WLC Q.129: What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love, (Col. 3:19, Tit. 2:4) pray for, (1 Sam. 12:23, Job 1:5) and bless their inferiors; (1 Kings 8:55–56, Heb. 7:7, Gen. 49:28) to instruct, (Deut. 6:6–7) counsel, and admonish them; (Eph. 6:4) countenancing, (1 Pet. 3:7) commending, (1 Pet. 2:14, Rom. 13:3) and rewarding such as do well; (Esth. 6:3) and discountenancing, (Rom. 13:3–4) reproving, and chastising such as do ill; (Prov. 29:15, 1 Pet. 2:14) protecting, (Job 29:13–16, Isa. 1:10,17) and providing for them all things necessary for soul (Eph. 6:4) and body: (1 Tim. 5:8) and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, (1 Tim. 4:12, Tit. 2:3–5) honour to themselves, (1 Kings3:28) and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them. (Tit. 2:15)