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Q. 50. Which is the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment is,-Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. (o)

(0) Exod. xx. 3.

Q, 51. What is required in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, (P) and to worship and glorify him accordingly, (Q)

(P) 1. Chron. xxviii. 9.-And thou Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father. Deut. xxvi. 17.-Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God.

(Q) Psal. xxix. 2.-Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Mat. iv. 10.-Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Q. 52. What is forbidden in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment forbiddeth the denying (R) or not worshipping the true God as God, (s) and our God, (T) and the giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto him alone. (u) (R) Josh. xxiv. 27.—It shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

(s) Rom. i. 20, 21.-So that, they are without excuse, because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God.

(T) Isa. lix. 13.—And departing away from our God.

(u) Rom. i. 25.-Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

Q. 53, What are we especially taught by these words (before me) in the first Commandment?

A. These words (before me) in the first Commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God. (w)

(w) Psal. xliv. 20, 21.-If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god, shall not God search this out?

Q. 54. Which is the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment is,-Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments. (x)

(x) Exod. xx. 4, 5, 6.

Q. 55. What is required in the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment requireth the reeeiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his word. (r)

(r) Deut. xxxii. 46.-Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe, to do all the words of this law. Mat. xxviii. 20.-Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Deut. xii. 32.-What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Q. 56. What is forbidden in the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by Images, (z) or any other way not appointed in his word. (a)

(z) Deut. iv. 15, 16.-Take ye, therefore, good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire, lest ye corrupt yourselves, an i make you a graven image.

(A) Col. ii. 21, 22.-(Touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men.

Q. 57. What are the reasons annexed to the second Commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the second Commandment, are, God's sovereignty over us, (B) his property in us, (c) and the zeal he hath to his own worship. (D)

(B) Psal. xcv. 2, 3.-Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms; for the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

(c) Psal. xlv. 11.-He is thy Lord, and worship thou him.

(D) Exod. xxxiv. 14.-Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Q. 58. Which is the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment is,-Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (E)

(E) Exod. xx. 7.

Q. 59. What is required in the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, (F) titles, (G) attributes, (H) ordinances, (1) Word, (K) and works, (L)

(F) Mat. vi. 9.-Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Psal. cxi. 9.-Holy and reverend is his Name.

(G) Deut. xxviii. 58.-That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD. Psal. lxviii. 4.-Extol him that rideth upon the heavens, by his Name, JAH.

(H) Deut. xxxii. 3, 4.-Because I will publish the name of the Lord, ascribe ye greatness unto our God. A God of truth, and without iniquity. just an i right is he. (1) Eccles. v. 1.-Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.

(K) Psal. cxxxviii. 2. -I will worship towards thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

(L) Job xxxvi. 4.-Remember that thou magnify his work which men behold.

Q. 60. What is forbidden in the third Commandment?

A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning and abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known. (M)

(M) Mal. i. 6, 7.-If then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of 4osts unto you, O priests, that despise my name: And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye ffer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, the table of the Lord is contemptible.

Q. 61. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment? A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment, is, that however the breakers of this Commandinent may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. (N)

(N) Deut. xxviii. 58, 59.-If thou wilt not observe to do all the works of this law, -then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful Mal. ii. 2.-If ye will not hear, and if we will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.

Q. 62. Which is the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment is,-Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy: Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it. (0)

(0) Exod. xx. 8, 9, 10, 11.

Q. 63. What is required in the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God one whole day in seven, to be a Sabbath to himself. (P)

(P) Lev. xix. 30.-Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am the Lord. Deut. v. 12.-Keep the Sabbath-day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

Q. 64. Which day of the Seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

A. Before the Resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath, (Q) and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath. (R)

(Q) Exod. xxxi. 15-Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord; whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath-day, he shall surely be put to death.

(R) John xx. 19.-The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. Acts xx. 7.-And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them. 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2.-Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye: upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. Rev. i. 10.-I was in the spirit upon the Lord's day.

Q. 65. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, (s) and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, (T) except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. (U)

(s) Lev. xxili. 3.-Six days shall work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. Isa. lviii. 13.—If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.

