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
them good Q. For a short view of the meaning of all the Commandements let this suffice But to returne to the first Commandement why is it as also many of the rest are deliuered negatiuely or forbidding that which is euill rather then cōmanding that which wee ought to do and the thing that is good A. Partly to giue vs to vnderstand that holy obedience cannot be performed vnlesse we first cleanse our harts from that which is euil as God by his Prophet aduiseth Esa 1.16.17 1. Pet. 3.11 Cease to doe euill learne to doe well and out of him S. Peter teacheth Eschew euill and doe good Insomuch as when God spoke to Iacob and willed him to goe to Bethel Gen. 35.1 Dwell there sayth God to him and make there an altar vnto GOD. Then said Iacob vnto his houshold and to all that were with him Put away the strange gods that are amongst you and cleanse your selues Ver. 2. Partly also God deliuereth the most of his cōmandements forbidding that which he would haue his seruants to auoide because he knoweth and he would also haue vs to consider earnestly with our selues that we are too ready prone naturally to sin and therefore that our first care should bee to deny our selues and our naturall inclinations that wee may more feruently follow after that which he willeth Q. Doth then this first Commandement require of vs any more then to take heed that we haue not any strange gods A. Yes verily For in that it forbiddeth any other it teacheth vs that hee and hée only ought to be acknowledged to be our God Therefore in the lawe such precepts are very common Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and shalt serue him Againe Deut. 6.13 Deut. 10.20 Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God thou shalt serue him and thou shalt cleaue vnto him Yea hee in his preface vnto his tenne Commandements doth challenge vnto himselfe that honour I am the Lord thy God Neither doth so speake this only to the Israelites who were his only knowne people at that time but euen vnto all vs who professe that wee are Gods children or seruants Q. You say then that this first commandement not onely forbiddeth all strange gods but also commandeth vs to cleaue vnto the true God A. It is so Q. But how shal we come to a more perfect vnderstanding of this first Commandement that we know how to keep and obey the same A. If we truly consider how many waies we may transgresse and carefully take heed to shun them and then remember what God requireth of vs that wée serue and worship him and set our selues to the vttermost of our power to doe them Q. Shew me then how many waies this first precept may be broken A. To speake of euery particular sin whereby this commandement may be broken it is hard but I shall deliuer certain general transgressions vnto the which all the rest may easily bée referred and by which wee may truly examine our selues and accuse our selues of disobeying Q. Is not the grosse Idolatry of the Gentiles a manifest breach of this Commandement A. Yes verily And God doth often complaine of his people for that they delighted in their abominations Deut. 32.21 Ier. 2.5 and elsewhere very often Q. But the Angels are excellent creatures alwaies waiting to do Gods will may we not seeke vnto them for helpe A. Wee may not For the Scriptures teach vs in many places that they are but ministring spirits and seruants vnder God for our good and therfore neither are willing of themselues to do any thing but when God sendeth them nor able by their owne strength or power to helpe vs. Q. Yet we see in Gods booke that good men sometimes haue offered to worship them As Manoah the father of Samson as may be gathered by the 13. Chap. 16. Verse of the booke of Iudges So likewise Apo. 19 10. 22.8 A. So it is But Manaoh knew not that it was an Angel as it is there testified but thought belike that God himselfe did speak to him we may also iudge the like of S. Iohn And therfore as that Angell commanded Manoah that if he would offer a burnt sacrifice hee should offer it to the Lord so S. Iohn is commanded by the Angell not to worship him because he is but his fellow seruant but worship must be done vnto God Q. Some haue worshipped the host of heauen and had affiance in those glorious creatures as the Egyptians who called the Sunne Osyris and the Moone Isis and worshipped them And also before them as Plato writeth the Grecians accounted the Sunne the Moone the Starres the earth also and the heauen for gods as Theodoret reporteth in his third booke of the healing the affections of the Grecians A. It is most true but not they only who had lesse meanes to know the true God But euen Gods people who were acquainted with Gods Law and were often reproued by Gods messengers sent vnto them for that purpose that they might know and detest that abomination euen they I say are accused not only by the Prophet Amos but also Amos. 5.26 by the first Martyr S. Steuen Although God gaue an expresse commandement vnto them Act. 7.43 Deut. 17.3.5 That if any haue gone and serued other gods and worshipped them as the Sun or the Moone or any of the hoast of heauen they should be stoned to death Q. It seemeth the excellency of these creatures who are very glorious in mens eies first alured the Gentiles to this folly and Gods people were deceiued by their example whilst they more regarded the dooings of men which are many times deceitfull then the expresse Commandement of God which alwaies pointeth to the right way A. That must needs be granted Therefore wée must hereby take héed that wee alwaies haue a carefull eye vnto Gods Law that we may frame all our actions both toward God and toward man by the right rule of the infallible word Otherwise we may easily transgresse this Commandement as these haue done in following after strange gods bowing before Angels and worshipping the host of heauen which were made for our vse and comfort and not that wee should serue them Q. Wee haue heard how many wayes such as haue professed themselues to be Gods seruants haue broken this first Commaundement vnder a perswasion though false of seruing God But may not the same also be transgressed by hauing too much confidence in things that cannot helpe A. Yes and that two waies Either in hauing too confident assurance in other worldly meanes that we can procure besides our selues or in trusting too much in our selues and our owne meanes Q. What meane you by them that seeke helpe by other worldly meanes then themselues A. All such as trust in mens strength or fauour for which sinne Gods people are very often bitterly reproued by Gods true Prophets for they so relyed sometime vpon the Aegyptians sometime vpon the
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