gether, and walked unto the house of God in company." Prov. xix. 4, 6, 7. " many will intreat the favour of the prince,' &c. Of this crime the traitor Judas is an example.

Secondly, friendship or social intercourse with the wicked. Gen. xiv. 12. "they took Lot-." xix. 12, &c. "hast thou here any beside?.... bring them out of this place." Psal. i. 1. "blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." xxvi. 4, 5. "I have not sat with vain persons—. cxli. 4. "incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity." Prov. xiii. 20. "a companion of fools shall be destroyed." xiv. 7. "go from the presence of a foolish man." v. 9. "fools make a mock at sin; but among the righteous there is favour." v. 14. " a good man shall be satisfied from himself." xxiv. 1, 2. "neither desire to be with them." xxviii. 7. "he that is a companion of riotous men, shameth his father." Rom. i. 31, 32. "who not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." 1 Cor. xv. 33. "be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.' Eph. v. 7. "be not ye therefore partakers with them." v. 11. "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." Such intercourse, however, is sometimes unavoidable in the present life. Judges ix. 3. "there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him." 1 Sam. xxii. 2. "every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt.... gathered themselves unto him." xxx. 22. "then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David—.” Psal. cxx. 5, 6. woe is me!.... my soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace." 1 Cor. v. 9-11. "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world.... for then ye must needs go out of the world; but.... if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator-."

Thirdly, enmity. Prov. xvii. 14. "the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with." v. 19. "he loveth transgression that loveth strife; and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction." xx. 3. "it is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be meddling." xxvi. 26. " whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation."

CHAP. XII.-OF THE SPECIAL VIRTUES OR DUTIES WHICH REGARD OUR NEIGHBOUR.

THE SPECIAL VIRTUES, or VARIOUS MODES OF CHARITY OR JUSTICE AS REGARDS OUR NEIGHBOUR, relate to him either under the general acceptation of the word neighbour, as denoting simple proximity; or under some special acceptation, where our relationship arises from special circumstances.

The discharge of our special duties towards our neighbour includes the regulation not only of our actions, but of our affections, as concerns him. Exod. xx. 17. "thou shalt not

covet thy neighbour's house-."

Special duties towards our neighbour, using the word in its general sense, regard either his internal or external good.

His internal good is consulted by a regard to his safety and honour; his external, by a concern for his good name and worldly interests. Our regard to his safety should extend not merely to the present life, but to the eternal state. Prov. x.

Rom.

11. "the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life." xiv. 15. " destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." James v. 20. "let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." The duty of preserving our neighbour's life is inculcated. Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. "if thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? doth not he know it? and shall he not render to every man according to his works?"

Under this class of virtues are comprehended innocence, meekness, and placability.

دو

INNOCENCE Consists in doing a voluntary injury to no one. Psal. xxiv. 4. "he that hath clean hands." xxvi. 6. "I will wash mine hands in innocency." Rom. xii. 18. "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Heb. xii. 14. "follow peace with all men."

MEEKNESS is that by which we are so far from offering or taking offence, that we conduct ourselves mildly and affectionately towards all men, as far as is practicable. Numb. xii. 3.

"now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." Psal. xxv. 9. "the meek

will he teach his way." cxlvii. 6. "Jehovah lifteth up the meek." Isai. Ixi. 1. "Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek." Matt. v. 5. "blessed are the

xxi. 5. "be

meek." xi. 29. "learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." hold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek-." "showing all meekness unto all men."

Tit. iii. 2.

PLACABILITY consists in a readiness to forgive those by whom we have been injured. Matt. vi. 12, 14. "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.... for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” xviii. 21, 22. "how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?.... until seventy times seven.' Luke xvii. 3, 4. "if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him; and if he trespass against thee seven times a day-. Rom. xii. 18. "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.'

Opposed to a regard for the life of our neighbour, is, first, the shedding his blood. Gen. iv. 10. "what hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." ix. 5, 6. "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man." Exod. xx. 13. "thou shalt not kill." xxi. 12. “he that smiteth a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death." v. 14. “if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile," &c. v. 28. "if an ox gore a man," &c. Deut. xxvii. 25. " cursed is he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person.' Numb. xxxv. 31. "ye

وو

shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer.' v. 34. "defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit—.” Deut. xxi. 1. "if one be found slain in the land," &c. 1 Kings ii. 5, 6. "thou knowest also what Joab did to me," &c. v. 33, 34. "their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab." Prov. vi. 16, 17. " these six things doth Jehovah hate

hands that shed innocent blood." xxviii. 17. "a man that doeth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him."

