The eight Chapter. The fift precept; of the honouring of Superiours.
1 HOnor is here taken, not onelie for a certeine outward reuerence, wherewith we reuerence the estate of our neighbour; but also for the outward helpe, sustentation, and aid, wherewith we reléeue them which haue néed. But it hath also other significations. So therefore parents must be honoured: for which act, rewards are not onlie promised, but are also giuen. Contrariewise, we knowe that Cham suffered punishment, 2 who had his father in derision. Wherefore, in them must honour be doone vnto the image of God. For this cause Salomon, 3 so soone as he heard that his mother was present, he rose vp, and went to méet hir, and receiued hir reuerentlie, hauing regard to the commandement of God; Honour thy father and thy mother. But some man will saie; Was it séemelie for him, being a king, to reuerence hir? 4 Aulus Gellius, in his second booke, intituled Noctium Atticarum, the second chapter, disputing of this matter saith, that Once the president of Creta came with his father to Athens, and went to Taurus the philosopher, & that there was brought a seate. Which being prepared, 5 the philosopher bad the father of the president to sit downe: who answered; Let rather this man sit, pointing to his sonne: for (saith he) he is a magistrate of the people of Rome. But Taurus said; Sit thou downe in the meane time, till we shall discusse among our selues, whether it becommeth rather thée or him to sit; séeing thou art his father, and he a magistrate of the Romane Common-weale. Wherefore the father sat downe: and the sonne also sat, hauing another stoole brought for him. Then, after much talke, the opinion of Taurus was, that in publike places and offices, the iurisdiction of parents, being compared with their children, placed in authoritie, ceaseth for a while, and for a time giueth place; but that out of publike actions, and publike places, publike honors cease betwéene them, and that the sonne must giue place vnto his parent.
Further, the same author addeth an example of Quintus Fabius Maximus, who being made Consull, and his father comming on horsebacke to méet him, commanded him by an officer to light downe: which thing he not onelie tooke not in ill part, but he reioised in his sonne, which knew how to exercise with authoritie and manfullie, the office committed vnto him by the people of Rome. Wherefore, if Salomon, dooing the part of a priuate man, honored his mother; he committed nothing, but that which was méet for him, giuing a due honour vnto his mother. He sate downe in his throne, and commanded that his mother should sit downe in a most honourable place by him. But as touching those things, which were declared by hir, he referred them not to hir iudgement; but he himselfe gaue sentence, not expecting the consent of his mother. So as, when children that be in office of authoritie, are compared togither with their parents, the comparison is of two kinds of paternitie. For in verie déed, the sonne, as he is a prince, is made the father euen of his owne father; when notwithstanding, as touching nature, he is a sonne. Wherefore he ought to iudge of those things, which be either spoken or propounded by his faither.
6 2 Furthermore, let not parents be ouer milde towards their children. Indéed children are the bowels of their parents; wherefore they cannot be corrected of them without great sorrowe to themselues: which neuerthelesse must be lightlie passed ouer, in respect of the honour of God, and the safetie of their children. But this did not Helie, 7 who ouer fauourablie rebuked his children; for he should haue set euerie one of their faults effectuallie before their eies: sith it is a lighter matter vnto them, and of small force to their hearing, when their faults be reckoned vp generallie; than when euerie particular crime is with authoritie obiected against them. And when they are sharpelie reckoned vp one by one, they mooue them after a more vehement sort. Moreouer, he did not reprooue them, by auouching anie thing, but onelie vnder condition; So (saith he) the talke goeth; So it is reported vnto me: as if he had said; If the things be true, which I heare, ye doo gréeuouslie offend. But he should haue said; This is your wickednesse; These be your faults; Thus hainouslie doo ye offend. Vndoubtedlie, they which coldlie and mildlie doo admonish, séeke nothing but to auoid ill will.