Q. What are the Pofitive Duties comprehended under this Commandment ?

Mat.xv.19.

18.

I TheCiv.3,

Col.iii.s,8.

Titii 3.

A. To keep our Bodies in Temperance, Sobernels, and Chastity: And, in Order hereunto, not only carefully to Avoid all Temp- Job xxxi.1,9. tations, and Incentives, to the Contrary; but, Roxi 13. if need be, to Exercise our Selves in Great Eph.v.3,11, Watchings, and Faftings, and Other Corporal Au- T fteritics; which are in no Cafes more proper, 4. than for the Suppreffion of thefe Sins. To be Gal.v.24Modeft in our Behaviour; Grave, and Chaft, in 2 Corvii.x. our Converfation; To Regulate, as much as 1 Pety & may be, our very Thoughts, and Defires: And, above all Things, to take Care that We have fomewhat to employ our Selves about; that may fpend our Spirits, and take up our Thoughts: As confidering that there is nothing more dangerous to the Purity of a Chriftian, than Idleness; and that Unhappy Privilege of a Great Fortune, To have nothing to do.

Q. How was this Sin of Adultery punish'd under the Law?

A. It was punish'd with Death: And that Lev.xx.10. Job xxxi. 11. not only upon a Civil Account, as being most in- Prov.vi 29jurious to Society; but also typically, to denote 1 Cor.vi.9, what fuch Perfons are to Expect from God in Eph vs. the Other World, even Death Eternal.

Q. What are the Particular Aggravations of this Sin?

A. That it is not only a very heinous Sin in the Sight of God, but fuch as is deftructive of Humane Society alfo. That it breaks the most Solemn Vom that can be made between Man and Man: Seperates the nearest Relations: Lays the Ground of infinite Quatrels, and Hatred, and Divisions in Familics, and often1 4 times

10.

Heb.xi.14.

times occafions Murders, Seditions, and Contentions, in the Civil State. That it Propagates sickness, and Infirmities, to Mens Pofterity Is an Enemy to all Serious Counfels, and Generous Actions: Emafculates Mens Minds ; Enfeebles their Bodies; and, upon all these Ac counts, ought as well to be feverely punish'd by the Civil Magiftrate now, as We are fure it fhall be punish'd by God with Eternal Dam

nation.

Lev.xix. 11, 13.

Eph.iv.28.

13.

SECT. XXX.

Q. What is the Eighth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not Steal.

Q. What do you here understand by Stealing? A. Not only the Secret, and fraudulent Taking away of what is Anothers; but all kind of Unlawful Getting,or Detaining of any Thing,whereby another is injured, or oppreffed, in what of Right belongs, or ought to belong, to him.

Q. What are the chief Ways whereby this Sin may be Committed?

A. Chiefly by thefe Three: 1. By Stealth,and Lev.xix.II, Robbery, as the One implies a Secret Thievery, Rom-ii. 21. or Conveying Away of Another's Goods; the *Exod.xxiii. Other a more violent, and forcible Taking of

9.

Lev.xxv.14. Them.

Prov.xx.Io.

xxii. 16.

xxviii.8.

21.

*

2. To these may be added, as not very different from them, all the artificial Ways Pfal.xxxvii. which Men have Got of doing the fame thing; Luk. 18.11. by Cheating, in Buying and Selling; in Borrowing I Cor.v.10, what they are not Able, or never Intend, to vii.s. pay; which is in truth Stealing. By Extortion I Thef.iv.6. upon, or Oppreffion of, thofe who are in Need;

II. vi.Io.

Jam.v.4.

Or

Or whom we are Otherwise able by our Power, or Authority, to Over-bear; which is the fame thing with down-right Robbery.

3. To all which, let me add, laftly; all Aiding, Advising, Encouraging, or Otherwise Communicating with Others in any of these Crimes: By Receiving, Buying, or Concealing what is Stoln, By helping any One to Cheat, or Overreach Another; By ferving any Great and Violent Oppreffor, in Crufhing, and Ruining a

Poor Man.

Q. Are there yet any Other Vices forbidden by this Commandment?

*

*

in

26.

19,20.

8.

