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Deut. vii. 25; Prov. i. 10; Isaiah i. 29; and else where.

In what way may our neighbour be deprived of his property ?

By force, or by fraud. In what manner he may be deprived of it by force is obvious to every one :-but there are many kinds of fraudulent artifices: for it is easy to discover them in buying, selling, or exchanging, in hiring or letting, in borrowing or lending, and in other transactions. Respecting selling, we have an old divine prohibition, Levit. xix. 35, and Deut. xxv. 14, 15 : "Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small; but thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and a just measure shalt thou have."

May not usury be referred to this commandment? Certainly.

What is usury?

The usury of which I here speak, that is unlawful usury, is the extortion of interest on money loans, to the oppression or injury of another. Such is properly the import of the Hebrew term rendered usury in several places in the Old Testament, which signifies BITING. But reason itself teaches, that to receive interest for money lent, without biting or injuring another, indeed, even with advantage to him, is neither a sin, nor unlawful usury;-especially if the lender himself stand in need of the profit of such money, and do not extort it from the poor, from whom the Mosaic Law expressly forbade the receiving of usury. Whence it happens that the Law

openly

openly permits the receiving of usury from strangers. It is apparent, therefore, that to receive interest for money lent, is not absolutely and in its own nature unjust on which account it is that usury is never expressly forbidden in the Gospel, notwithstanding those things which are repugnant to the spirit and doctrine of Christ are in the sacred Scriptures minutely described, and in some way or other enumerated. But unlawful usury is to be considered as forbidden among other things, when injustice is prohibited for charity and beneficence are required of us; and we are commanded to do to others, what we would wish them to do to us.

What is added to this commandment in the New Covenant?

If you look not to the words but to the intention of the commandment, this is added to it; that we are not only not to endeavour to obtain, by unjust means, the property of our neighbour, but also not even to wish, or to purpose in our thoughts, to do this. For that which it is not lawful for a Christian to do, it is not permitted him to wish or design.

But is not the prohibition not to covet our neighbour's wife added to the seventh commandment?

It certainly is, but in another sense. For here it is only forbidden us to desire another man's wife that she may be our own, as is evident from the other things which are in this place joined with WIFE. But in the other case it is prohibited to us to desire to enjoy her while she remains the wife of another.

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CHAPTER II.

OF THE PRECEPTS OF CHRIST, DELIVERED BY HIM

SEPARATELY.

You have stated the precepts of Christ contained in the laws of God delivered by Moses, and those which he added to the Mosaic commandments;-it remains that you explain to me those also which Christ has delivered separately?

These are of two kinds ;-for some relate to morals, and some to external religious acts, commonly denominated ceremonies.

What are those which relate to morals?

These are of three kinds : some relate to the religion and devotion of the mind; some to contempt of the world; and some to fortitude aud patience.

What are the precepts of the first kind?

These three, which Paul comprises in the following passage to the Thessalonians (1 Epist. v. 16, 17, 18)," Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing (and at all times also) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus respecting you."

What is prescribed in the first of these?

That we constantly delight ourselves in the hope of immortal life which we derive from the religion of Jesus Christ, and in the enjoyment of it deem ourselves truly happy. Hence the same apostle commands elsewhere (Rom. xii. 12) to "rejoice in hope," or Philipp. iv. 4, and 1 Tim. i. 1, "to rejoice in the

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Lord alway," as in him "who is our hope;" that is, the author and cause of our hope. To this rejoicing is opposed that solicitude which is wont to be excited in the mind either by the fear of impending evils, or by the feeling of those which are present; against which the apostle exhorts in the cited passage of the epistle to the Philippians (chap. iv. 6).

What are the precepts of the second kind?

That we cease not to pray to God at any proper season; but that, as far as we can, we offer up our prayers constantly and assiduously; and watch with them. He is assiduous in prayer, who prays as frequently as possible, intermingles deep sighs with the actions of life, interrupts his proceedings to create opportunities for devotional exercises, and on account. of them takes away something from his sleep. This precept is repeated in several passages of the Holy Scriptures, and 'principally in those places where the writers speak of avoiding the evils of the last judgement, and other impending dangers. Luke xviii. 1, &c.; Rom. xii. 12; Ephes. vi. 18; Philipp. iv. 6; Coloss. iv. 2.

What qualifications ought those who pray to pos

sess?

First, That they confide in God; nor doubt that he is able to give what they ask, and also willing to confer it, if they possess, besides, the other qualifications which I shall presently mention. Secondly, That they pray in conformity with the will of God;that is, ask for those things which are not at all repugnant to the divine will as declared in the doctrine

of

of Christ; those things which are either promised in it, or are at least on some account agreeable to the things promised. Thirdly, that they do the will of God; and that, especially, if they bear any enmity to any individual, they forgive him, and thus "lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting." (1 Tim. ii. 8.) Lastly, that they pray with great humility, and with all possible devotion. Devotion requires that, having withdrawn our thoughts as much as possible from other things, we fix them on God; and excite and invigorate in ourselves our desire of the thing for which we pray;-whence fervour is wont to arise. This is what James meant (chap. v. ver. 16), when he said, the prayer of a righteous man, made effectually, or fervently, availeth much.

What are the precepts of the third kind?

That as frequently and assiduously as possible we testify our gratitude to God for all his other blessings, but especially for the eternal life and the remission of sins offered to us: and that we devoutly celebrate these his distinguished gifts :-upon which subject, there are remarkable precepts Ephes. v. 18, 19, 20; Coloss. iii. 16, 17; Heb. xiii. 15. And again, that we return our thanks for all things that happen to us, though they may seem adverse and afflicting, knowing that all these things shall work together for our good.

What are the precepts which relate to contempt of the world?

These John has briefly comprised in the following

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