The true tryall and examination of a mans owne selfe wherein euery faithfull Christian, by looking into his conscience, may most plainely behold his spirituall deformity by nature, described, his actuall rebellion by disobedience detected, his promise breach at baptisme, by ordinary transgression apparantly proued, his lamentable estate through sinne discouered, his wilfull obstinacie by dayly disorder displayed, and lastly howe by earnest repentaunce, and faith in Christ Iesu, he is from all the same clearely pardoned, forgiuen, released and reconciled / done in Englishe by Tho. Newton.

The 9. Commandement.

Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour.

Sinnes inward.

WHether thou haue at a∣ny time dissembled the truth,* 1.1 or not vttered & maintayned it, when & as often as cōuenient∣ly thou mightest and shouldest: and whether slylie and secretly, marking other folkes wordes and deedes, thou haue wrested and construed them to the worst part.

Whether thou hast attributed and ascribed to thy selfe more dignity, cre∣dite, reputation and desert, then there was any cause why: and whether thou hast wished an other mans estimation and countenance to be empaired or disgraced.

Whether thou hast enuied, malig∣ned or spighted at any others good giftes, whether they be of the minde, of the body, or (or as wee commonly tearme it) of fortune. For hereunto belongeth all malicious swelling, and enuious conceiptes of the minde, for the welfare of others.

Whether thou hast sought anye meanes or wayes to discredite, annoy, or disparage the fame of any other: and by thy sinister reporting of them, hast gone about to bring their credite

question, and themselues into danger among persons of authoritie and high calling, or any other whomsoeuer.

Sinnes outward.

WHether thou hast told any vn∣truth or lie, wherby any matter hath gone awrie, or some losse hath ensued, or might haue ensued to any, whether the same hath bin done in place of iudgement, or else in the hearing, and assembly of fewe, or in a∣ny other place.

Whether by any craftie deuise, or peeuish exposition, thou hast in the hearing of others wrāglingly wrested any mans wordes or deedes whatsoe∣uer to other sense and meaning, then they were simplie spoken and inten∣ded. Thinges amisse ought rather with lenitie to bee mitigated, than with ex∣tremitie to be aggrauated and exaspe∣rated.

Whether thou haue of set purpose, depraued the good speeches, and or∣derly doings of others.

Whether thou hast prouoked any o∣thers to do the like, or hast seemed to allow, like wel, and approue them that

willingly and wittingly haue so done: & neither defended, excused, nor ex∣tenuated the matter, when as (not∣withstanding) thou well knewest that it was falsely, maliciously, and vnde∣seruedly practised.

Whether thou hast contumeliously and reprochfully taunted, mocked, or abused any person; or as it were skof∣fingly, gybingly and iestingly so flow∣ted him, that in the meane while thou both diddest and purposedst in thy minde, couertly and poynantly to harme him.

Whether thou hast laide any fault to any mans charge, or made report to others, that hee hath committed some crime wherof he is cleere, guilt∣lesse and ignorant.

Whether in reporting some offence or crime which another hath in deed committed, thou haue odiously am∣plified and by thy wordes made the fame worse and greeuouser than it was: either by adding, diminishing or altering, intending thereby to per∣swade the hearers to iudge & deeme the worse of the partie.

Whether thou hast maliciously pu∣blished, discouered and made openly

knowen, any crime that was secret & hidden.

Whether thou hast brought com∣plaint of any crime, being open and knowen to the higher power: bu•• yet with a meaning and desire rather to hurt and vndo, then to recure and a∣mend the partie.

Whether, being requested, enioy∣ned or commaunded, thou hast at any time apeached or accused any, whom there was no neede to be accused, and specially least of all by thee. Vnder∣stand this chiefely, when as Tirants & persecutours make inquirie & search for good and godly men, or at least, for such as be no wayes harmefull to the Common wealth, &c.

Whether for flatterie thou hast ex∣tenuated any mans faultes, or extol∣led and highly amplified his actes and dealings being but meane, and indif∣ferently so so.

Whether by appeaching, defaming, slandering, and raising odious reports of any others, thy drift were onely to picke a thanke at the hande of some great man, & thereby to insinuate thy selfe into his good wil & fauour, with the ouerthrowe, miserie, trouble and

calamitie of the other, so by thee be∣trayed.

Whether thou hast beene carelesse and retchlesse to defend thine owne fame, credit, and estimation.

Whether thou haue any where glo∣ried in thy self, or immoderately boa∣sted and bragged of thine estate.

