They are so, that is, they should be so, and, if they conduct
themselves worthily, they are so. 1. It is an honour to parents when
they are old to leave children, and children's children, growing up,
that tread in the steps of their virtues, and are likely to maintain
and advance the reputation of their families. It is an honour to a man
to live so long as to see his children's children (Ps. cxxviii. 6; Gen.
l. 23), to see his house built up in them, and to see them likely to
serve their generation according to the will of God. This crowns and
completes their comfort in this world. 2. It is an honour to children
to have wise and godly parents, and to have them continued to them even
after they have themselves grown up and settled in the world. Those are
unnatural children who reckon their aged parents a burden to them, and
think they live too long; whereas, if the children be wise and good, it
is as much their honour as can be that thereby they are comforts to
their parents in the unpleasant days of their old age.