The Duties Commanded and Sins Forbidden in the Law of God, Commandment 6
The sixth Commandement.
The negatiue part, forbidding all those sinnes which are referred to the person of
Thy neighbour, and those either
Inward.
Outward.
Thy selfe.
The inward sinnes are called the murther of the heart. Math. 5. 22. 1. Ioh. 3. 15. And to this head diuers particulars are to be referred.
And those are either as
Roots and fountaines from whence the rest doe spring and flow; as namely,
Vniust a… ger.
Hatred.
Fruits and streames proceeding from thence.
Anger is vniust, either when it
is conceiued vponupon no iust cause, but is ras… and vnaduised, Math. 5. 22. the habite whereof is ir acundia or hastinesse. Tit. 1. 7. Prou. 14. 29. Prou. 12. 16.
Exceedeth, either in
Greatnesse, being immoderate, as it were a short madnesse. Eccl. 7. 10. Prou. 29. 22. 27. 3.
Continuance, being inueterate, and turning into rancor and malice. Ephes. 4. 26, 27.
The Affirmatiue part, commanding those duties which …uery man oweth to his owne, or his neighbours person.
The dutie opposed, is …ither
…ust anger. Ephes. 4. 26. Mark. 3. 5.
Remedy of vniust anger, (Ephes. 4. 1, 2, 3. Col. 3. 12, 13, 14) viz.
Long-suffering and mildnesse. 1. Cor. 13. 4. Prou. 14. 29.
Goodnes, Rom. 12. 21. in being
Slow to anger. Iam. 1. 19.
Ready to forgiue. Ephes. 4. 32.
Hatred of our neighbours person. Leuit. 19. 17. 1. Ioh. 3. 15. 2. 9, 10, 11.
Hatred is either
Priuatiue, as being an absence of louelove; which is an vniust mislike four neighbour; not so much for any cause in him, as for want of louelove in our selues. 1. Ioh. 3. 4.
Positiue, wherof be 5. degrees: viz. when thou hatest another for
Euill receiued. Math. 5. 43, 44.
Euill s…spected: but charity is not suspitious. 1. Cor. 13. 5, 7.
No cause without thy selfe that hatest. Psal. 35. 19. 69. 5. Ioh. 15. 25.
Euill done vntounto him, as the obiect of thine vniustice. 2. Sam. 13 15.
His vertue and righteousnesse sake Psal. 38. 19, 20. Math. 10. 22. 1. Ioh. 3. 12.
And these were the roots.
The inward fruit of anger, is the desire or purpose of priuate reuenge Leuit. 19. 18. Rom. 12. 19. Prou. 20. 22. 24. 29. 1. Thes. 5. 15.
The inward fruites of hatred, are either more
Generall, as being carried towards all sorts: viz. Inhumanity or churlishnesse. 1. Sam. 25. 3, 10, 11, 17. foreign
Speciall.
The duty opposed,
LoueLove of our neighbours person.
Hatred of his sinne.
Leuit. 19. 17, 1….
The duties opposed,
1. To passe by an offence. Prou. 19. 11. Psal. 38. 13, 14 Prou. 10. 12.
2. Freely to forgiue it. Col. 3. 13. Math. 6. 12, 14. Luk. 17. 3, 4. Math. 18. 21, &c.
3. To forget it. Leuit. 19. 8.
4. To requite good for euil to them that hauehave wronged vsus, Mat. 5. 44. in
Helping them. Prou. 25. 21, 22.
Praying for them. Psalm. 35. 13. Act. 7. 60.
The duty opposed: Humanity, or foreign, Courtesie. 1. Pet. 3. 8. Gen. 23. 4, 6. 24. 19. Act. 27. 3.
The more speciall are distinguished according to the difference of the Persons against whom they are referred.
As first, against those wch are in
Prosperity, & it is
Enuy against superiors Pompeys enuy. Gen. 4. 5. 37. 4. 8. Act. 7. 9. Mat. 27. 18.
Emulation against equalls. Iam. 3. 14, 16. Caesars enuy. Mat. 20. 12, 15. Dan. 6. 4.
Disda…ne against inferiours. Luk. 15. 28, 29. Haman… enuy. Hest. 5. 13.
Pro. 27. 4 14. 30.
Aduersity, as
Contempt. Mat. 18. 10. Prou. 18. 3. 14. 21. 17. 5. Esa. 58. 7.
