Abridgment of the Whole Body of Divinity, Part 2 · Subpart 16
The sixth Commandment.Sixth Commandment.
Thou shalt not kill.
The Affirmative part of this,The Affirmative part. is this.
Here we are commanded to preserve the wellfare of our Neighbour, both in body and in Soul, Rom. 12. 15. Job 29. 15. 2 Cor. 8. 3. Joh. 11. 25. Isai 24. 16.
To help him in his straights, to the utmost of our powers, and that speedily, Prov. 3. 28. Levit. 19. 17.
To help him to bear his troubles by taking part with him, & sharing with him in his adversities, Ps. 119. 136. Isai 24. 16. Rom. 12. 15. Joh. 11. 35.
We are here also commanded to abstain from anger upon small occasions, Numb. 12. 3. Prov. 19. 3.
And not to continue wrath, nor to remain in anger, or displeasure, Eph. 4. 26.
And freely to forgive injuries, and not to avenge our selves, Eph. 4. 32.
Here we are also commanded in the wants and infirmities of our Neighbours to avoid occasions of stirring them up, and laying them open, Gen. 13. 8. and 27. 44. 45.
And to part with our own right rather then do wrong, Matth. 17. 25. 26. 27.
And to appease anger that is kindled. 1. By overcoming evil with good, Rom. 12. 21. 2. By seeking and following after peace, 1 Pet. 3. 11. 3. By courteous answers, Prov. 15. 1. 1 Sam. 1. 14. Phil. 4. 5. 4. By passing by words, and infirmities in mens words, and deeds, Prov. 19. 11. 5. By covering them with silence, Prov 17. 9. For he that covereth a transgression seeketh love, and love covereth a multitude of faults, 1 Pet. 4. 8. 6. By taking every thing if it be possible in the best part, 1 Cor. 13. 5.
Here is shewed the lawfulness of Truces,The lawfulness of truces and Covenants. M. P. p. 56 Covenants, and Agreements concerning peace made to maintain love, and to avoid injuries. 1. Whither in the maintaining of antient bounds. 2. Or to procure security in traffick, and 3. To maintain possessions and journeys, and 4. To maintain pensions, and commons for Cattel. Or 5. Liberties of hunting, fishing, fowling, and getting of fewel, or other necessaries for publick commodities.
Truces and Covenants in this kinde, if there be no unlawfull conditions, that is, such as are unwarantable by the word of God joyned to them, are lawfull, and may be made not onelyonly with Christians, but also to maintain peace with infidels. For, that which is Godly to be performed, is likewise godly to be promised; And it is a note of true godliness, to be as much as may be at peace with all men, Rom 12. 18.
These examples we have for the practise of this.
Abraham, (Genes. 21. 22. 23. 24. 27.) Covenanted thus with Abimelech.
Jacob with Laban, Genes. 31. 44. 45.
We are here commanded to preserve the life of our Neighbour.
By ministring to him food and raiment, Matth. 25. 45.
By helping him out of all bodily dangers, 1 Joh. 3. 16.
We are here also commanded to shew our desire of the good of his body by burying it when it is dead, as did Abraham the body of Sarah, Genes. 23. 19.
Thus did the Apostles and Disciples to the body of Stephen, Act. 8. 2.
The want of which was heretofore accounted a curse, as Jer. 22. 19.
Moses was buried by the Lord him self, Deut. 34. 5. 6.
Burial must be used without immoderate mourning, John 11. 34. 35. 36.
And without superstition and foolish ceremonies.
Without superfluous pomp and ostentation of Pride, Isai 20. 15. 16.
We are here also commanded to suffer any man to satisfie his hunger either in our vineyard with Grapes, or in our Corn field with ears of Corn, Deut. 23. 25. Matth. 1 2. 1.
And to leave also besides this the gleanings of our Vineyard, and of our Corn fields for the poor, Levit. 23. 22. Ruth. 2. 8.
As concerning his Soul, we must endeavour by all means to win it to the Faith, 1 Cor. 10. 33. Heb. 10. 24.
We must live towards it without offence, 1 Cor. 10. 32. and 8. 13.
The light of our good life must be as a Lanthern, to direct the ways of our Neighbour, Act. 24. 14. 15. 16.
We must admonish him if he offend, 1 Thes. 5 14.
We must encourage him to go on in the ways of Gods commandment.
To this Affirmative part may be referred.
Recreation in the fear of the Lord, Deut 12. 7. as wholesom and discreet riddles, Judge 14. 12 13. 14.
Searching out of the virtue of Creatures.
