The fifte Commaundement.
[ 35] Honoure thy Father and thy Mother, that thou maist liue longe vpon the Lande which the Lorde thy God shall geue thee.
The ende of this commaundement is, that bicause the Lorde dely∣teth in the preseruation of his ordre, therfore he willeth that those de∣grees of preeminence which he hath ordeined be not broken, the summe therfore shalbe that we reuerence those whome the Lord hath set ouer vs, that we yeld to them honore, obedience and thankefullnesse. Wher∣vpon foloweth that it is forbidden vs, to withdrawe any thynge from their dignitie, either by contempt or obstinate or vnthankfulnes. For so doth the worde Honoure, in the Scripture signifieth very largely: as when the Apostle sayth, that the elders whiche rule well are worthy of doble honore, he meaneth not oneli yt reuerence ys due vnto them, but also such recompense as their ministerie deserueth. And bicause this co∣maundement of subiection, doth most of all disagree with the peruers∣nesse of mans nature, which as it swelleth with greedinesse of climbing hie, so it hardly abideth to be broughte lowe: therefore he hath set that kinde of superioritie for example, which by nature is moste amiable and leste enuious: bicause he mighte the easelyer meken and reclaime o••re mindes to the vse of submission. Therfore the Lord doth by little & little traine vs to all lawefull subiection by that which is most easy to beare, for asmuch as the rule of all is alike. For to whome he geueth any pree∣minence, he doth communicate his own name with them, so farre as is necessarie to preserue the same preeminence: The name of Father, God, and Lorde, do so belong vnto him alone, that so ofte as we heare one of them named, our minde muste needes be touched with a feeling of his maiestie. Therfore whom he maketh partakers of these things, he maketh to glister with a certaine sparke of his brightnesse, that thei may be honorable euery one accordinge to his degree. Therfore in him that is oure father we haue to consider somewhat of ye nature of God, bicause he beareth not the name of God without cause. He that is our Prince or oure Lorde, hath some partakinge of honore with God.
[ 36] Wherfore it ought not to be doubted that God doth here set a gene∣rall rule, that as we knowe any man to be by his ordinaunce set ouer vs, so we yelde vnto him reuerence, obedience, thankfulnesse, and suche other dueties as it lieth in vs to do. And it maketh no difference, whe∣ther thei be worthy or vnworthy. For of what sorte soeuer thei be, thei haue not without the prouidence of God atteyned that place, by reasō whereof the lawemaker woulde haue them to be honored. Yet namely he hathe geuen commaundemente of reuerence to parentes, that haue brought vs into this life, to whiche reuerence very nature ought in a manner to instructe vs. For they are monsters and not men, that breake the authorite of parentes with dishonore or stubbornesse. Ther∣fore