Of the Law of God, in Its Manifestation, Matter, Forms, and Uses to Men
1. The Law of God means either his whole word, Psalm i.
2. xix. 8, 9; or all the books of the Old Testament, John x. 34. 1 Cor. xiv. 21; or the five books of Moses, Luke xxiv. 44. Rom. iii. 21. John i. 45; or the ceremonial dispensation of the new covenant, John i. 17; or the covenant of works as opposed to the covenant of grace, Rom. vi. 14. vii. 4. viii. 2. Gal. iii. 10, 12, 13. Rut, properly taken, the law, as distinguished from the gospel, is the manifested will of God, our infinitely high Sovereign, directing and binding all men what to be, do, or avoid. Direction and obligation are the two essential constituents of a law. A sanction of penalty is never annexed to it, but where the subjects are actually fallible. A promissory sanction is never annexed, but when the law is formed into a covenant, or inlaid in one.
. The revealed law of God is ordinarily distinguished into the moral, ceremonial, and judicial. The ceremonial law prescribed the rites of worship used under the Old Testament, and was mostly grafted upon the second and fourth commandments of the moral; and these rites, in their intended signification, were an obscure gospel, Col. ii. 17. Heb. x. 1. iii. — x. The judicial law directed the civil managements of the Israelites under God, as their principal governor, with respect to their encampments, marches, wars, inheritances, marriages, punishments, rulers, kc. Exod. xxi. xxii. xxiii. Num. i. ii. x. xxvii. xxxiv. xxxv. xxxvi. Lev. xviii. xx. Deut. xvii. xix. — xxv.; and is reducible to the correspondent precepts of the moral, and never bound any but the Jews, in their national establishment, any further than moral equity requires. — The moral law is that declaration of God’s will which directs and binds all men in every age and place to their whole duty to him, themselves, or their neighbours. — The leading articles of this law, proceeding from the very nature of God, and his relation to men as their Creator, Preserver, and Governor, are altogether unchangeable and indispensable, Mai. v. 17* 19. Rom. iii. 31. xiii. 8, 9. Tit. iii. 8, 14. James ii. 8, 10. And all the ten commandments of it are either more or less directly inculcated in the New Testament.’ The substance of the jirst is in John iii. 19. v. 42. 2 Pet. i. 5 — 8. iii. 18. 2 Thess. i. 8. 1 John iii. 23. iv. 19. Matth. iv. 10. Acts ii. 38. Matth. xxii. 37. 1 Pet. ii. 17. Heb. xii. 28. Rom. iii. 18. 2 Cor. i. 0. 1 Tim. iv. 7. vi. 17; — the substance of the second, in John iv. 23, 24. v. 39. Rev. i. 3. Rom. xii. 1 — 6. 1 Thess. v. 17. Col. iii. 16. Eph. v. 19. James v. 13, 14. 1 Cor. x. 14. 1 John v. 21; — of the third in Matth. v. 34 — 37. xv. 9. vi. 7. James i. 23. v. 12. John iv. 24. 1 Cor. xiv. 15; — of the fourth in Mark xvi. 2, 9. John xx. 19, 26. Acts xx. 7. 1 Cor. xvi. 2. Rev. i. 10; — of the fifth in Eph. vi. 1 — 9. v. 22 — 33. iv. 32. Col. iii. 18 — 25. iv. 1. Tit. ii. 3 — 10. 1 Pet. ii. 18. iii. 1 — 8. 1 Thess. v. 12 — 14. 1 Tim. iii. — vi. And the other five commands are repeatedly inculcated together, Mat. xix. 18, 19; Rom. xiii. 9 Gal. v. 14. James ii. 8 — 11. — — -Such articles of the moral law as do not immediately proceed from the nature of God or his relations to men, admit of God’s excepting particular cases, but of no other. Thus, in Adam’s family, brethren lawfully married their own sisters: God might require a brother to marry the widow of a childless brother deceased; or X’equire a man to sacrifice his own son, &c.
God’s moral law is manifested, 1. As partly, but obscurely, written in the heart of all men, Rom. ii. 14, 15. i. 19, 20, 32. 2. As summarily contained in the ten commandments, Exod. xx. 3 — 17. Deut. v. 6 — 21. 3. As largely held forth and exof the law of god.
plained in the whole Bible, in every divine requirement or prohibition, direct or indirect, Deut. iv. — xxxi. Mat. v. — vii. Eph. iv. — vi. Col. iii. iv. Rom. xii. — xv. Phil. ii. — iv. 1 Thess. v. Heb. x. — xiii. James i. to Rev. iii. — It was manifested to Adam, its natural demands being wrote on bis heart, and its positive requirements revealed to him, Gen. i 26, 27. ii. 16, 17. — It was manifested to the Israelites at Sinai, proclaimed in a most solemn and terrible manner, to represent the danger of those that are under it as a covenant, Exod. xix. xx. I)eut. iv. v. Heb. xii. 28, 29. — Wrote upon tables of stone, to mark its perpetual obligation, and the hardness of men’s hearts, on which the Holy Ghost writes it, Exod. xxiv. 12, xxxiv. 1, 28. — And the hewing of the latter tables by Moses might import, that we must be convinced by the law as a covenant, before it can be wrote in our heart as a rule of life. — It was thus solemnly published, 1. To confirm the original law of nature. 2. To correct men’s mistakes concerning its demands, 3. To supply that which was wanting in it. 4. To convince the Israelites of their need of a Mediator in order to their eternal salvation, or their being the peculiar people of God, Gal. iii. 19, 20.
Christ and his apostles republished and further explained the moral law, and vindicated it from the false interpretations of the Jewish doctors, Matth. v. xv.; but they did not in the least enlarge it. 1. It was long before perfect, Deut. iv. 2. v. 32. xii. 32. Psalm xix. 7, 8. cxix. 96; nor could it be correct¬ ed, without impeaching the wisdom and equity of God, who framed it. 2. Christ came not to destroy the ancient moral law, but to fulfil it, Matth. v. 17, 18. 3. He and his apostles
taught nothing but what Moses and the prophets had done, Matth. xxii. 37 — 40. vii. 12 Rom. i. 3. Acts xxvi. 22. The loving of brethren is an old commandment, and from the beginning, in respect of its matter; and only new, in respect of its additional enforcement by Christ’s death for us, and his clear publication of the gospel, 1 John ii. 8. John xiii. 34. Self-denial, taking up our cross, and imitating Christ, were required in the Old Testament as well as in the New. In self-denial and taking up his cross, Abraham left his native country, Gen. xii. Heb. xi. 8; the pious Levites slew their idolatrous brethren, Exod xxxii. 27, 28; Job blessed God under his heavy troubles, Job i. ii.; Moses chose affliction with his brethren, Heb. xi. 25, 26. — Almost every prophet and good man appears denying himself and taking up his cross, 2 Sam. xvi. 5 — 11. 1 Kings xvii. 2 Chron. xxiv. 20 — 22. Dan. iii. vi. Neh. ii. v. — The loving God above all, necessarily requires self-denial and taking up our cross when it is for his glory, Psalm cxv, 1. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, 1 Pet. iv, 14. — Christ being God, the imitation of him in the divine excellencies he then had, was required under the Old Testament, Lev. xi. 44. xix. 2. xx. 7. — Christ added nothing to the three first commandments, — no new form of prayer: That which he taught his disciples contains nothing but what had been long before requested, Isa. lxiii. 16. Psalm lxxii. lvii. 11 cxliii. cxix. Prov. xxx. 8. Psalm xxv. 11. xvi. 1. xvii. 2. — The worship¬ ping Christ, and God in his name, was practised under the Old Testament, Psalm ii. 12. xv. 11. xcvii 7. Heb. i. 6. Exod. xxiii. 21. Gen. xviii. 23. xlviii. 16. Dan. ix. 17. Psal. lxxxiv. 9; men were forbidden to have images, or frequent idolatrous temples, as well as now, Exod. xxiii. 24. Deut. xii. 23. vii. 2, 3. Psalm xvi. 4; and to swear rashly or irreverently, Deut. vi. 13. x. 20. Eccl. ix. 2. Isa. lxv. 16. Jer. iv. 2. v. 7. Mat. v. 34 — 37. James v. 12. —: — Nothing moral in the fourth and fifth command is in the least altered. — Sinful anger, ’ injuring brethren, private revenge, unchaste looks or words, unnecessary divorce, and polygamy, were forbidden before Christ came, as well as since, Gen. iv. 6. xxvii. 4., 43. xxxi. 24. xlv. 8. xlix. 7. Job xxix. 16. xxxi. 1. 2 Kings v. 13. Deut. v. 20, 21. xvii. 5. xxiv. 1. Mai. ii. 14, 15. Lev. xix. 8.
In respect of quality, the moral law is, 1. Universal, extend¬ ing to all men, in every age, in all their dispositions, thoughts, words, and works, Rom. ii. 14. iii. 19,20. iv. 15. v. 13. 2. Per¬
feet, requiring all good dispositions and exercises, in the most perfect degree, and forbidding every thing sinful in any degree, Psalm xix. 7. cxix. 96, 128. 3. Perpetual, directing and bind¬ ing men both through time and eternity, Luke xvi. 17. Mat. v. 18. 4. Holy, a transcript of God’s infinite holiness, and bind¬ ing men to perfect holiness, Rom. vii. 12. 5. Just, requiring
nothing but what we owe to God, ourselves, or our neighbours, and what we, in Adam, had originally strength to perform, Rom. vii. 12. Psalm xix. 8. cxix. 7, 128. 6. Good, requiring
nothing but what is good in itself, and calculated to promote the happiness of all under it, Rom. vii. 12. ii. 7, 10. Psalm xix. 11. cxix. 165. 7. Spiritual, reaching all the powers of men’s
souls, and requiring all obedience to proceed from spiritual principles, and to be performed in a spiritual manner, and directed to proper spiritual ends, Rom. vii. 14. 8. Exceeding
broad, extending its requirements and prohibitions to multitudes of things in every moment, place, and circumstance, Psalm cxix. 96.
II. Obedience to this law consists in our being and acting answerably to its requirements and prohibitions, from an high regard to its divine authority. Or, it is the making the matter of it our Rule, and the authority of God in it the Reason of our
whole conduct. It must be, 1. Sincere and candid, Psalm xviiL 23. Heb. xi. 17. Num. xiv. 40 — 44. 2. Constant, notwithstand¬
ing all alterations in our state or circumstances, Psalm cxix. 44.
3. Tender, abstaining from the smallest appearance of evil,
1 Thess. v. 22. Judg. ii. 5. Ezck. vi. 9. 4. Ready) and cheer¬ ful, Psalm xviii. 44. Gal. i. 16. Heb. xi. 8. 5. Universal, to
every precept, in every point, and by every power in us, Psalm cxix. 6. 6. Absolute, determined by the revealed will of God,
though we perceive no other reason, Heb. xi. 8. Mat. xxiii.
8 — 10. Acts iv. 19. v. 29. 7. Perfect, without the smallest de¬
feet, and answerable to the highest demands of holiness, Mat, v. 48. Lev. xi. 44. 1 Pet. i. 13, 15, 16. 8. In our case, Evan¬
gelical, having Jesus Christ offered and bestowed in the gospel, for its origin, cause, motive, pattern, and end, 1 Tim. i. v. Horn, i. v. 2 Cor. x. 5. Eph. v. 2 Col. iii. 17. 1 Pet. iv. 11.
Love to God, to ourselves, and to our neighbours, is the general duty of obedience required by the moral law. 1. Love to God is the source or root of all our obedience to the law, John xiv. 15,21 — 24; — the chief stream or branch of obedience,
1 Cor. xiii.; and the all-comprehending substance of it, Rom. xiii. 10. — We must love God with all eur heart, soul, mind, and strength, Mat. xxii. 37: — Which includes, 1. A true spiritual knowledge of what he is in himself, and as connected with us, John xvii. 3. 2. A hearty choice of him as our chief good.
Psalm lxxiii. 25, 26. 3. A cleaving to him as our God and
all in all, Acts xi. 23. 4. An high esteem of him in all that
he is and does, Song v. 10. Psalm xxxv. 10. Exod. xv. 11. Psalm viii. 1, 9. xxxvi. 7. civ. 34. cxxxix. 17, IS. Zech. ix. 17. 5. Ardent desire after familiar enjoyment of him, Psalm xxvii. 4. xiii. 1, 2. lxxxiv. 2. lxiii. 1 — 8. 6. Delight in him, Song i.
13. Psalm xx xvii. 4. cxlix. 2. - And thus our love to him
must be Judicious, Mark xii. 33: Sincere and hearty, Prov. xxiii. 26: Pure and absolute, for the sake of his excellency and kindness to us, Song i. 3. Psalm xxxvi. 7. 1 John iv. 19: Strong and vigorous, Song viii. 6,7: Superlative, far transcending that which we bear to other objects, Luke xiv. 26; and operative in holy exercises, 1 John iii. 18. ltom. xiii. 10. xiv. 6, 8, 9. II. We ought to love ourselves, in valuing ourselves as God’s rational creatures, having immortal souls capable of an eternal enjoyment and service of him, and so unspeakably more important than all the irrational world, Mat. xvi. 26. — In humble satisfaction with our particular natural form as the work of God, Psalm c. 3. cxxxix. 14 — 16; in detesting and avoiding every thing which tends to our real hurt, Rom. xii. 9. Psalm cxix. 104. Acts xvi. 28; — in laying out our whole care, knowledge, ability, and opportunity to promote our own holiness, honour, safety, and comfort, in subordination to the glory of God, Mat. vi. 33. John vi. 27.
Horn. ii. 7, 10. 1 Tim. iv. 8. III. All men on earth being our neighbours, we ought to love them, in duly esteeming them for the gifts, grace, and usefulness with which God hath endowed them, 1 Pet. ii. 17. Phil. ii. 3. Rom. xii. 10. 1 Pet. iii. 8. iv. 8; — and delighting in them in subordination to our superlative
delight in God, Psalm xvi. 3. cxix. 63. 1 Pet. i. 22. - We are
to love them as ourselves, in doing every thing for and to them, which we could reasonably wish them to do to us in like circumstances, Mat. vii. 12; and in loving and doing good to them from true love to their persons, 1 John iii. 17, 18. 1 Pet. i.22. iii. 6. iv. 8.
The whole moral law, which regulates our love to God and men, and all the actings of it, is contained in the ten commandments, — the first four of which direct our love to God, prescribing the object, means, manner, and peculiar season of our worship; — and the last six direct our love to man, answerably to relative connections, life, chastity, property, reputation, and in¬ ward disposition; — our whole duty to man being thus founded on our relations and duty to God, Exod. xx. 3 — 17. Deut. v„
6 — 21.’ - As these commandments contain very much matter
in few words, the following rules must be carefully observed in understanding and explaining them: I. Wherever a duty is required, the contrary sin is forbid; and wherever a sin is for¬ bid, the contrary duty is required. II. Wherever a sin is for¬ bid, every sin of the same kind, and every cause, occasion, and appearance thereof, are also forbid; and where a duty is commanded, every duty of the same kind, and all the means of per¬ forming it, are required. III. Whatever we ourselves are bound to be, do, or forbear, we are bound, according to our stations, to do all that we can to make others to be and do the same.
IV. That which is forbid is never to be done: but actions required are only to be performed when God gives opportunity.
V. The same sin is forbidden, and the same duty required, in different, nay, in all the commandments, in different respects.
VI. No sin is ever to be committed in order to avoid a greater; but some duties required must give place to others. Our natural duties to God must be preferred to our natural duties to men. Acts iv. 19. v. 29. And the positive worship of God must sometimes give place to the natural duties of necessity and mercy towards men, Hos, vi. 6.
I. The First Commandment being, as it were, the foundation or corner-stone of the whole law, especially of the first table, is obeyed or disobeyed, in all our obedience or disobedience to any commandment. — It particularly requires, I. Know¬ ledge of God, as God, in his existence, perfections, persons, purposes, and works, 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. John xvii. 3. 1 John
v. 7, 20. Psalm cvii. 43; — and as our God in Christ, Exod.
xxxiv. 6, 7, 9. 2 Cor. v. 18 — 21; not merely speculative but practical, conforming our heart and life to his image, 2 Cor. iii.
18. John xiii. 17. Eph. iv. 32. v. 1, 2. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. IL Ac¬
knowledgment of him as God and our God. I. Inwardly in our heart. 1. In crediting all that we know concerning him upon his own testimony, John xx. 31. 1 Thess. ii. 13. 2. In
believing on Christ as our only Saviour and way to God, and chusing God in him for our everlasting portion and Lord,
1 John iii. 23. Psalm xvi. 2. cxlii. 5. xxxi. 14. xci. 2. cxviii. 28. 3. In deliberate renunciation of every idol, and solemnly sur¬ rendering up ourselves to him as our Husband and King, Mat. v. 29, 30. Hos. xiv. 3, 8. Jer. iii. 16, 19. Josh. xxiv. 15. 4. In
constant faithfulness to our covenant relations and engagements to him, keeping our hearts from every thing else to him, as our superlatively beloved all in all, Prov. iv. 23. Psalm lxxiii. 23 — 26, Song iv. 12. 5. In truly penitent turning from our indwelling lusts and sinful practices to him with grief and hatred of our sin, and with full purpose of, and endeavour after new obedience, Acts xx. 21. Jer. iii. 13, 14, 21 — 23. xxxi. 18,
19. Hos. xiv. 1 — 3, 8. 6. In constant correspondence of our
inward frame of spirit with the excellencies of God, and the manifestations thereof in Christ, — serving and worshipping him, who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth, John iv. 24. Rom. i. 9. viii. 5. 1 Cor. xiv. 15; enlarging our heart to embrace and en¬ joy him as Infinite, Psalm lxxxi. 10. Isa. xxvi. 8, 9; looking not at things temporal, but at things Eternal, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18; humble and absolute dependence on him as All-svjjicient and In¬ dependent, Song viii. 5; unmoved trust in, cleaving to, and imitation of him as Unchangeable, Mai. iii. 6. Psal. lxxxix. 34. Deut. iv. 4. x. 20. Josh, xxiii. 8. Acts xi. 23. Prov. xxiv. 21. Job ii. 3.
1 Cor. xv. 58; living alway as in his presence and under his All -
seeing eye, Psalm xvi. 8. Gen. xvi. 13. Jer. xxiii. 24; filial awe of, and trust in his Power, Greatness, and Equity, Heb. xii. 28, 29. Job vi. 14. xiii. 15; delight in, and conformity to his unspotted Holiness, 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. Lev. xi. 44. Mat. v. 48; humble receiving, admiring, and rejoicing in his Goodness, Jer. xxxi. 12. Gen. xxxii. 10; trust in, and imitation of his truth, candour, and faithfulness, 2 Chron. xx. 20. 7. In affections
correspondent with his word, as manifesting his excellencies, — searching, believing, loving, delighting in, and feeding upon it, as his word of salvation, Psalm cxix. Gen. xxxii. 9 — 12. 2 Sam. vii. 25. Job xxiii 12. Jer. xv. 16. Acts xiii. 26. 1 Tim. i. 15.
2 Tim. iii. 15 — 17; and with his work, — discerning, magnify¬ ing, and praising him in it, — -as infinitely glorious, wise, power¬ ful, holy, and good, in Creation, Psalm viii. 3. cxxxvi. 5; — as just, wise, almighty, faithful, and gracious in afflictive providences, and therefore bearing them patiently, humbly, and thankfully, Job i. 21. ii. 10. Psalm cxix. 67, 71, 75; as gracious and merciful in smiling providences, and therefore exercising love, wonder, and gratitude, Gen. xxxii. 10. 1 Thess. v.
