Neo. I pray you, sir, begin with the negative part, and first tell us what is the inward uncleanness that is fobidden in this commandment?

Evan. That we may not be guilty of the inward uncleanness of the heart, in this commandment is forbidden, all filthy imaginations, unchaste thoughts and inward desires and motions of the heart to uncleanness, Matth. 5: 28. Col. 3: 5. with all the causes and occasions of stirring up and nourishing these in the heart.

Neo. And what are the causes and occasions of stirring up and nourishing these things in the heart which we are to avoid?

Evan. That we may not stir up nor nourish inward uncleanness in our hearts, is forbidden in this commandment gluttony, or excess in eating and pampering of the belly with meats, Jer. 5: 8. so also is drunkenness, or excess in drinking, Prov. 23: 30, 31, 33. so also is idleness, 2 Sam. 11: 12. and wearing lascivious garnish and new-fangled attire, Prov. 7: 10. 1 Tim. 2: 9. so also is keeping company with lascivous, wanton, and fleshly persons, Gen. 39: 10. and immodest, unchaste, and filthy speaking, Eph. 4: 29. And so also is idle and curious looking of men on women, or women on men, Gen. 6: 2. and 39: 7. so also is beholding love-matters, and light behavior of men and women, represented on stage-plays, Ezek. 23: 14. Eph. 5: 3,4. so also is immoderate and wanton dancing of men and women together, Job 21: 11,12. Mark 6: 21, 22. and so also is wanton kissing and embracing, with all unchaste touching and dalliance, Prov. 7:13.

Neo. And what is that outward actual uncleanness which is forbidden in this commandment?

Evan. The actual uncleanness forbidden in this commandment, is fornication, a fleshly defilement of the body, committed between man and woman, being both of them single and unmarried, 1 Cor. 10: 8. and so also is adultery, which is a defilement of the body, committed between man and woman, being either one or both of them married persons, or at least contracted, 1 Cor. 6: 9, 18. Hos. 13: 4.

Neo. I pray you, sir, proceed to the affirmative part, and tell us what the Lord requires in this commandment.

Evan. The Lord in this commandment requires purity of heart, 1 Thess. 4:5. also speeches savoring sobriety and chastity, Col. 4: 6. Gen. 4: 1. and that we keep our eyes from beholding vanity and lustful objects, Psalm 119: 37. Job 31: 1. that we be temperate in our diet, in our sleep, and in our recreations, Luke 23: 34. that we possess our vessels in holiness and honor, 1 Thess. 4: 9. if we have not the gift of chastity, he requires that we take the benefit of holy marriage, 1 Cor. 7: 29. and that man and wife in that estate render due benevolence to each other, 1 Cor. 7:5. Thus have I also endeavored to satisfy your desires concerning the seventh commandment; and now, neighbor Nomologista, I pray you tell me, whether you think you keep it perfectly or no?

Nom. Sir, I thank the Lord I am free from all actual uncleanness, so that I am neither fornicator nor adulterer.

Evan. Well, but though you be free from the outward act, yet if you have had in your heart filthy imaginations, unchaste thoughts, or inward desires, or motions of the heart to uncleanness, you have notwithstanding transgressed this commandment; if you have been guilty of gluttony, or drunkenness, or idleness, or delighted to keep company with lascivious and wanton persons, or have with your tongue uttered any unchaste, or corrupt communication, or have been a frequenter of stage-plays, or have used immoderate dancing with women, or have used wanton dalliance with kissing and embracing, then have you broken this commandment.

Neo. I beseech you, sir, proceed to speak of the eighth commandment, as you have done of the rest.

COMMANDMENT VIII.

Evan. Well then, I pray you, consider, that in the eighth commandment there is a negative expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not steal," that is, thou shalt by no unlawful way or means, hurt or hinder the wealth and outward estate either of thyself or others; and an affirma

tive part included in these words, "But thou shalt by all good means preserve and further them both."

Neo. I pray you, sir, begin with the negative part, and first, tell us what is forbidden in this commandment, as a hurt or hindrance of our own outward estate?

Evan. That we may not hurt or hinder our own outward estate, in this commandment is forbidden idleness, sloth, and inordinate walking, Prov. 18: 9. 2 Thess. 3:11. so also is unthriftiness, and carelessness, either in spending our goods, or in ordering our affairs and business, Prov. 21:17. 1 Tim. 5: 8. and so also is unadvised suretiship, Prov. 11: 15.

Neo. And what is forbidden in this commandment, as tending to hurt or hinder our neighbor's estate?

