such care, nor taken such pains for their eternal good, as I have done for their temporal. I have had more care, and taken more pains to provide food and raiment for them, than I have to admonish, instruct, teach, and catechize them; and if I have reproved or corrected them, it has been rather because they have offended myself, than because they have offended God: and truly I have neither prayed for them so often, nor so fervently as I ought. In a word, whatever I have done by way of discharging my duty to them, I fear me it has been rather out of natural affection, or to avoid the blame, and gain the good opinion of men, than out of conscience to the Lord's will and commandment.

And if I have at any time carried myself well, or done my duty either to magistrate or minister, it has rather been for fear, or praise of men, than for conscience' sake towards God; so far have I been from keeping this commandment perfectly, the Lord be merciful unto me.

Evan. Assure yourself neighbor Neophitus, this is not your case alone, but the case of every man that has stood in all these relations to others, as it seems you have done, which I am confident any man that truly knows his heart will confess; yea, and any woman that is well acquainted with her own heart, I am persuaded will confess that she has not had such a reverent esteem and opinion of her husband as she ought, nor so willingly yielded herself to be commanded, governed, and directed by him as she ought, nor loved him so truly, nor been so helpful to him any way as she ought, nor prayed, neither so often nor so fervently for him as she ought; and I fear most women do all that they do rather for fear of their husbands' frowns, or to gain their favor, than for conscience to the Lord's will and command.

And where is the magistrate that is so careful to establish in his dominions such good and wholesome laws as he ought, or to see them executed and put in practice as he ought? or that is so careful to uphold and maintain the truth of religion as he ought? or that is so careful to provide for the peace, safety, and welfare of his people, as he ought? or where is the magistrate that does not do what he does for some other cause, or to some other end,

rather than because God commands them, or to the end he may please him?

And where is the minister that does his duty in his place as he ought? I am sure for mine own part, I have neither so diligently nor faithfully preached the pure word of God as I ought, nor so fully nor truly expoun ded it, and applied it to my hearers as I ought; nor so poured out my soul to God for them in prayer as I ought; neither have I gone before them as a pattern of imitation in holiness of life and conversation as I ought; the Lord be merciful to me.

Neo. Well, sir, now I entreat you to proceed to speak of the sixth commandment as you have done of the rest.

COMMANDMENT VI.

Evan. Well then, I pray you consider, that in the sixth commandment there is a negative part expressed in these words, "Thou shalt do no murder." That is, thou shalt neither in heart, tongue, nor hand, impeach, or hurt either the life of thine own soul or body, or the life of any other man's soul or body. And an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt every way, by all good means, seek to preserve them both."

Neo. I pray you, sir, speak of these things in order, and first tell us what is forbidden in this commandment, as tending to murder our own souls.

Evan. That we may not be guilty of murdering our souls, in this commandment, is forbidden, all sinning our. selves, and giving occasion to others to sin against God, either by provoking them, 1 Kings 21: 25. or by counselling them, 2 Sam. 16: 21. or by evil example, Rom. 14: 15. Neo. And what is forbidden in this commandment, as tending to murder our own bodies?

Evan. That we may not be guilty of murdering our own bodies, in this commandment is forbidden, excessive worldly sorrow, 1 Cor. 7: 10. Prov. 18: 22. the neglect of meat, drink, apparel, recreation, physic, or any such refreshments, Eccl. 5: 19. and 6: 1. excessive eating and drinking, Prov. 23: 29, 30. Hos. 7: 5. and also laying violent hands upon ourselves, 1 Sam. 3: 14. Acts 16: 28.

Neo. Well, sir, now I pray you, tell us what is forbid den in this commandment as tending to murder others' bodies: and first, of the heart?

Evan. That we may not be guilty of murdering others in our hearts, in this commandment is forbidden all hasty, rash, and unjust anger, Matth. 5: 22. so also is malice, or hatred, Lev. 19: 19. John 3: 15. so also is envy, Psalm 37: 1. Prov. 24: 1. and also desire of revenge, Lev. 19: 18. Neo. And what is forbidden in respect of the tongue? Evan. That we may not be guilty of murdering others with our tongues, in this commandment is forbidden, all bitter and provoking terms, Eph. 4:31. so also are all wrangling and contentious speeches, Prov. 15: 1. so also is crying and unseemly lifting up of the voice, Eph. 4:31. so also is railing or scolding, Prov. 17: 19. 1 Pet. 3: 19. so also are all reviling and threatening speeches, Matth. 22. and so also are all mocking, scoffing, and deriding speeches, 2 Kings 2: 23. John 19: 3.

Neo. And what is forbidden in respect of the whole body, and more especially of the hand?

