And if thy brother be waxen poor and fallen to decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him yea though he be a stranger or sojourner that he may live with thee Deut. 22.1 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray and hide thy self from them thou shalt in any case bring them back again unto thy brother V. 2. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee or if thou know him not then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it and thou shalt restore it to him again V. 3. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass and with his raiment and with all lost things of thy brother's that thou hast found thou mayest not hide thy self V. 4. Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his ass fall down by the way and hide thy self from them thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again Exod. 23.4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or ass going astray thou shalt surely bring it back to him again V. 5. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burthen and wouldst forbear to help him thou shalt surely help him Gen. 47.14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and Canaan for the corn which they bought and he brought the money into Pharaoh's house V. 20. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh for the Egyptians sold every man his field because the famine prevailed over them so the land became Pharaoh's others Q. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment A. The eighth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our Neighbour's Wealth or outward (r) Prov. 21.17 23.20,21 28.19 See all these in the Bible Ephes 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Estate 15. Q. Which is the ninth Commandment A. The ninth Commandment is Exod. 20.11 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour Q. What is required in the ninth Commandment A. The ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of Truth between Man and (Å¿) Zech. 8.16 These are the things that ye shall do Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour execute the judgments of truth and peace in your gates Man and of our own and our Neighbour's good (t) 3 Jon. v. 12. Demetrius hath a good report of all men and of the truth it self yea and we also bear record and ye know that our record is true Names especially (u) Prov. 14.5 A faithful witness will not lye but a false witness will utter lyes V. 25. A true witness delivereth fouls but a deceitful witness speaketh lyes in Witness-bearing Q. What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment A. The ninth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to Truth or injurious to our own or Neighbour's good (x) 1 Sam. 17.28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men and Eliab's anger was kindled against David and he said Why camest thou down hither and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thy heart for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battel Levit. 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour I am the Lord. Psal 15.3 He that back-biteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Name 16. Q. Which is the tenth Commandment A. The tenth Commandment is Exod. 20.17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his man-servant nor his maid servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours Q. What is required in the tenth Commandment A. The tenth Commandment requireth full Contentment with our own (y) Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 1 Tim. 6.6 But godliness with contentment is great gain Condition with a right and charitable frame of Spirit toward our (z) Job 31.29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me or lift up my self when evil found him Rom. 12.15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep 1 Tim 1.5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned 1 Cor. 13.4 Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up V. 5. Doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil V. 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth V. 7. Beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Neighbour and all that is his Q. What is forbidden in the tenth Commandment A. The tenth Commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own (a) 1 King. 21.4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him for he had said I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers and he laid him down upon his bed and turned away his face and would eat no bread Esth 5.13 Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate 1 Cor. 10.10 Neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer Estate envying or grieving at the good of our (b) Gal. 5.26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory provoking one another envying one another Jam. 3.14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not and lye not against the truth V. 16. For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work Neighbour and all inordinate Motions and Affections to any thing that is (c) Rom. 7.7 What shall we say then Is the Law sin God forbid nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet V. 8. But sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence for without the law sin was dead Rom. 13.9 For this Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not covet and if there be any other commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Deut. 5.21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house his field or man-servant or his maid-servant his ox or
