doing any injury unto any person, and to forgive such injuries as are done unto us, returning good for evil. Philip. ii. 15, Be blameless, and harmless, the children of God without rebuke. Col. iii. 13, Forgive one another, if any man have a quarrel against any. Rom. xii. 21, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, and whatsoever tendeth thereunto.

Q. 1. Whom doth the sixth commandment forbid us to kill?

A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth us to kill either ourselves or others.

Q. 2. How are we forbidden to kill ourselves or others? A. We are forbidden to kill ourselves or others, either directly, by taking away our own or others life; or indi rectly, by doing any thing that tendeth thereunto.

Q. 3. Is it unlawful upon any account to kill ourselves, as when hereby we shall prevent others from putting us to death with torture and disgrace; as Cato and other Heathens, who slew themselves; and Saul, who fell up on his own sword, that he might not be slain and abused by the uncircumcised Philistines?

Acts

A. It is unlawful in any case to kill ourselves. xvi. 27, 28, And the keeper of the prison drew out his sword, and would have killed himself: but Paul cried with a loud voice, Do thyself no harm. 2. Although the Heathens counted it a virtue, and the part of a brave heroic spirit, in some cases to kill themselves; yet the law of God alloweth no such thing, but recounteth such persons.. as self-murderers. 3. It was Saul's sin to die in that act of self-murder; and we ought rather to submit ourselves to any abuses and tortures of others, which is their sin, than to lay violent hands on ourselves, and so die in a sin which there is no time nor place for repenting of afterwards.

Q. 4. Is it possible for them that kill themselves to be saved, when there can be no repenting afterwards for this sin?

A. 1. It is possible for some to give themselves their death's wound, and yet repent before they die, and be saved, although this be very rare. 2. It is possible that some who are children of God, may in a frenzy (Satan taking advantage to inject temptations hereunto) kill themselves, and yet, through habitual faith and repentance, attain to salvation.

Q. 5. Is it lawful in any case to kill others?

A. 1. It is lawful to kill others, 1. In the execution of the just sentence of the public laws, especially on such as have been murderers. Numb. xxxv. 30, Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death. 2. In lawful war. Jer. xlviii. 10, Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. 3. In necessary self-defence. Exod. xxii. 2, If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall be no blood shed for him.

Q. 6. Is it lawful to fight and kill one another in a duel?

A. 1. It is unlawful to fight a private duel, except a man be set upon by another, and he cannot avoid it; then it is lawful for a man, in his own defence, to fight and slay his enemy that assaulteth him. 2. It is lawful to fight a public duel, if a single enemy, at the head of an army, do make a challenge, and it may be the means to prevent the effusion of more blood; as David did well to fight with, and kill Goliath.

Q.7, May we not be guilty of the murder of ourselves or others, any other way than by directly taking our own or others' lives.

A. We may be guilty of the murder of ourselves or others indirectly, by doing any thing that tendeth to take away our own or others' lives, as, 1. By neglecting, or withholding the lawful and necessary means for the preservation of life; such as meat, drink, sleep, clothes, physic, needful recreations, and the like: when we forbear to make use of the necessary preservatives of life our selves, either through a pinching humour, or Satan's

temptations, that we have no right to them, and thereby hasten our end, we are guilty of self-murder: when we deny the necessaries of life to others in extreme want, through covetousness, and want of pity, we are guilty of their murder. 2. By excess in eating, dringing, carking care, envy, immoderate sorrow, or doing any thing which may break and debilitate, or take off the vigor of our minds, and which may breed distempers in our bo dies; this tendeth to self-murder. Luke xxi. 34, Take heed, lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, Prov. xiv. 30, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.

Envy is the rottenness of the bones. Prov. xvii. 22, A broken spirit drieth the bones. 3. By hatred, sinful anger, malice, bitter speeches, oppression; especially by striking, wounding, and anywise hurting the bodies of others; this tendeth to the taking away the lives of oth1 John iii. 15, ers, and is murder in God's account. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. Matth. v. 21, 22, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Gal. v. 15, If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Prov. xii. 18, There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword. Ezek. xxii. 7, In the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.

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Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment? A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbours' chastity, in heart, speech and behaviour.

Q. 1. What doth the seventh commandment respect? A. The seventh commandment doth respect our own and others' chastity.

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Q. 2. What doth the seventh commandment require, in reference unto our own and others' chastity?

A. The seventh commandment doth require, in reference unto our own and others' chastity, the preservation thereof, in keeping of ourselves unpolluted, and doing what in us lieth to prevent the defilements of others. 1 Thess. iv. 3, 4, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

Q. 3. Wherein are we bound by this commandment to preserve our own and our neighbour's chastity?

A. We are bound by this commandment to preserve our own and our neighbour's chastity, 1. In heart, by such love unto, and desire after, and delight in one another's company, as is pure and chaste; and that whether we be men, as to the company of women; or women, as to the company of men. I Pet. i. 22, See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. 2. In speech, by such discourse one with another, as is uncor rupt, and may tend to one another's edification and sanctification. Eph. iv. 29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 3. In behaviour, by such a conversation and if any obey not the word they also may without the word 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2, That be won by the conversation of the wives, while they be hold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

actions as are modest and chaste.

Q.4. Whereby may we preserve our chastity?

A. We may preserve our chastity, 1. By watchfulness and that, 1. Over our hearts and spirits, to oppose uncleanness in the first desires of it, and inclinations of heart to it, and risings of it in the thoughts. Prov. iv. 23, Keep thy heart with all diligence.

Therefore take heed to your spirit. 2. Over our senses; Mal. ii. 16, our eyes, to turn them away from such objects as may provoke lust. Job xxxi, 1, Í made a covenant with mine

eyes, why then should I think upon a maid? Our ears, to shut them against all lascivious discourse: we must watch also against such touches and wanton dalliances, as may be an incentive to unchaste desires, and take heed of all light and lewd company, and watch to avoid all occasions, and resist temptations to the sin of uncleanness. Prov. v. 8, Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house. Gen. xxxix. 7, 8, 9, His master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph: and she said, Lie with me: But he refused; and said, How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 2. By diligence in our callings, wherein when our bodies and minds are busily employed, both may be preserved from those unclean practices and desires, which idle persons are more prone unto. Prov. xxxi. 27, 29, She eateth not the bread of idleness. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Gen. xxxiv. 1, 2, And Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. And Shechem took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 3. By temperance in eating and drinking, excess in either of which doth pamper the body, and excite unto lust. Jer. v. 8, They were as fed horses in the morning: eve ry one neighed after his neighbour's wife. Prov. xxiii. 31, 33, Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, &c. Thine eyes shall behold strange women. 4. By abstinence, and keeping under the body when there is need, with frequent fastings. 1 Cor. ix. 27, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away. 5. By the fear of God, and awful apprehension of his presence and all-seeing eye. Prov. v. 20, 21, And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings, 6. By faith in Jesus Christ, and thereby drawing virtue from him for the purifying of the heart, and the crucifying of the fleshly lusts. Acts xv. 9, Purifying their hearts by faith. Gal. v. 24, And they, that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. 7. By application of the promises of cleansing the heart,