A. There are several Others that may fairly be Reduced to it: Such as * Prodigality, fpending a Man's Eftate, and Beggaring his Family. Negligence in making an honeft Pro- 1 Tim.r. vifion, according to a Man's Station, and Opportunities, for his Children. Contracting of Prov.vi t Debts, which We are not able to Pay. En-xi.15. xxii gaging for Others, beyond what we are able, or Deut.xxiii. } it is fitting for Us to anfwer. Taking Ufury Paxvs. of any, Efpecially of a Needy Man. To which Prov.xxvi, may be added the whole Mystery of Ruining Estates, and Families, by the excellive Rates of Procuring, Continuing, Advancing of Money, and Interest ; * By Buying Mens Goods, or Estates, at Under-rates; * By taking Advantage of Gain by Mens Private Wants, or by the Publick Neceffities; *The Trade of Pawns, as it is commonly managed, and the Exactions depending thereupon; *And, laftly,all Such Other Trades Je as live upon the Vices, and Extravagancies of ii. 11, Men; with all manner of Unlawful, and Inju- *. 2. rious Ways of Gain.

What think you of Going to Law?

A. That

Prov.x.2.

Mat. v. 40.

I Cor. vi. I, 6, 7.

Pfal. xv. I, 2.

Ezek. xxxiii.

vi 8.

Eph. iv. 28.

A. That as it may be managed both by the Counsellor, and the Client, it is as much Theft as ever the Law punish'd; and will, as fuch, be Required of Both by God. And therefore tho' fuch Cafes there be in which a Chriftian may Go to Law without Violating this, or any Other Command; yet is it certainly the last Resort, and not to be Ufed till all other Means have proved ineffectual, to fecure our Property, or to Recover our Right. And, for the most part; it is in Law, as in War, where One fide is Certainly in the Wrong, and Generally Both are to blame: And let those who by their Purse, their Tongue, or their Art, defraud another of His Right, know affuredly, that however they may build up their Houfes by Iniquity, and efcape the Punishment of Man for what they do, yet they fhall not be acquitted at the Tribunal of God.

Q. What are the Duties which this Commandment Requires of Us?

A. To be fair, and upright, in all our DealProv. xvi. ings; not willingly to wrong, or be acceffary 15,16. Mich. to the wronging of, Any. If we should happen to have unwillingly injured any Man, to be Ready to make him a full, and ample Reftitution for it. To be free, and charitable to the Poor; Careful to provide a Competent Subfiftence for our Families; and diligent in pursuing fome Honest, and Useful Calling, in Order thereunto.

2 The i

11, 12.

SE C T. XXXI.

QW Hat is the Ninth Commandment?
A. Thou shalt not bear Falfe-witnefs
Q. What

again thy Neighbour.

Q. What do you here understand by Bearing of Falfe Witness?

19.

A. The Falfe-accufing of, or Witnessing against Luk.iii. 14. Him in Judgment: And which is commonly at- Prov. vi. 18, tended with Perjury, as well as Lying; and fo becomes an Offence at Once against the Third Commandment, by our taking God's Name in Vain; and against this, of Injuring our Neighbour, by Bearing Falfe-witness against Him.

Q. Is there any thing elfe forbidden in this Commandment?

I Tim. vi.4.

A. There is; namely all fort of Calumny, Tit. iii. 1, 2. and Evil-Speaking, against any; whether it be in, or, out of, Judgment.

Q. How do you diftinguish between Calummy, and Evil-speaking?

xviii. 8.

A. By Calummy I mean, a Reproach falfly Raifed upon, and Reported againft, a Perfon, who is wholly Innocent of it. When we are the Makers,as well as Spreaders,of an Untruth; at least, know what we fay of our Neighbour to be false; or have just reafon to believe it to be fo. By Evil-speaking, I understand, the Relating of Lev. xix. 15. what is, or has been told to Us, as true; and is Prov.xi. 30. believed by us fo to be; When we do it not to the Perfon concerned for difcovery of the Truth; Or to fome Friend of his, in Order to his being admonifh'd of it; but to our Indifferent Acquaintance: And that whether it be done with a Design to defame him, or only in the common way of Difcourfe, for want of better Matter to entertain our Company withal.

Q. Is there any thing yet more forbidden in this Commandment?

*

10. Vat

A. To this Commandment must be Reduced 1 Kings xxi. all Subornation of Falfe-Witnelles in Judgment; xxvi. all Credit; or Countenance that is given to 9. Them