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KING EDWARD THE SIXTH'S CATECHISM.

Master. How may that Commandment be kept, of bearing false witness?

Scholar. If we neither ourselves speak any false or vain lie; nor allow it in others, either by speech or silence, or by our present company. But we ought always to maintain truth, as place and time serveth.

NOWELL'S CATECHISM.

Master. What is the Ninth Commandment? Scholar. "Thou shalt bear no false witness against thy neighbour."

Mast. What is the meaning of this Commandment?

Scho, That we break not our oath or faith. And in this law we are forbidden, not only open and manifest perjuries, but also wholly all lying, slanders, backbitings, and evil speakings, whereby our neighbour may take loss or harm, or lose his good name and estimation. For one example containeth a general doctrine. Yea, and we ought neither ourselves at any time to speak any false or untrue thing, nor with our words, writing, silence, presence, or secret assent in holding our peace, once allow the same in other. But we ought always to be lovers and followers of simple

truth, ever to rest upon truth, to bring forth all things diligently into the light of truth, as place, time, or necessity shall require; finally, ever ready to take upon us the defence of truth, and by all means to maintain and uphold it.

Mast. For satisfying of this law is not enough to bridle our tongue and pen?

Scho. By the same reason that I have before said, when he forbiddeth evil speaking, he therewith also forbiddeth sinister suspicions and wrongful misdeemings. For this Lawmaker hath ever chief respect to the affections of the heart. This law therefore forbiddeth us to be inclined so much as to think evil of our neighbours, much less to defame them. Yea, it commandeth us to be of such gentle sincerity and indifferency toward them, as to endeavour, so far as truth may suffer, to think well of them, and to our uttermost power to preserve their estimation untouched.

Mast. What is the reason why the Lord in his law doth term the corrupt affections of the heart by the names of the most heinous offences? For he comprehendeth wrath and hatred under the name of manslaughter; all wantonness and unclean thoughts, under the name of adultery; and unjust coveting, under the name of theft.

Scho. Lest we (as the nature of man is) should wink at the ungodly affections of the heart, as things of small weight, therefore the Lord setteth them out by their true names, according as he measureth them by the rule of his own righteousness. For our Saviour, the best interpreter of

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his Father's meaning, doth so expound the same: Whoso," saith he, " is angry with his brother, he is a man-slayer; whoso lusteth after a woman, he hath committed adultery."

Mast. But whereas only vices and sins are forbidden in these Commandments, why dost thou, in expounding them, say that the contrary virtues are also commanded therein? For thou sayest that in forbidding adultery, charity is enjoined; and in forbidding manslaughter and theft, most entire good-will and liberality is commanded. And so of the rest.

Scho. Because the same our Saviour hath so expounded it, which setteth the sum of the law not in abstaining only from injury and evil doing, but in love and charity, like as the kingly Prophet had also before taught, saying, "Depart from evil and do good."

REFORMATIO LEGUM, &c.

Of Witnesses and their Evidence.

The Duty of Witnesses. Chap. 10.

The duty of a witness principally consists in this, that he should speak the truth concerning what is well known to him. We forbid, therefore, that any witnesses of whatever rank, condition, or name they may be, should assume to

themselves the office of judges, either by determining any thing respecting the crimes to which they are to give evidence, or even by inquiring into them, except at the command of the judge, who is bound to take cognizance of the cause which is before him under pain of contempt.

The Office of Judges in examining Witnesses. Chap. 55.

It belongs especially to the duty of a judge diligently to examine the witnesses with respect to all the circumstances of the affair, in order that whatever may have been but partly expressed, or by chance forgotten, by the advocate in drawing up the indictment, or in his interrogatories, may be supplied by him.

CHAPTER XI.

Of the Tenth Commandment.

SECTION I.

The four last-mentioned Commandments of the Second Table expressly prohibit all actions and words tending to injure our neighbour in any of those particulars in which he is most sensible of wrong,— by which the "royal law" of brotherly love and mutual beneficence is transgressed.

The Tenth Commandment relates, no less explicitly, to the thoughts and intents of the heart, in which evil deeds and pernicious speeches are engendered, nourished, and matured:-it is this, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

Under the former specific prohibitions, are, indeed, included, according to the mode of interpretation authorized by our divine Instructor, and ac cording to the spirit of his Gospel, all incipient vices, all propensities and affections which lead, either directly or indirectly, to a breach of the seve

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