A. Yes there is : Innocents may be murdered under the forms and solemnities both of justice and religion. So Naboth v/as mur- dered by Jezebel : 1 Kings xxi. 12, 13. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him : And the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones that he died. And the martyrs by bloody Papists. And this strongly proves a day of judgment ; Eccl. iii. 16, 17. And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked : For there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work.
Q. 9. Are duels forbidden in this commandment ?
A. Yes, they are ; for whatever point of honour be touched, or whatever provocation be given, we are not to be our own avengers ; Rom. xii. 19- Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, &c.
Q. 10. What is the first inference hence.?
A. That we have great cause to bless God for his protecting law, and for human laws grounded upon his law for the protection of our
lives ; Rom. xiii. 4. For he is the minister of God, a revenger
to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.
Q. 11. What is the second inference hence.?
A. That all that are guilty of this sin, have great cause to be hum*
S44 AN EXPOSITIOX OF TilE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM*
bled and afflicted : For it is a crying sin, Gen. iv. 10. The voice
of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. Yet not to despair of mercy upon true repentance. Manasseh shed innocent blood, and yet was pardoned, upon repentance ; 2 Kings xxi. 16. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, &c.
Q. 12. What is the third inference hence ?
A.J^et all men watch against pride, passion, malice, and revenge, the sin of the heart, from which this horrid sin proceeds ; Mat. xv. 18, 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, &c.
Of the seventh Commandment.
Quest. TO. ▼ T HIGH is the seventh commandment.?
A. The seventh commaiidment is, [Thou shalt not commit adidtery.']
Quest. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment.?
A. Tlie seventh commandmejit requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastify in heart, speech, and behaviour.
Quest. 72. AVhat is forbidden in the seventh commandment .?
A. The seventh commandmefit Jbrbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, 7cords, and actions.
Q. 1. What is the duty required in this commandment.?
A. The first duty required in this commandment is, the preserva- tion of our own chastity in heart, lip, and life ; 1 Thess. iv. 3, 4. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should ab- stain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. And Eph. iv. 29- Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, &c.
Q. 2. Why must we preserve our own chastity ?
A. Because our bodies are, or ought to be the temples of the Holy Ghost ; 1 Cor. vi. 15, 19. Know ye not, that your bodies are the members of Christ ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot ? God forbid. What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? And it is the express charge of God that they be kept pure and clean ; 1 Thess. iv. 3, 4. 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.
Q- 3. What is the second reason ?
A. The second reason is, because of the evil of it to ourselves : As, (1.) It injures the body; 1 Cor. vi. 18. He that committeth fornica- tion, sinneth against his own body. (2.) It levels us with the Hea- then ; Eph. iv. 17, 19. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, — who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all un- cleanness with greediness. (3.) Dishonours our names; Prov. vi. 32, 53« But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, a wound and
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 245
dishonour shall he get, SfC. (4.) Scatters our estates; Prov. v. 10. Leb't strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours be in the
house of strangers. (5.) Destroyeth the soul ; Prov. vi. 32. He
that doth it, destroyeth his own soul.
Q. 4. What age is most incident to this sin ?
A. The youthful age is most apt to be drawn into this sin ; Prov. vii. 7. And behold among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. And 2 Tim. ii. %% Flee also youthful lusts, c^c.
Q. 5. How far doth this command extend itself.''
A. It extends itself to the heart, mind, and fancy, as well as to the body, and external actions ; Matth. v. 28. But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath commit- ted adultery with her already in his heart.
Q. 6. What are the usual inducements to this sin ?
A. The usual inducements to this sin are, (1.) Idleness and fulness of the creatures; Ezek. xvi. 49, 50. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom ; pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters, S^c. (2.) Wanton gestures ; Isa. iii. 16. Moreover, the Lord salth. Because the daughters of Zionare haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks, and wanton eyes, walking, and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet. (3.) Filthy communication ; Eph. v. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foohsh talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, &;c.
Q. 7. What is the first remedy against this sin ?
A. The first remedy, and the most effectual, is, to get the Spirit
of God within us, to sanctify and rule us; Gal. v. 16. Walk in
the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
Q. 8. What is the second remedy ?
A. The keeping of a strict wach over the heart ; Prov. iv. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, &c. And over the external senses; Job xxxi. 1. I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid ?
Q. 9. What is the third remedy against it ?
A. Deep and serious consideration of the danger of this sin, and what God threatens against adulterers; Heb. xiii. 4. Whore- mongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. — Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effe- minate,— shall inherit the kingdom of God. And how he describes them, Prov. xxii. 14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
Q. 10. What is the fourth remedy against it ?