The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 21 – Section 27
SECT. XXI. Of our Communion with Chriſt in regard of his Kingly Office, viz. Glorification: and that begunne in this life: and firſt in our condition.
Q. TO proceede to the third, what benefit receiue we by our Communion with Chriſt, in regard of his Kingly office?
A. OuraRom. 8.30. Glorification, the third inſeparable companion and conſequent of our Calling, and Iuſtification, before-mentioned, whereby our condition and whole nature beeing changed and reſtored, according to thebVer. 29. image of CHRIST our King, wee are made in him no leſſecReu. 1.5. Kings then Prieſts, euen ad1. Pet. 2.9 royall Prieſthood.
Q. How is our Glorification accompliſhed?
A. It iseCol. 3.3, 4 begunne in this preſent life, and ſhall bee perfected in the end of this life, and in that which is to come; as ſhall be ſhewed.
Q. How is our Gl…rification begunne in this life?
A. fReu. 20.6Partly in regard of our condition, wherein wee are made bleſſed, and partly in regard of our nature and conuerſation, wherein wee are made holy.
Q. How are wee made bleſſed in our condition?
A. In that being in Chriſt, wee are in part,g1. Joh. 4.17 1. Cor. 3.22, 23. admitted into the ſame relation wherin Chriſt ſtandeth, both with God himſelfe, and with the creatures, and ſo inueſted in his perſonall prerogatiues; whereby we are gloriouſly exalted, both in our ſpirituall, and outward eſtate.
Q. Wherein conſiſteth the exaltation of our ſpirituall eſtate?
A. In that we are not onelyonlyaCol. 3.4. 1. Joh. 3.2. aſſured of the fruition of the glorious and bliſſefull preſence of God, in heauen hereafter, but euen now in this life, in part,bJoh 5.24. 1. Joh. 3.14. poſſeſſed thereof; being admitted vntounto two degrees of happie communion with his Maieſtie.
Q. Which is the firſt degree?
A. Fellowſhip with God; wherebycEph 2.12.13 & 18.19. 1. Joh. 1.3. Heb. 12.22.23 we, that were once farre off, and aliens from him, are now brought into a neare league and confederacie with him, and with his Saints, through the meanes of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; who in our humane nature is ſtileddZech. 13.7 Gods fellow.
Q. Which is the ſecond degree?
A. Adoption; that is, power and priuiledge to be called theeEph. 1.5. Sonnes of God, deriued vntounto vsus from Chriſt,aHeb. 2.10. who being the eternall Son of God, became, by incarnation, our Brother, that, by him, God might bring many ſonnes and daughters vntounto glorie; euen as many as doe by faithbJoh. 1.12. receiue him; who alſo by thecGal. 4.5, 6. ſpirit of adoption are taught to call God Abba, Father. And thus we, which bydEph. 2.3. nature were heires of wrath, are in, and with Chriſt (theeHeb. 1.2. heire of all things) madefGal. 4 7. Rom. 8.17. heires of Gods fauour and kingdome; procured for vsus as a purchaſe, by the right of iuſtification, and conueyed vntounto vsus, as an inheritance, vnderunder the tenure, & title of Adoption.
Q. What enſueth vponupon this, to make vsus ſpiritually bleſſed?
A. g1. Pet. 1.8, 9.Ioy in the holy Ghoſt, vnſpeakable and glorious, we being athRom. 5.1, 2 & 14.17. peace with God, hauing acceſſe by faith vntounto this grace wherein we ſtand, & reioycing vnderunder the hope of the glorie of God.
Q. Doe the children of God alwayes thus reioyce?
A. Ioy, conſidered as aiPſal. 4.6, 7. delightfull apprehenſion of the fauor of God, gladding the heart, though itaPhil. 4.4. ought continually to be laboured for, and preſerued, yet it may be at times, and for a time, not only darkened and daunted, but euenbPſal. 51.12 loſt, and to be reſtored: yet is it, as allcRom. 11.29 gifts of God, perpetuall and without repentance, if we regard
1. The matter of reioycing, which is GodsdMal. 3.6. vnchangeable louelove and grace.
2. The cauſes and fountaines of ioy in the regenerate, which are the neuer-failing graces ofeLuc. 22.32 faith, fRom. 5.5.hope, andg1. Cor. 13.8 louelove, towards God in Chriſt.
