flatterers, (1) and slanderers; (2) love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; (3) keeping of lawful promises; (4) studying and practising of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report. (5)

Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment ?

A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing of the truth, and the good name of our neighbours as well as our own, (6) especially in public judicature; (7) giving false evidence, (8) suborning

(1) Prov. xxvi. 24, 25. He that hateth, dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him: when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

(2) Ps. ci. 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off.

(3) 2 Cor. xi. 18, 23. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.-Are they ministers of Christ? -I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, &c. Prov. xxii. 1. John viii. 49.

(4) Ps. xv. 4.-He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

(5) Phil. iv. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

(6) Luke iii. 14.—And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely. 2 Sam. xvi. 3. 2 Sam. i. 9-16.

(7) Lev. xix. 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. Hab. i. 4.

(8) Prov. xix. 5. A false witness shall not be un

false witnesses, (1) wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and overbearing the truth; (2) passing unjust sentence, (3) calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked: (4) forgery, (5) concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, (6) and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, (7)

punished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Prov. vi. 16, 19.

(1) Acts vi. 13. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.

(2) Jer. ix. 3. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies; but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth. Ps. xii. 3, 4. The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaketh proud things; who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is lord over us. Ps. lii. 1, 2, 3, 4. Acts xxiv. 2, 5.

(3) Prov. xvii. 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. 1 Kings xxi. 9—14.

(4) Isa. v. 23. [Woe unto them] which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him.

(5) 1 Kings xxi. 8.

(6) Lev. v. 1. And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. Acts v. 3.-Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

(7) Lev. xix. 17.-Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Isa. lviii. I.. Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet,

or complaint to others; (1) speaking the truth unseasonably, (2) or maliciously to a wrong end, (3) or perverting it to a wrong meaning, (4) or in doubtful and equivocal expression, to the prejudice of truth or justice; (5) speaking untruth, (6) lying, (7) slandering, (8) backbiting, (9) detracting, (10) tale-bear

and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 1 Kings i, 6.

(1) Isa. lix. 4.

None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity.

(2) Prov. xxix. 11. A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

(3) 1 Sam. xxii. 9, 10. Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him-the sword of Goliath the Philistine. Ps. lii. 1. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?

(4) Ps. lvi. 5. Every day they wrest my words. Matt. xxvi. 60, 61. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. (Compare John ii. 19.)

(5) Gen. iii. 5.-God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen. xxvi. 7, 9.

(6) Isa. lix. 13.—Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

(7) Col. iii. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Lev. xix. 11. (8) Ps. 1. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother: thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

(9) Ps. xv. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue. Rom. i. 30. Backbiters, haters of God.

(10) James iv. 11. brethren. Tit. iii. 2. Xxxviii. 4.

Speak not evil one of another,
To speak evil of no man.

Jer.

ing, (1) whispering, (2) scoffing, (3) reviling, (4) rash, (5) harsh, (6) and partial censuring; (7) misconstruing intentions, words, and actions; (8) flattering, (9) vain-glorious boasting, (10) thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; (11) denying the gifts and

(1) Lev. xix. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people.

(2) Rom. i. 29.-Full of deceit, malignity; whisperers. Prov. xvi. 28.

(3) Isa. xxviii. 22. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong. Gen. xxi. 9. Gal. iv. 29.

(4) 1 Cor. vi. 10.-Nor drunkards, nor revilers,-shall inherit the kingdom of God.

(5) Matt. vii. 1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. 6) James ii. 13. He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy. Acts xxviii. 4.

(7) John vii. 24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.-Rom. ii. 1. Gen. xxxviii. 24.

(8) Rom. iii. 8. And not rather, (as we, be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. Ps. lxix. 10. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. 1 Sam. i. 13, 14, 15. 2 Sam. x. 3. Neh. vi. 6, 7, 8.

(9) Ps. xii. 2, 3.-With flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall eut off all flattering lips.

(10) 2 Tim. iii. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, boasters.

(11) Luke xviii. 11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Ex. iv. 10, 14. And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since

graces of God; (1) aggravating smaller faults; (2) hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; (3) unnecessarily discovering of infirmities; (4) raising false rumours; (5) receiving and countenancing evil reports, (6) and stopping our ears against just defence; (7) evil suspicion; (8) envying or thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. Acts xii. 22.

(1) Job xxvii. 5, 6. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

(2) Isa. xxix. 20, 21.-All that watch for iniquity are cut off; that make a man an offender for a word. Matt. vii. 3.

(3) Gen. iii. 12, 13. And the man said, The woman, whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.-And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. 2 Kings v. 25. Gen. iv. 9.

(4) Prov. xxy. 9. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another. Gen. ix. 22.

(5) Ex. xxiii. 1. Thou shalt not raise a false report. (6) Jer. xx. 10.-I heard the defaming of many,-Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. Prov. xxix. 12.

(7) Acts vii. 57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears. Job xxxi. 13, 14. If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; what then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

(8) 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. Charity-thinketh no evil. 1 Tim. vi. 4.