Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2023 19:16:06 GMT -5
John Brown of Haddington;
Of the Law of God, in its Manifestation,
Matter, Forms, and Uses to men.
I. The law of God means either his whole word, Ps 1:2; Ps 19:8-9; or all the books of the Old Testament, John 10:34; 1 Cor 14:21; or the five books of Moses, Luke 24:44; Rom 3:21; John 1:45; or the ceremonial dispensation of the new covenant, John 1:17; or the covenant of works as opposed to the covenant of grace, Rom 6:14;
Rom 7:4; Rom 8:2; Gal 3:10,12-13. But, 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 2:17; Heb 10:1; Heb 3-10.
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, etc. Exod 21-23; Num 1-2; Num 10; Num 27; Num 34-36; Lev 18; Lev 20; Deut 17; Deut 19-25; 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, Mal 5:17,19; Rom 3:31; Rom 13:8- 9; Titus 3:8,14; James 2:8,10. And all the ten commandments of it are either more or less directly inculcated in the New Testament.
The substance of the first is in John 3:19; John 5:42; 2 Pet 1:5-8; 2 Pet
3:18; 2 Thess 1:8; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:19; Matt 4:10; Acts 2:38; Matt 22:37; 1 Pet 2:17; Heb 12:28; Rom 3:18; 2 Cor 1:6; 1 Tim 4:7; 1 Tim 6:17;
—the substance of the second, in John 4:23-24; John 5:39; Rev 1:3; Rom 12:1-6; 1 Thess 5:17; Col 3:16, Eph 5:19; James 5:13-14; 1 Cor 10:14; 1 John 5:21;
—of the third in Matt 5:34-37; Matt 15:9; Matt 6:7; James 1:23; James 5:12; John 4:24; 1 Cor 14:15;
—of the fourth in Mark 16:2,9; John 20:19,26; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Rev 1:10;
—of the fifth in Eph 6:1-9; Eph 5:22-33; Eph 4:32; Col 3:18-25; Col 4:1; Titus 2:3-10; 1 Pet 2:18; 1 Pet 3:1-8; 1 Thess 5:12-14; 1 Tim 3-6. And the other five commands are repeatedly inculcated together, Matt 19:18-19; Rom 13:9 Gal 5:14; James 2:8-11.
—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 require a man to sacrifice his own son, etc.
God's moral law is manifested,
1. As partly, but obscurely, written in the heart of all men, Rom 2:14-15; Rom 1:19-20,32.
2. As summarily contained in the ten commandments, Exod 20:3-17; Deut 5:6-21.
3. As largely held forth and explained in the whole Bible, in every divine requirement or prohibition, direct or indirect, Deut 4-31; Matt 5-7; Eph 4-6; Col 3-4; Rom 12-15; Phil 2-4; 1 Thess 5; Heb 10-13; James 1 through Rev 3.
—It was manifested to Adam, its natural demands being wrote on his heart, and its positive requirements revealed to him, Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:16-17.
—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 19-20; Deut 4-5; Heb 12:28-29.
—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 24:12; Exod 34:1,28.
—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 3:19-20. Christ and his apostles republished and further explained the moral
law, and vindicated it from the false interpretations of the Jewish doctors, Matt 5; Matt 15; but they did not in the least enlarge it.
1. It was long before perfect, Deut 4:2; Deut 5:32; Deut 12:32; Ps 19:7-8; Ps 119:96; nor could it be corrected, 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, Matt 5:17-18.
3. He and his apostles taught nothing but what Moses and the prophets had done, Matt 22:37-40; Matt 7:12; Rom 1:3; Acts 26:22. 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 2:8; John 13:34. 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 12; Heb 11:8; the pious Levites slew their idolatrous brethren, Exod 32:27-28; Job blessed God under his heavy troubles, Job 1-2; Moses chose affliction with his brethren, Heb 11:25-26.
—Almost every prophet and good man appears denying himself and taking up his cross, 2 Sam 16:5-11; 1 Kings 17; 2 Chron 24:20-22; Dan 3; Dan 6; Neh 2; Neh 5.
—The loving God above all, necessarily requires self-denial and taking up our cross when it is for his glory, Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 4:14.—Christ being God, the imitation of him in the divine excellencies he then had, was required under the Old Testament, Lev 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7.
—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 63:16; Ps 72; Ps 57:11; Ps 143; Ps 119; Prov 30:8; Ps 25:11; Ps 16:1; Ps 17:2.
—The worshipping Christ, and God in his name, was practised under the Old Testament, Ps 2:12; Ps 15:11;
Ps 97:7; Heb 1:6; Exod 23:21; Gen 18:23; Gen 48:16; Dan 9:17; Ps 84:9; men were forbidden to have images, or frequent idolatrous temples, as well as now, Exod 23:24; Deut 12:23; Deut 7:2-3; Ps 16:4; and to swear rashly or irreverently, Deut 6:13; Deut 10:20; Eccles5:2; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2; Jer 5:7; Matt 5:34-37; James 5:12.—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 4:6; Gen 27:41,43; Gen 31:24; Gen 45:8;
Gen 49:7; Job 29:16; Job 31:1; 2 Kings 5:13; Deut 5:20-21; Deut 17:5; Deut 24:1; Mal 2:14-15; Lev 19:8.
In respect of quality, the moral law is,
1. Universal, extending to all men, in every age, in all their dispositions, thoughts, words, and works, Rom 2:14; Rom 3:19-20; Rom 4:15; Rom 5:13.
2. Perfect, requiring all good dispositions and exercises, in the most perfect degree, and forbidding every thing sinful in any degree, Ps 19:7; Ps 119:96,128.
3. Perpetual, directing and binding men both through time and eternity, Luke 16:17; Matt 5:18.
4. Holy, a transcript of God's infinite holiness, and binding men to perfect holiness, Rom 7:12.
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 7:12; Ps 19:8; Ps 119:7,128.
6. Good, requiring nothing but what is good in itself, and calculated to promote the happiness of all under it, Rom 7:12; Rom 2:7,10; Ps 19:11; Ps 119:165.
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 7:14.
8. Exceeding broad, extending its requirements and prohibitions to multitudes of things in every moment, place, and circumstance, Ps 119:96.
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, Ps 18:23; Heb 11:17; Num 14:40-44.
2. Constant, notwithstanding all alterations in our state or circumstances, Ps 119:44.
3. Tender, abstaining from the smallest appearance of evil, 1 Thess 5:22; Judg 2:5; Ezek 6:9.
4. Ready and cheerful, Ps 18:44; Gal 1:16; Heb 11:8.
5. Universal, to every precept, in every point, and by every power in us, Ps 119:6.
6. Absolute, determined by the revealed will of God, though we perceive no other reason, Heb 11:8; Matt
23:8-10; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29.
7. Perfect, without the smallest defect, and answerable to the highest demands of holiness, Matt 5:48; Lev
11:44; 1 Pet 1:13,15-16.
8. In our case, evangelical, having Jesus Christ offered and bestowed in the gospel, for its origin, cause, motive, pattern, and end, 1 Tim 1; 1 Tim 5; Rom 1; Rom 5; 2 Cor 10:5; Eph 5:2; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11.
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 14:15,21-24;
—the chief stream or branch of obedience, 1 Cor 13; and the all-comprehending substance of it, Rom 13:10.
—We must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, Matt 22:37:—Which includes,
1. A true spiritual knowledge of what he is in himself, and as connected with us, John 17:3.
2. A hearty choice of him as our chief good, Ps 73:25- 26.
3. A cleaving to him as our God and all in all, Acts 11:23.
4. An high esteem of him in all that he is and does, Song 5:10; Ps 35:10; Exod 15:11; Ps 8:1,9; Ps 36:7; Ps 104:34; Ps 139:17-18; Zech 9:17.
