SERM. XXIV./ CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE, &C. 399 and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land: Children obey your parents, for this is right in the Lord." Manifest your affectionate duty toward them. Pay all due submission to their commands, and all ho- nourable regard to their advice. Honour the king as supreme," and other ministers ofjustice as subordinate to him, and submit to them in all the just executions of their authority: This is due from subjects to princes. " Servants, be obedient to them that areyour masters according to the flesh, in singleness of heart as unto Christ, with good-will, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men. Your faithful, diligent, and chearfut service is their due. " Let those that labour in the word and doctrine be counted worthy of double honour," that is, of respect and maintenance: It is due to them in the church where they are set as elders, if they rule well. I mention these hints but very briefly, and for the most part in the lan- ,guage of scripture, as instances wherein these characters of superiority demand honour and duty from inferiors. I grant there may be other obligations to respect and honour our superiors in some of these cases, besides the mere law ofjustice: but this law of commutative justice that I am now treating of, obliges us to it. The light of nature and scripture both suppose and oblige parents to take care of their children, to advise and instruct, nou- rish, and provide, for them ; therefore obedience and honour becomes their due. The command ofsubmission given to subjects, supposes and obliges princes and rulers to protect and defend them from all injury.. The precept of cheerful and willing obedience given to servants, sup- poses and obliges masters to do the same things unto them; that is, to treat them with good-will, and chear- fully give them their food and clothing, or their wages and hire ; Eph. vi. 9. Nature and scripture , suppose ministers and teachers to be capable and willing to give good advice, counsel, and instruction to those who are younger, or who accept of their preaching; therefore let respect and honour be paid where it is due. It is the foundation and rule ofcommutative justice in all these instances, that whilst inferiors are obliged to pay due regards to those that are above them, the superiors 2
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