Hard-heartednesse or want of compassion. Luk. 10. 31, 32. 1. Ioh. 3. 17. Amos 6. 6. Prou. 21. 13.
Reioycing at the euill of another, foreign Prou. 24. 17, 18. … 17. 5. Io… 31. 29. Psalm. 35. 19, 21, 25.
Secondly, the fruits of Hatred are such as are carried against
Freinds, fained friendship, being worse than open hostility, Prou. 25. 19. such as is y• friendship of
Flatterers and parasites. Psal. 55. 12, 13. Pro. 27. 6 … 19. 4.
Trecherous persons 2. Sam. 20. 9. Luk. 22. 4. 8.
Foes, as
Enmity, and that either
Open hostility. Gal. 5. 20.
Secret grudge. Prou. 26. 24, 25, 26.
Implacablenesse, Rom. 1. …1. 2. Tim. …. 3.
Duty opposed, to
Wish others those good things, which either we hauehave, or they want. Numb. 11. 29. Act. 26. 29.
Congratulate the wel-fare of others, and to reioyce with them that reioyce. Rom. 12. 15. 1. Cor. 12. 26.
Duties opposed, 1. Pet. 3. 8.
Pitty. Luk. 7. 13. … 10. 33. Col. 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 32. Math. 9. 36. … 14. 14. …15. 32.
Compassion. Rom. 12. 15. 1. Cor. 12. 26. Heb. 13. 3. which is especially to be shewed in publike euils. Esa. 24. 16. Ezech. 9. 4.
Mercy. Luk. 6. 36. Math. 5. 7. Iam. 2. 13.
Duty opposed, Prou. 18. 24. True friendship, which must bee
Christian, in the Lord. Deut. 13. 6.
Sincere. 1. Sam. 1…. 2. 20. ….
Constant. Prou. 17. 17.
Duties opposed,
Christian charity, wherby we louelove our enemies for the Lords sake. Luk. 6. 35.
Placablenesse, and desire of reconciliation. Ephes. 4. 27. Math. 23. 24. 25, 26.
Heereunto wee are to referre dissoluing friendship betwixt others, and setting friends at variance. Prou. 6. 16, 19.
Thirdly, against those wch are vnderunder our power: as
Cruelty against those that are vnderunder our (Rom 1. 31. Prou. 12. 10. …11. 17. lam. 2. 13.)
Authority, by rigorous punishing. Deut. 25. 2, 3. 1. Sam. 22. 18, 19.
Might, by violent offering or reuenging iniuries. Gen. 6. 11. Iona. 3. 8. Mat. 2. 16.
Indulgence. Prou. 13. 24.
4. Against
Neighbours and those which dwell in the same society, Prou. 10. 12. Galat. 5. 20.
Discord. Iam. 3 16.
Contentiousnesse. Iam. 3 16.
Strangers, inhospitality. 3. Ioh. 10. Math. 25. 42.
And this was the murther of the heart: the outward signes wherof are also cōdemned, in ye
Countenance. Gen. 4. 6.
Eyes. 1. Sam. 18. 9. Mat. 20. 15.
Gesture. Math. 27. 39. Psal. 37. 12. … 59. 7, 15. Act. 7. 54.
Voice
Lowd speaking. Ephes. 4. 31.
Interiection of Anger, &c. as Tush, Raka, &c. Mat. 5. 22.
Duty opp.
Friendship preserued in others. Prou. 17. 9.
Friendship restored, by pacification or peace-maki…g. Math. 5. 9.
Duties opp.
Clemency,
Seuerity,
in both seeking the parties good, Iude vers. 22, 23.
Duties opp.
Concord. Psal. 34. 14. 1. Pet. 3. 11.
Peaceablenesse, Tit. 3. 2 in
Resisting the beginnings of contention. Pro. 17. 14 Ecclus. 28. 10, 11.
Taking away the occasions.
Depar…ing from his own right, to redeeme peace. Gen. 13. 8, 9, 10. Math. 17. 26.
Duty opp. [Hospitality. Rom. 12. 13. 1. Pet. 4. 9. Heb. 13. 2 Gen. 18. 3. Math. 25. 35.
Duties opp. [The signes of louelove and good will: as courteous and milde behauiour.
The outward Murther is either in
Word.
Deed.
The former, wch is the murther of the tongue, is either
Mutuall, when the offence is committed on both sides: as in brawling and scolding. Prou. 17. 19. 1. Pet. 3. 9.
