The Duties Commanded and Sins Forbidden in the Law of God, Title page – Preface
AN ABSTRACT OF THE DVTIES COMMANDED, AND SINNES forbidden in the Law of God.
BY THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, GEORGE DOVVNAME, Doctor of Diuinity, and Lord Bishop of DERRY.
PSALM. 119. 96.
I hauehave seene an end of all perfection: but thy Commandement is exceeding broad.
AT LONDON, Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON. 1620.
TO THE TRVE LOVER OF VERTVE AND RELIGIon, Mistris MARGARET HARE, widow, the late deare and louing wife of IOHN HARE Esquire, of the Inner Temple, and chiefe Clerke of his Maiesties Court of Wards and Liueries.
THe Reuerend Author of this Booke, hauing now full twenty yeeres since, in his publike exercises finished a very large Treatise vponupon the Decalogue, or ten Commandements of Almighty God, was then pleased at my earnest entreaty, and for my priuate vse, to collect and gather out of that large Treatise, the summe and heads of what was therein more largely handled, which I purposed still, according to his first intent, to hauehave kept by me for my priuate vse: but since, hauing been often importuned by many learned and religious Ministers for the loane thereof, whereto I had almost yeelded, had I not considered the wrong and iniurie which thereby might redound to the Author, if the same should happen to be printed, either by some vnperfect copy, or vnderunder the name of some other, especially, if euer the Author should be pleased to publish those his larger volumes. And therefore for satisfaction of the request of my friends, I endeuoured to gaine the Authors consent to the publishing heereof; which hauing obtained, I have now put the same in print for the publike and generall good, and doe dedicate the same vntounto you, not onelyonly to be a helpe to you in your priuate meditations in the Law of God, but also as a testimony of my thankfulnesse for your many fauours both to me and mine. The Almighty God make it profitable for the end intended: to whose blessed protection I commend you, and will euer rest
Yours in all Christian duty to bee commanded, BASILL NICOLL.
THE PREFACE, CONTAINING RVLES OF direction, for the expounding of the Commandements.
WHereas the holy Ghost testifieth, that the Law of God,Psal. 19. 7. (though propounded in ten words) is so perfect, that nothing may be added to it, and so large, that nothing may bee compared therewith:Ps. 119. 96. It must therefore bee confessed, that the sence of the Commandements is so to be inlarged, as that they may be vnderstood to bee the perfect Pandects (as it were) of Christians; forbidding all vices which the Lord condemneth in his Word; and commanding all morall duties which he requireth at our hands.
And for as much as there are two principall vses of the Law; the one, to shew vsus our manifold sinnes, and the punishments due for them, that being humbled in our selues, we might seeke to Christ: the other, that it might be a perfect rule, whereby to frame our liues and conuersation; that being redeemed by Christ, wee may also bee renewed according to the image of God, in true righteousnesse and holinesse: therefore it is very expedient, that the speciall duties commanded, and vices forbidden in eueryevery Commandement, should particularly be laid forth. That in respect of the former vse, we might see those manifold both duties which wee hauehave omitted, and also vices which wee hauehave committed heretofore: and in respect of the latter, that wee might distinctly see and vnderstand those particular duties which the Lord enioyneth vsus to obserue, and those particular vices which he chargeth vsus to shunne for the time to come.
And for our direction in this behalfe, we are to expound eueryevery Commandement according to these fiue rules:
1. Where any duty is commanded, there the contrary vice is forbidden; and where any vice is forbidden, there the contrary duty is commanded.
EueryEvery Commandement therefore containeth two parts; the
Affirmatiue, cō manding the duty.
Negatiue, forbidding y• vice.
Whence ariseth a distinction of sins, that they are either sins of
Omission.
Commission.
2. VnderUnder one particular vice mentioned in the Commandement, all of the same kind are forbidden; and vnderunder one particular commanded, all of the same kind are commanded. For the Law of God is spirituall,Rom. 7. 14 and therefore requireth not onelyonly outward obedience in word and deed, but also inward in the mind and heart. Neither doth it onelyonly forbid the outward sinnes committed in word and deed, but also all the secret corruptions of the mind and heart. And thus our Sauiour hath taught vsus to expound the Law of God, Math. 5. 21, 22, 27, 28. and 1. Epist. Ioh. 3. 15.
Againe, the Law of God is perfect, requiring perfect obedience both inward and outward, not onelyonly in respect of the parts, but also of the degrees. Wherefore, where any duty is commanded, there the highest degree of it is commanded, as appeareth by the summe of the Law, Math. 22. 37, 38. and where any vice is forbidden, there the least degree of it is forbidden, and beareth the name of that grosse sinne which is specified, that we might learne to esteeme no sinne small.1. Sam. 15. 23. For vnaduised anger is murther; and looking vponupon a woman to lust after her, is forbidden vnderunder the name of adultery, as our Sauiour teacheth, Math. 5. 22, 28.
3. Where any duty is commanded, there the meanes which tend thereto are enioyned; and where any vice is forbidden, there the meanes, prouocations and allurements tending thereto are also forbidden. For such as is the end, such are the subordinate meanes that in their owne nature doe tend thereto. This teacheth, that good intentions and desires will not serue, when we are carelesse of the meanes.
