avoiding unneceffary lawsuits v, and suretyship, or other engagements w; and an endeavour by all just and lawful means to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own *.

Q. 142 Whai are the fins forbidden in the eightb commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, beside the neglect of the duties required y, are, theft z, robbery a,

2, man-stealing b, and receiving any thing that is stolen c; frau,

dulent

smart for it; and he that hateth with him. Gen. xlvii. 14. And Josurety ship is fure.

feph gathered up all the money that * Lev. xxv. 35. And if thy bro. was found in the land of Egypt, and ther be waxen poor, and fallen in - in the land of Canaan, for the corn decay with thee; then thou shalt which they bought: and Joseph relieve him: yea, though he be a brought the money to Pharaoh's stranger, or a sojourner; that he house. V. 20. And Joseph bought may live with thee. Deut. xxii. 1. all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh ; Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox, for the Egyptians sold every man or his sheep go astray, and hide thy, his field, because the famine preself from them; thou shalt in any vailed over them: fo the land be, cafe bring them again unto thy bro- came Pharaoh's. Phil. ii. 4. Loom ther. v. 2. and if thy brother be not every man on his own things, not nigh unto thee, or if thou know but every man also on the things of him not, then thou shalt bring it others, Mat. xxii. 39. And the reunto thinc own house, and it shall be cond is like unto it, Thou lhalt love with thee until thy brother seek af. thy neighbour as thyself. ter it, and thou shalt restore it to 142. y James ii. 15. If a brother him again. V. 3. In like manner or a fifter be naked, or deftitute of thalt thou do with his ass, and so daily food; v. 16. And one of you Thalt thou do with bis raiment, and say unto them, Depart in peace, be with all lost things of thy brother's, you warmed, and filled; notwithwhich he hath loft, and thou haft standing ye give them not those found, shalt thou do likewise : thou things which are needful to the bumayest not hide thyself. v. 4. Thou dy; what doth it profit? 1 John iii Thalt not fee thy brother's als or his 17. But whoso hath this world's ox fall down by the way, and hide good, and feeth bis brother have thyself from him : thou shalt surely need, and shutteth up his bowels help him to lift them up again. of compasion from him, how dwellExod. xxii,

4:

If thou meet thine eth the love of God in him? enemy's ox or ass going astray, zEph.iv. 28. Let him that fole, thou shalt surely bring it back to heal no more, but rather him again. v. s. If thou see the ass a Psal. Ixii. 10. Trust not in opof him that hateth thee, lying un- preffion, and become not vain in der his burden, and would forbear robbery, to help him; thou shalt surely help

:

dulent dealing d, false weights and measures e, removing land-marks f, injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and mang, or in matters of trust h; oppression i, extortion k, usury 1, bribery m, vexatious law-suits n, unjust inclosures and depopulations o; ingrossing commodities to

inhance 6 1 Tim. i. 10. (The law was ful in that which is least, is faithful made for whoremongers, for them also in much; and he that is unjust that defile themselves with man. in the least, is unjult also ia much. kind, for men-Itealers, for perjur. v.11. If therefore ye have not been ed persons, and if there be any faithful in the unrighteous mamother thing that is contrary to mon, who will commit to your truft sound doctrine.

the true riches ? v. 12. and if ye c Prov. xxix. 24. Wboso is part · have not been faithful in that ner with a thief, hateth his own which is another man's, who shall foul : he heareth curling, and be give you that which is your own? wrayeth it not. Pfal. 1.17. When i Ezek. xxii. 29. The people of thou sawelt a thief, then thou con- the land have used oppreli»n, and sentedst with him.

exercised robbery, and have vexed di Thell.iv. 6. That no man go' the poor and needy; yea, they beyond and defraud his brother in have oppressed the stranger wrongany matter : because that the Lord fully. Lev. xxv. 17. Ye shall not is the avenger of all such, as we therefore oppreis one another; but also have forewarded you, and tes- thou shalt fear thy God: for I am tified.

