and suspicion of their husbands without reason, unkind behaviour towards them, whatsoever kindnesses they receive from them, foolish speaking of their faults before others, to their provocation, instead of love and meek admonitions, when they are alone, to their amendment. 6. Deafening their ear unto the loving counsels and faithful reproofs of their husbands, for their souls' good, growing the worse, and not the better thereby.

Q. 5. What are the sins of husbands against their wives?

A. The sins of husbands against their wives, are, 1. Want of that endeared love and kindness which is due to their wives, bitter speeches, unkind and unreasonable jealousies, revilings, and rage at their advice, especially when it is loving and meek, and for the real good of their body, or estate, or name, or soul. Col. iii. 19, Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 2. Unfaithfulness unto their wives, and that either in reference unto their bodies, by adultery; or in reference unto their souls, by neglect of such advice, reproof, or instruction, as may be for their souls' good, especially by drawing them unto sin, to their souls' ruin. Mal. ii. 14, The Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Jer. xliv. 15, 16, Then the men which knew that their wives had burnt incense unto other goods, answered, As for the word which thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. Q. 6. What are the sins of servants against their masters?

A. The sins of servants against their masters, are, 1. Disobedience unto their lawful and fit commands, or unwilling obedience; or eye-service of them only, neglecting their business when their backs are turned. Col. iii. 22, 23, Servants, obey in all things your masters; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord. 2. Dishonouring them, by reviling speeches to them, reproachful speeches of them, or by any kind of rude and saucy behaviour before them. 3.

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Lying, or anywise dissembling with them; wronging, or any wise defrauding of them in their estates. Psalm ci. 7, He, that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight. 4. Repining at their provisions without cause, impatience, anger, discontent, surliness, and answering again when reproved for their faults. Titus ii. 9, Not answering again. 5. Receiving no instruction from them withdrawment from, or negligent and sleepy at tendance upon family-worship.

Q. 7. What are the sins of masters against their servants?

A. The sins of masters against their servants, are, 1. Requiring and commanding them to do any thing which is in itself sinful, or encouraging of them by their example so to do. Isaiah xxxvii. 4, It may be the Lord will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master hath sent to reproach the living God. 2. Requiring their whole time for themselves, and not allowing them sufficient for the refreshment of nature, and daily secret wor ship of God. 3. Proud imperious carriage towards them, and ruling over them with severity, and continual chiding and threatenings, discontent and dissatisfaction with all their willing endeavours to do them service, too eager insisting upon, and too frequent upbraiding them with their faults. Eph. vi. 9, Forbearing threatening. 4. Niggardly pinching, and withholding from them. their convenient food, or things needful for them when they are sick, as also keeping back from them their due wages. James v. 4, Behold, the hire of the labourers, which have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth. 5. Neglect of their souls, and of family-worship with them. Jer. x. 15, Pour out thy fury upon the families that call not upon thy name.

Q. 8. What are the sins of people against their min isters?

A. The sins of people against their ministers, are, 1. Hatred and persecution of them, either with the land or tongue, making slanders, or taking them up without proof, and no wise esteeming and honouring of them as ministers of Christ, and ambassadors sent from heaven

unto them. 3 John 10, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words. 2 Cor. x. 10, His letters, (say they) are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Luke x. 16, He that despiseth you, despiseth me. 2. Forbearing to hear them through an itching ear, slightness of spirit in hearing, and anywise grieving of them by their unbelief, hardness of heart, unfruitfulness, divisions among themselves, unsteadfastness and unsuitable conversation unto the gospel which their ministers do preach among them. 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4, For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to them. selves teachers, having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Mark. 5, He looked about with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. 2 Cor. ii. 4, Out of much affliction, and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears. 3. Restraining prayer for them, denial of required submission and obedience unto them, withholding due maintenance from them, or anywise neglecting the duties required of people to their ministers.

Q. 9. What are the sins of ministers against their people?

A. The sins of ministers against their people, are, 1. Want of sincere and tender love to their souls, seeking more to receive earthly gain from them, than to do any good unto them. 2 Cor. xii. 14, I seek not yours, but you. Isa. lvi. 10, His watchmen are blind: they are greedy dogs which can never have enough: they look every one for his gain from his quarter. 2. Negligence in their prayers and studies for them, and in their preaching the word to them. 1 Tim. iv. 13, 14, Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. -Unwatchfulness over them, unprofitableness in their discourse among them, unsuitableness of conversation unto their doctrine and profession, unteaching that by their lives, which they teach in their pulpits. 4. Corrupting

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the word they preach, and infecting the minds of their people with erroneous opinions. 2 Cor. ii. 17, We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God.

Q. 10. What are the sins of subjects against their magistrates?

A. The sins of subjects against their magistrates, are, 1. Rebellion against them, and any treasonable seeking their overthrow and ruin. Prov. xvii. 11, An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 2. Unsubjection and disobedience unto their good and righteous laws. Rom. xiii. 5, Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 3. Neglecting of prayer for them, and instead thereof, speaking evil of them. 2 Pet. ii. 10, Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 4. Reviling speeches unto them, and irreverent behaviour before them. Exod. xxii. 28, Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. 2 Sam. xxiv. 20, And Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king. 5. Denial of their just dues, and any wise defrauding of them. Rom. xiii. 8, Owe no man any thing. Q. 11. What are the sins of magistrates against their subjects?

A. The sins of magistrates against their subjects, are, 1. Making laws which are contrary to the laws of God. Dan. vi. 12, Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? 2. Oppression, tyranny, and cruelty in their government. Prov. xxviii. 15, 16, As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. 3. Seeking their own interest, rather than the interest of the commonwealth. 4. Discountenance and discouragement of the good and righteous, together with encouragement and preferment of the wicked and unrighteous. 5. Unsubjection to the laws of God themselves, and, by their evil example, encouraging

others to do the like. Psal. xii. 8, The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

Q. 12. What are the sins of the younger and weaker in gifts and graces, against them that are aged and stronger?

A. The sins of the younger and weaker in gifts and graces, against them which are aged and stronger, are, 1. A proud conceitedness of wisdom and worth in themselves, beyond their elders and betters, together with a despising of them in their hearts, and judging of them for making use of their known liberty. 1 Tim. iii. 6, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Rom. xiv. 3, Let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth. 2. A rude and indecent taking place of them, or anywise irreverent carriage towards them. Luke xiv. 8, 9, Sit not down in the highest room, lest á more honourable man than thou be bidden, and he say, Give this man place. 3. A masterly spirit and stiff will, which will not yield to their wise counsels and advice for their good.

Q. 13. What are the sins of the aged and stronger in gifts and graces, against the younger and weaker?

A. The sins of the aged and stronger in gifts and graces against the younger and weaker, are, 1. Giving them evil examples of unholiness, covetousness, unrighteousness, intemperance, or any wickedness. 2. Contemptuous carriage towards them, or not giving due encouragement unto good beginnings. 3. Not bearing with their weakness, and despising of them because of their infirmities. Rom. xv. 1, We then, that are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Rom. xiv. 3, Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not.

Q. 14. What are the sins of equals one against another?

A. The sins of equals one against another, are, 1.'Hatred, envy, malice, inordinate anger towards, and evilspeaking, either to, or of one another, and any way injur ing, defaming and dishonouring each other. Eph. iv. 31, 32, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and

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