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Orthodox Confession
St Peter Mogila, tr. Lodvel, 1762
Part 3, 7. Questions 61–70
Question 61
What is the fifth Commandment?
Answer.
(Exod. xx. 12), Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thy Days may be long in that good Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Question 62
How is this Commandment to be understood?
Answer.
This Commandment requireth us to honour our Parents, and to render all Obedience and Respect unto them, as they both begat us and raised us up. And even natural Reason would teach us that it was highly just and good to love those from whom we came, even although there were not any Command of God to oblige us to do so; for we are beholden unto them for the highest of all Benefits, and which we can in no wise possibly make them a like Return of, inasmuch as we can by no Means beget those who begot us; and therefore, since, next to God, we have not received from any so great Benefits as from them (except spiritual Gifts), assuredly unto them do we owe the highest Affection and Obedience. In these Words, Father and Mother, this Commandment likewise comprehendeth all those from whom we receive any Good, as our spiritual Fathers, our Teachers, Masters, Kindred, Kings, Magistrates, and the like; which the Apostle declareth in these Words (Rom. xiii. 1), Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers. And again (ver. 7), Honour to whom Honour. And (Rom. i. 31) he calleth those who are disobedient unto their Parents without Understanding. However, we must be careful that nothing be contrary to the Glory of God or his most holy Commandments, always remembering that we must obey God rather than our Parents: According to the Doctrine of Christ (Matth. x. 37), He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me. And the same is to be understood of all our Superiors. Lastly, We should let this Regard and Respect that we owe to our Superiors shine forth in Goodwill and Submission, and speaking honourably of them, and the like.
Question 63
What is the sixth Commandment?
Answer.
Thou shalt not kill.
Question 64
How is this Commandment to be understood?
Answer.
This Commandment teacheth us that Man-slaying is by no means to be committed by a righteous Man who feareth God, whether it be a killing of the Body or of the Soul. Those who kill the Body do only take away a temporary Life, but those who kill the Soul deprive it of eternal Life; and these are by far the most criminal Man-slayers. Of this sort are Heretics, false Teachers, and wicked and reprobate Christians, who set an Example of evil Living; that is, when they become Stumbling-blocks unto others. Concerning whom the Scripture judgeth thus (Matth. xviii. 6), Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a Millstone were hanged about his Neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. Furthermore, a Person may be guilty of killing not only by his own Act, but also by persuading of another to do it, by assisting, instigating, and consenting to others. This Commandment also comprehendeth all whatsoever may produce or cause killing, as Pride, Envy, Hatred, Covetousness, and the like.
Question 65
What is the seventh Commandment?
Answer.
Thou shalt not commit Adultery.
Question 67
How is this Commandment to be understood?
Answer.
Our Lord Jesus Christ enjoined the most exact and perfect observation of this Commandment when he said (Matth. v. 28), Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart. Now, this Adultery is twofold, the one spiritual, the other bodily; the spiritual Adultery is, when any one, putting off the true orthodox and catholic Faith, turneth aside into various Heresies. Of such an one the Scripture speaketh thus (Psal. lxxiii. 26), They that forsake thee shall perish; thou hast destroyed all them that commit Fornication against thee. Bodily Adultery is an unclean and immodest Action committed with the Wife of another Man. By this Commandment, likewise, all other Lewdness and Wantonness is forbidden; as also procuring and alluring others to Unchastity, indecent and obscene Songs, and Dancing and Gestures: As the Apostle declares (Ephes. v. 3), Fornication, and all Uncleanness, or Covetousness, let it not once be named amongst you, as becometh Saints: neither Filthiness, nor foolish Talking, nor Jesting, which are not convenient.
Question 67
What is the eighth Commandment?
Answer.
Thou shalt not steal.
Question 68
How is this Commandment to be understood?
Answer.
This Commandment teacheth us that we are not to possess ourselves of that which belongeth unto another by any unjust Means whatever, whether it be by Robbery, or Theft, or violently withholding the Right of another. Hereby is also forbidden the taking away another’s good Name and Reputation, the exacting too much of one’s Hireling or Tenants, and the imposing too hard Conditions of Service on them. This likewise respects Usury. Of all which the Apostle thus pronounceth (1 Cor. vi. 10), Nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. This Commandment regardeth, also, all just Contracts and Bargains, in which we are required to be strictly true and upright, that we defraud not one another.
Question 69
What is the ninth Commandment?
Answer.
(Exodus xx. 16), Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour.
Question 70
How are we to understand this Commandment?
Answer.
This Commandment forbids us to speak any Falsehood of our Neighbour or hurt the Character of another out of Malice or a Desire of Revenge; in a Word, that we should avoid all evil Dispositions and Passions, that we become not the Children of the Devil, and like unto those of whom our Lord spake (John viii. 44), Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a Murderer from the Beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him. When he speaketh a Lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a Liar, and the Father of it.
In a more especial Manner it behoveth all such as are called to sit in Judgment that they most carefully observe this Commandment, that they be not led aside by the Testimony of false Witnesses or Writings, but that they judge only righteous Judgment, lest they become the Children of the Devil and Heirs of Hell.