The Duties Commanded and Sins Forbidden in the Law of God, Commandment 9
The ninth Commandement.
Thou shalt not vtter a false (or vaine, Deut. 5. 20.) testimony concerning thy neighbour.
The Affirmatiue part,
Commanding, that our speech concerning our neighbour, or our selues, should bee both True, Charitable, and tendring his, and our own credit & good Name. 1. Cor. 13. 6. Ephes. 4. 15.
Heere therefore is commanded the preseruation of
Truth amongst men.
The fame and good name of men, both
Our owne.
Of others.
Of Truth, we are to consider 3. things:
1. What it is: viz. a conformity both of our
Speech with our mind. Psal. 15. 2.
Minde with the things thēselues.
2. That in all our speech it is religiously to bee obserued. Prou. 12. 19. Ephes. 4, 25. Zach. 8. 16.
3. The manner how it is to be professed, viz.
Freely. Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18. Act. 4. 8, 10, 13.
Simply with discretion. Mat. 10. 16.
The Negatiue part,
Forbidding all speech
False and vaine.
Vncharitable, especially such as tendeth to the diffamation of our neighbour.
Opp. All falshood in speech Leuit. 19. 11. Col. 3. 9. Eph. 4. 25. Prou. 6. 17. … 12. 22. … 19. 5, 9. Psal. 5. 6. Apoc. 21. 8 whether wee speake
That wch is false:
Falsly, with a minde to deceiue:
Whether in
Iest, as the esting lye wch is false in meaning, as well as in words, Hos. 7. 3. being
Neither figuratiue.
Nor y• true meaning discouered by gesture, countenance, pronunciation, &c.
Earnest, whether to
Helpe, as the Officiouslye.
Hurt as the Perniciouslye.
Opp. To
Freedome in the
Excesse, vndiscreet and vnseasonable profession of the truth, to the vnnecessary hurt or danger of our selues, or others.
Defect, when through …eare, or any sinister respect, the truth is
Denied. Mat. 26. 70, 72, 74.
Betrayed. 2. Tim. 4. 16.
Simplicity, a doubling and deceitfull tongue. Psal. 55. 22. Psalm. 12. 2. … 109. 2. Zeph. 3. 13. Ier. 9. 8, 9.
The meanes of truth, that it may
Bee amongst men, that is, that it bee
Knowne, are
LoueLove of the truth. Pro. 23. 23.
Docility or teachablenesse. Act. 17. 11.
Preserued and maintained: constancy and stedfastnesse in the truth. Ephes. 4. 14.
Profitably be, are
Profitable speech, tending to
Gods glory. Ephes. 5. 4.
Our neighbours good,
Spirituall, viz. to edification. Ephes. 4. 29.
Temporall, as to his
Honest delight, vrbanity.
Profit. 1. Tim. 5. 23.
Col. 4. 6.
And the meanes of entertaining profitable speech, together with the remedy of the contrary: the
Meanes of entertaining profitable speech, is Affability. Ioh. 4. 7, 10.
Remedy against vnprofitable speech, is Taciturnity. Pro. 10. 19. … 17. 28. Iam. 1. 19.
Of the preseruation of the fame and good name
Of our neighbour,
Our owne,
whereof great regard is to be had. Eccl. 7. 3. Pro. 22. 1.
To the preseruation of our neighbours good name, is required, both an
Inward disposition to tender it.
Outward profession of the truth concerning our neighbour, ioyned with charity.
The inward disposition is a true care of our neighbours credit, with the fruits thereof.
The care of our neighbours credit, whereby wee tender his good name, is a necessary fruit of Charity.
Opp. LoueLove of vntruth. Apoc. 21. 8.
Opp.
Voluntary or affected ignorance.
Vaine credulity
Opp.
Vnconstancy in the truth, and vnstayednesse. Ephes. 4. 14. 2. Pet. 3. 16.
Pertinacy in errour.
Opp. Speech vnprofitable, being either
Vaine. Psalm. 12. 2. … 144. 8. Deut. 5. 20. Prou. 30. 8. Tit. 3. 9. Math. 12. 36.
Hurtfull, tending to
Gods dishonour.
The neighbours hurt
Spirituall, rotten or infecting speech. Ephes. 4. 29. 1. Cor. 15. 33.
Temporall, opposed to his
Honest delight,
Scurrility. Ephes. 5. 4.
