Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 73
Now to the Affirmatiue part of this Sixt Commandement.
Quest. What is required and commanded in the Sixt Commandement?
Answ. In generall, eueryevery thing whatsoeuer, that tendeth to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of man; and to the well-fare and safety of his body and soule.
And first concerning the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of man, and the welfare and safety of his body.
Quest. What are the things that tend to the maintenance, and preseruation of the life of the body of man, and to the well-fare and safety of his body?
Answ. They are either such things as tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of a mans owne body, and to the welfare and safety of his owne body: or such things as tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others, and to the welfare of the life of the body of another or others.
Quest. What are the things that tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of a mans owne body, and to the welfare & safetie of his owne body?
Answ. Two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; the procuring and vsing of all good and lawfull meanes within his power and according to his ability, that serue to keepe and defend his body from violence, and from danger and hurt.
Quest. What are the good and lawfull meanes, that a man is to vse according to his ability and power, that serue to defend his body from violence, and from danger and hurt?
Answ. Foure especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;1 Sam. 21.8. Mat. 26.51.5. 1 Pet. 2.20. the turning away of vniust violence offered to his body, by, or from others, if he be able, by his owne power & strength, so far as his place and calling will suffer him: for a Seruant or a Subiect must not by his owne power withstand the vniust violence offered or done to his body by his Master or Superiours.
Quest. What is the second good and lawfull meanes that a man is to vse according to his abilitie and power, that serues to defend his body from violence, and from danger and hurt?
…. 27.42.43. d. 2.15 …ings 19.3 t. 2.13 t. 12.14.15 m 7.1. m 8.5.9. …t. 14.5.6Answ. This; the auoiding of the hands of such persons as seeke by violence to hurt his body and to shed his blood vniustly, by flying from them, or hiding himselfe from them, or the like; hee being not able to withstand them in regard of their power or greatnesse: if hee bee not hindered by his priuate or publike calling.
Question. What is the third good and lawfull meanes that a man is to vse according to his ability and power, that serues to defend his body from violence, and from danger and hur?
Kiing. 1.12.…. …ou. 16.15 …om. 13.4. biection.Answ. This; the seeking and vsing of the helpe of others, and especially of the Magistrate, Gods Liuet…nant to keepe his body from vniust violence.
Mat. 5.39. Christ saith, resist not euill, but whosoeuer shall smite thee on the right cheeke turne to him the other also; therefore it may seeme vnlawfull to vse the helpe of any to defend the body from vniust violence.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Christ there forbids priuate reuenge, and returning …low, for blow; by priuate persons in way of reuenge, and of recompensing euill with euill: as appeares by comparing this verse with the verse before, and not the vsing of the assistance and defence of the publike Magistrate.
Quest. What is the fourth good and lawfull meanes that a man is to vse, according to his ability and power, that serues to defend his body from violence, and from danger and hurt?
Gen. 12.10 Gen. 26.1. Ruth. 1.1 Genes. 7.7. Prou. 22.3. Luke 21.20.21Answ. This; the avoiding of such things as may hurt his body, as a generall Famine, contagious Sicknesse, Sword, Floods, Fire, or the like: by flying from them, and by remouing his body from one place to another, by shrouding his body vnderunder some couert: if hee bee not hindred by his place and calling, and so as it be not to the hinderance and hurt of another.