also keeping back from them their due wages. James 4. Behold, the hire of the laborers which have reaped' down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.' 5. Neglect of their fouls, and of family-worfhip with them. Jer. x. 15. • Pour out thy fury upon the families that call not upon thy name.'

Q. 8. What are the fins of people against their minifters?! A. The fins of people against their minifters, are, 1, Hatred and perfecution of them, either with the hand or tongue, making flanders, or taking them up without proof, and no wife efteeming and honoring of them as minifters of Christ, and ambassadors fent from heaven unto them. 3 John 10. 'I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words.' 2 Corx. 10. His letters (fay they) are weighty and powerful, but his bodily prefence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Luke x. 16. He that defpifeth you, defpifeth me.' 2. Forbearing to hear them through an itching ear, flightness of fpirit in hearing, and anywife grieving of them by their unbelief, hardness of heart, unfruitfulness, divifions among themselves, unftedfaftnefs and unfuitable converfation unto the gospel which their ministers do preach among them. 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4. For the time

ears

will come, when they will not endure found doctrine; but after their own lufts fhall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears and they fhall turn away their from the truth, and fhall be turned unto fables' Mark iii. 5. He looked about with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.' 2 Cor. ii. 4. Qut of much affliction, and anguifh of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears.' 3. Reftraining prayer for them, denial of required fubmiffion and obedience unto them, withholding due maintenance from them, or anywife neglecting the duties required of people to their minifters.

Q. 9. What are the fans of miniflers against their people? A. The fins of ministers against their people, are, 1. Want of fincere and tender love to their fouls, feeking more to receive earthly gain from them, than to do any good unto them. 2 Cor. xii. 14. I feek not yours, but you.' Ifaiah lvi. 10. • His watchmen are blind: they are greedy dogs which can never have enough: they

look every one for his gain from his quarter.' 2. Negli gence in their prayers and studies for them, and in their preaching the word to them. 1 Tim. iv. 13, 14. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; neg lect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophefy, with the laying on of the hands of the prefbytery. 3. Unwatchfulness over them, unprofitableness in their discourse among them, unfuitableness of converfation unto their doctrine and profeffion, unteaching that by their lives, which they teach in their pulpits. 4. Corrupting the word they preach, and infecting the minds of their people with erroneous opinions. 2 Cor ii. 17. are not as many, which corrupt the word of God.' Q. 10. What are the fins of fubje&ts against their magiftrates ?

We

A. The fins of fubjects against their magiftrates, are, 1. Rebellion against them, and any treasonable seeking their overthrow and ruin. Prov. xvii. 11. An evil mant feeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel meffenger fhall be fent against him.' 2. Unsubjection and disobedience unto their good and righteous laws. Rom. xii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but also for confcience fake.' 3. Neglecting of prayer for them, and instead thereof, fpeaking evil of them. 2 Peter ii. 10. Prefumptuous are they, felf-willed, they are not afraid to fpeak evil of dignities.' 4. Reviling fpeeches unto them, and irreverent behavior before them. Exod. xxii. 28. Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curfe the ruler of thy people.' 2 Sam. xxiv. 20. And Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king.' 5. Denial of their juft dues, and anywife defrauding of them. Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man any thing.'

Q. 11. What are the fins of magiftrates against their fubjects ?

A. The fins of magistrates against their fubjects, are, 1. Making laws which are contrary unto the laws of God. Dan. vi. 12. Haft thou not figned a decree, that every man that fhall afk a petition of any god or man within thirty days, fave of thee, O king, fhall be caft into the den of lions?' 2. Oppreffion, tyranny, and cruelty in their government. Prov. xxviii. 15, 16. As a roaring lion, and

a ranging bear, fo is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great op preffor: but he that hateth covetoufnefs fhall prolong his days 3. Seeking their own intereft, rather than the intereft of the commonwealth. 4. Discountenance and difcouragement of the good and righteous, together with encouragement and preferment of the wicked and unrighteous. 5. Unfubjection to the laws of God themselves, and, by their evil example, encouraging others to do the like. Pfal. xii. 8. The wicked walk on every fide, when the vilest men are exalted.'

