1THE ninth Commandment is expressed in these words: Thou shalt not bear, or utter a false, or vain testimony against thy neighbour. Wherein is commanded, that we should think and speak concerning our neighbours, both that which is truth, and also that which is charitable, tendering his and our own credit and good name; and avoiding all speech which is false and uncharitable, especially such as tendeth to the reproach and defamation of our selves and our neighbours. And consequently, here is commanded the preservation of truth amongst men, and of our own and neighbours fame and good name. Now this truth is an agreement and conformity of our speech with our mind, and of our mind, with the truth of the things themselves; the which in all our speech is religiously to be observed, and all falsehood in speech to be avoided, whether we speak that which is false, or the truth falsely, and with an intent to deceive, whether it be in jest, or in earnest, either to help our neighbour with an officious lye, or to hurt him with a pernicious lie. The manner how the truth is to be professed, is first, that we do it freely and charitably, simply and with discretion; avoiding in the excess, undiscreete and unseasonable profession of the truth, to the unnecessary hurt or danger of our selves or others; and in the defect, the denying or betraying of the truth, out of fear or any sinister respect; as also a double and deceitful tongue. The means of this truth are to be carefully used of us, which are, First, to know it; to which end we must be lovers of it, and docible and teachable in learning and conceiving of it, and not voluntarily affect ignorance, nor embrace untruth out of vain credulity. Secondly, we must preserve and maintain it, using to this end constancy and steadfastness in the truth, and shunning unconstancy and pertinacie in error. Thirdly, profitable speech tending to Gods glory and our neighbours good, both spiritual, as tending to his edification, and temporal, serving for his honest delight and profit. Fourthly, that we use the means of entertaining profitable speech, as affability and pleasing communication, and the remedy against unprofitable speech, which is taciturnity and seasonable silence. And contrariwise, we are to avoid all speech which is either vain or hurtful, tending to Gods dishonour and our neighbours hurt;
1THE ninth Commandement is expressed in these words: Thou shalt not beare, or vtter a false, or vaine testimony against thy neighbour. Wherein is commanded, that wee should thinke and speake concerning our neighbours, both that which is truth, and also that which is charitable, tendring his and our owne credit and good name; and auoiding all speech which is false and vncharitable, especially such as tendeth to the reproch and diffamation of our selues and our neighbours. And consequently, here is commanded the preseruation of truth amongst men, and of our owne and neighbours fame and good name. Now this truth is an agreement and conformity of our speech with our minde, and of our minde, with the truth of the things themselues; the which in all our speech is religiously to be obserued, and all falshood in speech to be auoided, whether we speake that which is false, or the truth falsly, and with an intent to deceiue, whether it be in iest, or in earnest, either to helpe our neighbour with an officious lye, or to hurt him with a pernicious lie. The manner how the truth is to be professed, is first, that we doe it freely and charitably, simply and with discretion; auoiding in the excesse, vndiscreete and vnseasonable profession of the truth, to the vnnecessary hurt or danger of our selues or others; and in the defect, the denying or betraying of the truth, out of feare or any sinister respect; as also a double and deceitfull tongue. The meanes of this truth are to be carefully vsed of vs, which are, First, to know it; to which end we must be louers of it, and docible and teachable in learning and conceiuing of it, and not voluntarily affect ignorance, nor imbrace vntruth out of vaine credulity. Secondly, we must preserue and maintaine it, vsing to this end constancie and stedfastnesse in the truth, and shunning vnconstancy and pertinacie in errour. Thirdly, profitable speech tending to Gods glory and our neighbours good, both spirituall, as tending to his edification, and temporall, seruing for his honest delight and profit. Fourthly, that wee vse the meanes of entertaining profitable speech, as affability and pleasing communication, and the remedy against vnprofitable speech, which is taciturnity and seasonable silence. And contrarywise, we are to auoide all speech which is either vaine or hurtfull, tending to Gods dishonour and our neighbours hurt;
- 11 Cor. 13. 6. Ephe. 4. 15. Pro 12. 19. Ephes. 4 25. Zach. 8. 16. Levit. 19. 11. Col. 3. 9. Ehes. 4. 25. Pro. 6. 17. & 12 22. & 19. 5. Psal. 5. 6. & 15. 2. Apoc. 21▪ 8. Dan. 3. 16. Act. 4. 8, 10, 13. Matth. 10. 16. Mat. 26. 70. 72 2. Tim 4. 16. Psal. 55. 22. & 15. 2. & 12. 2. & •09 2. Zeph. 3. 13. Pro 23. 23. Act. 17. 11. Ephe. 4. 14. 2. Pet. 3. 16. Ephes. 5. 4. & 4. 29. Col 4. 6.
