heere a peculiar promise belonging to such as honor their Parents A. That disobedient children may know that they who performe not the duty of honour to them who vnder God are authors and gouernors of their life may looke for no promise of long life but rather may feare the shortning of their daies as a punishment due to their disobedience Q. But how is long life promised as a blessing Wee see it is full of miseries wants feares cares and troubles in so much that death is many times rather desired then long life 1. Kings 19 4. Eliah sitting vnder the Iuniper tree desired that hee might dye and sayd It is now enough O Lord take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers A. Long life is not of it selfe a blessing because many times wicked men liue long 1. King 13.11 as the Prophet that deceiued the man of God that came from Iudah 1. Macha 6.16 is said to be old Antiochus liued 149. yeeres but the sinner Esay 65.20 though hee be a hundred yeeres olde shall be accursed Yet because God promiseth long life often as a blessing no doubt it is so vnto his seruants but then he so seasoneth the bitternes of this life with the sweet comfort of his fauour that not onely their dayes are prolonged but also as here Moses saith it goeth well with them wherby it commeth to passe that such doe feele to their vnspeakeable consolation the performance of this promise With length of dayes will I satisfie him I will shew him my saluation Psal 91.16 Q. But how can it be sayd the Lord their God gaue them that Land seeing Ioshua and the Israelites fought many battels Iosh 12.24 so that before they could inioy the land they smote one and thirty Kings A. First when they went to take possession of that Land of promise God made the waters of Iordan miraculously to giue place Iosh 3.17 so as they went ouer dry-shod Iericho the first Cittie that Ioshua did assault had the walles thereof battered with no other engines Iosh 6.16 then the sound of seauen Trumpets made of Rams hornes and the shout of the Israelites When the fiue Kings of the Amorites were discomforted did not God shew that he fought for them the Amorites were put to flight and many were killed in the flight GOD also cast hailestones from heauen vpon them so that moe were slaine so then by the sword And the it might yet more plainly appeare that the Lord tooke their part Ioshu 10. at the Prayer of Ioshua the Sun stood still that they might haue time enough to pursue their enemies And the Israelites being scarce well settled in that promised land of Canaan the Amalekites and Madianites and all they of the East in number like Grass-hoppers gathered together against them Gideon the Captaine of the hoast of Israel onely with three hundred men deuided into three bands set vpon this great multitude in thrée seuerall places euery man hauing a Trumpet and a Pitcher wherein was a Lampe The Israelites sounding their Trumpets and breaking their pitchers holding their Trumpets in their right hands and their Lamps in their left cryed The sword of the Lord and of Gideon and stood in their places so the Lord set euery mans sword vpon his neighbour and vpon all the host So all the host fled Vpon good ground therefore said the Prophet Psal 44.3 They inherited not the Land by their own sword neither did their owne arme saue them but thy right hand O Lord and thine arme and the light of thy countenance because thou didst fauor them Yea God himselfe euen in Ioshua his daies sold his people Iosh 24.12 Not by thy sword or by thy bow didst thou conquer the land of Canaan So that although the people sometime fought yet GOD so miraculously subdued their enemies vnto them that it must needs be confessed that GOD gaue them that Land Q. Now let vs heare somewhat of the sixt Commandement Thou shalt not kill A. The words themselues are a prohibition but out of them we must also gather a Commandement Q. But why are the three first Commandements and this and the rest that follow deliuered negatiuely or prohibiting the thing that is euill rather then commanding that which is good A. Because through the corruption that is in vs wee are so prone and inclining to euill that wee must first learne to eschew euill before wee can apply our selues to doe good we must after the counsell that our Sauiour Christ giueth Mat. 12.33 first make the tree good because Mat. 7.18 an euill tree cannot bring forth good fruit Therefore our Lord God herein teacheth vs where our reformation must begin wee must purge out the olde leauen of sinne that wee may be a new lumpe 1. Cor. 5.7 and for this cause are we forbidden to do that which is sinne that by little and little vnaccustoming our selues from our own waies we may grow and go on forward in newnesse of life Q. But what is forbidden in this Commandement A. First all killing with hand heart or tongue and the things that tend to the hurt of any mans person then also the bereauing him