18. Phil. iv. 4, 6. Col, iii. 17; - as infinitely wise, powerful,
just, and merciful in redemption, and hence approving it with our whole heart, and trusting our temporal and eternal happiness wholly to it, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Phil. iii. 8, 9. 2. We must
also acknowledge him outwardly, as God and our God, in an open and stedfast profession of him, as such, — and of his truths for his sake, — and in a correspondent practice, 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. Heb. iv. 14. x. 23. Eph. iv. — vi. Col. i. — iv. 1 Thess. i. — v. Rom. xii — xv. vi.; — and that in order to glorify him, Phil. i. 20. Luke ix. 26; edify our neighbour, Phil. i. 12, 13. Tit. iii. 8, 14; and to promote our own spiritual advantage, Mark viii. 35, 38. Rom. x. 10. Luke xii. 8. III. Worshipping and glorifying God as God and our God in Christ, 1. Inwardly, in our mind, thinking of him, Mai. iii. 16. Psalm lxiii. 6. cxxxix. 17, 18. civ. 34; esteeming him, Exod. xv. 11. Psalm cxxxv. 10. viii. 1, 9. xxxvi. 7. lxxiii. 25; and believing him, Exod. xiv. 31. 1 Thess. ii. 13; — in our conscience, — standing in awe of his authority, Psalm xliv. 20, 21. Jobxxxi. 14,23; subject¬ ing it to him alone, without reserve, Mat. xxiii. 8 — 10. iv. 10. Jam. iv. 12; receiving his law as marked with his infinite authority, Isa. viii. 20. v. 20. Mat. vi. 22, 23; constant application of Christ’s blood for purging it, and as the means of our unceasing familiarity with God, Heb. x. 19 — 22; self-excitement to duty upon an evangelical foundation, Luke i. 74, 75. Psalm cxvi. 12, 16. ciii. 1 — 5; and accusing or excusing us according to our state, our practice, and the tenor of his law, Rom. ii. 15. Psalm lxv. 3. cxxx. 3, 4; - in our will, — so¬
lemnly and repeatedly chusing him, Josh. xxiv. 15. Psalm xvi. 2. lxxiii. 25. cxix. 57. xci. 2. cxlii. 5. Lam. iii. 24; making him our chief end, in every thing we do, 1 Cor. x. 31. 1 Pet. iv. 11. Rom. xiv. 8; denying our natural, civil, and religious self for his sake and honour, Mat. xvi. 24. Luke xiv. 26. xvii. 10; resigning ourselves to his commanding and providential will, Rom. vi. 17. Gen. xxii. 1 — 18. Luke xxiv. 26. Psalm xlvii. 4. xxxix. 9. cxix. 71, 75; patient bearing his afflicting rods, Psalm xxxix. 9. 1 Sam. iii. 18. 2 Sam. xvi. 10, 11. Lam.
iii. 22, 39. Micah vii. 7 — 10. Isa. liii. 7; - in our affectionsx
—loving him as infinitely excellent and kind, Deut. vi. 5. Psal. xviii. 1 — 3. cxvi. 1; desiring more full enjoyment of him, Isa. xxvi. 8, 9. Phil. i. 23. 2 Cor. v. 4, 8; delighting and rejoicing in him, and what he hath said, done, or will do for us, Psalm xxxii. 11. cxlix. 2. Isa. lxi. 10. Hab. iii. 18. Psalm lx. 6. Luke i. 47; grieving for offences given him, Zech. xii. 10. Psalm cxix. 136; kindly fear of him, Isa. viii. 13. Hos. iii. 5.
Psalm xxxvi. 1. cxix. 120. Mat. x. 28; judicious, prudent, and well governed zeal for his honour and interest in the world. Psalm lxix. 9. cxix. 139; loathing and abhorring ourselves for our sinfulness, as contrary to his nature and will, Ezek. xvi. 63. xxxvi. 31, 32. Job xlii. 5, 6. Isa. vi. 5. lxiv. 6. Jer. xxxi. 18. Pom. vii. 14 — 24; — in our memory delightfully recording and remembering the discoveries which we have had of him in his word and works, Psalm cxix. 11. xxxvi. 6, 7. ciii. — cvii. cxvi.
cxxxvi. cxlv. — cl. John ii. 17. Job xxxvi. 24; - in our whole
soul, trusting and hoping in him, as our Saviour, Husband, Father and God, for all that we need, Isa. xxvi. 4. Psalm cxxx. 7, 8. cxix. 49, 81; — in humility towards him, Micah vi. 8; and hence, under a deep sense of our own ignorance, weakness, and unworthiness, consulting him in all our ways, and giving him the glory of any good in or done by us, Prov. iii. 5, 6. Isa. xl. 0. 2 Cor. iii. 5. 1 Cor. xv. 10. Psalm cxv. 1; voluntarily untertaking the meanest services to which he calls us, Acts xxi. 13; and restricting ourselves within the limits of our proper station, Psalm cxxxi. 1. 1 Cor. vii. 20, 24; and labouring in internal prayers and praises, Phil. iv. 6. Exod. xiv. 8. Psalm cxix. 58. xlv. 1. cviii. 1. 2. Outwardly, in our due attend¬
ance upon the instituted ordinances of his worship, Mat, xxviii. 20. 1 Cor. xi. 2; and a due performance of all that duty which we owe to ourselves or others from a regard to his autlioritv, and answerably to his nature, and to his relations to us. Mat. v. 16. 1 Cor. x. 31. 1 Pet. iv. 11.
The first commandment forbids, I. Atheism, which is either speculative, in which men flatly and directly deny or doubt God’s existence, perfections, and providence, Psalm xiv. 1. liii. I. Eph. ii. 12. 1 John ii. 23. Ezek. viii. 12. Psalm x. 11. Men are often tempted to this by their prosperity, or outrage¬ ousness in wickedness, or by the uncommon afflictions of the godly; but they rather attempt to force themselves into it, than actually to fix it in opposition to the dictates of their conscience, and the manifold proofs to the contrary, Prov. xxx. 9. i. 32. Jer. ii. 5, 25. Mai. iii. 13, 14. i. 13. Psalm lxxiii. 13; — or practical, in which men live as if there were not a God; having no knowledge of him, no faith in him, no choice of him. no love to him, no spiritual thoughts of him, no holy desires after him;
— no spiritual impressions of his perfections, discernment of him in his word or works, or activity in his worship indulging themselves in secret sins, wishing there were no God to punish them, and encouraging others in wickedness, Psalm xiv. 1. Eph. ii. 2, 12. Psalm xxxvi. 3. Mic. vi. 16; — live without any profession of religion, or appearance of regard to the worship of God, Jer. x. 25; or live wickedly under the mask of a profession, Phil. iii. 19. Tit. i. 15, 16. 2 Tim. iii. 2 — 5; or abandon that religious profession and practice which they once had, John vi. 66. Hos. vi. 4, 5. Heb. vi. 4 — 6. II. Profaneness respecting the object of worship, in not worshipping and glorify¬ ing him as God and our God; — which, in our mind, includes natural, slothful, or wilful ignorance of him and spiritual things, Hos. iv. I, 6. Isa. xxvii. 11.2 Thess. i. 8. Job xxi. 14; misapprehensions of him, Acts xvii. 23, 29. Rom. i. 21. 1 Cor. i. 23; neglect and aversion to think of him, Psalm x. 4. Rom.
1. 28; want of honourable, and conception of vile thoughts concerning him, Isa. liii. 3,4. Psalm x. 13. 1.21. Ezek. viii. 12; doubting, unbelief, and error, contrary to his declarations in his word, 2 Kings vi. 33. vii. 19. Deut. xxix. 19. Acts xxvi. 9. Gal. v. 20; rash credulity of others instead of God, 1 John
iv. 1. John v. 43. 2 Thess. ii. 11, 12. — In our conscience, it includes carnal security, Zeph. i. 12; blindness and misinformation, Isa. v. 20; inactivity, stupidity, senselessness, 1 Tim. iv.
2. Eph. iv. 18, 19; partially, making most ado about lesser matters, and chiefly disapproving other men’s sinfulness, Mat. vii. 1 — 4. xxiii. 23; deceitfulness, pretending regard to God, when it is biassed by bribes, Ezek. xiii. 19; legality, exciting men to follow after righteousness by the works of the law, Rom. ix. 31, 32. x. 2, 3. vii. 9; submission to men’s authority instead of God’s, 1 Cor. iii. 4, 5. Hos. v. 11. Mic. vi. 16. — In our will, it includes rejection of the gospel offers of Christ, and God in him, to be our God, Hos. xi. 2, 7. Psalm lxxxi. 10 — 12. Heb. x. 26, 29; neglect of surrendering ourselves to God, and not making him our chief end, Eph. ii. 12. Hos. x. 1. Zech. vii. 5; hypocritical dedication of ourselves to him, Mic. iii. 11. Hos. viii. 2; disregard of our solemn engagements to him, Jer.
v. 4, 5. Psalm 1. 16, 17. lxxviii. 10, 57; inward covenanting against him and his interests, Eccl. v. 6. Hos. v. 11. 2 Cor. xiii. 8; discontentment with, and murmuring against his words or works, Job xxxiv. 33, 37. Jude 16. Psalm xxxvii. 1 — 8. Jer. xii. 1. xx. 7 — 18; unsanctified contentment, seeking that satisfaction which we cannot find in one creature, in another, — satisfaction with our lot, without regard to the will of God in it; indolent, fool-hardy, stupid, and brutish patience under our troubles, — and enduring them as just, but not as good, — nay very good for us, Isa. xiii. 25. xxxix. 8. Psalm cxix. 71. — In our affections, it includes want or weakness of love to, and desire after, or delight in God, aversion from, and hatred of him, and what pertains to him and bears his image, Rom. i. 30. Psalm xiv. 1. Job xxxiv. 9; deadness in, and weariness of his service, Mai. iii. 13. i. 13. Amos viii. 5; lukewarm indifference about spiritual things. Rev. iii. 16; corrupt, indiscreet, blind, and passionate zeal, not proportioned to the importance of its object; or chiefly against sin in others, Rom. x. 2. Mat, xxiii.
23. vii. 1 — 4. Gen. xxxviii. 24. 2 Sam. xii. 5; and which carries us out of our station to act from proud and selfish views, without a proper call, and without proper pity to offenders, 2 Sam. vi. 6. 2 Kings x. 16. Luke ix. 54. 2 Cor. ii. 7. 2 Thess.
iii. 6, 7; — want of filial reverence of God, rashness and irreverence of heart in his presence, Psalm lxxxix. 7. Eccl. v. 1; un¬ concern at his threatenings, Amos iii. 8. Jer. v. 22. Isa. v. 19; presumptuous rebellion against his warnings, Psalm xxxvi. 1. Ezek. xii. 27. Jer. xliii. 1, 2. xliv. 15, 16. xxiii. 17, 33; hope of impunity in sin, Deut. xxix. 19. Psalm x. 11, 13; obdurate impenitence ip sin, manifested in our denying, extenuating, excusing, or transferring the blame of it on others, Korn. ii. 5. Prov. xxviii. 13. xxix. 1. xxx. 20; bold and curious inclination to pry into God’s secrets, Deut. xxix. 29; presumptuous confidence that he will support us in that to which he never called us, — tempting or putting him to the trial, what he can or will do, in exercising his patience or indicting his judgments, Mat.
iv. 7. Psalm xcv. 9. Mai. iii. 15; diffidence, anxiety and de¬ spair, Jer. ii. 25. Mat. vi. 34. Gen. iv. 13. Ezek. xxxvii. 11. — In our memory, it includes our readiness to forget God, his words and works, and aptness to retain that which is trifling and wicked instead thereof, Jer. ii. 32. Psalm 1. 22. Deut. xxxii. 18. — In our whole soul, it includes pride, Psalm cxxxviii. 6. Hab. ii. 4. Prov. xxx. 12, 13; insensibleness of our weak¬ ness and sinfulness, Jer. ii. 31. viii. 6, 12. 1 Cor. x. 12. Mat. vii. 2, 3; contempt of duty, or want of inclination to it, be¬ cause of its apparent meanness, 1 Sam. ii. 30. 2 Kings v. 11, 12; inward meddling with things above our situation or ability, Psalm cxxxi. 1, 2. Num. xvi. 1; infervency and wandering of heart in religious duties, 1 Thess. v. 19. Eph. vi. 19, 20. Rom. xii. 11; unthankfulness to God for benefits received, and thank¬ fulness for success in sin, Deut. viii. 17. Zech. xi. 5; inward slighting God and his law, — resisting and grieving his Spirit, Psalm 1. 17. Deut. xxxii. 15. Isa. lxiii. 10. Acts vii. 51. Eph. iv. 30. Heb. x. 29. Mat. xii. 31, 32; — and, in so far as our inward frame and exercise is not suited to his glorious excellencies, and his new-covenant relations to us, Rom. i. 21. — In our external appearances, it includes our not avouching him in our profession as God and our God in Christ, and not attending that profession which we make of him with a suitable practice, 2 Tim. iii. 2 — 5. Tit. i. 15, 16. III. Idolatry, which is the giving that worship and honour to any other, which is due to God alone, — and is either more gross or refined. In the more gross idolatry, heathens worshipped the sun, moon, stars, kings, heroes, benefactors, inventors of arts, nay dogs, cats, crocodiles, serpents, leeks, onions, harlots, &c. Jer. xliv. 3, 8, 18. 1 Kings xi. 2. 2 Kings xvii. 29 — 33. Rom. i. 21 — 25. And papists worship angels, popes, pretended relics of Christ and his saints, consecrated wafers, &c. The sinfulness and absurdity of such worship
is evident: 1. No creatures deserve our worship, being at best little
superior, and many of them inferior to us. Being weak, or at least finite, they are unfit to be trusted, Jer. xvii. 5. Isa. ii. 22. Rom. x. 14. The most exalted creatures cannot judge of the inward truth or importance of our worship, Rev. ii. 23. Jer. xvii. 10; nor can they grant our requests, or even a blessing on our outward enjoyments, Exod. xxiii. 25. 2. God hath given us
no warrant by precept, promise, or approved example, to invoke or adore any creature. 3. He requires, that only him¬ self, as the self-existent God, should be worshipped; and condemns all religious worship of any other, Exod. xx. 2, 3. Matth. iv 10. Deut. vi. 13. x. 20. 1 Sam. vii. 3. Isa. xlii. 8. Rom. i. 23. Gal. iv. 8. 4. Though Christ, as God, be the object of religious worship, and though, as Mediator, he is to be received by faith as God’s unspeakable gift, — and though his mediation be an excitement to worship him as God, as well as his Father, and the Holy Spirit in him, yet, as the Son of man and the servant of God, he cannot be the object of divine worship, unless his finite nature shared the same honour with his god¬ head, or he have a subordinate and a supreme worship ascribed to him, both of which are equally absurd. — Nor is there any reason to pretend, that the religious worship called latreia belongs only to God, but that called douleia may be given to creatures; for douleia is ascribed to God, Gal. iv. 8. 1 Thess. i. 9. Mat. xxvi. 24. Acts xx. 19. Rom. xii. 11. xiv. 18. Eph. vi. 7; and civil homage to men is called latreia, Deut. xxviii. 48. Lev. xxiii. 7. — In more refined idolatry, we believe, choose, trust, love, esteem, desire, delight in, fear, think on, sorrow’ for the want of, — are zealous for, or careful to please, or obtain any thing as much or more than the true God, or in opposition to his will. — In this manner men chiefly idolize and worship, 1. Satan, — in entering into covenants with him, practising or encouraging divination, witchcraft, or magic, consulting him or his agents relative to things future, secret, or lost, Deut. xvi. 9 — 12. Lev. xix. 31. xx. 6. Exod. xxii. 18. Isa. viii. 19. Dan. ii. 2; — embracing his false doctrines, 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2; regarding his pretended miracles, 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10. Rev. xiii. 13. xix. 20 obeying his laws, Jer. vii. 23. Mic. vi. 16. Hos. v. 11; hearkening to his suggestions, Acts v. 3 — 10. 1 Kings xxii. 22, 23. John xiii. 27. 1 Chron. xxi. 1; or submitting to his slavery, 2 Cor. iv. 4. 2 Tim. ii. 26. Isa. xlix. 24, 25. 2. The world, — in seeking the enjoyments of it as the
portion of our soul, or for themselves, not as they lead to God, Psalm xvii. 14. Col. iii. 1, 2. Rom. viii. 5, 6. Phil. iii. 19. James iv. 4. 1 John ii. 15, 16. iii. 17. Rev. i. 7; making the
customs arid fashions of it a standard of our faith or practice,1 Rom. xii. 1, 2. 1 Pet. i. 14, 18; delighting in the fellowship of carnal men, Psal. xv. 4. cxix. 115. Prov. ix. 6. xiii. 20. James iv. 4; or sinfully pleasing men, Gal. i. 10. Rom. xv. 2, 1 Cor. ix. 19 — 22. 1 Thess. ii. 4 — 6. 3. Self, natural, civil, of religious, — in having too high an esteem of ourselves, Prov. xxvi. 12, 16. Isa. lviii. 3. Rom. x. 3; loving ourselves, not as subordinated to God, and for his sake, 2 Tim. iii. 2. Luke xiv. 26; or seeking ourselves too much, or as our great end in any thing we do, 2 Kings x. 16. Prov. xxi. 4. xv. 8. Zech. vii. 5, 6. Phil. ii. 21. iii. 19. 4. Sin, in indulging or practising it in any
form or degree, as it stands in direct opposition to God, Jer. xliv. 4. Hab. i. 12. 1 John iii. 4; and its reign or pxevalence in us renders all that we do a service to and worship of it, Isa. i. 11, 12. lxvi. 3. Prof. xv. 8. xxviii. 9. xxi. 4, 27. 5. Graces and spiritual comforts, in loving, trusting to, desiring, and delighting in them for themselves, and instead of God,
1 Johnv. 21. 2 Cor. xii. 7.
The reasons annexed to this commandment are, I. That the all-seeing God takes special notice of our atheism, profaneness, and idolatry, let them be varnished with as many fair pretences as they will, Psalm xliv. 20, 21. Ezek. viii. 7 — 12. 2. That he is much displeased with us for them, particularly for idolatry. He has manifested his displeasure in his word, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Gal. v. 19 — 21. Rev. xxi. 8. xxii. 15. xiv. 10, 11. And few nations, heathens, Jews, or antichristians, have or will be destroyed in his providence, but on account of idolatry, as one principal article of his controversy with them, 2 Kings xvii, Jer. xxv. xlvi. — li. Rev. ix. xiii. xiv. He has often taken away men’s idols, Judg. xvii. xviii.; obliged them either to part with them or with their profession of religion, Gen. xxxv. 2; or rendered them a plague to them, as in the case of Eli, and David’s idolized children, 1 Sam. ii. — iv. 2 Sam. xiii. — xviii. 1 Kings i.; or has left them shamefully to manifest their idolatry, as in the case of Judas, Matth. xxvi. 15; Demas,
2 Tim. iv. 10.
II. The Second Commandment respects the means of religious worship. Our bodies, as well as our souls, being i-edeemed with the blood of God, Acts xx. 28. 1 Coi vi. 19, 20; — ever¬ lasting happiness awaiting our bodies as well as our souls, 1 Cor. xv. Matth. x. 28; — our mouth being the interpreter and agent of our heart, Matth. xii. 34; and external worship being of use to promote that which is internal, — God lias framed this commandment, immediately to respect it, though as proceeding from our heart. — This external worship, not being strictly natural, but instituted, and God having a distingulslied zeal for his own worship, and men a remarkable prone¬ ness to intrude their own inventions into it, this and the fourth commandment are more largely stated and enforced than any of the rest.
Our whole worship of God, since the fall, being an abomination to him, but in so far as performed in the name of Christ, Prov. xv. 8. xxi. 27. xxviii. 9. Isa. lxvi. 3. i. 11 — 15. Col. iii.
