Q1. What does this command forbid in general?

A. Whatsoever is prejudicial to truth.

Q2. What are we to understand, by that which is prejudicial to truth?

A. All falsehood and lying of whatever kind, James 3:14 - "Lie not against the truth."

Q3. What is the formal nature and meaning of a LIE?

A. It is voluntarily to speak or express what we know to be false, as the old prophet at Bethel did to the man of God, 1 Kings 13:18.

Q4. How is a lie aggravated?

A. When it is uttered with a design to deceive, and to harm others by it; like the devil, when he said, "Ye shall not surely die. - Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," Gen. 3:4, 5.

Q5. May not persons utter what is untrue or false and yet not be guilty of a lie?

A. Yes; and that either through ignorance or misinformation.

Q6. When may they be said to utter what is false through ignorance, and yet not be guilty of lying?

A. When they speak rashly, according to their present conception of things, without due examination; as the barbarians, when they "saw the venomous beast hang on Paul's hand, said: among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer," &c., Acts 28:4.

Q7. When may we utter what is false through misinformation, and not be guilty of a lie?

A. When we speak according to the report we have had from others, without any suspicion of being imposed upon; as Jacob did, when, by the imposition of his sons, (who had sold Joseph into Egypt, and dipped his coat in he blood of a kid) he said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast, hath devoured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces," Gen. 37:33.

Q8. How many sorts of lies are there?

A. They are commonly ranked into three sorts; namely, ludicrous, pernicious, and officious lies.

Q9. What is a ludicrous or jocose lie?

A. It is when persons relate things they know to be false, with a design to make a jest or diversion to others.

Q10. What is it to be guilty of a pernicious lied?

A. It is to contrive or spread some malicious report we know or suspect to be false, on purpose to bring about some hurt or damage to another, as Ziba did against Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. 16:3.

Q11. What is the aggravation of a pernicious lie?

A. It is the very worst sort of lying, being both a contempt of the omniscient God, who is witness to the falsehood; and a deliberate intention to do injury to our neighbour, though in our conscience we believe him innocent of what we lay to his charge.

Q12. What is it for a person to make an officious lie?

A. It is to tell a downright untruth, for their own, or their neighbour's safety and security in time of danger, as Rahab did who hid the spies in the roof of her house, and yet alleged they were gone out of the city, and that she knew not where they went, Josh. 2:4-6.

Q13. Does not the apostle ascribe this action of hers to her faith, when he says, Heb. 11:31 - "By faith, Rahab, the harlot, perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace?"

A. No; What he ascribes to her faith is, her having received the spies with peace, that is, her having consulted their safety and preservation with the greatest care and diligence; but not the lie she invented in order to conceal them. Her protecting the spies is commended, but not the manner in which she did it.

Q14. Who are they that plead in favour of officious lies?

A. The Papists, Socinians, and most of our modern moralists.

Q15. What arguments do they allege in defence of this sort of lying?

A. That it has been practised by saints in scripture; and that it is so far from being hurtful to any, that it has been beneficial to some in certain cases.

Q16. What answer is to be given to the practice of the saints in this matter?

A. That their sinful failures, in this and other instances, are not recorded in scripture for imitation, but for caution and warning, that we fall not into the same snares.

Q17. How do you answer the other argument for officious lying, "That it is so far from being hurtful to any, that it has been beneficial and advantageous to some, in certain cases, particularly in saving the life of a dear friend, or useful member of society, which might otherwise have been manifestly endangered?"

A. It is answered thus, that in no case are we to do evil that good may come, Rom. 3:8. If we are not to speak wickedly for God, nor talk deceitfully for him, according to Job 13:7, neither are we to do so, though it were for the benefit of all mankind, or the best among them.

Q18. How do you prove lying to be sinful, or unlawful, in itself?

A. From this, that lying of all sorts, without exception, is condemned in scripture, as hateful and abominable to God, Proverbs 6:17, 19, and 12:22; Col. 3:9.

Q19. Who is the author and father of lies?

A. The devil, John 8:44 - "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Q20. How does God testify his displeasure against lying of all kinds?

A. By declaring that "he who speaketh lies shall perish," Proverbs 19:9; accordingly it is said, "ALL liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone," Rev. 21:8.

Q21. What is more particularly forbidden in this commandment, according to the answer?

A. Whatever is injurious to our own or our neighbour's good name.

Q22. How may we injure our own good name?

