honest man will stick to die to do it good, and against the prince, the father of the country itself, and parent of the commonweal; yea, and to imagine the overthrow, death, and destruction of them whom it is high treason once to forsake or shrink from? So outrageous a thing can in no wise be expressed with fit name.

Mast. Now rehearse the Sixth Commandment.

Scho. "Thou shalt not kill."

Mast. Shall we sufficiently fulfil this Law if we keep our hands clean from slaughter and blood?

Scho. God made his Law not only for outward works, but also and chiefly for the affections of the heart. For anger and hatred, and every desire to hurt, is, before God, adjudged manslaughter. Therefore these also God by this Law forbiddeth us.

Mast. Shall we then fully satisfy the Law if we hate no man?

Scho. God, in condemning hatred, requireth love towards all men, even our enemies; yea, so far as to wish health, safety, and all good things to them that wish us evil, and do bear us a hateful and cruel mind, and, as much as in us lieth, to do them good.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the Seventh Commandment.

SECTION I.

That part of the Divine Law which is contained in the Sixth Commandment, having provided for the preservation of human life, and for the personal se curity of every member of the commonwealth, in which all are, more or less, dependant on each other, and all are subject to the same general restrictions, varied only in their adaptation to the several states of individuals-the Precept immediately succeeding guards against any infringement of matrimonial peace and honour, of that conjugal union which the Almighty instituted in paradise, and promises to bless, if it be rightly used, with present and future happiness. It not only forbids, therefore, actual infidelity to the marriage-vow, but the indulgence of every unlawful appetite and passion, which is sinful in itself, and if not restrained may directly or indirectly lead to this most pernicious crime.

The Commandment is expressed negatively, "Thou shalt not commit adultery;" and thus, like all the other prohibitory laws, refers explicitly only to the

extreme case in the class of vices which it interdicts, leaving it to be concluded that the opposite and all subsidiary virtues are, by the same authority, enjoined. By adultery is to be understood infidelity in married persons, and the violation of matrimonial rights by those who are unmarried: all, therefore, are forbidden by the same Law to indulge in or to promote any species of impure inclinations, sensual conversation, or incontinent acts unchastity in thought, word, or deed-and all, whether married or unmarried, are required to keep their minds and bodies in temperance, soberness, and chastity.

§ 2. The duties and good qualities which are essentially connected with the preservation of chastity, as it regards both our neighbour and ourselves are, in the first place, the conjugal fidelity which is espeeially recommended and enforced as being directly opposed to the aggravated sin of adultery-pru dence in contracting, and integrity in the use of marriage, according to the Divine Law, and for the purposes ordained by God ;—a proper estimation of the sanctity of the rite, regarding it not only as a civil contract, but as a religious engagement entered into in the immediate presence, and under the declared sanction of the Almighty; and indissoluble for any other reason than adultery, or such natural necessity for separation as is admitted by the church and the civil magistrate ;-care that the union be legal and expedient, not within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity, not without consent of parents, if the parties be young,--or without full mutual consent, at the instigation of others, or for unworthy motives, not greatly unequal in age or worldly affairs,

not without due previous acquaintance, and study of mutual dispositions,-above all-not between those of different religious creeds, or when either party is notoriously immoral;-cordial and uniform performance of the reciprocal duties of husbands and wives, and attention to those affectionate endearments which are calculated to prevent alienation of heart, and personal dissipation, on either side;-endeavour to assimilate to the ideas, sentiments, habits, tastes, and pursuits of each other, when not inimical to virtue; and to accommodate differences, and yield even to failings and infirmities, which might disturb the peace and happiness of the marriage state.

In the next place are to be ranked the virtues de. manded equally of all-such are-of the mind, or thoughts, purity, innocency, modesty, diffidence, and discretion;-of speech-chaste and grave conversation, setting an example of Christian simplicity and holiness, and repressing in others every expression approaching to a libertine or wanton character;-to avoid all allusions and insinuations which may excite improper feelings, or produce a sense of shame ;to shun all unnecessary excitement and temptation:in deed, corporeal continence and chastity;-watchful and strict regulation of the eyes and external senses; the keeping of the body in subjection by such means as may be requisite.

§3. The sins and offences expressly or virtually forbidden by the Seventh Commandment are-adultery-the crime of unchastity, as it relates to married persons-by which not only a most solemn vow is broken, and the most intimate of connexions vio

lated, but much discord and evil in society are produced, the greatest injury and injustice done to many innocent persons, and the worst consequences entailed on families for many generations ;-contempt of the sacredness of the ordinance of matrimony, and the engaging in it for the mere gratification of ambition, covetousness, or lust, contrary to the dictates of prudence and religious principles, or in defiance of the laws of God or man;-neglect or ill-treatment with regard to matrimonial duties;-failure in the respect and attention which are due to a partner in the holy estate of matrimony;-want of proper precaution in forming either male or female friendships, and of watchfulness to avert temptation of every sort;-preference of others to a husband or wife-the indulgence of a false notion, that an unreasonable suspicion of infidelity on one side justifies infidelity or resentment on the other;-jealousy, or a readiness to listen to insinuations, and to harbour suspicious feelings, against those who have given no just cause to question their honour ;-polygamy, or the intermarrying with another while the husband or wife is still alive-which was permitted by God in the early ages of the world, and under the Mosaic Law, in order that mankind might be increased more rapidly, and in condescension to their weakness; but is utterly denounced by the Christian code, and is in all respects considered as adulterous intercourse; -illegal separation, or divorce effected by any other than competent authority, and for sufficient cause.

Those vices, the guilt of which is not confined to the married state,-like the virtues to be cultivated under sanction of this Commandment,