Contemplation of Gods works, 1 King. 4. 33.
A recreating study of Physicall and Medicinal things.
He that useth Medicine, if he mean to be truly cured of his distemper by it, he must first labour to cure himself of his sins by repentance, Matth. 9. 2. 6. Joh. 5. 5. 8. 14. 2 Chron. 16 12.
We may avoid an injury offeredM P. p. 58 by a private person.—
—And a mans defending of himself is faultless, if in the doing of it he doth neither purpose his own revenge, nor his enemies hurt, but onelyonly his bodily safety from so imminent danger.
The Nagative part.
Here we are forbidden.Negative part.
1. In heart. These things.
Hatred against our Neighbour, 1 Joh. 315.
Unadvised anger, Matth. 5. 22. Envy, Rom. 1. 29.
Grudging against him, Jam. 3. 14.
Want of compassion and sorrow at the calamities of our Neighbour, Amos 6. 5. 6.
Frowardness, Rom 1. 30.
Desire of revenge, Ps. 5. 6.
2. In word. These things.
Bitterness in speaking, Prov. 12. 18.
Reproaches and railing, as to hit a man the teeth with his sins, or wit his infirmities, Matth. 5. 22. 2 Sam. 6. 16.
Contentions, Gal. 5. 19. Eph. 4. 31.
Brawlings in any conference.
Exclaiming against our adversary.
Complaints to every one of such as offer injuries, Jam. 5. 9.
3. In countenance these things.
Malitious provoking gestures, Matth. 27. 39. Genes. 21. 9. In this place of Genesis, derision is called persecution, and Gal. 4. 29.
And mocking, or derision.
4. In deeds these things.
To fight with, or to beat, or maim our Neighbour, Levit. 24. 29 20.
To procure the death of our Neighbour by sword, famine, or poyson, Genes. 4. 8.
To exercise cruelty in punishment, Deut. 25. 3.
To use any of Gods creatures hardly, Prov. 12. 10. Deut. 22. 6.
To make our Neighbours infirmities, an occasion of our recreation in a discourteous way, Levit. 19. 14. 2 Kings 2. 23.
To injure the impotent, feeble, poor, strangers, fatherless, widdows, Exod. 22. 21. 22. Deut. 24. 14.
These are thus injured:
1. If the labourers hire be not paid him, Deut. 22. 21. 22.
2. If the pledge be not restored to the poor, Exod. 22. 26. 27.
3. If Corn be with drawn from the poor, Prov. 11. 26.
That Magistrate killeth and murdereth that doth kill him, that deserveth not killing, as when he shall take away the life of a man upon a small occasion, as for the stealing of things of no moment.
Or when he shall save him that deserveth to be killed, as in any malitious murther, Numb. 35. 16. 33.
Here is forbidden Duels,Duels are unlawfull. as unlawfull.
1. Because they are not equal means ordained of God to determine controversies.
2. Because by such Combats he is offt the conquerer before men, who indeed is guilty before God.
Here is also forbidden sanctuary, or protection for wilfull and malitious murther, Exod. 21. 14.
Here we are also forbidden, 1. to be a scandal, or offence to the Soul of our Neighbour, either in life, or Doctrine, Matth. 18. 7.
2. To Minister occasions of strife and discorde, as 1. when we will not remit of our own right, rather then offend our Neighbour. 2. when we shall return him snappish and crooked answers. 3. When we interpret every thing a miss, and take it in the worst part, as did Nabal, 1 Sam. 25. 25. And Hanun, 2 Sam. 10. 3. 1 Chr. 19. 2. 4.
3. Here Ministers sin against their Neighbours, even to a killing of them. 1. When as they do not preach the Word of God to their charge, and when they do not instruct them in the right ways of Truth, and of life, Prov. 29. 18. Isai 56. 10. Ezek. 3. 18.
2. When they do not preach to all, or when they preach negligently, Jer. 48. 10. Rev. 3. 16. Isai 62. 6. Act. 20 28. 1 Pet. 5 2, 3.
Ministers may be absent from their charge in the case of sickness. For the necessary and publick good of the Church, Colloss. 1. 9 and
In the violence of persecution, when it is enforced particularly against his own life, and there is no danger nor discouragement to his people by it.
Here we are also forbidden to sin against our selves. 1 Either by hurting our selves; Or, 2. By killing our selves; Or, 3. By endangering our selves, Matth 4 6.
And yet all this doth not hinder us from obeying this command of Christ, viz. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me, Matth 16 24.
For saith Christ learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of minde, and you shall finde rest unto your souls, Matth. 11. 29.