or spoyling of his goods or possessiōs Thirdly the Omission of such duties as tend to the safety or good of other men Q. I desire to heare of these points more particularly and first of killing with the hand A. The killing with the hand is diuersly sometime it is done bluntly without any care to cloake it as Cain killed Habel Ioab Abner and Amasa sometime craftily as Dauid killed Vriah For though he thought the matter was wittily contriued 2. Sam. 11. so as no body could charge him with it yet Nathan the man of GOD told him Thou hast killed Vriah the Hittite with the sword 2. Sam. 12.9 thou hast slaine him with the sword of the children of Ammon Sometime men murder vnder shew of iustice so was Naboth put to death for his Vineyard A fast was proclaimed Naboth accused of blasphemy the accusation prooued and he stoned who could say Achab had any hand in this Yet was the Prophet Eliah sent from God to examine him vpon this interrogatory 1. Kings 21 19. Hast thou killed and also gotten possession A lesson needfull to be learned of many Polititians in these daies who care not by secret practices to take out of the way any that may hinder their proud attempts Yet euen the greatest of them must one day stand giue account of their doings before that iust Iudge to whom no such thing is secret because his Eyes behold their very thoughts and their very intents and all the meanes which they vsed are knowne to him Q. But how may murder be committed with the heart only death not insuing A. Our Sauiour Christ in expounding this very Commandement and reprouing the interpretations of the Scribes and Pharises thereof saith But
to kill him that would remoue a bounder as Dionys Halicar reporteth lib. 2. Some steale their neighbours money by praising aboue the worth that which they sell and so perswading them the thing is better then it is whether Marchants for their wares or workemen for the worke which they make many times rather to the shew then for the profit of the buyer and to such Merchants the sonne of Sirach addeth Vitailers There are saith he two things Ecclus. 26 39. which I think to be hard perilus A Marchāt cannot lightly keep him from wrong and a Vitler is not without sin Yea the laboring man as it is fil he should haue his wages for his work so if he worke not truely for his wages doth but steale the money of him that set him to worke Hee that is slothfull in his worke Pro. 18.19 is euen the brother of him that is a great waster either of his own if he be slothfull in his own businesse or of his that hires him if he worke for another and so is a breaker of this Law Q. What shall we iudge of them who neuer thinke they haue worke enough for their money but by all meanes they can seek to increase and adde vnto other mens toile Deut. 25.4 A. God thus commandeth Thou shalt not mouzell the Oxe that treadeth out the corne And Salomon telleth vs Pro. 12.10 that A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast to teach vs thereby to be much more merciful vnto men and not to sucke out by too toilesome worke the very life of them that worke for vs as if wee thought men should liue onely to serue our turne But to rehearse all the meanes whereby wee steale from other men their goods and possessions it is impossible and therfore I set this down as a touchstone wherby we may trie whether wee bee faulty or not that whosoeuer séeketh by other mens losse to inrich himselfe is a thiefe and a transgressour of this Commandement And yet there is one thiefe more which because hee first beginneth with himselfe stealing first from himselfe I leaue to the last place of this kind of theeues That is the vnthrift that spendeth his Patrimony if hee haue any or whatsoeuer by his hands he getteth if he liue by his occupation or labour in drinking playing or some vnthrifty course so robbing himselfe of the meanes whereby he should liue this I confesse séemes to be but a foolish theefe but a théefe hee is yea and not in robbing himself only for hee robbeth others too For the poorest man if he be maried or kéep a house must thus thinke that which hee getteth his wife and family haue their part therein and so in spending their part hee is a thiefe and robbeth them If he haue Copie-hold or frée land or any inheritance other whom he leaueth behind haue interest therin and so the child vnborne is robbed by such vnthrifts Foolish therefore and false is that which they think and say sometime that they spend nought but their owne For they spend that also that belongeth to their family to their posterity And thus much of thefts that are done or committed Q. Are there also thefts by omission of duties which diuers men according to their seueral callings ought to performe A. Yea diuers And first to begin with the greatest theeues that robbe men of the food of the soule Behold saith the Lord Ier. 23.30 I will come against them which steale my word euery man from his