Chapter 28. Of the Ninth Commandment.
WILLIAM PERKINS
Chapter 28. Of the Ninth Commandment.
The ninth Commandment belongs to the preservation of our neighbour's good name. The words are these:
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
The Resolution [You shall not bear] That is, answer when you are asked before a Judge. Deu 19.17-18, Then both the men who strive together shall stand before the Lord, even before the Priests and the Judges who [serve] in those days. And the Judges shall make diligent inquiry, and if the witness is found false, and has given false witness against his brother… [Witness] By a figure of speech, every word by which the credit and estimation of our neighbour is either impaired or diminished.
The Negative Part You shall not diminish or hurt the good name and estimation of your neighbour.
Here is forbidden:
I. Envy, disdain of others, desire for a man's own glory. 1Tim 6.4, He is puffed up, and knows nothing, but dotes about questions and strife over words, from which come envy, strife, railings... 1Pet 2.1, Therefore, laying aside all maliciousness, and envy, and all guile, and evil-speaking… Mat 21.15, But when the chief
Priests and Scribes saw the marvels that he did, and the children crying out in the Temple, and saying,
Hosanna the son of David, they disdained.
II. Evil suspicions. 1Tim 6.4. 1Sam 17.28, And Eliab, his elder brother, heard when [David] spoke to the
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men, and Eliab was angry with him and said, Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the malice of your heart. Act 28.4, Now, when the Barbarians saw the worm [viper] hang on [Paul's] hand, they said among themselves, This man surely is a murderer whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance has not allowed to live.
Here are condemned hard censures and sinister judgments against our neighbour. Mat 7.1, Do not judge, that you not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you use, it shall be measured back to you.
These judgments which Christ forbids, are private and reproachful, or slanderous judgments; namely, when either a good or indifferent action is interpreted at its worst; or when a light offense is made heinous through evil will, without any desire either to amend or to cover it.
Act 2.13-15, And others mocked and said, They are full of new wine. But Peter standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, You men of Judea, and you who inhabit Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is but the third hour of the day.
1Sam 1.13, For Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she had been drunk.
However, we must know there are three kinds of judgment which are not forbidden by this commandment of Christ [in Mat 7.1]. The first is the ministry of the Gospel, which judges and reproaches sin. The second is the judgment of the Magistrate. The third is the judgment of a friend admonishing us, as when he says, Abstain from the company of such a man, for I know him to be a drunkard, etc.
III. Relating only the bare words, and not the sense and meaning of our neighbour. Mat 26.59-61, Now the
WILLIAM PERKINS
chief Priests, and the Elders, and the whole Council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death.
But they found none; and though many false witnesses came, yet they found none. But at last came two witnesses. And they said, This man said, I can destroy the Temple of God, and build it in three days. Indeed,
Christ said some such thing in words, as it appears in Joh 2.19, Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. [Verse
21, But He was speaking of the temple of His body.] IV. A lie, by which is signified every falsehood with the purpose to deceive, whether in words, or in deeds, or concealing the truth, or in any other way whatsoever, however great a good it may be to our neighbour.
V. To pronounce an unjust sentence in judgment, to rest in one witness, to accuse another wrongfully, or to betray a man's cause by collusion. 1Kng 21.12-13, They proclaimed a fast, and set Nabaoth among the chief of the people. And two wicked men came, and sat there before him; and the wicked men witnessed against Nabaoth in the presence of the people, saying, Nabaoth blasphemed God and the King. Then they carried him away, out of the city, and stoned him with stones, so that he died. Deu 17.6, At the mouth of two or three witnesses, one who is worthy of death, shall die. But at the mouth of one witness, he shall not die.
VI. To openly raise forged and hurtful tales and reports about our neighbour, or to secretly devise such things. Rom 1.29-30, Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things. Lev
19.16, You shall not walk about with tales among the people; you shall not stand against the blood of your neighbour. I am the Lord. 1Tim 5.13, And likewise also being idle, they learn to go about from house to house.
Indeed, they are not only idle, but also prattlers and busybodies, speaking things which are not appropriate.
