in danger or in need; he has a right to our aid—to our every attempt to preserve his life, and his comforts, &c., that he may not suffer through our neglect of the lawful means which are put in our power. 3. If we are wanting in this duty to our neighbour, we condemn ourselves, and virtually say, that we deserve not that our neighbour should use any lawful means for our preservation.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,—1. That we are not to do evil for the greatest good. 2. That the soul is infinitely. valuable; and that the promotion of its life is as necessary as the preservation of the life of the body. 3. That health is a precious blessing. 4. That we are only to use the means of Divine appointment, or lawful means, for the preservation of life.

Sins Forbidden.

The Sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That we are forbidden to destroy our own lives. Acts xvi. 28.-" Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm."

2. That we are to avoid every thing which would tend to take away our own lives. Job xiv. 14.-"All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come."

3. That we are forbidden to take away the life of another person unjustly. Gen. ix. 6.-"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." See also Lev. xxiv. 17.

4. That we are to avoid every thing which would tend to take away the life of another. Deut. xxiv. 6.-" No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man's life to pledge."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 252.-The Sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or whatever tendeth to this end.

1. We are forbidden to murder our own souls,—which is done, (1.) By neglecting and despising the means of salvation. Prov. viii. 34, &c. (2.) By quenching or opposing the strivings of God's Spirit.-Prov. xxix. 1; Heb. x. 26, &c.; 2 Peter ii. 20, &c. (3.) By continued unbelief, and impenitence, and progress in sin.-Ezek. xviii. 30, 31; Rom. ii. 4, 5.

2. We are forbidden to take away our natural life,—which is done by laying violent hands upon ourselves.—1 John iii. 15. They who have been guilty of this awful crime were the worst of characters, such as Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas. -1 Sam. xxxi. 4, 5; 2 Sam. xvii. 23; Matt. xxvii. 4, 5.

3. Whatever tends to destroy our natural life, is expressly forbidden according to the spirit of this commandment. Under this may be comprehended the following things :—(1.) Every indulgence of thoughts or designs against our life.Jonah iv. 3; Job vii. 15. (2.) Indulgence of envy and rage, which tends to the killing of the body.—Job v. 2; Prov. xiv. 30. (3.) Impatience and discontent under trouble.—Psal. Xxxviii. 1, 8. (4.) Immoderate worldly sorrow.—Prov. xvii. 22. (5.) Anxious care about worldly things.-Matt. vi. 31, 34; Psal. iv. 6. (6.) Neglect of our body, with respect to food, raiment, medicine, rest, and recreations, through superstition, carelessness, covetousness, churlishness, outrageous passion, or temptations of Satan.-Col. ii. 23; Eccl. vi. 2, and x. 18; 1 Kings xxi. 4. (7.) Intemperance, gluttony, and drunkenness.-Luke xxi. 34; Phil. iii. 19; Prov. xxiii. 21, 29, and xx. 1; Luke xvii. 27; Rom. xiii. 13; 1 Cor. vi. 9; 1 Peter ii. 11. (8.) Immoderate labour.-Eccl. ii. 22, &c. (9.) Exposing ourselves to dangers unnecessarily.— Matt. iv. 5-7; 2 Sam. xxiii. 16, 17.

Obs. 253.-The Sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of the life of another unjustly, or whatever tendeth to this end.

1. We are forbidden to murder the soul of another person,which is done, (1.) By setting before him a sinful or an imprudent example.-Matt. xviii. 6, 7. (2.) By neglecting to prevent him from sinning, or by not endeavouring to reform him from it.-Ezek. iii. 18; 1 John iii. 15. (3.) By co-operating with him in sin,-which is done when we command him to sin,-1 Kings xii. 28; when we advise him to sin,— 2 Sam. xiii. 5; Hab. ii. 15; when we provoke him to sin,— 1 Kings xxi. 25; Job. ii. 9; when we tempt him to sin,—

Prov. vii. 10, &c., when we teach him to commit sin; when we assist him to commit sin,-Acts viii. 1; or when we delight in and approve of his sin,-Rom. i. 32; Psal. xlix. 32; Prov. xiv. 9. (4.) By hardening our heart against him on account of his sin, and not lamenting it and his danger by it, -Ezek. ix. 4; Lam. i. 8; Psal. cxix. 136.

2. We are directly forbidden by this commandment to take away the life of another unjustly,-which is done, (1.) When life is taken away without law, or under pretence of law.— See two remarkable instances of this in 2 Sam. xi. 15, and 1 Kings xxi. (2.) When an unjust war is undertaken and prosecuted, in which many are slain.-Hab. ii. 12. (3.) When a private duel or single combat is undertaken; which arises from pride, passion, and an insatiable desire to revenge an injury or wrong received or supposed.—Matt. v. 44; Prov. xvi. 32.