3. The valuation, euen inhPſal. 6.8. deepeſt diſmay, of our part and helpe in Chriſt, aboue the pleaſures of ten thouſand worlds.
4. The pretence and claime of the faithfull heart,iPſal. 42.5. promiſing and challenging vntounto it ſelfe a comfortablekPſa. 126.5. & 97.11. harueſt of ioy, for the preſent ſeed-time of ſorrow.
Q. Wherein conſiſteth the exaltation of our outward eſtate?
A. In thel1. Tim. 4.10 Rom. 8.32. promiſes and bleſſings of this preſent life, which are the royalties and prerogatiues of the faithfull: onelyonly withaMar. 10 38. reſeruation (ſo farre as God ſhall ſee good) of the condition of the Croſſe.
Q. What are thoſe prerogatiues?
A. They are many and great: but may, for the moſt part, bee referred to fiue: whereof the firſt is
bHoſ. 2.18 Heb. 1.14 & 2.5, 8Amitie with all the creatures, which are a new reconciled and ſubdued vntounto the faithfull members of Chriſt.
Q. What is the ſecond?
A. cGal. 5 13.Chriſtian libertie; whereby not onelyonly our right, forfeited in Adam, is recouered and reſtored vntounto vsus by Chriſt, thed1. Cor. 15.47. ſecond Adam, the Lord from heauen; but alſo the reſtraint of theeGal. 5.1. &c Col. 2.20. ceremoniall law is remooued: and now vntounto thefTit. 1.15 pure, in Chriſt Ieſus, all things are pure, andgRom. 14.14 nothing vncleane in it ſelfe; vnleſſe through weakeneſſe of conſcience in him that vſeth them, or inhVer. 15 thoſe that take offence at them, they become accidentally vncleane, or ſcandalous.
Q. What is the third?
A. iPſa. 34.9.10 & Pſa. 128.Sufficiencie of earthly comforts, as tokens of Gods louelove, and pledges of better things, wherewith many times the godly are ſo bleſſed, that they becomeaPſal. 21.6 bleſsings vntounto others.
Q. What is the fourth?
A. bPſ. 31.20 & 37.19Immunitie from outward euils, as puniſhments of ſinne; which yet if, as trials and chaſtiſements, God inflict vponupon them, they are aſſured to findecEſay 27 7 mercy and mitigation in the hand correcting:d1. Cor. 10.13. 2. Cor. 12.9 ſtrength to beare what is laid vponupon them: the ſpeciall prouidence of God cauſing all things toeRom. 8.28. worke together for the beſt vntounto them: and finally, af1. Cor. 10.13 Pſal. 149.4 glorious iſſue out of all troubles in due time.
Q. What is the fift prerogatiue?
A. Dignitie and praeeminence; in that the faithfull hauehavegGen. 9.26, 27. Pro. 14.19 Pſal. 105, 14, 15. dominion and vpperhand ouer the wicked, their enemies, & arehMar. 6.20 Act. 5.13 honorable in the eyes and hearts of men, though not ioyning with them in profeſſion.
Q. What …nſueth here vponupon, to make vsus outwardly bleſſed?
A. iPro. 10.22Ioy, without mixture of ſorrow, in proſperitie, and in affliction abundant*2 Cor. 1.5 conſolation.
SECT. XXII. Of Glorification begunne in our nature, viz. Sanctification.
Q. HOw are we made holy in our nature?
A. By the grace of Sanctification; which is the*Tit. 3.5. renewing of our nature according to thea2. Cor. 3.18 Epheſ. 4.24 image of God, in righteouſneſſe & true holineſſe, making vsus after a ſortb2 Pet. 1.4 partakers of the godly nature.
