Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-06-22
RELIGIOUS MI>CELlANY.
tExrRAcTs FROM THE THEOLOGICAL WORKS DICK.
NO9
No9
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
"Honor thy Father and thy Mother"

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
"Honor Hy Father and thy Mother"
The four preceding commandments, whose impor-
lance have endeavored to illustrate, written on
separate tablet from those tina, follow, and have been
generally considered enjoning the practice Of pcty
those duties which more Immediately respect God
their object, Blu, they also include the duties which
to orselres for in yielding obedience these
requirements promote our. best interests in this
world and gradually preparing for participating in
in the enioyments Of the world TO come. These laws
binding upon angels and arehangels and upon ev
cry class of intelligent beings, in whatever quarter OF
the universe their residence may be found, as well as
upon the inhabitants Of the earth. The fourth
mlndmen', indeed in Ear as regards the particular
portion Of time to be set apart for the worship of God,
may be peculiar to the inhabitants of our world. Even
a,houglfthe inhabitants Of such world the planet
Jupiter were commanded to set apart every seventh
natural day for the stated public worship of God the
proportion of absolute .ime-alloued for this purpose
would not be the same ours; for the naura, day in
tina, world is equal only hours Of our time But
the spirit of this precept, or, the principle upon which
II is founded, must be common TO all worlds. For
can conceive OF no class OF intelligent creatures, on
whom ii is not obligatory to devote certain portion of
time for the social worship of their Creator, and for
commemorative the displays Of his power and benev
olence; and all holy ntelligences will cheerfuy join
| in such exercises, and will consider it as most emo
bling and delightful privilege, TO engage at stated
sons, along with their fellow worshipers, in adoring
the Uncreated Source of their enjoyments. But the
stated seasons appointed by the Creator for such
solemn acts Of worshp,,he manner and circumstances
| in which they shall be performed, and the number Of
worshipers that NAV assemble on such occasions. may
be different in different worlds, accordngAo the stu
atoms in which they placed.
The fifth commandment. to which am now to adj
vert one of those moral regulations which may pos
possibly be peculiar the relations which exist in
world; at least it cannot be supposed 10 apply TO the
Inhabitants Of any world where the relations OF parents
and children of superios and interiors, are altogether
unknown But, in the circumstances in which man
is placed is a law indspensaby requisite for preserv
ing the order and happiness of the social system il
requires the exercise Of those dispositions and the per
Torrance of those duties which are incumbent upon
mankind the UorouS relations IN Whioh they stand "a
each other. 1t consequently includes, within its spirit
and references the duties which children 10 tbell
parenls and parents to their children; the duties oil
husbands and wives of masters and servants of teach
els and scholars OF brothers and sisters, and OF gov
ernors and their subjects together with all those dis
positions Of reverence submission, Affection gratitude
and respect with which the performance of these du
ties ought to be accompanied. |, must also be con
sidered as forbdding every thing that IS opposed
these dispositions. and to the obedience TequiTed
contumacy rebellion and Of respect, on the par
of children towards their parents disobedIence OF ser
wants 10 the reasonable commands OF their masters
and every principle Of disafecron and of nsubordna
ton among the various ranks OF society That all TN
is included within the range Of this precept might b
proved from the principles on which our Savior eX
plains the sirth and serenh commandments IN his ser
mon on the mount and from the illustrations of Ties
duties which are given in the apostolic eps'les, and i
other parts Of Scripture.
As il forms no part ofmy plan TO enter into par
tcuar explanations Of the duties required in the Dec
alopoe which have frequently been eHpounded by man
respectable writer's in works appropriated 10 this OF
ec-I shall simply illustrate ina few words, the rea
condolences OF this and the following precepis nom
consideration Of the effects which would follow, "er
these laws universally observedor universally VIOLATED
Were this law 10 be reversed, or universally viola
ed, il IS impossible 10 form adequate conception
the dreadful scene Of anarchy and confusion who
would Immediately ensue Every social tie would
tore assunder, every relation inverted, every princip
Of su5oIdinatiOn destroyed, every government owe
turned ever rank and order Of mankind annlhia'e
and the whole assembly Of human beings converts
into a d.scotlan mass Of la~!ess oanal'h- i've
family would present a scene Of riot, inso5ord'nano
contention. haued tumuli and incessani eEecfa'io
Instead GLOVE unity. and obedience, the son "ou
r,e Ia rebellion against his ia,horand tie father WOO
lusult and tramPie under foot bis son 10 use u
words u our Saviour, fhe brother would deliver OPP u
brother n DEATH and the father the child Tie chiaf
would rise up saaiasi theif parents, and cause them
be put 10 death TIE daughter would he SCI a. vauan
against hor mother. the dsugh'eI-in-law against
mother in-l2w and mans foes would be- ihe1 OF
,,g, household Children would be unpr0y.1ed ~
proper food, clothing and instruction and leii 70 VI
der hou.sloss and forlorn, a, vagsbond. on The a