Hierocles upon the Golden verses of the Pythagoreans translated immediately out of the Greek into English.

HONOUR ALSO YOUR PARENTS AND THOSE WHO ARE NEXT OF KIN TO YOU.

Your Parents next and those of nearest blood.

He had in the foregoing Precept com∣manded us to honour good men as hap∣py and divine beings, and here he com∣mands us to HONOUR our PARENTS and those that are NEXT OF KIN to us, whatever they are, upon the same ne∣cessity of Relation. For our PARENTS and NEXT OF KIN are the same to us in respect of this mortal life, as the Ce∣lestial-beings our eternal and spiritual Pa∣rents, and the Heroes our honourable Kindred. But how are we to HONOUR them? Shall we so order our Conversa∣tion to their mind as neither to doe nor de∣sign any thing but what will please them? But that's the way to become industrious∣ly evil, if it be our fortune to have ill PA∣RENTS.

Or shall we shew them disre∣spect in all things as a condemnation of their wickedness? But how then do we satisfie the present command? Or how shall we avoid being impious against God, and the Heroes, if we deny honour to our PARENTS and RELATIVES, who by our own confession resemble them? So that by this means the denial of HO∣NOUR to our Parents wherein we think we doe vertuously, would lead us into a greater evil than what we study to de∣cline, that of Impiety. On the other side, if we conform to our PARENTS in all things, how shall we secure our Piety and other vertues, if they for want of it themselves do not direct us to what is good? For if that were altogether true and good which to our PARENTS seems so, then the HONOUR which we give them would be agreeable to that which we give the more excellent beings. But if at any time the will of our PARENTS thwart the divine Laws, what shall those doe who are under this unhappy contra∣diction of Law, but what is our duty to observe in many offices whose circumstan∣ces engage us upon contradictory Com∣mands? For this is a practical Maxim, that when two honest things offer them∣selves

to our choice, we ought to prefer the greater before the less if we can't em∣brace both. For instance, 'tis a good thing to obey God, and 'tis also a good thing to obey our PARENTS. Now if it hap∣pen that both these agree in their com∣mands, it is without doubt a most happy thing. But if the divine Law enjoyns one thing and your PARENTS another, in this dissention of wills you must em∣brace what is best, and in those things only disobey your PARENTS, wherein they disobey the Law of God. For 'tis impossible to resolve obedience to the laws of Vertue, and yet to comply with them who transgress them. But as to all other things we ought to shew our PARENTS all imaginable HONOUR, by submis∣sive and reverent carriage of body, and by ministring to their necessities with all readiness and liberality. For 'tis but rea∣son they should use the service of them, to whom they gave both being and edu∣cation. But that which no way had any dependance from them, is exempted from their dominion by the Law, to which every one that would truly be a Father, should with all care and industry be con∣formable. And then 'twill be possible to ob∣serve both divine and humane laws toge∣ther.

And then we need not neglect obe∣dience to our PARENTS upon a pretence of vertue, nor by a foolish compliance make our selves guilty of the greatest of evils, Impiety. For if they threaten to kill or disinherit us for refusing to obey their unjust commands, we must not be affrighted out of our vertue by such Me∣naces, but remember what part of us that is which is to suffer these things, and that they threaten only that which they begot. As for that part which is uncapable of their threats or inflictions, we must be sure to keep that free, and subject only to God. Wherefore we then truly HO∣NOUR our PARENTS, when we keep within the verge of vertue, when we spare neither our bodies nor our purse, but freely devote all to their service. For even our own concerns ought not to call us off from the care of our PARENTS, which we should discharge with the more chearfulness and delight the fuller it is of labour and slavery. Neither ought we to bethink what we spend upon them, but supply their occasions with all chearfulness and willingness, and think it matter of joy to undergo labour and expence for their sakes. He that does this freely and heartily, at once expresses his duty to the

laws of vertue, and his gratitude to na∣ture. And this is the HONOUR due to our PARENTS. As for that which is due to our NEXT OF KIN, it must be proportion'd according to the various de∣grees of Alliance.