Q1. Does this precept, Thou shalt not kill, prohibit the killing of beasts?

A. No; God made a grant of them to man for food, and other uses, Gen. 9:3, and 3:21; nevertheless, the exercising cruelty upon beasts (as Balaam did, Num. 22:29,) is very unbecoming all sober men; for "a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast," Proverbs 12:10.

Q2. Were not the Jews prohibited to seethe a kid in his mother's milk, Deut. 14:21, and to kill the dam when they took the young? chap. 22:6, 7.

A. As the doing either of these was an evidence of the savage disposition and temper of some men; so the reason of the prohibition, was to curb and restrain all cruelty to the brute creatures, in order to prevent any inlet to the horrid sin of murder, or the barbarous usage of one another.

Q3. What are the general sins here forbidden?

A. The taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatever has a tendency to either of the two.

Q4. Is it lawful, in any case, to take away our own life?

A. No; it is absolutely unlawful, in any case whatever, to desert our station, or leave the word, without the permission and allowance of the sovereign Lord of our life, Job 14:14.

Q5. Is there any instance in scripture of a good man being suffered to lay violent hands on himself?

A. No; any instances the scripture gives of self-murder, are in men of the most infamous character; such as Saul, Ahithophel, Judas, and others of the like stamp.

Q6. Was not Samson (who was a good man, Heb. 11:32,) guilty of this heinous crime? Judges 16:30

A. When Samson pulled down the house upon himself and upon all the lords of the Philistines with about three thousand men and women that were in it, he did not intend his own death any farther than as an inevitable consequence of destroying so many of the church's enemies, to which he was called and strengthened in an extraordinary manner by God, as the Lord of life and death, who he also supplicated for this extraordinary strength, Judges 16:28; and herein he was an eminent type of Christ, who, "through death, destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil," Heb. 2:14.

Q7. What are the aggravations of the crime of self-murder?

A. It is directly opposed to the natural principle of self-preservation implanted in us, Job 2:4; it argues the highest impatience, and rooted discontent with our lot in the present world, ver. 10; it is an impious invasion of the prerogative of God, as the sole author and disposer of life, 1 Sam. 2:6; and a most daring and presumptuous rushing upon death, and an awful eternity, chap. 31:4, 5.

Q8. What is meant in the answer, by taking away the life of our neighbour unjustly?

A. The taking it away in any event, "except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defence."91

Q9. What is it to take away life in case of public justice?

A. It is to inflict capital punishment upon notorious criminals, by a lawful magistrate, who is ordained of God for that purpose, Rom. 13:2, 4.

Q10. What warrant has the civil magistrate to take away the life of a wilful murderer?

A. The express command of God, Gen. 9:6 - "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed."

Q11. Is it lawful for a magistrate to spare, pardon, or reprieve a convicted murderer?

A. It is expressly forbidden as a land-defiling sin, Num. 35:31, 33 - "Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. For blood defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."

Q12. What other crimes are punishable with death by the laws of God and man?

A. Among several others there are those following: Deliberate blasphemy, Lev. 24:16; notorious adultery, Lev. 20:10; incest, ver. 11, 12; sodomy, ver 13; bestiality, ver. 15; and witchcraft.

Q13. Is it warrantable in a Christian magistrate to repeal or disable penal laws against witchcraft?

A. By no means; for God has expressly said, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," Exod. 22:18.

Q14. Is it lawful to wage war under the New Testament?

A. Yes; as appears from John the Baptist's prescribing rules for a military life, Luke 3:14; and Christ's commending the faith of the centurion, and finding no fault with his office, Matt. 8:10.

Q15. What makes war lawful, and the shedding of blood in it warrantable?

A. When it is undertaken in defence of civil or religious liberties, after all due means have been rejected, for obtaining redress of the unjust invasions made upon them, Judges 11:12-34.

Q16. When is the killing of another to be sustained as done in necessary defence?

A. When there is no way of flying from the aggressor, (which is rather to be chosen, if it can be done with safety,) but we must either lose our own life, or take away his, Ex. 22:2.

Q17. What if one kill another at unawares, or unwillingly?

A. If it is not through any culpable neglect, or careless oversight it is not reputed murder, either by the law of God or man, and therefore cities of refuge were of old appointed for such, Josh. 20:9.

Q18. How are men lavish and prodigal of their lives on points of honour?

A. By duelling.

Q19. What is a DUEL?

A. It is a combat or fight between two private persons, upon a challenge given and accepted; in which each party aims at the life or maiming of the other.

Q20. In what lies the sinfulness of such a practice?

A. It flows from passion, pride, and insatiable revenge, as the springs of it; and is a bold invasion of God's right of vengeance, together with a desperate contempt of death, judgment, and eternity, Rom. 12:19.

Q21. Did not David fight a duel with Goliath?

A. No; he fought by a peculiar divine impulse, under the sanction of lawful authority, for the public good, and not from any private or personal revenge, 1 Sam. 17:37-53.