Evan. That we may not be guilty of murdering others with our hands, in respect of the other parts of the body, in this commandment is forbidden all disdainful, proud, and scornful carriage, Gen. 4: 5. Prov. 6: 17. so also is all provoking gestures, as nodding of the head, gnashing with the teeth and the like, Matth. 27: 39. Acts 7: 45. so also is all froward and churlish behavior, 1 Sam. 25: 17. so also is brawling and quarrelling, Tit. 3: 2. And more especially in respect of the hand is forbidden striking and wounding, Exod. 21: 18, 22. and all taking away of life, otherwise than in case of public justice, just war, and necessary defence, Exod. 21: 12. Gen. 9:6.

Neo. I pray you, sir, proceed to the affirmative part of this commandment, and first tell us what is required of us in respect of the life of our own souls?

Evan. In respect of the preservation of the life of our own souls is required, a careful avoiding of all sorts of sin, Prov. 11: 19. and so also is a careful use of all means of grace and spiritual life in our souls, 1 Pet. 2: 2.

Neo. And what is required of us in respect of the preservation of the life of others' souls?

Evan. In respect to the preservation of the life of the souls of others, is required, that according to our place and calling, and as present occasion is offered, we teach and instruct others to know God and his will, Gen. 18: 19. Deut. 6: 7. and also that we do our best to comfort others that are in distress of conscience, 1 Thess. 5: 14. and that we pray for the welfare and comfort of others' souls, Gen. 43: 29. and that we give others good examples by our christian-like walking, Matth. 5: 16.

Neo. And what is required of us in respect of the preservation of the life of our own bodies?

Evan. In respect of the preservation of the life of our own bodies, is required in this commandment, that we be careful to procure ourselves the use of wholesome food, clothing, and lodging and physic, when there is occasion, 1 Tim. 5: 23. Eccl. 10:17. 2 Kings 20: 7. And also that we use honest and lawful mirth, rejoicing in a holy manner, Prov. 17: 12. Eccl. 3: 4.

Neo. And what is required of us, in respect of the preservation of the life of the bodies of others?

Evan. In respect of the preservation of the lives of the bodies of others, in this commandment, is required a kind and loving disposition, with tenderness of heart towards them, Eph. 4: 31,32. so also is a patient bearing of wrongs and injuries, Col. 3:12,13. so also is a taking of all things in the best sense, 1 Cor.13:5,7. so also is the avoiding of all occasions of strife, and parting with our own right sometimes for peace' sake, Gen. 13: 8, 9. so also is all such looks and gestures of the body, as express meekness and kindness, Gen. 33: 10. so also is relieving the poor and needy, Job 31: 16. and visiting the sick, Matth. 25: 26. And now, neighbor Nomologista, I pray you tell me, whether you think you keep this commandment perfectly or no?

Nom. No, indeed, sir, I do not think I keep it perfectly, nor any man else, as you have expounded it.

Evan. Assure yourself, neighbor Nomologista, that I have expounded it according to the mind and will of God, revealed in his word, for you see I have proved all by scripture: I told you at the beginning, that the law is spiritual, and binds the very heart and soul to obedience; and that under one vice expressly forbidden, all of the

same kind, with all occasions and means leading thereunto, are likewise forbidden; and according to these rules have Lexpounded it. Wherefore, I pray you consider, that so many sins as you have committed, and so many times as you have carelessly neglected, or wilfully rejected the means of salvation, so many wounds you have given your own soul.

And so many times as you have given occasion to others to sin, so many wounds you have given to their souls. So many fits of worldly sorrow as you have had, and so many times as you have neglected the moderate use either of meat, drink, apparel, recreation or physic, when need required, so many wounds have you given to your own body.

And so many times as you have been either unadvisedly angry with any, or have borne any malice and hatred towards any, or have secretly in your heart wished evil unto any, or borne envy in your heart towards any, or desired to be revenged upon any, then have you been guilty of murdering them in your heart. If you have given any wrangling and contentious speeches, or have carried yourself frowardly and churlishly towards others, then have you been guilty of murdering them with your tongue. And if you have quarrelled with any man, or stricken or or wounded any man, then have you murdered them with your hand, though you have not taken away their lives. Thus have I endeavored to satisfy your desires concerning the sixth commandment.

Neo. I beseech you, sir, proceed to speak of the seventh commandment.

COMMANDMENT VII.

Evan. Well then, I pray you consider, that in the seventh commandment there is a negative expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." That is, thou shalt not think, will, speak, or do any thing whereby thine own, or the chastity of others may be hurt or hindered. And an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt every way, by all good means, preserve and keep the same."