A Golden Chain, Chapter 28
CHAP. 28. Concerning the ninth Commandement.
THe ninth Commandement belongeth to the preseruation of our neighbours good name.
The words are these: Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour.
The Resolution.
Thou shalt not beare] That is, answer when thou art asked before a Iudge. Deutr. 19.17. Then both the men which striue together, shall stand before the Lord, euen before the Priests and the Iudges which shall be in those daies. 18. And the Iudges shall make diligent inquisition, and if the witnesse be found false, and hath giuen false witnesse against his brother.
Witnesse] By a figure signifieth eueryevery word, whereby the credit and estimation of our neighbour is either impaired or diminished.
The negatiue part.
Thou shalt not diminish or hurt the good name and estimation of thy neighbour.
Here is forbidden:
I. Enuie, disdaine of others, desire of a mans owne glorie. 1. Tim. 6.4. He is puft vp, and knoweth nothing, but doteth about questions, and strife of words, whereof commeth enuie, strife, railings. 1. Pet. 2.1. Wherefore, laying aside all maliciousnes, and enuie and all guile, and euill speaking. Math. 21.15. But when the chiefe Priests and Scribes saw the marueiles that he did, and the children crying in the Temple, and saying, Hosanna the sonne of Dauid, they disdained.
II. Euill suspicions. 1. Tim. 6.4. 1. Sam. 17.28. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake vntounto the men, and Eliab was angrie with Dauid, and said, Why camest thou downe hither? and with whome hast thou left those few sheepe in the wildernesse? I know thy pride, and the malice of thine heart. Act. 28.4. Now when the Barbarians saw the worme hang on his hand; they said among themselues. This man surely is a murtherer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance hath not suffered to liue. Here are condemned, hard censures and sinister iudgements against our neighbour. Matth. 7. 1. Iudge not; that yee be not iudged. 2. For with what iudgement yee iudge, ye shall be iudged: and with what measure yee mete, it shall be measured to you againe. These iudgements which Christ forbiddeth, are priuate and reprochfull or slaunderous iudgements: namely, when either a good or an indifferent action is interpreted to the worse part: or when a light offence is made hainous through euill will, without all desire either to amend, or to couer the same. Act. 2.13. And other mocked and saide, They are full of new wine. 14. But Peter standing with the eleuen, lift vp his voice, and said vntounto them, Ye men of Iudea, and all ye that inhabite Ierusalem, be this knowne vntounto you, and hearken vntounto my words; 15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, since it is but the third houre of the day. 1. Sam. 1.13. For Hannah spake in her heart, her lips did mooue onelyonly, but her voice was not heard, therfore Eli thought she had beene drunken. But we must know that there are three kinds of iudgements which are not forbidden by this commandement of Christ. The first is, the ministerie of the Gospel, which iudgeth & reprooueth sinne. The secōd is, the iudgement of the Magistrate. The third is, the iudgement of a friend admonishing vsus: as when he saith, Abstaine from the companie of such a man, for I know him to be a drunkard, &c.
III. A relation of the bare words onelyonly, and not of the sense and meaning of our neighbour. Math. 26.59. Now the chiefe Priests, and the Elders, and all the whole Councell, sought false witnes against Iesus, to put him to death. 60. But they found none, and though many false witnesses came, yet found they none: but at the last came two false witnesses. 61. And said, This man saide, I can destroy the Temple of God, and build it in three daies. Indeede Christ saide some such thing in wordes, as appeareth, Ioh. 2.19. Iesus answered and said vntounto them, Destroy this temple, and in three daies I will raise it vp againe.
IV. A lie, whereby eueryevery falshood with purpose to deceiue is signified, whether in wordes, or in deedes, or concealing the truth, or any other way whatsoeuer; be it for neuer so great a good to our neighbour.
V. To pronounce vniust sentence in iudgement, to rest in one witnesse, to accuse another wrongfully, to bewray a mans cause by collusion. 1. King. 21.12. They proclaimed a fast, and set Nabaoth among the chiefe of the people. 13. And there came two wicked men, and sate before him, and the wicked men witnessed against Nabaoth in the presence of the people, saying, Nabaoth did blaspheme God and the King: then they caried him away out of the citie, and stoned him with stones that he died. Deut. 17.6. At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he, that is worthie of death, die: but at the mouth of one witnesse he shall not die.
VI. Openly to raise forged and hurtfull tales and reports of our neighbour, or priuily to deuise the same. Rom. 1.29. Whisperers. 30. Backbiters, haters of God, proud, boasters, inuenters of euill things. Leuit. 19.16. Thou shalt not walke about with tales among thy people, thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. 1. Tim. 5.13. And likewise also beeing idle, they learne to goe about from house to house: yea, they are not onelyonly idle, but also pratlers and busibodies, speaking things which are not comely. To spread abroad flying tales, or to faine and adde any thing vntounto them. Prou. 26.20. Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth. 21. As a coale maketh burning coales, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife. 22. The wordes of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly. 2. Cor. 12.20. For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as I would not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord among you. To receiue or beleeue those tales which we heare of others. Exod. 23.1. Thou shalt not receiue a false tale, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be a false witnesse. 1. Sam. 24.10. And Dauid said to Saul, Wherefore giuest thou an eare to mens wordes, that say, Behold, Dauid seeketh euill against thee?
