The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 28 – Section 35
SECT. XXVIII. Of the fourth Commandement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the fourth Commandement?
A. dExo. 20.8. &c.Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy &c.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
A. To challenge at the hand of eueryevery man, in behalfe both of himſelfe and of all that are vnderunder his roofe andeNehem. 13.15. &c. Joſ. 24.15 gouernement, one day, (and now ſince the reſurrection of Chriſt the firſt) of the ſeauen, in eueryevery weeke, to be ſet apart vntounto an holy reſt, for Gods publique and ſolemne worſhip; and that vponupon a fourefold reaſon:
1. From equitie, becauſe God alloweth vsus ſix dayes for our affaires, and reſerueth but one for himſelfe.
2. From his owne right, becauſe this day is his and not ours.
3. From his example, who on the ſeuenth day reſted from his work of Creation.
4. From hope of bleſsing, becauſe God hath bleſſed, and ſanctified the Sabbath not onelyonly as a day of ſeruice to himſelfe, but alſo as a time andaExod 31.13 Eſay 56.6, 7. meanes to beſtow encreaſe of grace vponupon ſuch, as doe conſcionably obſerue the ſame.
Q. What are the duties required in this Commandement?
A. Three, Viz.
1. To remember the Sabbath day: that is not onelyonly to looke back vntounto thebGen. 1.2, 3 firſt ſanction of it in Paradiſe, before all ſacrifices and ceremonies (which reaſon, among many others, may perſwade, that it is not ceremoniall, but perpetuall, not to ceaſe till it be perfectlyaHeb. 4.9.10 conſummated in the heauenly Sabbath) but alſo ſo to beare it in minde, as to liue in continuall practiſe of the duties wee learned the Sabbath paſt, andbLuk. 23.54 preparation of our ſelues, and our affaires, that wee may freely and duely attend on the Lord in the Sabbath approching.
2. TocEſay 58.13 make it our delight, to conſecrate it as glorious to the Lord, performing, with care, and deſire of profit, the duties thereof in publique and priuate: to wit:
OfdAct. 13.13, 15 Pſal. 92 See the title. pietie, as hearing and reading the word, communicating in the Sacraments, prayer, ſinging of Pſalmes, conferring, & meditating of the word and workes of God, eſpecially feeding our ſoules with the contemplation of the heauenly Sabbath, &c.
Ofe1. Cor. 16.2 Nehe. 8.12 merciemercy, as collections for the poore, viſiting the ſicke, comforting the ſad, reconciling ſuch as are at variance: and ſuch like.
Wherein ſuch, as are neceſſarily debarred from the publique duties muſt, withaMat. 24.20 Pſal. 42.6 ſorrow for ſuch reſtraint, vſe more carefully thebPſal. 63.1, 2 priuate meanes.
3. TocExod. 34.21 & 31.13 reſt from our ordinary, though lawfull buſineſſes, for the ſpace of that whole naturall day; yea to allow reſt to the very cattel, both that we may ſhewdPro. 12.10 mercy, euen to the beaſt, and to repreſent, after a ſort, the euerlaſting Sabbath, wherein alleRo. 8.20, 21 creatures ſhall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption: Notwithſtanding ſuch works are excluded, as are preſently neceſſarie, either for thefAct. 1.12 Mat. 12.5. actions of pietie belonging to that day, or for extraordinarie exigents of charitie, for theg2. Kin. 11.9 &c. preſeruation of the commonwealth, or of our owne or others hMat. 3.4 M…t. 12.1. &clife, ori1 Ver. 11. liuelihood, in caſe of preſent neceſſitie, or danger.
Q. What is forbidden in this commandement?
A. The vnhallowing or profaning of the Sabbath: which is done
1. By making it a common day through commonaNeh. 13.15. &c. labour in our ordinarie callings, bEſay 58.13.talking of our worldly affaires, thinking of our owne thoughts, or no other but a common vſe of the creatures.
2. By making it a day of carnall reſt, vntounto idleneſſe, cExod. 32.6.feasting, pastimes &c. Which draw our mindes farther from God, then our ordinarie labours.
3. By making it a day of ſinne, or the Diuels holiday, doing that on the Lords day, which isdMar. 3.4. no day lawfull, but then moſteEzek. 23.37, 38 abhominable.
4. By beeingfAmos 8.5. Mal. 1.1… weary of the duties of the Sabbath, thinking long till they be ended.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances to the keeping of this commandement?
