Question 78

What is more generally forbidden in this ninth Commandment?

In this ninth Commandment is more generally forbidden two things. 1. Whatsoever is prejudical to truth. 2. Whatsoever is injurious to our own or our Neighbours good name.

What is forbidden in this ninth Commandment as prejudical unto truth?

The ninth Commandment forbiddeth as prejudical to truth all falshood and lying whatsoever, whether it be lyes to make mischief, as false accusations of others: or lyes to make gain, as falsifying of our word, and over-reaching our neighbour for advantage to our selves; or lyes to make wonder, as in the inventing of strange and false news: or lyes to make sport, as in lying jests; or lyes to make excuse, as in all lyes for the covering of our own or others faults, Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.^a All lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.^b

What doth the ninth Commandment forbid as injurious unto our own good name?

The ninth Commandment forbiddeth as injurious unto our own good name. 1. The doing any thing which is justly of evil report, and may prejudice our reputation amongst men, such as committing adultery, theft, fraud, and any kind of baseness and wickedness, which is not only dishonourable unto God, but dishonourable unto our selves. Whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding: A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away.^c Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear; Now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me, I will honour, and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed.^d 2. All boasting and vainglory, and that whether we boast of a false gift, or those gifts which we really have, whereby we really debase, and render our selves contemptable in the eyes of God and of the more judicious Christians. Charity vaunteth not it self, is not puffed up, behaveth not it self unseemly.^e Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift, is like clouds and wind without rain.^f Whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.^g 3. Bearing false witness against our selves in accusing our selves of that wherein we are not guilty, and by denying the gifts and graces which God hath given us endeavouring to lessen our esteem, that hereby we might be numbred amongst those from whom we are through grace redeemed. Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility.^h 4. Unnecessary and imprudent discovery of our real infirmities unto the scorn of the wicked and ungodly.

What doth the ninth Commandment forbid as injurious unto the good name of our Neighbour?

The ninth Commandment doth forbid as injurious unto the good name of our Neighbour. 1. Perjury or false-swearing and false accusations, or any wayes bearing false-witness our selves or suborning others to bear false-witness against our Neighbour. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his Neighbour, and love no false Oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.ⁱ This know also, that in the last dayes perillous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.^j False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.^k A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape.^l And they brought him to the councel, and set up false-witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous, words, &c.^m 2. Judging, evil speaking, and rash censuring of our neighbours for doubtful or smaller matters especially when we are guilty of the same or of greater faults our selves. And they said, no doubt this man is a murtherer, whom though he hath escaped the Sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.ⁿ Judge not, that ye be not judged: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye.^o Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thy self: for thou that judgest, doest the same things.^p Speak not evil one of another, Brethren. He that speaketh evil of his Brother, and judgeth his Brother, speaking evil of the Law, and judgeth the Law: but if thou judge the Law, thou art not a doer of the Law, but a judge.^q 3. Scoffing, deriding, reviling and reproachful speeches unto the face of our Neighbours, and all backbiting of them which may wound or detract from their due reputation, Thou givest thy Mouth to evil, thy Tongue frameth deceit; Thou sittest and speakest against thy Brother, and slanderest thine own Mothers son,^r Who shall dwell in thy Holy Hill? He that back-biteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his Neighbour,^s Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among thy People.^t And withall they learn to be idle, wandring about from House to House: and not onely idle, but tatlers also, speaking things which they ought not.^u Lest there be debates, envyings, back-bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.^v 5. Raising or taking up evil reports against our Neighbour without good proof, Thou shalt not raise a false report,^w Nor taketh up a reproach against his Neighbour,^x If a Ruler hearken to lyes, all his servants are wicked.^y