5. Ardent desire after familiar enjoyment of him, Ps 27:4; Ps 42:1-2; Ps 84:2; Ps 63:1-8.
6. Delight in him, Song 1:13; Ps 37:4; Ps 149:2.—And thus our love to him must be judicious, Mark 12:33: Sincere and hearty, Prov 23:26: Pure and absolute, for the sake of his excellency
and kindness to us, Song 1:3; Ps 36:7; 1 John 4:19: Strong and vigorous, Song 8:6-7: Superlative, far transcending that which we bear to other objects, Luke 14:26; and operative in holy exercises, 1 John 3:18; Rom 13:10; Rom 14:6,8-9.
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, Matt 16:26.
—In humble satisfaction with our particular natural form as the work of God, Ps 100:3; Ps 139:14-16; in detesting and avoiding every thing which tends to our real hurt, Rom 12:9; Ps 119:104; Acts 16:28;
—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. Matt 6:33; John 6:27; Rom 2:7,10; 1 Tim 4:8.
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 2:17; Phil 2:3; Rom 12:10; 1 Pet 3:8; 1 Pet 4:8;
—and delighting in them in subordination to our superlative delight in God, Ps 16:3; Ps 119:63; 1 Pet 1:22.—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, Matt 7:12; and in loving and doing good to them from true love to their persons, 1 John 3:17-18; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 Pet 3:8; 1 Pet 4:8.
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 inward disposition;
—our whole duty to man being thus founded on our relations and duty to God, Exod 20:3-17; Deut 5:6-21.
—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 forbid, the contrary duty is required.
II. Wherever a sin is forbid, 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 performing 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 required are only to be performed when God gives pportunity.
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 4:19; Acts 5:29. And the positive worship of God must sometimes give place to the natural duties of necessity and mercy towards men, Hos 6:6.
I. The first commandment being, as it were, the foundation or cornerstone 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. Knowledge of God, as God, in his existence, perfections, persons, purposes, and works, 1Chron 28:9; John 17:3; 1 John 5:7,20; Ps 107:43;
—and as our God in Christ, Exod 34:6-7,9; 2 Cor 5:18-21; not merely speculative but practical, conforming our heart and life to his image, 2 Cor 3:18; John 13:17; Eph 4:32; Eph 5:1-2; 1 Pet 1:15-16.
II. Acknowledgement 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 20:31; 1 Thess 2:13.
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 3:23; Ps 16:2; Ps 142:5; Ps 31:14; Ps 91:2; Ps 118:28.
3. In deliberate renunciation of every idol, and solemnly surrendering up ourselves to him as our husband and King, Matt 5:29-30; Hos 14:3,8; Jer 3:16,19; Josh 24:15.
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 4:23; Ps 73:23-26; Song 4:12.
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 20:21; Jer 3:13-14,21-23; Jer 31:18-19; Hos 14:1-3,8.
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 4:24; Rom 1:9; Rom 8:5; 1 Cor 14:15; enlarging our heart to embrace and enjoy him as infinite, Ps 81:10; Isa 26:8-9; looking not at things temporal, but at things eternal, 2 Cor 4:17-18; humble and absolute dependence on him as all-sufficient and independent, Song 8:5; unmoved trust in, cleaving to, and imitation of him as unchangeable, Mal 3:6; Ps 89:34; Deut 4:4; Deut 10:20; Josh 23:8; Acts 11:23; Prov 24:21; Job 2:3; 1 Cor 15:58; living alway as in his presence and under his all-seeing eye, Ps 16:8; Gen 16:13; Jer 23:24; filial awe of, and trust in his power, greatness, and equity, Heb 12:28-29; Job 6:14; Job 13:15; delight in, and conformity to his unspotted holiness, 1 Pet 1:15-16. Lev 11:44; Matt 5:48; humble receiving, admiring, and rejoicing in his goodness, Jer 31:12; Gen 32:10; trust in, and imitation of his truth, candour, and faithfulness,2 Chron 20:20.
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, Ps 119; Gen 32:9-12; 2 Sam 7:25; Job 23:12; Jer 15:16; Acts 13:26; 1 Tim 1:15; 2 Tim 3:15- 17; and with his work,
—discerning, magnifying, and praising him in it,
—as infinitely glorious, wise, powerful, holy, and good, in Creation, Ps 8:3; Ps 136:5;
—as just, wise, almighty, faithful, and gracious inafflictive providences, and therefore bearing them patiently, humbly, and thankfully, Job 1:21; Job 2:10; Ps 119:67,71,75; as gracious and merciful in smiling providences, and therefore exercising love, wonder, and gratitude, Gen 32:10; 1 Thess 5:18; Phil 4:4,6; Col 3:17;
—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 23:5; Phil 3:8-9.
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 3:15-16; Heb 4:14; Heb 10:23; Eph 4-6; Col 1-4; 1 Thess 1-5; Rom 12-15; Rom 6;
—and that in order to glorify him, Phil 1:20; Luke 9:26; edify our neighbour, Phil 1:12-13; Titus 3:8,14; and to promote our own spiritual advantage, Mark 8:35,38; Rom 10:10; Luke 12:8.
III. Worshipping and glorifying God as God and our God in Christ,
1. Inwardly, in our mind, thinking of him, Mal 3:16; Ps 63:6; Ps 139:17 ,18; Ps 104:34; esteeming him, Exod 15:11; Ps 135:10; Ps 8:1,9; Ps 36:7; Ps 73:25; and believing him, Exod 14:31; 1 Thess 2:13;
—in our conscience,
—standing in awe of his authority, Ps 44:20-21; Job 31:14,23; subjecting it to him alone, without reserve, Matt 23:8-10; Matt 4:10; James 4:12; receiving his law as marked with his infinite authority, Isa 8:20; Isa 5:20; Matt 6:22-23; constant application of Christ's blood for purging it, and as the means of our unceasing
familiarity with God, Heb 10:19-22; self-excitement to duty upon an evangelical foundation, Luke 1:74-75; Ps 116:12,16; Ps 103:1-5; and accusing or excusing us according to our state, our practice, and the tenor of his law, Rom 2:15; Ps 65:3; Ps 130:3-4;—in our will,
— solemnly and repeatedly chusing him, Josh 24:15; Ps 16:2; Ps 73:25; Ps 119:57; Ps 91:2; Ps 142:5; Lam 3:24; making him our chief end, in every thing we do, 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11; Rom 14:8; denying our natural, civil, and religious self for his sake and honour, Matt 16:24; Luke 14:26; Luke 17:10;
resigning ourselves to his commanding and providential will, Rom 6:17; Gen 22:1-18; Luke 24:26; Ps 47:4; Ps 39:9; Ps 119:71,75; patient bearing his afflicting rods, Ps 39:9; 1 Sam 3:18; 2 Sam 16:10-11; Lam 3:22,39; Mic 7:7-10; Isa 53:7;—in our affections,
—loving him as infinitely excellent and kind, Deut 6:5; Ps 18:1-3; Ps 116:1; desiring more full enjoyment of him, Isa 26:8-9; Phil 1:23; 2 Cor 5:4,8; delighting and rejoicing in him, and what he hath said, done, or will do for us, Ps 32:11; Ps 149:2; Isa 61:10; Hab 3:18; Ps 60:6; Luke 1:47; grieving for offences given him, Zech 12:10; Ps 119:136; kindly fear of him, Isa 8:13; Hos 3:5; Ps 36:1; Ps 119:120; Matt 10:28; judicious, prudent, and well governed zeal for his honour and interest in the world, Ps 69:9; Ps 119:139; loathing and abhorring ourselves for our sinfulness, as contrary to his nature and will, Ezek 16:63; Ezek 36:31-32; Job 42:5-6; Isa 6:5; Isa 64:6; Jer 31:18; Rom 7:14-24;
—in our memory delightfully recording and remembering the discoveries which we have had of him in his word and works, Ps 119:11; Ps 36:6-7; Ps 103-107; Ps 116; Ps 136; Ps 145- 150; John 2:17; Job 36:24;
—in our whole soul, trusting and hoping in him, as our Saviour, Husband, Father and God, for all that we need, Isa 26:4; Ps 130:7-8; Ps 119:49,81;
—in humility towards him, Mic 6:8; 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 3:5-6; Isa 40:6; 2 Cor 3:5; 1 Cor 15:10; Ps 115:1; voluntarily undertaking the meanest services to
which he calls us, Acts 21:13; and restricting ourselves within the limits of our proper station, Ps 131:1; 1 Cor 7:20,24; and labouring in internal prayers and praises, Phil 4:6; Exod 14:8; Ps 119:58; Ps 45:1;
Ps 108:1.