God. c Prov. xi. 1. A false balance is k Mat. xxiii, 25. Wo unto you, abomination to the Lord: but ajust scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; weight is his delight. Prov. xx. 10. for ye make clean the outside of the Diverse weights, and diverse mea- cup and of the platter, but withia fures, both of them are alike abo. they are full of extortion and exmination to the Lord.

cess. Ezek. xxii. 12. In thee have s Deut. xix. 14. Thou shalt not they taken gifts to shed blood : thou remove thy neighbour's land-mark, hart taken usury and increase, and which they of old time have set in thou hast greedily gained of thy thine inheritance.- Prov.xxiii. 10. neighbours by extortion, and halt Remove not the old land-mạrk; forgotten me, faith the Lord God. and enter not into the fields of the I Psal. xv. 5. He that putteth not fatherleís.:

the Lord your

inhance the price p, unlawful callings q; and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or with-holding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves r; covetousnesss, inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goodst; distrustful and distracting cares and itudies in getting, keeping and using them v; envying at the prosperity of others w:

;

as

a

because ye go to law one with ano. pressed, and forsaken the poor; bether: why do ye not rather take cause he hath violently taken away wrong? why do ye not rather suf- an house which he builded not. fer yourselves to be defrauded ? v. James v. 4. Behold, the hire of the 8. Yea, you do wrong and defraud, labourers who have reaped down and that your brethren. Prov. iii. your fields, which is of you kept 29. Devise not evil against thy back by fraud, crieth; and the cries neighbour, seeing he dwelleth fe of them who have reaped, are encurely by thee. V. 30. Strive not tered into the ears of the Lord of with a man without a cause, if he fabaoth. Prov. xxi 6. The getting have done thee no harm

of treasures by a lying tongue is a olsa. iv. 8. Wo unto them that vanity tossed to and fro of them join house to bouse, that lay field that seek death. to field; till there be no place, f Luke xii. 15. And he said unto that they may be placed alone in them, Take heed, and beware of the midst of the earth. Micah ii. covetousness : for a man's life con2. And they covet fields, and take listeth not in the abundance of the them by violence; and houses, and things which he possesseth. take them away; so they oppress * Tim viis. Perverse disputings a man and his house, even a man of men of corrupt minds, and defiand his heritage.

tute of the truth, supposing that p Prov. xi. 26. He that with gain is godliness: from such withholdeth corn,

the people shall curse draw thyself. Col. iii. 2. Set your him; but blesling shall be upon the affections on things above, not on head of him that selleth it.

things on the earth. Prov. xxiii. 5. 9 A&s xix. 19. Many also of Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that them who used curious arts, brough which is not ? for riches certainly their books together, and burned make themselves wings, they fly athem before all men; and they way as an eagle towards heaven. counted the price of them, and Pfal. Ixii. 10.—if riches increase, found it fifty thousand pieces of fil. fer not your heart upon them. ver.v.24. For a certain man named v Mat vi. 25. Therefore I say unDemetrius,a lilver.fmith, who made to you, Take no thought for your filver shrines for Diana, brought no life, what ye fall eat, or what ye small gain unto the craftsmen, v. shall drink, nor yet for your body, 25. Whom he called together with what ye shall put on : is not the life the workmen of like occupation more than meat, and the body than and said, Sirs, ye know that by raiment? v. 31. Therefore take no this craft we have our wealth. thought, saying, What shall we ear? Job xix.19. Because he hath @p

ver. 34. Take therefore no

thought

as likewise idleness *, prodigality, wasteful ganing; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate

te y: And defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given usz.

Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear falfe witness against thy neighbour a.

Q. 144. Which are the duties required in the ninth com mandment?

A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and

man b,

thought for the morrow; for the and drowfiness shall clothe a man morrow shall take thought for the with rags. Prov. xxvii. 19. He that things of itself; lufficient unto the tilleth his land, shall have plenty day is the evil thereof. Eccl. v. 12., of bread: but he that followeth The sleep of a labouring man is after vain persons, shall have posweet, whether he eat little or verty enough. much; but the abundance of the z Eccl. iv.8. There is one alone, sich will not suffer him to fleep. and there is not a second : yea, he

w Psal. lxxiii. 3. For I was envie hath neither child por, brother : yet ous at the foolish, when I saw the is there no end of all his labour, prosperity of the wicked. Pf. xxxvii. neither is his eye satisfied with 1. Free not thyself because of evil. riches, neither faith he, for whom doers, neither be thou envious a. do I labour, and bereave my soul of gainst the workers of iniquity.v.7. good? This is also vanity: yea, it is Ref in the Lord, and wait patiently a fore travel. Eccl. vi. 2. A mao to for him : fret not thyself because of whom God hath given riches, him who prospereth in his way, be. wealth, and honour, so that he cause of the man who bringeth wanteth nothing for his foul of all wicked devices to pass.

