The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.

Sect. 1.

Touching the honouring of Superiours, these Ruies are to be obserued.

First: All Superiours must haue reuerence done vnto them, whether they be Superiours in age, in gifts, in authoritie, or howsoeuer, and that because they are superiours.

The actions of Reuerence due to all supe∣riours, are principally sixe. The first is, to rise vp before the superiour. Levit. 19. 32. Thou shalt rise vp before the boare head, and honour the person of the old man. The second, when they are comming toward vs, to goe and meete them. Thus, when Abraham saw the three Angels comming toward him, he ranne to meete them from the tent doore, Gen. 28. 2. And king Salomon, when his mother Bath∣sheha came towards him, to speak vnto him

for Adoniah, the text saith, he rose vp to meete her, 1. King. 2. 19. The third, to bow the knee before the superiour. Thus wee read in the Gospell, that a certaine man comming to Christ, as he was going on the way, kneeled vnto him, Mark. 10. 17. Thus Abraham ranne to meete the three Angels, and bowed him∣selfe to the ground. Gen. 28. 2. And the same Abraham, els where, bowed himselfe before the people of the Land of the Hittites, Gen. 23. 7. The fourth, to giue them the first and highest seat or place. This our Sauiour Christ meaneth in the parable, wherein he willeth those who are invited to a banquet, to yeeld the chiefest place to them, that are more ho∣nourable then themselues. Luk. 14. 7. And it is set downe as a commendation of Iosephs brethren, that they sate before him in order, the eldest according to his age, & the young∣est according to his youth, Gen. 43. 33. Here we must remember; that though in common practise among men, the right hand is a note of superioritie, yet in Scripture the practise is contrarie. For in the article of our Creede, Sitting at the right hand signifieth, the inferio∣ritie of the Mediator, in respect of the father; though it be a token of his superioritie, in re∣gard of the Church. And so must the place be vnderstood, (1. King. 2. 19. where it is said, that Bathsheba sate at the right hand of Salomon,) namely, that it was an argument of Superioritie, whereunto he preferred her

before the people; but it shewed her infirmi∣tie in regard of Salomō himself. And this cu∣stome is frequent, both in the scriptures, & in humane writers. The fift, to giue libertie of speaking in the first place. This was the pra∣ctise of Elihu, one of the friends of Iob, who beeing the youngest in yeares, dared not to shew his opinion, till Iob and others, who were his ancients had spoken. But when they had left off their talke, then he is said to haue answered in his turne, Iob. 32. 6. 7. 17. The sixt, to giue the titles of reverence to all su∣periours. Sara according to this rule, called Abraham Lord, 1. Pet. 3. 9. The man in the Gospell, comming to learne something of Christ, cals him by this name, Good Master, Mar. 10. 17. And Anna rebuked by Eli, an∣swered him with reuerence, and said, nay, my Lord. 1. Sam. 1. 15.

The second Rule touching honour due to superiours, is more speciall, touching su∣periours in authoritie; namely that they also must be honoured. And this honour shewes it selfe in foure things.

The first is, speciall reuerence: which stands in the performance of two duties. The for∣mer is, to stand when our superiors doe sitte. For thus Abraham after he had receiued the Angels into his tent, and prepared meat for them, serued himself by them vnder the tree, giuing attendance, while they did eate, Gen. 18. 8. In like manner, when Moses sate in

iudgement, the people are said to haue stood about him, from morning vntill euening, Ex∣od. 18. 13. The latter is, not to speake, but by leaue. A dutie alwaies to be obserued, but specially in the courts of Magistrates. Exam∣ple whereof we haue in Paul, who beeing called before Foelix the gouernour, did not speake a word, vntill the gouernour had bec∣kened vnto him, & giuē him leaue. Act. 24. 10.

The second thing is, subiection; which is no thing els but an inferioritie, whereby we do (as it were) suspend our wills and reasons, and withall cause them to depend (in things lawfull and honest) vpon the will of the supe∣riour. This subiectiō is yeelded to the autho∣ritie of the superiour, and is larger then obe∣dience.

The third is, obedience; whereby wee keepe and performe the expresse commandement of our superior, in all things lawfull and ho∣nest, It standeth in sundry particulars, as First, it must be in the Lord, and as to the Lord himselfe, Whatsoeuer ye doe (saith the Apostle,) doe it heartily, as to the Lord, and not vnto men, Col. 3. 23. Againe, obedience must be perfor∣med euen to superiours that are euill. Thus Peter exhorts seruants to be subiect to their Masters, in all feare, not onely to the good and courteous, but also to the froward, 1. Pet. 2. 18. Thirdly, it must be done to Rulers, in whome we see weaknesses. For their infir∣mities ought not to hinder or stoppe our du∣tie

of obedience, considering that the com∣maundement of honouring the father and mother is generall without exceptiō. Fourth∣ly, it is to be performed to them that are De∣puties to Rulers, yea which are deputies of deputies. Submit your selues (saith Peter) vnto all manner ordinance of man, for the Lords sake, whether it be vnto the King as vnto the superi∣our, or vnto gouernours, as vnto them who are sent of him, &c. 1. Pet. 2. 13, 14. Fiftly, though pu∣nishment be wrongfully, and most vniustly imposed by Rulers, yet it must be borne without resistance, till we can haue our re∣medie. For this is thankeworthie, if a man for conscience toward God, indure griefe, suffering wrongfully. 1. Pet. 2. 19. The practise of this we may see in Hagar, the handmaid of Sara, who is commanded by the Angel, to returne a∣gaine to her dame, and humble her selfe vn∣der her hands, though shee had dealt very roughly with her, Gen. 16. 9.

The fourth thing due to Superiours in au∣thoritie, is Thankesgiuing, in praising God for their paines, authoritie, and gifts princi∣pally. Thus Paul exhorts, that praiers, interces∣sions, and thankesgiuing, be made for Kings, and all that be in authoritie, 1. Tim. 2. 1. The reason is, because beeing ouer vs in authoritie, we haue the benefit of their gifts and authoritie. Gen. 45. 9.