Question 144: What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and
promoting of truth between man and man, and the
good name of our neighbor, as well as our own;
appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things: Whatsoever; a
charitable esteem of our neighbors;
loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for, and
covering of their infirmities;
freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces,
defending their innocency; a
ready receiving of a good report, and
unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them;
discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and
slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requires; keeping of lawful promises;
studying and practicing of: Whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
Question 145: What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all
prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause,
outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, 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; forgery, concealing the truth,
undue silence in a just cause, and
holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves,
or complaint to others;
speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;speaking untruth, lying,
slandering, backbiting,
detracting, tale bearing, whispering,
scoffing, reviling,
rash,
harsh, and
partial censuring;
misconstructing intentions,
words, and
actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God;
aggravating smaller faults;hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;
unnecessary discovering of infirmities;
raising false rumors,
receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises;
neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
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