To spread abroad flying tales, or to feign and add anything to them. Pro 26.20-22, Without wood the fire
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is quenched, and without a talebearer [gossip] strifes cease. As a coal makes burning coals, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are like flatterings,
and they go down into the bowels of the belly. 2Cor 12.20, For I fear lest when I come, I will not find you as I would, and that I will be found by you as I would not; and lest there be strife, envying, wrath, contentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord among you...
To receive or believe those tales which we hear from others. Exo 23.1, You shall not receive a false tale, nor shall you put your hand with the wicked, to be a false witness. 1Sam 24.9, And David said to Saul, Why do you give an ear to men's words, who say, Behold, David seeks evil against you?
VII. To accuse our neighbour for that which is certain and true, through hatred, and with the intent to hurt him. 1Sam 22.9-10, Then Doeg the Edomite answered (who was appointed over the servants of Saul), and said, I saw the son of Jesse when he came to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. He asked counsel of the Lord for him, and gave him supplies of food, and he also gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.
David thus speaks of this deed: Psa 52.1-4, Why do you boast in your wickedness, O man of power? The lovingkindness of the Lord endures forever. Your tongue imagines mischief, and is like a sharp razor that cuts deceitfully. You love evil more than good, and lies more than speaking the truth. You love all words that may destroy, O deceitful tongue.
VIII. To open or declare our neighbour's secret to any man, especially if he did it from infirmity. Mat
18.15, Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother. Pro
11.13, He that goes about as a slanderer, reveals a secret; but he that is of a faithful heart, conceals a matter.
WILLIAM PERKINS
IX. All babbling talk and bitter words. Eph 5.3-4, But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not once be named among you — neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate — but rather, give thanks. Joh 9.34, They answered and said to him, You are altogether born in sins, and do you teach us? So they cast him out.
This jesting, or as it now termed, "wit," which Aristotle and the Philosopher [his teacher, Plato] make a virtue, is considered a vice by Paul the Apostle: 1.
Those quips which sting others; though they are a great pleasure for some to hear, they are very offensive to those who are so provoked. 2. It is very hard to make both Christian godliness and gravity, agree with such behaviour.
Objection: But the Scriptures are full of salty and tart speeches.
Answer: Such speeches are not spoken to please others, but are sharply pronounced against God's enemies, to His glory.
X. Flattery, by which we praise our neighbour above what we know him to be. Pro 27.6, The wounds of a lover are faithful; but the kisses of an enemy are to be shunned. Verse 14, He that praises his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted to him as a curse.
Act 12.22, And the people gave a shout, saying, The voice of God, and not of man.
This is a grievous sin in the ministers of the world. 1Th 2.5, Neither did we ever use flattering words, as you know, nor masked covetousness, God is record. Jer
6.13-14, For from the least of them, even to the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the Prophet, even to the priest, they all deal falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweet words, say, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Rom 16.18, For those who are such, do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and with fair speech and flattering, deceive the hearts of the simple.
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XI. Foolish and over-confident boasting. Pro 27.1, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
XII. To accuse or witness against someone falsely.
1Kng 21.13, Naboth blasphemed God and the king.
The Affirmative Part Preserve the good name of your neighbour. Ecc 7.1, A good name is better than a good ointment.
Here is commanded,
Rejoicing for the credit and good estimation of your neighbour. Gal 5.22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness... Rom 1.8, First I thank my God through Jesus Christ, for you all, because your faith is published throughout the whole world.
Willingly acknowledging that goodness which we see in any man whatsoever, and to speak only of that. Tit
3.2, That they speak evil of no man, that they not be fighters, but soft, showing all meekness to all men.
Moreover, we must with all desire, receive and believe reports of our neighbour's good. Act 16.1-3, Then he came to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a woman who was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Grecian. The brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium reported well of him. Therefore Paul would have him go with him, and took and circumcised him.
Notwithstanding, this must be so performed by us, that in no way should we approve and allow the vices and faults of men. 2Chr 25.2, And he did uprightly in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. And chap. 27.2, And he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that father Uzziah did, except that he did not enter into the temple of the Lord, and the people yet corrupted their ways.