A.
1. We muſt adde to the forementioned duty of remembrance an ardent endeauour to taſt the aPſal. 42.2, 3 & 84.1, &c.ſweetnes of holy exerciſes, that ſo wee may come to make the Sabbath our delight.
2. We muſt auoyd, and abhorre, allbEzek. 22.26 prophane opinions, either diſannulling the neceſsitie of the Sabbath, or equalling any other day to it; together with ſuch meetings, and companies, exerciſes, and occaſions, whereby we ſhal be in daunger to be drawn to the vnhallowing of this day.
SECT. XXIX. Of the fift Commaundement.
Q. TO proceed to the ſecond Table; What are the words of the fift Commaundement?
A. cExod. 20.12Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.
Q. What is the meaning and ſcope of this Commaundement?
A. That the qualitie of mens perſons, and places, in whatſoeuer eſtate, naturall, ciuile, or Eccleſiaſticall, & with whatſoeuer relation to vsus, be duely acknowledged and reſpected, and that vponupon aaEph 6.2, 3. promiſe of the bleſsing of long life andbDeut. 5.16 proſperitie, to ſuch as, in ſo doing, ſhall ſhew that they regard thecEph. 6.1. Rom. 13.1, 2. image, and ordinance of God.
Q. What is required in this Commaundement?
A. All due carriage of inferiours to their ſuperiours, and by conſequent, of ſuperiors alſo to their inferiors, and of equalls among themſelues, vnderunder the ſweet relation betwixt parents and children, or betwixt brethren of the ſame familie, and the generall duetie of honour: importing
Firſt, that all inferiours, as wiues, children, young perſons, ſubiects, ſeruants, hearers, &c. doe readily acknowledge and yeeld to their ſuperiours, dLeuit. 19.3 Eph. 6.5reuerence in heart, word, and behauiour:eEph. 6.1. Col. 3.20. Tit. 3.1. Heb. 13.7. obedience and ſubmiſsion to their commaundements, counſels, and corrections:fTit 2.10. fidelitie: thankfulneſſe: gRom. 13.6, 7. Gal. 6.6.maintenance: h1. Tim 2.1, 2prayer to God for them, with giuing of thankes:i2. Tim. 1.5 Phil. 4.9. imitation of their vertues and graces, &c.
Secondly, that all Superiours, as huſbands, parents, aged perſons, Magiſtrates, Maiſters, Miniſters, &c. doe anſwerably affoord to their inferiours, aEph. 5.23. Rom 13.4protection and ſupport:bMat. 7.9, 10 prouiſion of good things for the bodie and the ſoule:cEph. 6.4. education and inſtruction in nurture and the feare of God: dHeb. 21.20 & 7.7. Gen. 9.25, 26, 27.bleſſing, according to the power they receiue from God:eTit. 2.7. good example for their imitation, &c.
Thirdly, that equals do in the matter of honour and reſpect,fRom. 12.10 1. Pet. 2.17. & 5.5. Eph. 5.21. preferre each other before themſelues.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commaundement?
A. Firſt the omiſsion of any of the dueties aforenamed.
Secondly the contrarie ſins, whereby either
InferioursgIude verſe 8, 9, 10. Pro. 30.11. deſpiſe orhRom. 1.30. diſobey their ſuperiours: or
SuperioursiTit. 2.15. diſhonour their places, as by vnſeemely carriage, or abuſe of their Authoritie, through too muchk1. Sam. 2.23, &c. lenitie, or aEph. 6.4, 9ſeueritie, &c. or finally
Equals aduance themſelues onebMat. 23.6. aboue another.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances of the obedience of this Commaundement?
Firſt, on both ſides, there muſt bee endeuour to nouriſh and encreaſecRom. 12.10, 16. naturall affection, humilitie, and wiſedome to diſcerne what isdRom. 13.7. fitting for our owne, and others places.
Secondly, in ſeuerall,
The Inferiour muſt ſee eRom. 13.1, 2God in the place and authoritie of his Superiour, ſetting before his eyes the dreadfull threatnings and examples of Gods vengeance on thefEccleſ. 10.8 ſeditious and diſobedient.
The Superior muſt bee the ſame to his Inferior, that hee would hauehavegEph. 6.9. Chriſt to bee vntounto himſelfe; remembring the tragicall ends of Tyrants, and vſurpers.
