus 2:9
Is this subjection due even to froward masters?
Yes.
To the froward also,
1 Peter 2:18
And is it equally so to believing ones?
Yes.
They that have believing masters let them not despise them, but rather do them service,
1 Timothy 6:2
Should masters be just to their servants?
Yes.
Masters, give to your servants, that which is just and good,
Colossians 4:1
And gentle?
Yes.
Forbearing threatening,
Ephesians 6:9
But should they be careful to maintain their authority?
Yes.
For the earth is disquieted for a servant when he reigneth,
Proverbs 30:22
Is it the duty of husbands to love their wives?
Yes.
Husbands, love your wives,
Ephesians 5:25
And of wives to submit to their husbands?
Yes.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,
Ephesians 5:22
Is it the duty of husbands and wives to be pleasing one to another?
Yes.
He that is married careth how to please his wife, and she that is married how to please her husband,
1 Corinthians 7:33–34
And to be mutually helpful to one another in their religious concerns?
Yes.
How knowest thou, 0 wife, whether them shalt save thy husband, or how knowest thou, 0 man, whether thou shalt save thy wife,
1 Corinthians 7:16
Is there a duty due from subjects to their magistrates?
Yes.
Honour the king,
1 Peter 2:17
And from magistrates to their subjects?
Yes.
He that ruleth over men must be just,
2 Samuel 23:3
Is there a duty due from people to their ministers?
Yes.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves,
Hebrews 13:17
And from ministers to their people?
Yes.
Feed the flock of God, which is among you,
1 Peter 5:2
Is it the duty of inferiors to honour their superiors?
Yes.
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man,
Leviticus 19:32
And to endeavour to improve by them?
Yes.
They waited for me as for the rain,
Job 29:23
Is it the duty of superiors to carry it respectfully towards their inferiors?
Yes.
Condescend to men of low estate,
Romans 12:16
And to seek their edification?
Yes.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
Proverbs 11:30
Should neighbours show themselves neighbourly?
Yes.
Let every one please his neighbour for his good,
Romans 15:2
And friends behave themselves friendly?
Yes.
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly,
Proverbs 18:24
And brethren carry themselves in a brotherly manner?
Yes.
Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,
Psalm 133:1
And does a failure on one side justify a failure on the other?
No.
See that none render evil for evil to any man,
1 Thessalonians 5:15
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, 1 but all superiors in age 2 and gifts; 3 and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, 4 church, 5 or commonwealth. 6 |
| Question | Why are superiors styled Father and Mother? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Superiors are styled Father and Mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations; 1 and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents. 2 |
| Question | What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals. 1 |
| Question | What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, 1 word, 2 and behavior; 3 prayer and thanksgiving for them; 4 imitation of their virtues and graces; 5 willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels; 6 due submission to their corrections; 7 fidelity to, 8 defense 9 and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; 10 bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be an honor to them and to their government. 11 |
| Question | What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; 1 envying at, 2 contempt of, 3 and rebellion 4 against, their persons 5 and places, 6 in their lawful counsels, 7 commands, and corrections; 8 cursing, mocking, 9 and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonor to them and their government. |
| Question | What is required of superiors towards their inferiors? |
|---|---|
| Answer | It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love, 1 pray for, 2 and bless their inferiors; 3 to instruct, 4 counsel, and admonish them; 5 countenancing, 6 commending, 7 and rewarding such as do well; 8 and discountenancing, 9 reproving, and chastising such as do ill; 10 protecting, 11 and providing for them all things necessary for soul 12 and body: 13 and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, 14 honor to themselves, 15 and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them. 16 |
| Question | What are the duties of equals? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other, 1 in giving honor to go one before another; 2 and to rejoice in each other's gifts and advancement, as their own. 3 |