2. Outwardly, in our due attendance upon the instituted ordinances of his worship, Matt 28:20; 1 Cor 11:2; and a due performance of all that duty which we owe to ourselves or others from a regard to his authority, and answerably to his nature, and tohis relations to us, Matt 5:16; 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11.
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, Ps 14:1; Ps 53:1; Eph 2:12; 1 John 2:23; Ezek 8:12; Ps 10:11. Men are often tempted to this by their prosperity, or outrageousness 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 30:9; Prov 1:32; Jer 2:5,25; Mal 3:13-14; Mal 1:13; Ps 73:13;
—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, Ps 14:1; Eph 2:2,12; Ps 36:3; Mic 6:16;
—live without any profession of religion, or appearance of regard to the worship of God, Jer 10:25; or live wickedly under the mask of a profession, Phil 3:19; Titus 1:15-16; 2 Tim 3:2-5; or abandon that religious profession and practice which they once had, John 6:66; Hos 6:4-5; Heb 6:4-6.
II. Profaneness respecting the object of worship, in not worshipping and glorifying him as God and our God;
—which, in our mind, includes natural, slothful, or wilful ignorance of him and spiritual things, Hos 4:1,6; Isa 27:11; 2 Thess 1:8; Job 21:14; misapprehensions of him, Acts 17:23,29; Rom 1:21; 1 Cor 1:23; neglect and aversion to think of him, Ps 10:4; Rom 1:28; want of honourable, and conception of vile thoughts concerning him, Isa 53:3-4; Ps 10:13; Ps 50:21; Ezek 8:12; doubting, unbelief, and error,contrary to his declarations in his word, 2 Kings 6:33; 2 Kings 7:19; Deut 29:19; Acts 26:9; Gal 5:20; rash credulity of others instead of
God, 1 John 4:1; John 5:43; 2 Thess 2:11-12.
—In our conscience, it includes carnal security, Zeph 1:12; blindness and misinformation, Isa 5:20; inactivity, stupidity, senselessness, 1 Tim 4:2; Eph 4:18-19partially, making most ado about lesser matters, and chiefly disapproving other men's sinfulness, Matt 7:1-4; Matt 23:23;
deceitfulness, pretending regard to God, when it is biassed by bribes, Ezek 13:19; legality, exciting men to follow after righteousness by the works of the law, Rom 9:31-32; Rom 10:2-3; Rom 7:9; submission to men's authority instead of God's, 1 Cor 3:4-5; Hos 5:11; Mic 6:16.
—In our will, it includes rejection of the gospel offers of Christ, and Godin him, to be our God, Hos 11:2,7; Ps 81:10-12; Heb 10:26,29; neglect of surrendering ourselves to God, and not making him our chief end,
Eph 2:12; Hos 10:1; Zech 7:5; hypocritical dedication of ourselves to him, Mic 3:11; Hos 8:2; disregard of our solemn engagements to him, Jer 5:4-5; Ps 50:16-17; Ps 78:10,57; inward covenanting against him and his interests, Eccles 5:6; Hos 5:11; 2 Cor 13:8; discontentment with, and murmuring against his words or works, Job 34:33,37; Jude 16; Ps 37:1-8; Jer 12:1; Jer 20:7-18; 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, foolhardy, stupid, and brutish patience under our troubles,
—and enduring them as just, but not as good,
—nay very good for us, Isa 42:25; Isa 39:8; Ps 119:71.
—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 1:30; Ps 14:1; Job 34:9; deadness in, and weariness of his service, Mal 3:13; Mal 1:13; Amos 8:5; lukewarm indifference about spiritual things, Rev 3:16; corrupt, indiscreet, blind, and passionate zeal, not proportioned to the importance of its
object; or chiefly against sin in others, Rom 10:2; Matt 23:23; Matt 7:1-4; Gen 38:24; 2 Sam 12:5; 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 6:6; 2 Kings 10:16; Luke 9:54; 2 Cor 2:7; 2 Thess 3:6-7;
—want of filial reverence of God, rashness and irreverence of heart in his presence, Ps 89:7; Eccles 5:1; unconcern at his threatenings, Amos 3:8; Jer 5:22; Isa 5:19; presumptuous rebellion against his warnings, Ps 36:1; Ezek 12:27; Jer 43:1-2; Jer 44:15-16; Jer 23:17,33; hope of impunity in sin, Deut 29:19; Ps 10:11,13; obdurate impenitence in sin, manifested in our denying, extenuating, excusing, or transferring the blame of it on others, Rom 2:5; Prov 28:13; Prov 29:1; Prov 30:20; bold and curious inclination to pry into God's secrets, Deut 29:29; 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 inflicting his judgments, Matt 4:7; Ps 95:9; Mal 3:15; diffidence, anxiety and despair, Jer 2:25; Matt 6:34; Gen 4:13; Ezek 37:11.
—In our memory, it includes our readiness to forge God, his words and works, and aptness to retain that which is trifling and wicked instead thereof, Jer 2:32; Ps 50:22; Deut 32:18.
—In our whole soul, it includes pride, Ps 138:6; Hab 2:4; Prov 30:12-13; insensibleness of our weakness and sinfulness, Jer 2:31; Jer 8:6,12; 1 Cor 10:12; Matt 7:2-3; contempt of duty, or want of inclination to it,
because of its apparent meanness, 1 Sam 2:30; 2 Kings 5:11-12; inward meddling with things above our situation or ability, Ps 131:1-2; Num 16:1; infervency and wandering of heart in religious duties, 1 Thess 5:19; Eph 6:19-20; Rom 12:11; unthankfulness to God for benefits received, and thankfulness for success in sin, Deut 8:17; Zech 11:5; inward slighting God and his law,
—resisting and grieving his Spirit, Ps 50:17; Deut 32:15; Isa 63:10; Acts 7:51; Eph 4:30; Heb 10:29; Matt 12:31-32;
—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 1:21.
—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 3:2-5; Titus 1:15-16.
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, etc. Jer 44:3,8,18; 1 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 17:29-33; Rom 1:21-25. And papists worship angels, popes, pretended relics of Christ and his saints, consecrated wafers, etc. 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 17:5; Isa 2:22; Rom 10:14. The most exalted creatures cannot judge of the inward truth or importance of our worship, Rev 2:23; Jer 17:10; nor can they grant our requests, or even a blessing on our outward enjoyments, Exod 23:25.