Whether, with a kind of glauering dissimulation, and painted hipocrisie, thou hast sought and desired to be ac∣compted an other man, then in truth thou was, and art.

Whether thou haue published, set vp, or scattered abroad, or caused to be published, set vp, and scattered, any slaunderous and infamous Libel, wri∣ting or picture.

Whether by any mans or womans written letters, or by their housholde folkes and familiars thou haue euer attempted and gone about to learne their secretes, to the intent to put him or her to shame & reproch, or to hin∣derance and losse.

Whether thou hast at length vtte∣red, bewrayed, and discouered the se∣crete which thy neighbour, or brother would haue had concealed, and which meete was to be concealed.

For the kind and trade of life.

Gouernour of the Church.* 1.2 Whether in his sermons and exhortations he haue rashly deliuered out things vncertaine, for certaine: things of small moment,* 1.3 for matters of weight & great importance: & perhaps haue aduouched that, not to be sinne, or not to be so verie great a sinne, which (in deed) hath been great & hainous. And againe: whether he haue appro∣ued, ratified and affirmed, that to be right godly, & true, which hath not in deede beene godly and true.

Whether either present by word of mouth, or absent by letters, he haue commended, or suffered any to be cō∣mended, whom he wel knew not wor∣thy. And contrary wise. Whether he haue pretermitted or contemned any whom he knewe worthie of commen∣dations.

Whether he haue promoted or suf∣fered any to be promoted, being not afore examined according to the rule of order and decencie: and that, least it should be perceiued, howe vnmeete and vnfit they were.

Whether he haue giuen care to any

pickthanks, & whispering talebearers, by whose information & counsell, he hath attēpted to do any thing, before he had throughly & effectually sear∣ched out the verie truth of al things.

¶ Gouernour of the Cōmon wealth.* 1.4 Whe∣ther, when he hath had power and au∣thoritie to aduaunce and put in office godly and worthie persons, hee hath vpon corrupt affection, rather prefer∣red the vnworthie and vnfit, than the fitte & worthie: the cruell and bloudy minded, rather than the mercifull & gentle, &c.

Whether he hath acquited & pardo∣ned any felonious & guiltie persons, which by right ought not to haue bin acquited & pardoned: and contrarie∣wise whether he hath cōdemned any which deserued not to be cōdemned.

Whether he haue expounded the law in any point, contrarie to the minde & meaning of the lawmakers. All captious sophistrie, & craftie wrā∣gling, is directly against this com∣maundement.

Whether he haue so dealt with the rest of the iudges & counsellors, that he hath either subtelly & deceitfully, caused them to alter their opiniōs, be∣ing

agreeable to truth: or else hath so wrought with them, that they dur••▪ not speake the truth: or whether h•• hath admitted and allowed none, but such as he knewe would yeeld & con∣sent to his opinion.

Whether he haue forciblie extor∣ted any confession from prisoners, & such as haue beene brought into que∣stion for some offence, or misprision of offēce: vsing vnto thē either threat∣ning words, or els flattering & glosing tearmes, the rather thereby to bring the partie to answere to such pointes, as he needed not to answere vnto.

Whether in iudgements he haue a∣ny way swerued from the right forme of hearing and examining witnesses, as in calling persons to giue euidence which were vnfit, challengeable, or suspected to beare il wil and hatred to the partie.

Whether he haue been an accepter of persons in iudgement.

Whether in these his hard & iniuri∣ous dealings, he haue pretended or alleadged impertinent matter or yll applyed and sinisterly wrested for his purpose,

Whether he haue admitted in

iudgement, any proofes, eyther artifi∣ciall, or vnartificiall, wherein ill dea∣ling, faultie proceeding, and erroni∣ous practises might easily be found.

¶ Aduocate, Atturney, Proctor, Scribe,* 1.5 Whether being an Aduocate, he haue craftily and vndirectly vsed any other kinde of pleading, than such as by the lawes is appointed and allowed.

Whether he haue suborned and brought in, or caused to be brought a∣ny false witnesses.

Whether to the Bill put in, he haue cunningly and subtelly added or de∣tracted any thing, to the blindfolding of the truth, or to deceaue and bleare the eyes of the iudges.

Whether he haue wittingly, & pur∣posely, alleaged for proofe of his mat∣ter, any motheaten, counterfeite, or vnperfect lawes.

Whether the forer to hinder his ad∣uersaries cause, he hath assumed and applyed thinges to his purpose, which nothing appertained to the cause in hande.

