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.
Q1. What is the practice of the Papists with reference to the Tenth Commandment?
A. They have; (in some of their formularies,) erased the Second Commandment, because contrary to their image worship; therefore, in order to keep up the number TEN, they split THIS into two, making these words, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house," to be the ninth; and, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife," &c. to be the tenth.
Q2. How are they confuted?
A. By the words of this commandment (as they are here inserted from Ex. 20:17,) being transposed into a different order in Deut. 5:21; where desiring our neighbour's wife is put before coveting of his house; which is a plain evidence, that what the Papists make two is but one undivided precept; otherwise what, according to them, is the ninth in the one place, will be the tenth in the other.
Q3. What is the general duty required in this commandment?
A. It is an inward disposition and inclination of the whole soul, to perform all the duties contained in the law, particularly in the second table, which this commandment more immediately respects; and that out of love to God, and a desire to please him, Psalm 119:5, 47.
Q4. How do you prove this to be the general duty required?
A. From the general sin forbidden; namely, COVETOUSNESS, which includes the motion or stirring of corruption against all the commands of the law, because of their holiness and contrariety to depraved nature, Rom. 7:7, 8.
Q5. What inward disposition of soul does this commandment require with reference to ourselves in particular?
A. It requires, with reference to ourselves, full contentment with our own condition, 1 Tim. 6:6.
Q6. What do you understand by full contentment with our own condition?
A. A cheerful acquiescence in the lot which God, in his holy and wise providence, is pleased to carve out for us in this world, Heb. 13:5 - "Be content with such things as ye have."
Q7. Is full contentment with our own condition attainable in this life?
A. Though the perfection of no grace is attainable in this life, yet a great measure, and eminent degrees of grace, particularly this of contentment, may be, and has been, attained by the saints in this world, Phil. 4:11 - "I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content."
Q8. Is contentment, in a prosperous condition, an easy attainment?
A. No; without grace it cannot be attained; because, naturally, our ambitious and covetous desires increase in proportion to our riches; as is evident in the instance of Ahab, whom a kingdom could not satisfy without Naboth's vineyard, 1 Kings 21:4.
Q9. How is true contentment attained under prosperous circumstances?
A. By looking above all the enjoyments of time as transitory and vain, to God himself, as our chief good and eternal inheritance, Psalm 62:10, and 16:5, 6.
Q10. Is contentment likewise required under cross dispensations of providence; such as, poverty, reproach, bodily afflictions, and loss of near relations?
A. Though it be a grievous sin to be stupidly insensible and unconcerned under these or the like circumstances, Hos. 7:9; yet a contentment of submission, or such as is without repining and murmuring, is, undoubtedly, required under the severest troubles that can befall us in this life, Lam. 3:39 - "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" And, Ezra. 9:13 "...seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve,"
Q11. What ground of contentment have we under outward poverty and want?
A. That, though we be the poor of this world, yet we may be "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom," James 2:5.
Q12. Why should we bear reproach without murmuring?
A. Because whatever reproach is cast upon us for Christ's sake, he will wipe it clean off at his second appearing, Luke 22:28, 29; Matt. 25:34.
Q13. What reason for contentment have we under bodily afflictions?
A. That they are only of short duration, 2 Cor. 4:17; mixed with mercy, Lam. 3:32; consistent with love, John 11:3; and designed for "our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness," Heb. 12:10.
Q14. What should content and comfort us under the loss of near and dear relations?
A. That the Lord Jesus, who stands in every amiable relation to us, is always at hand, being "the same yesterday, today, and for ever," Heb. 13:8.
Q15. Are we required to be content under divine desertion, or the want of the sense of the love of God?
A. Though we have no reason to quarrel with God, for withdrawing the light of his countenance, which we never deserved; yet it is impossible for any gracious soul to be easy and content under the hidings of his face, but it must needs earnestly long for, and ardently breathe after the returns of his love; as is evident from the example and practice of the saints, in the following texts, Job 23:3, and 29:2, 3; Psalm 13:1, 42:1, 2, and 84:2.
Q16. What inward frame or disposition of soul does the Tenth Commandment require with reference to our neighbour?
A. It requires a right and charitable frame of spirit toward him, and all that is his, Rom. 12:16.
Q17. When may we be said to have this right and charitable frame of spirit here required?
A. When our inward motions and affections are influenced by grace, to sway and determine us to promote and rejoice in the welfare of our neighbour, both as to his spiritual and temporal concerns, 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
Q18. When may it be evident to ourselves, that we have a right and charitable frame of spirit towards those who excel us in gifts and graces?
A. When, under an humbling sense of our own defects, we are thankful for the honour that is brought to God, by the shining of his gifts or graces in others, Gal. 1:23, 24.
Q19. What should induce us to a right and charitable frame of spirit towards those that are in more prosperous circumstances than ourselves; or whose condition in the world is better than our own?
A. The considering that a flourishing condition in the world is not always the best, Psalm 38:16; that if we enjoy communion with God, it is infinitely preferable to all outward prosperity without it, Psalm 16:5, 6.
Q20. How may such a right and charitable frame of spirit be attained?
A. Only by the implantation of faith, as the root of this and all other motions of the soul that are acceptable to God, Heb. 11:6; Rom. 14:23.
Q1. Has God the disposal of our outward condition?
A. Yes: My times are in thy hand, Ps. 31:15.
Q2. And does he order all events concerning us?
A. Yes: He performeth the thing that is appointed for us, Job 23:14.
Q3. Ought we therefore to be content with our condition?
A. Yes: Be content with such things as you have, Heb. 13:5.
Q4. Ought we to be content in every condition?
A. Yes: I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content, Phil. 4:11.
Q5. Must we be content with a little?
A. Yes: Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content, 1 Tim. 6:8.
Q6. Can we expect that our condition should be in every thing brought to our mind?
A. No: For all is vanity, Eccl. 1:14.
Q7. Is it therefore our wisdom to bring our mind to our condition?
A. Yes: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound, Phil. 4:12.
Q8. Is anything got by this?
A. Yes: Godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. 6:6.
Q9. And is this the way to be easy?
A. Yes: In your patience possess ye your souls, Luke 21:19.
Q10. Is that best which is?
A. Yes: It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3:18.
Q11. Must we therefore make the best of it?
A. Yes: For wherefore should a living man complain? Lam. 3:39.
Q12. And must we acknowledge it is better than we deserve?
A. Yes: I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, Gen. 32:10.
Q13. Ought we to desire the welfare of our neighbours?
A. Yes: Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth, 1 Cor. 10:24.
Q14. And to pray for it?
A. Yes: Supplications and prayers must be made for all men, 1 Tim. 2:1.
Q15. And to be well pleased with it?
A. Yes: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, Rom. 12:15.
Q16. And to lay to heart our neighbour's troubles?
A. Yes: Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, Heb. 13:3.
Q17. And is this a charitable frame of spirit?
A. Yes: For charity suffers long, and is kind, 1 Cor. 13:4.
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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.