Winter Evenings Communication with Novices in Religion, Part 14 – Part 15
Of the Law, or ten Commandements.
Queſtion. IN the performance of good workes, what guid are we to follow? Will not the light of reaſon, the precepts and examples of men accounted wiſe, civill, and honeſt, ſerve the turne?
A. What is written in the Law, ſaith Chriſt, how readeſt thou? Luk. 10. 26.
Q. So indeed he anſwered a Lawyer, who would needs know of him what he ſhould doe. And againe, Mat. 19. 17. to a young man enquiring of him, what good thing he ſhould doe, his anſwer was, Keep the Commandements. Teaching us plainely, that a good worke, is ſome good thing, done in obedience to the Law, or Commandements: Which are thoſe Commandements?
A. The ten Commandements which the Lord ſpake in the mount, out of the mids of the fire, Deut. 10. 4.
Q. Why out of the mids of the fire, and with thunders and lightnings, &c.
A. That his feare may be before us that we ſinne not, Exod. 20. 20.
Q. How came they to be written?
A. The Lord delivered them to Moſes in two tables of ſtone, written with his owne finger, Deut. 9 10.
Q. They were written by the immediate power of God: What is the ſumme of the firſt Table, or foure firſt Commandements?
A. The Lord our God is one Lord; and, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoule, and with all thy minde, and with all thy ſtrength, Mar. 12. 29. 30.
Q. What is the ſumme of the ſecond Table, or ſix laſt Commandements?
A. Thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelfe, Mark. 1…. 31.
Q. Give me in like manner the ſhort ſumme of every ſeverall Commandement; What is it of the first, Thou ſhalt have none other Gods before mee?
A. Know God, ſerve him with a perfect heart and willing minde, cleave to him, 1. Chron. 28. 9. Deut. 10. 20.
Q. And they that know thy Name will truſt in thee, ſaith David, Pſal. 9. 10. What of the ſecond, Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelfe any graven image?
A. In Divine worſhip, obſerve to doe whatſoever God commandeth, adde nothing there-to, nor diminiſh ought there-from, Deut. 12. 30. 31. 32.
Q. What of the third, Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord? &c.
A. Thou ſhalt ſweare the Lord liveth in truth, in judgement, and in righteouſneſſe, and (every way elſe) knowing God, glorifie him as God, Ier. 4. 2. Rom. 1. 21.
Q. What of the fourth, Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy?
A. Conſecrate the Sabbath as glorious to the Lord, and honour him, not doing thine owne waies, nor ſeeking thine owne pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words, Eſa. 58. 13.
Q. What of the fifth, Honour thy father and thy mother?
A. Render to all their dues, giving honour to every one, as the Lord hath diſtributed to them, as the Lord hath called, Rom. 13. 7. 1. Cor. 7. 17.
Q. Render to all their dues; both to ſuperiours, as parents, magiſtrates, miniſters, aged, &c. and to inferiours, according to their rank, and the truſt and charge committed to us. What of the ſixth Commandement, Thou ſhalt not kill.
A. Put on the bowels of mercy, kindeneſſe humbleneſſe of minde, meekneſſe, longſuffering, forbearing and forgiving one another, Col. 3. 12.
Q. What of the ſeventh Commandement, Thou ſhalt not commit adultery?
A. Poſſeſſe thy veſſell in holineſſe and honour, and not in luſts of concupiſcence, 1. Theſ. 4. 4.
Q. What of the eighth, Thou ſhalt not ſteale?
A. Let no man goe beyond, or defraud his brother in any matter, for God is an avenger of all ſuch, 1. Theſſ. 4. 6.
Q. What of the ninth, Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe?
A. Speake the truth in or from the heart, Pſal. 15. 2.
Q What of the tenth, Thou ſhalt not covet?
A. In whatſoever ſtate thou art, therewith be thou content, Phil. 4. 11.
Q. Can you fulfill all theſe commandements?
A. No; In many things we offend all, Iam. 3. 2.
Q. Why can you not fulfill them?
A. Becauſe the Law is ſpirituall, and I am carnall, ſold under ſinne, Rom. 7. 14.
Q. What uſe is there then of the Law?
A. By the Law is the knowledge of ſin, Rom. 3. 20.
Q. To what end?
A. That it might be our School-maſter, to bring us to Chriſt, that we might be juſtified by faith, Gal. 3. 24.
Q. When the Law hath humbled us, and brought us to Chriſt, what uſe hath it then?
A. To be a lampe unto our feet, and a light unto our paths. Pſal. 119. 105.
Of Praier.
Queſtion. BEſides the continuall exerciſe of the holy Scriptures, and practiſe of good workes, what ſpeciall meanes have we to uphold our weak faith, and to enflame our cold hearts unto more fervent charity and zeale?
A. Aske and it ſhall be given you, ſeek and ye ſhall finde, knock and it ſhall be opened unto you, Mat. 7. 7.
Q. What encouragement have we thereunto?
A For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that ſeeketh, &c. Verſ. 8.
Q. Not onelyonly the Apostles and the Saints that excell in vertue, but every penitent petitioner, none excepted: What other encouragment have we?
A. Parents that are evill give good gifts unto their children, how much more ſhall our heavenly Father give good gifts, yea, even the holy Ghoſt, to us that deſire him? Mat. 7. 11. Luk. 11. 13.
Q. How is praier limited?
A. If we aske any thing according to his will, he heareth us, 1. Ioh. 5. 14.
Q. In whoſe name or mediation are we to aske?
A. Whatſoever you ſhall aske the Father in my Name, ſaith Chriſt, he will give it you, Ioh. 16. 23.
Q. What things are abſolutely neceſſary in praier to make it avaleable?
A. To abide in Chriſt, and to have his words abiding in us, Ioh. 15. 7.
Q. What elſe?
A. To aske in faith and waver not, Iam. 1. 6.
Q. What elſe?
A. To forgive if any offence be, or elſe our heavenly Father will not forgive us, Mark. 11. 25. 26.
Q. What elſe?
A. To be moſt humble with the poore Publicane, leſt we take the repulſe with the proud Phariſee, Luk. 18. 9.
Q. What elſe?
A. To be fervent in praier, and not faint, Iam. 5. 16. Luk. 18. 1.
Q. What ſay you of thankeſgiving to God?
A. Pray continually: In all things give thankes, 1. Theſſ. 5. 17, 18.
Q. In all things ſmall or great, proſperous, or adverſe: But what reaſon is there for that?
A. This is the will of God in Chriſt Ieſus towards you, 1. Theſſ. 5. 18.
Q. What other reaſon is there?
A. He that offereth praiſe ſhall glorifie me, ſaith the Lord, Pſal. 50. 23.
Q. VVhat ſet forme of praier hath Chriſt left unto us, to pray, and to frame our praiers by?
A. After this manner pray ye; or when you pray, ſay, Our Father which art in heaven, &c. Matth. 6. 9. Luk. 11. 2.
Q. Of this moſt holy praier I have briefly ſet downe my minde elſe where?