2. God hath given us no warrant by precept, promise, or approved example, to invoke or adore any creature.
3. He requires, that only himself, as the self existent God, should be worshipped; and condemns all religious worship of any other, Exod 20:2-3; Matt 4:10; Deut 6:13; Deut 10:20; 1 Sam 7:3; Isa 42:8; Rom 1:23; Gal 4:8.
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 unspeakablegift,
—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 godhead, 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 4:8; 1 Thess 1:9; Matt 26:24; Acts 20:19; Rom 12:11; Rom 14:18; Eph 6:7; and civil homage to men is called latreia, Deut 28:48; Lev 23:7.
—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 16:9-12; Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6; Exod 22:18; Isa 8:19; Dan 2:2;
— embracing his false doctrines, 1 Tim 4:1-2; regarding his pretended miracles, 2 Thess 2:9-10; Rev 13:13; Rev 19:20;
—obeying his laws, Jer 7:23; Mic 6:16; Hos 5:11; hearkening to his suggestions, Acts 5:3-10; 1 Kings 22:22-23; John 13:27; 1 Chron 21:1; or submitting to his slavery, 2 Cor 4:4; 2 Tim 2:26; Isa 49:24-25.
2. The world,—in seeking the enjoyments of it as the portion of our soul, or for themselves, not as they lead to God, Ps 17:14; Col 3:1-2; Rom 8:5-6; Phil 3:19; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17; Rev 1:7; making
the customs and fashions of it a standard of our faith or practice; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 1:14,18; delighting in the fellowship of carnal men, Ps 15:4; Ps 119:115; Prov 9:6; Prov 13:20; James 4:4; or sinfully
pleasing men, Gal 1:10; Rom 15:2; 1 Cor 9:19-22; 1 Thess 2:4-6.
3. Self, natural, civil, or religious,
—in having too high an esteem of ourselves, Prov 26:12,16; Isa 58:3; Rom 10:3; loving ourselves, not as subordinated to God, and for his sake, 2 Tim 3:2; Luke 14:26; or seeking ourselves too much, or as our great end in any thing we do, 2 Kings 10:16; Prov 21:4; Prov 15:8; Zech 7:5-6; Phil 2:21; Phil 3:19.
4. Sin, in indulging or practising it in any form or degree, as it stands in direct opposition to God, Jer 44:4; Hab 1:12; 1 John 3:4; and its reign or prevalence in us renders all that we do a service to and worship of it, Isa 1:11-12; Isa 66:3; Prov 15:8; Prov 28:9; Prov 21:4,27.
5. Graces and spiritual comforts, in loving, trusting to, desiring, and delighting in them for themselves, and instead of God, 1 John 5:21; 2 Cor 12:7.
The reasons annexed to this commandment are,
1. 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, Ps 44:20-21; Ezek 8:7-12.
2. That he is much displeased with us for them, particularly for idolatry. He has manifested his displeasure in his word, 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15; Rev14:10-11. 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 17; Jer 25; Jer 46-51; Rev 9; Rev 13-14. He has often taken away men's idols, Judg 17-18; obliged them either to part with them or with their profession of religion, Gen 35:2; or rendered them a plague to them, as in the case of Eli, and David's idolized children, 1 Sam 2-4; 2 Sam 13-18; 1 Kings 1; or has left them shamefully to manifest their idolatry, as in the case of Judas, Matt 26:15; Demas, 2 Tim 4:10.
II. The second commandment respects the means of religious worship. Our bodies, as well as our souls, being redeemed with the blood of God, Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:19-20;
—everlasting happiness awaiting our bodies as well as our souls, 1 Cor 15; Matt 10:28;
—our mouth being the interpreter and agent of our heart, Matt 12:34; and external worship being of use to promote that which is internal,
— God has 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 distinguished
zeal for his own worship, and men a remarkable proneness 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 15:8; Prov 21:27; Prov 28:9; Isa 66:3; Isa 1:11-15; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11; Eph 3:21.
He, the true representation and image of the invisible God, may, as Mediator, be considered as the principal mean of it, Col 1:15; 2 Cor 4:4,6; John 14:6,9-10. 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 14:6; John 10:7,9; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11; 1 Pet 2:5,9.
—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, Matt 6:6; Jer 10:25; Mal 3:16; Acts 2:46.
2. Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, in secret, private, and public, for the praise of God, James 5:13; Col 3:16; Eph 5:19; Ps 33:1-2; Ps 142; Ps 96-100; Ps 103; Ps 105; Ps 107; Ps 134-136; Ps 145-150.
3. Reading and hearing God's word, John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Acts 15:21.
4. Preaching and hearing the gospel, 1 Pet 3:19; 1 Pet 1:12; Neh 8:8; 2 Kings 4:23; Mark 16:15; 2 Tim 4:2; Rom 10:14-15,17.
5. Administration and receiving of the sacraments, Gen 17:9-14; Exod 12; Num 9; Num 28-29; 1 Cor 10:1-4; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 10:16-17; 1 Cor 11:23-29.
6. Religious fasting and thanksgiving, secret, private, and public, Matt 6:17-18; Matt 9:15; Zech 12:12-14; 1 Cor 7:5; Joel 2:13; Exod 15; 1 Chron 16; 2 Chron 20:26.
7. Church government and discipline, including a standing ministry and the maintenance of it,Exod 25-31;Lev 1-16; Num 3-4;Num 8; Num 15;Num 17 18; Heb 3:5-6; Matt 16:18-19; Matt 20:25- 26; Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11-14; John 18:36; Acts 1-20; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Thess 5:12; Heb 13:7,17; 1 Cor 9:14.
8. Catechetical and other instruction of children, servants, or people, in the truths of God, Gen 18:19; Deut 6:6-9; Gal 6:6.
9. Spiritual conference and joint prayer in social meetings, stated or occasional, Mal 3:16; Song 1:4; Song 5:8-16; Song 7:1-3; Song 7:13; Song 4:11; Song 7:9; Song 3:7-11; Ps 66:16; Luke 24:14-32.
10. Vows of self-dedication to the service of God, personal or social, Isa 44:4-5; Ps 116:16; Ps 76:11; Ps 119:106; Eccles 5:4-5; Num 30; Lev 27; Deut 5:2; Deut 29:2; Josh 24:15,25; 2 Chron 15:12-13; 2 Chron 23:16; 2 Chron 29:10; 2 Chron34:31,34; Neh 9-10; Ezra 10:3; Isa 19:18,21; 2 Cor 8:5.
11. Oaths, assertory, promissory, and minatory, 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 unknown to us, or neglect to fulfil that which we engage, Deut 6:13; Jer 4:2; Heb 6:16; Isa 45:23; Isa 65:16; Rom 9:1-2; 2 Cor 1:23; 2 Cor 11:31; Gal 1:20; 1 Thess 5:27.
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 16:33; Prov 18:18; Lev 16:8; Num 34:13; Josh 7:13-18; Josh 15-21; 1 Sam 10:19-24; 1 Sam 14:41-42; 1 Chron 24-26; Neh 11:1; Acts 1:24-26.
13. Collection for the poor, in which we give a part of our substance to the Lord, Matt 6:1-5; 1 Cor 16:1-2; Gal 2:10.
—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 4:5.
2. To be observed in all their requirements, as instituted by God, to be means of our fellowship with himself, Matt 28:30; Ps 27:4; Ps 63:2; Ps 84:2,10.
3. To be kept pure from every human addition, 1 Cor 11:2; Ps 16:4; Acts 17:16-17,22; Deut 7:5; Deut 12:23; Exod 23:24; Col 2:4,8,16-23; Matt 15:2-3,9.
4. To be kept entire, without suffering any thing to be taken from them, Deut 4:2; Deut 5:32; Deut 12:32; Rev 22:19.
Of the Law of God, in its Manifestation,
Matter, Forms, and Uses to men.