17. 1 Pet. iv. 11. Eph. iii. 2L He, the true representation
and image of the invisible God* may, as Mediator, be considered as the principal mean of it, Col. i. 15. 2 Cor. iv. 4, 6. John xiv. ti, 9, 10. And it must be performed in obedience to his command, — in the exercise of faith in and love to his person God-man Mediator, — in reliance upon his strength, — and presented to his Father through his righteousness and intercession, in order to render it acceptable, John xiv. 6. x. 7, 9. Eph. ii. 18. iii. 12. Col. iii. 17. 1 Pet. iv. 11. ii. 5, 9. — In subordination to, and in order to extensive improvement of Christ, in our worship of, and fellowship with God, he, in his word, has appointed many diversified ordinances; particularly, 1. Prayer, secret, private, and public, Matth. vi. 6. Jer. x. 25. Mai. iii. 1G. Acts ii. 46. 2. Singing of psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs, in secret, private, and public, for the praise of God, James v. 13. Col. iii. 16. Eph. v. 19. Psal. xxxiii.
I, 2. xlvii. xcvi. — c. ciii. cv. cvii. cxxxiv. — cxxxvi. cxlv. — cl, 3. Reading and hearing God’s word, John v. 39. Acts xvii. 11.
xv. 21. 4. Preaching arid hearing the gospel, 1 Pet. iii. 19.
i. 12. Neh. viii. 8. 2 Kings iv. 23. Mark xvi. 15. 2 Tim. iv. 2. Rom. x. 14, 15, 17. 5. Administration and receiving of the
sacraments, Gen. xvii. 9 — 14. Exod. xii. Num. ix. xxviii. xxix. 1 Cor. x. 1 — 4. Matth. xxviii. 19. 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. xi. 23 — 29. 6. Religious fasting and thanksgiving, secret* private,
and public, Matth. vi. 17, 18. ix. 15. Zech. xii. 12 — 14. 1 Cor. vii. 5. Joel ii. 13. Exod. xv. 1 Chron. xvi. 2 Chron. xx. 26. 7. Church government and discipline, including a standing ministry and the maintainance of it, Exod. xxv. — xxxh Lev. i. —
xvi. Num. iii. iv. viii. xv. xvii. xviii. Heb. iii. 5, 6. Matth. xvi.
18, 19. xx. 25, 26. xviii. 15 — 20. 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv.
11 — 14. John xviii. 30. Acts i. — xx. 1 Tim. v. 17. 1 Thess. v. 12. Heb. xiii. 7, 17. 1 Cor. ix. 14. 8. Catechetical and
other instruction of children, servants, or people, in the truths of God, Gen. xviii. 19. l)eut. vi. 6 — 9. Gal. vi. 6. 9. Spi¬
ritual conference and joint prayer in social meetings, stated or occasional, Mai. iii. 16. Song i. 4. v. 8 — 16. vii. 1 — 3. vii. 1 — 3. vii. 13. iv. 11. vii. 9. iii. 7 — 11. Psalm lxvi. 16. Luke xxiv. 14 — 32. 10. Vows of self-dedication to the service of God, personal or social* Isa. xliv. 4, 5. Psalm cxvi. 16. lxxvi.
II. cxix. 106. Eccl. v. 4, 5. Num. xxx. Lev. xxvii. DeuC v» 2. xxix. 2. Josh. xxiv. 15, 25. 2 Chron. xv. 12, 13. xxiii. 16, xxix. 10. xxxiv. 31, 34. Neh. ix. x. Ezra x. 3. Isa. xix. 18* 21. 2 Cor. viii. 5. 11. Oaths, assertory, promissory, and mi¬
natory, in which we solemnly call God to witness the truth, and our sincerity in that which we declare or engage, and to avenge himself upon us, if we declare any thing false or un¬ known to us, or neglect to fulfil that which we engage, Deut. vi. 13. Jer. iv. 2. Heb. vi. 16. Isa. xlv. 23. lxv. 16. Rom. ix.
1, 2. 2 Cor. i. 23. xi. 31. Gal. i. 20. 1 Thess. v. 27. 12.
Casting of lots, in which we solemnly appeal to the immediate decision of God in an important matter, in which human prudence cannot, at least peaceably, determine, Prov. xvi. 33. xviii. 18. Lev. xvi. 8. Num. xxxiv. 13. Josh. vii. 13 — 18. xv. — xxi. 1 Sam. x. 19 — 21. xiv. 41, 42. 1 Chron. xxiv. — xxvi. Neh. xi. 1. Acts i. 24 — 26, 13. Collection for the
poor, in which we give a part of our substance to the Lord, Matth. vi. 1 — 5. 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. Gal. ii. 10. — All which ordinances this commandment requires, 1. To be received in principle and public profession, — known and assented to as divine by our mind, and embraced as appointed of God by our will, Mic. iv. 5. 2. To be observed in all their require¬
ments, as instituted by God, to be means of our fellowship with himself, Mat. xxviii. 30. Psalm xxvii. 4. lxiii. 2. lxxxiv.
2, 10. 3. To be kept pure from every human addition,
1 Cor. xi. 2. Psalm xvi. 4. Acts xvii. 16, 17, 22. Deut. vii. 5. xii. 23. Exod. xxiii. 24. Col. ii. 4, 8, 16 — 23. Matth. xv. 2, 3, 9. 4. To be kept entire, without suffering any thing
to be taken from them, Deut. iv. 2. v. 32. xii, 32. Rev. xxii. 19.
This commandment forbids, I. Profanexess respecting the means of religious worship. 1. In not receiving God’s ordinances as his, but as delivered to us by Popes, Councils, Kings, Parents, Teachers, Hos. viii. 12. Isa. xxix. 13. 2. In
neglecting the secret, private, or public observance of them, Exod. iv. 24, 25. Jer. x. 25. Heb. x. 25. Rev. ii. 4. 3. In de¬
volving upon others that observance of them which God requires of us, — as when clergymen hold a plurality of charges, and hire curates to officiate for them, or heads of families devolve the whole religious care of them into the hands of chaplains, 1 Kings xii. 31. Judg. xvii. 5, 12, 13. 4. In curtailing them,
in respect of parts, time, or frequency, Amos viii. 4, 5. Mai. i. 13. iii. 7 — 9, 14. 5. In contempt of them disposing us to
neglect them, or to use them without due reverence, Eccl. v. 1. Mai. i. 12, 13, 14. 6. In sleepy or careless attendance on
them, Acts xx. 9. 7. In valuing ourselves on account of our
contempt of them, Job xxi. 14, 15. 8. In making merchan¬
dise of church-livings, censures, decisions, sacraments, Acts vi-ii. IS. Rom. ii. 22. John ii. 16. Mark xi. 15 — 17. 9. In hindering the free observation of God’s ordinances by derision, immoderate and unseasonable worldly business, intrusion of careless and scandalous ministers, establishing or executing iniquitous laws, persecuting men for conscience-sake, Isa. xxviii. 22. 1 Pet, iii. 7. 1 Sam. ii. 17. Mic. vi. 16. 2 Kings xviii. 13. Acts iv. — xxviii. II. Idolatry respecting the means of worship, in, 1. Forming corporeal representations of God in our mind, John iv. 24. Rom. i. 23. 2. Forming material repre¬
sentations of the divine persons, in order to worship them, or that which they are intended to represent, Acts .xvii. 29. Rom. i. 23. Deut. iv. 14, 15. Hab. ii. 18. Rom. xi. 4. Lev. xxvi. 1. 3. Retaining images of. divine persons, or even of false gods, for ornaments of houses, &c. Deut. vii. 5. Exod. xxiii. 24. Psalm xvi. 4. 4. Exhibiting images in churches
for the instruction of the ignorant, Exod. xsiii. 24. 2 Kings
xviii. 4*. - To pretend their usefulness is to accuse God of
neglecting to give us sufficient means of instruction in his word and ordinances, contrary to Mat. xxviii. 20. Luke xvi. 29, 31. Isa. viii. 20. Such images blasphemously represent God, who is an infinite Spirit, as if he were finite and corporeal. They cannot even represent the body of Christ in connection with his divine person, or in its glorified state, Isa. xl. 18. xlvi. 5. Jer. x. 8, 14, 15. Hab. ii. 18. Zech. x. 2. God condemns and punishes men for making carnal representations of himself, Rom. i. 23, 24; end for their adoratiorl of saints, angels, popes, relics, and images, under pretence of worshipping him by them, Acts x. 25, 26. Rev. xix. 10. xxii. 8, 9. xiii. 4, 8, 15. ix. 20, 21. Nay, for their idolatry, the papists are expressly adjudged to eternal damnation, Rev.
xiv. 9 — 11. III. Superstition, in adding to or changing God’s ordinances of worship, in, 1. Pretending to render that to be sin or duty which God never declared to be so, Mat. xv. 5, 6, 9. Prov. xxx. 6. Col. ii. 16 — 23. 2. Imagining that virtue in worship arises from places, postures, instruments, or number of acts, contrary to Mai. i. 11. John iv. 20 — 22. 3. Fancying that the position of stars at the time of birth, the meeting or dealing with particular persons first in the morning, flight of birds, or the like, are declarative tokens of God’s will relative to future events, Isa. xliv. 25. xlvii. 8, 13. Jer. x. 2. 4. Adding to God’s worship ceremonies, restricted seasons, church-officers, sacraments, apocryphal books, &c. not prescribed in his word, Deut. xii. 32. iv. 2. v. 32. Isa. i. 12. Mat.
xv. 3, 9. Col. ii. 16 — 23. Gal. iv. 10, 11. - Men render them¬
selves guilty of such superstition and idolatry, 1. In devising it, Num. xv. 39. 1 Kings xii. 28 — 33. 2. In advising or enticing to it, Deut, xiii. 6 — 8. 3. In commanding it, IIos. v.
2 H
11. Micah vi. 16. 4. In using it, 1 Kings xi. 33. 5. In ap¬
proving or tolerating it, Rev. ii. 14, 15. — Nor will any pretence of the piety of its authors or promoters, Matth. xv. 2 — 9; or its antiquity, 1 Pet. i. 18; legal establishment or custom¬ ariness, Jer. xliv. 17; good intention, 1 Sam. xv. 21. xiii. 12; or its seeming tendency to promote devotion, Isa. lxv. 5, excuse their conduct before God.
The reasons annexed to this commandment for enforcing obedience to it, are, 1. God’s sovereignly, which entitles him alone to prescribe the ordinances of his own worship, Jer. vii. 31. xxxii. 35. 2. His propriety in his people, as his children,
servants, and subjects, Isa. xxxiii. 22. 3. His zeal for his own
worship, in punishing the breakers and rewarding the keepers of this and other commandments, Lev. x. 1,2, 3. Isa. ix. 7.
III. The Third Commandment respects the name of God, which comprehends every thing by which he makes himself known. 1. Proper names, — essential, as Jehovah, Jah, I am, The Lord, God, Exod. vi. 3. iii. 14. Psalm lxviii. 4. lxxxiv. 11. — Or persbnal, — Father, Son, AVord, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, &c. 2. Titles which mark his relations to us-ward, as
The God and Father of Christ, Eph. i. 3. 1 Pet. i. 3; The High and lofty One, — The Holy One of Israel, Isa. lvii. 15. xlix. 7; The God of mercy and grace, and peace, Psalm lix. 10. 1 Pet. v. 10. llom. xvi. 20; The God of salvation, Psalm lxviii. 20; The God of all comfort, 2 Cor. i. 3; The God and King of glory. Acts vii. 2. Psalm xxiv. 8, 10; The God of gods, Josh. xxii. 22; King of kings, and Lord of lords, Rev. xvii. 14. xix. 16; The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Exod. iii. 6; The God of the Hebrews, or of Israel, Exod. v. 3. Psalm lxxii. 18; The God of the whole earth, Isa. liv. 5; The Father of mercies, 2 Cor. i. 3, and of glory, Eph. i. 17; of spirits, Heb. xii. 9. Num. xvi. 22; Creator, Isa. xl. 28; Preserver or Observer of men, Job vii. 20; King, Judge, Lawgiver, Isa. xxxiii. 22. James iv. 12; Saviour, Isa. xlv. 15, 22; Redeemer, Isa. xlviii. 17. xlix. 26. Jer. 1. 34. Job xix. 25; Comforter, Isa. li. 7, 12. John xv. 26. 2 Cor. i. 4. vii. 6.
3. Attributes imitable and inimitable, Infinity, Eternity, &c.
4. Ordinances of worship, Mic. iv. 5. Luke i. 6. 5. Words,
Law and Gospel, Psalm cxxxviii. 2. 6. Works of creation,
providence, and redemption, Psalm xix. 1. ix. 16. Acts xiv. 17. Eph. iii. 10, 21. 2 Cor. v. 18 — 21.
This commandment requires us, I. To take up the name of God, as it is laid before us in his word, — in our thoughts, meditating on it, Psalm civ. 34. cxxxix. 17, 18; — in our words, speaking of it, Psalm cv. 1 — 3. evii. cxxxvi. cxlv. cxlvi. cxlvii.; — and m our deeds, making an open profession of it, adorned
with an answerable practice, 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. Rom. x. 10. Rev. xiv. 1. Heb. iv. 14. x. 23. Matth. v. 16. Phil. ii. 15, 16. iv. 8. — This taking up of God’s name is necessary to his honour; and without it we hide, bury, and deny the excellency and usefulness of his name, 1 Cor. x. 31. Lev. x. 3; — necessary to our own advantage, his names, titles, and attributes being precious, reviving, sanctifying, and comforting cordials to our soul, — his ordinances breasts of spiritual nourishment, — his words sweeter than honey, an inheritance better than thousands of gold and silver, an incomparable instructor, Song viii. 6. Psalm xix. 10. cxix. 72, 103, 111, 97 — 100, 105; — his works a prospective glass, manifesting wonders of wisdom, power, mercy, and goodness, Rom. i. 19, 20. Psalm xix. 1 — 5. ciii. — cvii. cxxxvi. cxlv. — clvii. xcii. 4. Eph. i. 3 — 10. ii. 4 — 10; and necessary to the edification of others, leading them to Christ, salvation, and holiness. Mat. v. 16. John xvii. 26.
- And for gaining these important ends, our profession of
God’s name ought to be judicious, every point of it knowingly founded on his word, Rom. x. 10. Prov. iv. 5 — 7. Acts xvii. 1 1; candid, perfectly answerable to that which we believe in our heart, Rom. x. 10. Psalm cxvi. 10. 2 Cor. iv. 13; complete, extending to every attained truth, Phil. iii. 16. Acts xx. 20, 27; plain, without ambiguity or equivocation, Gal. ii. 11, 12. v. 1 — 4. 2 Cor. i. 12; meek, 1 Pet. iii. 15. Matth. xi. 29. 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25; bold and zealous, Psalm cxix. 46, 139. Acts ii. 14 — 36. iii. 12 — 26. iv. 10 — 13, 19, 20. v. 29, 32. vi. 15. vii. 51 — 53. Eph. vi. 20; constant to the end, 1 Pet. iii. 15. 2 Pet. iii. 17, 18. Rev. ii. 10. iii. 11. II. It requires us to use the name of God in an holy and reverent manner, in spiritual knowledge of it, Psalm ix. 10; faith in it as manifested in Christ, Heb. xi. 6. iv. 2. Rom. xiv. 23; ardent love to it. Psalm lxix. 36. Isa. xxvi. 8; kindly fear and awe of it, Mai. iv. 2. Deut. xxviii. 58. Psalm lxxxix. 7. Rev. xv. 4; in singleness of heart, and to a right end, Psalm xcvi. 7, 8. III. To employ God himself to hallow or glorify his own name, in removing from the world and our heart all that atheism, ignorance, idolatry, profaneness, he. which tends to dishonour his name, and in disposing all things in nations, churches, and persons, to promote his glory to the best advantage, Mat. vi. 9. Psal. cviii. 5. lxxxii. 8. lvii. 5, 11. lxxii. 19.
This commandment forbids our neglecting to promote God’s honour in the matter and manner required, Deut. xxxii. 51. Nura. xxvii. 14; and our profaning and abusing his name in using it ignorantly, Acts xvii. 23; lightly or rashly, in exclamations, thanksgivings, prayers, obsecrations, adjurations, and appeals, Acts xix. 13, 14; superstitiouslv, as when the Israelites carried his ark to the field of battle to render them’ success-OF THE LAW OF GOD.
ful against the Philistines, 1 Sam. iv. 3 — 5; wantonly, in swear-* ing by him, or creatures in his stejad, in our common conversation, Mat. v. 34 — 37. James v. 12; in angrily or sportfully cursing and devoting ourselves dr others to damnation, devils, mischiefs, &c. 1 Kings xix. 2. 2 Kings vi. 31. Num. xxii.
11. Judg. xvii. 2;- perjuring ourselves, attesting that which is false, and not endeavouring to perform that which we have engaged upon oath, Zech. v. 4. Mai. iii. 5. Mat. v. 33. Hos. iv. 2. x. 4; — blasphemously reviling God, or causing others to do so, Rom. ii. 24. Acts xxvi. 11. 1 Tim. vi. 1. 2 Sam. xii. 14. Isa. li. 5; reproaching his ordinances, w’ords, works, or people, because of their relation and likeness to him, 1 Tim. vi. 1. Tit. ii. 5. 1 Cor. iv. 13. Mark iii. 30; ascribing to him that which is dishonourable to him, Mat. xi. 19. xii. 24. John viii. 48, 52. Psalm 1. 21. x. 13; denying him that which is true and honourable, and ascribing it to creatures, Job xxxvi. 19 — 25. Psalm lxxiii. 9. xciv. 7. Ezek. viii. 12. ix. 9. Zeph. i. 12. Acts xii. 22; thinking or speaking against him in a virulent manner, Job ii. 5, 9. Exod. v. 2. 2 Kings vi. 33. vii. 2, 19; and despitefully or maliciously rebelling against the plain and powerful testimonies of his Spirit to our conscience, Mat. xii. 23, 24, 31, 32. Heb. vi. 4, 5. x. 26 — 29. But,
More particularly, God’s names, titles, and attributes are profaned and abused, when they are not thought and spoken of, and improved by inward principles of faith in, and love to Christ, Rom. xiv. 23. Heb. xi. 6. 1 Tim. i. 5; when our inward unbelief works in opposition to them, 2 Kings vii. 2, 19. Ezek. viii.
