Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 14
Now to the Affirmatiue part of this second Commandement.
Quest. What doth the second Commandment require, or cōmand?
Answ. In generall thus much. That the true God be worshipped with spirituall worship, & after a spirituall manner.
Quest. Wherein stands the spirituall worship, or the worshipping of God after a spirituall manner?
Ans. In two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; when men worship God, not by carnall rites,Exod. 25.9. Deut. 12.32. Isai. 1.12. and ceremonies, and humane deuices; but in such things as are agreeable to the will of God reueiled in his word.
Quest. What is the second?
Ans. This;Iohn 4.23, 24. Isai. 1.13, 14, 15. Isai. 66.3. when men worship God in things & duties commanded of God in his word, in such sort & maner as is agreeable to the nature of God, in spirit & in truth, that is, inwardly in their hearts and soules, and truly without hypocrisie.
Quest. What is the ground of spirituall worship, or worshipping of God after a spirituall manner?
Answ. True and sound knowledge of the expresse will of God, touching all the parts of his wo…ship,Iohn 4.22. Micha. 6.6, 7, 8. Math. 15.9. Eccles. 4.17. and touching the manner of the performance of them: It is vaine worship of God, to teach for doctrines mens precepts.
Quest. Wherin is this spiritual worship of God to be expressed?
Ans. In the exercise and performance of those things, that concerne the holy and solemne seruice of God.
Quest. What are those things?
Answ. The true and ordinary meanes of holinesse, and the parts of Gods worship.
Quest. What are the ordinary meanes of holinesse, and the parts of Gods worship?
Answ. These three especially;Acts 2.41, 42. Acts 20.7. Prayer both publike & priuate, standing in petition, and thanksgiuing to God: The Ministery of the word of God: And the Sacraments.
Quest. How is the spirituall worship of God expressed in the vse of these things?
Answ. When these things are not onelyonly vsed, but they are vsed after an holy manner.
Quest. How is prayer vsed after an holy and spirituall manner?
Sam. 1.15. …sal. 42.4. sai. 37.4. amen. 3.41.Answ. Thus; when together with the voyce, lifting vp of the hands and eyes towards heauen, kneeling downe, vncouering the head, and the like gestures of the body vsed, the heart is also lift vp to God with a pure conscience.
Quest. Are not kneeling downe, lifting vp of the hands and eyes towards heauen, vncouering the head, and such like, carnall Rites and Ceremonies.
Ans. No; they are such as are ordained of God; & warranted by the word of God; & they are such as do further the lifting vp of the heart & soul to true piety, & spiritual meditations.
Quest. How is the ministery of the word of God vsed after an holy and spirituall manner?
Answ. Thus; when the word of God is not onelyonly preached and heard outwardly by the body, but inwardly also by the heart and soule; when the heart & soule preacheth, then is the ministery of the word on the Ministers part vsed after an holy and spiritual manner: and when the heart & soule heareth the word of God, then is the ministery of the word on the hearers part, vsed after an holy and spirituall manner.
Quest. When is the word of God preached, not only outwardly by the body, but also inwardly by the heart and soule?
1 Cor. 11.23. 1 Pet. 4.11. Actes 26.25. 1 Cor. 2.4. 1 Cor. 14.24, 25Ans. When the truth of God is deliuered by the Minister of God, as the truth of God, reuerently, soberly, purely, & powerfully in the euidence and demonstration of the spirit of God.
Quest. When is the word of God heard, not onelyonly outwardly by the body, but also inwardly by the heart and soule?
Ans. When together with a silent, diligent & reuerent attending to it, and a listening to it with care, the heart & soule also heares it, and is affected towards it, as it ought to be.
Quest. When doth the heart and soule heare the word of God?
Hebr. 4.2. 1 Thess. 2.13. Isai. 66.2. 2 King 22.19. Iam. 1.21, 22.Answ. When it giues assent to the whole truth of God preached, and beleeues it, whether the thing deliuered be promise, or commandement, or threatning; and receiues it as the word of God with feare and trembling, and with humilitie, and meeknesse, and with subiection to it.
Quest. When is the heart affected to the word of God, preached as it ought to be?
