10:30-37; Dorcas, Acts 9:36; Cornelius, Acts 10:2.




CHAPTER XII.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

TRUTHFULNESS.


Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

_What is meant by this commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not deceitfully to belie, betray,
slander, nor raise injurious reports against our neighbor, but apologize
for him, speak well of him, and put the most charitable construction on
all his actions.

* * * * *

THE OBJECT of this commandment is to secure truthfulness, [Eph. 4:25+]
and to guard our good name. [Prov. 22:1+] Without truthfulness we could
not believe anything we heard, and the utmost confusion would prevail in
the affairs of men. A good name is one of our most precious earthly
possessions.

This commandment _forbids_ all lying. It _commands_ perfect truthfulness