Trial of New Obedience section 1 For your better undertaking of it be pleased to observe what it is and why it is called New. New Obedience is an hearty sincere Respect or Aim at God's Glory in keeping all his Commandments or having a Respect to all God's Commandments and walking before God in Righteousness and Holiness all the Days of our Life being redeemed from the Hand of our Enemy It is called New Obedience in opposition to the Service of Sin or obeying the Law in our Members For we being Sinners by Nature and corrupted with Original Sin are inclined and given to serve Sin and to live after the Flesh Rom. 6.11,12,13,16,17,18,19,20 But when we are united to Christ in our Effectual Calling and have Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we become dead to Sin and free from the Dominion of it we are married unto Christ in Covenant that we may abound in Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Praise and Glory of God Philip. 1.11 Rom. 7.4 We are bound to do whatsoever he commandeth us Matth. 28.20 section 2 Now three things must be enquired after 1. The Subject and Principle or Root of this New Obedience 2. The Rule of it 3. The End and Design of it 1. Whence is it that you perform Service or Obedience unto God Do you serve him from Faith Love and unfeigned Repentance towards God Are you effectually called Remember what that is Are you united to Christ by Faith See what that is Are you turned from all Sin from your bosom darling costly Sin to God to obey his Law Try your Repentance Have you a new Heart Have you the Image of God renewed upon you Are you sanctified by the Spirit Look to Ans 35. For New Obedience proceeds from the Heart renewed and sanctified section 3 2. Try your Obedience by the Rule of it that is the whole Word and Will of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet c. V. 6. When I have respect to all thy Commandments at all times always even to the End Psal 119.112 Phil. 2.12 He that is such an one doth not live in any known Sin nor neglect any known Duty He makes Conscience of Duty to God and Man Act. 24.16 section 4 3. Try and examine the End of your Obedience what you aim at and design New Obedience proceeds from a Principle of Renewing Grace is regulated by the Word of God and directed to his Glory And so what you learn first in your Catechism is the End of your Conversation and Obedience See Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 1 Pet. 2.9 chap. 4.11 section 5 The second Duty is Preparation for the Lord's Supper Having examined your Hearts if you find these Graces in you then the Work of Preparation is to stir up the Grace of God given you in putting your Souls in a readiness to receive Jesus Christ as offered to you with all the Benefits of the New Covenant by adding to your Self-Examination humble Consession of Sin earnest Supplication for Forgiveness of Sin and Grace If you find a Want or Weakness of Grace then sharpen your Desires after it and pray for it and add your Thanksgiving for the Means of Grace and for Grace received Thus much for the Duties before the Sacrament CHAP. IV. Duties at and after the Communion together with Motives and Perswasions to perform the whole Duty in a due manner section 1 WHile you attend upon God at his Table shake off all Drowsiness and Vanity of Mind Consider at whose Table you are to eat and drink and what the Feast is Therefore draw near with an holy Reverence with a clear Knowledge and lively Faith. Attend to what is done before you the outward Signs and what is done according to the Institution of Christ Observe the breaking of the Bread the pouring out the Wine and the giving of both to you Know that you are to remember Jesus Christ to discern his Body and to shew his Death Thirst and hunger for him Receive him by Faith and the Benefits of the New Covenant Look unto Christ crucisied with a broken Heart sorrowing for Sin. Meditate on the Love of God in his Son Jesus on the Sufferings of Christ on the Satisfaction given Redemption and Victory obtained for thee Cast thy self upon him trust to him give thy self to him delight in his Love apply him for what thou dost most stand in need of renew thy Covenant and thy Engagement to be the Lord's and excite thy Love to all Saints and be thankful section 2 After the Sacrament reflect upon your selves re-view your Carriage 1. Consider Have you discerned the Lord's Body made an affectionate Remembrance of him Have you received him by Faith Are you nourished by him 2. If you find Quickning and Comfort then bless God for it beg a Continuance of it watch against Relapses fulfil your Vows encourage yourselves to a frequent Attendance on that Ordinance But 3dly If you find not present Benefits by it then you must more exactly review your Preparation and Carriage at the Sacrament in both which if you can approve your selves to God and your own Conscience then wait for the Fruit in due time But if you find that you have failed in either Preparation or Carriage you must be humbled and attend upon it afterwards with more Care and Diligence section 3 Having directed you and brought some Assistance towards the holy and comfortable receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord I might expect that you will say you have now what you much desired and only wanted For so great should be the Forwardness and Zeal of every one who bears the Christian Name to obey every Command of Christ and particularly to address themselves to this holy Ordinance wherein the Love of Christ is set forth in his most precious Blood that they should not need Motives to spur them on But Alas how commonly do we see Men and Women excommunicate themselves and Non-Communicants crowding out at the Church-doors leaving but a little Flock behind to feed upon his Body and Blood who laid down his Life for the Sheep Truly to see many depart who have been earnestly invited to this Feast of Love hath brought to my Mind the Separation that will be in the last Day between the Sheep and the Goats Wo wo to them when Christ shall bid them depart from him who for Love of Ease Ignorance and wilful Impenitence go away from him represented at his Table I shall draw out a few Arguments to perswade poor Souls to a conscientious well-prepared Address to the Table of the Lord out of the same Store house your very Catechism section 4 Advantage or Dis-advantage are the prevailing Motives to perswade or disswade Now if you shall find the Advantages very great of right and worthy Receiving and the Loss and Sin great of Neglecting or unworthy Receiving then I hope you will be won