Q. How farre forth, and by whom, is our nature in this life renewed?
A. This renewing is of ourc1. Theſ. 5.23 Rom. 12.2 whole nature, ſpirit, ſoule, and bodie, our vnderſtanding being enlightened, our will enfranchiſed, and our outward man reformed; butdIoh. 13.10 not wholly in this life: being the worke ofePſ. 51.10 Ezek. 36.26 God, not of our ſelues, yetfEzek. 18.31 required at our hands, both to ſhew vsus what wee ought to doe by the power of grace, and to ſtirre vsus vp to ſeeke, by prayer and all holy endeuour, to attaine vntounto that ſupernaturall ſtrength.
Q. By what meanes is this worke of God wrought in vsus?
A. By the power and*Rom. 6.5. & ….2. Joh 15.3 Rom. 8.13 Act. 1….9 efficacie of the death, and reſurrection of Chriſt, conueyed vntounto vsus by his word and Spirit, which being apprehended by faith, and ſetting faith on worke, are auaileable vntounto each part of our ſanctification.
Q. What are the parts of Sanctification?
A. They are two, according to the powerfull meanes whereby they are wrought, Viz.
1.aRom. 6.6, 7. Mortification, or dying vntounto ſinne, and thereby freedome from the dominion thereof, by the vertue of the death of Chriſt.
2.bRo. 6 4.11 Viuification, or quickning vntounto newneſſe of life, by the power of the reſurrection of Chriſt; in regard whereof it is alſo called ourcReu. 20.6. firſt reſurrection.
Q. How doth Sanctification differ from the former grace of Iustification?
A. In many maine, and materiall differences, as
1. In the order, not of time, wherein they goe bothaRom. 8.30. together, nor of knowledge and apprehenſion, wherein thisb1. Cor. 6.11 latter hath precedence: but of nature, wherein the former is thec2. Cor. 7.1 ground of this latter.
2. In the ſubiect, the righteouſneſſe whereby we are iuſtified, being inherent in Chriſt for vsus, but this of ſanctification dRom, 8.10in our ſelues from him.
3. In the cauſe, our iuſtification being from the merite, our ſanctification from theeEpheſ. 1 19. &c. & 2.1 efficacie, of the death and life of Chriſt.
4. In the inſtrument faith, which in iuſtification is onelyonly as an hand receiuing, in ſanctification afAct. 15.9 Gal. 5.6 co-working vertue.
5. In the meaſure, Iuſtification being in all beleeuers, & at all times, alike, but ſanctification wroughtg2. Cor. 3.18 2. Pet. 3.18 differently and by degrees.
6. In the end, which beeing in both eternall life; aRo. 6.22.23yet is the one among the cauſes of reigning, the other only as the high way to the kingdome.
SECT. XXIII. Of the rule of Sanctification, viz. the Law, with the direction of the Goſpell.
Q. VVHat is the rule & ſquare of our Sanctification?
A. The wholebPſal. 119.9 word of God, as containing thatcRom. 12.2 will of his, which isd1. Theſ. 4, 3. &c. euen our ſanctification.
Q. What meane you by the whole word?
A. eJob. 22.22 Ioh. 17.17Both the Law and Goſpell, the old Teſtament and the new.
Q. Are wee not then deliuered from the law by the meanes of Chriſt?
A. From thefGal. 3.10, 11, 12, 13. burthen of the law, exacting in our owne perſons perfect obedience, and from the curſe of it, due vntounto diſobedience, wee are deliuered by Chriſt:
But from the Commandement, as aaJam. 2.8 rule of life, we are not freed, but contrariwiſe enclined and diſpoſed, by hisbPſal. 51.12 & 119, 2, 45 1. Ioh. 5.3 free ſpirit, to the willing obedience thereof. Thus to the regenerate the Law becometh as it were Goſpel; euen acJam. 1.25. & 2.12 law of libertie.
Q. How is the Goſpell a rule of obedience, being the rule of faith?
A. The Goſpel*1. Tim. 1.11 Eph 4.20, 21 directeth the faithfull to the obedience of the Law: only with difference,
1. Of the manner, the Law propounding God to bee worſhipped of vsus in himſelfe, as our Creator, thedIoh. 14.1. & 5.23 Goſpel in Chriſt, as our Sauiour.