Contrariwiſe, as hinderances of theſe dueties, are to be auoyded,h2. Tim. 3.2, 3, 4. ſelf-louelove, which maketh men vnfit either to rule, or to obey: partiall aEccleſ. 7 23 24.enquirie into the dueties of others towards vsus, ioyned for the moſt part, with neglect of our owne: the furie of Anabaptiſts: with the companie ofbPro. 24: 21, 22. ſeditious perſons, and deſpiſers of gouernement, &c.
SECT. XXX. Of the ſixt Commaundement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the ſixt Commaundement?
A. cExod. 20.13Thou ſhalt not kill.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commaundement?
A. That thedGen. 9.5. life and perſon of man be, by man, not impeached, but preſerued.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commaundement?
A. Whatſoeuer tendeth to the hurt of the ſoule, or bodie; whether
1. Our owne, as
ePro. 6.32. & 8.35.Sinne, eſpecially groſſe ſinnes, andfRom. 2.5. Tit. 3.11. obſtinacie in ſinning; reiecting the food of ſpirituall life, by aPro. 28.….not hearing, or notbJam. 1.22 obeying the word: corrupting or peruerting it, byc2. Tim. 4.3. itching eares, ord2. Pet. 3 16. vnſtable mindes, &c.
e1. Sam 31.4Selfemurther, *1. Kin. 18.28.launcing or whipping our owne fleſh, ſurfets, f1. Kin. 2.23capitall crimes, vnneceſſarie dangers, &c.
2. Or our neighbours as,
gPro. 29.12Euill example, h1 Kin. 12.28commanding or tempting to things vnlawfull,i1 Cor 8.10 11. vnſeaſonable vſe of Chriſtian libertie, kAmos 7.13 Eſay 56.10.withholding the food of ſpirituall life,l1. Tim 1.4. corrupting it by erroneous, or vaine and curious expoſitions, &c.
The taking away ofmGen. 9.6. life, (otherwiſe then in caſe of publikenIoſ. 7.19, &c. iuſtice, iuſtoDeu. 20.12, 13. warre, or neceſſariepExod 22 2 defence) al paſsions ofqMat 5 22. anger, hatred, enuie, deſire of reuenge, vnmercifulneſſe, &c. bitter andrPro. 12.18. curſed ſpeaking, ſ1. Sa. 25.17froward & churliſh behauior, ſtriking ortLeu. 24.19.20. wounding, cruelluIam. 5.4. oppreſsion (withdrawing the meanes of life)xDeut. 25.3. extremitie in correction and puniſhment &c.
Q. What is required in this commandement?
A. Whatſoeuer may preſerue, or cheriſh the ſoule and bodie, viz.
1. Our owne; as
A carefula1. Pet. 2.2 vſe of the means of grace, with diligēce to finiſh ourbPhil. 2.12 ſaluation, & make ourc2. Pet. 1.10 election ſure, by the fruits of faith &c.
Sober and wholſome d1. Tim. 5.43dyet, with helpe of Phiſicke, when neede is,eIoh. 18.8 preuenting vnneceſſarie dangers &c. Finally willingneſſe to receiue thef2 Cor. 1.9. ſentence of death, when God ſhall vtter it: and reſigning ourgNu. 27.16 1. Chro 28.1, &c. charge in Church, Common-wealth, or Family, into the hands of faithfull men: ourhPſal. 31.5 ſoule to God in Chriſt, with confidence of his louelove,iIob. 13.15 though hee kill vsus, of the remiſsion of our ſinnes, and ourkJob 19.25 &c. reſurrection vntounto immortalitie: our bodie to the earth as a pledge, in time to be reſumed.
2. Our neighbours; as
LoueLove of him, as of our ſelues: aMath. 5.16.good example: bHeb. 10.24.counſell, and encouragement vntounto wel-doing: ſeaſonablecPſal. 141.5. admonition, d1 Theſ. 4.18.conſolation, &c.
ePhil. 4.8. Iam. 3.13.Amiable behauior: fIob 29.15. &c.reliefe: gPro. 24.11, 12.reſcue from danger, if wee may:hRom. 12.15 compaſsion and fellow feeling of his good or euill:iMatth. 5.9. peace-making; and for that end,k1 Cor. 13.7 construing things in the beſt ſence,lEph. 4.32. paſsing by offences, yeamGen. 13.8, 9 parting ſometimes with our right:nMat. 25.36 Iam. 1 27. viſiting and comforting him in ſicknes and affliction, &c.