12. ix. 9. Zeph. i. 12. Psalm x. 11, 13. 1. 21. lxxvii. 8, 9. xciv. 7. Jer. xv. 18. xx. 7; when we retain or exercise hatred of them, Rom. viii. 7, 8. i. 30. Psalm cxxxix. 20; and when we use them not to their proper ends, but as encouragements to wickedness, Alai. i. 6. Eccl. viii. 11. Isa. xliii. 24. Rom. ii. 4, 5. — His ordinances are profaned and abused when they are used with unholy hearts, from principles of self-love, pride, regard to human laws or customs, 1 Tim. i. 5. 1 Cor. xii. 3; or in a proud, careless, hypocritical, unbelieving manner, Phil. iii. 3. John iv. 24. Isa. lviii. 3. xxix. 13. Heb. iv. 2; or to promote some sinful or selfish end, Mat. ii. 16. xxiii. 14. Rom. x. 3. ix. 31, 32. — Prayer is profaned and abused when we do not duly prepare for it by searching and feeling our necessities, emptying our hearts of carnal cares, and by consideration of Christ’s mediation and promises. Psalm x. 17. Eph. vi. 18; when we pray in an ignorant, proud, formal, legal, careless, wandering, and unbelieving manner, Isa. xxix. 13. Luke xviii. 11, 12. James i. 6 — 8. John xvi. 24; when we ask improper things, or for a bad end, Luke ix. 54. James iv. 3; and when we do not observe whether and how our requests are granted, Psalm v. 3. cxxiii. 1 — 4. — Singing of psalms is profaned when it is performed rashly, Psalm cviii. 1; merely in an outward manner, Psalm cxi. 1; without knowledge of what we sing, 1 Cor. xiv. 15; without proper affection or proper application of the matter to our own case, Eph. v. 19. Col. iii. 16. — Reading or hearing of God’s word is profaned and abused when it is performed without due preparation, 1 Pet. ii. 1, 2. Jam. i. 21; without proper attention, Ezek. xxxiii. 30. Prov. xxviii. 9. Acts viii. 30; or in a sleepy and indolent manner, Amos viii. 5. Mai. i. 13; when our consciences are not laid open to it as the candle of the Lord, and wre do not receive it into our heart as indeed the word of God, Psalm lxxxv. 8. 1 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Thess. ii. 10, 11; when we do not cordially believe, nor are sensibly affected with it, Heb. iv. 2. Isa. lxvi. 2; when we do not spiritually meditate on, and carefully remember that which we have read and heard, Psalm i. 2. x. 4. Psalm cxix. 11; and reduce into an holy and circumspect practice, Ezek. xxxiii. 31. Jer. xxv. 4 — 7; or when we regard the truths of God as we affect the preacher, Ezek. xxxiii. 32. 1 Kings xxii. 8. — Preaching of God’s word is profaned when perform¬ ed by those whom God never called to that work, Jer. xxiii. 32. Rom. x. 15. Heb. v. 4; or in an unbelieving, lazy, unaffectionate, obscure, indistinct, contentious, and unfaithful manner, Isa. lvi. 10, 12. Rom. xvi. 17, 18. Phil. i. 16. Ezek. xiii. 17 — 19; or to exalt self, and promote carnal gain, 2 Cor. iv. 5. 1 Thess. ii. 4 — 6. — Sacraments are profaned- when they are dispensed by persons not authorised by God, 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. xi. 23; or to improper persons, or from carnal motives, Mat. vii. 6. 1 Cor.
xi. 27 — 29; when rites not prescribed by God are annexed to them, Isa. i. 12; when they are received without due preparation for them, proper exercise of grace in them, and a correspondent practice after them, 1 Cor. xi. 27, 29. Acts iv. 13. Rom.
xii. 1, 2. — Religious fasting is profaned when we fast for strife
and debate, or to promote some bad end, Isa. lviii. 4. 2 Kings xxi. 9 — 13; without being truly and deeply affected with the mercies which we acknowledge, and with the sins which we confess, or judgments which we bewail and deprecate, Hos. vii. 14. Isa. lviii. 4; when we cleave to our sins, while we profess to mourn over, and supplicate deliverance from them and their effects, Isa. lviii. 4 — 6. Mic. iii. 1 1: or when we seek to honour ourselves, and recommend ourselves to God’s favour by it, Mat. vi. 16. Zech. vii. 5. Luke xviii. 12. Isa. lviii. 3. — Church-government is profaned when it is modelled according to the forms of the state, John xviii. 36. Mat. xx. 25, 26; and its affairs regulated, not by the word of God, but by the decrees of councils, parliaments, popes, kings, &c. Isa. viii. 20. Mat. xxiii. 8 — 10. Mic. vi. 16. Rev. xiii.; or to please the humours of men, chiefly the great. Gal. i. 10, 1 Thess. ii. 4, 5; or when censures are inflicted as
civil punishments, or are despised and opposed, or not submit¬ ted to as the institutions of Jesus Christ for promoting spiritual edification, Acts xv. 1 Cor. v. 5. 1 Thess. v. 12 — 14. 2 Thess.
iii. 6, 14. Heb. xiii. 7, 17. — Religious vows are profaned when we vow in a rash, ignorant, careless, legal, and hypocritical manner, Judg. xi. 30 — 40. Deut. v. 27 — 29. Jer. xlii. 5, 20; or engage to that which is sinful, trifling, or not in our power to perform, 2 Kings vi. 31. 1 Kings xix. 2; when we are proud of our vows, John viii. 41. Prov. vii. 14; and when, after law¬ ful vows, we do not speedily, and with the utmost care and diligence, fulfil them, Num. xxx. Judg. xi. 35. Psalm lxi. 8. lxxviii. 8, 57. Eccl. v. 4 — 6. Prov. xx. 25. — Oaths are profaned when we refuse to swear lawful ones, which tend to glorify God, and put an end to strife, Heb. vi. 16. Deut. vi. 13. x. 20; when we swear without a proper call, James v. 12. Mat. v. 34 — 37; or give or take oaths which are unlawful or dubious in themselves, or impossible for us to fulfil, Mark vi. 22, 23. Acts xxiii. 14, 21; or swear in an idolatrous or superstitious manner by creatures, kissing the gospels, &c. Psalm xvi. 4. Mat. xv. 9; when we swear without truth, what we are uncertain of, or know to be false, or with dissimulation; without judgment, not understand¬ ing the nature of an oath, or the matter about which, or words in which we take it; or without righteousness, engaging to, or intending to promote that which is unlawful and unjust, Jer.
iv. 2. Zech. v. 4; or swear lightly and rashly, Eccl. ix. 2; or, when we equivocate in swearing, understanding our expressions in a sense different from that commonly affixed to them, or which is unperceived by the imposer; or, when our swearing does not tend to the honour of God or edification of men, but is merely a compliance with some human law, and intended as a mean of access to some place of civil or ecclesiastical honour and profit; and when the impression of our oath wears off our spirits, and through sloth, inadvertency, wickedness, or specious pretences, we do not labour to perform our oaths, Josh. ix. 18, 19. 2 Sam. xxi. 1. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 19. Ezek. xvii. 12 — 19; when we pretend the obligation of an oath as a reason of our doing that which is sinful, Mat. xiv. 9; or when, without sufficient new ground, we repeat our oaths at, or near the same time, Exod. xx. 7. — Lots are profaned when they are used in affairs trifling, or which human prudence might have rightly and peacefully decided, Psalm xxii. 18; or in important matters, without earnest prayer and dependence on God for his decision, Prov. xvi. 33. xviii. 18. Acts i. 24 — 26; or to obtain knowledge of future events, Deut. xxix. 29; to which heathen¬ ish observation of accidents, as ominous, maybe reduced, Jer. x. £2. Isa. xliv. 25; or in division of cards, or throwing of the dice, &c. — the sinfulness of which is manifest. It is the common de light of wicked men, whose hearts are filled with enmity against God. It never fits men for religious exercises, but, in a most bewitching manner, diverts from them. It occasions intimate familiarity with graceless persons, few others being inclined to such diversions. As luck or chance, being mere imaginations, can give no decision, the appeal for division of cards or fall of the dice must be made either to God, or to the devil in his stead. To appeal to God in diversion, how presumptuous and blasphemous! To appeal to the devil in his stead, how horrid! — It renr ders men heathenish, — believers of heathenish principles, as that God has left some events to chance; that fortune changes sides; that some persons are lucky and others not; — users of heathenish language, luck, chance, good fortune, &c. influenced by heathenish affections, hoping, rejoicing, fearing, or grieving at what fortune has done, or is like to do; — and given to heathenish practices, irreverently disregarding God and his providence in the management of their affairs, 1 Sam. vi. 9. — A profession of religion is profaned by indulging malignity and hatred of religion, Zech. xi. 8; — by scoffing at it, Isa. xxviii. 22. Psalm i. 1. 2 Kings ii. 23. Psalm xxii. 7, 8. lxix. 10 — 12; by hypocritical pretences to it, 2 Tim. iii. 5. Tit. i. 16. Isa. xxxiii. 14; by making a profession of religion a cloak for maliciousness, voluptuousness, covetousness, or the like, Mat. xxiii. 14. Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. Mic. iii. 11. 1 Pet. ii. 16. Tit. i. 15, 16. 1 Thess. ii. 5; by being ashamed of our profession of Christ’s truths, Mark viii. 38; or a reproach to it, in our foolish, untender, unstable, unfruitful, or scandalous practice, Phil. iii. 18, 11, 19. 2 Tim. iii. 1 — 6. Phil. i. 27. Eph. v. 15. Col. iv. 5. Isa. v. 4. Rom. ii. 4, 5, 22, 25; or by apostacy from it, John vi. 66. Gal. iii. 3. i. 6. 1 Tim. i. 19, 20. 2 Tim. iv. 10. ii. 16, 17. i. 15. 2 Pet. ii. 20 — 22. 1 John ii. 19. — God’s word is profaned when we speak lightly of it, insolently against it, or pervert it to jests and by¬ words, Acts xvii. 18, 20. xxvi. 24. ii. 13. Jer. xxiii. 33, 36; wrest it to support error and wickedness, 2 Pet. iii. 16. 1 Tim. vi. 4. 2 Tim. ii. 14; affix our own fancies to it as the meaning of God’s Spirit in it, 2 Pet. i. 20. Mat. v. 21, 33, 43; misapply
it for encouragement of the wicked, and discouragement of the godly, Ezek. xiii. 22; or use it in chai’ms, idolatrous kissing, or as a lottery book for spiritual cases, Acts xix. 13; or neglect to search and believe and practise it as indeed the word of God, John v. 39. 1 Thess. ii. 13. — God’s works are profaned when we do not discern, love, and admire himself as manifested in them, Rom. i. 18 — 20. Eph. iii. 10, 21; when we do not im¬ prove them for his glory, but for the gratification of our selfish or sinful lusts, 1 Pet. iv. 11. PIos. xiii. 6. Deut. xxxii. 14, 15. Rom. ii. 4, 5. xiii. 12 — 14. Jude 4. 1 Pet. ii. 8; or when we Murmur against, or harden our hearts under them, 2 Cor. x. l.Q
Jude 16. Jer. v. 3. Isa. i. 5. 2 Chron. xxviii. 22. Zech. vii. 12. Jer. xxv. 4 — 7.
The profanation of God’s name much abounds, because, 1. Men have so low thoughts of him, that they never discern the high regard which is due to his name, Exod. v. 2. Psalm 1. 21. 2. Much abuse of his name being little discerned by un¬
regenerate men, hardens their heart into mere profaneness, Psalm xxxvi. 1, 2. Zech. vii. 5, 6. 3. Sinful customs make
multitudes look on many instances and forms of profaning it as lawful, Matth. v. 37. 4. No laws either of church or state
can reach many forms of profaning it, Eccl. viii. 11.“1 Sam. xvi. 7. 5. Many ministers and magistrates have so little
knowledge of, or regard to the name of God, that they scarcely think the most gross and public profanation of it a fault; and the laws which they make against it are but a mere farce, being never executed. 6. By the example of ministers and magistrates; — by the imposition of sinful, unnecessary, obscure, and dubious oaths; by taking oaths at elections, or in pleas, in so careless and irreverent a manner, the profanation of God’s name is mightily encouraged and promoted. — But he will not not suffer it to escape his righteous and most dreadful judgment; for, 1. This sin is committed in direct opposition to his nature and will, Psalm lxxiii. 8, 9. 2. It manifests a most
outrageous hatred of him, Psalm cxxxix. 20. 3. It is contrary
to the whole tendency of divine revelation, which is to promote an holy fear and awe of him, Prov. i. 7. Psalm cxi, 9, 16. 2 Tim. iii. 15 — 17.
IV. The Fourth Commandment prescribes the proper time of God’s worship. The precise quantity and part of time proper for the stated and social worship of God depending on his mere will, this command is introduced with a solemrf charge to remember to observe it, and is both positively and negatively expressed, and enforced with manifold reasons. The law of nature teaches, that men having bodies as well as souls, and being social creatures, they ought to worship God in an external and social manner; but does not determine what proportion or precise part of time ought to be observed in that stated and solemn worship. But the seventh part of our time being appointed by God for that purpose, his command is universally and perpetually binding or moral. 1. This command concerning the sabbath was imposed upon man in paradise before any typical ceremonies. Nor is there pny more appearance of Moses mentioning the sabbath, Gen. ii. 1, 2, than of his mentioning the creation of the wrorld, by an anticipation of 2500 years before it took place. 2. The appointment of the sabbath is inserted in the very middle of that moral law which God solemnly published from mount Sinai, and wrote upon two tables of stone, which was not the case with any ceremonial institution, Exod. xx. S — 11. xix. 20. xxiv. 12. xxxiv. 28. 3. Every reason annexed to this commandment, when thus published and written, is of a moral nature, forcible on all men in every age and place; and hence strangers, as well as Israelites, were obliged to observe the weekly sabbath, Exod. xx. 9, 10, 11.
Immediately after the creation of the world, God appointed the seventh day of the week for the weekly sabbath. 1. Nothing can be more plain and express than Moses’ declaration on this head, that God, having finished his work of creation in six days, rested on the seventh, and sanctified it to be a sabbath to himself, Gen. ii. 1,2. 2. All the reasons annexed to this com¬
mand were as forcible immediately after the creation, as ever, Exod. xx. 10, 11. 3. The sabbath was observed before the
giving of the law at Sinai, as a thing which the Israelites well knew to be already appointed, Exod. xvi. 23. 4. In Ileb. iv.
3 — 10, three distinct sabbaths are mentioned, one which commenced from the foundation of the world, which can be no other than that of the seventh day: — another which com menced from the Israelites’ entrance into Canaan, when their ceremonial sabbaths received their full 1‘orce; and a third in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection and entrance into his glorious rest. — Nay, ancient heathens take notice of the division of time into weeks, and of the seventh day, which it cannot be supposed they learned from the contemned Jews, who were
then scarcely known at any great distance from Canaan. - -
There is no reason to wonder that the observation of the sabbath from Adam to Moses is not mentioned in a history which dispatches the events of 2500 years in a few pages, especially as it is not common for historians to mention ordinary and stated observances, except at the beginning of them. In a much more extensive history of about 480 years, there is no mention made of the weekly sabbath from the second year of the Israelites’ travels in the wilderness till the days of David. Nor have we one instance of a child circumcised on the eighth day from Isaac to John Baptist. — God’s giving his sabbath to the Israelites for a sign, only means, that the law of it was solemnly published and given to them, and a typical signification added to its original moral use, Ezek. xx. 12. Neh. ix. 14, Exod. xxxi. 17.
Nevertheless God’s appointment of the sabbath on the seventh day of the week was not strictly moral, but alterable by him. 1. Abstracting from his appointment, it is merely circumstantial whether it be on the seventh day or not. 2. It is not said in this commandment, that God blessed the seventh day, but
that he blessed and sanctified the sabbath day, Exod. xx. 11. 3. The sabbath being made for man, not man for the sabbath, the day of it must |pe altered, if for the greater good of man¬ kind, Mark ii. 27, 28. 4. Though the fixing it at first on the
seventh, to commemorate the finished work of creation, was exceedingly proper, a greater event happening on another day, natively rendered it proper to change it to that clay. 5. The seventh day sabbath having had a typical signification superadded to it, very propeidy fell into disuse with the other typical ceremonies, Exod. xxxi. 13, 17. Ezek. xx. 12, 20. Col. ii. 16, 17. The change of the sabbath from the seventh day of the week, on which Christ rose from the dead, is exceedingly proper. 1. Christ being Lord of the sabbath, it is proper that, in consequence of his resurrection, he should manifest his dominion with respect to it, Mark ii. 28. 2. His resurrection,
being his entrance into rest from his finished -work of redemption, more deserved to be commemorated than God’s finishing of creation work did, Eph. i. 19, 20, 21. Rom. i. 3, 4. iv. 25. 1 Cor. xv. 20. Col. i. 18. Rev. i. 5. 3. It was proper that the
peculiar time, as well as the nature of Christian worship, should directly relate to his finishing the purchase of our redemption. It was not proper that the day of his birth should be commemorated in the sabbath, as on it he entered on his labour and suffering; nor the day of his death, as on that he was in the beat of his conflicts; nor the day of his ascension, as on that he did not enter, but proceeded into his rest. 4. It was proper that when the covenant of grace was clearly manifested, men’s religious rest should, according to the tenor of that covenant, precede their labour, Luke i. 74, 75; even as the order of labour and of rest on the seventh day sabbath, had corresponded with the order of duty and privilege in the covenant of works, Gal. iii. 12. Matth. xix. 17.
God changed the weekly sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, at the resurrection of Christ, 1. God fore¬ told that the first day of the week should be the Christian Sabbath, Ezek. xliii. 27. Psalm exviii. 24. 2. This day is ex¬
pressly called the Lord’s day. Now, except his healing of persons on the Jewish sabbath, no day of the week is ever ascribed to any of his acts, or events which befel him, but to his resurrection: nor is there any reason wdiy that should be called his day, unless he had peculiarly sanctified and set it apart for his public worship, Rev. i. 10. 3. Christ marked his peculiar claim
to that day by repeated visits to his disciples, and by the miraculous out-pouring of his spirit on it, John xx. 19, 26. Acts ii. Lev. xxiii. 16. Num. xxviii. 26. 4. His apostles, who were
instructed by him in all things relative to the New Testament church, and who had his Spirit to guide them into all truth* obsei’ved the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath. On that day they assembled the Christians to break bread in the Lord’s Supper. After tarrying seven days at Troas, Paul preached on the first day of the week, and dispensed the Lord’s Supper, and continued till midnight, Acts xx. 7. On that day, they required Christians to lay up their collections for the poor,
1 Cor. xvi. 2. xi. 2, 23. — The apostles frequently preached up¬ on the Jewish sabbath, not because they observed it, but be¬ cause they then found the Jews assembled in their synagogues, Acts xiii. &c.
The Christian Sabbath begins in the morning after midnight.
1. Christ rose early in the morning, Mat. xxviii. 1. Mark xvi.
2, 9. 2. It begins where the Jewish sabbath ended, which was
when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, Mat. xxviii. 1, 3. 3. The evening which follows the day of our
sabbath pertained to it, John xx. 19.
Men cannot, without sin, appoint any holy days. 1. God has marked the weekly sabbath with peculiar honour, in his command and word. But, if men appoint holy days, they detract from its honour: And wherever holy days of men’s appointment are much observed, God’s weekly sabbath is much profaned, Exod. xx. 8. Ezek. xliii. 8. 2. God never could have
abolished his Own ceremonial holy days, in order that men might appoint others of their own invention in their room, Col. ii. 1G — 23. Gal. hr. 10, 11. 3. God alone can bless holy
days, and render them effectual to promote holy purposes; and we have no hint in his word, that he will bless any appointed by men, Exod. xx. 11. 4. By permitting, if not requiring us
to labour six days of the week in our worldly employments, this commandment excludes all holy days of men’s appointment, Exod. xx. 8, 9. If it permit six days for our worldly labour, we ought to stand fast in that liberty with which Christ hath made us free, Gal. v. i. 1 Cor. vii. 23. Mat. xv. 9. If it require them, we ought to obey God rather than men, Acts iv. 19. v. 29. - Days of occasional fasting and thanksgiving are gene¬
rally marked out by the providence of God: And the observation of them does not suppose any holiness in the day itself, Joel i. 14. ii. 15. Acts xiii. 2. xiv. 23. Mat. ix. 15.
The weekly sabbath is to be sanctified, 1. By an holy resting from all such worldly works as are lawful on other days, Avhetherm’iu/e, ploughing, sowing, reaping, — civil, as buying and selling, — liberal, studying of sciences, — or social, pleasures and recreations, Exod. xx. 9. Isa. lviii. 13. Neh. xiii. 1 Cor. vii. 5. And our rest ought to be attended with much spirituality of mind and delight in God, Rev. i. 10. Isa. lviii. 13. 2. The whole day, except so much as is necessary for works of necessity and mercy, is to be spent in the public and private exercises
of God’s worship, Rev, i. 10. Luke xxiii. 54. Psalm xcii. Mark
1. 35 — 39. Acts ii. 42. xiii. 14, 15, 44. xvi. 13. xx. 7. xvii. 11.