Answ. When it is fixed on it,Psal. 119.72.97. Psal. 119.49.50. Iud. Epist. v. 20. Rom. 15.4. louing it and delighting in it, as a most sure stay and foundation to build on at all times, and for all matters both of direction and comfort. Edifie your selues in your most holy faith, that is, in the word beleeued.
Quest. How are the Sacraments vsed after an holy and spirituall manner?
Answ. On the Ministers part when they are administred, not only by the body, but also by the heart and soule: and on the Hearers part when they are receiued, not only by the body, but also by the heart and soule, in such as be of yeares and discretion.
Quest. When are the Sacraments administred, not only by the body but also by the heart and soule?
Answ. When the Minister in the administration of them, not only vseth aright, such outward elements and actions as are to be vsed, but in sanctifying and setting them apart to their right vse, his heart doth also desire that they may become profitable to the receiuers; to those Sacramentall ends and vses, for which they are ordained. Christ blessed the bread in giuing of thankes, and he brake it,Mat 26.26. 1 Cor. 10.16. and gaue it to the Disciples, and saide, take, eate; this is my body.
Quest. When are the Sacraments receiued, not only by the body but also by the heart and soule?
Answ. When the receiuers not only vse aright, such outward actions as are of them to be vsed in receiuing of them; but doe also rightly and seriously minde and consider the things and actions, vsed in the Sacraments,Acts 8.37.38. 1 Cor. 10.16. 1 Cor. 11.28. and doe in their hearts performe those inward actions, that are signified by their outward actions.
Quest. What are the helpes and furtherances of the true and spirituall worship of God?
Answ. They are such things as doe binde, and stirre vsus vp to the performance of holy duties.
Quest. What are those things that doe binde and stirre vsus vp to the performance of holy duties?
Answ. These two, speciall vowes and Fasting.
Of these a little further seuerally.
Quest. What is a vow?
Answ. A vow is a Religious promise made to God. Iudg. 11.36. touching the doing, or leauing vndone of some thing, or things, that are lawfull and possible.
Quest: Is a vow to be made only to God?
Answ. Yes to God alone, and to no other, and that for these reasons.
1. Because a vow properly consisteth in a purpose of the heart, and God alone knowes the intent and purpose of the heart.
Deut. 23.21. Eccles. 5.3.4.2. Because God alone can punish the breach of a vowe made.
Quest. How many sorts of vowes be there?
Answ. These two; generall, and speciall.
Quest. What is a generall vowe?
Answ. That which is common to all Christians, and concernes them all, as a part of the trueworship of God; namely a promise of all holy obedience, made first in Baptisme, and renewed in the Lords Supper; and further continued, in the spirituall exercise of inuocation and repentance: 1 Pet. 3.21.foreign. it is called stipulation of a good conscience, that is the promise of a good conscience to God.
Quest. What is a speciall vow?
Answ: That which is particular and personall, and concernes only some special persons, vponupon some special occasiōs.
Quest: How is this speciall vow distinguished?
Answ. Thus; It is either such a vow as was in vse amongst the Iewes, and did peculiarly belong to the Church, vnderunder the Old Testament; or it is such a vow, as more peculiarly belongs to the Church vnderunder the New Testament.
Quest. What was that vow, that was in vse amongst the Iewes, and did peculiarly belong to the Church, vnderunder the Old Testament?
Nom. 6.2. Nom 3. from vers. 3 to the end. Leuit. 27. wholAnsw: The vow of some ceremoniall duty, in way of seruice to God freely; made only by such as had speciall occasion so to vow.
Quest. What is that vow that more peculiarly belongs to the Church vnderunder the New testament?
Answ. It is that, whereby a man freely, and of his owne accord, without any particular commandement of God, or some speciall occasion, promiseth to performe some outward worke, or bodily exercise for some good end.
Quest. Is not such a speciall vow, a part of Gods worship?
Ans. No, it is not; but only a helpe, stay, and furtherance of the worship of God: 1 Tim. 4.8. where bodily exercise is opposed to godlinesse; therefore godlines or the worship of God, stands not in them. Rom. 14.17.
Obiection Psal. 76.11. Ʋowe and performe vntounto the Lord your God, all yee that bee round about him: let them bring presents vntounto him that ought to be feared.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
This, say the Papists, is a cōmandement that binds all men, both vnderunder the Old & New Testament: & therefore to make vowes, is a necessary duty, & so a part of the worship of God.