Evan. That we may not hurt or hinder our neighbor's outward estate, in this commandment is forbidden, covetousness and discontentedness with our own estate, Heb. 13: 5. so also is enviousness at the prosperity of others, Prov. 24: 1. so also is resolutions or hasting to be rich, as it were whether the Lord afford means or not, 1 Tim. 6: 9. Prov. 28: 20. so also is borrowing and not paying again, we being able, Psal. 37:21. so also is lending upon usury, Exod. 22: 25. and so also is not returning things borrowed, Psal. 37:21. so also is cruelty, in requiring all our debts, without compassion or mercy, Isa. 58: 3. and so also is praising any commodity we sell, contrary to our own knowledge, or debasing any thing we buy, against our own conscience, Isa. 5:20. Prov. 20: 14. so also is hoarding up, or withholding the selling of corn, and other necessary commodities, when we may spare them, and others need them, Prov. 11:26. and so also is retaining hirelings' wages, James 5: 4. so also is uncharitable enclosure, Isa. 5: 8. and so also is selling any commodity by false weights, or false measures, Lev. 19: 35. so also is concealing things found, and withholding them from the right owners, when they are known. So also is robbery, or laying violent and strong hands on any part of the wealth that belongs unto another, Zech. 4: 3, 4. and so also is the pilfering and secret carrying it away, Josh. 7: 21. so also is consenting to taking away the goods of another, Psal. 90:18. and so also is receiving or harboring stolen goods, Prov. 29: 24.

Neo. Well, now, sir, I pray you proceed to the affirmative part of this commandment, and tell us what the Lord therein requires.

Evan. In this commandment is required contentedness of mind, with that part and portion of wealth and outward good things which God in his providence hath allotted to us, Heb. 13: 1. 1 Tim. 6: 6, 7, 8. so also is resting by faith upon the promise of God, and depending upon his providence, without distrustful care, Matth. 6: 20, 26. and so also is a moderate desire of such things as are convenient and necessary for us, Matth. 6: 21. Prov. 30: 8. so also is a moderate care to provide those things which are needful for us, Gen. 30: 30. 1 Tim. 5: 8. and so also is an honest calling, Gen. 4: 2. and diligence, painfulness, and faithful laboring therein, Gen. 3: 19. so also is frugality or thriftiness, Prov. 27: 23, 24. John 6: 12. borrowing for need and good ends, what we are able to repay, and making payment with thanks and cheerfulness, Exod. 22:14. lending freely, without compounding for gain, Deut. 15: 8. Luke 6: 35. giving or communicating outward things unto others, according to our ability, and their necessity, Luke 11:41. So also is the using of truth, simplicity, and plainness in buying and selling, in hiring and letting, Lev. 25: 14. Deut. 25: 13,14,15. and also restoring things found, or Deut. 22: 2, 3. committed to our trust, Ezek. 18:7. And thus have I endeavored to satisfy your desire concerning the eighth commandment; and now, neighbor Nomologista, I pray you tell me whether you think you keep it perfectly or no?

Nom. I can say this truly, that I never in all my life took away, nor consented to taking away so much as a penny-worth of any other man's goods.

Evan. Though you did not, yet, if there ever have been in your heart any discontentedness with your own estate? or any envious thoughts towards others in regard to their prosperity in the world? or any resolution to be rich otherwise than by the moderate use of lawful means? or if ever you borrowed and paid not again, to the utmost of your ability, if ever you lent upon usury? if ever you did cruelly require any debt above the ability of your debtor? if ever you praised any thing you had to sell above the

known worth of it? ever did undervalue any thing you were to buy, contrary to your own thoughts of it? or if ever you hoarded up corn in the time of dearth? retained the hireling's wages in your hands, to his loss or hindrance? or if ever you did sell any commodity by false weights or measures? or did conceal any thing found, from the right owner, when you knew him? then have you been guilty of theft, and so have been a transgressor of this command

ment.

And though you never have done any of these things (as it is strange if you have not) yet if ever you were guilty of idleness, sloth, or any way unwarrantably neglected your calling? or if ever you did unthriftily mispend any of your own goods, or ever were negligent and careless in ordering your own affairs and business, if ever you sustained any loss by your unadvised suretiship, or if ever you borrowed upon usury, except in case of extreme necessity, then you have been guilty of robbing yourself, and so have been a transgressor of this commandment.' Neo. Now, I pray you, sir, proceed to speak of the ninth commandment.

COMMANDMENT IX.

Evan. Well then, I pray you consider, that in the ninth commandment, there is a negative expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." That is, thou shalt not think or speak any thing contrary to the truth, or that may tend to the hurt or hindrance either of thine own or thy neighbor's good name. And an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt by all good means, seek to preserve them both, according to truth and good conscience."

Neo. Well, sir, I pray you begin with the negative part, and first tell us what is forbidden in this commandment, in respect of our own good name.

Evan. That we may not be guilty of bearing false witness against ourselves either by overrating or undervalu ing ourselves, in this commandment is forbidden too high a conceit or esteem of ourselves, Luke 18: 9, 10, 11. and