Luke xxiv. 14, 17. — And it is profaned, 1. By omitting the duties required in whole or in part, — not duly remembering it before it come, — omitting the public, private, or secret duties of God’s worship on it, or even the works of necessity and mercy, such as visiting and healing the sick, relieving the poor, feeding cattle, and the like, Neh. viii. 12. Markiii. 3 — 5. Luke xiii. 16. xiv. 1 — 4. Mat. xii 7 — 12. 2. By a superficial, carnal, heartless, wearisome performance of the duties required. Mat. xv. 7. Amos viii. 5. Mai. i. 13. 3. By unnecessary sleep,
idle talk, vain gadding, slothful rest. Mat. xx. 6. 4. By doing
that which is in itself sinful, thrusting wickedness into the place of worship, Jer. xliv. 4. Zech. xi. 8. Ezek. xx. 21. xxii. 26. 5. By unnecessary thoughts, words, or works about worldly employments and recreations, Isa. lviii. 13. Amos viii. 5. Exod. xvi. 23 — 30. Nura. xv. 22 — 36. Mat. xxiv. 20. Neh. xiii. 16, 17.
The reasons annexed for enforcing obedience to this commandment are, 1. That God, the original proprietor of all our time, has allowed us enough for our worldly employments, even six days in seven; which are sufficient for our earthly business, and to tire us of it, and raise our appetite for the spiritual rest of the sabbath, Exod. xx. 9. xxxi. 15. 2. That the
Lord our God has challenged a special propriety in the seventh, and so it must be sacrilegious, ungrateful, and self-ruining to rob him of it, Exod. xx. 10. xxxi. 15. Deut. v. 14. 3. God’s
own example, which is most honourable and binding; and so we cannot profane the sabbath without pouring contempt on his example, as unworthy of imitation, and on his works of creation and redemption as unworthy of remembrance, Exod. xx. 11. xxxi. 17. 4. God’s blessing the sabbath day, in sepa¬
rating it, with peculiar honour, for his public worship, and for bestowing spiritual benefits on his people, and even promoting their temporal happiness; and so we cannot, without disregard¬ ing God’s honour, and our own true happiness in time and eternity, neglect to observe and sanctify it, Exod. xx. 11. Isa. lvi.
2, 4 — 7. Lev. xxv. 20, 22.
V. The Fifth Commandment, prescribing relative duties, comprehends very much practical religion, and is, in so far, the foundation of the five following ones, which are all obeyed in the same proportion as this is. - To manifest his own sove¬
reignty, — to beautify this world, and maintain some order amidst its present corruptions, God has placed men in the different stations of superiors, inferiors, or equals, one to another; and to mark with what tender affection relative duties ought to be performed, not only natural parents, but husbands, masters, ministers, and magistrates, and other superiors in dignity, a<ie, gifts, or grace, are named fathers and mothers, and wives, servants, people, subjects, and all inferiors are represented as children. - The most exact performance of duties answerable to
all these relations is necessary, 1. To fulfil God’s commands, Exod. xx. T2. Eph. iv. — vi. Col. iii. iv. Tit, ii. iii. Rom. xii. — xv. 1 Thess. ii. — v. 1 Pet. ii. iii. 2. To manifest us Christians indeed, Eph. iv. 24, 25. 2 Pet. i. 7, 9. 3. As a part
of our conformity to Jesus Christ, 1 John ii. 6, 29. Eph. v. 25. Luke ii. 51. 4. To honour God and his religion, 1 Tim. vi. L
Tit. ii. 10. Mat. v. 16, 17, 27. xxii. 16 — 21. Gen. v. 22, 24 xviii. 17, 19. 1 Pet. iii. 6, 16. 5. To gain others to Christ,
shewing them a good example, while we do them much service, 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. 1 Cor. vii. 16. 1 Tim. iv. 12. Phil. ii. 15, 16. Mat. v. 16. 6. To prevent our own shame, promote our per¬
sonal holiness, render our relations a blessing and an honour to us, and stir them up to pray to, and praise God for us, Psalm cxix. 6. Heb. xii. 14. Job xxxi. 17 — 20. Gal. vi. 10. Ruth
iii. 1. Jer. xxxv. 4. 2 Cor. ix. 11 — 14. Job xxix. 13.
The duties of Parents to their children are, 1. Careful preservation of them in the womb, Judg. xiii. 14. 2. Fervent
prayer for them as soon as they have life, Gen. xxv. 21, 22. 1 Sam. i. 11; and afterward, particularly when they are in danger of sin or death, Job i. 5. 2 Sam. xii. 15, 16. Psalm xxii. 10. 3. Earnest care to have them born wfithin the covenant of
grace, solemnly and frequently taking hold of it for themselves and their seed, Isa. xliv. 3. Gen. xvii. 7 — 9. 4. Thankfully
to bless God for them, Luke i. 67. Psalm cxxvii. 3 — 5. cxxviii. 3. 5. After much solemn surrendering them in secret, publicly
dedicating them to God in the initiating seal of his covenant, Exod. iv. 24. Luke i. 59. 6. Tender affection and care for
them, particularly in their infancy and childhood, Isa. xlix. 15. Hos. ix. 14. 7. Providing proper food and raiment for them,
1 Tim. v. 8. 2 Cor. xii. 14. Eccl. ii. 18, 19. 8. Educating
them in good manners, Prov. xxxi. 28. 1 Pet. iii. 8; school learning, 2 Tim. iii. 14; and some useful business, Gen. iv. 2. Ruth iii. II. Prov. xxii. 29. 9. Instructing them in the know¬
ledge of God’s revealed truths, encouraging them to inquire concerning spiritual things, and frequently putting them in mind of their baptismal vows, 1 Kings xviii. 12. Prov. ii. iii,
iv. vi. vii. xxxi. 2 Tim. iii. 15. Exod. xii. 25 — 27. xiii. 14, 15.
Deut. vi. 6, 7, 20, 21. 10. Deterring them from evil by serious
warnings, and by meek, suitable, and God-glorifying correction, 1 Sam. iii. 13. Eph. vi. 4. Prov. xxix. 15. xiii. 24. xxii. 15. xxiii. 13, 14. 11. Encouraging them in well-doing by example,
kind excitements, and rewards, Psalm ei. 2. Prov. iv. 4-
1 Chron. xxviii. 9, 20. xxii. 16. 12. Seasonable disposal of
them in marriage suited to their station, temper, consent, and their temporal, but especially their spiritual and eternal welfare, Ruth iii. 1. 1 Cor. vii. 36. Gen. xxiv. xxviii. 13. Care¬ ful Christian management of their temporal affairs for their advantage, and timely settlement of them, so as to prevent all contention and alienation of affection among them, 2 Cor. xii. 14. Isa. xxxviii. 1. 14. When dying, solemnly to charge and
encourage them to fear God, — and to bless and commit them into the hand of their covenanted God, Gen. xxvii. xxviii. xlix. Jer. xlix. 11. — And the duties of children to their parents are, 1. Tender love and affection, Gen. xlvi. 29. Rom. i. 31. 2. Filial awe, fear, and reverence of them, Lev. xix. 3. 3. Re¬
spectful behaviour towards them, Lev. xix. 32. Mai. i. 6. Gen. xxxi. 35. 1 Kings ii. 19. 4. Ready obedience to their lawful
commands, Col. iii. 20. Gen. xxvii. 13. Luke ii. 51. Eph. vi.
1. 5. Hearty submission to their directions, admonitions, re¬ proofs, corrections, Prov. i. 8. xiii. 1. Heb. xii. 9. 6. Ready
compliance with their reasonable advice relative to their calling, marriage, or other things important, Deut. vii. 3. Jer. xxix. 6.
1 Cor. vii. 37, 38. Gen. xxiv. 34. xxi. 21. xxviii. 1, 2. xxix. 19.
7. Affectionate requital of their parental kindness, in providing for them when they become old and infirm, 1 Tim. v. 4. Mat. xv. 4 — 6. Gen. xlvii. 12. John xix. 27. 8. Living in a man¬
ner which tends to honour them, following their good advices and examples, improving their instructions and property in a right manner, and paying their just debts, Psalm xlv. 16. cxxvii. 3 — 5. cxxviii. 3.
The mutual duties of husbands and wives are, 1. To marry only in the Lord, first giving themselves to him, and marrying with such as apparently fear him, and after much solemn consultation of him, and in a manner honourable to him, and with a single eye to his glory as their chief end, 1 Cor. vii. 39.
2 Cor. vi. 14. Deut. vii. 3, 4. 1 Cor. x. 31. 1 Pet. iv. 11.
2. Most tender marriage-love to one another, Eph. v. 21, 28.
3. Peaceful affectionate dwelling together, 1 Pet. iii. 7. 1 Cor
vii. 5, 10, 15. Gen. xii. 11. 4. Earnest care to please one
another’, Gen. xxvii. 9. 1 Cor. vii. 33. 5. Cheerful behaviour
toward one another, Eccl. ix. 9. Prov. v. 19. 6. Honouring
one another, 1 Cor. xi. 7. 1 Pet. iii. 4. Prov. xxxi. 11, 28.
Gen. xvi. 6. xviii. 12. 7. Most, affectionate sympathy, partak¬
ing one another’s troubles, burdens, griefs, cares, joys, &c. Gal. vi. 2. Rom. xii. 16. Heb. xiii. 3. 8. Concealing one
another’s infirmities, as far as it can be done without sin, Prov’. x. 12. 1 Pet. iv. 8. 1 Sam. xxv. 25. 9. Faithfulness to one
another, in respect of soul, body, reputation, or outward pro* perty, 1 Pet. iii. 7. Heb. xiii* 4. Prov. xiv. 1. 10. Deepf concern for one another’s spiritual welfare, watching over, praying with, kindly admonishing, and living exemplarily be¬ fore one another, 1 Pet. iii. 7. 2 Kings iv. 1, 9, 10. 1 Cor. vii. 16. 1 Sam. i. 8. 2 Cor. xiii. 9, 10. Job ii. 9, 10. Eccl. iv. 9, 10.
1 Tim. v. 1. Lev. xix. 17. 11. Conjunct care to provide for,
and religiously govern the family, 1 Tim. v. 8. Gen. xviii. 19. Josh. xxiv. 15. — The peculiar duties of husbands to their wives are, 1. Kindly to cherish and protect them, Ruth iii. 9.
1 Sam. xxx. 18. Gen. xvi. 6. 2. To provide for them, 1 Tim.
v. 8. 3. To direct them, Prov. ii. 17. 1 Pet. iii. 7. — The pe¬
culiar duties of wives to their husbands are, 1. Subjection to them in heart, word, and deed, manifested in a ready submission to their will, 1 Tim. ii. 11, 12. Eph. v. 22, 24. Col. iii. 18. 1 Pet. iii. 1, 5. 2. Delightful awe and reverence of them,
1 Pet. iii. 2, 6. Eph. v. 33. 3. Readiness to ask and receive
instruction from them, Gen. iii. 16. 1 Tim. ii. 11. 1 Cor. xiv, 35. 4. Frugal management of that which they provide for the
family, Prov. xxxi. 29. xiv. 1. Tit. ii. 5, 6. 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4.
The duties of masters to their servants are, 1. To take heed wThom they hire, lest they bring God’s curse into their family with a wicked servant, Psalm ci. 6. Gen. xxxix. 3, 4. 2. Care¬
fully to consider their abilities, in order to proportion their work to them, Psalm cxii. 5. Gen. xxix. 14, 15. 3. To give them proper directions for their work, Prov. xxxi. 27. 4. To give
them proper maintainance and wages for their labour, Prov. xxvii. 27. James v. 4. Lev. xxiii. 43. Deut. xxiv. 14, 15. 5. To keep them in their proper station with respect to familiarity, power, victuals, and the like, lest they become insolent, Prov. xxix. 21. 6. Gentle treatment of them, and readiness to hear
their defences or excuses for their conduct, Col.iv. 1. Job xxxi. 32. 2 Kings v. 13 7. Aversion to hear bad reports of them,
Prov. xxix. 11. 8. Tender care of them when they are sick and infirm, Mat. viii. 6. 1 Sam. xxx. 13. 9. Bestowing distinguished favours on those that are remarkably diligent and faithful, Deut. xv. 13, 14, 18. xxv. 17. 10. Earnest care to
train them up for God, who brought them into their service for that end, Josh. xxiv. 15. Gen. xviii. 19. — The duties of servants to masters are, 1. If possible to hire themselves with such as apparently fear God, Prov. iii. 33. Jer. x. 25. 2. Inward
reverence and esteem of them, l Pet. ii. 18. Mai. i. 6. Eph. vi. 5. 3. External honour of them, Mai. i. G. 1 Tim. vi, 1, 2.
4. Conscientious care to maintain the honour of the family, Gen. xxiv. 34 — 41. xxxix. 8, 9. Mic. vii. 6. 5. Strict adherence
to their own allotted provision, w’ages, and rest, Gen. xxx. 33. Prov. xxxk 15, 18. 6. Meek submission to rebukes and corrections, Tit. ii. 9. 1 Pet. ii. 18 — 20. Gen. xvi. 9. 7. Con¬
scientious, honest, cheerful, single, faithful, reafiy, and diligent
performance of the business appointed them, Tit. ii. 9, 10. PsaL, exxiii. 1, 2. Col. iii. 23 — 25. Gen. xxix. 20. Mat. xxiv. 45. Luke xvi. 6. 2 Kings v. 22. Gen. xxxi. 6, 38. Prov. xviii. 9. Xxii. 29. Rom. xii. 11. 8. Earnest care to attend family wor¬
ship, and to profit by family instructions, Prov. iv. 7.
The duties of ministers to their people are, 1. To make sure a proper stock of furniture for their work, 1 John i. 1 — 3. 2 Cor. iv. 13. 2. To fix among them by a proper call, 1 Pet.
v. 3. Jer. xxiii. 21, 22, 32. Rom. x. 15. Heb. v. 4. 3. Pru¬
dently to acquaint themselves with their tempers and spiritual estate, that they may regulate their ministrations accordingly, Phil. ii. 19, 20. 4. To abound in, and exercise the most ten¬ der love to, and care for their souls, 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. 5. Faith¬
ful, impartial, and diligent administration of divine ordinances answerable to their condition, poor, sick, scandalous, &c. 2 Tim. iv. 2. 1 Thess. ii. 3, 4. 6. Watchfulness over their behaviour
for the benefit of their souls, Heb. xiii. 17. 7. Habitual fervent prayer for them, Eph. i. 15 — 19. iii. 14 — 19. 8. A lively
and shilling example of divine truth in their own Christian practice, Heb. xiii. 7, 8. Tit. ii. 7. 1 Tim. iv. 12. 1 Thess. ii. 1 — 10. — The duties of people to their ministers are, 1. Distinguished reverence of them as ambassadors of Christ, 2 Cor. v. 20. 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. Rev. i. 20. 2. Endeared affection to them for their
work’s sake, 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. Gal. iv. 14, 15. 3. Much fervent prayer for them, and for the success of their wrnrk, Rom. xv. 30, 31. Eph. vi. 19, 20. 1 Thess. v. 25. 4. Diligent at¬
tendance on all the ordinances of Christ dispensed by them, Heb. x. 25. Luke x. 16. 2 Kings iv. 22, 23. 5. Submission to them as Christ’s deputies in their warnings, reproofs, censures, Heb. xiii. 17. Mat. x. 40.
The duties of magistrates to their subjects are, 1. To establish good laws, and effectually execute them, Zech. viii. 16. 2 Chron. xix. Psalm lxxii. lxxxii. 2. To govern them with wisdom, equity, and affection, 2 Chron. i. 10. 3. To protect
them in their just rights and privileges derived from God, 1 Tim. ii. 2. Prov. xxviii. 16. 4. By good example and righ¬
teous laws to promote the true religion, and no other, among them, Isa. xiix. 23. 5. To punish evil doers, and encourage
them that do well, Rom. xiii. 3. — And the duties of subjects to their magistrates are, 1. To respect them as the deputies, image, and ordinance of God, Rom. xiii. 1 — -6. Psalm lxxxii. 6. 1 Sam. xxvi. 16, 17. Prov. xxiv. 21. 2. Charitable construc¬
tion of their conduct as far as it can bear it, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. Exod. xxii. 28. Eccl. x. 20. 2 Pet. ii. 10. Jude 8. 3. Subjection to their just laws, Rom. xiii. 5. Tit. iii. 1, 2. 1 Thess. ii. 4. 4. Cheerful payment of just taxes, Rom. xiii. 6, 7. Luke xx„ 25. 5. Defence of them from their enemies, 2 Sam. xviii. 3.
1 Sam. xxvi. 15. 6. Much solemn and fervent prayer for them,
1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. 7. Earnest care to live under their govern¬
ment as an honour, comfort, and blessing to them and others, Isa. vi. 13. lxv. 8.
The duties of superiors in age, gifts, or graces to their inferiors in these, are, 1. To adorn their superiority by an holy and exemplary conversation, Tit. ii. 2. 2. To take every op¬
portunity of instructing and warning them, recommending Christ and his ways to them, 1 Cor. ii. 2. — The duties of inferiors to their superiors are, 1. To give them due honour and respect, Lev. xix. 32. 2. Earnest desire to have their counsels
and instructions, and ready submission to them, 1 Pet. v. 5. 3. Earnest imitation of them in that which is good, 1 Cor. xi. 1. — The duties of equals one to another, are, 1. To cultivate the most affectionate love to, and peace with one another,
1 Thess. iii. 13. Heb. xii. 14. Rom. xii.*9, 10 — 18. xiv. 19.
2 Cor. xiii. 11. 2. To prefer one another in honour and es¬
teem, Rom. xii. 10. Phil. ii. 2, 3. 3. To be courteous and af¬ fable, and ready to promote and rejoice in the welfare of one another, 1 Pet. iii. 8. iv. 8. Rom. xii. 10, 15. xiv. 19. 1 Cor. x. 24. 4. Faithfully to warn and reprove one another. Lev.
xix. 17. 1 Thess. v. 14. 5. To vie with one another in tender
sympathy under trouble, Gal. vi. 2. Heb. xiii. 3. Rom. xii. 15. 6. To provoke one another to love, and in holy and circumspect behaviour, Heb. x. 24. Eph. iv. 31, 32.
The sins against these and similar relations lying either in neglect of, or in acting contrary to the above-mentioned duties, we shall not particularly exhibit them. — This commandment is not only the first in the second table, but is the first, the only one, which has a promise peculiar to itself, viz. of long life and prosperity to the upright keepers of it, Exod. xx. 12. Eph. vi. 2. Long life is a blessing, 1. When men grow in grace as they do in age, Psalm xcii. 19. 2. When they retain the full ex¬
ercise of their reason with some proper measure of bodily vigour, Deut. xxxiv. 7. 3. When they continue useful to others around.
Josh. xxiv. 25 — 29. — In such circumstances old age is honour¬ able, Prov. xvi. 31. Lev. xix. 32; and projitable, giving us more experience of God’s kindness, 1 John ii. 13; more ability to resist the temptations of Satan or the world, 2 Tim. ii. 13. 1 Pet. v. 9; and more opportunity to glorify God, edify others, and be ripened for everlasting happiness. Job v. 2G. 2 Cor. ix. 6. Phil. i. 23, 24. Josh. xxiv. 31. — Some that neglect relative duties live long, and have much outward prosperity, but not by the virtue of any gracious promise, but by the fearful curse of God, Deut. xxvii. 26. Gal. iii. 10. They enjoy no true comfort, but are ripened for hell, by every thing which they enjoy, Deut. xxxii. 15. Hos. xiii. 6. — Some that conscientiously per-OF THE LAW OF GOD.
form relative duties have their life short and afflicted.. But either their performance has some remarkable defect in it before God; or their adversity is remarkably blessed to them, and they en¬ joy the residue of their years in heaven, Psalm xcix. 67, 71, 75. Heb. xii. 5 — 11. Job v. 17. Prov. iii. 12. Psalm xciv. 12. Rev. iii. 19. Isa. xxvii. 9. lvii. 1. Phil. i. 23. Rom. viii. 28. 2 Cor. iv. 17.
