Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 1 – Part 4
The Preface or entrance.
Quest. WHat is the Law of God?
Ans. A Doctrine giuen of God,Exod. 20.1. Deut. 5.5. Rom. 2.15. Exod. 32.15.1… Iohn 1.17. Rom. 7.7.12. first written in the hearts of men, and afterwards in Tables of Stone, in the dayes of Moses, commanding honest and iust things to be done, and forbidding the contrary.
Quest. How is the Law of God giuen by Moses, distinguished?
Ans. Thus, into Morall, Ceremoniall, and Iudiciall.Deut. 6.1.
Quest. What is the Morall Law?1 Iohn 2.7. Luke 16.17. Luke 10.27. Rom. 10 5.
Ans. The eternall law of God, commanding perfect obedience to the will of God reuealed, aswell in mans nature as in his actions, and forbidding the contrary.
Quest. How is the Morall Law eternall?
Ans. Thus, it abideth for euer in this world and in the world to come, not in the manner of commanding (Thou shalt not Kill,Mar. 6.18. 1 Cor. 13.8. or Lust, or the like;) but for the matter of it which is holinesse, louelove of God, and obedience to his will.
Quest. What is the Ceremoniall Law?
Ans. It is that Law that God gaue to the Iewes by the hand of Moses, concerning their solemne Customes, Rites and Ceremonies about the manner of the outward worship of God.Ephes. 2.15. Deut. 6.1.
Quest. How were the Ceremonies appointed by that Law, distinguished?
Ans. Thus, some of them were Historicall shewing some mercy of God vouchsafed to his people,Deut. 6.24. Heb. 10.1.2.3.4.5. &c. Leuit 16.27. and Heb. 13.11 12. compared together. Coloss. 2.17. Heb 9.1.2.3.4. &c. to 12. or for the remembrance of some other thing: And some of them were typicall, that is, types and figures of Christ, and of things to be fulfilled by him.
Quest. How long was the Ceremoniall Law to continue?
Ans. In the full force and necessary vse of it, till the death and ascension of Christ, and no longer.
Quest. What is the Iudiciall Law?
Answ. It is that Law, that God gaue to the Iewes by the hand of Moses, concerning the order and ciuill gouernement of the Common wealth of Israel.Deut. 6.1.
Quest. Is that Law still in force or no?
Ans. So farre forth as it did concerne the particular state and condition of the Iewes Common wealth, and the circumstances thereof,Luk. 16.16. it is not in force. The Law (that is, both the Ceremoniall and Iudiciall) and the Prophets endured vntill Iohn. But as it hath in it common equitie, as beeing agreeable to the lawe of Nature, and seruing directly to confirme any of the tenne Commandements, or to vphold the good of the Familie, Church, or Common-wealth, it is still in force, for so farre forth it is Morall, and binds the Conscience as the morall doth.
Quest. What are the other generall things to bee considered, before we come to speake of the Commandements seuerally?
Ans. These three;
The Preface to the Commandements.
The deuision of them.
And some generall rules that are to be obserued in expounding of them.
Quest. What is the Preface to the Commandements?
Ans. It is set downe Exod. 20.2. I am the Lord thy God, which hauehave brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the House of bondage.
Quest. What is the purpose of God in that Preface?
Answ. Both to shew that he hath authority to giuegive a Law to his people, and to require their obedience to it, and also that in, and by that Law he wisheth them speciall good: and to this end he vseth three speciall reasons.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. The first is taken from the name Iehouah, I am Iehouah, I am the Lord, and therefore I hauehave power and authoritie to command.
Quest. What signifieth the name Iehouah?
Ans. Three things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. That the Lord hath his eternall beeing of himselfe. Exod. 3.14. Reuel. 1.8.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. That the Lord is he,Iohn 44.24. Rom. 11.36 Heb. 1.3. by whom all other things that are, hauehave their beeing and are sustained.
Quest: What is the third.
Ans: That all the Lords promises and threatnings shall come to passe, and that what he saith he will certainely make it good.Exod. 6.3. I appeared vntounto Abraham to Izack and to Iacob by the name of Almightie God, but by my name Jehouah was I not knowne vntounto them, because he did not performe his promises to him but to his Children. Exod: 7.5.
Quest: What is the second reason vsed in this preface?
Ans: The second reason is from the couenant of grace, whereby the Lord assureth his people that he is their God, and that he will forgiue them their sinnes, and will giuegive them all good things needful for their soules and bodyes. (I am the Lord thy God, Ierem. 32.38.) which are the very words of the couenant of grace.
Quest: What is the third reason vsed in this preface?
Ans: The third is taken from gods mercy, in the wonderfull deliuerance of his people, the Isralites, out of Egipt, and house of cruell bondage, and seruitude: which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Quest: How doth that deliuerance from Egypt concerne vsus?
Ans: That temporall benefit in times past bestowed on Israel, was a type or figure of the deliuerance of the Church of God, from all euills and enemies both bodily, and spirituall: and especially of the spirituall deliuerance of the church of God from the miserable thraldome of sinne, Satan, death,Iere. 16 14.15. Luk. 1.71.72. and Hell. The lesse deliuerance, was but a shadowe of the greater, and vnderunder the name of Israel all the faithfull are spoken to, as the Apostle witnesseth Gal. 3.7.Galat. 3.7. So much of the preface.
Quest: How are the commandements deuided?
