steal anything, be it ever so little, and mind this true saying: "Small beginnings make great endings." Beware of daintiness, drunkenness, idleness, gambling, vain show, and finery; for all this leads people to robbery and theft, and brings them to ruin." The Eighth Commandment of God. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." 1. What does the Eighth Commandment forbid ? The Eighth Commandment forbids above all to give false evidence; that is, to say in a court of justice what is not true. "And bringing two men, sons of the devil, they made them sit against him (Naboth); and they, like men of the devil, bore witness against him before the people." (3 Kings, 21, 13.) 2. How are we to give evidence in a court of justice? We must tell the mere truth, just as we know it, and neither more nor less. 3. What other sins are forbidden by the Eighth Commandment? 1. Lies and hypocrisy; 2. Detraction and calumny or slander; 3. False suspicion and rash judgment; and, in general, all sins by which the honour or character of our neighbour is injured. 4. What is meant by a lie? To say knowingly and deliberately what is not true. 5. Is it ever lawful to tell a lie ? No; it is never lawful to tell a lie, neither for our own, nor for another's benefit, not even in jest or need; for every lie is essentially opposed to God, who is truth itself. "A lie is a foul blot in a man." (Ecclus 20, 26.)—" Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." (Prov. 12, 22.) Ex.: Punishment of Ananias and Saphira. (Acts 5.) Although it is never lawful to tell an untruth, yet we are sometimes bound by charity or official duty to conceal the truth. 6. How do we sin by hypocrisy ? By pretending to be better or more pious than we really are, in order thereby to deceive others. "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness. So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matt. 23, 27. 28.) 7. How do we sin by detraction ? By revealing the faults of others without any necessity ? 8. When is it allowed to reveal the faults of others? We are allowed, and even bound to reveal them, 1. When it is for the good of the guilty person; or 2. When it is necessary for preventing a greater evil. 9. What is to be observed in making such revelation ? 1. The revelation must proceed from a pure motive of charity, and be made to such only as are able to remedy the evil; 2. The fault is not to be exaggerated, nor is an uncertain one to be represented as certain. 10. How do we sin by calumny or slander? By imputing faults to our neighbour which he has not at all, or by exaggerating his real faults. "If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly." (Eccles 10, 11.) Ex.: Aman. (Esth. 13.) 11.* Is every calumny or detraction equally sinful? No; the sin is the greater, 1. The more important the fault is, and the more considerable the person of whom it is mentioned; 2. The greater the loss and injury is which he suffers by it; 3. The more people there are who hear it; and 4. The worse our intention is in divulging it. 66 A most injurious and detestable sin is "Tale-bearing" or Whispering," i.e. when we relate to a person what another has said of him, and thus create hatred and dissension between them. "The Whisperer and the double-tongued is accursed; for he hath troubled many that were at peace." (Ecclus 28, 15.) 12. Is it also a sin, even to listen to detraction or calumny ? Yes, it is a sin, 1. To listen with delight to detraction or calumny; 2. Not to prevent it, when it is in our power; and 3. To occasion and encourage it by asking questions, or by approving of it. "Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue." (Ecclus 28, 28.)-" The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue." (Prov. 25, 23.) 13. What is he obliged to do, who, by slander or abusive language, has injured the character of his neighbour? He is obliged, 1. To retract the slander, or to beg pardon; and 2. To repair all the injury he has done him. "A good name is better than great riches." (Prov. 22, 1.) Therefore, it is an obligation to restore the former as well as the latter. 14. Must we also retract when we have divulged true, but hidden faults ? No; in such a case we should try to excuse our neighbour, and to repair his honour by some other lawful means. 15. When do we sin by false suspicion and rash judgment? We sin, 1. By false suspicion, when, without sufficient reason, we surmise evil of our neighbour; and 2. By rash judgment, when, without sufficient reason, we believe the evil to be true and certain. 66 Judge not, that you may not be judged. Why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye ?" (Matt. 7, 1. 3.) 16. What are we commanded by the Eighth Commandment? We are commanded, 1. To speak the truth in all things; 2. To be solicitous for the honour and reputation of every one; and 3. To bridle especially our tongue. 17. How far should we also be solicitous for our own honour ? As far as the honour of God, the edification of our neighbour, and the duties of our state of life require it "We forecast what may be good not only before God, but also before men." (2 Cor. 8, 21.)-Yet we should always be ready, to suffer also reproach and ignominy for our own and our neighbour's salvation, or for the sake of Jesus Christ. In this sense it is said: "If one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;" (Matt. 5, 39) and: If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed." (1 Pet. 4, 14.) "And they (the Apostles) indeed went from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus." (Acts 5, 41.) 18. How are we to be solicitous for our own reputation ? By no other but lawful means, and, above all, by continually leading a Christian life,† and by avoiding, to the best of our power, even the least appearance of evil.‡ "But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience : that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." (1. Pet. 3, 16.)-"From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves." (1 Thess. 5, 22.) 19.* How may we best guard against the sins of the tongue ? 1. By not talking inconsiderately, and by bearing in mind that we have to give an account of every idle word we speak (Matt. 12, 36.); and 2. By keeping our heart free from ambition, envy, hatred, vengeance, &c. 1. "He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul; but he that hath no guard on his speech, shall meet with evils." (Prov. 13, 3.)-2. "O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt. 12, 34.) Application.-Detest all lies and falsehoods. Never speak uncharitably of your neighbour, nor grieve him by reproachful words: "The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark; but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones." (Ecclus 28, 21.) However, do not conceal his faults from those who can correct them. The Ninth and Tenth Commandments of God. 1. What does the Ninth Commandment forbid ? The Ninth Commandment especially forbids the desire to have another man's wife,t and in general, all impure thoughts and desires. "Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5, 28.) 2. Are impure thoughts and desires always sins? As long as they displease us, and we endeavour to banish them from our mind, they are not sins. 3. When do we sin by impure thoughts? We sin by impure thoughts, when we voluntarily represent immodest things, or actions, to our mind, and when we voluntarily take pleasure in them. As it is a sin against purity, designedly to look at immodest things, so it is also a sin, to represent such things to our mind, or, when such representations are involuntary, willingly to take complacency or pleasure in them. 4. When do we sin by impure desires ? We sin by impure desires, when we voluntarily wish to see, hear, or do, something that is contrary to chastity or purity. 5. What should we do, when we are tempted by impure thoughts and desires? |