2. Of the end, the Law requiring all duties, as for the procurement of our owne ſaluation, the Goſpell in way ofe1. Theſ. 5.18 thankefulneſſe for ſaluation in Chriſt, alreadie beſtowed.
3. Of the effect, the Law (like Pharaoh, that required bricke, but allowed no ſtrawe)fRom. 10.5, 6. &c. demanding obedience, but vouchſafing no aſsiſtance, (ſuppoſing man as in the ſtate of Creation) but the Goſpell both requireth, and conferreth faith vntounto the Elect, and that not onelyonly as a hand to lay hold on Chriſt; but alſo as the chiefe vertue, working by louelove in all parts of obedience; without which euen the Goſpell is law, that is, aa2. Cor. 3.6 killing letter, as to the vnregenerate.
Q. Doth not the Goſpell adde other precepts, or counſels to thoſe of the law?
A. Not any other, in ſubſtance of action, but onelyonly reneweth & enforceth b1. Ioh. 2.7, 8thoſe of the law: and ſpecifyeth ſome duties, as of faith in the Meſſiah, of the Sacraments &c. which hauehave their generall ground from the law. As for thoſe, that are propounded in forme of counſell, and doe concerne things indifferent, they are notcReu. 3.18 therefore arbitrary courſes of higher perfection (much leſſe meritorious of greater glory) but, as they are applied with due circumſtances, neceſſary precepts, referred to ſome one or other commandement of the law; thedMat 19 23 reiecting wherof excludeth from the kingdome of God.
Q. What is that law, which with the direction of the Goſpell, is the rule of Sanctification?
A. OnelyOnly the morall law, or law of nature, engrauen by God himſelfe, firſt in the heart of man in his creation, after in aDeut. 10.4tables of ſtone, in the dayes of Moſes, & ſo publiſhed, & committed vntounto the Church for all ages, as thebIam. 2.8 royall law, for obedience to God our King, commonly called thecExod. 34.28 Deut. 4.13 Decalogue, or ten Commandements.
Q. What are we to conceiue of the Ceremoniall and iudiciall lawes?
A. They are onelyonly added as ſpeciall explications and applications of the law morall, vntountodRom. 9.4 that preſent Church and people of the Iſraelites: Viz.
The former for direction in rites of outward worſhip,eHeb. 10.1. &c. ſhaddowing the grace of the Goſpell, now vtterlyfVer. 9. aboliſhed, the ſubſtance being exhibited:
The latter for forme of pollicy, and ciuill gouernment, and therefore ceaſing with the diſſolution of that common wealth, for which it was ordained.
SECT. XXIIII. Of the Decalogue.
Q. TO deale onelyonly therefore with the morall …aw, what order are wee to obſerue in handling of the Decalogue?
A. We are to conſider
Firſt in generall,
The preface.
The diuiſion.
The rules of interpretation.
Secondly the ſeuerall Commandements in particular.
Q. What is the preface of the Law?
A. Thoſe words of God,aExod. …0.2 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the houſe of bondage. Wherein hee layeth a two-fold ground of obedience, Viz.
1. Frō his namebExod. 3.14. Iehouah importing his eternal being of himſelf, &cRom. 11.36 communicating of life & all bleſſings to mankinde, wherby he is thedPſal. 36.6 Sauiour of all men.
2. From the Couenant of grace, whereby he is our God, thea1. Tim. 4.10. Sauiour of them that beleeue; aſſuring them all gracious deliuerances, by vertue of that his couenant, from all euils and enemies, both bodily, and eſpecially ſpirituall, vnderunder the figure of the late deliuerance of the Iſraelites out of Aegypt.
Q. How is the Law diuided?
A. Two wayes:
1. Into ten Commaundements, or words, propounded
Some affirmatiuely, as the 4. and 5. others negatiuely, as all the reſt.
Some with reaſons annexed, as the 2, 3, 4, 5: the reſt without.
