Q. 140. Which is the eighth commandment? A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal i. Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth com mandment? A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness and juftice in contracts and commerce between man and mank, rendering to every one his duel; reftitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof m; giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the neceffities of others n; moderation with Ezek. xxiii. 40. And further more, that ye have fent for men to come from far, unto whom a mef senger was fent; and lo, they came, for whom thou didst wash thyfelf, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedit thy elf with ornaments. 140. i Exod. xx. 15. 141. k Pfa. xv. 2. He that walk eth uprightly, and worketh righteoufnefs, and fpeaketh the truth in his heart. v. 4. He that fweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. Zech. vii. 4. Then came the word of the Lord of hofs unto me, faying, v. 10. And opprefs not the widow, nor the fatherless, the strang er, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. Zech. viii. 16. These are the things that ye fhall do, Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour: execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, v. 17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no falfe oath: for all thefe are things that I hate, faith the Lord. 1 Rom. xiii. 7. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom to whom cuftom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. #Lev. vi. 2. If a foul fin and com of mit a trefpafs against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived hisneigh bour; v. 3. or have found that which was loft, and lieth concerning it, and fweareth falfely; in any of all these that a man doth, finning therein: v. 4. Then it fhall be, becaufe he hath finned and is guilty, that he fhall reftore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the loft thing which he found: v. 5. Or all that about which he hath fworn falfely; he fhall even reftore it in the principal, and fhall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trefpafsoffering. Compared with Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus ftood and faid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor: and if I have taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, I reftore him four-fold. " Luke vi. 30. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. v. 38. Give and it fhall be given unto you; good measure, pref of our judgments, wills and affections concerning worldly goodso; a provident care and ftudy to getp, keep, use and difpofe thefe things which are neceffary and convenient for the fuftentation of our nature, and fuitable to our conditionq; a lawful calling, and diligence in it; fru preffed down, and fhaken together, and running over, fhall men give into your bofom. For with the fame meature that you mete withal, it fhall be measured to you again. I John iii. 17. But whofo hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his bow els of compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, fteal o 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. Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the houthold of faith. • 1 Tim. vi. 6. But godlinefs with contentment is great gain. v. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. v. 8. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. v. 9. But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a fnare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in deftruction and perdition, Gal. vi. 14. But God forbid that I fhould glory fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for his own and fpecially for thofe of his own houfe, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an Infidel. Prov. xxvii. from verfe 23. to gality; the end. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever,-Eccl.ii. 24. There is nothing better for a man, than that he fhould eat and drink, and that he should make his foul enjoy good in his labour. This alfo I faw, that it was from the hand of God. Eccl. iii. 12. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. v. 13. And also that every man fhould eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 1 Tim. vi. 17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor truft in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: v. 18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distri bute, willing to communicate. Ifa. xxxviii. 1. In thofe days was Hezekiah fick unto death: and Ifaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto kim, and faid unto him, Thus faith the Lord, Set thine houfe in order; for thou fhalt die, and not live. Mat. xi. 8.-Behold, they that wear foft clothing, are in kings houfes. r 1 Cor. vii. 20. Let every man abide in the fame calling wherein he was called. Gen.ii. 15. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to drefs it, and to keep it. Gen. ii. 19. In the fweat of thy face fhalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground; f Eph. iv. 28. Let him that ftole, U 2 Boat gality; avoiding unneceffary law fuits, and furetyship, or other like engagements w; and an endeavour by all just and lawful means to procure, preferve, and further the wealth and outward eftate of others, as well as our own x. Q142. What are the fins forbidden in the eighth com mandment? A. The fins forbidden in the eighth commandment, befide 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. Prov, x. 4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. John vi. 12. When they were filled, he said unto his difciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Prov. xxi. 20. There is a treasure to be defired, and oil in the dwellings of the wife; but a foolish man spendeth it up. v1 Cor. vi. from ver. 1. to 9. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjuft, and not before the faints? &c. w Prov. vi, from verfe 1. to 6. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou haft ftricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art fnared with the words of thy mouth.-Prov. xi. 15. He that is furety for a stranger, fhall fmart for it; and he that hateth furetyfhip is fure. * Lev. xxv. 35. And if thy bro ther be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, tho' he be a stranger, or a fojourner; that he may live with thee. Deut. xxii. r. Thou shalt not fee thy brother's ox, or his fheep go aftray, and hide thyfelf from them: thou shalt in any cafe bring them again unto thy brother. v. 2. