ly, nor make our profit by untrue and un- 0. Yea forsooth; for not only outward thefts CHAPT Of the Ninth O SECT The person and the pro rank and station, having fo preceding precepts, his goo possession not less valuable matrimonial honour, or his mandment guarded from the of false and malicious tongu The prohibition is couch shalt not bear false witne for the meaning of the phi is not to be understood as 1 testimony in a court of ju includes wilful perjury, a perty, liberty, character, creature, is, perhaps, the cious instance in which th violated, and as such is st divine law. The proper speech is here required-th ral restraint of the tongue der the heads of relative di P HAPTER X. Ninth Commandment. SECTION I. he property of every man, in every aving formed the subjects of the his good Name, or Reputation, a valuable to him than his riches, his or his life, is by the Ninth Com. From the attacks, public or private, us tongues. couched in general terms, "Thou e witness against thy neighbour;" the phrase to "bear false witness" od as restricted to the giving false of justice, although this sin, as it Fury, and unjustly risks the proacter, or even the life of a fellowos, the most flagrant and perniich the great principle of truth is h is specifically denounced in the roper regulation of the faculty of ed-that profitable use and geneongue which are also enforced un ative duty prescribed by the Fifth ished in the heart, but the words of the mouth, h give vent to thought, and which excite to on, must be placed under the most strict con1; and that power of speech by which all the rs of man are more or less affected, must be made ect to a special law, in order that the harmony, even the existence of society may be preserved. n the right employment or misuse of the tongue eed either the greatest benefits or the greatest -it is an instrument of conveying to us present eternal happiness, or of involving us in temporal ry and utter ruin. -that of bearing matters, to which the phra to bear true witness lies on cities are engaged in legal demands of the judge, that ing to justice and equity,in judgment tempered wi and representative of God they give full and patient tigation for which they ar a conscientious verdict, of persons; of plaintif have recourse to law, o cause to be good, and tha motives, and by unexceptio that they do their duty by their ability, and consult th longer, than as they can c the cause of piety and virt of witnesses, that, accor oath, they declare, when the whole truth, and no any concealment, sophis y the precept which forbids the bearing of false ess, according to the evangelical interpretation, isuse of speech in falsehood, deceit, or malice, e injury of our neighbour, is interdicted; and the er application of it, in truth and charity, to the of God and the benefit of man, is virtually end. As, according to the Apostle's image, from smallest spark a consuming and unextinguishable nay rapidly be kindled,-so by a little word ut■ without truth, sincerity, caution, or Christian an extensive and irreparable injury may be efd: every right affection of the heart connected and sustaining probity and justice is, therefore, Fred, and every sinful or frivolous propensity may give rise to gross falsehood, intentional epresentation, and thoughtless or offensive exsions, is not less forbidden than the crimes to h it leads. 2. To bear true witness, is the duty immediately The primary virtues to Charity, the combination keeping of the Ninth Col subordinate graces and s rily be added. The fun Truth in all intercourse l preservation of our own our neighbour: it oblige and to be careful that w the truth on all seasona the phrase refers. The obligation ss lies on all who in different capa■ in legal offices and litigations; it idge, that he pass sentence accordequity, according to the law, but pered with mercy-as the minister e of God himself; of the jury, that patient attention to the whole investhey are summoned, and pronounce erdict, without prejudice or respect plaintiffs and defendants, that they law, only when they believe their and that they pursue it upon honest exceptionable means;-ofadvocates, - duty by their clients to the best of consult their interest so long, and no ney can do so without prejudice to - and virtue, of truth and justice;t, according to the tenour of their e, when they are required, the truth, and nothing but the truth, without sophistry, or mental reservation. Ertues to be cultivated are Truth and bination of which is essential to the nth Commandment; -to these other es and salutary habits must necessaThe fundamental principle is that of course between man and man, in the ur own good name and the credit of obliges us to speak what we think, I that we think the truth; to affirm seasonable and beneficial occasions a necessity them;-by neither rejectin the valuable qualities and pleased God to bless us, n of possessing them, as if th own will, and depended assisted faculties. We ar upon to shew regard for credit, by avoiding and d and all prejudicial stori they may be founded in ings and infirmities, thr nesses and faults, and vices and his shame that of his own amendment, public justice;-by judg putting the best constructi which they will admit ;-b to hear and to believe fav countenance and disbelie ones ;-by rejoicing in th and lamenting any dispa by taking every opportu in general esteem, if hi stimated, or his less est ligious truth, and to propagate it by all cont methods; to adhere steadfastly to it, when we now it;-to use the gift of speech to the purposes hich it was bestowed, to the honour of God, by g forth his praises, and promoting the cause of ue religion-to the benefit of man, by affording piritual counsel and consolation, by exhorting to cousness and dissuading from evil, by not omitting it opportunity to contribute by good words to his oral benefit and happiness :-desire and study to erve our own and our neighbour's reputation; e first place, to use every laudable endeavour to essh and to confirm our own good name by striving serve the favourable opinion which others may be med to form of our character and qualifications,eeping the testimony of a good conscience,-by ing even the appearance of evil,-by doing well, order that we may be seen of men, and be reed with their praise, but that we may be aped of God; and if men, seeing our good deeds, Id on account of them glorify God and esteem us the work's sake, by being justly thankful that eap a double recompense, and by employing an encouragement to still greater exertion for the -e;-by disdaining all hypocritical semblance of ties which we do not possess, and all sinister as of seeking a reputation, which we do not merit; -being diffident of our abilities, and open to wise sel and friendly reproof;-by neither imputing to elves imperfections and sins of which we are not cious, and exaggerating the corruption to which now ourselves to be subject, nor denying those $3. The prohibition, |