What doth the ninth Commandment exact?
That I bear no false Witness against any Man, neither falsifie any Man’s words, neither backbite nor reproach any Man, nor condemn any rashly, or unheard, but avoid, and shun with all carefulness all kind of Lies, and Deceipts, as the proper Works of the Devil, except I mean to stir up against me the most grievous Wrath of God; and that in Judgments and other Affairs, I follow the Truth, and freely and constantly profess the matter as it indeed is, and moreover defend and increase as much as in me lieth, the good Name and Estimation of others.
Proofs
- That I bear no (Proverbs 19:5,9; Proverbs 21:28; Psalm 15:3)
- false Witness against any Man, (missing)
- neither falsifie any Man’s words, neither backbite (Romans 1:29–30)
- nor reproach any Man, nor (Matthew 7:1,&c; Luke 6:37)
- condemn any rashly, or unheard, but avoid, and (John 8:44)
- shun with all carefulness all kind of Lies, and Deceipts, as the proper Works of the Devil, except I mean to stir (Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 13:5)
- up against me the most grievous Wrath of God; and that in Judgments and other Affairs, I follow the Truth, and freely and constantly (Ephesians 4:24–25)
- profess the matter as it indeed is, and moreover defend and increase as much as in me lieth, the good Name and Estimation of others. (1 Peter 4:8)