The Second Table, and Sin’s Desert

The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as ourselves,¹ and to do to others what we would have them to do to us.²

The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.¹

By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents,¹ but all superiors in age² and gifts;³ and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family,⁴ church,⁵ or commonwealth.⁶

Superiors are styled Father and Mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations;¹ and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents.²

The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals.¹

The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart,¹ word,² and behavior;³ prayer and thanksgiving for them;⁴ imitation of their virtues and graces;⁵ willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels;⁶ due submission to their corrections;⁷ fidelity to,⁸ defense⁹ and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places;¹⁰ bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be an honor to them and to their government.¹¹

The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them;¹ envying at,² contempt of,³ and rebellion⁴ against, their persons⁵ and places,⁶ in their lawful counsels,⁷ commands, and corrections;⁸ cursing, mocking,⁹ and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonor to them and their government.¹⁰

It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love,¹ pray for,² and bless their inferiors;³ to instruct,⁴ counsel, and admonish them;⁵ countenancing,⁶ commending,⁷ and rewarding such as do well;⁸ and discountenancing,⁹ reproving, and chastising such as do ill;¹⁰ protecting,¹¹ and providing for them all things necessary for soul¹² and body:¹³ and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God,¹⁴ honor to themselves,¹⁵ and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.¹⁶

The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them,¹ an inordinate seeking of themselves,² their own glory,³ ease, profit, or pleasure;⁴ commanding things unlawful,⁵ or not in the power of inferiors to perform;⁶ counseling,⁷ encouraging,⁸ or favoring them in that which is evil;⁹ dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good;¹⁰ correcting them unduly;¹¹ careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger;¹² provoking them to wrath;¹³ or any way dishonoring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behavior.¹⁴

The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other,¹ in giving honor to go one before another;² and to rejoice in each other’s gifts and advancement, as their own.³

The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required,¹ the undervaluing of the worth,² envying the gifts,³ grieving at the advancement of prosperity one of another;⁴ and usurping preeminence one over another.⁵

The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,¹ is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment.²

The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.¹

The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves¹ and others² by resisting all thoughts and purposes,³ subduing all passions,⁴ and avoiding all occasions,⁵ temptations,⁶ and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any;⁷ by just defense thereof against violence,⁸ patient bearing of the hand of God,⁹ quietness of mind,¹⁰ cheerfulness of spirit;¹¹ a sober use of meat,¹² drink,¹³ physic,¹⁴ sleep,¹⁵ labor,¹⁶ and recreations;¹⁷ by charitable thoughts,¹⁸ love,¹⁹ compassion,²⁰ meekness, gentleness, kindness;²¹ peaceable,²² mild and courteous speeches and behavior;²³ forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil;²⁴ comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.²⁵

The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves,¹ or of others,² except in case of public justice,³ lawful war,⁴ or necessary defense;⁵ the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life;⁶ sinful anger,⁷ hatred,⁸ envy,⁹ desire of revenge;¹⁰ all excessive passions,¹¹ distracting cares;¹² immoderate use of meat, drink,¹³ labor,¹⁴ and recreations;¹⁵ provoking words,¹⁶ oppression,¹⁷ quarreling,¹⁸ striking, wounding,¹⁹ and: Whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.²⁰

The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.¹

The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections,¹ words,² and behavior;³ and the preservation of it in ourselves and others;⁴ watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses;⁵ temperance,⁶ keeping of chaste company,⁷ modesty in apparel;⁸ marriage by those that have not the gift of continency,⁹ conjugal love,¹⁰ and cohabitation;¹¹ diligent labor in our callings;¹² shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.¹³

The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,¹ are, adultery, fornication,² rape, incest,³ sodomy, and all unnatural lusts;⁴ all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections;⁵ all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto;⁶ wanton looks,⁷ impudent or light behavior, immodest apparel;⁸ prohibiting of lawful,⁹ and dispensing with unlawful marriages;¹⁰ allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them;¹¹ entangling vows of single life,¹² undue delay of marriage;¹³ having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;¹⁴ unjust divorce,¹⁵ or desertion;¹⁶ idleness, gluttony, drunkenness,¹⁷ unchaste company;¹⁸ lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays;¹⁹ and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.²⁰

The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.¹

The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man;¹ rendering to everyone his due;² restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof;³ giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others;⁴ moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods;⁵ a provident care and study to get,⁶ keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition;⁷ a lawful calling,⁸ and diligence in it;⁹ frugality;¹⁰ avoiding unnecessary lawsuits¹¹ and suretyship, or other like engagements;¹² and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.¹³

