Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 29
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE PREFACE OF THE LAW, AND THE FIRST COMMANDEMENT THEREOF. XXIX.
SEING WEE HAVE ALREADIE DONE with the Preface of the Lawe, and the diuiſion thereof: it now remaineth that we deale ſeuerallie with eueryevery precept of the ſame: the which wee will handle in that verie order, that they are ſet down. And firſt of all we will ſpeak of the Preface, and of the firſt commandement of the Law.
1 THe firſt words of the Lawe, are a Praeface, which dooth neither forbid nor command any thing, that belongeth any wiſe vntounto the ends of the things, that are to bee done.
2 The Lord before hee would begin to ſet downe the commandements, thought meet to vſe a kinde of proëme or entrance, both that he might thereby procure authoritie, louelove and reuerence vntounto his Law, and alſo prepare the hearers to be attentiue, eaſy to be inſtructed, and willing to giuegive eare.
3 The hearers are made attentiue,
1. by this word and exhortation [HEARE.]
2. by the majeſty of God who ſpeaketh, [I IEHOVA.]
Eaſie to be inſtructed
1. by the ſhortnes of ſpeach vſed vntounto them.
2. by the order and diſtribution of the commandements.
Willing to giuegive eare, by putting them in mind,
1. of the benefite of Adoption, [THY GOD.]
2. of the late benefite of their deliuerie out of Egipt [WHICH BROVGHT THEE OVT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND OVT OF THE HOVS OF BONDAGE.]
4 Now the Lord did this (not, that he might allure men by a kinde of eloquence, as it is the cuſtome of the moſt: (For the ſpirite of God dealeth not with vsus by the perſuaſiue ſpeaches of mans wiſedome) but that he might frame himſelfe vntounto our capacitie and diſpoſition: and that hee might ſturre vp the dulneſſe of our fleſhe, by that meanes that might beſt do it, and be moſt beſeeming his majeſtie.
5 This Praeface doth in generall define vntounto vsus, who is the true God; wherin God doth ſpecially direct his ſpeach vntounto Iſraell in ſuch ſort, as in them he ſpeaketh vntounto al nations, as hauing promiſed, that all nations ſhall be bleſſed in the ſeed of Abraham.
6 Ther are three things to be diligētly marked in eueryevery commandement of this Law: firſt, the perſon of the Lawgiuer, then the perſon vntounto whome this Law is giuen: thirdly, that which is either cōmāded or forbidden to be done,
7 The word IEHOVA, is to be referred vntounto that diuine authoritie, which the Lord by the right of his creation and prouidence hath ouer all creatures. For hee is thence called IEHOVA, euen becauſe hee is, and maketh all things that are to bee, and to ſubſiſt: and withall, doeth adminiſter life and ſuſtenance vntounto them.
8 In eueryevery one of theſe commandements, the whole is to be vnderſtood and gathered out of the part, & from the outward act, we are to reaſon vntounto the inward.
9 By the affirmatiue, we muſt alwaies gather the negatiue: & cōtrariwiſe: to teach vsus, that we are not only biddē to abſtain from euil, but alſo to be careful of doing good.
10 The true & the lawfull inward ſeruice of God, is eſpeciallie contained in the firſt commandement, which is nothing elſe, but the worſhipping of the true God, according vntounto the preſcript of his Law.
11 The end of the firſt commandement is, that God among his people will beare rule ouer all, & whollie enjoy his authority. And to the end that this may come to paſſe, he cōmādeth al impiety, & al falſe opinions cōcerning God to be far from vsus: & in like ſort, he enjoineth him ſelf to be worſhipped & adored of vsus, in the true practiſe of godlines.
12 Furthermore, although that the duties which wee owe vntounto God be innumerable, yet they may bee not vnproperlie referred vntounto four heads: The firſt is the inward acknowledging, whereunto is joined as an addition, the ſpirituall obedience of the conſcience: the ſecond is an aſſured truſt: the thrid is, inuocation, or prayer. The fourth and laſt, is thankſgiuing.
13 The inward acknowledging, we make to be a knowledge of the true God, joined with the aſſent of the conſcience, reuerence, and ſubmiſsion.
14 Aſſured truſt, is a ſecure reſting vponupon him, ariſing from the knowledge of his ſauing will.
15 Inuocation, is the betaking of our minde vntounto the trueth and promiſe of God, as vntounto the only fortreſſe of our ſaluation.
16 Thankeſgiuing, is the profeſsion of a thankfull minde, whereby the praiſe of all the good things that wee receaue, is yealded vntounto God, as vntounto the giuer of them. Now, as God doth not ſuffer any of all theſe things to be deriued elſe where: ſo he commandeth all of them to bee whollie attributed vntounto himſelf.
17 To be briefe, wee are bound to content our ſelues with one God, and therefore to put far from vsus all fained Gods: neither is the religious worſhip of God to bee rent in peeces, which he only claimeth to himſelf alone.
Defended by ANTONY RENNALD of Gaſcoine.