I. The law of God means either his whole word, Ps 1:2; Ps 19:8-9; or all the books of the Old Testament, John 10:34; 1 Cor 14:21; or the five books of Moses, Luke 24:44; Rom 3:21; John 1:45; or the ceremonial dispensation of the new covenant, John 1:17; or the covenant of works as opposed to the covenant of grace, Rom 6:14;
Rom 7:4; Rom 8:2; Gal 3:10,12-13. But, 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 2:17; Heb 10:1; Heb 3-10.
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, etc. Exod 21-23; Num 1-2; Num 10; Num 27; Num 34-36; Lev 18; Lev 20; Deut 17; Deut 19-25; 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, Mal 5:17,19; Rom 3:31; Rom 13:8- 9; Titus 3:8,14; James 2:8,10. And all the ten commandments of it are either more or less directly inculcated in the New Testament.
The substance of the first is in John 3:19; John 5:42; 2 Pet 1:5-8; 2 Pet
3:18; 2 Thess 1:8; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:19; Matt 4:10; Acts 2:38; Matt 22:37; 1 Pet 2:17; Heb 12:28; Rom 3:18; 2 Cor 1:6; 1 Tim 4:7; 1 Tim 6:17;
—the substance of the second, in John 4:23-24; John 5:39; Rev 1:3; Rom 12:1-6; 1 Thess 5:17; Col 3:16, Eph 5:19; James 5:13-14; 1 Cor 10:14; 1 John 5:21;
—of the third in Matt 5:34-37; Matt 15:9; Matt 6:7; James 1:23; James 5:12; John 4:24; 1 Cor 14:15;
—of the fourth in Mark 16:2,9; John 20:19,26; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Rev 1:10;
—of the fifth in Eph 6:1-9; Eph 5:22-33; Eph 4:32; Col 3:18-25; Col 4:1; Titus 2:3-10; 1 Pet 2:18; 1 Pet 3:1-8; 1 Thess 5:12-14; 1 Tim 3-6. And the other five commands are repeatedly inculcated together, Matt 19:18-19; Rom 13:9 Gal 5:14; James 2:8-11.
—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 require a man to sacrifice his own son, etc.
God's moral law is manifested,
1. As partly, but obscurely, written in the heart of all men, Rom 2:14-15; Rom 1:19-20,32.
2. As summarily contained in the ten commandments, Exod 20:3-17; Deut 5:6-21.
3. As largely held forth and explained in the whole Bible, in every divine requirement or prohibition, direct or indirect, Deut 4-31; Matt 5-7; Eph 4-6; Col 3-4; Rom 12-15; Phil 2-4; 1 Thess 5; Heb 10-13; James 1 through Rev 3.
—It was manifested to Adam, its natural demands being wrote on his heart, and its positive requirements revealed to him, Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:16-17.
—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 19-20; Deut 4-5; Heb 12:28-29.
—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 24:12; Exod 34:1,28.
—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 3:19-20. Christ and his apostles republished and further explained the moral
law, and vindicated it from the false interpretations of the Jewish doctors, Matt 5; Matt 15; but they did not in the least enlarge it.
1. It was long before perfect, Deut 4:2; Deut 5:32; Deut 12:32; Ps 19:7-8; Ps 119:96; nor could it be corrected, 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, Matt 5:17-18.
3. He and his apostles taught nothing but what Moses and the prophets had done, Matt 22:37-40; Matt 7:12; Rom 1:3; Acts 26:22. 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 2:8; John 13:34. 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 12; Heb 11:8; the pious Levites slew their idolatrous brethren, Exod 32:27-28; Job blessed God under his heavy troubles, Job 1-2; Moses chose affliction with his brethren, Heb 11:25-26.
—Almost every prophet and good man appears denying himself and taking up his cross, 2 Sam 16:5-11; 1 Kings 17; 2 Chron 24:20-22; Dan 3; Dan 6; Neh 2; Neh 5.
—The loving God above all, necessarily requires self-denial and taking up our cross when it is for his glory, Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 4:14.—Christ being God, the imitation of him in the divine excellencies he then had, was required under the Old Testament, Lev 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7.
—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 63:16; Ps 72; Ps 57:11; Ps 143; Ps 119; Prov 30:8; Ps 25:11; Ps 16:1; Ps 17:2.
—The worshipping Christ, and God in his name, was practised under the Old Testament, Ps 2:12; Ps 15:11;
Ps 97:7; Heb 1:6; Exod 23:21; Gen 18:23; Gen 48:16; Dan 9:17; Ps 84:9; men were forbidden to have images, or frequent idolatrous temples, as well as now, Exod 23:24; Deut 12:23; Deut 7:2-3; Ps 16:4; and to swear rashly or irreverently, Deut 6:13; Deut 10:20; Eccles5:2; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2; Jer 5:7; Matt 5:34-37; James 5:12.—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 4:6; Gen 27:41,43; Gen 31:24; Gen 45:8;
Gen 49:7; Job 29:16; Job 31:1; 2 Kings 5:13; Deut 5:20-21; Deut 17:5; Deut 24:1; Mal 2:14-15; Lev 19:8.
In respect of quality, the moral law is,
1. Universal, extending to all men, in every age, in all their dispositions, thoughts, words, and works, Rom 2:14; Rom 3:19-20; Rom 4:15; Rom 5:13.
2. Perfect, requiring all good dispositions and exercises, in the most perfect degree, and forbidding every thing sinful in any degree, Ps 19:7; Ps 119:96,128.
3. Perpetual, directing and binding men both through time and eternity, Luke 16:17; Matt 5:18.
4. Holy, a transcript of God's infinite holiness, and binding men to perfect holiness, Rom 7:12.
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 7:12; Ps 19:8; Ps 119:7,128.
6. Good, requiring nothing but what is good in itself, and calculated to promote the happiness of all under it, Rom 7:12; Rom 2:7,10; Ps 19:11; Ps 119:165.
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 7:14.
8. Exceeding broad, extending its requirements and prohibitions to multitudes of things in every moment, place, and circumstance, Ps 119:96.
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, Ps 18:23; Heb 11:17; Num 14:40-44.
2. Constant, notwithstanding all alterations in our state or circumstances, Ps 119:44.
3. Tender, abstaining from the smallest appearance of evil, 1 Thess 5:22; Judg 2:5; Ezek 6:9.
4. Ready and cheerful, Ps 18:44; Gal 1:16; Heb 11:8.
5. Universal, to every precept, in every point, and by every power in us, Ps 119:6.
6. Absolute, determined by the revealed will of God, though we perceive no other reason, Heb 11:8; Matt
23:8-10; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29.
7. Perfect, without the smallest defect, and answerable to the highest demands of holiness, Matt 5:48; Lev
11:44; 1 Pet 1:13,15-16.
8. In our case, evangelical, having Jesus Christ offered and bestowed in the gospel, for its origin, cause, motive, pattern, and end, 1 Tim 1; 1 Tim 5; Rom 1; Rom 5; 2 Cor 10:5; Eph 5:2; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11.
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 14:15,21-24;
—the chief stream or branch of obedience, 1 Cor 13; and the all-comprehending substance of it, Rom 13:10.
—We must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, Matt 22:37:—Which includes,
1. A true spiritual knowledge of what he is in himself, and as connected with us, John 17:3.
2. A hearty choice of him as our chief good, Ps 73:25- 26.
3. A cleaving to him as our God and all in all, Acts 11:23.
4. An high esteem of him in all that he is and does, Song 5:10; Ps 35:10; Exod 15:11; Ps 8:1,9; Ps 36:7; Ps 104:34; Ps 139:17-18; Zech 9:17.
