The Tree of Good and Evil, Commandment 1
THE FIRST COMMANDEMENT.
Thou ſhalt hauehave none other Gods but mee.
THe occaſion of this Commandement is our luſting after falſe Gods.
The principall vertues herein commanded are ſixe.
Firſt, The knowledge of God, Iohn 17. 2.
Secondly, The louelove of God aboue all, Deut. 6. 5.
Fiue ſignes of the true louelove of God.
1 A pure heart, a good conſcience, faith vnfeigned, 1. Tim. 1. 5.
2 Our louelove to his Word, Ioh. 14. 5. of this there are two ſignes alſo: firſt, To louelove them that louelove it, Pſal. 119. 63. ſecondly, To draw others to louelove it, Deut. 6. 5. 6. 7.
3 LoueLove of our brethren. 1. Iohn 4. 19. 20.
4 Reioying to thinke and talke of Chriſt more then any worldly thing, Gal. 6. 14. 15.
5 Our louelove to all things that pertaine to his ſeruice, Pſal. 84. 1. 2. 3.
Thirdly, truſt and affiance in God, Ier. 17. 7.
Fiue ſignes of true confidence in God.
1 To ſeeke for the fauour and countenance of God aboue all worldly things, Pſal. 4. 6. 7. Math. 6. 33.
2 Delight in the Lord. Pſ. 37. 4.
3 Hope in the Lord, Pſ. 37. 35.
4 Cleauing alwaies to the Lord, Ioſh. 23. 8. Act. 11. 23.
5 Comfort in the Lord in troubles, 1. Sam. 30. 6.
Fourthly, Feare of God, Pſ. 128. 1. Deut. 28. 59. 1. Sam. 12. 24.
Two ſignes of the feare of God.
1 To eſchew euill, Gen. 39. 9. Iob. 1. 1.
2 To do good, Gen. 22. 12. Pſ. 112. 1.
This feare is bred and preſerued in vsus by foure meanes.
1 By meditation of Gods mercy in Ieſus Chriſt. Pſ. 130. 4.
2 By meditation of his power and iuſtice, Iob 31. 23.
3 By hearing the Word Preached.
4 By Prayer.
Fifthly, Humility, Gen. 32. 10. Gen. 28. 27. Pſal. 131. Mica. 6. 8.
4 Signes of Humility.
1 Acknowledgement of our owne want of goodneſſe, Gen. 32. 10. Gen. 19. 19.
2 To bee ſorrowfull becauſe we cannot better pleaſe God. Rom. 7. 14. 26.
3 Contentment, Gen. 28. 20. 21. 1. Cor. 7. 20.
4 Not to deſpiſe our brethren, 1. Pet. 2. 17.
Sixthly, Worſhip of God in Spirit and truth, Ioh. 422. 23.
Vices or ſinnes forbidden.
I. Ignorance of God and his will; both naturall ignorance, 1. Cor. 2. 14. and wilfull ignorance, Hoſ. 4. 6. Eſay 1. 3. Iob 21. 14. 15.
II. Denying of God, which is called Atheiſme; and it is either open, Epheſ. 2. 12. 2. Pet. 3. 4. 5. 6. or ſecret in the heart, Pſ. 14. 1. God is denyed, when his prouidence, preſence, iuſtice, mercy, are denyed. &c.
Fiue ſignes of ſecret Atheiſme.
… Not to ſeeke to know God, Pſ. 10. 4.
2 To deny his prouidence and iuſtice, Pſal. 10. 12.
3 To liue ſecurely, and without feare in ſinne, 2. Tim.▪ 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
4 To ſeeke greedily for the wealth and pompe of the world, Phil. 19.
5 To reuolt from God, becauſe wee hauehave not our owne preſent deſires, Mal. 3. 14.
III. With-craft, Deut. …8. 10. Ex. 22. 18.
IIII. Seeking to Wizards or Wiſe-men. Leu. 19. 31.
V. Withdrawing of the heart from God, Eſay 29. 13. Ier. 12. 2.
VI. Diſtruſt in God, Heb. 10. 38.
Foure ſignes of Diſtruſt.
1 Impatience in croſſes, Ier. 20. 14. 15.
2 Tempting of God, that is, not to beleeue without ſignes of his truth and power, Exod. 17. 2.
3 Deſperation, Gen. 4. 13. 1. Theſſ. 4. 13.
4 Doubtfulneſſe or wauering in the truth of Gods promiſes or threatnings, Pſ. 116. 11.
VII. Confidence in Creatures; as in ſtrength, Eſay 31. 1. Ier. 17. 5. In riches, Mat. 6. 24. Eccleſiaſticus 5. 1. In ſtrong holds, Ier. 49. 16. In oppreſſion and robberie, Pſ. 62. 10. In pleaſures, Phil. 3. 19. In Phyſitions and Surgeons, 2. King. 16. 12.
VIII. LoueLove of the creature, Math. 10. 37. Ioh. 12. 43. Ioh. 5. 44. 2. Tim. 4. 10. Iam. 4. 4.
IX. Hatred of God, Rom. 1. 30. Rom. 8. 7.
X. Want of feare of God, Pſal. 36. 1.
XI. Feare of man, Mat. 10. 28. Ier. 10. 2. Deut. 1. 17.
XII. Hardneſſe of heart, Rom. 2. 5.
XIII. Pride, which diſpoſeth all things to a mans owne credite and vaine-glorie, 1. Cor. 4. 7.