VII. To accuse our neighbour, for that which is certaine & true, through hatred, and with intent to hurt him. 1. Sam. 22.9. Then answered Doeg the Edomit… (who was appointed ouer the seruants of Saul) and said, I saw the sonne of Ishai when he came to Nob, to Abimelech the sonne of Ahitub, 10. Who asked counsell of the Lord for him, and gaue him victualls, and he gaue him also the sword of Goliah the Philistim. Of this deede Dauid thus speaketh. Psal. 52.1. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer. 2. Thy tongue imagineth mischeife, and is like a sharpe rasor, that cutteth deceitfully. 3. Thou doest louelove euill more then good: and lies, more then to speake the trueth. 4. Thou louest all wordes that may destroy, O deceitfull tongue.
VIII. To open or declare our neighbours secret to any man, especially, if he did it of infirmitie. Mat. 18.15. Moreouer, if thy brother trespasse against thee, goe and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he heare thee, thou hast wonne thy brother. Pro. 11.13. He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth a secret: but he that is of a faithfull heart, concealeth a matter.
IX. All babling talke and bitter wordes. Eph. 5.3. But fornication and all vncleannesse, let it not be once named among you. 4. Neither filthinesse, neither foolish talking, neither iesting, which are not comely, but rather giuing of thankes. Ioh. 9.34. They answered and said vntounto him, Thou art altogither borne in sinnes, and doest thou teach vsus? so they cast him out. This iesting, or as it is nowe tearmed, wit, which Aristotle the Philosopher maketh a vertue, is by Paul the Apostle accounted a vice: and that not without cause; I. Such quipps as sting others, though they be a great pleasure for some to heare, yet are they very offensiue to such as are so girded. II. It is very hard to make Christian both godlinesse and grauity to agree with such behauiour. Obiect. But salt and tart speeches are vsull in the scriptures, 1. King. 18. 27. Eliah mocked the Priests of Baal. Esa. 14.9. Answer. Such speeches are not spoken to please others, but are sharply deuounced against Gods enemies to his glorie.
X. Flatterie, whereby we praise our neighbour aboue that, we knowe in him. Prou. 27.6. The woundes of a louer, are faithfull, but the kisses of an enemie are to be shunned. 14. He that praiseth his friende with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted to him as a curse. Act. 12.22. And the people gaue a shout, saying, The voice of God, and not of man. This is a grieuous sinne in the ministers of the word. 1. Thess. 2.5. Neither did we euer vse flattering wordes, as ye knowe, nor coloured couetousnesse, God is record. Ier. 6.13. For from the least of thē, euen vntounto the greatest of them, eueryevery one is giuen vntounto couetousnesse, and from the Prophet, euen vntounto the priest, they all deale falsely. 14. They hauehave healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete wordes, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Rom. 16.18. For they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus Christ, but their owne bellies, and with faire speech and flattering, deceiue the hearts of the simple.
XI. Foolish and ouer confident boasting. Prou. 27.1. Boast not thy selfe of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a daie may bring forth. 2. Let another praise thee, and not thine owne mouth, a stranger and not thine owne lips.
XII. To accuse, or witnesse against one falsely. 1. King. 21.13. Naboth blasphemed God and the king.
The affirmatiue part.
Preserue the good name of thy neighbour. Eccles. 7.3. A good name is better then a good ointment.
Here is commanded:
I. A reioicing for the credit and good estimation of thy neighbour. Gal. 5.22. But the fruit of the spirit, is louelove, ioy, peace, gentlenesse. Rom. 1.8. First I thank my God through Iesus Christ, for you all, because your faith is published throughout the whole world.
II. Willingly to acknowledge that goodnes we see in any man whatsoeuer, and onelyonly to speake of the same. Tit. 3.2. That they speake euill of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, shewing all meekenes to all men. Moreouer, wee must with all desire, receiue and beleeue reports of our neighbours good. Act. 16.1. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certaine Disciple was there, named Timotheus, a womans sonne which was a Iewesse, & beleeued, but his father was a Grecian. 2. Of whome the brethren which were at Lystra & Iconium, reported wel. 3. Therefore Paul would that he should goe forth with him, and tooke and circumcised him. Notwithstanding, this must so be performed of vsus, that in no wise wee approoue and allowe of the vices and faults of men. 2. Chron. 25.2. And hee did vprightly in the eies of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. And chap. 27.2. And he did vprightly in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Vzziah did, saue that he entred not into the temple of the Lord, & the people did yet corrupt their waies.