5. Ardent desire after familiar enjoyment of him, Ps 27:4; Ps 42:1-2; Ps 84:2; Ps 63:1-8.
6. Delight in him, Song 1:13; Ps 37:4; Ps 149:2.—And thus our love to him must be judicious, Mark 12:33: Sincere and hearty, Prov 23:26: Pure and absolute, for the sake of his excellency
and kindness to us, Song 1:3; Ps 36:7; 1 John 4:19: Strong and vigorous, Song 8:6-7: Superlative, far transcending that which we bear to other objects, Luke 14:26; and operative in holy exercises, 1 John 3:18; Rom 13:10; Rom 14:6,8-9.
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, Matt 16:26.
—In humble satisfaction with our particular natural form as the work of God, Ps 100:3; Ps 139:14-16; in detesting and avoiding every thing which tends to our real hurt, Rom 12:9; Ps 119:104; Acts 16:28;
—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. Matt 6:33; John 6:27; Rom 2:7,10; 1 Tim 4:8.
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 2:17; Phil 2:3; Rom 12:10; 1 Pet 3:8; 1 Pet 4:8;
—and delighting in them in subordination to our superlative delight in God, Ps 16:3; Ps 119:63; 1 Pet 1:22.—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, Matt 7:12; and in loving and doing good to them from true love to their persons, 1 John 3:17-18; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 Pet 3:8; 1 Pet 4:8.
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 inward disposition;
—our whole duty to man being thus founded on our relations and duty to God, Exod 20:3-17; Deut 5:6-21.
—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 forbid, the contrary duty is required.
II. Wherever a sin is forbid, 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 performing 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 required are only to be performed when God gives pportunity.
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 4:19; Acts 5:29. And the positive worship of God must sometimes give place to the natural duties of necessity and mercy towards men, Hos 6:6.
I. The first commandment being, as it were, the foundation or cornerstone 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. Knowledge of God, as God, in his existence, perfections, persons, purposes, and works, 1Chron 28:9; John 17:3; 1 John 5:7,20; Ps 107:43;
—and as our God in Christ, Exod 34:6-7,9; 2 Cor 5:18-21; not merely speculative but practical, conforming our heart and life to his image, 2 Cor 3:18; John 13:17; Eph 4:32; Eph 5:1-2; 1 Pet 1:15-16.
II. Acknowledgement 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 20:31; 1 Thess 2:13.
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 3:23; Ps 16:2; Ps 142:5; Ps 31:14; Ps 91:2; Ps 118:28.
3. In deliberate renunciation of every idol, and solemnly surrendering up ourselves to him as our husband and King, Matt 5:29-30; Hos 14:3,8; Jer 3:16,19; Josh 24:15.
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 4:23; Ps 73:23-26; Song 4:12.
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 20:21; Jer 3:13-14,21-23; Jer 31:18-19; Hos 14:1-3,8.
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 4:24; Rom 1:9; Rom 8:5; 1 Cor 14:15; enlarging our heart to embrace and enjoy him as infinite, Ps 81:10; Isa 26:8-9; looking not at things temporal, but at things eternal, 2 Cor 4:17-18; humble and absolute dependence on him as all-sufficient and independent, Song 8:5; unmoved trust in, cleaving to, and imitation of him as unchangeable, Mal 3:6; Ps 89:34; Deut 4:4; Deut 10:20; Josh 23:8; Acts 11:23; Prov 24:21; Job 2:3; 1 Cor 15:58; living alway as in his presence and under his all-seeing eye, Ps 16:8; Gen 16:13; Jer 23:24; filial awe of, and trust in his power, greatness, and equity, Heb 12:28-29; Job 6:14; Job 13:15; delight in, and conformity to his unspotted holiness, 1 Pet 1:15-16. Lev 11:44; Matt 5:48; humble receiving, admiring, and rejoicing in his goodness, Jer 31:12; Gen 32:10; trust in, and imitation of his truth, candour, and faithfulness,2 Chron 20:20.
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, Ps 119; Gen 32:9-12; 2 Sam 7:25; Job 23:12; Jer 15:16; Acts 13:26; 1 Tim 1:15; 2 Tim 3:15- 17; and with his work,
—discerning, magnifying, and praising him in it,
—as infinitely glorious, wise, powerful, holy, and good, in Creation, Ps 8:3; Ps 136:5;
—as just, wise, almighty, faithful, and gracious inafflictive providences, and therefore bearing them patiently, humbly, and thankfully, Job 1:21; Job 2:10; Ps 119:67,71,75; as gracious and merciful in smiling providences, and therefore exercising love, wonder, and gratitude, Gen 32:10; 1 Thess 5:18; Phil 4:4,6; Col 3:17;
—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 23:5; Phil 3:8-9.
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 3:15-16; Heb 4:14; Heb 10:23; Eph 4-6; Col 1-4; 1 Thess 1-5; Rom 12-15; Rom 6;
—and that in order to glorify him, Phil 1:20; Luke 9:26; edify our neighbour, Phil 1:12-13; Titus 3:8,14; and to promote our own spiritual advantage, Mark 8:35,38; Rom 10:10; Luke 12:8.
III. Worshipping and glorifying God as God and our God in Christ,
1. Inwardly, in our mind, thinking of him, Mal 3:16; Ps 63:6; Ps 139:17 ,18; Ps 104:34; esteeming him, Exod 15:11; Ps 135:10; Ps 8:1,9; Ps 36:7; Ps 73:25; and believing him, Exod 14:31; 1 Thess 2:13;
—in our conscience,
—standing in awe of his authority, Ps 44:20-21; Job 31:14,23; subjecting it to him alone, without reserve, Matt 23:8-10; Matt 4:10; James 4:12; receiving his law as marked with his infinite authority, Isa 8:20; Isa 5:20; Matt 6:22-23; constant application of Christ's blood for purging it, and as the means of our unceasing
familiarity with God, Heb 10:19-22; self-excitement to duty upon an evangelical foundation, Luke 1:74-75; Ps 116:12,16; Ps 103:1-5; and accusing or excusing us according to our state, our practice, and the tenor of his law, Rom 2:15; Ps 65:3; Ps 130:3-4;—in our will,
— solemnly and repeatedly chusing him, Josh 24:15; Ps 16:2; Ps 73:25; Ps 119:57; Ps 91:2; Ps 142:5; Lam 3:24; making him our chief end, in every thing we do, 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11; Rom 14:8; denying our natural, civil, and religious self for his sake and honour, Matt 16:24; Luke 14:26; Luke 17:10;
resigning ourselves to his commanding and providential will, Rom 6:17; Gen 22:1-18; Luke 24:26; Ps 47:4; Ps 39:9; Ps 119:71,75; patient bearing his afflicting rods, Ps 39:9; 1 Sam 3:18; 2 Sam 16:10-11; Lam 3:22,39; Mic 7:7-10; Isa 53:7;—in our affections,
—loving him as infinitely excellent and kind, Deut 6:5; Ps 18:1-3; Ps 116:1; desiring more full enjoyment of him, Isa 26:8-9; Phil 1:23; 2 Cor 5:4,8; delighting and rejoicing in him, and what he hath said, done, or will do for us, Ps 32:11; Ps 149:2; Isa 61:10; Hab 3:18; Ps 60:6; Luke 1:47; grieving for offences given him, Zech 12:10; Ps 119:136; kindly fear of him, Isa 8:13; Hos 3:5; Ps 36:1; Ps 119:120; Matt 10:28; judicious, prudent, and well governed zeal for his honour and interest in the world, Ps 69:9; Ps 119:139; loathing and abhorring ourselves for our sinfulness, as contrary to his nature and will, Ezek 16:63; Ezek 36:31-32; Job 42:5-6; Isa 6:5; Isa 64:6; Jer 31:18; Rom 7:14-24;
—in our memory delightfully recording and remembering the discoveries which we have had of him in his word and works, Ps 119:11; Ps 36:6-7; Ps 103-107; Ps 116; Ps 136; Ps 145- 150; John 2:17; Job 36:24;
—in our whole soul, trusting and hoping in him, as our Saviour, Husband, Father and God, for all that we need, Isa 26:4; Ps 130:7-8; Ps 119:49,81;
—in humility towards him, Mic 6:8; 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 3:5-6; Isa 40:6; 2 Cor 3:5; 1 Cor 15:10; Ps 115:1; voluntarily undertaking the meanest services to
which he calls us, Acts 21:13; and restricting ourselves within the limits of our proper station, Ps 131:1; 1 Cor 7:20,24; and labouring in internal prayers and praises, Phil 4:6; Exod 14:8; Ps 119:58; Ps 45:1;
Ps 108:1.