2. Into two Tables, whichbMath. 22. Chriſt calleth the two great Commaundements, viz. the
1. Containing ourcVerſe 37.38. duetie to God in the foure firſt Commandements.
2. OurdVerſe 39. duetie to our neighbor, in the 6. laſt.
Q. What are the rules of interpreting the Law?
A. They are principally theſe three, viz.
1. That where anyaMatth. 4.10. 1. Cor. 15.34. duetie is enioyned, as in the affirmatiue Commandements, the contrarie ſinne is forbidden: and where anybEph. 4.28. ſin is forbidden, as in the negatiue, the contrarie duetie is required.
2. That vnderundercMatth. 5.21, 22, &c. 1. Iohn 3.15. one maine duetie, or crime expreſſed, all degrees of good, or euill in the ſame kind, are either commaunded, or forbidden.
3. That with the ſinne forbidden, or duetie enioyned, alldTheſ. 5.22 Heb. 10 24, 25. occaſions, or furtherances thereto, are conſequently condemned, or required.
SECT. XXV. Of the firſt Commaundement.
Q. TO come to the ſeuerall Commaundements, and firſt of the former Table; What are the words of the firſt Commaundement?
A. aExod. 20.3.Thou ſhalt hauehave none other gods before me.
Q. What is the ſcope and meaning of this Commaundement?
A. That the inward and ſpirituall worſhip of thebProu 23.26 heart, whereincDeut. 5.29 God eſpecially delighteth, and which is thedProu 4.23. Mat. 12.35. ground of the outward, be giuen to him the onelyonly God, and to none other; and that ſincerely without hypocriſie, as in his ſight, whoeJer. 17.10. ſearcheth and knoweth the heart.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commaundement?
A.
1. Originall corruption, ſo far forth as it is thefRom. 8.7. fountaine of impietie againſt God: with all the ſtreams ofgPſal. 14.1. Atheiſme, errour, hPſ. 10.3, 4.hatred of God, prophaneneſſe, preſumption, ſecuritie, infidelitie, iRom. 1.21.ingratitude, &c.
2. All inward Idolatrie, whereby men ſet vp ankEzek. 14.3 Idoll in their heart, in ſtead of God, giuing thereto any part of ſpirituall adoration; as bylActs 12.23 pride, m2. Tim. 3.4 1. Sam. 2.29.inordinate louelove, a…ſa. 51.12, 13.carnall feare, bPro. 18.11 Ier. 17.5.fleſhly confidence, &c.
Q. What is required in this Commandement?
A. The ſetting vp, andcEſa. 8.13. ſanctifying of the Lord God in our hearts, yeelding him, in Chriſt, the ſpirituall worſhip ofdPſal. 73.25. faith and affiance, eDeut. 6.5.louelove, andf1. Theſſ. 5.18. thankfulneſſe, gHeb. 12.28feare and reuerence, &c. which is due vntounto his Maieſtie.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances of the obedience of this Commaundement?
A.
1. The onelyonly means to ſettle and vphold vsus in this ſpiritual worſhip of God, is to endeuor to attaine and encreaſe in theh2. Pet. 3.18 knowledge of him in Ieſus Chriſt: to conſideriPſal. 116.1, 12 1. Ioh. 3.1. what great things he hath done for vsus: yeakPro. 3.6. in all our wayes to take knowledge of his preſence, promiſes, and prouidence.
2. Contrariwiſe, thelHoſ. 4.1. & 8.12. neglect of the knowledge of God, andmEſa 5.12. & 26.10, 11. not conſidering his word, and workes, are thenEſa. 1.3, 4. ground of all impietie, and ſpirituall Idolatrie, here forbidden.
SECT. XXVI. Of the ſecond Commaundement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the ſecond Commaundement?
