Children, obey your parents in the Lord
The persons whose duty this is, "children", are such of every
sex, male and female, and of every age, and of every state and
condition; and though the true, legitimate, and immediate
offspring of men may be chiefly respected, yet not exclusive of
spurious children, and adopted ones, and of children-in-law; and
the persons to whom obedience from them is due, are not only real
and immediate parents, both father and mother, but such who are
in the room of parents, as step-fathers, step-mothers, guardians,
nurses and all who are in the ascending line, as grandfathers,
grandmothers to these, children should be subject and obedient in
all things lawful, just, and good; in everything that is not
sinful and unlawful, by the word of God; and in things
indifferent, as much as in them lies, and even in things which
are difficult to perform: and this obedience should be hearty and
sincere, and not merely verbal, and in show and appearance, nor
mercenary; and should be joined with gratitude and thankfulness
for past favours: and it should be "in the Lord"; which may be
considered either as a limitation of the obedience, that it
should be in things that are agreeable to the mind and will of
the Lord; or as an argument to it, because it is the command of
the Lord, and is wellpleasing in his sight, and makes for his
glory, and therefore should be done for his sake:
for this is right;
it appears to be right by the light of nature, by which the very
Heathens have taught it; and it is equitable from reason that so
it should be; and it is just by the law of God, which commands
nothing but what is holy, just, and good.