2. Outwardly, in our due attendance upon the instituted ordinances of his worship, Matt 28:20; 1 Cor 11:2; and a due performance of all that duty which we owe to ourselves or others from a regard to his authority, and answerably to his nature, and tohis relations to us, Matt 5:16; 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11.
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, Ps 14:1; Ps 53:1; Eph 2:12; 1 John 2:23; Ezek 8:12; Ps 10:11. Men are often tempted to this by their prosperity, or outrageousness 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 30:9; Prov 1:32; Jer 2:5,25; Mal 3:13-14; Mal 1:13; Ps 73:13;
—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, Ps 14:1; Eph 2:2,12; Ps 36:3; Mic 6:16;
—live without any profession of religion, or appearance of regard to the worship of God, Jer 10:25; or live wickedly under the mask of a profession, Phil 3:19; Titus 1:15-16; 2 Tim 3:2-5; or abandon that religious profession and practice which they once had, John 6:66; Hos 6:4-5; Heb 6:4-6.
II. Profaneness respecting the object of worship, in not worshipping and glorifying him as God and our God;
—which, in our mind, includes natural, slothful, or wilful ignorance of him and spiritual things, Hos 4:1,6; Isa 27:11; 2 Thess 1:8; Job 21:14; misapprehensions of him, Acts 17:23,29; Rom 1:21; 1 Cor 1:23; neglect and aversion to think of him, Ps 10:4; Rom 1:28; want of honourable, and conception of vile thoughts concerning him, Isa 53:3-4; Ps 10:13; Ps 50:21; Ezek 8:12; doubting, unbelief, and error,contrary to his declarations in his word, 2 Kings 6:33; 2 Kings 7:19; Deut 29:19; Acts 26:9; Gal 5:20; rash credulity of others instead of
God, 1 John 4:1; John 5:43; 2 Thess 2:11-12.
—In our conscience, it includes carnal security, Zeph 1:12; blindness and misinformation, Isa 5:20; inactivity, stupidity, senselessness, 1 Tim 4:2; Eph 4:18-19partially, making most ado about lesser matters, and chiefly disapproving other men's sinfulness, Matt 7:1-4; Matt 23:23;
deceitfulness, pretending regard to God, when it is biassed by bribes, Ezek 13:19; legality, exciting men to follow after righteousness by the works of the law, Rom 9:31-32; Rom 10:2-3; Rom 7:9; submission to men's authority instead of God's, 1 Cor 3:4-5; Hos 5:11; Mic 6:16.
—In our will, it includes rejection of the gospel offers of Christ, and Godin him, to be our God, Hos 11:2,7; Ps 81:10-12; Heb 10:26,29; neglect of surrendering ourselves to God, and not making him our chief end,
Eph 2:12; Hos 10:1; Zech 7:5; hypocritical dedication of ourselves to him, Mic 3:11; Hos 8:2; disregard of our solemn engagements to him, Jer 5:4-5; Ps 50:16-17; Ps 78:10,57; inward covenanting against him and his interests, Eccles 5:6; Hos 5:11; 2 Cor 13:8; discontentment with, and murmuring against his words or works, Job 34:33,37; Jude 16; Ps 37:1-8; Jer 12:1; Jer 20:7-18; 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, foolhardy, stupid, and brutish patience under our troubles,
—and enduring them as just, but not as good,
—nay very good for us, Isa 42:25; Isa 39:8; Ps 119:71.
—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 1:30; Ps 14:1; Job 34:9; deadness in, and weariness of his service, Mal 3:13; Mal 1:13; Amos 8:5; lukewarm indifference about spiritual things, Rev 3:16; corrupt, indiscreet, blind, and passionate zeal, not proportioned to the importance of its
object; or chiefly against sin in others, Rom 10:2; Matt 23:23; Matt 7:1-4; Gen 38:24; 2 Sam 12:5; 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 6:6; 2 Kings 10:16; Luke 9:54; 2 Cor 2:7; 2 Thess 3:6-7;
—want of filial reverence of God, rashness and irreverence of heart in his presence, Ps 89:7; Eccles 5:1; unconcern at his threatenings, Amos 3:8; Jer 5:22; Isa 5:19; presumptuous rebellion against his warnings, Ps 36:1; Ezek 12:27; Jer 43:1-2; Jer 44:15-16; Jer 23:17,33; hope of impunity in sin, Deut 29:19; Ps 10:11,13; obdurate impenitence in sin, manifested in our denying, extenuating, excusing, or transferring the blame of it on others, Rom 2:5; Prov 28:13; Prov 29:1; Prov 30:20; bold and curious inclination to pry into God's secrets, Deut 29:29; 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 inflicting his judgments, Matt 4:7; Ps 95:9; Mal 3:15; diffidence, anxiety and despair, Jer 2:25; Matt 6:34; Gen 4:13; Ezek 37:11.
—In our memory, it includes our readiness to forge God, his words and works, and aptness to retain that which is trifling and wicked instead thereof, Jer 2:32; Ps 50:22; Deut 32:18.
—In our whole soul, it includes pride, Ps 138:6; Hab 2:4; Prov 30:12-13; insensibleness of our weakness and sinfulness, Jer 2:31; Jer 8:6,12; 1 Cor 10:12; Matt 7:2-3; contempt of duty, or want of inclination to it,
because of its apparent meanness, 1 Sam 2:30; 2 Kings 5:11-12; inward meddling with things above our situation or ability, Ps 131:1-2; Num 16:1; infervency and wandering of heart in religious duties, 1 Thess 5:19; Eph 6:19-20; Rom 12:11; unthankfulness to God for benefits received, and thankfulness for success in sin, Deut 8:17; Zech 11:5; inward slighting God and his law,
—resisting and grieving his Spirit, Ps 50:17; Deut 32:15; Isa 63:10; Acts 7:51; Eph 4:30; Heb 10:29; Matt 12:31-32;
—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 1:21.
—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 3:2-5; Titus 1:15-16.
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, etc. Jer 44:3,8,18; 1 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 17:29-33; Rom 1:21-25. And papists worship angels, popes, pretended relics of Christ and his saints, consecrated wafers, etc. 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 17:5; Isa 2:22; Rom 10:14. The most exalted creatures cannot judge of the inward truth or importance of our worship, Rev 2:23; Jer 17:10; nor can they grant our requests, or even a blessing on our outward enjoyments, Exod 23:25.