A. That place is properly to be vnderstood of vowing of ceremonial duties, as appeares by the words following; all ye that be round about him; for there in Dauid alludes to the māner of the people vnderunder the Law: againe (he saith) bring presēts vntounto him that ought to be feared, & so it is a Commandement peculiar to the Old Testament, and binding the Iewes only.
Secondly, if that cōmandement be taken generally, as binding all, both Iewes & Christians; then Dauid speakes of vowing of praise & thankesgiuing, or of thankfull obedience to God, as may appeare by the vse of the Word in other places of Scripture: Psal. 50.14. Psal. 56.12. and that is a generall vow, and so it makes nothing for the prouing of spirituall vowes, to be parts of Go…s worsh p.
Obiection. The Papists alleadge Isai. 19.21. where the Prophet speaking of the time of the Gospell saith, the Egyptians shall know the Lord, & shal vow vowes vntounto the Lord; therefore say they, sp…ciall vowes are parts of God worship vnderunder the new Testament.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Ans: Thus; the Prophet in that place, expresseth & signifieth the spirituall worship of the New Testament, by the page missing mance of holy duties?
Answ. It is a religious fasting, that is such a fasting as is ioyned with the exercises of religion; namely prayer, and humiliation.
Quest. What is that religious fasting?
A. It is a free, & voluntary abstayning from al sustenance of the body,Dan. 10.2.3. Ioel 2.16. 1 Cor. 7.5. and from all delights of the sence for a time, for a religious end, and such as is referred to religious ends.
Quest. How many sorts of religious fasting be there?
Answ. Two, Publike, and Priuate.
Quest: What is a publike religious fasting?
Answ. It is such a fasting as is appointed by the Church, and by the ciuill Gouernours and Magistrates, on great waighty,Ioel 1.14. Ioel 2.15. Ionah 3.7.8 2 Chron. 20.3. & publike occasions, & is publikely performed by diuers Families, assembling in one, or in many cōgregations.
Quest. Must there be set times of the yeere, appointed for publike fasting, of necessitie to be obserued?
Answ: No, it is in the libertie of the Church and the Gouernours, to appoint the time of publike fasting, as especiall occasions are offered. Mat. 9.15.Mat. 9.15. they must fast as occasions of mourning are offered.
Obiection Leuit. 16.29. there is a set time of publike fasting appointed by God himselfe.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Ans: That set time of publike fasting, was commanded of God, as a part of the Legall and Ceremoniall worship, which ended in the death of Christ.
Obiection Zach. 7.5. There were set times of publike fasting appointed & obserued; namely the first & the seuenth moneths, therefore there may be now set times apointed for publike fasting.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; These times of publike fasting, were appointed and obserued, on occasion of the Captiuity of the Church in Babylon; as it appeares in the text: and they ceased on the deliuerance of the Church.
Quest. What are the occasions, on which publike fasting is to be appointed?
Answ. They are two.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;1 Sam. 7.6. 2 Chron. 20. Hest. 4.16. Iudg. 20.26. On the euills that either are feared to come on the Church, or are already felt lying on it; as sinne, and the iudgements of God for sinne.
Quest: What is the second occasion?
Answ. This; on the desire of good things,Act. 13.2.3. and blessings spirituall or temporall, that are needful for the Church.
Quest. Are all persons bound to obserue the exercise of publike fasting, being appointed?
Answ. Yes; all are bound to obserue it,Mat. 12.7. 1 Sam. 14.29.30. vnlesse it be those that through weaknesse of vnderstanding, or weakenesse of body, are not able to keepe it: as Children, aged or sickly persons, and such like.
Quest: What is a priuate religious fasting?
Answ: It is such a fasting,Act. 10.30. Mat. 6.17.18. Hest. 4.16. Zach. 12.12. as is taken vp and performed priuately, either solitarily by one man alone, on speciall occasions peculiar to himselfe: Or by a priuate Family on speciall occasions moouing them thereunto.
Quest. What are the occasions, on which men are to vse priuate fasting?
Answ. They are either publike occasions,Ierem. 13.17. Ezech. 9.4. 1 Cor. 7.5. not considered by such as be in authoritie. Or they are priuate occasions, either concerning some particular persons, or a whole Familie.
