What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?
The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man; rendering to everyone his due; restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof; giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others; moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods; a provident care and study to get, keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition; a lawful calling, and diligence in it; frugality; avoiding unnecessary lawsuits and suretyship, or other like engagements; and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.
Proofs
- The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man; (Psalm 15:2, 4; Zechariah 7:4, 10; 8:16β17)
- rendering to everyone his due; (Leviticus 6:2β5; Luke 19:8)
- restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof; (Luke 6:30, 38; 1 John 3:17; Ephesians 4:28; Galatians 6:10)
- giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others; (1 Timothy 6:6β9)
- moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods; (1 Timothy 5:8)
- a provident care and study to get, (Proverbs 27:23β27; Ecclesiastes 3:12β13; Isaiah 38:1; Matthew 11:8)
- keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition; (1 Corinthians 7:20; Genesis 3:19)
- a lawful calling, (Ephesians 4:28; Proverbs 10:4)
- and diligence in it; (John 6:12; Proverbs 21:20)
- frugality; (1 Corinthians 6:1β9)
- avoiding unnecessary lawsuits (Proverbs 6:1β6)
- and suretyship, or other like engagements; (Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 22:1β4; Exodus 23:4β5; Philippians 2:4)
- and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.