Q22. Who was the first murderer of souls?

A. The devil, who is therefore called a murderer from the beginning, John 8:44.

Q23. Who was the first murderer of the body?

A. Cain, who slew his brother, Gen. 4:8.

Q24. Wherefore did he slay him?

A. Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous, 1 John 3:12.

Q25. Why was he not put to death?

A. Because God set a peculiar mark of his displeasure upon him, Gen. 4:15, (worse, in some sort, than natural death,) by protracting his miserable life, to be a fugitive, and a vagabond in the earth, and a visible monument of an intolerable load of guilt, and hopeless despair, ver. 11, 12.

Q26. What is the dismal effect of this sin upon murderers themselves, even though they escape capital punishment from men?

A. God frequently gives them up to the terror of a guilty conscience, which is their continual tormentor, Gen. 4:13, 14.

Q27. How has God testified his displeasure against this sin?

A. Ordinarily, by shortening the lives of murderers, Psalm 55:23 - "Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days." And sometimes by transmitting temporal judgments to their posterity; as Saul's murder of the Gibeonites was punished in the death of seven of his sons, 2 Sam. 21:6, 8, 9.

Q28. How may murder be aggravated?

A. If committed under pretence of religion, as Jezebel murdered Naboth, 1 Kings 21:9, 10; and as the Papists perpetrate their massacres; or, if done under the disguise and mask of friendship, as Joab killed Amasa, 2 Sam. 20:9, 10; or, which is unspeakably worse, as Judas betrayed our Lord, Matt. 26:48, 49.

Q29. Does this command forbid only the taking away of our own life, and the life of our neighbour unjustly?

A. It forbids also whatsoever tends thereto.

Q30. What are those things which tend to the taking away of our own life?

A. "Neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preserving it: - all excessive passions, distracting cares, and immoderate use of meat, drink, labour, and recreation."92

Q31. How may we be guilty before God, of taking away the life of our neighbour, though we do not actually imbrue our hands in his blood?

A. We may be guilty this way in our hearts, with our tongues, and by our actions.

Q32. How may we be guilty of murder in our hearts?

A. By harbouring "sinful anger, hatred, envy, and a desire of revenge."93

Q33. May there be anger which is not sinful?

A. Yes; when there is a detestation of the sin, and yet no dislike of the person; in which sense the apostle says, "Be ye angry and sin not," Eph. 4:26.

Q34. What is the hazard of sinful anger?

A. "Whosoever is angry with his brother, without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment," Matt. 5:22.

Q35. What is it to be in danger of the judgment?

A. It is to be in danger of eternal punishment in the other world, for the breach of this commandment, if rich and sovereign grace prevent it not, Proverbs 19:19.

Q36. How does hatred tend to take away the life of our neighbour?

A. It has such a tendency to it, that whosoever hateth his brother is accounted a murderer, 1 John 3:15.

Q37. What tendency has envy to the taking away of life?

A. As it is grieved at the good of another, or takes a secret pleasure in his death, Proverbs 27:4.

Q38. How does desire of revenge tend to take away life?

A. As it is accompanied with an inward habitual imprecation of some visible or remarkable judgment upon the person who is the object of it, quite contrary to the command of God, Rom. 12:19 - "Avenge not yourselves: - for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Q39. How may we be guilty of what tends to take away the life of our neighbour with our tongues?

A. By bitter and provoking words, Proverbs 12:18; or threatening, reviling and deriding speeches, Matt. 5:22.

Q40. How may we be guilty, this way, by our actions?

A. By oppression, Ezek. 18:18; quarrelling, Gal. 5:15; striking or wounding, Num. 35:21, and the like.

Q41. What may we learn from this commandment?

A. That however innocent we may be of the actual blood-shedding of others, yet we are still chargeable with the worst kind of murder, even that of our own souls, while we will not come to Christ, that we might have life, John 5:40, he being the only living and true way, chap. 14:6; and "no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12.

Q1. What is the natural order of these commandments in the second table?

A. In these commands God begins with the nearest concern of man, which is life; Job 2:4.-Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has, will he give for his life. Next to that his command guards his nearest relative, from whom the best outward comfort is to rise, his wife: Mark 10:8. And they twain shall be one flesh, etc. After that his good name, which is very precious to him; Ecclesiastes 7:1. A good name is better than precious ointment. And then his goods, which support his life; Isaiah 3:1. For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, does take away from Jerusalem, and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

Q2. How far does this commandment extend itself?

A. It prohibits all cruelty, and commands all help, care, and pity, so far as men's hearts and hands can go, for the relief and preservation of others; Psalm 119:96.-But your commandment is exceeding broad.

Q3. Does this command respect only the outward action, or also the inward passion of the soul?

A. It respects and bridles the inward passion of the soul, as well as outward actions; as hatred, 1 John 3:15. Whoever hates his brother, is a murderer, etc. And causeless anger; Matthew 5:22. But I say unto you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, etc.

Q4. Does this command only respect the lives of others?