Seuerall, when offence is committed on the one part, and that either in
Presence, and before a mans face, as
Reuiling or railing, 1. Cor. 6. 10. Mat. 5. 22. whereto referre in
Superiors, vnchristiā menacing. Eph. 6. 9. Act. 9. 1.
Inferiors, murmuring Phi. 2. 14. Numb. 16. 41.
Scoffing and scorning. 2. Chron. 36. 16. Deu. 21. 9. Galat. 4. 29. Prou. 3. 34.
Cursing Rom. 12. 14. Iam. 3. 9.
Absence, or behind a mans backe, as
Tale-bearing. Rom. 1. 30. Leu. 19. 16.
Slandering. Ezech. 22. 9.
To wch sin he is accessary, who willingly receiueth ill reports. Prou. 25. 23.
The Murther which is in deed, is either of the
Body,
Soule:
and in both, a man may offend by
Omission.
Cōmission.
The bodily Murther by omission, is, not to defend or preserue the life and person of our neighbour, when we may and ought, Math. 27. 24. Prou. 24. 11, 12. Hereto is referred all negligence, whereby our neighbours life may bee hazarded: as the not couering of a well. Exod. 21. 33. Deut. 22. 8. Exod. 21. 29.
The bodily Murther which is by commission, standeth in three degrees:
Fighting in time of Peace. Tit. 3. 2. Math. 26. 52.
Hurting or wounding the body of our neighbour. Exod. 21. 24, 25. Leuit. 24. 19.
Taking away of his life. Gen 9. 6. Apoc. 22. 15. Numb. 35. 33.
Duty opp. Is a peaceable tongue, which speaketh
No euill. Psalm. 34. 12, 13.
Good. Pro. 12. 1…. 1….
Duty opp. The preseruation and defence of our neighbours life and person. Psalm. 82. 4. Iob 29. 12. 1. King. 18. 1.
Duty oppos.
Abstinence from doing euill:
A Peaceable hand. Tit. 1. 7. … 3. 2.
Innocency. Psal. 26. 6.
Doing good, or beneficence, Heb. 13. 16. which is a fruite either of
Mercy and humanity, which is to be extended towards all. Gal. 6. 10. … 5. 22.
Brotherly louelove towards those which be of the houshold of faith, and is the communion of Saints in outward things. Rom. 12. 13.
But not eueryevery one that taketh away another mans life, is guilty of murther: for those are to bee excepted, to whom the Lord
Giueth the sword, as to
Magistrates against malefactors. Gen. 9. 6. Leuit. 24. 14. Deut. 13. 5. Ex…d. 22. 18, 19, 20.
Souldiers in lawfull battel. 1. Sam. 25. 28. Heb. 11. 33, 34. Deut. 20. 13.
Priuate men, in case of present necessity, for their owne lawfull defence. Exod. 2. 22.
Offereth another▪ as it were to bee slaine, as those who are said to kill another, by meere chance. Exod. 21. 13. Deut. 19. 4, 5, 6, 10.
Murther, which is the taking away of a mans life, is to bee distinguished according to the variety of the
Manner whereby it is committed: for a man may commit Murther, either as
Principall, and that diuersly:
First, either
Directly, as by force and violence. Num. 35. 16, 17, &c. 2. Sam. 3. 27. … 20. 10.
Indirectly, as by
Poyson.
Witchcraft.
Gal. 5. 20. Apocal. 21. 8.
Secondly, either
Of his own accord, and that either
Of malice prepensed. Gen. 4. 8. Act. 23. 14.
VponUpon some passion or perturbatiō of mind, as
Of blinde zeale. Ioh. 16. 2.
In heat & choler.
In drunkē nesse.
At y• motion of another, by whō he is Commanded, Counselled, Hired, to kill 2. Sam. 13. 28. 1. Kin. 21. 19. Mark. 6. 24. Ezech. 22. 12.
Accessary, and that diuers waies, whereof some are
Peculiar to Supe riours, as by
Commandement. 2. Sam. 12. 9.
Vniust sentence. 1. King. 21. 11. Mat. 26. 66.
Not punishing murther. Num. 35. 33. Ex. 21. 14.
Common to all sorts: as by
Consent. Act. 8. 1. 2. Sam. 3. 30.
Counsell. Mark. 6. 24.