Finally, decentoGen. 23.4. buriall with moderatepEccleſ. 12.7 1 The. l. 4.13. mourning.
Q. What are the helps or hinderances to the obedience of this Commandement?
A. Firſt, it behoueth vsus to conſider, that al men are made in theqGen. 9.6. image of God, and ofrAct. 17, 26. one bloud with vsus, and all Christians in the image of Chriſt alſo, in whom wee are allſ1. Cor. 12.27 one body: that God hathtGen. 9.6. appointed the magiſtrate to puniſhuLeuit. 2.4.20, 21. proportionably euerie offender in this kind; yea himſelfe extraordinarily bringethxGen. 4.9. &c. Pro. 28.17. Act. 28.4. murtherers to light and puniſhment.
Secondly, we muſt abhor the falſe opinion of the world, placing manhood inaGen. 4.23.24. reuenge and bloudſhed: thebPro. 22.24, 25. company of furious and vnmercifull men:cPro. 1.19. greedy deſire of gaine, &c.
SECT. XXXI. Of the ſeuenth Commandement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the ſeuenth Commandement?
A. dExod. 20.14.Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery.
Q. What is the meaning and ſcope of this Commandement?
A. That alle2 Cor. 7.1. 1 Theſſ. 4.3, 4, 5. vncleanneſſe and impuritie auoided, chaſtitie by all means be preſerued.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commandement?
A. All impurity and fleſhly pollution; as filthyfMatth. 5.28 imaginations and lusts: gEphe. 4.29. & 5.4.ſpeaking orh1. Cor. 15.35 giuing eare to corrupt & rotten communication: iEzek. 16.49idleneſſe: intemperance in diet:kEſa. 3.16. &c. immodestie in the apparell & ornaments of the body:lEzek. 23.14. laſciuious pictures: aPro. 6.13. & 7.10. &c.impudencie or lightneſſe in countenance, or behauiour: nightly pollutions:bHeb. 13.4. fornicatiō, & adultery; both which are aggrauated by the circumſtances ofc2 Sam. 13.14 inceſt, &dDeut. 22.25 rape: vnlawfull entrance into mariage; when the parties are in theeLeuit 18.6, &c. degrees of conſanguinitie, or affinitie, prohibited, of afGen 6 2. diuerſe religion, gMal. 2.15.formerly maried, or contracted to ſome other, or wantinghExod. 22.16 17. due conſent of parents, or betwixtiGen. 29.23. themſelues: abuſe of the marriage bed kLeuit. 18.19vnſeaſonably, or intemperately: Finally the vnnaturall vſe, or luſt after thelRom. 1.26, &c. ſame ſex, or a diuersmLeuit. 20.15, &c. kinde &c.
Q. What is required in this Commandement?
A. n1 Theſſ. 5.23.Chaſtity and purity in heart: oEph. 4.29.ſpeach ſauoring of ſobriety & grace: thep1 Theſ. 4.4. poſſeſsing of our veſſels in holineſſe and honor:q1 Cor. 9.27. temperance in dyet, and conuenient abſtinence: labour in our vocations:r1 Tim. 2.9. modeſty in apparell:ſTit. 2 3. grauity in behauiour: Finally in thoſe that hauehave not the gift of continencie, holyt1 Cor. 7.9. wedlocke; and therein mutualluPro. 5.19. delight, duex1 Cor. 7.3, 4.5. beneuolence, yRom. 7 2.fidelitie, andaPro. 31.11 confidence each in other &c.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances to the obedience of this Commandement?
A. Firſt, vntounto thoſe forementioned helps, there muſt bee added care to keepe abEccleſ. 7.28 good conſcience: watchfulneſſe ouer our ownecMal. 2.16 ſpirit: adJob. 31.1. couenant with our eies: louelove of God and of hisePro. 2.10. &c. wiſdome, fPſal 119.37.prayer, holy meditations &c.
Secondly we muſt abhorre theg1 Tim. 4.1.3 doctrine of diuels, deprauing and denying holy marriage: thehProu. 22 14. breach of peace with God: running on iniEccleſ. 7.28 ſinne, nameliekRo. 1 25, 26 ſuperſtition; in which caſes God giueth men ouer to vile luſts: Finally lewdlPro. 5.20. & 7.25. company, mGen. 34.1. &c.idle and vnwarrantable exerciſes, and whatſoeuer prouocations vntounto this kinde of ſinne.