VI. The Sixth Commandment requires the preservation of temporal, and the promoting spiritual life. — We ought to promote our own spiritual and eternal life, 1. By a careful perusing the Scriptures, which are the words of eternal life, and of gospel-ordinances, which are the means of it, John v. 39. Isa. xxxiv. 16. viii. 20. Prov. viii. 34 — 36. 2. By receiving Jesus
Christ as the resurrection and life into our hearts by faith, in or¬ der to beget, maintain, and perfect spiritual life in us, John vi. 27. xi. 25. 1 Pet. ii. 1 — 4. 3. By avoiding sin and all ap¬
pearances of, and temptations to it, Prov. xi. 19. iv. 23. viii. 36. v. 8. 1 Thess. v. 22. Mark xiv. 38. xiii. 31, 37. 1 Pet. v. 8. 1 Cor. xvi. 13. — We ought to preserve our natural life, 1. By instating and confirming it in a new-covenant relation to God, Psalm cxix. 94. xvi. 1. xvii. 8. 1 Sam. xxv. 29. 2. By
just and necessary defence of it from such as seek to destroy it, Luke xxii. 30. vi. 29. 3. By furnishing our body with pro¬
per food, physic, labour, clothes, rest, recreation, Eph. v. 29. 4. By avoiding drunkenness, gluttony, and lasciviousness, which gradually ruin it, Luke xxi. 34. Prov. v. vii. vi. 26, 32. xxiii. 26 — 35. ix. 18. 5. By maintaining our inward passions in a
proper temper of meekness, peaceableness, patience, and humility, Prov. xvii. 20, 22. xv. 13, 15. xviii. 14. — We ought to promote the spiritual and eternal life of our neighbours, 1. By setting before them such an amiable pattern of gospel-holiness as may gain them to Christ, Mattlu v. 16. 1 Cor. vii. 16. 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. Zeeh. viii. 23. 2. By diligent instruction and excite¬
ment to faith and holiness, answerable to our station, accompanied with fervent prayer for them, 1 Thess. v. 14. Gen. xliii. 29. Isa. ii. 3, 5. 3. By earnest endeavours to prevent their
sinning, or being tempted to it, Jude 23. 1 Thess. v. 14. — And we ought to preserve their natural life, 1. By protecting them from unlawful attempts against it, Psalm lxxxii. 3, 4. Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. 2. By giving them the necessaries of life, as
equity or charity require, Prov. iii. 27 — 29 xxvii. 27. xxxi. 15. xx. 27. xix. 17. James ii. 15, 16. 1 John iii. 17. 3. By la¬
bouring to promote and exercise such affection toward them as will hinder our hurting them, and make us do them all the good we can, readily forgiving the injuries they have done us, and by the most kind behaviour, rendering their life comfort¬ able to them, Eph. iv. 31, 32. Horn. xv. 1. 2 Cor. xiii. 5, 7 Col. iii. 12, 13. Matth. v. 42* 44. Acts xvi, 28. — But we must never lie, deny any truth of Christ, or practise an unlawful trade, or use any sinful shift, for preserving our own or our neighbour’s life. 1. No commandment of God must ever be opposed to another, Born. vii. 12. 2. Their damnation is just
who do evil that good may come, Rom. iii. 8. 3. God must be
loved, feared, and obeyed, rather than men, Luke xiv. 26. Matth. x. 2S. Acts v. 29. iv. 19. 4. Our soul ought not to be
murdered, in order to preserve alive our body, Matth. xvi. 25, 26. 5. He that conscientiously dies rather than sin, is a real
martyr for Christ, Rev. ii. 10.
Besides inhumanity towards brute animals, Prov. xii. 10. Num. xxii. 27 — 29. Exod. xxiii. 5, 12, 19. Deut. xxii. 4 — 7. Luke xiii. 15. xiv. 5, this commandment forbids, I. Selfviurder, either, 1. Of our soul, by neglecting God’s appointed means of salvation, Prov. viii, 34 — 36; — by opposing the mediate or immediate strivings of his Spirit, Prov. xxix. 1. Acts vii. 51. Isa. 1 xiii. 10. Heb. x. 26 — 31, 38; 2 Pet. ii. 20 — 22; — and by continued unbelief, impenitence, and progress in sin, Ezek. xviii. 31, 32. Jer. iv. 14. xiii. 23, 27. vi. 8. Rom. ii. 4, 5. — Or, 2. Of our body, in directly attempting to deprive it of life, which at once usurps the prerogative of God, the Lord of life, manifests the most horrid pride, discontentment, impatience and despair, and naturally tends to plunge us headlong into hell fire, 1 Sam. xxxi. 4, 5. 2 Sam. xvii. 23. Mat. xxvii. 4, 5; — or in doing that which tends to destroy our natural life, — as indulgence of thoughts or designs against it, Job vii. 15; envy and rage against others, Job v. 2. Prov. xiv. 30; impatience and discontent under trouble, Psalm xxxvii. 1, 8. Heb. xiii. 5. Prov. xv. 13. xvii. 22; immoderate worldly sorrow, 2 Cor. vii. 10. 1 Sam. i. 15; anxious care about worldly things, Matth. vi. 31, 34. Psalm iv. 6; neglect of our body with respect to food, raiment, medicine, rest and recreation, through superstition, carelessness, covetousness, churlishness, outrageous passion, or temptations of Satan, Col. ii, 23. Eccl. x. 8. vi. 2.
1 Kings xxi. 4; — intemperance, gluttony, drunkenness, sensuality, Phil. iii. 19. Prov. xx 1. xxiii. 1, 21, 9 — 35. v. 10. vii. 22, 27. ix. 18. Luke xxi. 34. xvi. 19. xvii. 27. Isa. xxii. 12 — 14. Rom. xiii. 13, 14. 1 Pet. ii. II; immoderate labour, Eccl. vii. 22, 23; or exposing ourselves to unnecessary dangers,
2 Sam. xxiii. 16, 17. Matth. iv. 5 — 7. II. Murder of our neighbours, in, 1. Their soul, by giving them a sinful or imprudent example, Mat. xviii. 6, 7; by neglecting to prevent their sinning, or to reform them from it, Ezek. iii. 18. 1 Sam. iii. 13. Lev. xix. 17. 1 John iii. 15; by co-operating with them in sin, commanding, advising, provoking, tempting, teaching, or assisting them to commit it, or approving and delighting in it-.
Hos. v. 11, 12. 2 Sam. xiii. 5. 1 Kings xxi. 25. Prov. vii. 10 — 27. Psalm 1. 18. Acts viii. 1. Rom. i. 32. Psalm, xlix. 18 Prov. xiv. 19; — and by hardening our heart against them on account of their sin, and not mourning over it, or their danger by it, Lam. i. 8, 17. v. 16 — 22. Ezelc. ix. 4. Ezra ix. 5 — 15. Dan. iii. 19, 20. Jer. ix. 1 — 21. 2. In their body, — not by killing
them in lawful war, Josh, vi. — xiii. Num. xxxi. ISam.xv; or in necessary self-defence, or in just punishment of their murder, adultery, idolatry, blasphemy, gross profanation of the Sabbath, &c.; as in these cases, God puts his sword into men’s hands to execute his just vengeance according to their stations. — But we murder their body, in unjustly killing them without, or under colour of law, Gen. iv. 8 — 11. 2 Sam. xi. 15. i Kings xxi. 1 — 12; in unjust war, Hab. ii. 12; or in private duels, Rom. xii. 19. Prov. xvi. 32. xxv. 28. Mat. v. 39, 44; — or in doing that which tends to murder them — whether in our heart, by sinful anger and wrath, Matth. v. 22. Eph. iv. 26, 27. Col, iii. 12, 13, 21; envy, Prov. xiv. 30. xxvii. 4. Job v. 2. Rom. xii. 15. Gal. v. 20, 21, 26; hatred, malice, 1 John iii. 15. Tit. iii. 3; revengeful thoughts, desires, and joys, Matth. vi. 15. Pi’ov. xxiv. 17, 18; unaffectedness with their distress, Prov. xii. 10. Obad. 10 — 14. Amos vi. 6; — in our speech, by quarrel¬ ling, bitter railing, reproachful or disdainful scoffing or deriding, angry cursing, Prov. xxiii. 29, 33. Gal. v. 15. 1 Cor. v. 11. Psalm lxiv. 3, 4. lii. 2. lvii. 4. cxl. 3. xxii. 6, 16. cix. 18. Prov. xii. 18. xv. 1. Eph. iv. 31. 2 Sam. xvi. 5, 7. 1 Pet. iii. 9. Matth. v. 22. Heb. xi. 33. John xix. 3. 2 Kings ii. 23, 24; or false accusation, Luke xxiii. 2. Acts xxiv. 5; — in fierce, sullen, or enraged looks, which denote inclination to, or pleasure in mischief, Gen. iv. 5. Obad. 12. Acts vii. 54; and in our acts, withholding from them their means of life, Luke x. 31,32. James ii. 15, 16. Job xxxi. 26. Matth. xxv. 42; and hurting their body, or their trade, labour, or property, by which its life and health are maintained, Exod. xxi. 18, 22. Ezek. xxiii. 7. Isa. iii. 14, 15. Mic. iii. 3. Matth. xxiv. 9, 10. Isa. v. 8.
VII. The Seventh Commandment requires, I. The pre¬ serving our own chastity in heart, speech, and behaviour, Job xxxi. 1. Col. iv. 6. 1 Pet. iii. 2; by studying to have our whole man instated in a new-covenant marriage relation to Christ, and to God in him, Isa. liv. 5 — 10. Jer. xxxii. 3S — 41; and to have his Spirit dwelling in us, Isa. xliv. 3, 4. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. Rom. viii. 9, 13; and by a daily and earnest application of his word, blood, and gracious influence for mortifying our in¬ ward lusts, and filling our heart with true holiness in opposition to them, John xv. 3. xvii. 17. Psalm cxix. 9. Lleb. ix. 14. x. 22. Rom, viii. 13. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Prov. ii. 1 — 19; an habitual. frequent, and fervent recommending ourselves to God’s preservation, Psalm xvi. 1. xvii. 8. xix. 11, 12, 13; lively exercise of our implanted graces, 2 Pet. iii. 18. i. 5 — 8. 2 Cor. vii. 1; watchfulness over our heart, eyes, and ears, Prov. iv. 23. Psal. xviii. 23. Job xxxi. 1. 2 Sam. xi. 2. Gen. xxxix. 7. Prov. vii. 21, 22. xix. 27; temperance in eating and drinking, or recreations, Lukexxi.34; a careful avoiding frothy and unchaste company, Prov. ii. 16. ix, 6. v. 8, 9; diligence in lawful business, Rom. xii. 11. 2 Sam. xi. 2. Gen. xxxiv. 1. Ezek. xvi. 49; early and earnest resistance of temptations to unchastity or occasions thereof, Gen. xxxix. 1 — 9. 1 Cor. vi. 18. Prov. v. 8; marrying in the Lord, when proper, 1 Cor. vii. 2, 9, 39; and dwelling with our yoke-fellow in tender love and affection, 1 Pet. iii. 7. Prov. v. 19, 20. Eccl. ix. 9. - II. The preserv¬
ing our neighbour’s chastity in heart, speech, and behaviour, taking care to do nothing that tends to ensnare or defile them, Gen. xxxviii. 14, 15, 26. 1 Tim. ii. 9; and doing every thing we can, by example, instruction, warning, reproof, and prayer for them, to promote and preserve their chastity, Prov. ii. v. vii. ix.
This commandment fokbids, I. Completed acts of uncleanness, — unnatural, bestial, diabolical, selfish, sodomitical, and incestuous pollutions, Lev. xviii. xx. Gen. xxxviii. 9, 18. Jude 8. Rom. i. 26, 27. Eph. v. 12. 1 Cor. v. 1. — Adultery, to which polygamy may be reduced, as marriage, and far less perjury in the violation of former marriage-vows, cannot sanctify sin, Hos. iv. 18. Gen. ii. 18 — 24; and concubinage, 1 Kings xi. 1, 3; — fornication between persons both of them unmarried, Col. iii. 5, 6. Eph. v. 5. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 15; — rape or violent defilement of women, Deut. xxii. 25; — immoderate and unseasonable familiarity between married persons, 1 Thess. iv. 3, 4. Ileb. xiii. 4. Lev. xv. 10. xviii. 18. 1 Cor. vii. 5. - II. Every thing that tends to¬
wards unchaste actions, — all approaches towards them, — indwelling lustfulness, unchaste imaginations, thoughts, and desires, Mat. v. 28. xv. 19; speaking, hearing, writing, or reading un¬ chaste expressions, Eph. iv. 29. Prov. vii. 18, 21; unchaste looks, receiving temptations into our own heart, or enticing others, 2 Pet. ii. 14. Isa. iii. 16 — 26; light and immodest behaviour, Isa. iii. 16. Prov. vii 13; wanton embraces and dalli¬ ances, Prov. vii. 13; — and all incentives to them, as stage-plays, lewd pictures, Ezek. xxiii. 14 — 21; immodest apparel, Prov. vii. 10; fellowship of vain persons, Gen. xxxiv. 1, Prov. v. 8 — 12; idleness, Ezek. xvi. 49; intemperance in eating and drinking, Prov. xxiii. 30. Jer. v. 8. Rom. xiii. 13. James v. 5. 1 Pet. iv. 3; undue delay of marriage, 1 Cor. vii. 7 — 9; unjust divorce, Mat. v. 32. 1 Cor. vii. 12, 13. Mat. ii. 16; un¬
kindness between married persons, 1 Cor. vii. 5; vows of perpetual single life, prohibitions of marriage, Matth. xix. 10, 11-
1 Tim. iv. 3; — dispensing with unlawful marriages, Mark vi. 18; — tolerating stews, Deut. xxiii. 17. Heb. xiii.4. — All which forms of unchastity we ought carefully to avoid, because, 1. It exceedingly dishonours God, Gen. xxxix. 9. Psalm li. 4. 1 Cor. iii. 17. vi. 18. Job xxxi. 11. 2. Falls into it arej’requently the
punishment of some other sin, Prov. xxii. 14. Rom. i. 26, 27. Hos. iv. 14. Amos vii. 17. 3. Few truly repent of it, and these
with great difficulty, Prov. ii. 19. xxii. 14. xxiii. 27, 28. Eccl. vii. 26. Acts xxiv. 25. 4. It dishonours and often murders our body,
1 Cor. vi. 18. Prov. y. 11, 12. vii. 22. 5. It fixes a permanent
stain upon our character, Prov. vi. 33. 6. It wrathfully con¬
sumes our outward estate, Prov. v. 10. vi. 2G. Job xxxi. 12. 7. It, in a fearful manner, secures our eternal ruin, Prov. vi, 32. vii. 26, 27. ix. 18. Heb. xiii. 4. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Gal. v.
19, 21. Rev. xxi. 8. xxii. 15. Col. iii. 5, 6. Eph. v. 5, 6.
The Eighth Commandment requires the promoting our own and our neighbour’s wealth and outward estate. This command necessarily supposes men’s peculiar property in temporal good things; as without that there could be no stealing. The Jewish Christians were not required to part with their civil property; but, being apprehensive of the impending ruin of their nation, they inclined to bestow it in the service of Christ and the support of his saints, while they had opportunity. Nor perhaps was the right to it, but the use of it made’ common. Acts ii. 44, 45. iv. 34 — 37. I. We ought to promote our own wealth and outward estate, 1. By taking a new-covenant right to all things through a spiritual union with Christ the heir of them,
1 Cor. iii. 22. Heb. i. 2. Mat, vi. 33. 2. By depending on and
praying to God, as our new-covenant Father, to bestow on us, and keep for us such things as are necessary and convenient, Deut. viii. 18. Psalm cxxvii. 1. cxxviii. 1, 2. Prov. xxx. 8. Mat. vi. 11. 3. By prudent foresight and care to have every
thing answerable to our station and ability, 1 Tim. v. 8. 4. By
due exercise of our ability or stock in some lawful calling, which is calculated to glorify God, and profit ourselves and our neighbours, Gen. ii. 16. iv. 2. Eph. iv. 28. Prov. xiv. 8. xiii. 4. x. 4. xxii. 29. Isa. xxviii. 26. Gen. ix. 19, 20. 5. By cheerfully al¬
lowing ourselves a moderate enjoyment of the fruit of our law¬ ful industry, Eccl. iii. 12, 13. ii. 24. ix. 9, Psalm cxxviii. 2. 6. By frugal management of that which we have to the best advantage, not from a churlish disposition, but as stewards of God’s property, taking cure to W’aste nothing upon trifles, and to lose nothing useful, Isa. Iv. 2. John vi. 12. Prov. xi. 24. xxi,
20. 7. By careful avoiding unnecessary law-suits, and every
other thing that tends to embarrass our outward estate or shame our profession, Mat. v. 40. 1 Cor. vi. 1 — 8. 8. By necessary
48?
prosecution of our civil rights at law, if the matter be of much importance, and can be obtained without rendering our neighbour and his family outwardly miserable, and if softer methods cannot procure us justice, Deut, xxv. 1. 9. Never idolizing,
but moderating our affections toward all earthly enjoyments,
1 Tim. vi. 17. 10. By carefully avoiding all haste to be rich,
and all mingling of unjust gain with our lawful property as a curse upon it, 1 Tim. vi. 4. Prov. xxviii. 22. James v. 3, 4. 11. By liberal, but prudently directed donations to the poor,
and to pious uses, Prov. xix. 17. iii. 9, 10. - II. We ought
to promote the wealth of our neighbours, 1. By much prayerful endeavours to have them and it secured in a new-covenant connection with God, James. v. 16. Phil. ii. 4. 2. By careful en¬
deavours to prevent their loss and damage, Deut. xxii. 1. Exod. xxiii. 4, 5. 3. By universal honesty in dealing with them, ra¬
ther hurting our own property than theirs, Mat. vii. 12. Psalm xv. 2, 4. Zech. vii. 9, 10. 4. By conscientious restitution of
every thing which we have found or wrongfully taken from them, Deut. xxii. 23. Lev. vi. 2 — 5. Job xx. 10, 18. Ezek. xviii. 7. Luke xix. 8. Num. v. 6 — 8; or, if the proper owners cannot be found, to restore it to the poor, as factors for the Lord of all things. 5. By charity and equity, in cheerfully but prudently lending to them for their assistance, even without interest or hope of payment, if their circumstances require it. Mat. v. 42. Luke vi. 35, 36. Deut. xxiii. 20. Lev. xxv. 34; and in thankful and timely returning that which we have borrowed, in as good condition as we got it, unless God’s providence, not our own prodigality or sloth, render us incapable,
2 Kings iv. 1. 6. By charitable donations of that which is truly
our own, and with a real desire to help the poor, and to promote the religious service of God, Luke xi. 41. xvi. 9. Gal. vi. 10. Tim. v. 8. Eph. iv. 28. Eccl. xi. 1. 1 John iii. 17. Prov. iii. 9. xix. 17.- — These donations ought to lie made conscientiously, under a sense of our debt to God as his vassals and tenants, Prov. iii. 9. Mat. vi. 1, 2; cheerfully, 2 Cor..ix. 7; with secrecy, except when publicity is necessary for exciting others. Mat. vi. 3, 4; in proportion to that which he bestows upon us, — perhaps not less than a tenth part of our incomes in ordinary cases, 1 Cor. xvi. 2. Psalm cxii. 5, 9. Gen. xiv. 20. xxviii. 22; and from an honourable regard to Christ and his poor members or brethren of mankind, 1 Cor. xi. 22. Gal. vi. 10. — And thus given, these donations are, 1. Most reasonable, as we hold all that we have of God as his stewards or tenants, Luke xvi. 10 — 12. 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18; and hence called righteousness, Psalm cxii. 9. Prov. x. 2. iii. 27. 2. Most honourable, conforming us
to the pattern of God in Christ, Acts xx. 35. Luke vi. 35. 2 Cor. viii. 9. 3. Most conducive to secure proper qeeessariss
for us and our posterity, Prov. xxviii. 27. xix. 17. Eccl. xi. 1, 2. Psalm xxxvii. 25, 26; nay, to render us rich, Prov. iii. 9,
10. xi. 24, 25. Psalm cxii. 3. 4. A most remarkablemean of
preventing trouble or securing comfort under it, Dan. iv. 27. Psalm xli. 1 — 3. 5. They will be most honourably proclaimed
by Christ in the last judgment, Mat. xxv. 34 — 40. 6. They
shall be abundantly, but graciously rewarded in heaven to all eternity, Mat. v. 7. vi. 4. Luke xvi. 9.