that he desireth, yet God giveth * 1 Theff. ii.n1. For we hear that him not power to eat thereof, but a there are some who walk 'among stranger eateth it; this is vanity, you disorderly, working not at all, and it is an evil disease. I Tim. F. but are busy bodies. Prov. xviii. 9. 8. But if any provide not for his He also that is flothful in his work, own, and specially for those of his is brother to him that is a great own house, he bath denied the walter.

faith, and is worse than an infidel. y Prov xx. 17. He that loreth

143. a Exod. xx. 16. pleasures shall be a poor man he that 144

b Zech. viii, 16 These are loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. the things that ye shall do, Speak ye Prov.xxiii. 20. Be not among wine. every man the truth unto his neigh. bibbers; among riotous earers of bour: execute the judgment of truth felh. v. 21. For the drunkard and and peace in your gates. the glutcon shall come to poverty:

C 3 Joha

manb,and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our ownc: Appearing and standing for the truthd; and from the hearte,sincerelyf,freelyg,clearlyh,and fullyi, speaking the truth and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justicek, and in all other things whatsoeverl: a charitable esteem of our neighbours m;

loving, • 3 Joho xii. Demetrius hath good thing that I shall ask thee. And the report of all men, and of the truth woman said, Let my lord the king itself: yea, and we also bear record, now speak. v. 19. and the king faid, and ye know that our record is true. is not the hand of Joab with thee

a Prov. xxxi. 8. Open thy mouth in all this? and the woman answerfor the dumb, in the cause of all such ed and faid, As thy soul liveth, my as are appointed to deftru&ion. v.9. lord the king, pone can turn to the Open thy mouth, judge righteously, right-hand or the left from ought and plead the cause of the poor and that my lord the king hath spoken: needy.

for thy servant Joab he bade me, e Psal. xv. 2. He that walketh and he put all these words in the uprightly, and worketh righteouf- mouth of thine hand maid. v. 20. ness, and speaketh the truth from To fetch about this form of speech his heart.

hath thy fervant Joab done this f 2 Chrod. xix. 9. And he charge thing: and my lord is wise, ed them, saying, Thus shall ye do k Lev. xix 15. Ye Mall do no un. in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, righteousness in judgment: thou and with a perfect heart.

Malt not respect the person of the 8 1 Sam. xix. 4. And Jonathan poor, nor honour the person of the Spake good of David unto saul his mighty, but in righteousness thalt father, and said unto him, Let not thou judge thy neighbour. Prov. the king fin against his servant, a- xiv. 5. A faithful witness will not lie gainst David : because he hath not but a false witness will utter lies. v. finned against thee, and because his 25. A true witness delivereth fouls, works bave been to thee-ward very but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. good. v. s. For he did put his life in 1 Cor. i. 17. When I therefore his hand, and flew the Philistine, and was thus minded, did I use lightthe Lord wrought a great falvation aefs? or the things that I purpose, for all Ifrael : thou fawest it, and do I purpose according to the flesh, didst rejoice : wherefore then wilt that with me there should be yea, thou fin against innocent blood, to yea, and day, day? v. 18. But as Bay David without a cause ? God is true, our word toward you

h Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua faid was not yea and nay. Eph. iv. 25. unto Achan, My son, give, I pray Wherefore putting away lying, thee, glory to the Lord God of Il- fpeak every man truth with his rael, and make confeshon unto him: neighbour : tor we are members one and tell me now what thou hast of another. done, hide it not from me.

m Heb. vi. 9. But, beloved, we i 2 Sam. xiv. 18. Then the king are persuaded better things of you, aoswered and faid unto the woman, and things that accompany falva: . Hide pot from me, I pray thee, the on, though we thus fpeak, i C..

i U