A. By a vain-glorious commendation of ourselves, 2 Tim 3:2; by despising of others who ought justly to be esteemed, Luke 18:9, 11; or by doing any thing scandalous and offensive in the eye of the world, 1 Sam. 2:17, 30.

Q23. In what may we be injurious to our neighbour's good name?

A. By flattering him to his face, Proverbs 28:4; by defaming him behind his back, Psalm 50:20; or by bearing false witness against him in public judicature, Ezek. 22:9.

Q24. What is the evil of flattering our neighbour to his face?

A. It tends to foster and foment his pride, and thus to bring on his ruin, Proverbs 26:28 - "A flattering mouth worketh ruin."

Q25. What is the evil of defaming him behind his back?

A. Nothing can be more devilish and malicious, than to fix calumny and reproach upon one, when he is not present to vindicate and defend himself: hence the same original word, which is rendered slanderer, 1 Tim. 3:11, is used also to signify the devil, 1 Pet. 5:8.

Q26. Who are they that maybe guilty of bearing false witness against their neighbour in public judicature?

A. The prosecutor, defendant, witness, advocate, and judge, may each of them be guilty in this way.

Q27. How may the prosecutor be guilty?

A. In making an unjust demand upon the defendant, Acts 24:5; or laying to his charge that of which he believes him to be innocent, chap. 25:7.

Q28. How is the defendant, upon the other hand, chargeable with guilt in this matter?

A. By artful and dilatory evasions, by which the plaintiff is put to needless trouble and charge in the obtaining of justice.

Q29. How may witnesses, in public judicature, be injurious to their neighbour's good name?

A. Not only by the heinous sin of bearing testimony to a downright falsehood, but likewise by denying, mincing, or keeping back the truth, or any part of it.

Q30. When are advocates or attorneys guilty in this way?

A. When they take in hand to plead and maintain a bad cause, looking on it as a part of their profession to be as warm and zealous in defending what is wrong, as what is just and right.

Q31. How may the judge be guilty of bearing false witness?

A. By a rash, partial, and iniquitous sentence; thus perverting justice, and injuring the innocent, like Pilate, Matt. 27:24, 26.

Q32. What is the evil of injuring our neighbour in his good name?

A. It robs him of a most valuable treasure; for, if once his good name or character is sunk, his further usefulness in the world is, to all appearance, irrecoverably gone.

Q33. What should affright and deter us from the sins of the tongue, forbidden in this commandment?

A. That we are to answer, in the last and great day for our words, as well as our actions, Matt. 12:36, 37 - "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment; for, by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Q1. What is the general scope and aim of the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth command aims chiefly at the preservation and promoting of truth among men; Zechariah 8:16.-Speak you every man the truth to his neighbor, etc. This being of indispensable necessity to the subsistence and welfare of human society; Ephesians 4:25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Q2. What is the first thing required particularly in this command?

A. This command requires every man to take care of preserving his own good name, by ordering his conversation in universal integrity; 1 Peter 3:15, 16. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every one that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Q3. What is the second thing required in this command?

A. It requires all due care to preserve the good name and honor of other men as well as our own; for Christians are not to be of narrow and private spirits, which center only in their own interests and concernment; Philippians 2:4. Look not every man on his own things; but every man also on the things of others.

Q4. How are we to preserve the good names of others?

A. We are to preserve the good names of others by an inward esteem of all the good that is in them; Philippians 2:3.-In lowness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. And manifesting our inward esteem of them by a wise and seasonable expression thereof for their encouragement in the ways of godliness; Romans 1:8. FIRST, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Q5. How else are we to defend other men's names?

A. By our readiness to receive with joy the reports of that good that is in them; 3 John 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth. And discountenancing all reproaches maliciously vented against them; Psalm 15:3.-Nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.

Q6. But what if the report be evidently true?

A. In that case we are to grieve for their miscarriages, as the effect and fruit of our love to their souls; 2 Corinthians 2:4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. And to discharge our duties privately and faithfully, in order to their recovery; Matthew 18:15, 16, 17. Moreover, if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone, etc. Winking at, and concealing in love, their lesser and common infirmities; 1 Peter 4:8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: For charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Q7. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?

A. It forbids us to injure others, by raising or receiving lies, and false reports which are highly injurious to their good names; Colossians 3:9. Lie not one to another, etc.

Q8. What else is forbidden in the ninth commandment?

A. It especially forbids perjury, or false swearing, whereby not only the names, but estates and lives of the innocent are injured and ruined; Psalm 35:11. False witnesses did rise up. They laid to my charge things that I knew not; Proverbs 19:5. A false witness shall not be unpunished: And he who speaks lies shall not escape. A sin which God will punish; Malachi 3:5. And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, etc.

