As depositaries of authority, there is no human station, however exalted, comparable to theirs.  Children are not merely subjects, they belong to their parents.  Church and State, under God, may see to it that that authority is not abused; but within the bounds of right, they are held to respect it; and their acts that go contrary to the exercise of parental authority are, by the fact of such opposition, null and void.  Before the State or Church, the family was; its natural rights transcend theirs, and this bowing, as it were, of all constituted human authority before the dominion of parents is evidence enough of their dignity.

“God could not be everywhere, therefore he made parents—­fathers and mothers”—­that is how the pagans used to put it.  However theologically unsound this proposition may appear, it is a beautiful attempt at a great truth, viz., that parents towards us stand in God’s stead.  In consequence of this eminent dignity that is theirs, they deserve our respect.  They not only deserve it, but God so ordains it.

CHAPTER LVI.  FILIAL RESPECT.

Worthy of honor are they whom the Lord sees fit to honor.  In the exalted station to which they have been called and in the express command made by the Lord to honor them, we see evidence of the dignity of parents; and the honor we owe them for this dignity is the honor of respect.  By respect, we mean the recognition of their superiority, the reverence, veneration and awe all well-born men instinctively feel for natural worth that transcends their own, the deference in tone, manner and deportment that naturally belongs to such worth.

It is much easier to say in what respect does not consist than to define the term itself.  If it really exists in the heart—­and there it must exist, to be at all—­it will find expression in a thousand different ways, and will never be at a loss to express itself.  Books will give you the laws of etiquette and will tell you how to be polite; but the laws that govern respect are graven on the heart, and he whose heart is in the right place never fails to read and interpret them correctly.  Towards all, at all times and in all places, he will conform the details of his life with the suggestions of his inner consciousness—­this is respect.

Respect has no substitute; neither assistance nor obedience nor love can supply it or take its place It may happen that children are no longer obliged to help their parents; they may be justified in not obeying them; the circumstances may be such that they no longer have love or affection for them; but respect can never be wanting without serious guilt.  The reason is simple:  because it is due in justice, because it is founded on natural rights that can never be forfeited, even when parents themselves lose the sense of their own dignity.

Sinful, wicked and scandalous parents there have been, are, and will be.  But just as they do not owe the excellence to any deed of their own, but to the free choice of the Almighty, so it depends not on themselves to forfeit it.  God made them parents without respect for their personal worth.  He is the custodian of their dignity.  Good or bad, they are parents and remain parents.  Woe unto those who despise the authors of their days!