A Body of Practical Divinity

2. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife. This Commandment is a Bridle to check the Inordinacy of Brutish Lusts. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife. It was the Devil that sowed another Man's Ground, Matth. 13.25. But how is the Hedge of this Commandment trodden down in our Times! There be many who do more than covet their Neighbours Wives, they take them. Deut. 27.20. Cursed be he that lies with his Fathers Wife, and all the People shall say Amen. If it were to be proclaimed, Cursed be he that lies with his Neighbours Wife, and all that were guilty should say Amen, how many would curse themselves!

3. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Man-servant, nor his Maid-servant. Servants, when Faithful, are a Treasure. What a true and trusty Servant had Abraham, he was his Right-hand! How prudent and faithful was he in the matter he was entrusted with, in getting a Wife for his Masters Son! Gen. 24.9. And surely, it would have gone near to Abraham to have had any one enticed away his Servant from him. But this Sin of coveting Servants is common. If one hath a better Servant, others will be inveigling and laying Baits for him, and endeavour to draw him away from his Master. This is a Sin against the Tenth Commandment. To steal away another's Servant by Enticement, is no better than Thievery.

3. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Man-servant, nor his Maid-servant. Servants, when Faithful, are a Treasure. What a true and trusty Servant had Abraham, he was his Right-hand! How prudent and faithful was he in the matter he was entrusted with, in getting a Wife for his Masters Son! Gen. 24.9. And surely, it would have gone near to Abraham to have had any one enticed away his Servant from him. But this Sin of coveting Servants is common. If one hath a better Servant, others will be inveigling and laying Baits for him, and endeavour to draw him away from his Master. This is a Sin against the Tenth Commandment. To steal away anothers Servant by Enticement, is no better than Thievery.