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Q. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment requireth, full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour, and all that is his. Q. 1. What doth the tenth commandment require, in reference to ourselves?

A. The tenth commandment doth require, in reference to ourselves, full contentment with our own condition. Heb. xiii. 5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.

Q. 2. Wherein doth contentment with our own condition consist?

A. Contentment with our own condition doth consist, in our free acquiescence and complacency with God's disposal of us, whereby we like our present condition, as best, and most fit for us.

Q. 3. How may we attain contentment in a prosperous condition, when we abound in wealth and the good things of this life?

A. We may attain contentment in a prosperous condition, and when we abound in wealth and the good things of this life, 1. By not setting our hearts too much on, nor expecting too much from any of these things. Psalm lxii. 10, If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. Luke xii. 15, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 2. By placing our chief happiness in God, and things above, and chiefly seeking to enjoy God in the good things which we have. Psalm xvi. 5, 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage. 3. By readiness to distribute to the necessities of others, which is accompanied with God's love and blessing, who giveth the greatest comfort in these things unto such. 2 Cor. ix. 7, 8, God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace S

abound towards you, that ye always, having all sufficieney in all things, may abound unto every good work. 4. By prayer, and seeking to God through Christ for this grace of contentment; without which, the more we have in the world, the more our desires after increase will be enlarged, and the less we shall be satisfied.

Q. 4. How may we attain contentment in a low, necessitous and afflicted condition?

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A. We may attain contentment in a low, necessitous, and afflicted condition, 1. By attaining true godliness, unto which alone true contentment is annexed. vi. 6, Godliness with contentment is great gain. 2. By being fully persuaded of, and seriously and understandingly eyeing the wise and good hand of God's providence in his disposal of us, and bringing any affliction upon us. Job i. 21, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Psal. xxxix. 9, I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. Psalm cxix. 75, I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 3. By getting an interest, and trusting in God's promise, to cause all things, even the worst things that can befal us, to work together for our good. Rom. viii. 28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 4. By humility, and a deep sense of our undeservings, and ill-deserving at God's hands for our sins. Gen. xxxii. 10, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. Dan. ix. 8, O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, because we have sinned against thee. 5. By looking to others better than ourselves, who have been lower in the world, and more afflicted than we have been our Saviour had not where to lay his head; and those, of whom the world was not worthy, had no certain dwelling place in the world, and many of them destitute, afflicted and tormented. 6. By labouring so much the more to abound in spiritual riches, the less we have of temporal; and if we have no earthly inheritance, to se cure our right unto, and living by faith upon our heavenly inheritance; hereby the poorest sometimes become

the richest, and those, that have most outward trouble, have most inward joy. James ii. 5, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him? 1 Thess. i. 6, Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 7. By considering how we brought nothing into the world, and that we can carry nothing with us out of it. Job i. 21, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. 1 Tim. vi. 7, 8, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith con8. By going to Christ to teach us the lesson of universal contentment, and fetching strength from him to exercise this grace in every condition. Philip. iv. 11, 12, 13, Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound every where, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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Q. 5. What doth the tenth commandment require, in reference unto our neighbour?

A. The tenth commandment doth require, in reference unto our neighbour, a right and charitable frame of spirit towards him and all that is his.

Q. 6. Wherein doth this right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour, and all that is his, consist? A. This right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour, and all that is his, doth consist, 1. In our affections of love, desire, and delight towards, and in our neighbour, and his welfare; together with grief and sorrow with, and for our neighbour's evil and sufferings. Rom. xii. 10, 15, Be kindly affectioned one to anoth with brotherly love. Rejcice

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Q. 7. How may we attain such affections and disposi tions towards our neighbour?

A. We may attain such affections and dispositions towards our neighbour, 1. By getting the law of God written in our hearts, whereby we are wrought unto a love of the law, and to an inclination to do it. Heb. viii. 10, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts. 2. By getting our affections chiefly set upon God, which will incline unto any right affections one towards another. 1 John v. 1, Every one, that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. 3. By faith in Jesus Christ, which worketh the heart both to a true love to God, and one towards another. Gal. v. 6, But faith which worketh by love. 4. By looking unto and following the example of Jesus Christ. Eph. v. 2, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and gave himself for us.

Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his.

Q. 1. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment, are, 1. All discontentment with our own estate. 2. All-envying the good of our neighbour. 3. All inordinate motions and affections towards any thing that is his.

Q. 2. Wherein doth discontentment with our own estate show itself?

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Q. 3. Whence doth discontentment with tate arise?

A. Discontentment with our own estate doth arise, 1. From our not believing, or not trusting the providence of God, who orders every particular circumstance of our estate and condition, and hath promised to order it for the best. Matth. x. 29, 30, 31, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 2. From pride and overvaluing ourselves, as if we had some desert of our own, and such high thoughts, as if it were fit that such unworthy persons as we are, should be in a better condition than that wherein God hath placed us. 3. From a carnal heart, filled with inordinate self-love; which if God's providence doth not gratify with full provisions for the flesh, it doth vex and grieve, and is disquieted. 4. From inordinate affections unto, and expectations of and from these outward things, which causeth inordinate grief and trouble in the loss of these things, and great discontent in the disappointment of what we expected of them, and from them.

Q4. How may we be cured of discontentment with our own estate?

A. We may be cured of discontentment with our own estate, by mourning for it, and application of ourselves unto the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon and healing; and by the diligent use of the means before directed, for the attainment of the grace of true contentment.

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