The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,¹ are, theft,² robbery,³ man-stealing,⁴ and receiving anything that is stolen;⁵ fraudulent dealing,⁶ false weights and measures,⁷ removing land marks,⁸ injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and man,⁹ or in matters of trust;¹⁰ oppression,¹¹ extortion,¹² usury,¹³ bribery,¹⁴ vexatious lawsuits,¹⁵ unjust enclosures and depopulations;¹⁶ engrossing commodities to enhance the price;¹⁷ unlawful callings,¹⁸ and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves;¹⁹ covetousness;²⁰ inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods;²¹ distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them;²² envying at the prosperity of others;²³ as likewise idleness,²⁴ prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate,²⁵ and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us.²⁶

The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.¹

The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man,¹ and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own;² appearing and standing for the truth;³ and from the heart,⁴ sincerely,⁵ freely,⁶ clearly,⁷ and fully,⁸ speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice,⁹ and in all other things whatsoever;¹⁰ a charitable esteem of our neighbors;¹¹ loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name;¹² sorrowing for,¹³ and covering of their infirmities;¹⁴ freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces,¹⁵ defending their innocency;¹⁶ a ready receiving of a good report,¹⁷ and unwillingness to admit of an evil report,¹⁸ concerning them; discouraging talebearers,¹⁹ flatterers,²⁰ and slanderers;²¹ love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth;²² keeping of lawful promises;²³ studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.²⁴

The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own,¹ especially in public judicature;² giving false evidence,³ suborning false witnesses,⁴ wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth;⁵ passing unjust sentence,⁶ calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked;⁷ forgery,⁸ concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause,⁹ and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves,¹⁰ or complaint to others;¹¹ speaking the truth unseasonably,¹² or maliciously to a wrong end,¹³ or perverting it to a wrong meaning,¹⁴ or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;¹⁵ speaking untruth,¹⁶ lying,¹⁷ slandering,¹⁸ backbiting,¹⁹ detracting,²⁰ tale bearing,²¹ whispering,²² scoffing,²³ reviling,²⁴ rash,²⁵ harsh,²⁶ and partial censuring;²⁷ misconstructing intentions, words, and actions;²⁸ flattering,²⁹ vainglorious boasting,³⁰ thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others;³¹ denying the gifts and graces of God;³² aggravating smaller faults;³³ hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;³⁴ unnecessary discovering of infirmities;³⁵ raising false rumors,³⁶ receiving and countenancing evil reports,³⁷ and stopping our ears against just defense;³⁸ evil suspicion;³⁹ envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any,⁴⁰ endeavoring or desiring to impair it,⁴¹ rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy;⁴² scornful contempt,⁴³ fond admiration;⁴⁴ breach of lawful promises;⁴⁵ neglecting such things as are of good report,⁴⁶ and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.⁴⁷

The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.¹

The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition,¹ and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbor, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his.²

The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate;¹ envying² and grieving at the good of our neighbor,³ together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.⁴

No man is able, either of himself,¹ or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God;² but doth daily break them in thought,³ word, and deed.⁴

All transgressions of the law of God are not equally heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.¹

Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the persons offending:¹ if they be of riper age,² greater experience or grace,³ eminent for profession,⁴ gifts,⁵ place,⁶ office,⁷ guides to others,⁸ and whose example is likely to be followed by others.⁹ 2. From the parties offended:¹⁰ if immediately against God,¹¹ his attributes,¹² and worship;¹³ against Christ, and his grace;¹⁴ the Holy Spirit,¹⁵ his witness,¹⁶ and workings;¹⁷ against superiors, men of eminency,¹⁸ and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto;¹⁹ against any of the saints,²⁰ particularly weak brethren,²¹ the souls of them, or any other,²² and the common good of all or many.²³ 3. From the nature and quality of the offense:²⁴ if it be against the express letter of the law,²⁵ break many commandments, contain in it many sins:²⁶ if not only conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions,²⁷ scandalize others,²⁸ and admit of no reparation:²⁹ if against means,³⁰ mercies,³¹ judgments,³² light of nature,³³ conviction of conscience,³⁴ public or private admonition,³⁵ censures of the church,³⁶ civil punishments;³⁷ and our prayers, purposes, promises,³⁸ vows,³⁹ covenants,⁴⁰ and engagements to God or men:⁴¹ if done deliberately,⁴² wilfully,⁴³ presumptuously,⁴⁴ impudently,⁴⁵ boastingly,⁴⁶ maliciously,⁴⁷ frequently,⁴⁸ obstinately,⁴⁹ with delight,⁵⁰ continuance,⁵¹ or relapsing after repentance.⁵² 4. From circumstances of time⁵³ and place:⁵⁴ if on the Lord’s day,⁵⁵ or other times of divine worship;⁵⁶ or immediately before⁵⁷ or after these,⁵⁸ or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages:⁵⁹ if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled.⁶⁰

Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty,¹ goodness,² and holiness of God,³ and against his righteous law,⁴ deserveth his wrath and curse,⁵ both in this life,⁶ and that which is to come;⁷ and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.⁸