Opening of the Ten Commandments, Title page – To the reader
A PITHIE, SHORT, AND METHODICALL opening of the Ten Commandements. BY Maſter William Whately, Preacher of the word of God at Banburie in Oxford-ſhire.
LONDON, Printed by IOHN HAVILAND for Thomas Pauier and Leonard Greene. 1622.
To the Reader.
HEre is for thee (Chriſtian friend) Gods ſacred and pure Law, perſpicuouſly and orderly vnfolded, the extent of thoſe glorious beams more now then euer enlarged, though we hauehave many that hauehave done excellently. For in this ſhort and pithie Treatiſe, if thou pleaſeſt ſeriouſly to be acquainted with it, as alſo make an holy vſe of it, there will iſſue three bleſſed benefits of ſpeciall and weighty importance.
Firſt, hereby thou maiſt more clearely know thy ſelfe, and diſcouer thy cold faintneſſe, thy leane and idle ſeruices, and crooked diſpoſition, and that ſnakie brood of ſinne that lurketh in thy euer-vitious nature: for it is the Lawes office to detect ſin, as a looking glaſſe to bewray ſpots, and as the Sunne to diſcouer euen little motes. Whence is it men ſee not their miſled liues, but becauſe they are vndiſciplin'd in the Lords walkes? Can there be a worke of greater conſequence then a large opening of theſe holy rules, which although the full ſplendor thereof is reſerued for the glory aboue, yet open thine eyes to the bleſſed brightneſſe which ſhines out of this Treatiſe, to diſcouer thy darke ignorance, thy infidelitie and ſtubborne pride, how rich thou art in follie, how poore in grace, and how conſcience hitherto hath beene ſealed with a curſed brand: here wee may be ſad ſpectators of our froward waywardneſſe, our wandring and groueling thoughts, our barren memories, our raging diſcontented paſsions, and dull edg'd leaden affections, yea the diſorder of the whole man, turning face to Satan and backe to God.
Secondly, it lends powerfull aide in the ſeruices and worſhips of God. This will bring thee with a hunger-bitten ſoule and heauy heart to behold the Lords ſhining face in the preaching of the word, and bends thy will to it with abſolute yeelding. This is a notable touch-ſtone to try thy ſelfe to the heart root when thou art to receiue that ſacramentall meat, and will furniſh thee with much ſtore and varietie for prayer. Wouldst thou confeſſe against thy ſelfe? behold here a large field: Or wouldst begge graces of God? ſee here a ſampler: here is matter for meditation, for Chriſtian parlees; this will enable thee to catechize and inſtruct thy familie, and enlightens thy vnderſtanding in reading the Scriptures, and for dayes of humiliation, times of pretious worth with Gods people; this worke thorowly lookt into, ſhall cauſe thee to fall out with thy ſelfe, and ſhall ſend thee with penitent eyes to bewaile thy wretched eſtate, and powre out thy ſoule into the boſome of Chriſt, and will put ſuch marrow and ſtrength into thee, that humbly and hotly thou maist wraſtle with God.
Laſtly, this ſhall direct all thy paths, and wiſely conduct thee through this thornie life; it will cauſe thee thinke well, ſpeake well, and liue well, and furniſheth thee with knowledge, faith in God, humble deiectedneſſe, ſpirituall wiſdome, a well tuned conſcience, a ſtooping will, heauenly thoughts, a right fraught memorie, and ranks in order thy louelove, feare, ioy, confidence, and all the reſt of thoſe ſubordinate faculties of the ſoule, bending them to purſue what is good, and ſtand ſtifly armed againſt eueryevery euill. And as for being vnſpotted of the world, and to liue vnblameably, wronging neither thy ſelfe, nor any man, in ſoule, bodie, eſtate, name, or place, take this booke for thy counſellor. Feaſt thine eyes then with a ſubiect neceſſarily vſefull, and ſo exactly compiled, that it cannot but winne eſteeme with eueryevery knowing man and gratious heart. For I muſt tell thee, diuers friends of exquiſite iudgement, hearing that this worke was in my hand, did earneſtly ſollicite me to turne it to common good. Amongst the reſt, a learned worthy vnderſtanding Diuine, Maſter R. Bolton, hauing peruſed it, commended it vntounto mee in theſe termes: Me thinkes, in ſhort and little roome, it opens & repreſents the marrow and myſteries of that adored depth, the banks and bottome whereof, no wit of man ſhall euer be able fully to fathom and comprehend, while the world laſts, with more cleare, exact, and compendious dexteritie, then I hauehave diſcouered in others, though they hauehave alſo done excellently. And he perſwaded with the Author, and ſince alſo with me, to let it paſſe abroad more publikely. Let then the more then ordinarie parts of the workman, and of ſuch as hauehave commended it, as alſo the great paines of our pen-man, who hath told me, he had a long harueſt for this handfull of corne, together with the pretiouſnes of the ſubiect, and the goodly meeds thou maiſt gaine by it, let theſe perſwade thee to read it, and that vnpartially: In the meane time, my prayer and hearty deſire is, that thou maiſt right plentifully proſper by it, and ſo I reſt,
From Blaſton 4. of Septemb. Thine in the Lord Ieſus, RICHARD LEE.
A PITHIE, SHORT, AND METHODICAL OPENING OF THE TEN COMMANDEMENTS.
THE Law of God conſiſting of ten diſtinct commandements, is a perfect platforme of our obedience, acquainting vsus with our dutie to God, either
1. Immediatly.
2. Mediatly.
1. Immediatly in regard of himſelfe both
1. Principall, in the firſt commandement.
2. Leſſe principall, both
1. For the ſorts and kinds of ſeruice, which are two.
1. Solemne worſhip in the ſecond commandement.
2. Common worſhip, in the third commandement.
2. For the dedicating of a ſet and ſolemne time, viz. one day in ſeuen to holy and religious exerciſes, in the fourth commandement.
2. Our dutie to God mediatly, in regard of our neighbour
1. Seuerally.
2. Ioyntly.
1. Seuerally, in regard of
1. Speciall duties to ſome, in the fift commandement.
2. Common duties to all for their
1. Perſons.
2. Things.
1. Perſons in regard of their
1. Safetie, in the ſixt commandement.
2. Chaſtitie, in the ſeuenth commanment.
2. Things pertaining to their perſons, either
1. Goods, in the eight commandement.
2. Good name, in the ninth commandement.
2. Now follow thoſe mediatly which are in regard of our neighbour, or iointly, for all theſe, ſo far as reſpecteth the diſpoſitions and firſt motions of the ſoule, in the tenth commandement.