This commandment fobbids, I. The hindering our own wealth, by, 1. Idleness, living without a business, or not attending to it, 2 Thess. iii. 10, 11. 1 Tim. v. 13. 1 Thess. iv. 11, 12. Ezek. xvi. 49. Gen. iii. 19. 2. Carelessness and sloth, Prov. xxviii. 19.
xiv. 1. xiii. 4. xxiii, 21. vi. 10, 11. xxiv. 30 — 34. 3. Not de¬
pending on, and acknowledging God in all our worldly business, Deut. viii. 18. Psalm cvii. 38. 4. Prodigal wasting
that which God brings to our hand, Prov. xxi. 17. xxviii. 7. Luke xv. 13, 30. 5. Rash engagement in law-suits and surety¬
ship, Mat. v. 40. 1 Cor. vi. 1 — 8. Prov. vi. 1 — 5. xviii. 18. xxii. 26, 27. xxv. 9, 10. 6. Foolish giving to monasteries,
overstocked funds, or to such as have no need, or to sluggards, spendthrifts, or imprudent lending to rash schemers, prodigal wasters, or the like, Psalm cxii. 5. 7. Distrustful anxiety in
procuring or retaining earthly things, Mat. vi. 31, 34. Prov. xxviii. 22. Eccl. iv. 8. 8. Sordid churlishness, wanting a heart
to enjoy in a proper manner or degree that wealth which we have, or to lay out proper expences upon our affairs, Eccl. vi. 1 — 5. 9. Exercise of unlawful callings, — gamesters, stage-players, puppet-shewers, pimps, pawn-brokers, smugglers, &c. and all grasping at excessive gains, by which God’s curse is brought upon that which we have, Zech. v. 4. Hos. v. 12. Hag. i. 6.
11. The hindering our neighbour’s wealth and outward estate, not
only by direct theft and robbery of their persons or goods from particular persons, states, or churches, 1 Tim. i. 9, 10. Rom. ii. 22; but by that which is more indirect, in, 1. A covetous inclination to have their property, Heb. xiii. 5. Col. iii. 5. 2. Idle¬
ness, Eph. iv. 28. 2 Thess. iii. 10 — 12. 1’ Thess. iv. 11, 12. Mat. xx. 6. 3. Unnecessary begging, laying the burden of our
maintainance upon others to the hurt of the liberal and the truly poor’s wanting their due share of charity, Eph. iv. 28. 4. Base
gain procured by sordid or unlawful methods, Acts xix. 24, 25; of which kind is helping persons to a stock or subsistence by balls, drinking matches, penny weddings, Hab. ii. 15. Prov. xiii. 15. 5. Simoniacal merchandise of spiritual gifts, pardons,
church-livings, sacraments, censures, or other sacred things; giving or procuring them on account of money, favour, or the like, Acts viii. 20. Job xv. 34. 6. Family frauds by husbands, wives,
children, or servants, 1 Tim. v. 8. Prov. xxxi. 22. xxviii. 24 Tit. ii. 9, 10. Psalm 1. 18. 7. Taking the advantage of our
neighbours’ ignorance or necessity in buying or selling, Mat. vii.
12. Lev. xix. 11. 8. Improper or false commendation of that
which we sell, and dispraise of that which we intend to buy, Prov. xx. 14. 9. Adulterating goods, or selling one kind and
delivering another, Amos viii. 5, 0 10. Using false weights or
measures in merchandise, Micah vi. 10, 11. Amos viii. 5. Prov. xi. 1. Lev. xix. 30. 11. Bad payment of debts, neither early
nor fully enough, nor in current money. Psalm xv. 4. Acts v, 1 — 9- Gen. xxiii. 16. Rom. xiii. 8. 12. Dishonest fellowship,
taking as much or more of the gain when we have less of the stock or labour in procuring it, 1 Thess. iv. 6. Matth. vii. 12.
13. Bad neighbourhood, removing their land marks, injuring
their corns, grass, goods, conveniencies; decoying their servants or customers from them; screwing ourselves into their business, farms, &c. Prov. xxii. 28. xxiii. 10. Isa. v. 8. Jer. ix. 6. Micah ii. 2. vii. 2 — 4. 14. Dishonesty in trust, particularly to the
poor, fatherless, or widows, Prov. xxiii. 10, 11. Luke xx. 47; or perfidy in stewards, overseers, factors, &c. Luke xvi. 1 — 10. 15. Dishonesty in loans, — borrowing without any probability of power to pay it at the time promised; restoring things borrowed in a worse condition; — refusing to lend to the industrious poor in their necessity, and requiring interest from such as are unable to bear it, Exod. xxii. 14, 25 — 27. Mat. v. 42. Psalm xv. 5. Luke vi. 35. 16. Dishonest contracting of debt, — with¬
out sincere intention or proper appearance of ability to keep our promise of payment, — or without necessity on our part, and to the hurt of others, buying things which we might well want, Rom. xiii. 8. Mat. vii. 12 neglect to pay just wages or debts at the time appointed, Prov. iii. 27 — 29. Psalm xxxvii. 21; — unwillingness to pay just debts, and mean while giving our ready money to others; obliging our creditors to sue us at law, in order to have their own, — or leaving our debts to be paid by pur sureties, Isa. lviii. 4. 1 Thess. iv. 6. Isa. lix. 14. 17. Fraud¬
ulent bankruptcy, when by prodigality, pride, indolence, heed¬ lessness, rashness, or unlawful pushing of business, we plunge ourselves irrecoverably in debt; or stop payments without sufficient cause; or conceal part of our stock from our creditors; — or are unconcerned to pay what part we have promised, or even the whole debt, if ever we be able, Luke xv. 13. Jer. ix. 4 — 6, 18. Uncharitable use of our property, in engrossing useful commodities, forestalling of markets, unjust inclosures of commons, depopulation of villages, &c. James ii. 13. Prov. xi. 26. Isa. v. 8. Micah ii. 2. 19. Oppression, bearing down our neighbours
by our superior wealth, power, or influence, vexatious law-suits, retaining pledges, &c. Micah iii. 2, 3. Ezek. xxii. 7. Mai. iii. 5. James ii. 6. 1 Cor. vi. 1 — 6. Mat. v. 40, 41. Exod. xxii. 26,27.
Deut. xxiv. 6. 20. Extortion, proprietors racking their rents,
rulers their taxes, servants their wages, lenders their interest, 1 Cor. v. 11. vi. 10. 21. Fellowship with thieves, — tempting
them to steal, resetting or concealing that which they have stolen, or not sufficiently checking and punishing them when it is in our power, Psalm 1. 18. Prov. xxix. 24. Isa. i. 23. 22. Un¬
mercifulness to the poor, which is real theft, Eph. iv. 28; perfidious ingratitude to God, Mat. xxiv. 41 — 45. xviii. 23 — 35. Luke xvi. 10; murder of the poor, 1 John iii. 15. James ii. 16, 17, — a token that we are destitute of God’s grace, 1 John iii. 17. Mat. xxv. 41 — 43; provokes God to deal unmercifully with us, James ii. 13. Prov. xxi. 13. James v. 4; imperceptibly wastes our substance, Prov. xi. 24, 25. James v. 2, 3; and, if continued in, will at last damn us, Mat. xxv. 41 — 43. 23. With¬
holding from the support of ministers, schools, and other pious uses, that, which is answerable to our incomes before God, Neh. xiii. 10. x. 32, 34. Hag. i. 4. Mai. iii. 9. 24. Sacrilegious defi¬
ciency in that good example, religious instruction, fervent prayer, and other important usefulness which we owe to our neighbours for promoting their temporal as well as eternal advantage, Rom. xiii. 8. Heb. x. 24.
IX. The Ninth Commanoment, respecting our own and our neighbour’s reputation, and the truth connected with it, KEQUiiiES, I. The maintaining and promoting truth between man and man, in, 1. Speaking nothing but truth, as we think, and as things really are, Psalm xv. 2. 2 Thess. ii. 11. 2. Declar¬
ing that which is true upon every proper occasion, Zech. viii. 16, 19. 3. Bearing witness, when necessary in judicature,
freely, plainly, fully, sincerely, and unbiassedly, declaring the truth and nothing else, Prov. xiv. 5. xix. 5. 1 Sam. xix. 4, 5. John vii. 19. 2 Chron, xix. 9. 2 Sam. xiv. 16 — 20. II. The maintaining and promoting of our own good name, in, 1. Taking hold ot God’s covenant of grace, that we may have his new name put upon us, and have his honour engaged in support of our character, Rev. iii. 12. Isa. lvi. 5. lxii. 4, 12. Jer. xxxii. 40. 2. Studying to have a distinct, certain, and affect¬
ing knowledge of our own dignity as rational creatures, members of Christ, and friends of God, Psalm c. 3. 1 Cor. vi.
15, 17, 19, 20. iii. 16, 17, 23. Eph. iv. 30. v. 30. Jer. iii. 4, 14, 19, 22. 3. Entertaining only such thoughts as are honourable to truth anil our character, Phil. iv. 8. 4. Speaking
nothing of ourselves but what is real truth, either in praise or dispraise, and even that only when we have a due call to it, Prov. xxv. 14. xxvi. 16. xxvii. 2; prudently concealing our secret sins and infirmities, which we have no divine call to confess to men, Prov. xxv. 9, 10; and meekly defending oust character when it is unjustly attacked, John v. vii. viii. x. Acts xxii. xxiv. xxvi. 2 Cor. x. xi. 1 Cor. ix. Gal. i. ii. Josh, xxii. 1 Sam. xxii. 15. xxiv. 9 — 15. xxvi. 18; candidly and readily confessing our faults with grief and shame, when re¬ proved, Prov. xxviii. 13. James v. 16. 5. In our behaviour
avoiding every thing sinful or imprudent, and all appearances of it, and constantly following every thing good, and answerable to our station, 1 Thess. v. 22. Eccl. x. 1. Phil. iv. 8. Col.
i. — iv. Eph. iv. — vi. 1 Thess. i. — v. Rom. xii. — xv. 1 Pet. i.
—v. 2 Pet. i. 4 — 8. iii. 11, 14, 18. III. The maintaining and promoting our neighbour’s good name, in, 1. Earnest care to have them vested with the honourable character of God’s friends and children, Gal. iv. 19. James v. 19, 20. Prov. x. 12. 1 Pet. iv. 8. Rom. x. 1. 2. Charitable esteeming of them,
1 Cor. xiii. 8. Phil. ii. 3. Rom. xii. 10. 3. Kind covering
their infirmities, 1 Pet. iv. 8. James v. 20. Prov. x. 12. 4. Readily acknowledging their gifts, graces, and good behaviour, l Cor. xiii. 4, 5, 7. xiv. 5, 7. xvi. 15 — 18. 2 Cor. viii. 16 — 24. Phil.
ii. 19 — 30. Col. iv. 12. 5. Defending their character when it
is unjustly attacked, 1 Sam. xxii. 14. 6. Readily receiving
good reports concerning them, and aversion to hear that which tends to their dishonour, 1 Cor. xiii. 6, 7. Psalm xv. 3. 1 Sam. xxii. 14, 15. 7. Earnestly discouraging tale-bearers, back¬
biters, and slanderers, and labouring to bring them to due dis¬ grace and punishment, Psalm ci. 5. Prov. xxv. 23. 2 Cor. xii. 20. 8. Watching over our neighbours, from true love to
them, and issuing in proper advice, warning, or reproof to them, Lev. xix. 16, 17. Matth. x viii. 15 — 17. 1 Thess. v. 14.
2 Thess. iii. 14.
This commandment forbids, 1. Whatsoever if prejudicial to truth, 1. In judicial processes, uttered or done by parties, witnesses, advocates, or judges, Exod. xxiii. 1 — 7. Dent. xix. 15 — 19. Lev. xix. 11 — 16. Prov. xix. 5, 9. xxv. 18. Isa. lix. 13 — 15. Jer. ix. 3 — 6. Micah vii. 3. Mai. iii. 5. Falsehood and deceit in this case are peculiarly criminal, being committed in that judgment which belongs to God, before, or by judges sitting in his name and authority, as his deputies, and under the form of a solemn appeal to him, — and are peculiarly ruinous to the consciences and interests of mankind. Or, 2dhj, In extrajudicial. cases, as, 1 Unfaithfulness, paying no due regard to promises, — rashly making them, or entering into stations and relations which imply them, and want of due concern to remember and fulfil them, Rom. i. 31. 2 Tim. iii. 3. Jer. ix. 3 — 6. Luke xvi. 10. Deut. xxxii 20. 2. Undue silence when
iniquity requires that we should reprove it ourselves, or com¬ plain of it to rulers, Lev. xix. 17. v. 1. Deut. xiii 8. Mark viii. 38. Eph. v. 7, 11. Mat. xviii. 15 — 17. 3. Speaking truth
unseasonably or maliciously, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, Eccl. iii. 7. Prov. xxix. 11. Psalm lii. 2 — 4. 1 Sam. xxii.
8, 9. Acts xvi. 1G, 17. Matth. xxvi. 60, 67. 4. Equivocation,
using words of a double signification, in a sense different from that in which we expect our neighbour will understand them; and mental reservation, concealing some words in our mind which give our expressions a different meaning from that which they appear to have, Gen. iii. 3, 4. xx. 2, 12. xxvi. 6, 7. 5. Hypocrisy or dissimulation, appearing to be and do that
which we neither are nor do, Matth. xxiii. 13 — 30. Tit. i. 16. 2 Tim. iii. 5. Isa. xxix. 13; to which may be reduced forgery of writs, counterfeiting of money, &c. 6. Simple falsehood,
uttering that which is really false, but we believe to be true, Zech. viii. 16, 19. 7. Rash judging, affirming or denying
facts without proper certainty, embellishing stories with circumstances which are not founded on proper information, 1 Cor. xiii. 6. 8. Gross lying, uttering that which we know
to be false, with an intention to deceive our neighbour, Hos. iv. 2. Jer. ix. 3, 5. Isa. lix. 13. — All lying, whether in jest, Hos. vii. 3; for profit, Job xiii. 7. 2 Kings v. 22. Rom. iii. 8; for concealment of guilt, Gen. xviii. 15. 2 Kings v. 25. Acts v. 3, 8; for preventing danger, Gen. xii. 11 — 13. xx. 2. xxvi. 7. Mark xiv. 68 — 71; or for doing mischief, Prov. vi. 19. Jer. ix. 3, 5. Acts vi. 11, 13. xxiv. 5. Luke xxiii. 2; or from mere rashness and custom, 2 Sam. xiii. 30. Psalm cxxix. 29, — and all deceit, are of the devil, John viii. 44; contrary to the nature of God, Deut. xxxii. 4. 1 Sam. xv. 29; and condemned in his law, as abominable to him, and eternally ruinous to men, Psalm v. 4 — 6. Prov. vi. 17, 19. xiv. 5. xix. 5, 9. xxix. 12. Epb. iv. 25. Col. iii. 9. Rev. xxi. 8. xxii. 15. But concealing that which men have no call to reveal, figurative expressions, and changes of purpose or conduct, upon sufficient grounds, do not imply any deceit or falsehood, 1 Sam. xvi. 2, 5. 2 Kings vi. 19. Jer. xxxviii. 24 — 27. John xv. 1. Song ii. 1 — 3. 1 Kings xviii. 27. xxii. 15. Eccl. xi. 9. Gen. xix. 2, 3. 2 Cor. i. 17. John iii. II. II Whatsoever is injurious to our own good name, 1. In our heart, thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves, reckoning ourselves less indebted to God for his gifts and graces than we really are, Rom. xii. 16. Prov. xxv. 14. xxvi. 12, 16. Exod. iv. 10, 14. 2. In our
words, unjustly or unseasonably accusing ourselves, Prov. xxv.
9, 16. Job xxvii. 5, 6; denying truth or affirming falsehood
in our own favours, Prov. xxviii. 13. 1 Kings v. 25. Acts v. 8. Gen. xviii. 15. 2 Sam. i. 10; or boasting of ourselves in a vain glorious manner, Luke xviii. 11. Prov. xxv. 14. xxvii. 2. Luke xvi. 15. 2 Tim. iii. 2. 3. In our behaviour, — doing that which
is sinful or imprudent, — connecting ourselves with infamous or carnal companions, — pushing ourselves into stations and circumstances in which we cannot behave to our own or the honour of God, 1 Sam. ii. 24. Fxov. v. 8, 9. 2 Kings viii. 13. III. Whatsoever is injurious to the good name of our neighbour.
1. In our heart, by unjust suspicions, evil surmisings, 1 Tim. vi. 4; uncharitable and rash judging, Mat. vii. 1 — 4. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. Acts xxviii. 4; making ourselves a standard for judging others, Horn. xiv. 3, 10; judging their conscience, state, or intentions, as if we were God, Horn. xiv. 3, 4; misinterpreting their purposes, words, or deeds, Nell. vi. 6. Horn. iii.
8. Psalm lxix. 10; secret contempt of them, 2 Sam. vi. 16. Luke xviii. 9 — 11; envy of their just fame, Matth. xxi. 15. Num. xi. 29. John iii. 26; pleasure in their disgrace, Jer. xlviii. 27; or fond admiration of them, 1 Cor, iv. 6. Jud6 16.
2. In our speech, speaking truth in order to dishonour them, Luke xv. 2. Mark vi. 3; unnecessarily divulging their infirmities, Gen. ix. 22; aggravating their real faults, Matth. vii. 3 — 5; reviving the infamy of their former falls, of which they had repented, and which had been forgotten, 2 Sam. xvi. 7; betraying their secrets, especially if some difference between them and us has happened, Prov. xvii. 9. xvi. 28. x. 12. xxv.
9. 2 Tim. iii. 4; attempting to undermine or diminish their
reputation, Ezra iv. 12, 13. Mat. xii. 22 — 24; raising, spread¬ ing, or receiving false reports concerning them, Exod. xxiii. 1. Neb. vi. 6. Psalm xv. 3. Jer. xviii. 18. xx. 20; falsely slandering them, Psalm 1. 20. Heb. x. 33. Psalm xxii. 6. lxix. 7, 20. xlii. 10; false or malicious accusation of them to rulers, Luke xxiii. 2. Acts xxiv. 5. Jer. xxxviii. 4; backbiting, tear¬ ing, and Undermining their character, in their absence, Horn, i. 29, 38. Psalm xxxv. 15, 16. xv. 3. lxix. 10 — 13. Prov. xxv. 23. 2 Cor. xii. 20; tale-bearing between different families or persons, Lev. xix. 16. Prov. xi. 13. xx. 19. xviii. 8. xxvi. 20, 22. 2 Thess. iii. 11. 1 Tim. v. 13; encouraging tale-bearers, backbiters, and slanderers, at least in not bringing them to due disgrace and punishment, Prov. xxix. 12. xxv. 23; scorn¬ ful derision, Gal. iv. 29. Psalm xxii. 7, 8. xxxv. 16, 19. Job xxx. 9. Heb. xi. 36; reviling, calling bad names, Mat. v. 22. 1 Cor. vi. 10. v. 11; passionate railing and brawling. Psalm lii. 2, 4. lxiv. 3. Jer. ix. 23. Jude 9, 10. 1 Tim. iii. 3. 3. In
our behaviour, by suspicious or contemptuous gestures, Fsalni xxii. 7. Prov. vi. 12, 13; turning our back on them as infamous, without sufficient ground, Gal. ii. 12. 2 Tim. i. 15. iv. 10; neglecting to warn and hinder them from what is sinful and imprudent; and by advice, encouragement, or example, drawing them into it, to the hurt of their character, 1 Sam, iii. 13. ii. 13. Ezek. xxxiii. 6, 8. IV. Whatsoever tends both to the injuring truth and our own and neighbour s good name,
as, 1. An excessive readiness to speak in company; by which we manifest the frothiness and pride of our heart, and mark ourselves fools, Eccl. v. 2, 3. x. 14. Prov. xiv. 23. x. 19. xii. 23. xiii. 3, G. xv. 2, 14. xvii. 27. xxix. 11, 20. 2. Idle talk,
which has no tendency to promote any good end, either civil or religious* Mat. xii. 36. Eph. v. 4. 3. Inordinate jesting,
Eph. v. 4. 4. Flattery, which includes much baseness, false¬
hood, deceit, and treachery in the giver; and marks much baseness and self-conceit in the receiver, Psalm xii. 3. xxxvi. 3. Acts xii. 22, 23.
