one another, and forgiving one another; if any Man have a Quarrel against any, even as Chrift forgave you, fo alfo do ye. And above all things, put on Charity, which is the Bond of Perfectness, and let the Peace of God rule in your Hearts. Amen. Sect. 7. Of the Seventh Commandment and therein of Chastity. "Thou shalt not commit Adultery. The Defign of this Commandment, is the Prefervation of Chastity, i.e. the Purity of Soul and Body, from the Pollution of fleshly Lufts, whether in a married, or an unmarried State. And though only one Branch of the oppofite Sin or Vice, namely the Viòlation of Conjugal or MarriageChastity, be here exprelly prohibited, yet in this one is fignified all the other Kinds thereof, by an usual Synecdoche. And to begin with the Nega tive Part of this Commandment: 1. Negatively you are here forbidden, under this fpecial Name Adultery, all Manner of Unchastity in Heart, Speech, and Behaviour, together with all Incentives and ProVocations thereunto; as Idlenefs, Intempe. rance, loose and light Attire, wanton Company, and the like... 2. On the contrary, that which is here required is to preferve and maintain Chastity in Heart, Speech and Behaviour. To which end, we must be fober, and temperate, diligent in our Bufinefs, watchful againft Temptations, and ufe all fuch Means as are neceffary thereunto. The 7:0 The Questions and Answers. Q: What is the general Sin that God forbiddeth in this Commandment? What is bere forbid den. A. It is Adultery, or all Unchastity what- In general. foever. Lar Q But more particularly, doth he not here In particu forbid 1. All unchafte Thoughts, Defires and Inclinations? A. Yes. Mat. v. 28. Whofoever looketh on a Woman to luft after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart. 2. All unchafte Speech? A. Yes. Eph. v. 4. Q. What is the general Duty which God re- What is vequireth in this Commandment ? quired here. A. To keep ourselves in Temperance, So- In general, bernefs, and Chastity. Q But more particularly, doth he not here require us 1. To be chafte and modeft in our Hearts and Affections? A. Yes. Mat.v.8. Bleffled are In partic the pure in Heart, for they shall fee God. Lar 2. In our Speech? A. Yes. Col. iv. 6. Let your Speech be always with Grace, feafoned with Salt. 3. In In our Behaviour? A. Yes. 1 Ret. iii. 2, While they behold your chafte Converfation, coupled with Fear. Q. And are we not here required, as Means to this Moral Duty, 1. Vigilancie, or Watchfulness over the Eyes, 5. Marriage by those that have not the Gift of Continency? A. Yes. 1 Cor. vii. 3. Nevertheless to avoid Fornication, let eve ry Man have his own Wife, and every Woman have her own Husband. 6. Prayer? A. Yes. 2 Cor. xii. 8. For this thing I befought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me. Catechift. And now let us endeavour in the use of these Means and Helps, to cleanse ourfelves from all Filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit; remembring thofe Words of S.Paul to the Theffalonians This is the Will of God, even your Sanctification,that every one of you fhould know how to poffefs his Veffel in SanAification and Honour; not in the Luft of Con Concupifcence, even as the Gentiles which know not God. And let us earnestly pray to God, that he would moft mercifully forgive us all the Breaches of this Precept, and moft graciously preferve us from this Sin, and incline our Hearts to keep this Law, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. Sect. 8. Of the eighth Commandment; and therein concerning Justice. Catéchift. To know what Theft is, which i's forbidden in this Commandment; and ju ftice, which is here required, you must know what Propriety is. It is that just and lawful Power, or Dominion of a thing, wherea by the Subject thereof, or Perfon in whom it is, may poflefs it, ufe it, and difpofe of it, as his own. This Dominion or Propriety, is either abfolute, or limited. 'God who made the World, and all that therein is, hath an abfolute Propriety or Dominion of all the Creatures. The Earth is the Lord's, and the Fulness thereof; the World, and they that dwell therein: But the Earth hath he given unto the Children of Men: And fo they under him, by his Donation, Gift, of Grant, have a limited Propriety and Right of all fech worldly Goods, as amongst themselves they either justly acquire, inherit, or have given them. And 'tis the Scope of this Commandment, that no one fhould deprive and ther of fuch his juft Rights and Properties. t. You 1. You are here forbidden whatsoever is injurious to your Neighbour's Eftate, or Wealth; that you by no means hinder, diminish, or abuse the fame, either by Force,or Fraud, or any way, contrary to either Justice or Charity. 2. You are required to render to all their Due, or whatsoever belongs to them, either by Justice or Charity; to live in fome lawful Calling, with Diligence and Industry, to be provident, and frugal in your way of living; to give Alms to the Poor, and as you have Opportunity, to do good to all Men, and to further their Estate and Welfare, as you would your own. The Questions and Answers. Q. Is God the abfolute Owner and Proprietor of all things? A. Yes. For the Earth is the Lord's, and the Fulness thereof; the World, and they that dwell therein. Pf. xxiv. 1. Q. Have Men, under God; a Propriety of earthly things? J A. Yes. The Earth hath he given unto the Children of Men. Q. And is it not the Will of God,and his Defign in this Commandment, that Men fhould peaceably enjoy their feveral Rights and Proprieties? A. Yes. For this is the plain Meaning and Scope that it aims at. Q: What is the general Sin that God forbid deth in this Commandment ? A. Theft, |
