ON THE COMMANDMENTS.

8. SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

WHAT is the seventh Commandment?
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

The sixth commandment defends from bloody rage and revenge; the seventh from impure lusts. A depraved appetite can find no sweetness but in what is forbidden. What is forbidden in this Commandment?

1. Not only the outward act of adultery is forbidden, but all impure desires, words, and actions. This sin is called Adultery, when one or both of the parties are married: and Fornication, when both are unmarried.

I made a covenant with mine eyes. Job xxxi. 1.

To deliver thee from the strange woman; for her house inclineth unto death. Prov. ii. 16. 18.

To keep thee from the evil woman; for by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread. Prov. vi. 24. 26. Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. Prov. vi. 32. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matt. v. 28. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. iii. 17.

Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, &c. shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 9. 18.

The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, &c. they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. v. 19. Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth. Eph. iv. 29. Fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking-for this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. v. 4, 5.

Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, and evil concupiscence-for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Col. iii. 5-8.

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence. 1 Thess. iv. 4, 5.

Flee also youthful lusts. 2 Tim. ii. 22.

Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. xiii. 4. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 1 Pet. ii. 11.

The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness. 2 Pet. ii. 10.

The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. 1 John if. 16. The abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers-shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. xxi. 8.

For without-(out of the kingdom of heaven) are whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, &c. Rev. xxii. 15.

2. It forbids all immodest behaviour and dress, and

lewd company.

The judgments of the Lord upon the daughters of Zion for their wantonness. Isa. iii. 16-24.

Wo to the women that hunt the souls of my people, &c. Ezek. xiii. 18-21.

Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33.

I will that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness, and sobriety. 1 Tim. ii. 8-10.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4.

3. It forbids all unchaste books: writing, publishing, selling, circulating, or reading them, and every thing which has a tendency to excite improper desires.

4. It forbids all gluttony and drunkenness.

When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery; they were as fed horses; every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. Shall I not visit for these things? Jer. v. 7-9. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness. Luke xxi. 34. The time past of our life may suffice us, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, &c. 1 Pet. iv. 3.

5. It forbids frequenting any place where we are likely to hear profane and loose conversation, because these things are calculated to excite impure thoughts, and to lead to improper conduct.

What is required in this commandment?

"To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chas

tity."

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof. Rom. xiii. 13, 14.

I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.

ix. 27.

1 Cor.

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 2 Cor. vii. 1,

Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James i. 14, 15.

Remember what our Lord says, (Matt. v. 8,) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,"—therefore Pray to God to cleanse the thoughts of your hearts, by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit,' and "to preserve you from evil thoughts, which assault and hurt the soul." Do not expose yourself to temptation by eating and drinking to excess, by indulging in idleness, or frequenting improper places of amusement, but keep under your body, and fly from the first approaches of sin. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? How, then, will you dare to pollute it by such abominations? Be like Joseph, and whenever temptation approaches, ask yourself,

How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Gen.

xxxix. 9. 11.

And pray that God may never deal with you as with the Gentiles, of whom the apostle Paul writes,

God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts-being filled with all unrighteousness, forni cation, wickedness, &c. Rom. i. 24--29.

Litany. From all inordinate and sinful desires, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, good Lord, deliver us.

1st Sunday in Lent.-Give us grace to use such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness. Purification.--That so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

ON THE COMMANDMENTS.

§ 9. EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

WHAT is the eighth Commandment?

Thou shalt not steal.

What is forbidden in this commandment?

1. House-breaking, highway-robbery, actual theft, and all manner of fraud and injustice.

The following passages contain laws respecting the punishment of men for stealing. Exod. xxi. 16; xxii. 1-5. 7--13. Lev. vi. 1--7. Deut. xxiv. 7.

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely. Lev. xix. 11.

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him. Lev. xix. 13.

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; in mete-yard, in weight, or in measure. Lev. xix. 35.

If thou sell aught unto thy neighbour, or buyest aught of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another. Lev. xxv. 14.

It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. Prov. xx. 14.

Bread of deceit is sweet to. a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. Prov. xx. 17.

The curse shall enter into the house of the thief. Zech. v. 3, 4, Defraud not. Mark x. 19.

Neither thieves, nor covetous, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi. 10.

We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty. 2 Cor. iv. 2. That no man go beyond, and defraud his brother in any matter. 1 Thess. iv. 6.

2. Taking advantage of the ignorance of another, in buying and selling.*

3. The use of false weights and measures in selling or buying.

Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have. Lev. xix. 26.

Thou shalt not have divers weights, or divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and a just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God. Deut. xxv. 13-16.

A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Prov. xi. 1.

Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. Prov. xx. 10.

4. Detaining from another his just due; or borrowing money without any hopes of repaying it.

The wicked borroweth and payeth not again. Ps. xxxvii. 21. 5. Receiving or concealing stolen goods, is a breach of this commandment.

6. A servant is guilty of theft, when he injures or wastes his master's property; or spends, in idleness, the time for which he is paid.

7. Persons break this commandment, when, by pretended sickness or want, they impose upon the parish for relief, or upon well-disposed persons for charity.

*See note at the end of the section, page 165.

8. A man breaks it when he evades the taxes.

Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's. Matt. xxii. 21 Mark xii. 17.

Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due. Rom. xiii. 7.

What does this commandment require ?

"To be true and just in all my dealings: To keep my hands from picking and stealing; and to learn and labour truly to get my own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.'

Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good. Eph. iv. 28. Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are justwhatsoever things are of good report;-think on these things. Phil. iv. 8.

That ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that we may walk honestly toward them that are without, &c. 1 Thess. iv. 11, 12.

Now them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. 2 Thess. iii. Î2.

Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Tim. ii. 2.

It requires also acts of mercy, which are a kind of debt due to the poor, and required as such by God, as sovereign proprietor of all.

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Prov. iii. 27.

He that honoureth his Maker, hath mercy on the poor. Prov. xiv. 31.

Give alms of such things as ye have. Luke xi. 41.

Ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts xx. 35.

If you have been guilty of a fraud, be like Zaccheus, (Luke xix. 8,) and restore to those you have injured fourfold. Beware of covetousness, for

The love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Tim. vi. 10.

If a person sets his heart too much on earthly riches, he may be tempted to use some dishonest or improper means to obtain them. Besides, they are very perishable, and can never impart true happiness: seek not, therefore, to lay up treasures on earth;

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matt. vi. 20.

This commandment is frequently broken by children.