Q9. What else is forbidden in this commandment?

A. It forbids all whispering and backbiting of others secretly; 2 Corinthians 12:20.-Lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, etc. And all tale-carrying from one to another, to our neighbor's injury; Leviticus 19:16. You shall not go up and down as a tale-bearer among the people, etc. And 1 Timothy 5:13.-And not only idle, but tatlers also, and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Q10. What else does the ninth commandment forbid?

A. It forbids all rash and unwarrantable judging of other men's hearts and final estates which is usually accompanied with ignorance of our own; Matthew 7:1, 3. Judge not, that you be not judged. And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?

Q11. What else is forbidden in this commandment?

A. It forbids the eclipsing of the true worth and honor of others, by a proud exalting of ourselves; 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5. Charity envies not, charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, etc. Or by crying up one to the disparagement of another good man; 1 Corinthians 3:4, 5. For while one says, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal? etc.

Q12. What is the first inference from hence?

A. That the best Christians have cause to be humbled for the sins of the tongue whereby God is dishonored, and others are injured; James 3:2. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. And verse 5, 6. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things: behold how great a matter a little fire kindles. And the tongue is afire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of Hell.

Q13. What is the second inference from hence?

A. It is our great concernment to walk with that piety and justice towards God and men, as to cut off all just occasions of reproach from our names; 2 Corinthians 11:12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasions, etc. 1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Q14. What is the third inference from this commandment?

A. To bless God that our names are kept sweet and honorable in the world among good men; 3 John 12. Demetrius has a good report of all men, etc. Or if we be reproached, it is by none but wicked men, and that for our duty to God; Daniel 6:5. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Of the tenth Commandment

Q1. Is lying a great sin?

A. Yes: Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man, Col. 3:9.

Q2. Is it a sin that God hates?

A. Yes: Lying lips are abomination to the Lord, Prov. 12:22.

Q3. And is it a sin that all good men hate?

A. Yes: I hate and abhor lying, Ps. 119:163.

Q4. Does it make men like the devil?

A. Yes: For he is a liar, and the father of it, John 8:44.

Q5. And will it bring them to hell?

A. Yes: For all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, Rev. 21:8.

Q6. Is it lawful to tell a lie to make sport?

A. No: For as a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is he that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? Prov. 26:18, 19.

Q7. Is it lawful to tell a lie to excuse a fault?

A. No: For Gehazi for doing so had a leprosy entailed on him and his seed for ever, 2 Kings 5:27.

Q8. May we tell a lie with intention to do good?

A. No: We must not do evil, that good may come, Rom. 3:8.

Q9. Will what is got by lying do us any good?

A. No: The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is vanity, tossed to and fro of them that seek death, Prov. 21:6.

Q10. Should we therefore pray against this sin?

A. Yes: Remove from me the way of lying, Ps. 119:29.

Q11. Is it a sin to belie ourselves?

A. Yes: As there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches, Prov. 13:7.

Q12. May we be careless of our own good name?

A. No: If I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you, John 8:55.

Q13. Is it a sin to belie our neighbour?

A. Yes: They laid to my charge things that I know not, Ps. 35:11.

Q14. Is it folly?

A. Yes: He that uttereth slander is a fool, Prov. 10:18.

Q15. Is it a sin to speak evil of any?

A. Yes: Put them in mind to speak evil of no man, Tit. 3:1,2.

Q16. And to be censorious of our brethren?

A. Yes: Judge not, that ye be not judged, Matt. 7:1.

Q17. Is it a great offence to God to do this?

A. Yes: He that speaks evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judgeth the law, James 4:11.

Q18. Does it make us like the devil?

A. Yes: For he is the accuser of the brethren, Rev. 12:10.

Q19. Is it a sin to raise a false report?

A. Yes: Thou shalt not raise a false report, Exod. 23:1.

Q20. And a sin to spread it?

A. Yes: Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer, Lev. 19:16.

Q21. May we proclaim our brothers' faults?

A. No: For charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, 1 Cor. 13:6.

Q22. Is it a sin to speak ill of magistrates?

A. Yes: Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people, Acts 23:5.

Q23. Is it a sin to be abusive to the poor?

A. Yes: For he that mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker, Prov. 17:5.

Q24. May we speak ill of those who speak ill of us?

A. No: We must not render railing for railing, 1 Pet. 3:9.