Quest: Is a religious fast a part of Gods worship?
Answ: No, it is not in it selfe, but only a stay, an helpe,Rom. 14.17. 1 Cor. 8.8. 1 Tim. 4.3. and furtherance to the worship of God; neither in abstaining from meate; the Apostles calleth the commanding to abstaine from meate, as a matter of religion, a doctrine of Deuills.
Obiection. Now the Papists proue religious fasting to be in it selfe, a religious Act, and a part of Gods worship; bringing the examples of Tobie and Judith, but these are Apocryphicall, and the example of Hester.
Hest. 4 16. And they say she pleased God by fasting.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. That she pleased God by fasting aright, we grant; but that proues it not to be a part of Gods worship, for one may please God, not only by the right vse of the parts of Gods worship; but also by the right vse of things indifferent.
Obiect. Example of Anna, Luke 2.37. that she serued God with fastings and prayers, night and day. Here say they the word (foreign) signifies diuine worship,foreign. Luc. 2.37. due to God alone. Therefore fasting is an Act of Religion, and a part of Gods worship.
Quest: How is this to be answered?
Ans: Thus; The meaning of the place is this, that Anna serued, or worshipped God, with earnest and feruent prayers; her seruing or her worshipping of God, stood in her praying to God; and her fasting was added as an helpe to make her praying more feruent: and that this is so, may appeare by the like speech,foreign, Mat. 17.21. Mat. 17.21. Where Christ saith, this kinde goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting (that is) earnest prayer, and continued prayer; hauing humiliation ioyned with it, for fasting is not a proper meanes of casting out Deuills, but prayer ioyned with fasting
Quest. When is a Religious fasting, publike or priuate, rightly obserued?
Answ. When being appointed, or taken vp on iust occasions, it is obserued in a right manner, and to right ends.
Quest. What is the right manner of obseruing a Religious fasting, publike or priuate?
Ezra. 8.21. Nehe. 9.2. Iere. 14.12. Isai. 58.3. to 7. Psal. 69.10. Iudg. 20.26. 2 Sam. 1.12. 2 Sam. 3.5.Answ. This; when, together with abstayning from all sustenance of the body, and all the delights of the sence for a time; there is also an humbling of the soule before God.
Quest. How long is a Religious Fast to continue?
Answ. At the least from Morning, vntill the Euening.
Quest. What are the right ends of Religious fasting?
Answ. Not to merit, nor to satisfie for sinnes, nor thereby to worship God, nor to honour the Saints, as the Papists teach; but there be three other right ends of it.
Quest. What is the first of those ends?
Deut. 32.15. Psal. 109.24. 1 Cor. 9.27.Answ. This; to subdue the rebellion of the flesh, to chastise nature; yet so as nature be not destroyed, nor disabled, for the seruice of God in our callings afterwards.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; to stirre vp deuotion, to make vsus more fit for holy Meditations, and to confirme the attention of our minds in hearing the Word, and in Prayer.Luke 2.37. 1 Cor. 7.6. Hence Fasting and Prayer many times are ioyned together.
Quest. VVhat is the third end?
Answ. To professe our guiltinesse before the Lord, and to testifie our humiliation for our sinnes, Psal. 35.13. Hence in the fast of Niniueh, not onelyonly men,Ionah 5.7, 8. but euen the beasts were forbidden to eate or drinke water.
Hitherto of the Commandement. Now to the Confirmation of it by Arguments perswading to the obedience of it in these words: For I am (Jehouah) the Lord thy God, a iealous God, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children, vponupon the third generation, and vponupon the fourth, of them that hate mee; And shewing mercy vntounto thousands, to them that louelove mee, and keepe my Commandements.
Quest. What are the arguments heere expressed, perswading to the obedience of this Commandement?
Answ. Besides the Argument before in the Preface, the Arguments are partly from the nature of God, and partly from the effects of his Anger and LoueLove.
Quest. What are the arguments that are from the Nature of God?
Answ. They are these two attributes, that he is Strong, and that hee is Iealous: For I am (Iehouah) the Lord thy God a iealous God, or a iealous strong God: for so the word (foreign el) rendred God, signifieth.
Quest. What is the argument from the effect of God anger?