III. To interpret a doutfull euill, to the better part. Cor. 13.5. LoueLove thinketh not euill. 7. It beleeueth all things, it hopeth all things. Gen. 37.31. And they tooke Iosephs coate, and killed a kidde of the goats, and dipped the coat in the bloode. 32. So they sent that parti-coloured coate, and they brought it to their father, and said, This hauehave we found, see now, whether it be thy sonnes coate or no. 33. Then hee knew it, and said, It is my sonnes coate, a wicked beast hath deuoured him, Ioseph is surely torne in peeces. And here obserue the religiō of that Ioseph, which was betrothed to Mary, who when he sawe that Mary was with child, was readier to conclude that before her betroathing she was with child by committing fornication, then after by cōmitting adulterie. Mat. 1.19. But for all this, men must not be too too credulous, or light of beleefe. Ioh. 2.24. But Iesus did not commit himselfe vntounto them… because he knewe them all.
IV. Not to beleeue an euill report, running abroad amongst the common people, by the whisperings of talebearers, as it were, by conduit pipes. Psal. 15.3. Hee that slaundereth not with his tongue, nor doth euill to his neighbour, nor receiueth a false report against his neighbour. Ierem. 40.14. And they saide vntounto him, Knowest thou not, that Baalis the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmac… the sonne of Nethaniah, to slay thee? but Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, beleeued him not. 16. But Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, said vntounto Ionathan, the sonne of Kareah, thou shalt not doe this thing, for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael. But we ought also to be angrie at such whisperings. Pro. 25.23. As the North wind driueth away the raine, so doth an angrie countenance the slaundering tongue.
V. To keepe secret the offence of our neighbour, except it must of necessitie be reuealed. Prou. 10.12. Hatred stirreth vp contention: but louelove couereth all trespasses. Mat. 1.19. Then Ioseph her husband beeing a iust man, and not willing to make her a publike example, was minded to put her away secretly.
A man would suppose, that by this means, we should be partakers of other mens sins. But we must know, that we ought to conceale our neighbours imperfections, least he should be prouoked to offence: yet in the meane season, he must be admonished that he may amend. Gal. 6.1. Iam. 5.19. Brethren, if any of you hauehave erred from the trueth, and some man hath conuerted him. 20. Let him know; that he which hath conuerted the sinner from going astray out of his way shall saue a soule from death, and shall hide a multitude of sinnes.
But if the sin which is concealed, cannot thereby be taken away, then must we in louelove and charitie, declare the same to those, which may remooue and amend the same. Gen. 37.2. When Ioseph was seuenteene yere olde, he kept sheepe with his brethren, and the child was with the sonnes of Bilhah, and with the sonnes of Zilpah, his fathers wiues: and Ioseph tolde vntounto their father, their euill sayings. 1. Cor. 1.11. For it hath beene declared vntounto me, my brethren, of you by them that are of the house of Cloe, that there are contentions among you. Mat. 18.16. But if hee heare thee not, take with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, eueryevery word may be confirmed.
To get a good name and estimation amongst men, and to keepe the same, when we hauehave gotten it. Phil. 4.8. Furthermore, brethren, whatsoeuer things are true, whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer things are iust, whatsoeuer things are pure, whatsoeuer things pertaine to louelove, whatsoeuer things are of good report, if there be any vertue, if there be any praise, thinke on these things. A good name is gotten, 1. If we, seeking the kingdome of God before all things, doe repent vsus of all our sinnes, and with an earnest desire, imbrace and follow after righteousnesse. Prou. 10.7. The memoriall of the iust shall be blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. Mar. 14.9. Verily I say vntounto you, wheresoeuer this Gospell shall bee preached throughout the whole world, this also, that she hath done, shall be spoken of in remembrance of her. 2. Wee must hauehave a care both to iudge, and speake well of others. Mat. 7.2. With what iudgement ye iudge, yee shall be iudged. Eccl. 7.23. GiueGive not thine heart also to all the wordes that men speake, least thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee. 24. For oftentimes also thine heart knoweth… that thou likewise hast cursed others. 3. Wee must abstaine from all kinde of wickednesse: for one onelyonly vice or sinne, doth obscure and darken a mans good name. Eccles. 10.1. Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the Apothecarie: so doth a little follie him that is in estimation for wisdome, and for glorie. 4. We must in all things earnestly seeke for the glorie of God onelyonly, and not our owne. Matth. 6.5. And when thou praiest, bee not as the hypocrites, for they louelove to stand and praie in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the streetes, because they would bee seene of men: verily I say vntounto you… they hauehave their reward. 6. But when thou praiest, enter into thy chamber; and when thou hast shut thy doore, pray vntounto thy father which is in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
But if… when we seeke the glory of God, honest and godly men doe praise and testifie well of vsus, we must not despise this their testimonie and commendation: & although they neuer praise vsus nor testifie of vsus at all, yet must wee take it in good part. 2. Cor. 1.12. For our reioysing is this, the testimonie of our cō science, that in simplicitie and godly purenes, and not in fleshly wisdome, but by the grace of God, we hauehave had our conuersation in the world, & most of all to you wards. And chap. 10.13. But we will not reioice of things which are not within our measure, but according to the measure of the line, whereof God hath distributed to vsus a measure, to attaine euen vntounto you. Psal. 16.5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintaine my lot. 6. The lines are fallen vntounto me in pleasant places: yea, I hauehave a faire heritage. 1. Cor. 1.31. He that reioiceth, let him reioice in the Lord.