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
manner of reprehending for it is done sharply and with bitternesse Thirdly in the end which is the discredit and disgrace of them whom wee reproue or slander But that godly and Christian reprehension riseth from a charitable and louing affection and concerning the manner is done in the spirit of méekenes and the end is the reforming of our brother Q. But this sinne of slandering I would iudge rather to bee against the ninth Commandement A. This sinne of slandering is a transgression against two Commandements at the least howsoeuer it bée true or false that a man reporteth to the hurt of his neighbors good name because hee doth it of an vncharitable mind hee is a transgressour of this sixt Commandement But if the reports be vntrue whether deuised by them which do so report them or that they haue heard them of others and without consideration haue rashly published that to the discredit of another therein they sinne against the ninth commandement And because they in so dooing steale away their neighbors credit which is much déerer to a well minded man then much wealth and the losse thereof he estéemeth greater then of worldly goods such men are also guilty of breach of the eight Commaundement Thou shalt not steale Q. You haue told vs of many waies whereby this precept may be broken by doing either against the person of anyman or against his goods or name but how by omission of duties do men transgresse A. There are certaine particular duties belonging to particular callings certaine duties generall belonging to all And these particular duties are diuers also some beeing helpes vnto eternall life some for the maintenance of this our present temporall being here And first to speake of that which should especially bee cared for If the Ministers of the Word doe not in some measure their duty in admonishing the people of ther danger they are in by reason of their sin they breake this Commandement Thou shalt dye the death saith God to Ezechiel if thou doe not speake and admonish Ezec. 33.8 the wicked of his way that wicked man shall dye for his iniquity but his blud wil I require at thy hand S. Paul therfore as he was careful to performe this duty himselfe Act. 20.31 I haue not ceased saith hee day and night with teares for the space of 3. yeeres to admonish you So hee chargeth Timothy to preach the word to bee instant in season and out of season 2. Tim. 4.2 to reproue to rebuke to exhort with all long suffering and doctrine And himselfe feared woe Cor. 9.16 if hee preached not the Gospell Then also Parents masters or dames of families if they omit this dutie in vsing all good means to bring their children and seruants to the knowledge and feare of God and doe not seeke to whet the word of God vnto them by carefull and often putting them in mind thereof as Moses chargeth the Israelites to doe Deu. 6.7 by omission of this duty they are found transgressors of this Lawe Magistrates should by due punishments represse bloudshed and all disorders in the Common-wealth for to that end were punishments commanded So thou shalt take away euill from among you saith Moses that all Israel may heare it and feare Deut. 21.21 speaking of disobedient children commaunding that they should bee stoned to death So that as Pastors and Masters of families in neglecting the duties aboue mentioned put the soules of such as are vnder them in danger of beeing hunger-starued for want of good food so Magistrates omitting their dutie in punishing especially bloudy and cruell offences doe incourage offenders nay strengthen their hands to further mischiefe and by omission of this dutie may make themselues accessaries and partakers of other mens faults Moreouer if a man hath an Oxe that hath vsed to gore and the owner is acquainted therewith and knoweth that he is a dangerous beast and doth not prouide for the safety of other if that beast kill man or woman the owner of that Oxe shall bee put to death as guilty of the murther because hee had not due care of his neighbours life If a man digge a pit or Well and a beast fall into it and dye hee that digged the pit must pay for the beast that is dead by that meanes If an Oxe that vsed to push kill another Oxe his owner if hee knew he vsed to push or gore must make restitution Exod. 21 These lawes being set downe teach vs that we must not omit a care of our neighbours life or good whereby mans life must in some good sort be maintained Lastly the omission of those duties which our Sauior Christ speaketh of I was hungry and you gaue me no meate Mat. 25 I thirsted you gaue mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me not c. is a breach also of this Commandement Q. Are all then that seeke to haue their wants in such things supplyed to be releeued for meat drinke or other such like A. I thinke not For the vagrant and wandering persons which with most importunitie seeke for reliefe first leade an idle and therefore an vngodly life for abundance of idlenesse Eze. 16.49 was one of the crying sins of Sodom Secondly they are commonly reported to liue most filthily without feare and shame Thirdly as they are not any members of the common-wealth wherein they liue so they are not belonging to any particular congregation or Church and the most of them scarcely come at any Now for such people so hatefull to God and good men in respect of their lewdnesse to bee fed and clothed wheresoeuer they come is nothing els but to cherish and maintaine them in their wicked course against most Christian and godly lawes Not to relieue their necessity may be thought a want of charity Two things are therefore for reformation of these vnchristian disorders to be wished rather I feare then hoped for The one is the restraint of this rogueing life with all sharpnesse the other diligent and carefull endeuour to set to work such as are able or els let not him eat that will not labour 2. Thes 3.10 and prouision for maintenance of the impotent And how vnwilling soeuer these vagrants are to be tyed to one place and thereby doe much hinder the execution of our godly lawes yet were it the part of them to whom authority is committed to combine themselues together to put in practice such Christian lawes tending so much to abandon lewdnesse and idlenesse of life and to doe it with resolution not to be daunted or discouraged for any paines And thus much of the omission of dueties whereby we may bee made transgressors of this now Q. Hitherto you haue spoken of the prohibition it now remaineth that you speake of the Commandement A. Christ who is the best Interpreter of this law and of all the commandements of the second Table saith loue is commanded in them all Thou shalt loue
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