neighbour Now the Pastors that are negligent in teaching are theeues of this sort They also who when they teach or instruct their people beare with mens sinnes and will not tell them of their transgressions as God commandeth his Prophet but will rather seeke to please as the desire of sinners is to sleepe securely in their sinnes Es 30.10 as wée may sée To be short they may truly be sayd to steale Gods words which take them from the eyes and knowledge of men and in stead therof deliuer mens traditions much like the Harlot 1. King 3.20 which rising in the night stole away the liuing childe from the true mother and layd the dead child in the roome of it Next vnto these are Iudges if they iudge not the cause of the Widow and fatherlesse but either for feare dare not or because they fauour great ones that are aduersaries to their cause will not or for any other worldly respect care not to doe speedy right to them as their state requireth and the equitie of their cause should moue them to do This their duty is commonly required of them in the Scriptures so that I néed not bring particulars of that I say herein If a man finde a thing and make not restitution it is sin to him Leuit. 6.3 and therefore a breach of this commandement And because this as all other of the Commandements require loue Thou shalt not see thy brothers Asse or his Oxe fall downe by the way and withdrawe thy selfe Deu. 22.4 but shalt lift him vp with him Yea if thou meet thine enemies Oxe or Asse going astray Exod. 23.4 thou shalt bring him to him again For the omission of such duties is a breach of this lawe Q. Now let vs heare somewhat of the ninth Commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour A. As the last Commandement whereof I haue spoken restraineth our déedes and actions from doing wrong so this teacheth our tongues not to speake any thing whereby our neighbour may be wronged And in effect it requireth that which S. Paul willeth the Ephesians Wherefore cast off lying Ephe. 4.25 and speake euery man the truth vnto his neighbour For he is called Psal 31. The God of truth and loueth truth not in word or shew in the inward affection Psal 51.6 and therefore would haue vs to walke in the truth Q. But being forbid to beare false witnesse against our neighbour may we do it against others whom we call not neighbours as the Iewes thinke it lawfull to take vsury of vs because it is thus prohibited to them Deu. 23.19 Thou shalt not giue to vsurie to thy brother and vs they account not their brethren A. The word neighbour hath that sence in this place which our Sauiour Christ taught the captious expounder of the Lawe in Luke 10.37 as if it had been thus commaunded Thou shalt not beare false witnes against any man Q. Then teach vs I pray you how many waies this lawe may bee transgressed A. Either by ending matters in controuersie betwéen neighbours or by false reports or conceits of others or our selues Q. How in ending controuersies A. Two waies either when matters are ended by daies-men or by lawe Leu. 19.13 For séeing Thou mayst doe no wrong to thy neighbour but must follow Iustice iustly that is Deu. 16.20 in all sincerity I take this to be a good
lesson both for daies-men and such as are produced as witnesses before them whereby both the one and the other may be taught better to doe a Christian duty herein then many do Witnesses although they speak not in such case vpon oath yet ought in honesty nay in Christianity to discharge a good conscience and not to speak vntruly For if they doe they transgresse against this law As for them who as friends are appointed to arbitrate and order such matters if they be stiffe for a friend against that which by witnesses shall appeare to be truth and thereupon giue their order accordingly they then beare false witnes against their neighbour For all the friendship that a true Christian friend can shewe to his friend in this case is to take heede that hee bee not wrōged neither the witnesses words wrested but if hee yeelde not to the truth he is a transgressor As for thē that are broght before Iudges to giue their euidence because they are sworn to speake the truth if they doe it not their fault is much the greater Thou shalt not doe vniustly in iudgement Deu. 19.35 Their fault I say is much the greater because they make that al-knowing God Pro. 6.19 who hateth the false witnesse that speaketh lyes and threatneth to be a swift witnesse against such as forswear thēselues Mal. 3.5 because such as swear falsly by his name Leu. 19.12 pollute the name of their God who is the Lord who can and wil be reuēged of such transgressions they make him a witnesse of their lyes And as their offence is hainous against God himselfe so do they abuse the Iudgement seat the Court of Iustice drawing the same by their falshood vnto iniustice Pro. 19.28 A wicked witnesse mocketh at iudgement and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth