A. Prayer; Psalm cxix. 37. Turn away mine eyes from behold- ing vanity, &c. And, to evidence our sincerity in prayer, we must study to shun all occasions of this sin ; Psal. xviii. 23. I was also up- right before him ; and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Q. 11. What is the first inference from hence '^
246 AX EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLIES CATECHISM.
A. What cause those have to bless God, that have been kept from this sin ; though the best ought to be humbled for their heart-pol- lutions.
Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence .^
A. Let it warn parents to do what in them lies to prevent the ruin of their children by this sin, (1.) By fiUing their heads and hands with lawful business. (2.) By serious admonitions and prayers for them. (3.) By keeping them from vain and tempting company. (4.) By disposing them seasonably in suitable marriage.
Q. 13. What is the third inference from hence ?
A. Let those that are defiled with this sin repent seriously of it as David did ; Psalm li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. And apply the blood of Christ by faith ; for in so doing it may be pardoned ; 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christy and by the Spirit of our God.
Of the eiglitli Commandment
Quest. 73. ^ V HICH is the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment is, [Thou shalt not steal.'\
Quest. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lazvful procuring and furthering the wealth, and outward estate of ourselves and others.
Quest. 75. W^hat is forbidden in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may iinjustly] binder our own, or our neighbour'' s wealth, or outward estate,
Q. 1. What is presupposed in this commandment.^
A. It presHpposeth that God hath given every man a propriety in his estate, and that no man's goods are common to others, except by his consent in times and cases extraordinary ; Acts ii. 44. And ali that believed were together, and had all things common.
Q. 2. What is required in this commandment ?
A.\t requires of every man diligence in a lawful calling, to get and preserve an estate for his own and other's good ; Prov. xiii. 11.
He that gathereth by labour, shall increase. Eph. iv. 28. But
rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Q. 3. What else is required in this commandment ?
A. It requires us not only to get and keep the things of the world in a lawful manner, but to distribute and communicate them to those that are in want, and not cast them into temptations of sin, or ine- vitable ruin; Isa. Iviii. 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul : Then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day ; 1 John iii. 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and
An exposition* of the ASSEilBLV's CATECltlSM. 247
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, howdwelleth the love of God in him ?
Q. 4. What else is required in this commandment ?
A. It requires in every man a public spirit to procure and promote the good and prosperity of others : 1 Cor. x. 24. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Q. 5. What else is required in this command ?
A. It requires restitution of all goods, unjustly gotten, or taken from others ; Lev. vi. 4. Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, &c. And the restor- ing of pawns and pledges, when they are due ; Ezek. xviii. 7. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, &c. Or things lost, if we can discover the true owners.
Q, 6. What is the first sin forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all cozening and cheating of others in our dealings, and civil commerce with them ; 1 Thess. iv. 6. That no man go be- yond and defraud his brother in any matter, &c. Prov. xxvi. 2S. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Q. 7. What is the second thing forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all exaction and oppression of our neighbour, by go- ing beyond them, or working on their necessities, or detaining their dues ; Lev. xxv. 14. And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one ano- ther ; Prov. xxiv. 28, 29- Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause : And deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me : I will render to the man according to his work.
Q. 8. What is the third thing forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all unlawful weights and measures, which is no bet- ter than theft in God's account ; Micah vi. 10, 11. Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights ?
Q. 9. What is the fourth sin forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all family frauds by children ; Prov. xxviii. 24. Who- so robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. Or servants ; Tit. ii. 9, 10. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own jnasters; — 'not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, &c.
Q. 10. What is the fifth thing forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all tempting o?^ or encouraging others to defraud those who have any trust committed to them; Psalm 1. 1$. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him ; Prov. xxix. 24. Whosoever is partner with a thief, hateth his own soul, &c.
Q. 11. What is the sixth thing forbidden in this command .^
S48 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
A. It forbids the taking away of another's goods by open robbery
by sea or land ; Job v. 5. And the robber swalloweth up their
substance. Or clandestinely and privately ; 1 Pet. iv. 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, &c.
Q. 12. What is the danger of this sin .'*
A. It brings men's souls, bodies, and estates, under the curse of God ; Zech. v. 3, 4. Then said he unto me. This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth : For every one that stealeth shall be cut off, as on this side, according to it : — I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief
Q. 13. What is the first instruction hence.?