2. God hath given us no warrant by precept, promise, or approved example, to invoke or adore any creature.
3. He requires, that only himself, as the self existent God, should be worshipped; and condemns all religious worship of any other, Exod 20:2-3; Matt 4:10; Deut 6:13; Deut 10:20; 1 Sam 7:3; Isa 42:8; Rom 1:23; Gal 4:8.
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 unspeakablegift,
—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 godhead, 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 4:8; 1 Thess 1:9; Matt 26:24; Acts 20:19; Rom 12:11; Rom 14:18; Eph 6:7; and civil homage to men is called latreia, Deut 28:48; Lev 23:7.
—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 16:9-12; Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6; Exod 22:18; Isa 8:19; Dan 2:2;
— embracing his false doctrines, 1 Tim 4:1-2; regarding his pretended miracles, 2 Thess 2:9-10; Rev 13:13; Rev 19:20;
—obeying his laws, Jer 7:23; Mic 6:16; Hos 5:11; hearkening to his suggestions, Acts 5:3-10; 1 Kings 22:22-23; John 13:27; 1 Chron 21:1; or submitting to his slavery, 2 Cor 4:4; 2 Tim 2:26; Isa 49:24-25.
2. The world,—in seeking the enjoyments of it as the portion of our soul, or for themselves, not as they lead to God, Ps 17:14; Col 3:1-2; Rom 8:5-6; Phil 3:19; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17; Rev 1:7; making
the customs and fashions of it a standard of our faith or practice; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 1:14,18; delighting in the fellowship of carnal men, Ps 15:4; Ps 119:115; Prov 9:6; Prov 13:20; James 4:4; or sinfully
pleasing men, Gal 1:10; Rom 15:2; 1 Cor 9:19-22; 1 Thess 2:4-6.
3. Self, natural, civil, or religious,
—in having too high an esteem of ourselves, Prov 26:12,16; Isa 58:3; Rom 10:3; loving ourselves, not as subordinated to God, and for his sake, 2 Tim 3:2; Luke 14:26; or seeking ourselves too much, or as our great end in any thing we do, 2 Kings 10:16; Prov 21:4; Prov 15:8; Zech 7:5-6; Phil 2:21; Phil 3:19.
4. Sin, in indulging or practising it in any form or degree, as it stands in direct opposition to God, Jer 44:4; Hab 1:12; 1 John 3:4; and its reign or prevalence in us renders all that we do a service to and worship of it, Isa 1:11-12; Isa 66:3; Prov 15:8; Prov 28:9; Prov 21:4,27.
5. Graces and spiritual comforts, in loving, trusting to, desiring, and delighting in them for themselves, and instead of God, 1 John 5:21; 2 Cor 12:7.
The reasons annexed to this commandment are,
1. 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, Ps 44:20-21; Ezek 8:7-12.
2. That he is much displeased with us for them, particularly for idolatry. He has manifested his displeasure in his word, 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15; Rev14:10-11. 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 17; Jer 25; Jer 46-51; Rev 9; Rev 13-14. He has often taken away men's idols, Judg 17-18; obliged them either to part with them or with their profession of religion, Gen 35:2; or rendered them a plague to them, as in the case of Eli, and David's idolized children, 1 Sam 2-4; 2 Sam 13-18; 1 Kings 1; or has left them shamefully to manifest their idolatry, as in the case of Judas, Matt 26:15; Demas, 2 Tim 4:10.
II. The second commandment respects the means of religious worship. Our bodies, as well as our souls, being redeemed with the blood of God, Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:19-20;
—everlasting happiness awaiting our bodies as well as our souls, 1 Cor 15; Matt 10:28;
—our mouth being the interpreter and agent of our heart, Matt 12:34; and external worship being of use to promote that which is internal,
— God has 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 distinguished
zeal for his own worship, and men a remarkable proneness 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 15:8; Prov 21:27; Prov 28:9; Isa 66:3; Isa 1:11-15; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11; Eph 3:21.
He, the true representation and image of the invisible God, may, as Mediator, be considered as the principal mean of it, Col 1:15; 2 Cor 4:4,6; John 14:6,9-10. 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 14:6; John 10:7,9; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12; Col 3:17; 1 Pet 4:11; 1 Pet 2:5,9.
—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, Matt 6:6; Jer 10:25; Mal 3:16; Acts 2:46.
2. Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, in secret, private, and public, for the praise of God, James 5:13; Col 3:16; Eph 5:19; Ps 33:1-2; Ps 142; Ps 96-100; Ps 103; Ps 105; Ps 107; Ps 134-136; Ps 145-150.
3. Reading and hearing God's word, John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Acts 15:21.
4. Preaching and hearing the gospel, 1 Pet 3:19; 1 Pet 1:12; Neh 8:8; 2 Kings 4:23; Mark 16:15; 2 Tim 4:2; Rom 10:14-15,17.
5. Administration and receiving of the sacraments, Gen 17:9-14; Exod 12; Num 9; Num 28-29; 1 Cor 10:1-4; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 10:16-17; 1 Cor 11:23-29.
6. Religious fasting and thanksgiving, secret, private, and public, Matt 6:17-18; Matt 9:15; Zech 12:12-14; 1 Cor 7:5; Joel 2:13; Exod 15; 1 Chron 16; 2 Chron 20:26.
7. Church government and discipline, including a standing ministry and the maintenance of it,Exod 25-31;Lev 1-16; Num 3-4;Num 8; Num 15;Num 17 18; Heb 3:5-6; Matt 16:18-19; Matt 20:25- 26; Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11-14; John 18:36; Acts 1-20; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Thess 5:12; Heb 13:7,17; 1 Cor 9:14.
8. Catechetical and other instruction of children, servants, or people, in the truths of God, Gen 18:19; Deut 6:6-9; Gal 6:6.
9. Spiritual conference and joint prayer in social meetings, stated or occasional, Mal 3:16; Song 1:4; Song 5:8-16; Song 7:1-3; Song 7:13; Song 4:11; Song 7:9; Song 3:7-11; Ps 66:16; Luke 24:14-32.
10. Vows of self-dedication to the service of God, personal or social, Isa 44:4-5; Ps 116:16; Ps 76:11; Ps 119:106; Eccles 5:4-5; Num 30; Lev 27; Deut 5:2; Deut 29:2; Josh 24:15,25; 2 Chron 15:12-13; 2 Chron 23:16; 2 Chron 29:10; 2 Chron34:31,34; Neh 9-10; Ezra 10:3; Isa 19:18,21; 2 Cor 8:5.
11. Oaths, assertory, promissory, and minatory, 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 unknown to us, or neglect to fulfil that which we engage, Deut 6:13; Jer 4:2; Heb 6:16; Isa 45:23; Isa 65:16; Rom 9:1-2; 2 Cor 1:23; 2 Cor 11:31; Gal 1:20; 1 Thess 5:27.
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 16:33; Prov 18:18; Lev 16:8; Num 34:13; Josh 7:13-18; Josh 15-21; 1 Sam 10:19-24; 1 Sam 14:41-42; 1 Chron 24-26; Neh 11:1; Acts 1:24-26.
13. Collection for the poor, in which we give a part of our substance to the Lord, Matt 6:1-5; 1 Cor 16:1-2; Gal 2:10.
—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 4:5.
2. To be observed in all their requirements, as instituted by God, to be means of our fellowship with himself, Matt 28:30; Ps 27:4; Ps 63:2; Ps 84:2,10.
3. To be kept pure from every human addition, 1 Cor 11:2; Ps 16:4; Acts 17:16-17,22; Deut 7:5; Deut 12:23; Exod 23:24; Col 2:4,8,16-23; Matt 15:2-3,9.
4. To be kept entire, without suffering any thing to be taken from them, Deut 4:2; Deut 5:32; Deut 12:32; Rev 22:19.