bribery m, vexatious law-fuits n, unjust inclosures and depopulations; ingroffing commodities to inhance the price p, unlawful callings q; and all other unjuft or finful ways of taking or with-holding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves r; covetoufnefs, inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods t; diftruftful and distracting cares and ftudies in getting, out his money to ufury, nor 'taketh reward against the innocent. m Job xv. 34. For the congregation of hypocrites fhall be defolate, and fire fhall confume the tabernacles of bribery. n 1 Cor. vi. 6. But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. v. 7. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another: why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather fuffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. Prov. iii. 29. Devife not evil againft thy neighbour, feeing he dwelleth fecurely by thee. v. 30. Strive not with man without caufe, if he have done thee no harm. V. 8. o If. v. 8. Wo unto them that join house to houfe, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth. Mic. ii. 2. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away; fo they opprefs a man and his houfe, even a man and his heritage. Prov. xi. 26. He that withholdeth corn, the people fhall curfe him: but bleffing fhall be upon the head of him that felleth it. found it fifty thoufand pieces of filver. v. 24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a filver-fmith, which made filver-fhrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftfmen; v. 25. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and faid, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. r Job xx. 19. Because he hath oppreffed, and hath forfaken the poor, because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not. James v. 4. Behold, the hire of the labourers, which have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped,are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Prov. xxi. 6. The getting of treafures by a lying tongue, is a vanity toffed to and fro of them that feek death. Luke xii. 15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetoufnefs: for a man's life confifteth not in the abundance of the things which he poffeffeth. t1 Tim. vi. 5. Perverfe difputings of men of corrupt minds, and deftitute of the truth, fuppofing that gain is godlinefs: from fuch withdraw thyfelf. Col. iii. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Prov. xxiii. 5. Wilt thou fet thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themfelves wings, they fly away as an eagle towards heaven. Pfal. getting, keeping, and ufing them ; envying at the prefperity of others w; as likewife idlenefs x, prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward eftate and defrauding ourselves of the due ufe and comfort of that estate which God hath given us z. ولا Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment? A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour a. ment? 144. What are the duties required in the ninth command A. The duties required in the ninth commandment Pfal. Ixii. 10.-If riches increase, fet not your heart upon them. v Matth. vi. 25. Therefore I fay unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye fhall eat, or what ye fhall drink, nor yet for your body what ye fhall put on is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? v. 31. Therefore take no thought, faying, What fhall we eat? -v. 34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow fhall take thought for the things of itfelf, fufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Eccl. v. 12. The fleep of a labouring man is fweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not fuffer him to fleep. Pfal. w Pfal. Ixxiii. 3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I faw the profperity of the wicked. xxxvii. 1. Fret not thyfelf because of evil-doers,neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. V. 7. Reft in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself becaufe of him who profpereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. x 2 Theff. iii. 11. For we hear that there are fome which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are bufy bodies. Prov. xviii. 9. He alfo that is flothful in are, his work, is brother to him that is a great wafter. و Prov. xxi. 17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil fhall not be rich. Prov. xxiii. 20. Be not amongst wine-bibbers; amongst riotous eaters of flesh. v. 21. For the drunkard and the glutton fhall come to poverty; and drowfinefs fhall clothe a man with rags. Prov. xxviii. 19. He that tilleth his land, fhall have plen ty of bread: but he that followeth after vain perfons, shall have poverty enough. z Eccl. iv. 8. There is one alone, and there is not a fecond: yea, he hath neither child nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour,neither is his eyes fatisfied with riches, neither faith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my foul of good? This is alfo vanity, yea, it is a fore travel. Eccl. vi. 2. A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, fo that he wanteth nothing for his foul of all that he defireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil difeafe. 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for his own, and fpecially for thofe of his own houfe, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an Infidel. 143. a Exod. xx. 16. 144. Zech are, the preferving and promoting of truth between man and man b, and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own c; appearing and standing for the truth d; and from the heart e, fincerely f, freely g, clearly b and fully i, fpeaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and juftice k, and in all other things whatsoever 1; a charitable esteem of our neighbours 144. b Zech. viii. 16. These are the things that ye shall do, Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour: execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. c 3 John 12. