posing a check upon the thoughts and inclinations of the heart. And herein we cannot but discover a strong internal evidence to the Divine original of the decalogue. For we may observe, that in this commandment it is not any outward act, any visible transgression, that is forbidden, but a restriction is laid upon the wishes and desires of the heart. 66 Surely no lawgiver would have issued an ordinance, of the breach of which he never could have been cognisant; for it must have been useless and absurd. And yet where is the human being who could be cognisant of this? The very fact, therefore, that such a law is found in the decalogue, a law which, if broken every hour, need necessarily never be known, or even suspected, upon earth,--is of itself almost proof sufficient that the lawgiver was Divine, and that He who thus issued a mandate to restrain the most secret workings of our hearts, must Himself be well able to read them, and, as the Psalmist forcibly expresses it, has even our most 'secret sins in the light of His counte- Ps. xc. 8.

nance.

This commandment is very properly placed the last in the second table, as being a kind of safeguard for the rest, and comprehending a brief summary of the whole of our duties to our fellow-creatures. It secures to our neighbour the honour and respect which are due to his station, according to the fifth commandment and as regards those which follow, it protects his person, his chastity, his property, and his character, prohibiting the very contrivance or thought of injuring him in any of these particulars.

1 Blunt on the Pentateuch, vol. ii. p. 200.

Col. iii. 12.

The prohibition contained in this command applies to the coveting any thing which is already the property of our neighbour. If, indeed, he shews any disposition to part with it, we may then seek with his permission to obtain it. But otherwise we are forbidden to look with an eye of envy or desire upon that which our neighbour has appropriated. Yet this is not the full scope of the prohibition; for not only the desire to appropriate the comforts and possessions of another, but the inordinate love of gain, is branded with the name of covetousness; and we must understand the command as forbidding the endeavour to obtain, even by lawful means, such an increase to our wealth as may have the effect of contracting our philanthropy, or of rendering us forgetful on whose bounty we depend for daily bread. St. Paul has given us an expanded commentary upon this commandment when he said, Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Ques. What dost thou chiefly learn by these commandments?

Ans. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my neighbour.

Q. What is thy duty towards God?

A. My duty towards God is, to believe in Him, to fear Him, and to love Him with all my heart, with all my

mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship Him, to give Him thanks, to put my whole trust in Him, to call upon Him, to honour His holy name and His word, and to serve Him truly all the days of my life.

Q. What is thy duty towards thy neighbour?

A. My duty towards my neighbour is, to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me; to love, honour, and succour my father and mother; to honour and obey the king, and all that are put in authority under him; to submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters; to order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters; to hurt nobody by word nor deed; to be true and just in all my dealings; to bear no malice nor hatred in my heart; to keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering; to keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call me.'

As this answer and the preceding one are explanations of themselves, I have thought it unnecessary to notice them; but have introduced them into the body of the work, in order to preserve the text of the Catechism entire.

QUESTIONS ON THE THIRD PART.

1. WHAT is the third promise which is made for infants at Baptism by their sponsors?

2. How many commandments are there? and under what single term are they comprehended?

3. To whom, and under what circumstances, were they originally delivered?

4. Into how many tables are they divided? and what duties does each table enforce?

5. Are these ordinances binding upon Christians? and why?

6. Has our Saviour confirmed the obligation?

7. Which is the first commandment?

8. What is the leading principle of the Jewish code? 9. Why was this tenet necessary to be enforced on the Israelites?

10. In what way are Christians guilty of a breach of this commandment?

11. What is the second commandment?

12. How do the Romanists divide the decalogue? 13. Is the second a distinct commandment, or is it part of the first?

14. What is the design of each?

15. Of which commandment was the idolatry of Aaron's calf in the wilderness a breach?

16. Of how many prohibitions does this commandment consist?

17. What is the first prohibition?

18. What does the second clause of the commandment forbid?

19. Under what sanctions is it enforced?

20. What do you understand by God's being jealous? 21. Are the denunciations of this commandment analogous to God's ordinary providence?

22. Which of the commandments speaks of the reverence due to God's name?

23. What is meant by "the name of God?" and how is it "taken in vain?"

24. What particular sin is directly forbidden by this commandment?

25. In what other way may it be violated?

26. Is a solemn oath in a court of justice forbidden by it?

27. How was the blasphemer punished by the Jewish law?

28. Explain St. James v. 12.

29. What is the penalty annexed to the breach of this law?

30. What is the design of the fourth commandment? 31. Why is the day appropriated to God's worship called the Sabbath?

32. When was the Sabbath first instituted?

33. How does time appear to have been measured in the patriarchal ages?

34. Did a similar practice prevail among the heathen? 35. Is there any express command in Scripture for keeping the first day of the week as a religious festival? 36. What authority have we for altering the day? 37. How is the day now to be sanctified?

38. What duties do the last six commandments enforce?

39. In which is filial obedience enjoined?

K