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107. Q. Is it sufficient that we kill no one in the manner which you have just named?

A. It is not. For when God condemns anger, envy, and hatred, he requires that we should love our neighbour as ourselves; and that we should use towards him all humanity, gentleness, courtesy, patience, and mercy, and avert from him, in as

• Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matt. xxii. 39. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Matt. vii. 12. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. Rom. xii. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Rom. xiii. 10. Ye are taught of God to love one another. 1 Thess. iv. 9. He who loveth God, love his brother also. 1 John iv. 21. 1 Pet. i. 22.

P With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. Eph. iv. 2. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom. xii. 18. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. vi. 1, 2. Matt.

v. 5.

9 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke vi. 36. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matt. v. 7. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Rom. xii. 17. But the wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. James iii. 17.

- Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, live as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing. 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ

much as we are able, whatsoever may be hurtful to him; in fine, that we should so regulate our affections, that we may not hesitate to do good even to our enemies.t

108. Q. What is the meaning of the seventh commandment?

A. That God holds in execration all dishonesty and filthiness," and therefore we also ought utterly to hate and detest it, and contrariwise, live tem

forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col. iii. 12-14.

• If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help him. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. Exod. xxiii. 4, 5. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: neither have I suffered my soul to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. Job xxxi. 28-30. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. vi. 2. Luke x. 37.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matt. v. 44. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. Prov. xxiv. 17. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. Rom. xii. 10.

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which knew not God. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thess. iv. 3, 4, 7. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Ps. v. 5. Eph. v. 5, 6.

▾ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it

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perately, modestly, and chastely, whether we live in holy wedlock, or in single life.*

109. Q. Does God forbid, in this commandment, nothing else but adultery, and such kinds of uncleanness?

A. Since our body and soul are the temples of the Holy Ghost,y it is God's will that we should possess both in purity and holiness. And therefore he forbids such deeds, gestures, words,

not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. Eph. v. 3, 4.

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Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Col. iii. 5. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. Prov. ii. 20. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 1 Pet. iii. 2.

* Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. xiii. 4. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say, therefore, to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 1 Cor. vii. 7, 8. Rom. xiii. 13, 14.

y Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.

* But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither foolishness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Eph. v. 3, 4. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy

thoughts, and evil desires, which tend to corrupt them.

110. Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?

A. Not only those thefts b and robberies which the magistrate punishes; but by the name of theft he comprehends every evil art and device, whereby we seek after other men's goods, and endeavour by

Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. I Cor. vi. 18-20. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Eph. v. 18. 1 Pet. iii. 3.

a Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matt. v. 27, 28. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. I Pet. ii. 11. For they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. Gal. v. 24. Rom. xiii. 13, 14.

b Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 10. Let him that, stole steal no more. Eph. iv. 28. Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Rom. ii. 21. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him. Lev. xix. 11, 13.

Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest' treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee; when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. Isa. xxxiii. 1. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery. Ps. lxii. 10. 1 Cor. v. 10.

force, or with an appearance of right, to transfer them unto ourselves;d such as false weights, unfair measures,e counterfeit goods, false money, usury, or any other means of ameliorating our

d Do violence to no man, neither accuse any one falsely; and be content with your wages. Luke iii. 14. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 1 Thess. iv. 6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. Prov. xxi. 6. Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth. Luke xii. 15. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt

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fear thy God; for I am the Lord your God. Lev. xxv. 17. Prov. xxiii. 5. Col. iii. 2.

e A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight. Prov. xi. 1. A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work. Prov. xvi. 11. Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have. Deut. xxv. 13-15. Divers weights and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. Prov. xx. 10. Ye shall have just balances, &c. Ezek. xlv. 9; 10.

f He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Ps. xv. 5. Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be called the children of the Highest. Luke vi. 35. He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. Prov. xxviii. 8. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing. Prov. x. 2. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished. Prov. xiii. 11. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning: but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Prov. xx. 2. James v. 4. 1 Cor. v. 10, 11. Jer. xvii. 11.

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