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself; yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. d Prov. xxxi. 8. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the caufe of all fuch as are appointed to deftruction. v.9. Open they mouth, judge righteoufly, and plead the caufe of the poor and needy. e Pfal. xv. 2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh, righteoufnefs, and fpeaketh the truth in his heart: f 2 Chron. xix. 9. And he char ged them, faying, Thus fhall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. g1 Sam. xix. 4. And Jonathan fpake good of David unto Saul his father, and faid unto him, let not the king fin against his fervant, against David: because he hath not finned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good. v. 5. For he did put his life in his hand, and flew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great falvation for all Ifrael: thou faweft it, and didit rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou fin against innocent blood, to flay David without a caufe? thee, glory to the Lord God of Ifrael, and make confeffion unto him; and tell me now what thou haft done, hide it not from me. i 2 Sam. xiv. 18. Then the king answered and faid unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I fhall ask thee. And the woman faid, Let my lord the king now speak. v. 19. And the king faid, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman anfwered and faid, As thy foul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath fpoken: for thy fervant Joab he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid v. 20. To fetch about this form of fpeech hath thy fervant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wife,- : k Lev. xix. 15 Ye fhall do no unrighteoufnefs in judgment; thou fhalt not refpect the perfon of the poor, nor honour the perion of the mighty but in righteoufnels fhalt thou judge thy neighbour. Prov. xiv. 5. A faithful witnefs will not lie but a falfe witnefs will utter lies. v. 25. A true witnefs delivereth fouls, but a deceitful witnefs fpeaketh lies. / 2 Cor. i. 17. When I therefore was thus minded, did I ufe lightness? or the things that I purpose,do I purpofe according to the flefh, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay? v. 18. But as God is true, our Q ૧ b Joh. vii. 19. And Joshua faid unto Achan, My fon, give, I pray word bours m, loving, defiring, and rejoicing in their good name n; forrowing for o, and covering of their infirmities p; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces q, defending their innocency r; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report concerning them t; difcouraging tale-bearers v, flat m Heb. vi. 9. But, beloved, we are perfuaded better things of you, and things that accompany falvation, falvation, though we thus fpeak. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. (Charity) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Rom. i. 8. First, I thank my God through Jefus Chrift, for you all, that your faith is fpoken of throughout the whole world. 2 John 4. I rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 3 John 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and teftified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkeft in the truth. v. 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. o 2 Cor. ii. 4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 2. Cor. xii. 21. And left when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I fhall bewail many which have finned already, and have not repented of the uncleannefs and fornication, and lascivioufnefs, which they have committed. p Prov. xvii. q. He that covereth a tranfgreffon, feeketh love; but terers he that repeateth a matter, separateth very friends. 1 Pet. iv. 8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourfelves: for charity fhall cover the multitude of fins. q 1 Cor. i. 4. I thank my God always in your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Chrift; v. 5. That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge. v. 7. So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift. 2 Tim. i. 4. Greatly defiring to fee thee? being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy? v. 5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt firft in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am perfuaded, that in thee alfo. r 1 Sam. xxii. 14. Then Ahimelech anfwered the king, and faid, And who is fo faithful among all thy fervants, as David, which is the king's fon-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine houfe? 1 Cor. xiii. 6. (Charity) rejoi ceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth v. 7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. t Pfal. xv. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. ', v Prov. xxv 23. The north-wind driveth away rain: fo doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue, w Prov. terers w, and flanderers ; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth y ; keeping of lawful promifes z; ftudying and practifing of whatfoever things are true, honeft, lovely, and of good report a. Q. 145. What are the fins forbidden in the ninth command ment? A. The fins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neigh bours, as well as our own b, especially in public judicature c; giving art come down that thou mightest died. And he fmote him that he v. 16. And David faid unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth hath teftified againtt thee, faying, I have flain the Lord's anointed. c Lev. xix. 15. Ye fhall do no unrighteoufnefs in judgment; thou fhalt not refpect the perfon of the poor, nor honour the perfon of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Hab. i. 4. Therefore the law is flacked, and. judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth co.npafs about the righteous. |