Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 17
17. Q. What is the ninth Commandement?
A. Exod. 20.16.Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe againſt thy neighbour.
This is the fourth precious thing would have in a well ordered world. What is required in the ninth Commandement.Firſt he orders the world into ſeverall ranks of Governours, and governed. Next, he would have a care of life. Next, he would have men live honeſtly. Next, he would have honeſt men maintained by honeſt meanes: and here, that men may have their honour in the fifth Commandement; their life in the ſixth Commandement; their honeſty in the ſeventh Commandement; and their goods in the eighth Commandement; he would have truth. If falſhood may prevaile, men ſhall neither have their goods, nor their honeſty, nor their life, nor their honour. Therefore God requires in this Commandement, The preſervation of our owne, and our neighbours truth. God is pleaſed to look upon that order which he hath ſet in the world: that ſome are in the throne to be honoured, and ſome at the footſtoole to honour. He ſaw that much diſorder and ſinne would ariſe about mans life, his honeſty, his goods, and his good name: therefore he commands that all falſhood be baniſhed, and that Juſtice be carried by allegations, and proofes, according to truth.
Witneſſe may be given either by word, Joſh. 24.22. Job 16.8.when the tongue ſpeaks it, or by work, when ſome doing, or ſuffering ſpeaks it. Falſe witneſſe is, when it is not agreeable to the thing ſpoken of, to the minde of him that ſpeaketh it, or to the end of ſpeaking it, that is, Juſtice, and Charity. To beare falſe witneſſe is, either to receive, ſpeake, or doe any thing that may prejudice charitable truth. Againſt thy neighbour, is, concerning thy neighbour, in Gods language, whether it be for him, or againſt him. And this thou mayſt happen to doe in the root of falſe witneſſe, and in the fruit of it. The root and foundation of falſe witneſſe may ſometimes be uncharitableneſſe to the perſon thou witneſſeſt againſt, or flattery, and partialitie, to the perſon thou witneſſeſt for: ſometimes ſuſpition of worſe then thy neighbour deſerves: but alwayes an inclination to hunt after that which is thy neighbours. This will breed a digging deepe to hide the truth, a judgeing uncharitably, and an augmentation of the report, making a little to be a great deale more. The fruit of it is, when we doe not maintaine the truth of things, and perſons; but fall into many ſinnes, both againſt truth, and againſt truth and charity. Thou mayſt ſinne againſt truth ſimply by falſhood in ſpeech, by denying the truth, by betraying the truth, and by counterfeit and fained actions. Thou mayſt ſinne againſt truth and charity both publiquely, and privately. Publiquely, in the perſon of a Judge or Arbitratour, when thou nouriſheſt ſtrife among neighbours, by delaying ſentence, beleeving the oathes of wicked lyers, or by paſſing raſh, or unjuſt judgements: In the perſon of the Jurie when thou findeſt not according to the truth: In the perſon of the Plaintife, when thou accuſeſt falſly: In the perſon of the Defendent, when thou accuſeſt thy ſelfe unneceſſarily, or coloureſt, or denieſt a bad cauſe: In the perſon of a Lawyer, when thou pleadeſt knowne bad cauſes, or any cauſe before thou underſtand it: In the perſon of a witneſſe, when thou doeſt pervert truth, conceale truth, or teſtifie falſhood: and in the perſon of a Regiſter, when thou doeſt not record truth as it is found. Thou mayſt ſinne againſt truth, and charity privately, either againſt thy ſelfe or others. Againſt thy ſelfe, when thou doſt not regard thine owne credit, or thinkeſt either too baſely, or boaſtingly of thy owne perſon. Againſt others, when thou prayſeſt them above deſerts, or prayſeſt mens vices, or giveſt not them their due truth, by ſcorning, backbiting, ſlandering, or the like.
Vſe. Thus (my child) maiſt thou ſinne againſt truth: but take heed. God would have truth precious with thee and all men. Therefore, diſcerne it as cleare as thou canſt; honour it, by not withholding the truth in unrighteouſneſſe; and maintaine it in thy ſelfe, and others, that juſtice may flouriſh. It is true, that, many times, truth breeds hatred among men, but beleeve God, who ſaith, that he that deales truly is Gods delight.