(T) Psal. xcii. the Title.-A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath-day. Isa. lxvi. 23. From one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

(u) Mat. xi. 11, 12.-What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath-day, will he not lay hold on it and

lift it out? How much, then, is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is
lawful to do well on the Sabbath-days.

Q. 66. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless
performance of the duties required, (w) and the profaning the day
by idleness, (x) or doing that which is in itself sinful, (Y) or by
unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about worldly employments
and recreations. (z)

(w) Ezek. xxii. 26.-Her priests have violated my law, and profaned mine
holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the profane-
and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths.

(x) Acts xx. 9.-And there sat in a window a certain young man named
Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul was long preaching he
sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
(y) Ezek. xxiii. 38.-They have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have
profaned my Sabbaths.

(z) Neh. xiii. 15, 17.-In those days saw I in Judah, some treading wine-
presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine,
grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem
on the Sabbath-day, and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold
victuals. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What
evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath-day? Amos viii. 5
Saying, when will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath,
that we may set forth wheat?

Q. 67. What are the Reasons annexed to the fourth Command-
ment?

A. The Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment, are, God's
allowing us six days in the week for our own lawful employments, (A)
his challenging a special property in the seventh, (B) his own
example, (c) and his blessing the Sabbath-day. (D)

(A) Exod. xxxiv. 21.-Six days shalt thou work, but on the seventh day thou
shalt rest.

(B) Exod. XXXV. 2.-Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there
shall be to you an holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord.

(c) Exod. xxxi. 16, 17.-The Children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to
observe the Sabbath throughout their generations,-it is a sign between me and
the Children of Israel for ever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

(D) Gen. ii. 3.-And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.

Q. 68. Which is the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment is,-Honour thy Father and thy
Mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee. (E)

(E) Exod. xx. 12.

Q. 69. What is required in the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the honour,
and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several
places and relations, as superiors, (F) inferiors, (G) or equals. (H)

(F) 1 Pet. ii. 17.-Honour all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honour
the king. Rom. xiii. 1.-Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
(G) Eph. v. 21, 22.-Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph. vi.
1, 5, 9.-Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them
that are your masters according to the flesh. And, ye masters, do the same things
unto them. Col. iii. 19.-Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against
them.

(H) Rom. xii. 10.-Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love,
in honour preferring one another.

Q. 70. What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, (1) or
doing anything against, the honour and duty which belongeth to
every one in their several places and relations. (K)

(1) Deut. xxi. 18, 19, 20, 21.-If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son,
which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that,
when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his
father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his
city, and unto the gate of his place, and they shall say unto the elders of his city,
This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton
and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he
die.

Prov. xxx. 17.-The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his
mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
(K) Rom. xiii. 7, 8.-Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom
tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom
honour: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.

Q. 71. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment?
A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment is, a promise
of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory
and their own good, to all such as keep this Commandment. (L)

(L) Eph. vi. 2, 3.-Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first com-
mandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live
long on the earth.

Q. 72. Which is the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment is,-Thou shalt not Kill. (M)

(M) Exod. xx. 13.

Q. 73. What is required in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to
preserve our own life, (N) and the life of others. (0)

(N) Eph. v. 28, 29.-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.—
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth it and cherisheth it.
Job ii. 4.-Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

(0) Psal. lxxxii. 3, 4.-Defend the poor and fatherless-deliver the poor and
needy. Prov. xxiv. 11.-If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto
death, and those that are ready to be slain.

Q. 74. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment absolutely forbiddeth the taking away
of our own life, (P) or the life of our neighbour, unjustly, or what-
soever tendeth thereto. (a)

Acts xvi. 28.-Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm.
Gen. ix. 6.- Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God made he man.

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Q. 75. Which is the seventh Commandment ?

A. The seventh Commandment is, Thou shalt not commit
adultery. (R)

(R) Exod. xx. 14.

Q. 76. What is required in the seventh Commandment?

A. The seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our
own (s) and our neighbour's chastity, (T) in heart, (U) speech, (w)
and behaviour. (x)

H

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