Whether he haue giuen aduise and counsell in an ill case, and such as he knewe to be vniust and wrongfull, to ouerthrow a iust, true, and a rightfull

matter.

Whether being a Notarie or Scribe, he haue done any thing amisse in fra∣ming and making of instruments and writinges, to the breeding of errour, quarrell, hinderance, and discommo∣ditie to the parties. As when they omit or leaue out, adde or put to, dissemble or conceale, doubtfully, intricately, and darkely set downe, or declare any thinges, and neglect or mistake vsuall course and ordinarie fourme, &c.

¶ Doctor, Teacher, Scholemaster.* 1.6 Whe∣ther he haue preferred and promoted, or otherwise by letters commended to some publique degree of honour, as sufficient, learned & vertuous, such as were not (in deede) accordingly qualified.

Whether to the roome of a teacher or Reader, in a Colledge of learned professours, hee haue choosen anie such as he knewe vnable and vnsuffi∣cient.

Whether he haue perswaded any pa∣rents or kinsemen, that their sonne or cosen did profite and goe forwarde in his studie: was thriftie, toward, and of good hope, when as he hath vnthrifti∣ly wasted both his time and substance,

and peraduenture also with lewde life hath runne ryote into all villanie and mischiefe.

Whether in his lectures hee hath taught any such thinges, whereby his hearers might learne & acquaint thē∣selues howe to denie and eclipse the truth, how with cunning shiftes, and deceiueable colours to iustifie a false∣hood, and how otherwise to bleare & deceiue men, &c. As among some pro∣fessors of Logique and Rhethoricke we see it much practised.

Whether in disputing, wittingly and willingly, hee haue s••ffely impugned truth, and defended fal••ehood, & that because hee would not be thought to be vanquished and ouercome, or in some sorte to loose part of his credite and estimation.

Whether vpon any corrupt affecti∣on, hee haue leaned to any false dog∣matists, and maintainers of erroneous opinions; or haue seuered and seque∣stred himselfe from them that haue defended the truth.

Whether he haue vsed Sophistrie or anie fraudulent arte, to winne cre∣dite, fame and authoritie to himselfe in the schooles, or to drawe vnto him

many scholers, or thereby to chalenge power ouer others.&c.

¶ Sch••ler.* 1.7 Whether he haue procu∣red and gotten, or for money bought the title of Maister, or obteined Let∣ters commendatorie, thereby purpo∣sing the sooner to deceiue and blinde the eyes of his Parentes or others, to whom he meant to goe.

There be yet some other driftes, po∣licies, and shiftes packed betweene the scholer and the Master, which by these afore declared, may quickely be knowen and found out.

¶ Merchaunts, Artificers, Occupiers, and Workemen.* 1.8 Whether they haue cor∣rupted any wares, and offered them in sale for perfect and good.

Whether in their barter and bargay∣ning, they haue affirmed falsehoode, and dissimuled the truth: as whē with an oth they doe not sticke to aduouch that their wares cost them dearer thā in truth they did: that they brought them to their great costs and charges from places & countries farre dista•••• off: that an other would haue giuen a great deale more: that they loose by their selling them at so low price: and wish many black curses to themselues,

swearing and staring, if all bee not as they say, &c. O Lorde who is able to recken vp all the lyes and vntruthes (euen vntruely to their owne know∣ledge and consciences) which these sellers doe vainelie lashe and babble out, to those that come to buye of them.

Whether in bargayning or any o∣ther action and dealing, thou haue promised to perform that, which thou hadst no purpose or meaning to ac∣complish.

Finally, whether in committing any of these aboue rehearsed, thou haue giuen occasion to others to commit the like: that is to wit: whether either by words or deedes against this com∣maundement, thou haue beene the cause of offence and stumbling to o∣thers.

Againe, whether when thou hast perceiued and seene others commit∣ting the same, thou haue secretly in mind assented vnto them neyther re∣prouing nor staying and letting them, when (notwithstanding) time & place hath well serued thee so to haue done.

Notes

• * 1.1

  9. Comman∣dement.
• * 1.2

  Clergie man, or church.
• * 1.3

  Minister.
• * 1.4

  Magistrat. Judge.
• * 1.5

  Atturney. Aduocate. Proctor. Notarie.
• * 1.6

  Maister of Colledge. Doctor. Teacher. Scholema∣ste••. Reader.
• * 1.7

  Student. Sch••ler.
• * 1.8

  Marchant, Seller of wares. Artificers. Workemen Occupiers.