3. Whatever tends to take away the life of another unjustly, is forbidden by this commandment. Under this may be comprehended the following things:-(1.) Sinful anger and wrath, which, on account of their direful effects, are so frequently forbidden.-Matt. v. 22; Eph. iv. 26, 27. (2.) Envy or grieving at the prosperity of another.-Prov. xiv. 30; Job v. 2. (3.) Hatred and malice against him.-1 John iii. 15. (4.) Revengeful thoughts, desires, and joys.-Matt. vi. 15; Prov. xxiv. 17, &c. (5.) Indifference to his distress.Prov. xii. 10; Obad. 10, &c.; Amos vi. 6. (6.) Quarrelling, bitter railing, reproachful or disdainful scoffing or deriding, and angry cursing.-James iii. 5, &c.; Prov. xviii. 21, and xxiii. 29. (7.) False accusation.-Luke xxiii. 2; Acts xxiv. 5. (8.) Fierce, sullen, or enraged looks; which denote inclination to mischief or pleasure in it.-Gen. iv. 5; Obad. 12; Acts vii. 54. (9.) Withholding from another the means by which his life may be supported.-Luke x. 31, &c.; James ii. 15, &c.; Job xxxi. 16, &c.; Matt. xxiv. 41, &c. (10.) Injuring his body, or his trade, labour, or property, by which life and health are maintained.-Exod. xxi. 18, 22; Ezek. xxii. 7; Isa. iii. 14, 15; Mic. iii. 3; Isa. v. 8; Matt. xxiv. 9, 10.

We may here remark, that the life of another may be justly taken away in the following cases:-1. When he forfeits it to the laws of his country; or in the case of public justice.-Gen. ix. 6; Lev. xxiv. 17; Numb. xxxv. 31, &c. 2. In the case of necessary self-defence, that is, when there

is no way of escaping from the aggressor, but we must either lose our own life, or deprive him of his.-Exod. xxii. 2, 3. 3. In the case of lawful war, that is, when it is undertaken in defence of civil liberty, or to ward off unprovoked invasion of foreign enemies, after every other means taken to prevent bloodshed have proved vain.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. The necessity of cherishing convictions; and of faith and repentance. 2. To beware of what tends to deprive us of life. 3. The necessity of letting our light shine before men. 4. The danger to which we expose ourselves by sinning before our neighbour; or by allowing sin in him; or by taking part with him in any respect; or by not lamenting his sin. 5. The necessity of having respect to the spirit of the law and Gospel, both in our words and actions. 6. That we are guilty of our own blood, if we neglect Christ and his salvation.

The Seventh Commandment.

The Seventh Commandment is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Exod. xx. 14; Deut. v. 18.

Duties Required.

The Seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That we are required to preserve our own chastity. 1 Thess. iv. 4.—"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour."

2. That we are required to avoid all occasions of temptation. Prov. v. 8.-"Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house."

3. That we are required to be chaste in our thoughts. 2 Tim. ii. 22.—" Flee also youthful lusts.'

4. That we are required to be chaste in our words. Eph. iv. 29.-"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." See also Eph. v. 4.

5. That we are required to be chaste in our actions. 1 Peter iii. 2." While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear."

6. That we are required to preserve our neighbour's chastity as well as our own. Eph. v. 11.-"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 254.-The Seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our own chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour.

For preserving our own chastity, the following things are necessary:—

1. An earnest desire to have our whole man instated in a new covenant relation to Christ, and to God in him, and to have his Spirit dwelling in us.

2. Daily and earnest application of the Word of God, of the blood of Christ, and of the gracious influences of the Spirit, for mortifying our inward lusts, and filling our hearts with true holiness in opposition to them.-See John xv. 3, and xvii. 17; 1 Peter i. 23; Heb. ix. 14; Rom. viii. 13.

3. An habitual and earnest recommendation of ourselves to the preservation of God.-Psal. xvi. 1, xvii. 8, and xix. 11, 12.

4. A lively exercise of our implanted graces.-2 Pet. i. 5; 2 Cor. vii. 1; Phil. iii. 12.

5. Watchfulness over the heart, the eyes, and the ears.Prov. iv. 23; Job xxxi. 1; Prov. xix. 27, and vii. 21, &c. 6. Temperance in eating and drinking.-Rom. xiii. 13.

7. A careful avoiding of light and unchaste company.— Prov. ix. 6, and v. 8, 9; Psal. i. 1; Eph. v. 11, 12; Prov iv. 14, &c.

8. Diligence in lawful business.-Ezek. xvi. 49; 2 Sam. xi. 2.

9. An early and earnest resistance of temptations to unchastity or impurity, or occasions thereof.-Rom. vii. 5; Gen. xxxix.; and 1 Cor. vi. 18.

10. Marrying in the Lord, when necessary; and mutual