Now there are three meanes which are common to all duties, and therefore in all the Precepts are commanded; and the neglect of them, or the vse of the contrary forbidden: viz. 1. Prayer: for of our selues wee cannot so much as thinke a good thought, 2. Cor. 3. 5. Psal. 119. 33, 34, 35, 36.
2. Diligent hearing of the Word, Rom. 10. 14, 17.
3. Good company, Prou. 13. 20. Hee that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled, Ecclus. 13. 1. A little leauen sowreth the whole lumpe, 1. Cor. 5. 6. Therefore Dauid biddeth the wicked depart from him, that hee might keepe the Commandements of his God, Psal. 119. 115. and else-where professeth, that he auoided their company, Psalm. 26. 4, 5.
4. Where any duty is commanded, or vice forbidden, there also the signes are commanded, or forbidden. For first, as touching vertues and duties; the graces of God are not to bee smothered, as it were candles vnderunder a bushell, but they must be manifested to the glory of God, to the good example of others; and for a testimony to our selues that wee are endued with them, wee must bee carefull of honest things, not onelyonly before God, but also before men, 2. Cor. 8. 21.
And as touching vices, we are taught to abstaine from all shew of euill, 1. Thes. 5. 22. Haughty lookes, strange apparell, are condemned as signes of pride: haunting of suspected places,Pro. 6. 17. Zeph. 1. 8. as signes of incōtinency, &c.
5. Duties to be procured, and vices to be auoided, not in our selues onelyonly, but also in others. First therefore in all the Precepts is commanded the communion of Saints to be exercised among the faithfull, in an earnest desire shewne,Mat. 18. 15. to win our neighbour vntounto Christ, and in a tender care taken, for the furthering of the saluation one of another, by the duties of edification.
As namely,Heb. 3. 13. 1. In respect of duties, by stirring vp one another,1. Thes. 5. 11, 14. Heb. 10. 24. by
Instructing the ignorant.Dan. 12. 3.
Admonitiō,Rom. 15. 14. or putting our brother in mind of his duty.
Exhortation vntounto his duty.
Encouraging him in well-doing.
Comforting those which are weake.
Good
Counsell.
Example. Math. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 12. Heb. 12. 13
2. In respect of things forbidden, to
Reclame the Erroneous. Iam. 5. 19, 20.
Reprooue the offendour. Leu. 19. 17. Eph. 5. 11.
Disswade from vice.
Secondly, in all the Precepts wee are forbidden to hauehave any fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse, Eph. 5. 11. or to be accessary to the offences of others, 1. Tim. 5. 22.
Men may be accessary to the offences of others, diuers wayes: whereof some are
Common, and those either
Going before the offence committed, as
Prouocation, by
Incensing, Gal. 5. 26. Eph. 6. 4. Iob 2. 9. 1. King. 21. 25, 7.
Alluring. Pro. 1. 10. …7. 18, 21. and hereto corrupt and infecting speeches are referred. 1. Cor. 15. 33.
Euill counsell: 2. Sam. 13. 5. …16. 21. 2. Chr. 22. 3, 4.
Consent and approbation, Rom. 1. 32 whether it bee
Ouert and expressed, and that either in
Word. Act. 8. 1. … 26. 10.
Deed. Act. 7. 58. so receiuers, of theft; bawds, of adultery; partners of the gaine. Pro. 1. 14. Psal. 50. 18.
Couert, as by silence, or dissembling the fault of our brother, when hee ought to be admonished: for as by ill speech thou bringest thy brother into sinne, so by ill silence thou leauest him in sinne, or sufferest sinne to rest vponupon him, Leuit. 19. 17. Qui tacet, consentire videtur.
Euill example, occasioning another to fall: this is called a scandall, Ro. 14. 13. and it is either a scandall
In it selfe as that which is euill in it selfe, and is therefore an offence giuen, though it be not taken: as any sinne committed in the sight or notice of another.
By accident, when the thing, which in it selfe is indifferent, is so vsed, as that the weake brother is offended thereby: that is, when he is by thine example animated to do that, which in his owne conscience he doth cō demne. Ro. 14. 20, 22. 1. Cor. 8. 9, 10.
Accompanying, or following after the offence, as ye
Excusing
Defending
Cōmending
of it. Esa. 5. 20. Prou. 24. 24.
Peculiar to Superiours, as to
Command that which is euill & vnlawful, either
Publikely, by wicked laws & edicts. Esa. 10. 1. Dan. 3. 4, 5. 6
Priuately. 1. Sam. 22. 18. 19. 2. Sā. 12. 9. & 2. Sā. 11. 15, 17
Winke at euiil, which by their authority they might redresse. Ro. 13. 4. Mar. 15. 15. 2. Kin. 12. 3
The Law is diuided into two Tables, the
One, commanding the louelove of God, or the duties of Piety towards God. Mat. 22. 37, 38.
Other, cōmanding the louelove of our neighbour, or the duties of charity and righteousnesse towards our neighbour, Mat. 22. 39.
The Commandements of the first Table, prescribing the worship of God, or Piety, teach
Who is to bee worshipped: viz. that Iehouah alone is to bee had and worshipped as God. Praec. 1.
How, both in
His solemne worship: viz. by such means, and after such a manner as he hath prescribed. Praec. 2
The whole course of our liues, viz. by sanctifying & glorifying his name. Praec. 3.
When especially God is to bee worshipped, viz. on the Sabbath, which is to be sanctified, and consecrated to the worship and seruice of God. Praec. 4.