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To interpret a doubtful evil, to the better part. 1Cor 13.5, Love does not think evil. Verse 7, It believes all things, it hopes all things. Gen 37.31-33, And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood. And so they sent that many-coloured coat, and they brought it to their father, and said, We have found this; see now whether it is your son's coat or not. Then he knew and said, It is my son's coat; a wicked beast has devoured him. Joseph is surely torn in pieces.
And here, observe the religion of that Joseph who was betrothed to Mary, who when he saw that Mary was with child, was readier to conclude that before her betrothing, she was with child by committing fornication, than afterwards by committing adultery,
Mat 1.19. But for all this, men must not be overly credulous, nor lightly believe. Joh 2.24, But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew them all.
Not to believe an evil report that is running abroad among the common people by the whisperings of talebearers — by conduit pipes, as it were. Psa 15.3,
He that does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, nor receives a false report against his neighbour… [shall never be moved]. Jer
40.14, And they said to him, do you not know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to slay you? But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, did not believe him.
Verse 16, But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Jonathan, the son of Kareah, you shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael. But we should also be angry at such whisperings. Pro 25.23, As the north wind drives away the rain, so does an angry countenance [drive away] the slandering tongue.
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To keep secret the offence of our neighbour, unless it must of necessity be revealed. Pro 10.12, Hatred stirs up contention; but love covers all trespasses.
Mat 1.19, Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
A man would suppose that by this means we might be partakers of other men's sins. But we must know that we ought to conceal our neighbour's imperfections, lest he be provoked to offence; yet in the meantime, he must be admonished, so that he may amend. Gal 6.1.
Jas 5.19-20, Brethren, if any of you has erred from the truth, and some man has converted him, let him know that the one who has converted the sinner from going astray, out of his way, will save a soul from death, and will hide a multitude of sins.
But if the sin which is concealed cannot thereby be taken away, then we must, in love and charity, declare it to those who may remove and amend it. Gen 37.2,
When Joseph was seventeen years old, he kept sheep with his brethren, and the child was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives.
And Joseph told their father of their evil speech. 1Cor 1.11, For it has been declared to me about you, my brethren, by those who are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Mat 18.16, But if he will not hear you, take one or two with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be confirmed.
To get a good name and estimation among men, and to keep it once we have gotten it. Phi 4.8,
Furthermore, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things pertain to love, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, if there is any praise, think on these things.
WILLIAM PERKINS
How a good name is gotten:
If seeking the Kingdom of God before all things, we repent of all our sins, and with an earnest desire, embrace and follow after righteousness. Pro 10.7,
The memorial of the just shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. Mar 14.9, Truly I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this also, what she has done, will be spoken in remembrance of her.
We must have a care both to judge, and to speak well of others. Mat 7.2, With what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. Ecc 7.21-22, Do not give your heart also to all the words that men speak, lest you hear your servant cursing you. For oftentimes, your heart also knows that you likewise have cursed others.
We must abstain from all kinds of wickedness. For just one vice or sin will obscure and darken a man's name. Ecc 10.1, Dead flies cause the ointment of the Apothecary to stink and putrefy; so a little folly does to the one who is esteemed for his wisdom, and for glory.
We must in all things earnestly seek the glory of God only, and not our own. Mat 6.5-6, And when you pray, do not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, because they would be seen by men.
Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, enter into your chamber; and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
But if when we seek the glory of God, honest and godly men praise and testify well of us, we must not despise their testimony and commendation. And even if they never praise us, or testify of us at all, yet we must take it well. 2Cor 1.12, For our rejoicing is this: the
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testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly pureness, and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and most of all, towards you. And 2Cor 10.13,
But we will not rejoice about things which are not within our measure, but according to the measure of the line by which God has distributed to us a measure, to attain even unto you. Psa 16.5-6, The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup. You shall maintain my lot. The lines have fallen in pleasant places; indeed, I have a fair heritage. 1Cor 1.31, He that rejoices, let him rejoice in the Lord.