The Thirty-ninth Lord’s Day

39 The Thirty-ninth Lord’s Day 
Exodus 20:12
Honour your Father and your Mother: That your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you. 
In the fifth command of the Decalogue, that duty is handled which is due our Neighbour in regard to his rank, degree, or quality. It is expounded by the Synecdoche that denominates1 one special thing for all of its kind, which is honour. For honour is a principal part of this duty, and also an impelling cause for other parts of it. For by honour is understood a just and right esteem and respect of worth (whatever it may be) which appears in our Neighbour, whether he is our Superior, or inferior, or our equal. Yet (as we said) it has its special denomination from that special respect which we owe those in whom some singular and eminent excellence appears. This is also why the degree of our Neighbour, in regard to which honour is to be given him, is signified to us by a similar Synecdocheby the titles of Father and Mother, in whom nature itself, however corrupt, evidently acknowledges a rank and degree of dignity to which honour is due. The sanction of this command is in a promise of long life, because the continuation of our life, and of all our quietness in it, depends on the preservation of the relationships of mankind, of which the first and source of almost all the rest, is between parents and children. And this is also the true reason why this command has first place in the second Tablet.
Doctrine 1. All men whatsoever, are in some way or other, to be honoured by us.
It is hence gathered, in that all precepts of the second Tablet regard our Neighbour, whatever he may be, according to Matthew 22:39 where the sum of this Tablet is made to be, You shall love your Neighbour, etc. Though therefore this honour is referred to by the name Father and Mother, as its chief objects, yet in some way it is to be extended to every Neighbour; that is, to all mankind.
Reason 1 . Because none is found so base and vile that he does not have something in him that ought to be esteemed by us, and much valued. For if nothing else could be remarked in someone, yet the very common nature of man has that worth and dignity in it that should be regarded, and the party not altogether contemned, or accounted less than he indeed deserves; and in such respect, some honour is contained.
Reason 2 . Seeing that all men are either our Superiors or Inferiors, or our equals. Religion, charity, and nature itself in a way lead us there, that we should honour all Superiors, because they are superior to us, as Parents. This appears by the very phrase of this command, where all Superiors are called Fathersand Mothers; and by like reasoning, all Inferiors should be respected by us like sons; and all equals as brothers or sisters.
Reason 3 . Because such honour does much to advance love and mutual duties of all kinds. For all more willingly perform their duties when they see themselves and what they do, held in some respect.
Use . Of Reproof: against that barbarous pride which so possesses the minds of many that they can find but very few whom they think worthy of any honour from them. [It is doubtful] whether those may be excepted from this, who make such a poor show of respect towards others by their Puppet and Morris-like behaviours,1 as signs of the honour that they truly owe you; but they go no further toward any reality of it. For the honour commanded here ought to have found roots in our hearts, and bring forth some sound fruits, and not only colours, and pretenses, and lying shows of it.
1 Assigns a name or title to something. 
Doctrine 2. A special honour is due our Superiors according to the nature and quality in which they are superior to us.
This is contained in the naming of Father and Mother who are to be specially honoured, in the general duty of honour that is due to all. 
Reason 1. Justice requires that everyone is given his due; and Superiors have a special worth and excellence to which a special esteem and respect of honour is due.
Reason 2 . Religion commands that we acknowledge that special manner of God’s image which appears in every super-eminence of dignity. This is why all such respect towards Superiors is called piety; partly because by piety, or religion towards God, it is commanded in a special manner; partly also because it has some likeness to that piety and worship due unto God.
Reason 3 . Charity and thankfulness persuade us of the same thing, just as some good thing ordinarily descends from Superiors to Inferiors, even if it were only from the rank and order; for this reason, a special sort of honour is due them, even from those who in their own proper persons perhaps receive no particular good from them.
Reason 4. Because even for the society of mankind, nature teaches us to honour those who deserve well from others, even if we were to receive no profit by them. 
Use 1. Of Admonition: that we take heed of such barbarous and uncivil manners whereby respect towards Superiors is taken away.
Use 2 . Of Direction: that we always give reverence to those who are superior in authority or power, such as the Fathers of the Country, the Fathers of our bodies, the Fathers of families, Fathers in Christ, and the like.
Doctrine 3. Superiors owe a kind of honour to their Inferiors, suitable to their place.
This is hence gathered, in that Father and Mother are put here by a Synecdoche. 1. For all Superiors. 2. For all Neighbours, as has been said. So men are commanded to honour their wives, 1 Peter 3:7.2 The meaning is that they ought to so behave themselves towards their Inferiors, that their Inferiors may cheerfully acknowledge that degree of dignity which they have over them, and show it.
Reason 1. Because this is only that general and universal justice whereby everyone is bound to render to another his due.
Reason 2 . Because humility inclines all godly men, that as far as conveniently may be, they condescend to Inferiors, and as it were lift them up to themselves rather than stand too much upon their own title or superiority. 
Reason 3. Because that esteem and respect which descends from the superior to the inferior has much more weight than that which ascends from the inferior to the superior; and therefore it does more to preserve the safety of mankind in its right order.
1 Referring perhaps to the puppet shows and Morris dancers that had been popular since Elizabethan days. It essentially means “going through the motions” or “play-acting” – i.e., to appear to be what you are not. 2 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Use 1. That Superiors uphold with their dignity that resemblance of God which they ought to carry before their inferiors. 
Use 2. That they take care to go before them in a right way and by a good example. Use 3. That they always use all their wisdom, authority, and power that they have, to procure the good of those that are under them.
Doctrine 4. This mutual honouring of each other does much to prolong and make our lives more pleasant in this world, and it improves our hope about life eternal.
This is clear from the promise that is subjoined to the precept.
Reason 1. Because the conformation of human society tends directly to the conservation of the life and livelihood of each one in particular.
Reason 2 . Because sins that are committed against parents by whom we received this life, are most suitably punished by the loss of this life and of its comforts; and there is a like reason to punish sins against those who are placed in the position of parents.
Use. Of Exhortation: that by this and similar considerations, we stir ourselves up to a general care for the performance of this duty.