SECT. XXXII. Of the eight Commaundement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the eight Commaundement?
A. aExod. 20.15.Thou ſhalt not ſteal….
Q. What is the meaning of this Commaundement?
A. That wee no way impeach or hinder, but by all meanes preſerue and further the wealth both of our ſelues and our neighbours.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commaundement?
A. Whatſoeuer is preiudiciall to the wealth
1. Of our ſelues; asbPro. 23.21. idleneſſe andc2 Theſ. 3.11 inordinate liuing: vnlawfull meanes of gaine, asdPro. 21.17. gaming, ſtage-playing, fortune-telling, eAct 19.19.figure-caſting, &c.fEccleſ 4.8. & 6.2. defrauding our ſelues of the vſe and comfort of that which God hath giuen: waſting and conſuming our ſubſtance by heedleſſe aPro. 6.1. &c.ſuretiſhip, bLuc. 15, 13.lauiſh ſpending, &c.
2. Of our neighbour; asc1 Ioh. 2.16. 2. Pet. ….14. couetouſneſſe, which is the luſt of the eye: dPro 20.25.ſacrilege: robbing of theeEſa 3.15. & 5.8. commonwealth by encloſures, ingroſsings, forſtallings, monopolies, &c. priuiefZech. 5.3. ſtealth, gPro. 1.11. &c.robbery, piracie, hEſa. 1.23.vpholding theft in others by impunity, &c.iPro. 22.22 23. Amos 5 11. oppreſsion and extortion:kPro. 22.28. remouing bounds or land marks:lIoh. 12.…. falſe dealing in matters committed to our truſt (the ſinne of factors, executors, and depoſitaries:)mPro. 20.14 debaſing that we would buy, extolling that wee would ſell: nDeut. 25.13, 14.falſe weights, meaſures, lights, &c. buying or ſelling things not vendible, as theoAct. 8.19 20 gifts of the holy Ghoſt, charge of ſoules, church-goods, thingspEſa. 55.2. vnprofitable or hurtfull to the buyer; as diſpenſations for ſin, charmes, &c. inhancing theqAmos 8.4. price: rPſal. 15.5.vſury, which is increaſe, exacted meerly for the loane: wrongfull detaining of theaLeuit. 19.13 laborers hire, the ſtray orbLeuit. 6.3 loſt thing, the thingcPſal 37.21. borrowed: dExod. 23.8briberie, which is the ſale of iuſtice, or iniuſtice:ePro. 28.7. feeding offTit 1 12. idle perſons, as Monks, g2. Theſſ. 3.10.wandring beggers, &c.
Q. What is required in this Commandement?
A. Whatſoeuer may proſper and further the wealth
1. Of our ſelues, as ahEph. 4.28. Gen. 3.19. lawful calling, with faithfull labour therein: honeſt care of keeping that we hauehave byiPro. 27.23, 24. frugalitie, wiſely ordering and limiting our expences to the proportion of our meanes: conuenientkEccl. 2.26, & 5 18. vſing of our wealth, withlHeb. 13.5. contentation of mind, by timely & moderate ſpending, &c.
2. Of our neighbor, asmPro. 11.25. liberalitie in giuing, andnPſal. 37.26. lending: iuſtice inoLeuit. 25.14. bargaining; whenpMath. 7.12. reſpect is had to our neighbours profit, as to our owne:qPſal. 15 4. keeping of all iuſt couenants: rEzek. 18 16reſtoring the pledge or thing borrowed: moderation inaMath. 18 28 1. Cor. 6.7. recouering our owne by ſuite of law: Finally amends for former iniuſtice bybLuc. 19 8. reſtitution, either to the party wronged,cNum. 5.7, 8. or to his kindred, or, if none, bee found, to God and the Church.
Q. What are the helps or hinderances to the obedience of this Commaundement?
A. Firſt wee muſt labour for faith in GodsdHeb. 13.5, 6 promiſes and prouidence, Godlineſſe, which ise1. Tim. 6.6, &c. great gaine and giueth contentment in whatſoeuer eſtate, withfPro. 30.8. prayer to God for foode conuenient &c.
Secondly we muſt auoide theg1. Tim. 6.10 louelove of money, the roote of all euill, the company ofhPro. 1.10. &c. 1 Pro. 23.20. lewd andiPro. 23.20. ryotous perſons &c.
SECT. XXXIII. Of the ninth Commandement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the ninth Commandement?