Q. 12. What are the fins of the younger and weaker in gifts and graces, against them that are aged and stronger?

A. The fins of the younger and weaker in gifts and graces, against them which are aged and stronger, are, 1. A proud conceitednefs of wisdom and worth in themfelves, beyond their elders and betters, together with a defpifing of them in their hearts, and judging of them for making ufe of their known liberty. 1 Tim. iii. 6. Not a novice, left being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.' Rom. xiv. 3. Let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth.' 2. A rude and indecent taking place of them, or anywife irreverent car riage towards them. Luke xiv. 8, 9. Sit not down in the highest room, left a more honorable man than thou be bidden, and he fay, Give this man place.' 3. A mafterly fpirit and ftiff will, which will not yield to their wife counfels and advice for their good.

Q. 13. What are the fins of the aged and fironger in gifts and graces, against the younger and weaker?

A. The fins of the aged and stronger in gifts and graces against the younger and weaker, are, 1. Giving them evil examples of unholinefs, covetoufnefs, unrighteoufnefs, intemperance, or any wickednefs. 2. Contemptuous carriage towards them,or not giving due encouragement unto good beginnings. 3. Not bearing with their weaknefs, and defpifing of them because of their infirmities. Rom. xv. 1. We then, that are ftrong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' Rom. xiv. 3. Let not him that eateth, defpife him that eateth not.' Q14. What are the fins of equals one against another?

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A. The fins of equals one against another, are, 1. Ha tred, envy, malice, inordinate anger towards, and evilfpeaking, either to, or of one another, and any way injuring, defaming and dishonoring each other. Eph. iv. 31, 32. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another.' 2. Inftead of provoking one another unto love and good works, enticing one another, or yielding unto one another's enticements unto fin. Heb. x. 24. 'Let us confider one another, to provoke unto love and good works.' Prov. i. 10. My fon, if finners entice thee, confent thou not.' 3. A private, contracted, felfifh fpirit, which keepeth them from any cordial and diligent feeking of one another's good, unless their own private carnal interest be promoted thereby. 1 Cor. x. 24. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.'

LXVI. Queft. What is the reafon annexed to the fifth

commandment?

Anfw. The reafon annexed to the fifth commandment, is, a promise of long life and profperity (as far as it shall ferve for God's glory and their own good) to all fuch as keep this commandment.

Q.1. What is the promife itself, which is annexed for the encouragement of thofe that keep this fifth commandment ?

A. The promise itself, which is annexed for the encour agement of them that keep this fifth commandment, is the promife of long life; and this the first particular commandment with promife. "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Eph. vi. 2. Honor thy fa ther and thy mother (which is the firft commandment with promife.')

Q. 2. How is the fifth commandment the first commandment with promife, when there is a promife of God's fhewing mercy unto thousands, annexed unto the fecond commandment?

A. The promise of God's fhewing mercy unto thoufands, annexed unto the fecond commandment, hath not respect unto that commandment only, but is made to those that love God; and with that, keep all his other commandments; whereas, this promife of long life is par

ticularly applied unto the keepers of this fifth command

ment.

Q. 3. What is included in this promise of long life?

A. This promife of long life doth include, not only the continuance of life for a long time, which may be fo accompanied with miferies, that death may be more defirable; but also it includeth the bleffing and profperity of life. Eph. vi. 2, 3. Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayeft live long on the earth.'

Q4. Do all thofe then that honor their parents, live long, and profper upon the earth?

A. i. Many that honor their parents, and are faithful in all relative duties, do now attain long life and prosperity in the world, and that by virtue of this promise; and thofe, that do otherwife, are many of them cut off in their youth, or in the midst of their days, and bring the curfe of poverty and want upon themselves while they live: yet withal we may obferve, that temporal promiles and judgments were fulfilled more in the letter formerly in the old teftament times, than in the latter gospel days, wherein they are often exchanged into fpiritual. 2. This promife is to be understood with this exception, fo far as it may ferve for God's glory, and the real good of all thofe that keep this commandment; and oftentimes God is glorified, and they are benefitted, when they are exercifed with affliction, and God fees it beft to take fome of them home in their youth, or strength of their years, te himfelf, to hide them from the miteries that befal them that furvive, and inftead of long life on earth, he giveth them eternal life in heaven. Pfal. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy ftat utes.' Ifaiah lvii. 1. The righteous perifheth, and merciful men are taken away from the evil to come.' John ii. 25. This is the promise he hath promised us, even, eternal life..

LXVII. Queft. Which is the fixth commandment ?

Anfu. The fixth commandment is, "Thou shalt not kill

LXVIII. Queft. What is required in the fixth command.