Q. 2.-Wherein does the sixth Commandment differ from all the rest ?

A. In the other Commandments, the love of our neighbour is rather implied than expressed: in this we are expressly commanded abstain from every thing contrary to love.

to

Q. 3.-What are the most gross violations of this law?

A. When a man knowingly kills another out of malice and revenge, or in a fit of passion, or from any other motive.

Q. 4-Has God given us any reason why we should not commit murder?

A. Yes; he hath said "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed ;' for in the image of God made he man.” Gen. 9. 6.

Q. 5.-Has God marked his displeasure against this sin?

A. Yes, in a very particular manner; both in his word and in his providence.

Q. 6. How has he marked his hatred of murder in his word?

A. By representing it as a most odious crime, and repeatedly manifesting his determination to punish it. Thus we read, that

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"The devil was a murderer, from the beginning" and the characters of Cain, Jezebel, Judas and others, are branded with infamy, and held up to the detestation of all.

Q. 7.And how does God manifest his hatred of murder, in his providence?

A. By the various ways in which he brings murder to light. The murderer has often been detected by the agonies of his own mind, and even by the means which he has used to prevent a discovery.

Q. 8. But is it not lawful to kill another, on any occasion?

A. Yes, it is lawful for the magistrate to execute a condemned criminal. A soldier too should destroy the enemies of his country, in battle; and every man is justified in killing another, who attacks him, when he cannot by any other means save his own life.

Q. 9.-But suppose two people fight together, and one of them is killed; is the other guilty of murder?

A-Certainly, he is; for all fighting is sinful, except in the cases above mentioned.

Q. 10. But is there any harm in fighting for our honour, or to save our reputation amongst men?

given for it.

No excuse can be

If men fight out of malice and hatred, they are guilty of murder in the sight of God. And if they fight in order to save their character, they are not only guilty of murder; but also of committing that crime in order to please their fellow creatures.

Q. 11Then it is very sinful to fight a duel, under any circumstances.

A.-Yes, very sinful; because considering it in the most favourable light, It is deliberately to prefer the favour of man to the favour of God."

Q. 12. Is it wrong for a man to kill himself?

A. This is the very worst kind of murder. For if a man kills another, he may, by the grace of God, live to repent, and obtain the pardon of his sin; but if he kills himself, his death places him at once beyond the reach of mercy.

Q. 13. But is the actual crime of murder the only thing forbidden in this Commandment?

A.-No: the Commandment forbids all evil dispositions, such as anger, jealousy, hatred, malice, unkindness, and all uncharitableness.

Q. 14.-Give me a

reason for thus ex

plaining the Commandment.

A. Because these dispositions, if encour aged, lead naturally to the crime of murder; and besides our Lord himself gives this explanation of the Commandment, Matt. 5; 21, 22.—" Yes. have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment; But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

Q. 15. But may we not do evil to those who are unkind to us; and hate them that hate us ?

A.-No; for Christ hath said, "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Q, 16-This law must have been often broken by us?

A. Very often, indeed; when we consider that not only every unkind action, and every contemptuous word; but also every malicious, and envious, and revengeful, and passionate thought, is murder in the sight of God; we have reason to say with the Psalmist, "Who can tell how oft he offendeth ?"

Q. 17. But while the Commandment for bids evil dispositions, does it not also command us to live in the exercise of good dispositions?

A. Certainly, it does; we break the Commandment not only by giving way to bad tempers, but also when we do not live in love,

Q. 18.-Repeat St. Paul's description of Love. 1, Cor. 13; 4. 8.

A. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly; seeketh not her own; is not easily provok ed; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity; but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things; believeth all things; hopeth all things; endu. reth all things."