A. Let all that are guilty of this sin repent, and restore, as they expect mercy from God ; JEph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, steal no more, c^r. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken away any thing from any man by fake accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Q. 14. What is the last inference from hence ?
A. To excite all, to whom God hath given a competency of the things of the world, that they bless God for keeping them from the temptations of this sin ; Prov. xxx. 8, 9- Give me neither jx)verty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me : Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Of the ninth Coimnandnient.
Quest. 76. ▼ ? HICH is the ninth commandment.-*
A. The ninth commandment is, [Thou shalt not bear Jhlse wit- ness against thy neighbour.']
Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment.?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and pio- moting of' truth beticcen man and man, and of our own and our neighhour'^s good name, especially in witness-bearing,
Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment ?
A. The ninth commandment Jbrbiddeth whatsoever is jirejtidicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbour''s good name.
Q. 1. What is thje general scope and aim of the ninth command- ment?
A. The ninth command aims chiefly at the preservation and pro- moting of truth amongst men ; Zech. vlii. 16. — Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour, c^r. This being of indispensible necessity to the subsistence and welfare of human society ; Eph. iv.^5. Where> fore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.
Q. 2. What is the first thing required particularly in this com- mand ?
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 249
A. This command requires every man to take care of preserving his own good name, by ordering his conversation in universal inte- grity; 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an^answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear ; having a good conscience ; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil- doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conver- sation in Christ.
Q. 3. What is the second thing required in this command ?
A. It requires all due care to preserve the good name and honour of other men as well as our own ; for Christians are not to be of narrow and private spirits, which centre only in their own interests and concernment; Phil. ii. 4. Look not every man on his own things ; but every man also on the things of others.
Q. 4. How are we to preserve the good names of others ?
A. We are to preserve the good names of others by an inward esteem of all the good that is in them ; Phil. ii. 3. — In lowness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. And mani- festing our inward esteem of them by a wise and seasonable expres- sion thereof for their encouragement in the ways of godliness ; Rom. i. 8. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Q. 5. How else are we to defend other men's names ?
A. By our readiness to receive with joy the reports of that good that is in them ; 3 John 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the breth- ren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. And discountenancing all reproaches mali- ciously vented against them ; Psalm xv. 3. — Nor taketh up a re- proach against his neighbour.
Q. 6. But what if the report be evidently true ?
A. In that case we are to grieve for their miscarriages, as the effect and fruit of our love to their souls; 2 Cor. ii. 4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears, not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. And to discharge our duties privately and faithfully, in order to their recovery ; Matth. xviii. 15, 16, 17. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, &c. Winking at, and concealing in love, their lesser and common infirmities ; 1 Pet. iv. 8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves : For charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Q. 7. AVhat is forbidden in the ninth commandment ?
A. It forbids us to injure others, by raising or receiving lies,. and false reports which are highly injurious to their good names ; CoL iii. 9. Lie not one to another, &c.
Q. 8. What else is forbidden in the ninth commandment ?
A. It especially forbids perjury, or false swearing, whereby not only the names, but estates and lives of the innocent are injured and ruined ; Psal. xxxv. 11. False witnesses did rise up. They laid to my charge things that I knew not ; Prov. xix. 5. A false witness shall not be unpunished : And he that speaketh lies shall not escape. A sin which God will punish ; Mai. iii. 5. And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, &c. Q. 9. What else is forbidden in this commandment ? A. It forbids all whispering and backbiting of others secretly ; 52 Cor. xii. 20. — Lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, &c. And all tale-carrying from one to another, to our neighbour's injury; Lev. xix. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among the people, &c. And 1 Tim. V. 13. — And not only idle, but tatlers also, and busy-bodies, speak- ing things which they ought not.
Q. 10. What else doth the ninth commandment forbid ? A. It forbids all rash and unwarrantable judging of other men's hearts and final estates which is usually accompanied with ignorance of our own ; Matth. vii. 1, 3. Judge not, that ye be not judged. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye ? Q. 11. What else is forbidden in this commandment ? A. It forbids the eclipsing of the true worth and honour of others, by a proud exalting of ourselves ; 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. Charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, &c. Or by crying up one to the disparagement of another good man ; 1 Cor. iii. 4, 5. For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal ? &c.