The Eighth Commandment Expounded.
Q. WHAT is the eighth commandment?
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q. What is prohibited by this precept?
A. All false testimonials, rash judgment, and lies.
A. All false testimonials, rash judgment, and lies.
Q. Why is false testimony so great a sin?
A. Because it is against the justice of God, and our neighbour.
A. Because it is against the justice of God, and our neighbour.
Q. How prove you that corrupt judgment is a great sin?
A. Out of Isa. v. 22, 23, 24. "Wo be to you that call evil good, that justify the impious man for bribes and rob the just man of his justice; for as fire devoureth the stubble, so shall the root of these men be ashes."
A. Out of Isa. v. 22, 23, 24. "Wo be to you that call evil good, that justify the impious man for bribes and rob the just man of his justice; for as fire devoureth the stubble, so shall the root of these men be ashes."
Q. Why is rash judgment a great sin?
A. Because it robs God of his judgment, and our neighbour of his good name: "Do not ye judge, that you be not judged." Matt. vii. 1.
A. Because it robs God of his judgment, and our neighbour of his good name: "Do not ye judge, that you be not judged." Matt. vii. 1.
Q. Why is it a sin to lie?
A. Because "the devil is a liar, and the father of all lies." John viii. 44.
A. Because "the devil is a liar, and the father of all lies." John viii. 44.
Q. What else is prohibited by the precept?
A. The crimes of whispering, flattery, detraction.
A. The crimes of whispering, flattery, detraction.
Q. What is whispering?
A. It is to break friendship between others, by speaking ill of one unto the other behind his back.
A. It is to break friendship between others, by speaking ill of one unto the other behind his back.
Q. What is flattery?
A. to attribute to another some perfection which he hath not, or to praise him for that which he deserves not.
A. to attribute to another some perfection which he hath not, or to praise him for that which he deserves not.
Q. What is detraction?
A. Is is a secret staining and blotting another's good name.
A. Is is a secret staining and blotting another's good name.
Q. What is calumny?
A. It is telling a falsehood of our neighbour to his prejudice.
A. It is telling a falsehood of our neighbour to his prejudice.
Q. Are lies, backbiting, flattery, afronts, detraction, and calumny, grievous sins?
A. They are often very grievous sins. The scriptures saith, Prov. vi. 16, 19. "Six things there are which the Lord hateth; and the seventh his soul destesteth. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, a deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among the brethren."
A. They are often very grievous sins. The scriptures saith, Prov. vi. 16, 19. "Six things there are which the Lord hateth; and the seventh his soul destesteth. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, a deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among the brethren."
Q. What is he bound to, that hath hurt his neighbour in any of these kinds?
A. To make him satisfaction, and restore him his good name.
A. To make him satisfaction, and restore him his good name.
Q. How for example?
A. If he have told a hurtful lie of him, he is bound to unsay it; or if he have revealed his secret sin, he is bound to speak well of the same party, and to mitigate the matter as well as he can.
A. If he have told a hurtful lie of him, he is bound to unsay it; or if he have revealed his secret sin, he is bound to speak well of the same party, and to mitigate the matter as well as he can.
Q. Is it a sin to hearken to detraction?
A. To do it willingly, and with delight, or so as to encourage the detractor, it is; for by so doing we cooperate with the detractor.
A. To do it willingly, and with delight, or so as to encourage the detractor, it is; for by so doing we cooperate with the detractor.
Q. How them must we behave ourselves among detractors?
A. If they be inferiors, we must reprehend them; if equals or superiors, we must show ourselves at least not pleased with that discourse.
A. If they be inferiors, we must reprehend them; if equals or superiors, we must show ourselves at least not pleased with that discourse.
Q. What is rash judgment?
A. That which is grounded on mere hearsay, jealousy, and surmises without any moral certainty, or great probability.
A. That which is grounded on mere hearsay, jealousy, and surmises without any moral certainty, or great probability.
Q. When is a lie a mortal sin?
A. When it is any great dishonour to God or notable prejudice to our neighbour: otherwise, if it be merely officious, or trifling, it is but a venial sin.
A. When it is any great dishonour to God or notable prejudice to our neighbour: otherwise, if it be merely officious, or trifling, it is but a venial sin.
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