A. aExod. 20.4, &c.Thou ſhalt make thee no grauen image, neither any ſimilitude, &c.
Q. What is the ſcope and meaning of this Commaundement?
A. To bind all men to thatbDeut. 12.32 onelyonly outward forme of worſhip, which God himſelfe in his word preſcribeth; and that by a twofold reaſon:
The firſt taken from the Couenant of grace, whereby he is the Lord our God: which Couenant on our part is by no ſinne ſo directly violated, as by Idolatrie, called therfore in Scripture ſpiritualcIer. 3.8. Adulterie:
The ſecond, from the nature of God, which is, in this caſe to bee iealous; which he ſheweth
1. By viſiting, and puniſhing, vntounto the third and fourth generatiō, ſuch as (howſoeuer pretending louelove) do thus declare their hatred of him:
2. By extending his merciemercy vntounto thouſands of ſuch, as ſhew their louelove of him, by obedience to this his Law.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commaundement?
A. Euerie forme of worſhip,aDeut. 12.31. though of the true God,bMat. 15.9. contrarie to, or diuers from, the preſcript of Gods word; called by the ApoſtlecCol. 2.23. Well-worſhip: together with alld2. Kin. 16.10 corruptions in the true worſhip of God, and all luſt and inclination of heart, vntounto ſuperſtitious pompes and rites in the ſeruice of God. All theſe the Lord forbiddeth vnderunder one inſtance ofePſ. 97.7. Images, wherein he foreſaw there would be greateſt abuſe, and therefore expreſly condemneth,
1. ThefDeut. 4.15, &c. Hab. 2.18. making of any Images to repreſent God, or for religious vſe.
2. The worſhipping of them, or ofaExod. 32.5. God in them, or vſing of anybEſay 44.15 Exod. 32.4. geſtures of religious adoration vntounto them.
Q. What is required in this Commaundement?
A. That wee performe, with diligence, andcEccl. 4.17. & 5.1, &c. reuerence, all parts of Gods outward worſhip preſcribed, whether
Ordinarie, asdAct. 2.42. hearing, and reading the word, Prayer, the vſe of the Sacraments, the Diſcipline and cenſures of the Church:
Or extraordinary, aseJoel 2.12, 15. faſts publike or priuate, ſolemnefPſal. 50.14 thankſgiuing for ſpecial bleſſings, together with vowes, lots, and oathes, &c.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances of the obedience of this Commaundement?
A. It is required, vntounto the obedience of this Commaundement;
1. That all men labor forgMic. 6.6, 7.8. knowledge of the expreſſe will of God touching all parts of his worſhip, and ioyne together witha1. Cor. 14.40 order and decencie in the performance thereof: And that ſuch, whom it concerneth, take care that faithfull and ablebTit. 1.5, &c. Miniſters be ordained in euerie congregation, and that ſufficientc1. Tim. 5.17, 18. maintenance, ford2. Chr. 31.4 encouragement, be allotted them: ThateLuk. 7 5, 6. places for publike aſſemblies be erected and preſerued: Thatf2 King. 6.1, &c. Schooles and Vniuerſities bee founded and maintained: Thatg1. Sam. 10.25. Bookes of neceſſarie vſe vntounto edification (eſpecially thehReuel. 1.3. holy Booke of God) bee ſet ſorth and divulged: That, as occaſion requireth, Synods andiAct 15.6. Councils be called and aſſembled, &c. Finally, that ſuch, whoſe calling and abilitie reacheth no farther, doe yet affoord the helpe of theirkMat. 9.38. prayers vntounto all theſe.
2. That nolCol. 2.18. power bee admitted in the Church to preſcribe other formes of worſhip, noa2. Cor. 6.14 affinitie or ſocietie with Idolaters, nob2. Chro. 15 13, 16 Reu. 2.20 toleration of ſuperſtition, noc1. Cor. 10, 20, 21 preſence at Idolatrous worſhip be afforded: no relicks, or monuments of Idolatry, asd2. Kin. 18.4. Images, eAct. 19.19bookes, fPſal. 16.4names, and ſuch like be retained.
SECT. XXVII. Of the third Commandement.
Q. VVHat are the words of the third Commandement?
A. gExo. 20.7.Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine, &c.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
A. That we impeach not, but by all meanes aduance, the glorious hPſal. 29.2name of God, in all things, whereby hee maketh himſelfe knowne to men, as his holyiPſal. 68.4 titles, and attributes, kPſal. 138.2word, and aPſ. 145.10.workes: and that vnderunder a dreadfull penaltie viz. that howſoeuer mans law, for the moſt part, taketh not hold of offenders in this kinde, yet God will not bPſal. 1.5acquit them, nor ſuffer them to eſcape his righteous, and fearefullcZech. 5.3. Iam. 5 12 Iudgement.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commandement?
