A Body of Practical Divinity

(1.) We must not injure another in his Name. A good Name is a precious Balsam; it is a great Cruelty to murder a Man in his Name. We injure others in their Name. When we calumniate and slander them. 'Twas David's Complaint, Psal. 35.11. They laid to my Charge things which I knew not. The Primitive Christians were traduced for Incest and killing their Children, as Tertul. Dicimur infanticidii, incestus rei. This is to behead others in their good Name; this is an irreparable Injury: No Physician can heal the Wounds of the Tongue.

(1.) We must not injure another in his Name. A good Name is a precious Balsom; it is a great Cruelty to murder a Man in his Name. We injure others in their Name. When we calumniate and slander them. 'Twas David's Complaint, Psal. 35.11. They laid to my Charge things which I knew not. The Primitive Christians were traduced for Incest and killing their Children, as Tertul. Dicimur infanticidii, incestus rei. This is to behead others in their good Name; this is an irreparable Injury: No Physician can heal the Wounds of the Tongue.

(2.) We must not injure another in his Body. The Life is the most precious thing, and God hath set this Commandment as a Fence about it to preserve it, Thou shalt not kill. God made a Statute which was never to this Day repealed. Gen. 9.6. Who so sheddeth Man's Blood, by Man shall his Blood be shed. In the Old Law had a Man killed another unawares, he might take Sanctuary; but if he had killed him willingly, tho he did fly to the Sanctuary, the Holiness of the Place was not to defend him. Exod. 21.14. If a Man come presumptuously upon his Neighbour to slay him with Guile, thou shalt take him from my Altar that he may die. Now in this Commandment, Thou shalt do no Murder, all those Sins are forbidden which lead to it, and are the occasions of it. As,