Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 85
Now to the ninth Commandement.
Exodus. 20.16.
Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour.
Quest. What reasons may be giuen touching the order of this Commandement, that forbids false witnesse bearing?
Answ. Two especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; witnesse bearing is commonly in matters of controuersie touching goods, that there be no vniust getting of them, either in matter of contract or out of contract, or any other way which was forbidden in the former Commanmandement, and therefore this Commandement followes fitly on the former.
Quest. What is the second reason touching the order of this commandement, that forbids false witnesse bearing?
Answ. This; in the fifth commandement the Magistrates duty is commanded, and in the three next commandements, Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steale: Such sinnes are forebidden as, being knowne,Rom. 13.4. Deut. 19.15. are to bee punished by the Magistrate, he being set for the punishment of the wicked, and for the defence of the godly: and that the Magistrat may punish offenders and breakers of those commandements, according to the truth, he must doe it by witnesse: and therefore this commandement touching true witnesse bearing, and auoyding of false witnesse, followes fitly on the former.
Quest. What are the words of the ninth Commandement?
Answ. Those wee finde Exod. 20.16. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neighbour.
Quest. What is here meant when the Lord saith, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse?
Answ. The words doe properly signifie, thou shalt not answer false witnesse against thy neighbour; in speciall, thou shalt not answer falsely in publike before a Magistrate: the word (answere) is sometimes in Scripture vsed in a more generall for the word speake, as Math. 11.25. and so it is here to be taken, as if it had beene said, thou shalt not speake any thing, whereby thou maist hurt the good name and credit of thy neighbour.
Quest. What are we here to vnderstand by the word Neighbour?
Answ. Not onelyonly one that is nere to vsus in place and habitation,Isai. 58.7. Luk. 10.36.37. or one to whom we are knit in speciall manner by the bond of nature, or some other speciall bond, but any one whosoeuer that is of the same flesh, of the same nature with vsus, any man or woman whatsoeuer.
Quest. What is the ground of this prohibition, thou shalt not speake any thing whereby thou maist hurt the good name and credit of any one that is of the same flesh, of the same nature with thee?
Answ. This; both the maintenance and preseruation of truth amongst men,Deut. 32.4. Tit. 1.2. which makes much both for the glory of God, who is Truth it selfe, Deut. 32.4. And also for the good of men, for all vse of speech of man to man depends on the truth of it;Iosh. 7.19. Zach. 8.16. Ephes. 4 25. Pro. 22.1. without truth in our speeches, humane societies and dealings betweene man and man cannot be maintained, and also the maintenance of the good name both of our selues and others, which is better then riches.
Quest. What is the summe of this Commandement?
Mat. 7.1. Philip 4.8. 1 Cor. 13.5.Answ. That the good name, credit, and estimation, either of our selues or others, be not any way hurt or hindered, but that it be by all good meanes maintained and preserued.