Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q1. What is chastity?
A. It is an abhorrence of all uncleanness, whether in the body, or in the mind and affections, Job 31:1.
Q2. What does this commandment require with reference to such chastity?
A. The preservation of it, both in ourselves, and in our neighbours.
Q3. What is the best means for preserving our own and our neighbour's chastity?
A. The cherishing in our minds and consciences a continual regard, reverence, and awe of the divine Majesty, and a fear of displeasing him, Proverbs 5:20, 21.
Q4. What influence will this have upon the preservation of chastity?
A. It will make us boldly resist all assaults or attacks that may be made upon it; as in the instance of Joseph, when solicited by his master's wife to lie with her, he refused; and said - "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Gen. 39:7-9.
Q5. Wherein are we to preserve our own and our neighbour's chastity?
A. In heart, speech, and behaviour.
Q6. How ought we in heart to preserve our own chastity?
A. By resisting the very first emotions of lust in the soul, Proverbs 4:23; by repelling all wanton imaginations, Matt. 5:28; and by essaying both these in the way of praying to God that he would turn away our hearts and eyes from beholding vanity, Ps 119:37.
Q7. How ought we to preserve our neighbour's chastity in our hearts?
A. Not only by ardently desiring the preservation of it, but by loving one another with a pure heart fervently; 1 Pet. 1:22.
Q8. How ought we to preserve our own and our neighbours chastity in our speech?.
A. By "letting no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers," Eph. 4:29.
Q9. How should we do this in our behaviour?
A. By such a uniform modesty in our conduct and deportment, as may evidence that every one of us possesses his vessel, (that is, his body,) in sanctification and honour, 1 Thess. 4:4.
Q10. Why should we be so careful to preserve our chastity?
A. Because we should study to have our bodies to be the temples of the Holy Ghost, and therefore should keep them free from those pollutions which are so provoking to a holy God, 1 Cor. 6:19.
Q11. What is the ordinary mean of divine appointment for the preservation of chastity?
A. Lawful wedlock or marriage, 1 Cor. 7:2 - "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
Q12. When was marriage first instituted?
A. Before the fall, in paradise, Gen. 2:24.
Q13. For what end was it instituted?
A. For the mutual help of husband and wife, Gen. 2:18; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with a holy seed, Mal. 2:15; and for preventing of uncleanness," 1 Cor. 7:2.94
Q14. What is necessary to constitute marriage?
A. The voluntary and mutual consent of both parties, Gen. 24:58, 67.
Q15. Who may be lawfully married?
A. "All sorts of people; who are able, with judgment, to give their consent," Heb. 13:4 - "Marriage is honourable in all."95
Q16. What is the duty of Christians with reference to marriage?
A. It is to marry "only in the Lord," 1 Cor. 7:39.
Q17. What is the native import of marrying "only in the Lord"?
A. It plainly imports, that "such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies."96
Q18. What is an incestuous marriage?
A. It is that which is within the degrees of consanguinity, or affinity, forbidden in the word, Lev. 18:6-18.
Q19. What is the meaning of the words consanguinity and affinity?
A. CONSANGUINITY is a relation by blood, being between persons descended from the same family: AFFINITY is an alliance by marriage, between persons who were not blood relations before.
Q20. What is the general rule for preventing incestuous marriages?
A. The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own: nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own."97
Q21. Is it proper to call marriage a HOLY state?
A. No; because they who are without the visible church, such as Heathens, Turks, and Jews, may marry as well as the professed members of it; Heb. 13:4.
Q22. Was marriage instituted to signify the "mystical union that is between Christ and his church," as the Book of Common Prayer affirms?
A. No; because this borders too near upon making marriage a sacrament, as the Papists do; in as much as an outward visible sign, of divine institution, and a spiritual benefit signified by it, would make it partake of the nature of a sacrament.
Q23. Does not the apostle make it a significant sign, when he says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church?" Eph. 5:25.
A. He exhorts husbands to have such a love to their wives, as may bear a faint resemblance in some respects, to the love of Christ; but does not make the one a sign significant of the other.
Q24. Is not marriage called a great mystery? ver. 32.
A. It is not marriage that is called a great mystery, but the union that is between Christ and the members of his mystical body; as will appear by reading the whole verse, "This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH."
Q1. Is it our duty to keep our bodies pure from all fleshly lusts?
A. Yes: We must possess our vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lust of concupiscence, 1 Thess. 4:4.
Q2. Are we to present our bodies to God?
A. Yes: Present your bodies unto God a living sacrifice, Rom. 12:1.
Q3. Are we to glorify him with them?
A. Yes: Glorify God with your bodies, 1 Cor. 6:20.
Q4. Are we to use them for him?
A. Yes: For your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, 1 Cor. 6:19.
Q5. And to employ them in his service?
A. Yes: Yield your members as instruments of righteousness unto God, Rom. 6:13.
Q6. May they then be used in the service of our lusts?
A. No: For if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, 1 Cor. 3:17.
Q7. Ought we to preserve our chastity in heart?
A. Yes: That we may be holy both in body and spirit, 1 Cor. 7:34.
Q8. And must we keep out all unclean thoughts and desires?
A. Yes: We must flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim. 2:22.
Q9. And is that the way to prevent the acts of uncleanness?
A. Yes: For when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin, James 1:15.
Q10. Ought we to preserve our chastity in speech?
A. Yes: Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, Col. 4:6.
Q11. Is it the character of good people to be modest?
A. Yes: I will turn to the people a pure language, Zeph. 3:9.
Q12. Ought we to preserve our chastity in behaviour?
A. Yes: We must have a chaste conversation coupled with fear, 1 Pet. 3:2.
Q13. And in our clothing?
A. Yes: Women must adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, 1 Tim. 2:9.
Q14. Must we abstain from all appearances of uncleanness?
A. Yes: Hating even the garment spotted with the flesh, Jude 1:23.
Q15. And from all approaches to it?
A. Yes: Come not nigh the door of her house, Prov. 5:8.
Q16. Must we resolve against wanton looks?
A. Yes: I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then, should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1.
Q17. Must we always keep our bodies in soberness and chastity?
A. Yes: We must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7:1.
Q18. And must we crucify all the lusts of the flesh?
A. Yes: They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, Gal. 5:24.
Q19. Must the body be subdued?
A. Yes: I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, 1 Cor. 9:27.
Q20. And must its sinful desires be denied?
A. Yes: If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, Matt. 5:29.
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The Ten Commandments
The moral law and what God requires of man
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Q41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Q43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
Q48. What are we specially taught by these words, 'before me', in the first commandment?
A. These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
Q49. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Q50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.
Q53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Q57. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Q58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.
Q59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.
Q60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.
Q61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.
Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.
Q63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
Q65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations.
Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour, unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Q70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
Q75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's, wealth or outward estate.
Q76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness bearing.
Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour's, good name.
Q79. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.