and unfaithfulness in our promises, in regard of any thing committed to our trust, John xii. 6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 4. Rigorous requiring what is owed to us without compassion or forbearance, Mat. xviii. 28, 29, 30. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. 5. Cruel keeping the pledge, when it is the means of our neighbour's living, Exod. xxii. 26, 27. If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: Wherein shall he sleep? And it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. 6. All withholding that which is due, especially the wages and hire of servants and labourers, Psal. xxxvii. 21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again, Lev. xix. 13. The wages of him that is hired, shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 7. Removing ancient land-marks, or any other way seeking to defraud others, of the just title which they have to their estates, Prov. xxii. 28. Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 8. Exhortation, and all oppression, especially of the poor, and afflicted, Prov. xxii. 22, 23. Rob not the poor, because he is poor neither oppress the afflicted in the gate. For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of them that spoil them. Amos viii, 4, 5, 6, 7. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy even to make the poor of the land to fail, falsifying the balances by deceit, to buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the wheat: The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob. Surely I will never forget any of their works. 9. Usury, and taking increase merely for loan, Exod. xxii. 25. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt

not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury, Ezek. xvii. 8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase.

Q. 11. Why should we forbear all manner of theft and endeavours to enrich ourselves by the wronging of others?

A. We ought to forbear all manner of theft, and endeavours to enrich ourselves by the wronging of others, because it is the express prohibition of God written in the word, and most agreeable to the law of nature written upon the heart; as also, because that riches got by theft and wrong, are accompanied with God's curse; and if not here, be sure God's vengeance will overtake such persons as are guilty of theft and unrighteousness in the other world, Zech. v. 3, 4. This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on this side. And it shall enter into the house of the thief, and shall consume it with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof, Jer. xvii. 11. James v. 1, 3.

Q. 12. How may we be kept from the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. We may be kept from the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, by mortified affections to the world, through Christ's death and Spirit, by raised affections to the things above, by a loving of justice, by prayer, by faith in God's promises, and special providences, in making all needful provision, without this sin, for ourselves.

76. Q. Which is the ninth commandment? A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bare false witness against thy neighbour.

77. Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment requireth, the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, espe cially in witness bearing.

Q. Wherein doth this ninth commandment differ from the sixth, seventh and eighth commandments? A. 1. This ninth commandment doth differ from

the sixth, seventh and eighth commandments, in that the sixth commandment doth respect our own and our neighbour's life; the seventh commandment doth respect our own and our neighbour's chastity; the eighth commandment doth respect our own and our neighbour's wealth and outward estate; but this ninth commandment doth respect our own and our neighbour's good name.

Q. 2. What is more generally required in the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment doth more generally require, the maintaining and promoting truth between man and man.

Q. 3. How ought we to maintain and promote truth between man and man?

A. We ought to maintain and promote truth between man and man, by speaking the very truth to one another, and that from the heart, Zech. viii. 16. - These are the things that ye shall do, speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour: Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, Eph. iv. 25. Where

fore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another, Psal. li. 1, 2. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle ? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? he who walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaking the

truth in his heart.

Q. 4. What doth the ninth commandment more particularly require, in reference unto our own and others good name?

A. The ninth commandment doth more particularly require, in reference unto our own and others good name, the maintaining and promoting thereof, especially in witness-bearing.

Q. 5. How ought we to maintain and promote our own good name ?

A. We ought to maintain and promote our own good name by deserving it, and by defending it.

Q. 6. How may we deserve a good name?

A. Although we can deserve nothing in the sight of God, yet we may deserve a good name in the sight of men by being good, and by doing good.

Q. 7. What is that which we may be, and do, that we may deserve a good name amongst men?

A. That we may deserve a good name amongst men, we must be holy, and humble, and harmless, and wise, and loving, and patient, and meek, and just, and righteous, and sober, and chaste, and true, and honest, and every way gracious, and virtuous, as to our inward dispositions and affections: our conversations also, and actions, must be correspondent, doing always these things which be praise worthy, and of good report, Pet. iii. 15, 16. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Philip. ii. 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, amongst whom ye shine as lights in the world, Eccl. viii. 1. A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, Col. iii. 2. Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, Philip. ix. 8, 9.

Q. 8. How may we defend our good name?

A. We may defend our good name: 1. By clearing ourselves from the false aspersions, and vindicating our innocency against the false accusations of our adver saries, Acts xxiv. 10, 11, 12, 13. I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: that thou mayest understand that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem: And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 2. By speaking sometimes in commendation of ourselves when there is need only, and that very sparingly, modestly, humbly and willingly, always abasing ourselves, and giving God all the glory for any thing in ourselves which is praise-worthy, 2 Cor. xii. 11., I am become a fool in glorying ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostless, though I be nothing. 1 Cor. xii. 11. By the grace of God I am

what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain: but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Q. 9. Who ought especially to maintain and promote their good name?

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A. All ought to maintain and promote their good name, especially all believers and professors of religion; chiefly magistrates and such, unto whom a public trust is committed; and ministers, unto whom is committed the charge of souls, Titus ii. 7, 8, 9, 10:

Q. 10. Why ought all to maintain and promote their own good name?

A. All ought to maintain and promote their own good name: 1. Because it is for the glory of God, which is the duty of all principally to aim at, and to design their own honour in subordination thereunto, Matth. v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven, 1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 2. Because a good name is precious, and rendereth men more useful one to another, causing mutual love unto, and cofidence in one another, whereby their mutual concernments and advantages both civil and spiritual are exceedingly promoted, Eccl. vii. 1. A good name is better than precious ointment. Prov. xxii. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Q. 11. What doth the ninth commandment require of us in reference unto the good name of our neighbour? A. The ninth commandment requireth of us in reference unto the good name of our neighbour, the maintaining and promoting thereof as our own, and that both in regard of ourselves, and regard of others.

Q. 12. How ought we to maintain and promote our neighbour's good name, in regard of ourselves?

A. We ought to maintain and promote our neighbour's good name, in regard of ourselves : 1. By looking unto and having a due esteem of the worth and