Answ. This; that hee is a God visiting iniquitie, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children vponupon the third generation, and vponupon the fourth of them that hate me.
Quest. What is the argument from the effect of Gods LoueLove?
Answ. This; That hee is a God shewing merciemercy to thousands, Shewing mercy vntounto thousands, to them that louelove and keepe my Commandements.
Of these in Order.
Quest. VVhat is intended, in that God saith, hee is a strong God?
Answ. Two things: First, in that he is able to punish the disobedient,ahu. 1.3, 4, 5, 6 …euel. 18.18. and to execute his wrath and vengeance on such as breake his Commandements.
…an. 5.17. Dan. 20, 21, 22. …om. 8.31.Secondly, that he is able to maintaine, protect, and defend all such as truely worship him against all that oppose them.
Quest. VVhat is intended and meant, in that God saith, Hee is a Iealous God?
Answ. Three things.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This; that God loues his Church, which hee hath taken to be his Spouse,Hose. 2.19, 20. Ierem. 2.2. with exceeding superabundant holy louelove; his Church and the members of it, yeelding to him that constant louelove, feare, reuerence, and worship, that is due to his holy Maiestie.
Quest. VVhat is the second?
Answ. This; that God is exceedingly offended for Idolatry, and cannot by any meanes endure that men should impart themselues to any other besides himselfe, and vnderunder any colour, giuegive the louelove, the feare, the reuerence, and worship that is due to him,Deut. 7.26. to Idols. They are made accursed, like the abomination, that bring Idols, which are abominable and accursed, into their houses. And hence the Lord complaines, that the Israelites committed fornication with idols. Iere. 3.1, 2, 6, 7, &c. Ezec. 16. from ver. 15. to 34.
Quest. What is the third thing?
Answ. This; that as Iealousie makes a man sharply to punish his wife taken in adultery:Prou. 6.34, 35. Ezech. 16.38, 39, 40. so God will powre his vengeance, and execute his wrath most sharply on spirituall adulterers, that is, on Idolaters.
Quest. Iealousie is a fault in men, how then can that agree to the holy Maiestie of God?
Answ. Iealousie is attributed to God, not as a vexation of minde, such as the husband is tormented with, against the wife, or the wife against the husband; but by way of similitude or likenesse, for our vnderstanding; to giuegive vsus to vnderstand, that as a iealous husband cannot endure the lewd and vnfaithfull dealing of his wife: so the Lord cannot abide it, and suffer it, that his feruent louelove should bee abused, and that men should in any measure yeeld that louelove, reuerence, feare, and worship that is due to him, to any other.
Quest. What is meant in that God saith, He is a God, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children to the third and fourth generation?
Answ. This; that hee is a God,Ierem. 5.9. Hose. 4.9. taking notice of iniquitie, and punishing it.
Quest. VVhy doth God say, Hee is a God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children to the third and fourth generation?
Answ. Thereby to set foorth the greatnesse of his anger against Idolatry, in that it reacheth to the punishing of their children to the fourth generation.
Quest. Why is mention made of the third & fourth generation?
Answ. This reason may be giuen of it,Iob 42.16. because men may liue to see their off-spring to the fourth generation.
Quest. How can it stand with the Iustice of God, to punish the iniquity of the fathers on the children; or with that, Iere. 31.30. EueryEvery one shall die for his owne iniquity; and Ezek. 18.4. The soule that sinneth, it shall die; and vers. 20.
Answ. First, as an Husband may iustly put away both his adulterous wife, and her adulterous children:1 King. 14.10. 1 Kin. 21.21, 22 so the Lord may iustly forsake, and punish both wicked Parents, and wicked Children of such Parents, as hee threatens.
Secondly, the Lord punisheth the iniquitie of the Fathers on the Children, if the Children tread in the steps of their Fathers, and doe imitate and followe the euill example of their Fathers, and learne their wayes, and partake with them in their sinnes: therefore he sayth, Hee is a Iealous God, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children of them that hate him,Ezek. 16.47, 5… (that is) of them that continue to hate him. Judah is reprooued for following the sinnes of her Sisters, Samaria, and Sodome, Ezek. 18.10, 11 12, 1….and doing worse then they.