Under this head is also included, first, every thing by which the life of our neighbour is endangered; as blows, wounds, mutilations, &c. Exod. xxi. 18, &c. "if men strive together, and one strike another," &c. Lev. xxiv. 19, 20. "if a man

cause a blemish in his neighbour," &c. Deut. xxvii. 24. "cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly."

Secondly, hasty anger. Prov. xiv. 29. "he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." xvi. 32. "he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." xix. 11. "the discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." XV. 18. a wrathful man stirreth up strife." Matt. v. 22. “whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgement." 1 John iii. 15. "whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer."

Thirdly, revenge. Lev. xix. 18. "thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people.' Deut. xxxii. 35. "to me belongeth vengeance and recompense." Psal. xciv. 1. “O Jehovah, God to whom vengeance belongeth." Prov. xx. 22. "say not thou, I will recompense evil."

xxiv. 29. "say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me." Rom. xii. 19. “ dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath." 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9. "not rendering evil for evil." To avenge the church, however, or to desire that she be avenged of her enemies, is not forbidden. Exod. xvii. 16. "because Jehovah hath sworn that Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Deut. xxv. 17. "remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way." Psal. xviii. 37-43. "I have pursued mine enemies.... then did I beat them small as the dust.' xli. 10, 11." raise me up that I may requite them." liv. 5. "he shall reward evil unto mine enemies.' xcii. 11. "mine eyes also shall see my desire upon mine enemies." xciv. 2. render a reward to the proud." cxxxvii. 8. “O daughter of Babylon," &c. Jer. xi. 20. "let me see thy vengeance on them." See also xx. 12. xv. 15. "revenge me of my persecutors. 1. 15. "take vengeance upon her." Lament. i. 21, 22. "let all their wickedness come before thee." iii. 64, &c. "render unto them a recompense." Esther ix. 13. "then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted unto the Jews

to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows." Rev. vi. 10. how long, O Lord-?"

The HONOUR of our neighbour is consulted by a respect to

his personal modesty. Levit. xix. 29. " do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore." Deut. xxiii. 17. "there shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."

Opposed to this are unnatural vices, fornication, violation, adultery, incest, rape, whoredom, and similar offences. Gen. xix. 5. "bring them out unto us, that we may know them." See also Judges xix. 22. Deut. xxiii. 17, as above. 1 Kings xv. 12. "he took away the sodomites out of the land." xxii. 46. "the remnant of the sodomites," &c. Gen. xxxiv. 2. "he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her." Exod. xx. 14. "thou shalt not commit adultery." Levit. xviii. 20. "thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her." Job. xxxi. 9, 10, &c. "if mine heart hath been deceived by a woman," &c. Jer. v. 7, 8. "they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses." Ezek. xviii. 6. "neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife." xxii. 11. "one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife." Hosea vii. 4. " they are all adulterers." Amos ii. 7. "a man and his father will go in unto the same maid-." Heb. xiii. 4. "whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Hence the laws against fornication, Exod. xxii. 16, 17, &c. "if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her," &c. against incest, Levit. xviii. 6. xx. 11, &c. "the man that lieth with his father's wife," &c. Deut. xxii. 21, 23, 28. "then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her.... because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house if a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband.... if a man find a damsel that is a virgin-." xxiii. 2. "a bastard shall not enter into the congregation of Jehovah." xxvii. 20, &c. "cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife." Hence also provision was expressly made for cases of jealousy. Numb. v. 12, &c. Prov. vi. 34. "jealousy is the rage of a man." Cantic. viii. 6. "jealousy is cruel as the grave.' Even before the promulgation of the law, adultery was made capital by divine command : Gen. xx. 3. “ thou art but a dead man, for the woman whom thou hast taken." xxxviii. 24. " bring her forth, and let her be burnt." Some marriages, however, were prohibited by the Mosaic code, which appear to have