Taunting and disgracing.
Profit.
Opp. To
Affability,
Counterfait courtesie. 2. Sam. 15. 5.
Morosity. 1. Sam. 25. 17.
Taciturnity,
Much talking. Prou. 10. 19. Psal. 140. 11.
Profitable truth smothered by silence.
Opp.
Neglect of our neighbours good name.
Desire to impaire it.
The fruits of this care are referred either to the
Fame it selfe, & that either
Good: to bee glad to heare well of our neighbours. Rom. 1. 8. Col. 1. 3, 4.
Bad: to be sorry for it.
Meanes, as
Hearing.
Iudging.
Reporting.
The duty in respect of
Hearing,
Not willingly to heare rumours and reports tending to the infamy of our neighbour. Psalm. 15. 3. Pro. 25. 23. but to repell tale-bearers.
Willingly to heare the commendations of others.
Iudging: to iudge charitably, the fruits whereof bee
Not to bee suspitious, but to represse vniust suspitions. 1. Cor. 13. 5.
To beleeue or determine nothing rashly against our neighbour.
To interpret
Good things well.
Doubtfull things; in the better part.
Reporting, to report no ill of thy neighbor, vnlesse it be in charity as namely, when it is
Profitable for the
Party of whom thou speakest, that he may be reclaimed. 1. Cor. 1. 11.
Party to whom th… speakest for preuentiō of
Danger intended. Act. 23. 16. Ier. 40. 14
Infection like to ensue by his company.
Necessary for thy selfe: as when silence will make thee guilty of his fault. Ecclus. 19. 8.
Opp. To be
Sorry for the good report of our neighbour: a fruit of enuie. Math. 21. 15.
Glad at their infamy, or ill reports.
Opp. In respect of
Hearing,
Willingly to heare the ill reports of our neighbours, and to giuegive entertainment to tale-bearers. Exod. 23. 1. 1. Sam. 24. 10. Prou. 17. 4.
Vnwillingly to heare the commendations of others.
Iudging:
Vniust suspitions, which is the false witnesse of the heart, forbidden in this Commandement. 1. Tim. 6. 4. 2. Sam. 10. 3. 4.
Rashly to giuegive credit to ill rumours. Gen. 39. 19. 2. Sam. 16. 3. 4.
To iudge hardly of other mēs
Sayings and doings: interpreting good things ill, and doubtfull things into the worse part. 1. Sam. 1. 13. Act. 2. 13. Luk. 7. 39.
Persons according to
Their
Outward condition, which thou seest distressed. Ioh. 9. 2. Act. 28. 4. so Iobs friends.
Inward disposition, which thou surmisest. 1. Sam. 17. 28. Rom. 14. 4. 1. Cor. 4. 5.
Thine owne disposition, measuring others by thy selfe.
Reporting, to blaze abroad the secret faults of others; especially such as are sinnes of infirmity, Prou. 10. 18.
Thus much of the inward disposition: now followeth the outward profession:
for eueryevery testimony concerning thy neighbour, must bee both
True.
Charitable.
Testimonies are either
Publike, and those either
Forensia, in place of iudgement, as the testimony of the
Iudge.
Notary.
Parties wch go to Law.
Lawyers and Aduocates.
Witnesses.
Or otherwise out of the place of iudgement.
Priuate.
The testimony of y• Iudge, is the sentence which he pronounceth, whereto is required
Before hand, a full triall and examination of the cause. Deut. 13. 14. … 17. 4. … 19. 18. Gen. 18. 21.
In the deliuery thereof, that he iudge according to
Truth. Exod. 18. 21.
Iustice. Leuit. 19. 15. Deut. 1. 16. … 16. 20.
Equity.
Iudges must also take heed, that they bee not accessary to the false witnesse of others, by
Admitting needlesse suits.
Protracting of suits.
Rash imposing of Othes.
Opp. Testimonies
False, being either
Simply false. 1. King. 21. 13.
In shew of words true, but false in sence. Math. 26. 60, 61. with Ioh. 2. 19.
Vncharitable and malicious. 1. Sam. 22. 9.