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou fhalt bring it unto thine own house, and it fhall be with thee until thy brother feek after it, and thon fhalt restore it to him again. v. 3. In like manner fhalt thou do with his ass, and fo fhalt thou do with his rai-, ment, and with all loft things of thy brothers, which he hath loft, and thou haft found, fhalt thou do likewife: thou mayeft not hide thyself. V. 4. Thou shalt not fee thy brother's afs or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyfelf from them: thou fhalt furely help him to lift them up again. Exod. xxiii. 4. If thou meet thine enemies ox or afs going aftray, thou fhalt furely bring it back to him again. v. 5. If thou fee the afs of him that hateth thee, lying under his burden, and wouldst forbear to help him; thou shalt furely help with him. Gen. xlvii. 14. And Jofeph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Jofeph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. v. 20. And Jofeph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians fold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: fo the land became Pharaoh's. Phil. ii. 4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man alfo on the things of others. Mat. xxii. 39. And the fecond is like unto it, Thou fhalt of fide the neglect of the duties requiredy, are, theft, robberya, man-stealing b, and receiving any thing that is ftolenc; fraudulent dealing d, false weights and measures e, removing land marksƒ, injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and mang, or in matters of truft b; oppreffion i, love thy neighbour as thyself. 142. Jam, ii. 15. If a brother or fifter be naked, or destitute of daily food; v. 16. and one of you fay unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed, and filled: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 1 John iii. 17. But whofo hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his bowels of compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? z Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, fteal no more, but rather-í a Pfal. Ixii. Fo. Trust not in oppreffion, and become not vain in robbery, 1 Tim. i. 1o. (The law was made) for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, før men-stealers, for liars, for perjured perfons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to found doctrine. e Pro. xxix. 24. Whofo is partner' with a thief, hateth his own foul: he heareth curfing, and bewrayeth it not. Pfa. l. 18. When thou faw eft a thief, then thou consentedst with him.. di Theff. iv. 6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all fuch, as we also have forewarned you, and teftified. e Prov. xi. 1. A falfe balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just extor weight is his delight. Prov. xx. 10. Diverfe weights, and diverfe meafures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. f Deut. xix. 14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's land-mark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance,-Prov. xxiii. 10. Remove not the old land-mark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherlefs. g Amos viii. 5. Saying, When will the new-moon be that we gone, may fell corn? and the fabbath, that we may fet forth wheat; making the ephah fmall, and the thekel great, and falfifying the balances by deceit? Pfa. xxxvii. 21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. b Luke xvi. 10. He that is faithful in that which is leaft, is faithful alfo in much: and he that is unjust in the leaft, is unjust also in much. V. II. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your truft the true riches? v. 12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who fhall give you that which is your own? Ezek. xxii. 29. The people of the land have used oppreflion, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppreffed the ftranger wrongfully. Lev. xxv. 17. Ye fhall not therefore opprefs one another; but thou fhalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God. U 3 * Mat. extortion, ufuryl, bribery m, vexatious law-fùits, unjust inclosures and depopulations o; ingroffing commodities to inhance the pricep, unlawful callings; and all other unjuft or finful ways of taking or with-holding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of inriching ourselves r; covetoufnefs, inordi Mat. xxiii. 25. Wo unto you, fcribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excefs. Ezek. xxii. 12. In thee have they taken gifts to fhed blood: thou haft taken ufury and increase, and thou haft greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and haft forgot ten me, faith the Lord God; 1 Pfa. xv. 5. He that putteth not out his money to ufury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. m Job xv. 34. For the congrega tion of hypocrites fhall be defolate, and fire fhall confume the tabernacles of bribery." take them away: fo they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. p Prov. xi. 26. He that withholdeth corn, the people thall curfe him; but bleffing fhall be upon the head of him that felleth it, 9 Acts xix. 19. Many alfo of them who ufed curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thoufand pieces of filver. v. 24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a filver-fmith, who made filver fhrines for Diana, brought no fmall gain unto the craftfimen. v. 25. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and faid, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. n 1 Cor. vi. 6. But brother go eth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. v. 7. Now therefore there is utterly a fault ámong you, because ye go to law oner Job xx. 19. Because he hath opwith another: why do ye not rather preffed, and forfaken the poor; betake wrong? why do ye not rather caufe he hath violently taken away fuffer yourselves to be defrauded? an house which he builded not. v. 8. Yea, you do wrong and de- Jam. v. 4. Behold, the hire of the fraud, and that your brethren. labourers who have reaped down Prov. iii. 29. Devife not evil against your fields, which is of you kept thy neighbour, feeing he dwelleth back by fraud, crieth; and the cries fecurely by thee. v. 30. Strive not of them who have reaped, are enwith a man without caufe, if he tered into the ears of the Lord of have done thee no harm. fabbaoth. Prov.xxi. 6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity toffed to and fro of them that feek death. o Ifa. iv. 8. Wo unto them that join houfe to houfe, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midit of the earth. Micah ii. 2. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and Luke xii. 15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetoufness: for a mans life confifteth not in the abundance of the |