A. aExo. 20.16Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe againſt thy neighbour.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
A. That wee impeach not truth, or the credit of our ſelues, or our neighbour, but by all meanes maintaine and vphold the ſame.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commandement?
A. Whatſoeuer is contrarie to a true and iuſt opinion or report: asbApoc. 3.17. ouerweening, orcPſal. 31 21. vnderweening the good things in our ſelues:dAct. 8.9 bearing our ſelues aboue our worth: ePro. 27.2boaſting:f1. Sa. 15 21 excuſing our ſelues vniuſtly: debaſing our ſelues, whether bygIob. 27.5 vility denying Gods graces, or byhCol. 2.18. diſſimulation drawing others to commend vsus:iCol. 1.9 Apoc. 22.15. lying or aequiuocation: k1. Cor. 13.5ſuſpition: contempt: a2. Cor. 12.6fooliſh admiration, or expectation of others:bEſay 58.9 Pſal. 22.7 pointing at, or deriding: c1. Tim. 4.16forbearing to ſpeake in the cauſe or credit of our neighbour:dPro. 27.14 flatterie: ePro. 24.24excuſe, or defence of euill: fPſal. 15.3.falſe accuſation: gMat 26.61.reporting words beſides the meaning of the ſpeaker:h1. Sa. 22.9. vttering truth with deſire to doe hurt: iGen. 9.22 Pſa. 38.18, 19reioycing or making our ſelues merry with the infirmities & infamie of our neighbour: &c.
Q. What is required in this Commandement?
A. Whatſoeuer may nouriſh truth, and the good name, of our ſelues, or others: as tokPro. 10.19 ſpeake ſparingly, ſeeing in many words there cannot want iniquitie: to ſpeake thelPſal. 15.2. truth from our heart: to know andm2. Cor. 13.5 & 10.12. &c. iudge truely of our ſelues: to louelove our ownenPhil. 4.8. good name, and too2. Cor. 12.11. defend it, when neede requireth; yet modeſtly and vnwillingly: to iudge vprightly, and, as much as we may, in the p1. Cor. 13.7 Iam. 3 27beſt ſence, of our neighbour: to louelove, andqMat. 1.19 tender his credit as our owne: tor3. Ioh. ver. 12. commend him wherein hee deſerueth well, yet rather abſent, then preſent: toaLeu. 19.17. 1. Cor. 11.22 reproue him when iuſt cauſe is, but rather to his face, then behinde his backe, and withbReu. 2.2, 3, 4. &c. remembrance of what is praiſe worthy: &c.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances to the obedience of this Commandement?
A. Firſt we muſtcPſal. 39.1 keepe our mouth, as with a bridle; yea pray to God todPſal. 141.3 ſet a watch before the doore of our lips.
Secondly, we muſt abhorre the popiſh doctrine, maintaining aequiuocation, and teaching toe1. Tim 4.2 ſpeake lyes through hypocriſie: alſof2. Tim. 3.2 pride, and ſelfeloue, which thruſt men forward to boaſting and vaunting: Finally, exceſſiue drinking, and whatſoeuer elſe cauſeth the heart togPro. 23.33. vtter peruerſe things.
SECT. XXXIIII. Of the tenth Commandement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the tenth Commandement?
A. aExod. 20.17Thou ſhalt not couet thy neighbours houſe &c.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
A. That in the moſt inward diſpoſition of our heart, wee decline not from the rule of charitie; as to luſt after our neighbours houſe (orbCant. 8.7 whole poſſeſsion) his wife (which is hiscGen. 39.9 chiefeſt and choiſeſt treaſure) hisdExo. 21.16 ſeruants (which are precious aboue all outward poſſeſſions) his cattel, (which are next vntounto the ſoules vnderunder his keeping:) Finally any thing, how ſmall ſo euer in our account, belonging to him. But that in all things wee keep our ſelues within the rule of brotherly louelove.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commandement?
A. All luſts, contrarie to charitie. Viz.
1.eMat. 15.19 Rom. 7 7 Iam. 1.14. Originall corruption, ſo farre forth as it is the fountaine of ſinne, againſt the ſecond Table.
2.fG…l 5.17, 19 &c. Actuall luſts: as thoughts of the minde, deſires of the heart, fond wiſhings and wouldings, delightfull remembrances, andaJer. 4.14. meditations of euill, &c.