A. No; it primarily respects our own lives, and forbids us all things that tend to the shortening and ruin of them; Ephesians 5:29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the church.

Q5. How many ways may men sin against this command, with respect to their own lives.

A. A man sins against his own life, not only by destroying himself, as the jailor would have done; Acts 16:27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled; but by refusing food or physic to preserve life, or macerating our bodies with excessive sorrows; 2 Corinthians 7:10.-But the sorrow of the world works death. Or envy at others felicity; Proverbs 14:30.-But envy, the rottenness of the bones.

Q7. Is all destruction of another's life murder in the account of God?

A. No; It is not, if the life of a person be taken away in the course of justice; Genesis 9:6. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Or, in a just and necessary war; Judges 5:23. Curse you Meroz, (said the angel of the Lord) curse you bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Or by pure accident; Deuteronomy 19:5. As when a man goes into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the helve, and lights upon his neighbor that he die, he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live. Or in self-defense; Exodus 22:2. If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

Q8. Is there no other way of breaking this command?

A. Yes there is: Innocents may be murdered under the forms and solemnities both of justice and religion. So Naboth was murdered by Jezebel: 1 Kings 21:12, 13. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: And the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones that he died. And the martyrs by bloody Papists. And this strongly proves a day of judgment; Ecclesiastes 3:16, 17. And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: For there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work.

Q9. Are duels forbidden in this commandment?

A. Yes, they are; for whatever point of honor be touched, or whatever provocation be given, we are not to be our own avengers; Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, etc.

Q9. How are men guilty of murder with respect to others?

A. Murder, with respect to others, may be either with relation to their bodies; Numbers 35:30. Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death, etc. Or to their souls, which is the most heinous murder in the world; Ezekiel 3:18. When I say unto the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.

Q10. What is the first inference hence?

A. That we have great cause to bless God for his protecting law, and for human laws grounded upon his law for the protection of our lives; Romans 13:4.-For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

Q11. What is the second inference hence?

A. That all that are guilty of this sin, have great cause to be humbled and afflicted: For it is a crying sin, Genesis 4:10.-The voice of your brother's blood cries unto me from the ground. Yet not to despair of mercy upon true repentance. Manasseh shed innocent blood, and yet was pardoned, upon repentance; 2 Kings 21:16. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, etc.

Q12. What is the third inference hence?

A. Let all men watch against pride, passion, malice, and revenge, the sin of the heart, from which this horrid sin proceeds; Matthew 15:18, 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, etc. Of the seventh Commandment

Q1. May we dispose of our own lives at our pleasure?

A. No: For surely your blood of your lives will I require, Gen. 9:5.

Q2. Is it a sin in any case to kill ourselves?

A. Yes: Do thyself no harm, Acts 16:28.

Q3. Is it an exceeding sinful sin?

A. Yes: It was the sin of Saul and Judas, Sam. 31:4. Matt. 27:5.

Q4. Is it a sin needlessly to expose our own lives?

A. Yes: Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God, Matt. 4:7.

Q5. But must we not expose our lives to keep a good conscience?

A. Yes: Neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I might finish my course with joy, Acts 20:24.

Q6. Is drunkenness a sin against our own lives?

A. Yes: Take heed lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and so that day come upon you unawares, Luke 21:34.

Q7. Is uncleanness so?

A. Yes: He that commits fornication sins against his own body, 1 Cor. 6:18.

Q8. Is immoderate care and grief a sin against our own lives?

A. Yes: For the sorrow of the world worketh death, 2 Cor. 7:10.

Q9. Is it lawful for the magistrate to take away the life of a malefactor?

A. Yes: For he bears not the sword in vain, Rom. 13:4.

Q10. May soldiers kill in a lawful war?

A. Yes: Cursed is he that keepeth back his sword from blood, Jer. 48:10.

Q11. But is wilful murder a great sin?

A. Yes: The voice of thy brother's blood cries Gen. 4:10.

Q12. Is it an iniquity to be punished by the judge?

A. Yes: Whoso sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Gen. 9:6.

Q13. And ought the murderer to be put to death?

A. Yes: A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him, Prov. 28:17.

Q14. Is murder a great affront to God?

A. Yes: For in the image of God made he man, Gen. 9:6.

Q15. Does it make men like the devil?

A. Yes: For he was a murderer from the beginning, John 8:44.

Q16. Is it of dangerous consequence to the murderer?

A. Yes: For no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him, 1 John 3:15.

Q17. Ought we therefore to pray that God would keep us from it?

A. Yes: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God of my salvation, Ps. 51:14.

Q18. Is malice heart-murder?

A. Yes: Lie that hateth his brother is a murderer, 1 John 3:15.

Q19. Is rash anger a breach of this commandment?

A. Yes: But I say unto you, Whosoever is angry with his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, Matt. 5:22.

Q20. Is giving foul language a breach of this commandment?

A. Yes: Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, or Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire, Matt. 5:22.

Q21. Is revenge a breach of this commandment?

A. Yes: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, Rom. 12:19.