Afterthought
Puritan Board Senior
Thomas Boston in his sermons on the Shorter Catechism writes concerning the Fifth Commandment,
"THIRDLY, I come now to consider the duties of the particular relations wherein we severally stand; and they are two in general; those of superiors and inferiors, and that of equals. The former is of two sorts. There are some relations where one of the relatives has power and authority over the other; and those that import a mere preference. The first of these we may consider with respect to the family, the church, the commonwealth.
....
There are other relations that import a mere preference; as, betwixt the aged and the younger, the weaker in gifts and the stronger, and between equals.
First, As to the relation betwixt the aged and the younger,
1. I shall consider very briefly the duties of the younger to the aged, for these are fathers and mothers in scripture-language, 1 Tim. 5.1.
(1.) They ought to submit to them, so as to follow their wise advice, and not to stand upon points with them, but be ready to yield to them, where lawfully it may be done, 1 Pet. 5.5.
(2.) They ought to honour them, and carry respectfully to them.
The Ancient of days, commands us to honour old age, Lev. 19.32.
2. The aged ought, (1.) To be ready to profit the younger sort by their good advice, to tutor them, as Eli did young Samuel, 1 Sam. 3.9. (2.) To give them the example of a virtuous and holy life, Tit. 2.2."
There is obviously a different measure of honor and set of duties that the younger owe to the aged and that church members owe to their Elders (church office). How exactly ought they to be distinguished? Thomas Boston helpfully distinguishes between "power and authority" and "mere preference." But what does "mere preference" mean?
Two questions in relation to this.
1) What resources discuss the difference in honor and duties shown? It would seem that expositions on the Fifth Commandment in general might, but not all of them do (Fisher does not). Perhaps people know of some expositions or other writings that helpfully unpack the question (If I have time, I'll start looking through expositions and posting here the one's that discuss the matter)?
2) Perhaps some of you all can helpfully unpack what Thomas Boston is getting at, along with the Scriptures he cites (or perhaps you all can think of other useful Scriptures for this purpose)? My guess would be that "mere preference" means to prefer their opinion to one's own. Such could be done without them having authority and power (although how would one distinguish this from the preference shown between equals?).
"THIRDLY, I come now to consider the duties of the particular relations wherein we severally stand; and they are two in general; those of superiors and inferiors, and that of equals. The former is of two sorts. There are some relations where one of the relatives has power and authority over the other; and those that import a mere preference. The first of these we may consider with respect to the family, the church, the commonwealth.
....
There are other relations that import a mere preference; as, betwixt the aged and the younger, the weaker in gifts and the stronger, and between equals.
First, As to the relation betwixt the aged and the younger,
1. I shall consider very briefly the duties of the younger to the aged, for these are fathers and mothers in scripture-language, 1 Tim. 5.1.
(1.) They ought to submit to them, so as to follow their wise advice, and not to stand upon points with them, but be ready to yield to them, where lawfully it may be done, 1 Pet. 5.5.
(2.) They ought to honour them, and carry respectfully to them.
The Ancient of days, commands us to honour old age, Lev. 19.32.
2. The aged ought, (1.) To be ready to profit the younger sort by their good advice, to tutor them, as Eli did young Samuel, 1 Sam. 3.9. (2.) To give them the example of a virtuous and holy life, Tit. 2.2."
There is obviously a different measure of honor and set of duties that the younger owe to the aged and that church members owe to their Elders (church office). How exactly ought they to be distinguished? Thomas Boston helpfully distinguishes between "power and authority" and "mere preference." But what does "mere preference" mean?
Two questions in relation to this.
1) What resources discuss the difference in honor and duties shown? It would seem that expositions on the Fifth Commandment in general might, but not all of them do (Fisher does not). Perhaps people know of some expositions or other writings that helpfully unpack the question (If I have time, I'll start looking through expositions and posting here the one's that discuss the matter)?
2) Perhaps some of you all can helpfully unpack what Thomas Boston is getting at, along with the Scriptures he cites (or perhaps you all can think of other useful Scriptures for this purpose)? My guess would be that "mere preference" means to prefer their opinion to one's own. Such could be done without them having authority and power (although how would one distinguish this from the preference shown between equals?).