Q. What is required in this Commandment?
A. That wee diſpoſe of all our thoughts, & affections, according to charitie; whereto belongethb1. Tim. 6.8. Pſal. 16.6 contentment with our portion. c3. Joh. v. 2.wiſhing & delighting in our neighbours welfare, as our own:dGal. 5 16, 17. ſtriuing againſt luſt by the help of the ſpirit, and power of the death of Chriſt, &c.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances to the keeping of this Commandement?
A. Firſt we muſtePro 4 23 keepe our heart aboue all keepings, filling it with holy thoughts, andfCol. 3.2 meditation of thoſe things that are aboue, andgPſa. 119.36 praying to God to encline it to his teſt…monies, not vntounto couetouſneſſe. &c.
A. Secondly, wee muſt auoid thehPro. 17.24 gazing and wandring eye, that is in the corners of the world, together with all occaſions, and obiects of luſt: &c.
SECT. XXXV. Of the effect or exerciſe of Sanctification, viz. Repentance.
Q. THus farre of the Law, the rule of Sanctification: What is the effect, or exerciſe thereof?
A. Repentance, which is aaRo 12.1, 2 through change of our purpoſe of heart, & courſe of life, from thebEſay 1.16, 17 euill, which Gods word rebuketh in vsus, to the good, which it requireth of vsus.
Q. How is this change wrought in vsus?
A. When the ſinner, once humbled with the terrours of the Law, flyeth to the comforts of the Goſpell, hee therecZech. 12.10 ſeeth, in Chriſt crucified, not onelyonly the merciemercy of God diſcharging him of all his ſinnes, but alſo how deepe the wounds of ſinne are, wherewith hee hath pierced his Sauiour, and how ſeuere the wrath of God is againſt ſin, euen to the ſlaughtering of his owne Sonne:d1. Pet. 4.1 hence commeth he toePſal 97.10. hate his ſinne, as God hateth it, and to look back thereon witha2. Cor. 7.1… godly ſorrow, reſoluing for euer after to forſake all his ſinnes, and to liue in new obedience.
Q. When is this Repentance to bee …actiſed of vsus?
A. The practiſe of Repentance …ught to be a continuallbRom. 12.9 abhorring of euill, and cleauing vntounto that which is good, for as muchc1. Pet. 4.2, 3 time as remaineth in the fleſh after conuerſion: yet, at times there ought to be a more ſpeciall practiſe and renewing thereof, asdPſal. 31 after great fals, ineAmos 4.12. feare of imminent iudgements, or when we wouldfGen. 35.2, 3 &c. fit our ſelues to receiue ſpeciall mercies.
Q. In what manner muſt the ſpeciall practiſe of Repentance, in ſuch caſes, be performed?
A. There muſt be
1. A ſeriousgLam. 3.40. ſearch and enquirie after all ſinnes, as Traytors againſt God; but eſpeciallyhIer. 8.6 Pſal. 18.23 ſpeciall ſinnes, as the Arch-Rebels.
2. Humble confeſsion of ſinnes; and that
1. Of neceſsitie vntounto GOD, withaPro. 28.13 Ier. 31.18, 19 ſhame of face, and true ſorrow of heart.
2. VntoUnto men conditionally; Viz. if either the Church, forb2. Cor. 2.6. ſatisfaction of the publique offence, do enioine open acknowledgement: or ſomecLuk. 17.4 perſonall wrong demaund priuate reconciliation: or the weakeneſſe of the labouring conſcience doe require the ſecretdIam. 1.16. aſsiſtance of a faithfull, and able, Miniſter, or Brother.
3. Feruent and faithfullePſal. 51.1, 2 &c. prayer to God in Chriſt both forfVer. 7. pardon of what is paſt, and for ſupply ofgVer. 10. renewing grace, for the time to come.
Q. Seeing many doe falſely pretend that they repent, how may we know that our Repentance is true?
A. A true tryall of vnfained Repentance may be taken
1. From the generalitie of it, Viz. if it extend to the abhorring and ſhunning ofhPſ. 119.128 & 139.24 all ſinnes, and to the louelove and practiſe ofaPſal. 119.6. all duties, without reſeruation.
2. From the through performance of each part, Viz.
1. Of hatred of ſinne in ſpirituall warfare againſt it, and that euen vntounto bHeb. 12.4blood if neede be.
2. Of the louelove of righteouſneſſe, in bringing forthcMat. 3.8. fruits worthy of amendment of life, to wit, good workes.