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Q. 146. Which is the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's (a).

Q. 147. What are the duties required in the tenth commandment?

A. The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our condition (b), and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbour, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him tend unto and further all that good which is his (c).

Q. 148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth com

mandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate (d); envying (e), and grieving at the good of our neighbour (f), together with all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his (g).

thing ought to be done in Israel; spoken to him: for he had said," do not thou this folly.

(a) Exodus 20. 17.

(b) Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 1 Tim. 6. 6. But godliness, with contentment, is great gain.

(c) Job 31. 29. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lift up myself when evil found him. Rom. 12. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Psal. 122. 7. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. v. 8. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

(d) 1 Kings 21. 4. And Ahab eame into his house, heavy and displeased, because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had

I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers; and he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

(e) Gal. 5. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. James 3. 14. 16. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work.

(f) Psal. 112, 9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

(g) Rom. 7. 7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Q. 149. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No man is able, either of himself (h), or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God (i); but doth daily break them in thought (k), word, and deed (1).

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God?

A. All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others (m).

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?

A. Sins receive their aggravations,

1. From the persons offending (n): if they be of riper age (o), greater experience or grace (p), eminent for

(h) James 3.2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

(i) Eccl. 7. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doth good and sinneth not. 1 John 1. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(k) Gen. 6. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 8. 21. And the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.

(1) Rom. 3. 9. 19. We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

(m) John 19. 11. Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Ezek. 8. 6.-But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.

(n) Jer. 2. 8. The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law, knew me not the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Raal, and walked after things that do not profit.

(Job. 32. 7. 9. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Eccl. 4. 13. Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

(p) 1 Kings 11. 4. For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his

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profession (q), gifts (r), place (s), office (t), guides to others (v), and whose example is likely to be followed by others (w).

2. From the parties offended (x): if immediately against God (y), his attributes (z), and worship (a); against Christ, and his grace (b); the Holy Spirit (c), his wit

heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

(q) 2 Sam. 12. 14. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

(r) James 4. 17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin. Luke 12. 47, 48. And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the

more.

(8) Jer. 5. 4. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor, they are foolish for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God, v. 5. I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

(t) 2 Sam. 12. 7. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thec king over Israel. (v) Rom. 2. 17. 24. Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast

of God. Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, through you.

(w) Gal. 2. 11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

(x) Mat. 21. 38. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir, come let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

(y) 1 Sam. 2. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him?-Acts 5. 4. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

(z) Rom. 2. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

(a) Mal. 1. 8. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor, will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.

(b) Heb. 2. 2, 3. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward: How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?-Heb. 12. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who

ness (d), and workings (e); against superiors, men of eminency (f), and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto (g); against any of the saints (h), particularly weak brethren (i), the souls of them, or any other (k), and the common good of all, or many (1). ·

refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.

(c) Heb. 10. 29. Of how much sorer punishment, supposé ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God?-Mat. 12. 31. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

(d) Eph. 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

(e) Heb. 6. 46. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; If they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance.

(f) Jude, verse 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile, the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Numb. 12. 8.-Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

(g) Prov. 30. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 2 Cor. 12. 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. Psal. 55. 12. For it was

not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

(h) Zeph. 2. 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people. 1 Cor. 6. 8. Nay, ye do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. Rev. 17. 6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesys.

(i) 1 Cor. 8. 11, 12. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

(k) Ezek. 13. 19. And will ye pollute me among my people, for handfuls of barley, and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

(1) 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16. Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved.-Josh. 22. 20. Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, commit a

trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

3. From the nature and quality of the offence (m): if it be against the express letter of the law (n), break many commandments, contain in it many sins (o); if not only conceived in the heart, but break forth in words and actions (p), scandalize others (q), and admit of no reparation (r); if against means (s), mercies (t), judgments (v), light of nature (w), conviction of conscience (x), public

(m) Prov. 6. 30. 33. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. But if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold.-But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding: he that doth it, destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. (And so on to the end of the chapter.)

(n) Ezra 9. 10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments.

(0) Col. 3. 5. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced them selves through with many sorrows. Josh. 7. 21. When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then coveted them, and took them.

(p) James 1. 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed, Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

(9) Mat. 18.7. Wo unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come:

but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh.

(r) Deut. 22. 22. If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

(s) Mat. 11. 21. Wo unto thee, Chorazin, wo unto thee, Bethsaids for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidou, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

(t) Isa, 1. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; bnt Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

(v) Amos 4. 8, 9. So two or three cities wandered into one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew; when your gardens, and your vineyards, and your fig-trees, aud your olivetrees increased, the palmer-worm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

(w) Rom. 1. 26, 27. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against na

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