Opp. Iudgement either
Rash, whē it is pronounced:
1. The cause not well vnderstood by the Iudge. Prou. 18. 13.
2. The party not heard to speake in his owne defence. Act. 25. 15, 16.
3. One side onelyonly being heard. 2. Sam. 16. 4. Prou. 18. 17.
4. VponUpon the witnesse of one alone, in a capitall cause. Deut. 17. 6.
Peruerse, wherein the wicked is absolued, and the righteous condemned, Prou. 17. 15. which cōmonly happeneth, because the Iudge is either a
Taker of Bribes. Deut. 16. 18, 19. Exod. 23. 8. 2. Chro. 19. 6. Esa. 5. 23.
Accepter of persons. Pro. 24. 23, 24.… 28. 2… Leuit. 19. 15. Deut. 1. 16, 17.
The duty of the Notary, to deale truly in
Writing,
Preseruing,
Reciting
Records.
The duties of parties going to Law, are
Common to both, as
1. To goe to Law onelyonly vponupon a iust and necessary cause, at least, in their perswasion.
2. To deale truly in their suite.
Peculiar to either, in criminall causes, viz. to the
Plaintiffe, to accuse only in charity, for y• good either of the
Party.
Cōmonweale.
Defendant,
Not to deny a crime truly obiected. Iosh. 7. 19.
Nor to accuse him selfe vnnecessarily. Math. 26. 62, 63.
The duties of Lawyers and Aduocates. viz. to
Entertaine no cause which they know to be euil.
Maintaine the cause, which with good conscience they vndertake,
Truly.
Faithfully.
The dutie of the Witnesse,
To giuegive testimony, when hee is required thereto vponupon iust occasion; yea vnrequired, when hee seeth the innocent oppressed. Prou. 24. 11.
To testifie the truth
OnelyOnly.
Wholly.
Prou. 14. 25.
Opp. To deale falsly in any of those respects.
Opp. Their faults are▪
Common to both,
To goe to Law for stomake, and in desire of contention.
To deale vntruly, by
Forging, or suggesting false instruments, or proofes.
Suborning false witnesses.
Peculiar to the
Plaintiffe, in criminal causes,
Calumniari, to accuse of a crime
Vntrue. Deut. 19. 16. Hest. 3. 8.
Vnce…taine, which he cannot prooue. Act. 25. 7.
Praeuaricari, In shew to accuse, but not indeed.
Tergiuersari, To goe backe from a iust accusation.
Both which are …ffences against the Cōmonweale,
To be ready, vponupon eueryevery occasion, to accuse, which is to play the Sycophant; as contrariwise, to refuse to accuse, vponupon any (though iust and waighty) cause, is a fault. Leu. 5. 1.
Defendant, to
Deny the fault vntruly. Iob 31. 33.
Appeale without iust cause.
Not to submit himselfe to the sentence lawfully giuen. Rom. 13. 2.
Opp. To
Vndertake such causes as they suppose to bee euill. Prou. 21. 6.
Vse
False calumniations against the aduerse pa… ty. Act. 24. 5.
Vnfaithfull dealing towards their Client, either by
Animating him to g…e on in a bad cause.
Betraying a good cause.
Opp.
Not to giuegive testimony to the tru…h.
To beare false witnesse: the maine sin forbidden in this Cōmandement. Pro. 6. 18. … 25. 18.… 19. 5, 9 … 21. 28. Deut. 19. 16, 19. and he is a false witnesse, who testifieth for truth, that which
Hee knoweth not to be… true.
He knoweth to be false.
Publike testimonies out of Iudgement.
And they are either
Open.
Secret.
Open, as in
Publike
Speeches, as in the ministery of the Word, wherin nothing but truth is to be vttered.
Writings.
Elections, wherein testimony is giuen of the excellency of him, that is chosen, aboue others.
The Publike testimonies which be secret, are commonly faulty, either because they be vntrue, or at least, vncharitable: as in making, or spreading
Famous and diffamatory Libels.
Publike rumours. Exod. 23. 1.
Priuate testimonies, or priuate profession of the truth concerning our neighbour, ioyned with charity: and it is either of his
Vertues, which (as iust occasion is offered) wee are to acknowledge and commend, both in his presence, and absence.
Vices, which in his
Presence, wee are to tell him of, and not suffer sin to rest vponupon him. Leu. 19. 17. Pro. 27. 5. Psalm. 141. 5.
Absence, wee are not to mention, but vponupon necessity.
The duties which eueryevery man is bound by this Commandement to performe to himselfe, are two; a
Care of his good Name.
