QUEST. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? ANS. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. MATT. xix. 18. Thou shalt do no murder. ACTS xvi. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm. GEN. ix. 6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. Ex. xxi. 14. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. NUM. XXXV. 30. Whoso killeth any per I. The taking away of our own life. son, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. Ver. 31. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 1 JOHN iii. 15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1. By violence-as Ahithophel and all suicides. 2. By sinful indulgences-such as intemperance, carnal pleasures. 3. By neglecting proper means for health. 4. By neglecting the salvation of the soul. II. The taking away of our neighbour's life unjustly. 1. This is done by murder, as Cain did. 2. By persecution and oppression. 3. By tempting to sin, as to drink or any crime. III. Life may sometimes be taken justly, as in defence of one's own life or the life of others, or in defensive war, or for murder. LESSONS. 1. "No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him :" 1 John iii. 15. 2. The neglect of sanitary laws may cause the loss of life. 3. It is an awful thing to be guilty of the ruin of others, in soul or body, or both. ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. "It is conceivable that men who do not believe in God or in a future state of existence should think it allowable to take refuge in annihilation from the miseries of this life; but it is unaccountable, except on the assumption of temporary or permanent insanity, that any man should rush uncalled into the retribution of eternity. Suicide, therefore, is self-murder. It is the desertion of the post which God has assigned us; it is a deliberate refusal to submit to his will; it is a crime which admits of no repentance, and consequently involves the loss of the soul."-Dr. Hodge. Alexander the Great once invited several of his friends and officers to a feast, and offered a reward to him who would drink most. Promachus won the prize, having swallowed fourteen measures of wine—that is, eighteen pints. He received a crown worth a talent, but survived his victory only three days. Of the rest, forty died from excessive drinking. Alexander also soon drank himself to death. Anger among boys has often led to crime, and sometimes to murder. The great Spanish captain Gonsalvo was asked on his death-bed what had given him the greatest satisfaction in the course of his long and glorious life. He replied, that it was the consideration that he never drew his sword but in the service of God and of his sovereign. "As children let us be, Nor by the way fall out; O Father, hold us by thy hand, And keep us brotherly."-Tersteegen. QUEST. 70. Which is the seventh commandment? ANS. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex. xx. 14. DEUT. V. 18. QUEST. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment? ANS. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour. 1 THESS. iv. 3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Ver. 4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. 1 PETER iii. 2. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 1 TIM. ii. 9. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. 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. 1 COR. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. This commandment is of great importance to the welfare of society and of the individual. I. It requires a pure heart.-This is to be got and kept by the grace of God's Spirit, and by obeying the will of God. II. It requires chaste speech and behaviour. Word is the best influence in human speech. The moral tone of God's Purity of life is promoted by temperance, self-restraint, and by prudent marriage. III. It requires us to preserve the chastity of others in these things as much as we can. This can be done by good example, in looks, words, and behav iour; by avoiding temptations to sin; by counsel and warning when necessary; and by preventing public temptations to sin. It can be aided by keeping early hours at night. "Jesus lives! for us he died; Then alone to Jesus living, Glory to our Saviour giving."—Gellert. QUEST. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? ANS. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. MATT. v. 28. But I say unto you, That | against his own body. Ver. 19. What! whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. HEB. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 COR. vi. 15. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. Ver. 18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? EPH. v. 3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Ver. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ver. 5. 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. I. This commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts.-Thoughts stir up desires, and act like a spark in powder. II. Unchaste words.-Immodest expressions are polluting, and are sinful. We must give an account to God for our words: Matt. xii. 36, 37. III. Unchaste actions.-These make the sin still greater, destroy character, and promote many evils. IV. Whatsoever tends to unchastity is condemned.-Immodest manner of dress, the reading of books descriptive of immodesty, the breach of marriage vows, or making rash vows of celibacy, should be guarded against. LESSONS. 1. Walking in the Spirit prevents the lusts of the flesh. 2. The body should be made a temple of the Holy Ghost. The Scriptures give the law regarding behaviour of the sexes to each other, and regarding marriage. When these laws are transgressed society always suffers. Young people cannot be too particular in modesty, as there are so many temptations to sin. "But chiefest, in our cleansed breast, And make our secret soul to be A temple pure, and worthy Thee. Hosanna, Lord! hosanna in the highest!"-Heber. QUEST. 73. Which is the eighth commandment? Ex. xx. 15. DEUT. v. 19. QUEST. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment? ANS. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others. ROM. xii. 11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. EPH. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 1 TIM. V. 8. If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. own things, but every man also on the things of others. LEV. XXV. 35. And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. PROV. xxi. 13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. MICAH vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, O PROV. vi. 6. Go to the ant, thou slug- man, what is good; and what doth the Lord gard; consider her ways, and be wise. require of thee, but to do justly, and to love PHIL. ii. 4. Look not every man on his mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? I. Lawful means of procuring wealth and property for ourselves. 1. Every one should have a lawful calling. Industry was required of man in paradise. 2. Earnest industry is required to provide what is necessary and suitable to our condition in life. 3. This includes the moderate use of worldly things. Industry is the parent of thrift, aids health and happiness. God has stored the earth with an endless variety of means to meet our need. He has made these accessible to industry. "The hand of the diligent maketh rich." Industry gives character and credit to men. II. Lawful means of advancing the wealth and property of others.--The law of God is never selfish, but philanthropic. 1. Every one should receive his due from us. Natural conscience dictates this, and God's Word enjoins it. Honesty advances both ourselves and others. "Honesty is the best policy." 2. We should do to others as we would that they should do to us. Men are a mutual provident society, in which one helps another. 3. Charity towards the needy fulfils this law. It blesses the poor, and does not impoverish the giver. The Christian religion especially commands this. LESSONS. 1. He that provides not for his own house is worse than an infidel. 2. It is better to give than to receive. ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. The right of property is founded upon nature. "By the law of nature," said Chancellor Kent, "I understand those fit and just rules of conduct which the Creator has prescribed to man as a dependent and social being, and which are to be ascertained from the deduction of right reason, though they may be more precisely known and are more explicitly declared by revelation." A nobleman travelling in Scotland was asked for alms in the High Street of Edinburgh by a little ragged boy. He said he had no change; but the boy offered to procure it. His lordship then gave him a piece of silver, which the boy thought was to be first changed, and immediately ran away to get it. On his return he did not see his benefactor; but he watched for him for days. At length meeting him he gave him the change. The nobleman was so pleased with the lad's honesty that he became his friend, placed him at school, and promised to aid in his advancement. A clergyman in England, who had only forty pounds a-year, and was often in distress for means to provide for his family, found a purse on the road one day. Carrying it home, his wife advised him to use it; but he answered, "Honesty is the best policy." After some inquiry, he ascertained that the money belonged to a gentleman in the neighbourhood, to whom he returned it. He received thanks, but no other reward; whereupon his wife complained of the ingratitude of the gentleman. Her husband said again, "Honesty is the best policy." A few months afterwards the clergyman was asked to dine with the gentleman, and was offered a living worth £300 a-year, along with a purse of £50 to aid his present need. When he went home he said to his wife that he hoped she would now be convinced that "Honesty is the best policy." "If aught should tempt my soul to stray Or do the thing I would not do, Still He who felt temptation's power Shall guard me in that dangerous hour."-Sir R. Grant. |