vp iniquity For such witnesses hide and kéepe out of sight the truth of the cause which is to be tried and by that meanes vndoe such as through their false oath leese their right Q. As such men by their periurie sin against the third Commandement so in thus wronging their neighbour they steale away their neighbours maintenance of his life and so offend against the sixt and eighth Commandement and therefore may iustly bee hated of God and man A. So are they For as concerning God it is reckoned vp among the things that his soule abhorreth Pro. 6.19 And in respect of the wrong that is therby offered to men God taketh order that among his people what hurt soeuer a man might haue by a false testimonie the same should be layd vpon the false witnesse whether losse of life or any limme and this without pittie God commandeth to be executed Deu. 19.21 As for men in diuers places diuers punishments haue bin appointed to such and all shew a detestation therof In Scotland Keneth a King ordered that if a man told but a lye whereby another was hurt the lyer should be disarmed of his sword banished out of mens company The City of Millan in Italy if the sum of mony were not great which by forswearing a man sustayned something imitated that punishment that God appointed among his people yet adding this that such should go about the City 3. daies with a paper about his head to shew his offence the second fault was losse of his hand the third fault was punished by burning to death The Venetians cut out their tongues that so offended Francus the first of that name French King made a lawe that such should suffer death In all which it may appeare that gouernours magistrates séeing the great hurt that false witnesses wrought in al societies sought by sharpnes of punishment to roote out that euill out of their gouernments Q. All such as raise against any man vntrue reports whereby they may bee defamed or il thought on are transgressors of this lawe A. Most certaine Therfore Speake not euill one of another brethren Iam. 4.11 He that speaketh euil of his brother or condemneth his brother speaketh euill of the law and condemneth the law saith S. Iames. The Prophet Dauid professeth he will be an enemy to such men Him that priuily slandereth his neighbour Psal 101.5 will I destroy And the son of Sirach telleth vs what reward the slanderer may expect Eccl. 5.15 He that is a back-biter shall be hated enuied and confounded Therefore The righteous man hateth lying words Pro. 13.5 but the wicked causeth slaunder shame Such men were so troublesome to Dauid that he estéemed their tongs sharpned as the Serpents Psal 140.3 and Adders poison to bee vnder their lips I néed not produce the examples out of Scriptures to shew what euill such men work among neighbors daily experiēce affordeth too many and too lamentable effects that grow therof how godly men are disgraced the innocent and spotlesse in comparison of their accusers blamed and holy conuersation is vniustly accused Q. But what think you of them who readily and too rashly giue eare to such reports A. They are guilty of transgression of this law likewise Prou 17.4 The wicked saith Salomon giueth heed to false lips a lyer harkeneth to a naughty tong But whatsoeuer thēselues are such by listning too well to such slanderers giue more incouragement to them to go forward in that wicked course and there is no doubt such an impression in their own heart of that which they heare so willingly that in the very perswasion of their heart they beare false witnesse against the guiltlesse and condemne too often the faultlesse Q. Are there no other transgressions against this lawe A. Yes diuers Our offence against it is too cōmon in this country A man bindeth to peace one of whō he standeth in feare of some bodily hurt The other for the most part for a reuenge will be content to take his Oath that hee also standeth in feare of him though his owne conscience telleth him it is not so By this meanes euen against his owne knowledge he beareth this false witnesse against the other that hee is a dangerous man though himselfe beléeueth it not yet he séeketh to perswade others therof by his Oath A gréeuous sin but too common Another wil extoll a man though euill whom he loueth far aboue his worth and whom he misliketh wil lode with all disgrace Salomon telleth vs Pro. 17.15 that hee who iustifieth the wicked and condemneth the Iust euen they both are an abomination to the Lord. Esa 5.20 And Esay crieth Woe to them which call good euill and euill good And all such are false witnesses which God heere forbiddeth Other transgressions also there are as these counterfeit foolish too much made of by many yea by some great men these common players may slaunder they thinke by authority and the more satyrical that they are the better they are liked of and the more they please themselues too So this gréeuous transgression and very