A. EueryEvery*Mal. 1.6, 12 wrong offered to the name and glorie of God, as namelydTit. 1.16 hypocriſie: theeRom. 1.24 euill life of profeſſors:fMat. 10.33 ſhrinking in caſe of perill, and denying God the honour of our ſuffering for him: abuſing his word, or any part thereof, vntountog2. Pet. 3.16 idle and curious queſtions, hEſay 22.13ieſting and profane mirth, defence ofiMat. 4.6. errour,kAct. 19.13. charmes or ſorceries: &c. Vnreuerent mention of his titles, as Lord, God, Ieſus, &c. in fooliſh admiration, idle wiſhes, lG…n. 16.5 2. S…m. 16.8.imprecations, and curſings, &c.mIob. 3 2, 3 &c. murmuring at his prouidence, vnderunder the names of fortune and chance: nDeut. 29 19preſuming vponupon his mercy, to harden our hearts in ſinning: cauilling at the doctrine ofoRo. 9.19, 20 predeſtination &c. not pAct. 17.27.ſeeing God in his workes, or not vſing them as we ought. Finally in an oath, whether by ſwearing by anaZeph. 1.5. Amo. 8.14 Idoll: or by calling God for a witneſſe, either of vaine and friuolous things bybJam. 5.12 Ier. 23.10. vſuall ſwearing, or of our furious anger byc1. Sam. 14.39 2. Kin. 6.31 paſsionate ſwearing, or of an vntruth, bydLeu. 19.12. Zech. 5.4. forſwearing.
Q. What is required in this Commandement?
A. Whatſoeuer may aduance Gods glorie; as theeTit. 2.10 Mat. 5 16 holy conuerſation of profeſſors:fReu. 2 13 confeſsion of Chriſt vntounto ſuffering, yea martyrdome, if cauſe be: reuerentgPro. 31.26 Pſal. 71.15 mention of the titles, attributes, word, and workes of God; eſpecially obſeruing and recounting, whathPſal. 66.16 & 103.23, &c. ſpeciall mercies hee hath vouchſafed vsus in particular: receiuing, and vſing all the creatures of God to his glory, with thanksgiuing: Finally, in the matter of an oath, when we ſweare
1. IniIer. 4.2 truth, affirming what wee know to bee true, andkPſal. 15.4. & 24.4 verifying by deede what wee vndertake.
2. In iudgement, which is a due conſideration both of the nature, and greatneſſe of an oath, wherein God is taken toa2. Cor. 1, 23 witneſſe againſt the ſoule of the ſwearer, if hee deceiue: and of the due calling, and warrant of an oath, whether publique, being demaunded by thebGen. 43.3 1. Sam. 24.22, 23 Magiſtrate, without perill to the ſwearer, orcExo. 22.11. 1. Sam. 20.17 2. Cor. 1, 23 priuate, in caſe of great importance, when the truth cannot otherwiſe be cleared.
3. In righteouſneſſe, that is, both in the due forme viz. bydMat. 5.34 …. Eſay 25.16 Jer. 2 …6 God alone, not by any creature, or Idoll: and to a right end, which is theeEſay 45.23 with Phil. … … glory of God, andfHeb. 6.16 peace among men.
Q. What are the helpes or hinderances of the obedience of this Commandement?
A. Firſt, that wee both enure our hearts tog…ut. 28.58 E…cleſ. 9.2 feare & reuerence the great and dreadfull name of the Lord our God, and keepe a carefull watch ouer our aPſal. 39.1lips, and liues, leaſt by any meanes we diſhonour him.
Secondly, that we auoide, both the company of profane perſons, whobPſal. 73.9 ſet their mouth againſt heauen, and all vnneceſſarie dangers, wherebycMat. 26.69. &c. diuers hauehave beene occaſioned to deny the Lord.