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any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour. (1)

Q. 131. What are the duties of equals?

A. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other, (2) in giving honour to go one before another; (3) and to rejoice in each other's gifts and advancement as their own. (4)

Q. 132. What are the sins of equals?

A. The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required, (5) the undervaluing

(1) Gen. ix. 21. And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 1 Kings xii. 13, 14. And the king [Rehoboam] answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 1 Kings i. 6. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? 1 Sam. iii. 13. For I have told him, [Eli] that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. (2) 1 Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love the brother hood.

(3) Rom. xii. 10.-In honour preferring one another Phil. ii. 3.-In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

(4) Rom. xii. 15, 16. joice, and weep with them mind one toward another.

Rejoice with them that do re-
that weep.
Phil. ii. 4.

Be of the same
Look not every

man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

(5) Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

of the worth, (1) envying the gifts, (2) grieving at the advancement or prosperity one of another; (3) and usurping pre-eminence one over another. (4)

Q. 133. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment in these words, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee," (5) is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment. (6)

(1) Prov. xiv. 21. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Isa. lxv. 5. Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. 2 Tim. iii. 3.

(2) Acts vii. 9. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him: Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another..

(3) 1 John iii. 12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's_righteous. Matt. xx. 15.-Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Num. xii. 2. Esth. vi. 12, 13. Luke xv. 28, 29.

(4) Matt. xx. 25, 26, 27. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you, &c. 3 John 9. Luke xxii. 24, 25,

26.

(5) Ex. xx. 12.

(6) Eph. vi. 2, 3. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise,) that it

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Q. 134. Which is the sixth commandment? A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. (1)

Q. 135. What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?

A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves (2) and others, (3) by resisting all thoughts and purposes, (4) subduing all passions, (5) and avoiding all occasions, (6) temptations, (7) and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away

may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Deut. v. 16. 1 Kings viii. 25.

(1) Ex. xx. 13.

(2) Eph. v. 29. No man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it. Matt. x. 23. (3) Job xxix. 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me. 1 Kings xviii. 4.

(4) 1 Sam. xix. 4, 5. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good :wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? Jer. xxvi. 15, 16. Acts xxiii. 21, 27.

(5) Eph. iv. 26. Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

(6) Prov. xxii. 24, 25. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; test thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul. 1 Sam. xxv. 32, 33. 2 Sam. ii. 23. Deut. xxii. 8.

(7) Prov. i. 10, 11, 15. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. My son, walk not thoù in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. Matt. iv. 6, 7

the life of any; (1) by just defence thereof against violence ;(2) patient bearing of the hand of God; (3) quietness of mind,(4) cheerfulness of spirit, (5) and sober use of meat, (6) drink, (7)

(1) 1 Kings xxi. 9, 10, 19. And she [Jezebel] wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people; and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king: and then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.-Hast thou [Ahab] killed, and also taken possession ?—Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. Gen. xxxvii. 21, 22. 1 Sam. xxiv. 12, and xxvi. 9, 10, 11.

(2) Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 1 Sam.

xiv. 45.

(3) Luke xxi. 19. In your patience possess ye your souls. James v. 8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Heb. xii. 5.-My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

(4) Ps. xxxvii. 8, 11, Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4. Whose adorning-let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

(5) Prov. xvii. 22. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 1 Thess. V. 16. Rejoice evermore.

(6) Prov. xxiii. 20. Be not among riotous eaters of flesh. Prov. xxv. 16.

(7) Prov. xxiii. 29, 30. Who hath wo? who hath

physic, (1) sleep, (2) labour, (3) and recreations; (4) by charitable thoughts, (5) love, (6) compassion, (7) meekness, gentleness, kindness; (8) peaceable, (9) mild, and courteous speeches and behaviour; (10) forbearing,

sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Eccl. x. 17. 1 Tim. v. 23.

(1) Matt. ix. 12. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Isa. xxxviii. 21.

(2) Eccl. ii. 23.-All his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. Ps. cxxvii. 2.

(3) Eccl. v. 12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 2 Thess. iii. 10, 12.

(4) Eccl. iii. 4.-A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

(5) 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. Charity-thinketh no evil. 1 Sam. xix. 4, 5.

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(7) Zech. vii. 9. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying,-Show mercy and compassions every man to his brother. Luke x. 33, 34.

(8) Col. iii. 12. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.

(9) Rom. xii. 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

(10) 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9.-Be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but, contrariwise, blessing. 1 Cor. iv. 12, 13.-Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed,

we entreat.

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