X. The Tenth Commandment, which respects the most inward dispositions of our heart, and is, as it were, a guard to the rest, particularly to those of the second table, requires,. I. A due weanedness of affection from every created enjoyment y Psalm cxxxi. 1, 2; having our heart habitually indifferent to¬ wards them, Luke xiv. 26; expecting nothing from them, but as God puts it into them, Psalm iv. 6, 7. Isa. lvii. 10. xvii. 10; extracting our wffiole comfort from God himself amidst plenty as well as in poverty, Psalm xviii. 46. 1 Sam. ii. 1 — 10. Luke i. 47. Psalm cxlii. 4, 5. Hab. iii. 17, 18; using them all as fading and transient, 1 Cor. vii. 29; and mortifying every degree of lustful desire after them, Matth. xxiv. 38. Luke xxi. 34. Gal. vi. 14. James iv. 4. 1 John ii. 16. II. Full contentment with that condition in which God places us with respect to gifts graces, office, honour, wealth, pleasure, &c. in this world, bleb, xiii. 5. 1 Tim. vi. 6. Phil. iv. 11. This contentment doth not exclude, but imply detestation of our sinfulness, — humbly be¬ wailing our distresses and wants, — and earnestness in all regular endeavours to have our condition as comfortable as possible; — and it includes an hearty reconcilement to God’s will, as the only and universal standard for regulating our lot, in its form and degree, Psalm xlvii. 4. 1 Tim. vi. 8, 9; an absolute resignation, and entire submission to hisAvill, as wise, holy, just, good, and very gracious, in all his providential disposals of us, or any thing belonging to us, — and hence, an inward easiness under his denials of outward comforts, and a satisfaction in our lot as good, very good, nay best for us, Matth. xvi. 24. 1 Sam. iii. 18. Phil. iv. 6, 11, 12. Mic. vii. 9. Psalm xxxix. 9. cxix. 67, 71, 75. Lam. iii. 27 — 39. Job i. 21. ii. 10. Hab- iii. 17, 18. 2 Cor. xii. 10. 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26. xvi. 10 — 12. — In order to attain this full contentment, we must, 1. Receive God in Christ, as the infinite origin and sum of all that good which can be found in creatures, for our only and eternal portion, and live daily upon him as such, Psalm lxxxi. 8 — 10. lxxiii. 23 — 26. cxlii. 4, 5. xvi. 5 — 11. xxiii. xviii. xci. cxvi.cxvii. cxviii cxliv. cxlv. cxlvi. 2. Live in the believing consideration, that our hew-covenant God, Friend, Father, and Husband, is the maker and manager of all things, Job xxxiv. 33; that he manages our lot in his infinite wisdom and love, Matth. x. 30. vi. 30. Isa. lii. 7. xlvi. 3, 4. 2 Sam. xvi. 10 — 12. 1 Sam. iii. 18. Psalm xxxix. 9. Zech. xiii. 8, 9. iii. 9. Horn. viii. 28 — 32. 2 Cor. iv.
17. Dent, xxxii. 4. xxxiii. 26 — 29. Job xxxv. 14. Isa. xxx.
18. 1. 10; that we live on his mere grace and bounty, Gen. xxxii. 10. Lam. iii. 22. Isa. lxiii. 7. xlvi. 3, 4. Psalm xxxvi. 6, 7; that the wants and afflictions of our outward lot bid fair to be its most useful part to our soul, Lam. iii. 27, 29, 32, 33. 2 Cor. iv. 17. Psalm cxix. 67, 71. Job xxxiii. 17 — 30. Isa. xxvii. 9. Ezek. xx. 37. Hos. ii. 6, 7, 14. v. 15. vi. 1, 2. Mic.
vii. 14. Kev. iii. 19. Heb. xii. 5 — 11. Prov. iii. 12. Psalm xciv. 12. Job v. 17; that earthly enjoyments are always very empty and often very hurtful, Eccl. i. — xii. i. 2, 14, 17. Prov. xxiii. 5. i. 32. Deut. xxxii. 15. Hos. xiii. 6; that our temptations; burdens, services, and final account, are proportioned to our enjoyments, Matth. xxv. 15 — 30. Luke xix. 13 — 26. xii. 47, 48; that Jesus Christ has marked and pathed our way through every trouble, and attends us, to bear, carry, and deliver us, Isa. lxiii. 9. xlvi. 3, 4; and that death and eternity, in which earthly enjoyments can do us no service, and in which we shall reap the happy fruits of our troubles, are at hand, Matth. xvi. 25. xix. 29. 2 Tim. iv. 6 — 8. Acts xiv. 22. John xvi. 33. Rom.
viii. 17, 18, 37 — 39. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. 2 Tim. ii. 10 — 12. Rev.
ii. 7, 17,26. iii. 5, 12, 21. III. A right atid charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his — heartily loving his person for God’s sake, Rom. xiii. 9, 10; kindly regarding his property for his, and chiefly for God’s sake, Deut. xxii. 1; earnestly desiring and cordially delighting in his welfare, temporal, spiritual, or eternal, Rom. xii. 15. Heb. xiii. 3. Psalm xxxv. 13, 14. Phil. ii. 4. IV. A perfectly holy frame of spirit Rom. vii. 7. 1 Pet. L 15, 16. Lev. xi. 44. Matth. v. 48. xxii. 37, 39.
This commandment forbids, I. All discontentment with our own condition, which includes in it inward rebellion against God’s providential will, Hos. iv. 16. xiii. 6; fretfulness or grief at his disposal of our lot, 1 Kings xxi. 4. 2 Cor. vii. 10; inward dis¬ pleasure against that form or condition which he has allotted to us, Job xviii. 4; inward blasphemy against him, as if he had been guilty of injustice or cruelty in ordering our lot, Job ix, 17, 18. x. 16. xxx. 13. II.’ Envy, grief, and fretfulness, on account of the advantages of our neighbour, in gifts, graces, relations, wealth, honour, pleasure, Job v. 2. John iii. 26, 1 Cor. xiii. 4. Psalm xxxvii. 1, 7, 8. James iii. 14, 16. Jer. xii. 1. Psalm lxxiii. 2 — 15. Eph. iv. 4, 5, 11. Gal. v. 21,26. Prov.
iii. 31. xxiv. 1, 19. III. Covetousness of created enjoyments.
4$d
1. In inordinate lusting after those things which We possess, having our heart fixed on them, Col. iii 5. Luke xiv. 18 — 21. xii. 21; and hence desiring them for themselves, for a wrong end, or as our chief good, James iv. 3 — 5; using them with too much avidity, without regard to necessity or expedience, as if we were under their power, 1 Cor. vi. 12; or to the hurt of our soul, and the dishonour of God, James iv. 3, 4. 1 Cor. x. 31. Hos. x. 4. 2. In lusting after that which belongs to our neigh¬
hour; desiring that which God has put out of our power, 2 Sam. xxiii. 15. Josh. vii. 21; desiring that which is attain¬ able by lawful means, by such as are unlawful, or for an unlawful end, Jam. iv. 3. 1 Kings xxi. 2 — 15. Jer. xvii. 11. Jobxvii. 10 — 18; or desiring them so violently as disturbs our mind till we enjoy them, and renders us fretful if we must want them, Gen. xxx. 1. 1 Kings xxi. 4. Psalm iv. 6. xvii. 14. 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. IV. The corrupt frame of our fallen nature, from which these sinful lustings proceed. This evil concupiscence may be considered, 1. As existing in our heart, but not consented to, Rom. vii. 14 — 24. 2. As consented to in itself, but not in the
execution of its desires, Matth. v. 28. Eccl. vi. 9. 3. As con¬
ceiving, contriving, and bringing forth actual sin, in thoughts, words, and deeds, James i. 15. Matth. Xv. 19. Mark vii. 21, 22. 4. As having brought forth contrived acts of wickedness to
the very point of execution, 1 Sam. xxiii. 26. Esth. iii. v. vi. Acts xvi. 27. xxi. 31, 32. xxiii. 10, 12 — 24.
Reflect. Pause now, my soul! How holy must God the giver of this law be, with whom I have to do! How awfully strict and extensive that standard, by which he will judge me, and fix my eteimal state! — How inexpressibly guilty before God must I now be, who have so long, in so many forms, and in so aggravated a manner, broken all these commandments! — How infinitely horrid, abominable, and criminal must sin be, which is in opposition to the law of God, so holy, just, and good! — How absolutely necessary the righteousness of God in our nature, as our Surety, to justify us, who are sinful men, before God! And what an unbounded mercy, to be justified from all the charges of this law, and to be, to its inexpressible honour,. adjudged to everlasting happiness! And how important that in¬ ward change of nature, in which God writes his law on our heart! How base the traitors, that would improve Jesus’s righteousness as a reason of trampling this law under their foot! — But what knows my conscience of its power, in driving me to Christ, or directing me to improve his righteousness, his grace and glory? — Is it the object of my dearest affection, — my delightful meditation all the day? And, all washed in Jesus blood, and animated by his redeeming love, do I daily run in the way of all those commandments?
III. The ten commandments, above explained, may be view¬ ed in a threefold form: I. As a Law of Nature antecedent to, and disengaged from any covenant-transaction between God and us. In this form, 1. God, as a Creator and absolute Sovereign, imposed it. 2. It was written upon man’s heart in his creation, — it, and full power to fulfil it, being included in the instamped image of God the Lawgiver, Gen. i. 26, 27. Eccl. vii. 29. 3. It contained no positive precept, but obliged all its subjects to believe every thing which God should reveal, end pei’form every thing that he should command, Deut. xii. 32. 4. Its subjects
not being confirmed in holiness of heart and life, it implied a sanction of infinite punishment to every transgressor, as the due reward of his sin, Rom. vi. 23. 5. The most perfect obedience
of innocent men, having no proper merit before God, especially of eternal happiness, it implied no promise of any such reward, or that men should ever be confirmed under it as an easy and delightful rule of life, Job xxii. 23. Rom. vi. 23. 6. It did not
admit of God’s accepting any thing less than perfect obedience, Ezek. xviii. 4. Rom. vi. 23. 7. All men, as rational creatures,
were subject to it, Rom. ii. 14, 15. Il.yfs a Covenant of Works. In this form, 1. An absolute God, condescending to friendship, makes alliance and familiarity with holy and perfect man, was the imposer of it, Gen. ii. 17. 2. It included not only all the
commands t)f the law of nature, but also some positive institutions, Gen. ii. 16, 17. 3. It not only denounced infinite punishment against every transgressor of it, Gal. iii. 10. Deut. xxvii. 26. Ezek. xviii. 4; but also promised eternal happiness to the perfect fulfiller of it, Matth. xix. 17. Gal. iii. 12. Rom. x. 5. 4. It binds mankind, not only as authoritatively imposed by God their sovereign, but also as accepted by themselves, in their own self-engagement to fulfil it. 5. The original scope and end of it was, that man might obtain eternal life by his own. obedience, as its condition, Rom. vii. 10. viii. 3. x. 5. 6. As
it admits not of God’s accepting any obedience but that which is absolutely perfect, answerable to all its demands, Gal. iii. 10, 12; so the accepting the fulfiller’s person depended on the accepting his obedience, Matth. xix. 17. v. 18. Rom. x. 5. 7. In consequence of God’s making this law-covenant with Adam, all his natural descendants, while in their natural state, are under it before God, even though, as hearers of the gospel, they be under the external dispensation of the covenant of grace, Eph. ii. 3. Rom. ix. 30 — 32. But all true believers being united to Jesus Christ, who, as their Surety, fulfilled it for them, are perfectly delivered from it, .and dead to it; so that their sins no
longer condemn them to endure God’s revenging wrath, nor their holy qualities or works in the least entitle them to eternal happiness, Rom vi. 14. vii. 4. viii. 1 — 4, 33, 34. Gal.ii. 19 — 21. iii. 13. iv. 4, 5. v. 18. Phil. iii. 9. 1 Tim. i. 9. III. As the law of Christ, or rule of life. In this form, 1. It has the whole authority of God as a Creator and Sovereign, as well as a Redeemer, giving to it binding force. His nature being absolutely irreconcileable to every thing sinful, his law, as a transcript of his holiness, must still retain its original obligation, I Pet. i, 15, 16. Lev. xi. 44. Matth. v. 48. 2. It proceeds immediately
from Jesus Christ, God-man, Mediator, and from God, as our Creator and Sovereign, as reconciled and dwelling in him, 1 Cor. ix. 21. Gal, vi. 2. 2 Cor. v. 19 — 21. 3. Its precepts
are the verv same with those of the covenant of works, and demand the same perfection of obedience, Matth. xxii. 36, 37.
v. 48. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. Phil. iv. 8. 4. The subjects of it be¬
ing fully and irrevocably instated in the favour of God, and entitled to eternal life in Christ, it has no sanction of judicial re¬ wards or punishments, 1 John iii. 14. John v. 24. Rom. v. 21. viii. 1, 33, 34. But while their condition, temper, and practice are changeable, it is enforced with a sanction of gracious re¬ wards, of much freedom from spiritual distress, and much comfortable fellowship with God, and correspondent degrees of glory annexed to their obedience, — and of fatherly chastisement annexed to their disobedience. Psalm xix. 11. Isa. lxiv. 5. iii.
10. 2 Cor. i. 12. 1 Cor. xv. 58. 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. 1 Tim. iv. 8.
Heb. x. 35. xii. 6 — 11. Rev. iii. 19. Psalm lxxxix. 30 — 34. xeix. 8; — which sanction corresponds with the spiritual condition of believers, and is founded on their happy new-covenant state. -5. God’s end in giving the law as a rule of life, is not that men, by their obedience to it, may procure his favour as a Judge, and a title to eternal life; but to direct, bind, and ex¬ cite believers in Christ to improve their full and irrevocable justification, and begun possession of eternal life, in cordial gratitude to him, and preparation for complete salvation; so that their obedience, in its highest view, is a part of their happiness here, as well as it will be in heaven,. Psalm cxvi. 16. Luke i. 74, 75. Rom. vii. 4, 6. Gal. ii. 19. Heb. xii. 28. Tit. ii. 14. 1 Pet. ii. 9. 6. It supposes all its subjects to have already full
strength, motives, and encouragements in Christ: and though it require perfect obedience, it admits of God’s accepting our imperfect obedience of faith, not to found any acceptance of our persons, but as a fruit of their being united to, and fully accepted in Christ, Eph. i. 6. 1 Cor. xv. 58. Heb. xiii. 16. 1 Pet.
11. 5. Rom. xii. 1. 1 Thess. iv. 1. 7. All believers, and they
only, are the subjects of this law of Christ, 1 Cor. ix. 21. Gal.
vi. 2. It binds them as much under the gospel, as before Christ
0F THE LAW OF GOD. and his apostles inculcated it with additional enforcements, Matth. v. — vii. xxii. 37 — 40: Rom. xii. — xlr. Eph. iv. — vi. Col. iii. iv. 1 Thess. iv. v. Tit. ii. iii. Heb. x. — xiii. Jam. i. to Rev. iii. Their relation to Christ, and to God in him, as their Husband, Father, Friend, and Pattern, requires its continued obligation, Gal. ii. 19, 20. 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5, 9. Matth. xxviii. 20. v. 44, 48. All their new-covenant blessings of union with Christ, justification, adoption, regeneration, sanctification, spiritual comfort, and eternal glorification, require their continued subjection to it, Rom. vii. 4, 6. 2 Cor. vi. 18. vii. 1. Tit. ii. 11 — 14. iii. 8, 14. Psalm cxvi. 16. cxix. 32, 166. Phil. ii. 12, 13 — 16. 1 Pet. i. 13 — 16. ii. 5, 9. Gal. v. 24, 25. Heb. xii. 1, 2, 14, 28. Gal. vi. 7, 8. Rom. viii. 23. Phil. iii. 14, 20, 21.
IV. In one or more of these different forms, the moral law is of use, I. To all men in general. 1. To teach them their duty to God, to themselves, and to their neighbours; and to bind them to it by his infinite authority, Mic. vi 8. 2 To discover
to them the holiness, equity, and goodness of his nature and work, Rom. vii. 12. 3. To restrain them from sin, and to en¬
courage them to virtue, as even the approaches to it, and re¬ semblances of it, are rewarded with freedom from temporal miseries, and with temporal felicity, or non-infliction of the greater punishments in hell, Psalm xix. 11. Ezek. xviii. Isa. i.
19. Deut. iv. — xxx. 4. To convince them of their sinfulness and misery on account of it, and of their utter inability to re¬ cover themselves by keeping the commandments, Rom. iii 19,
20. vii. 8 — 13. 5. To shew them their need of Christ, his
righteousness and grace, and to stir them up to apply them to their soul, Gal. iii. 24. II. It is of use to unregenerate men, 1. To convince and awaken their conscience, Rom. iii. 19, 20. vii. 9. Gal. ii. 19. 2. To denounce the wrath of God against
their sin, and thus affect them with a deep sense of it, Rom. iii. 19. ii. 8, 9. vi. 19, 23. 3. To bridle the’ rage of their lusts,
1 Tim. i. 9. 4. To drive them, as convinced of their sinful¬
ness, misery, and self-irrecoverableness, to Jesus Christ, as their almighty Saviour, Gal. iii. 24. Rom. x. 4. 5. To fix upon
their conscience a deep sense of their having those very characters of sinfulness and misery by which men are particularly invited to receive Christ and his salvation, 1 Tim. i. 15. Isa. xlvi. 12. i. 18. Iv. 2, 7. lxv. 1, 2. Matth. ix. 13. xviii. 11. xi. 28. Prov. i. 22. ix. 4. Jer. iii. 1, 4, 5. 6. To consign them to re¬ doubled damnation, if they reject him, John iii. 18,36. Heb. ii. 3. x. 26 — 31. Matth. xi. 20 — 24. III. It is of use to believers, 1. To shew them what Christ, from love to their souls, did and suffered in their stead, Gal. iv. 4, 5. iii. 13. Rom. viii. 3, 4. 2. To shew them their inexpressible deficiency in holh*
ness, in order to humble them, cause them to renounce their own righteousness, and rely wholly on Christ, and to make them long tor heaven, Phil iii. 8, 9. i. 23. Rom. vii. 24. 2 Cor. v. 4. 3. To instruct’ them what grateful service they owe to
Christ and his Father, and what perfection of holiness they ought always to aim at, Phil. iii. 12 — 14. 1 Tim. i. 5. 2 Cor. vii. 1. 1 Pet. i. 13 — 16. 2 Pet. i. 4 — 8. Matth. v, 48. 4. To
attest the truth of their begun sanctification, and to comfort them as Israelites indeed, who walk in the law of the Lord after their inward man of implanted grace, 2 Cor. i. 12.
Reflect. Study carefully, O my soul, the wide, but little perceived difference between the law of God, as a covenant, and as a rule of life in the hand of Christ. Without distinct experimental knowledge of this, I can neither rightly discern nor practise the truth as it is in Jesus. — What powerful experience have I had of these several uses of the holy law? — God forbid that I should preach it up, so as to render it a source and seal of eternal damnation to myself and others.