William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Obedience to Parents
174. If thou wouldest be obeyed, being a Father; being a Son, be Obedient.
175. He that begets thee, owes thee; and has a natural Right over thee.
176. Next to God, thy Parents; next them, the Magistrate.
177. Remember that thou are not more indebted to thy Parents for thy Nature, than for thy Love and Care.
178. Rebellion therefore in Children, was made Death by God’s Law, and the next Sin to Idolatry, in the People; which is renouncing of God, the Parent of all.
179. Obedience to Parents is not only our Duty, but our Interest. If we received our Life from them, We prolong it by obeying them: For Obedience is the first Commandment with Promise.
180. The Obligation is as indissolvable as the Relation.
181. If we must not disobey God to obey them; at least we must let them see, that there is nothing else in our refusal. For some unjust Commands cannot excuse the general Neglect of our Duty. They will be our Parents and we must be their Children still: And if we cannot act for them against God, neither can we act against them for ourselves or anything else.