Obiection. If the fathers bee euill, and the children euill, they shall bee punished, not onelyonly to the third and fourth generation, but to the thousand generation.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Ans. It is true, the generation of the wicked shall be punished for euer, so long as they continue euill; but the exemplary sinnes of the fathers are said to bee visited onelyonly, to the third and fourth generation; because so long the impietie of the fathers may be had in remembrance: and so, not only the particular sins of the wicked children are punished, but the exemplary sins of their fathers also concurring with them.
Obiection. If children bee punished, because they doe partake with their fathers in their sinnes, then they beare not their fathers sinnes, but their owne.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; wicked children of vngodly parents are punished, not only for their owne sinnes but for imitating their fathers sinnes also: for the iniquity of the fathers & the children, may concurre together to make one punishment.
Quest. Wherein doth the Lord shew his wrath in punishing the children of idolatrous parents?
Answ. Especially, in taking from them his grace, and the light of his truth; & giuing them vp to blindnes of mind, and hardnesse of heart: and hence it is, that they are fully bent to follow the idolatrous wayes of their parents, & they excuse their Idolatry by the example of their parents. Daniel reproues Belshazzar, Dan. 5.22.that though he knew his fathers pride, and the punishment thereof from the Lord, yet hee had not humbled his heart.
Quest. What is meant by these words, Of them that hate me?
Ans. Thus much; of them that pretend louelove to me, and yet indeeed by their Idolatry, declare their hatred of me.
Quest. Is Idolatry and Superstition hatred of God?
Answ. Yes it is: howsoeuer Idolatrous and superstitious pretend louelove to God, and imagine they louelove God exceedingly in their good intents, and honest meanings; and they care not what they spend and bestow on him, thousands of Rams, and Riuers of Oyle tenne thousands, and their sonnes and daughters, as Micah. 6.7.Micha. 6.7. and spare no paines in whipping themselues; yet all this is but hatred of God
Quest. How may this appeare to be hatred of God?
Answ. Both by the euidence of Scripture, 2 Chro. 19.2. And by reason also; because Idolaters,Ierem. 3.6. Hosea 4.16. and superstitious persons doe those things that are most hatefull to God, and which hee accounts as open rebellion against him.
Obiection. All men by the instinct of nature, delight to hauehave a God according to their owne imaginations, and him they will louelove and honour.
Quest. Can any then be so vile as to hate God?
Answ. Though man doe not by nature hate God,Rom. 1.30. yet hee wants the true louelove of God: and that want of louelove may so increase, as that some may become haters of God.
Quest. Wherein doe men shew hatred of God?
Answ. In two things specially.
First, in doing those things God hates, and forbids.
Secondly, in hating his Ministers, and Seruants,Iohn 7.7. because they testifie against their euill works.
Quest. What is meant by Shewing mercy to thousands, to them that louelove him, and keepe his Commandements?
Ans. Doing good to many generations of the faithfull successiuely; for here a certain number is put for an vncertaine.
Quest. Why doth God say, that he shewes mercy to thousands to them that louelove him, and keepe his commandements, when as before hee speaking of punishment, mentions onelyonly three or foure generations?
Answ. To shew the extent of his mercy,Exod. 34.6, 7. Psalm. 103.8. Lam. 3.32.33. and that hee is more inclining to merciemercy, then to seueritie: because hee bestowes good things, of himselfe; but hee renders euill, being thereunto vrged by the sinnes of men.
Quest. Doth Gods mercy reach to all and eueryevery one that descend of faithfull parents to a thousands generations?
Answ. No,Ezech. 18.10, 11, 12, 13. but onelyonly to such as goe on in the steppes of their godly parents, and obey God as they did: therefore heere it is sayd, To them that louelove mee, and keepe my Commandements.
Quest. What is meant by these words, To them that louelove mee and keepe my Commandements?
Answ. To such as shew their louelove by their obedience, to this, and the rest of my Commandements.
Quest. Doe men then shew louelove to God, in keeping his Commandements?
Answ. Yes, they doe: for true obedience to Gods Commandements,… 14.15, 21. …n 5.3. comes from louelove; and true louelove to God, is testified by obeying his Commandements.
Quest. Why doth God ioyne this promise to this Commandement, which belongs to the keeping of all the Commandements?
Answ. Because the first and second Commandements are the ground and foundation of all the other Commandements.