What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?

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The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behavior; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.

Proofs

  • The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves (Ephesians 5:28–29)
  • and others (1 Kings 18:4)
  • by resisting all thoughts and purposes, (Jeremiah 26:15–16; Acts 23:12, 16–17, 21, 27)
  • subduing all passions, (Ephesians 4:26–27)
  • and avoiding all occasions, (2 Samuel 2:22; Deuteronomy 22:8)
  • temptations, (Matthew 4:6–7; Proverbs 1:10–11, 15–16)
  • and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; (1 Samuel 24:12; 26:9–11; Genesis 37:21–22)
  • by just defense thereof against violence, (Psalm 82:4; Proverbs 24:11–12; 1 Samuel 14:45)
  • patient bearing of the hand of God, (James 5:7–11; Hebrews 12:9)
  • quietness of mind, (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 3:3–4; Psalm 37:8–11)
  • cheerfulness of spirit; (Proverbs 17:22)
  • a sober use of meat, (Proverbs 25:16, 27)
  • drink, (1 Timothy 5:23)
  • physic, (Isaiah 38:21)
  • sleep, (Psalm 127:2)
  • labor, (Ecclesiastes 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 12; Proverbs 16:20)
  • and recreations; (Ecclesiastes 3:4, 11)
  • by charitable thoughts, (1 Samuel 19:4–5; 22:13–14)
  • love, (Romans 13:10)
  • compassion, (Luke 10:33–34)
  • meekness, gentleness, kindness; (Colossians 3:12–13)
  • peaceable, (James 3:17)
  • mild and courteous speeches and behavior; (1 Peter 3:8–11; Proverbs 15:1; Judges 8:1–3)
  • forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; (Matthew 5:24; Ephesians 5:2, 32; Romans 12:17)
  • comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent. (1 Thessalonians 5:14; Job 31:19–20; Matthew 25:35–36; Proverbs 31:8–9)

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