True testimony of himselfe.
Opp.
Errours and vntruthes broched and published in
Publike speeches, especially in the ministery of the Word. Zac. 13. 3.
Writings and bookes printed.
False testimonie in elections, when the more vnworthy are preferred.
Opp.
Flattery, wherein men offend in respect of the
Obiect, praising mens vices. Prou. 28. 4. … 24. 24.
Manner, commending others
Fainedly. Prou. 27. 4.
Aboue measure. Act. 12. 22.
End, seeking
Their owne profit, as Parasites vse to doe.
The parties ruine, whom they doe flatter. Prou. 29. 5. Ier. 9. 8. Math. 22. 16.
Euill and cursed speaking.
Euill and cursed speaking is heere forbidden, as it tendeth to the impairing of our neighbours credit and good name.
And it is vsed, either in his
Presence, by
Reuiling, or contumelious speaking. 1. Cor. 6. 10.
Deriding and scorning. 1. Sa. 31. 4. Ioh. 19. 3. Mat. 27. 42. Gal. 4. 29.
Absence, by
Whispering, or tale-bearing. Pro. 16. 28. … 26. 20, 22. Ecclus. 5. 16, 17.
Slandering and back biting. Leuit. 19. 16. Iam. 4. 11. Ezech. 22. 9. Rom. 1. 30.
Our care in procuring, and preseruing a good Name, cō sis…eth in
Vsing the meanes, whereby a good Name (though not sought for therein) is gotten, Phil. 4. 8. as to
Glorifie God. 1. Sam. 2. 30.
Seeke his kingdome and righteousnes. Mat 6. 33
Walke vprightly. Psalm. 112. 6. Prou. 10. 7. and to be such as he would seeme to be.
Keepe a good conscience.
Auoiding the meanes of
Vain-gl…ry, as
Seeking to please men, more than God.
Hypocrisie.
Seeking commendation by vanities and vices.
Louing of flatterers.
Vsuall censuring of others. Math. 7. 1, 2.
Attempting matters aboue their ability and gifts. Psalm. 131. 1. Luk. 14. 29▪ 30.
All which, end in infamy and shame.
Infamy, arising from
our selues, as sinnes, Eccl. 10 1. both
Open, and not onelyonly the sinnes themselues, but also all appearances thereof. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Rom. 12. 17.
Secret. 2. Sam. 12. 12. because God will bring them to light.
Others as oppr…brious speeches and slanders, against which we ought (especially if we be publ…ke persons) de…end and maintaine our good na…e 1. King. 2. 8, 9.
The true testimony of our selues, is cō …ning
Good, if it be
True, vp…n iust occasion to confesse it, verè & v…recundè, truly and modestly, to Gods glory. 1. Cor. 15. 10.
False, with modesty and humility to deny it.
Euill, if it be
True, we are to confesse it to
God. Prou. 28. 13. 1. Ioh. 1. 9.
Man, when the confession is necessary, in respect of
Gods glory. Iosh. 7. 19. Iona. 1. 10.
Neighbours good. Psal. 51.
Our own good. Iam. 5. 15.
False, constantly to deny it.
Opp. To
Neglect these meanes of a good Name.
Vsing the meanes of
Vain-glory.
Infamy.
Opp.
foreign, in denying good things, and speaking more basely and meanly of thy selfe, than thine owne opinion is of thy selfe, and that either to
Auoid boasting, which is the modest lye: which is not to affirme lesse than is true, but to deny the truth.
Draw commendation from others, which is a double offence, being both
Arrogancy.
Counterfeit modesty.
Boasting, wherein mē offend, in respect of the
Obiect, boasting of that
Which is not good, but rather euill. Psal. 52. 1. Phil. 3. 19. Gen. 4. 23, 24.
Good, which they hauehave not, either
Not at all.
Not in that measure which they assume to themselues. Math. 26. 33, 35.
End, for their owne
Glory, Pro. 27. 2. and that ioyned either with the
Dishonor of God. 1. Cor. 4. 7. Esa. 10. 15.
Disgrace of others. Luk. 18. 10.
Gaine. Act. 8. 9.
Opp. To
Deny that euill which is true. Gen. 18. 15.
Affirme that euill of our selues, which is false, to
Gratifie others.
Picke thanks. 2. Sam. 1. 10. with 1. Sam. 31. 4, 5.