if God gives long life as a blessing, he will surely add prosperity here, and eternal life hereafter, or it could not be considered as such.

Q. 50. Which is the sixth commandment? A." The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.”

To deprive a fellow creature of life in anger, has been considered in all countries, and in every age, a dreadful crime; but the commandments of God are very different from the laws of men. By these if we attempt to kill a fellow creature, but do not succeed, we are not considered murderers: but by the laws of God, if we do not do all in our power to preserve the lives of ourselves and others, we are accounted guilty. If we allow ourselves to be so angry with any one as to wish him any evil, we are considered as murderers. If you ever strike one of your play fellows in anger, it is a breach of this commandment. The same stroke might have killed him and the same temper indulged would lead you to strike on purpose to kill-We are not only forbidden to take the lives of others, but our own: under no circumstances are we allowed to hasten our death; this is the most awful crime of which a human being can be guilty; for it can never be repented of.

Q. 51. Which is the seventh commandment? A The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery."

This commandment forbids all lewd and filthy conversation, the use of all indecent words, all immodest behaviour, and even immodest thoughts; for the law of God extends to the thoughts of the heart.

Q. 52. Which is the eighth commandment? A. "The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal."

This commandment not only forbids our taking the property of another in a secret or forcible manner, which is commonly called stealing; but it forbids likewise every act of dishonesty, and every thing which can injure, the property of ourselves or others. If you will examine closely, you will find many things to be a breach of this commandment which you never suspected. Indolence; spending that time which ought to be usefully employed, in foolish and trifling amusements. Extravagance; spending that money which God has given you and for which you must render up an account, for those things which you do not need and would be better without. Gaming and dealing in lotteries, is certainly forbidden; for you either throw away your own money, or obtain the property of others without their receiving any thing in return -either of which is sinful.

Q. 53. Which is the ninth commandment? A. "The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

Every kind of falsehood and lying is forbidden in this commandment; all backbiting, taking pleasure in spreading an evil report of any one, or even relating what we know to the prejudice of another, when no good purpose can be answered by it. This is a sin against which we should be particularly guarded; because it is so common and so little thought of. Giving false evidence before a court of justice is the most flagrant breach of this commandment; the most abandoned only can be guilty of it.

Q. 54. Which is the tenth commandment?

A. "The tenth commandment is; Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife; nor his man servant; nor his maid servant; nor his ox; nor his ass; nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

All discontent or comparing our condition with that of our neighbours, with any dis position to repine at our own lot, or wish that theirs was less prosperous, is a breach of this commandment. It is worthy of notice that every breach of this commandment occasions pain to ourselves; if we would

always feel full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour and all that is his, we could not be unhappy. On the contrary, if we are discontented and feel envy and grief at the good of our neighbour, we must be miserable. And why should we not be contented? We know that God chooses our lot for us; and if we are bis children, we know that he has chosen that which he sees to be best for us; and if we have any reason to fear that we are not his, but are still in the bonds of satan, let it be our first concern to seek the kingdom of heaven, knowing that if we obtain that, all other things which we really need shall be added unto us.

Q. 55. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A No mere man, since the fall, is able, in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word and deed.”

Christ kept the commandments perfectly, but he was not a mere man. Adam kept them, before the fall, but no other person can keep them. We are born in sin; and we add to our original sin, the guilt of actual transgression, as soon as we are capable of choosing between good and evil. If you wish to know whether your nature is really corrupt,

only consider how much more trouble it is to you to be good than to be bad. If you wish to be good, you must determine that you will not do that which you know to be wrong; you must avoid bad company; you must be always upon your guard; and then, if you forget yourself for ever so short a time, you will find that you have fallen into sin; but if you just let yourself alone, and care not whether you are bad or good, without taking any pains to be either, you will be bad enough.

Q 57. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. "Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others."

Those sins are the greatest which bring most dishonour to God, and distress to our fellow creatures, or ourselves, and are committed against the clearest light.

Q 58. What doth every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to

This answer is plain enough; and it is a truth every where taught in the word of God. O that you could be made to feel it; you would then be ready of yourselves to ask the next question, which is,