H…ring. Mat. 26. 15.
False testimony. Deut. 19. 19.
Trechery. Mat. 26. 48. 49.
Person y• is murthered, for it is
1. Of a
Stranger, who is no kinsman.
Kins-man, and then it is called Paricide.
2. Of a person
Priuate.
Publike.
3. Of an
Offendor or wicked person.
Innocent.
Soule-murther, either in respect of the life
Naturall, which is the vniust vexing and grieuing of a mans soule. Genes. 27. 46. Exod. 1. 14. Prou 10. 1. 1. Sam. 1. 6, 7.
Spirituall, Gal. 2. 20 and is either by
Omission, when men (especially gouernours) neglect the saluation of others. Genes. 4. 9.
Commission, as when a man is a scandall to another, or a cause of his sinne, as by
Prouocation, 1. King. 21 7, 25.
Counsell. 2. Sam. 16. 21. Math. 16. 23.
Euill example. Rom. 14. 15.
So much of Murther against the neighbour.
Duty opp. Cheering and comforting others. Gen. 45. 27. Prou. 17. 22.
Duty opp.
Not to hinder the saluation of others, but to bee inoffensiue. 1. Cor. 10. 32. 1. Ioh 2. 10.
to further the saluation of our neighbor, winning him vntounto Christ, or edifying him, 1. Cor 9. 19, 22. by
The duties of the Communion of Saints in spirituall things, Rom. 1. 11. 12. 1. Thes sal. 5. 11, 14 Iam. 5. 19. viz. by
Mutuall obseruation. Heb. 10. 24.
The fruits thereof, toward the
Ignorant, instruction. Dan. 12. 3.
Erroneous, reclaiming of him, that he may bee sound in the faith.
Somewhat backward, Hebr. 3. 12, 13.
Admonition.
Exhortation.
Offendours, reproofe. Leuit. 19. 17. Gal. 6. 1.
Comfortlesse, consolation. 1. Thes. 5. 14.
A godly example. Math. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 12. … 3. 1.
Selfe-murther in respect of the
Body, and life naturall, by
Omission, as by neglecting the
Preseruation of the health, in respect of thy
Diet,
Sleepe,
Labour,
Recreations,
Passions of the minde.
not obseruing a moderation, but running into extremes.
Rec…y of health, refusing the helpe of Physicke when it is needfull.
Ecclus. 38. 9, 10, 12.
Commission, as when men
Thrust themselues into danger; or being in danger, will not vse such lawful meanes as God hath vouchsafed them. Ecclus. 3. 27. Math 4. 6.
Contriue their own death, either
Indirectly, by committing some capitall crime. Numb. 16. 38.
Directly, by being their owne butchers. 1. Sam. 31. 4. Act. 1. 18.
Soule, and life spirituall, by
Omission, by neglecting the saluatiō of the soule, and the meanes thereof, and seeking the world, and desires therof, Phil. 3. 19.
First in order, and posting off repentance from time to time, to the extreme hazard of the soule.
First in degree, that is, chiefly, reposing their happinesse therein, and subordinating their Religion to worldly respects, and so in time of triall fall away, with the losse of their soules.
Commission, in
Making no conscience of sin, especially in sinning against conscience. Prou. 19. 16.
Persisting in sinne without repentance.
Duty opp. Care to
Preserue health, Mar. 6. 31. by
Temperance and sobriety in diet.
Moderate sleepe and labour.
Honest and moderate recreations of
Body.
Minde.
Cheerfulnesse, auoiding worldly griefe. Prou. 17. 22.
Recouer health by the Christian vse of Physicke.
Duty opp. Care to preserue
Safety in
Auoiding dangers.
Repelling grosse iniuries.
Life.
Duty opp. To labour aboue all things for the saluation of our soules this care must shew it selfe in
Seeking the meanes & degrees of saluatiō; as vocation, iustification, sanctification, Mat. 6. 33. Ioh. 6. 27.
First in order, without delay.
First in degree, that is, chiefly reposing our felicity therein; and in respect thereof to contemne all worldly desires, as vaine & hurtfull. Eccl. 2. 11 Phil. 3. 8.
Auoiding sin, which is the bane of the soule, either by not
Committing sinne, though we mightgaine the whole world thereby. Mar. 8. 36.
Remaining in sin, but forthwith, both
Repenting. Pro. 28. 13.
Crauing pardon.