Question 74

What doth the eighth Commandment respect?

The eighth Commandment doth respect the wealth & outward estate of our selves, & others.

What doth the eighth Commandment require in reference unto our own and others wealth and outward estate?

The eighth Commandment doth require in reference unto our own and others wealth and outward estate, the procuring and preservation thereof.

May we use any means for the procuring and preserving of our own and others wealth and outward estate?

We must use none but lawful means for the procuring or preserving of our own or others wealth and outward estate.

How may and ought we to endeavour the procurement and preservation of our own wealth and outward estate?

We may and ought to endeavour the procurement and preservation of our own wealth and outward estate, 1. By making choice of a lawful and fit calling for us, and therein to abide with God; And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it, and to keep it:^a And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.^b Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called Brethren, let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God.^c 2. By a moderate care in our callings, to provide such things of this Worlds good things for our selves, as are honest and decent; and useful for us; She considereth a field and buyeth it, with the fruit of her hands she planteth a Vineyard.^d Provide things honest in the sight of all men.^e 3. By prudence and discretion in the managing of the affairs of our callings unto the best advantage; A good man sheweth favour and lendeth; he will guide his affairs with discretion.^f Discretion shall preserve thee, and understanding shall keep thee.^g 4. By frugality, in decent sparing unnecessary expences, wasting nothing, and denying our selves the extravagant and costly cravings of our carnal desires and appetites; There is a Treasure to be desired and Oyle in the dwelling of the Wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.^h When they were filled, he said unto his Disciples, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.ⁱ Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, &c.^j 5. By diligence and laboriousness in our callings; The hand of the diligent maketh rich.^k Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathereth by labour shall encrease.^l Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.^m 6. By seeking unto the Lord for his blessing upon endeavours, and dependance upon him in the use of means for temporal provisions; The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it.ⁿ Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God,^o Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.^p 7. By a chearful use of the good things which God giveth us our selves so far as we have need, and a ready distribution unto the necessity of others; There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered himself.^q 8. By seeking our due, and moderate endeavour to keep or recover that which doth belong of right unto us, when wrongfully sought or detained from us.

It is lawful in the sight of God to make use of the Laws of men, to recover or defend that which is our own, when it is said by our Saviour, Matth. 5. 40. If any man will sue thee at Law, and take away thy Coat, let him have thy Cloak also; and by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 6. 7. Now therefore there is utterly a fault amongst you, because ye go to Law one with another: why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded?

1. Neither of these places of Scripture do absolutely forbid the making use of the Law at all, or at any time for the defence or recovery of our right. 2. That of our Saviour doth forbid contention, and rather then to uphold it, to part with some of our right, such as a Coat or a Cloak, or any such smaller goods, which without much prejudice we might spare; but it doth not hence follow, if another should wrong us in a greater matter, and seek to undo us, that we ought to let him take all which we have in the World, without seeking our right by the Laws under which we live: For if this were so, all sincere Christians would quickly be robbed and spoiled by the wicked, amongst whom they live of all their livelihood. 3. That of the Apostle, doth forbid Christians going to Law one with another, before the Heathen and Infidel Magistrates, which was a scandal to the Christian Religion which they did profess; and he telleth them they ought rather to make up their differences about Wrong and Right amongst themselves, and to suffer wrong rather than to do any thing unto the prejudice of the Gospel; but this doth not prohibit Christians in a Christian Commonwealth, to defend or recover their own by Law; yet so much is forbidden in these places, namely the contending at Law about small matters, especially in case of scandal; and the using the Law at all, if there be not necessity. 4. That it is lawful in the sight of God, to make use of the Laws of men for defence or recovery of our Right, is evident from Gods appointment of a Magistracy to execute those Laws who, would be of no use, might we not have the benefit of the Laws; and because those Laws are sutable to the judicial Laws of Gods own appointment, Which the Children of Israel might make use of for the defence and recovery of their Right, and by the same Reason, Christians may do so too.

How ought we to endeavour the procurement and furtherance of the wealth, and outward Estate of others?

We ought to endeavour the procurement and preservation of the Wealth, and outward Estates of others, in general, by a publick spirit, in seeking the good of the Common-wealth above our own, and seeking others private Wealth and Advantages, as well as our own, Let no man seek his own (that is only) but every man anothers wealth.^r

What is our duty in reference unto such as are poor, and in want?

Our duty unto such as are poor and in want, is to relieve them according to our Ability, and their necessity, by lending and giving freely unto them for their supply and help, especially if they be of the houshold of Faith, If thy Brother be waxen poor, and fallen to decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him, yea, though he be a Stranger or Sojourner, that he may live with thee.^s As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the houshold of Faith.^t Distributing to the necessities of the Saints.^u Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.^v If a Brother or Sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say, depart in peace, be ye warmed, and filled, notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the Body, what doth it profit?^w Whoso hath this Worlds goods, and seeth his Brother hath need, and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him: How dwelleth the love of God in him?^x

What is our duty towards all in reference unto their Wealth and outward Estate?

Our duty towards all in reference unto their Wealth and outward Estate is, Kindness and Justice.

Wherein should our Kindness shew it self in reference unto the Wealth, and outward Estate of others?

Our kindness in reference unto the Wealth, and outward Estate of others, should shew it self in our readiness unto any Offices of Love, which may promote and further it. Let us do good unto all men.^y I commend unto you Phebe our Sister, that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you.^z

What is the Rule of Justice to be observed in reference unto the Wealth, and outward Estate of others?

The Rule of Justice to be observed in reference unto the Wealth, and outward Estate of others, is: To do unto others as it is fit, and we would that others should do unto us, Therefore all things whatsoever we would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.^aa

Wherein must we shew our Justice in our dealing with others?

We must shew our Justice in our dealings with others, 1. In our truth and sincerity in all our Concerns with others, He that walketh uprightly, and worketh Righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.^bb For our rejoycing is this, that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our conversation in the World.^cc 2. In our Faithfulness to fulfil all our lawful covenants and promises, and, to discharge whatever Trust is committed to us. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.^dd It is required in Stewards that a man be found faithful.^ee 3. In our buying and selling, giving a just price for such things as we buy, and taking a reasonable rate for such things as we sell, If thou sell ought unto thy Neighbour, or buyest ought of thy Neighbours hand, ye shall not oppress one another.^ff 4. In paying every one his due, Render therefore to all their dues, Tribute to whom Tribute is due, Custome to whom Custome: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.^gg Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not to thy Neighbour, go and come again, and to morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.^hh 5. In restoring the pledge which is left with us, or goods of others which are found by us, or any thing that is ill gotten by stealth, or fraud, He shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered unto him to keep, or the lost thing which he found.ⁱⁱ Hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the Debter his Pledge, &c.^jj If I have taken any thing from any man by false Accusation, I restore him fourfold.^kk