Exod. 34 28. Deut. 4 13.Ans: Two wayes. First, into ten commandements, or ten words. Secondly; into Two Tables. The first contayning our duty to God,Exod. 31.18. Deut. 9.10. Mat. 22.36.37. in the foure first commandements. And the second, our dutie to our neighbour, in the other six commandements. Christ being asked which is the great commandement; He answereth, thou shalt louelove the Lord thy God with all thine heart,Mat. 22.38.39.40. with all thy soule, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the great commandement. And the second is like vntounto this: thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy selfe, On these two commandements, hangeth the whole Law and the prophets.
Quest: Why is our duty towards god first prescribed, and then our duty towards our neighbour?
Ans: For two reasons.
First, because our dutie towards God is greater, and more exc…llen…, then our duty towards our neighbour; according to the Apostles rule.Act. 4.19. It is better to obey God then men: and therefore Christ calls the comandements of the first table, the g…eat commandement.
Mat. 22.38.Secōdly, to teach vsus that no ciuill duties, as of iustice, chastity sobriety, and such like, are pleasing to God, if they proceede not from an heart setled aright in the true worshipp & feare of god:1 Tim. 1.5. the end of the commandement is louelove, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith vnfained.
Quest: How may we proue that there be foure commandements of the first table, for the Papists make but three, putting the two first into one, and seauen to the second, diuiding the last into two?
Ans: Thus; the first and second commandement differ one from the other, in sence and matter; for one may offend against the first commandement; as they that worship the Sunne, moone, and starres, and yet make no grauen image: & some may offend against the second, and not against the first:2. King. 16.12. Colos. 2.23. as they that worship the true God after a false manner, and, therfore they are two distinct commandements.
Concerning the diuiding of the last commandement afterward. So much of the diuision of the commandements.
Quest. What be the generall rules that are to be obserued, in the expounding of the commandements?
Ans. They are principally fiue.
Quest. What is the first?
Ans: This,Nehe. 8.8. Mat. 15.4.5 we are to make no exposition of any commandement, but agreeable to the scripture.
Quest. What is the second?
Ans. EueryEvery commandement must be vnderstood, as requiring exact and perfect obedience,Mat. 5.22.28.34. Gal. 3.10. both inward and outward, both of soule and body, as Christ expoundeth some of the commandements.
Quest: What is the third?
Ans: This: that where any duty is commanded,Mat. 4.10. 1. Cor. 15.34. Ephes. 4.28. there the contrary sinne is forbidden: and where any sinne is forbidden, there the contrary duty is required.
Quest: What is the fourth?
Ans: This, that vnderunder one maine sinne expressely forbidden, or one maine duty expressely commanded, all other sinnes of that kinde are forbidden,1 Ioh. 3.15. Mat. 5.21.22. and all other duties of the same kinde are commanded.
Quest. What is the fift?
Ans: That with any maine sinne forbidden, or any maine duty commanded,1. Thes. 5.22. Iud. Epist. v. 23. all occasions, meanes, and furtherances hereto are also condemned or required.
Now to the Commandements seuerally, and first a word of the distinction of the foure first Commandements of the first Table.
Quest. How are the Commandements of the first Table distinguished?
Ans. Thus, the first teacheth to hauehave the true God for our God, and the other three teach that holy profession that wee are to make of the same God.
Quest. What are wee to consider in that holy profession of God?
Ans. The parts of it, which are these.
The solemne worship of God prescribed in the second Commandement.
And the glorifying of God in the affaires of this life, which are prescribed in the third Commandement.
And secondly, the time appointed for that holy profession inioyned in the fourth Commandement.
Of these in Order.
Quest. What are the words of the first Commandement?
Answ. Those we finde Exod. 20.3. Thou shalt hauehave none other Gods (or strange Gods) before me.
Quest. What is meant by other Gods, or strange Gods?
1 Sam. 7.3. Phil. 3.19.Answ. Not such as are by nature Gods, or can be Gods, but such as are reputed and taken in the world to be Gods.
Quest. What is meant by these words, before me?
Answ. In my face or presence, that is neither openly nor closely, no not in heart; for wheresoeuer it bee, there is the presence and face of God.Gen. 17.1. Heb. 4.13. God saith to Abraham, walke before me, and be thou vpright, or without hypocrisie.
Quest. What is then the summe of this Commandement?
Answ. This,
That wee are to hauehave the true God for our God, and none other.
This Commandement being negatiue, we will first shew the sinnes forbidden in it.
Quest. What are the sinnes forbidden in this Commandement?
Ans: In Generall these three
First, Atheisme, or deniall of God.
Secondly, all false opinions of God.
Thirdly, confidence in creatures.
Quest: How many sorts of Atheisme be there?
Ans: Two, first,Psal. 14.1. 2. King: 6.33. 2. Kin. 7.2. Malac. 2.17. & 3.14. Ephes. 2.12. when a man doth say or at the least thinke there is no god at all, or denies his Attributes: Secondly, when a man hath a false god in stead of the true God.
Quest: How doth a man come to the first kinde of Atheisme?
Ans: By two steps or degrees.
Quest: What is the first step to that kinde of Atheisme?
Ans: To imagine that God seeth vsus not,Psal. 10.11. Zephan. 1.12. or doth not regard vsus.
Quest: What is the second step to this kind of Atheisme?
Ans. To imagine that God is not so sharpe and so seuere in punishing sinne as the scriptures set him forth to be.Psal. 50.21.22. Eccles. 8.11.
Quest. How many wayes hath a man a false god in stead of the true God?
Ans. Two wayes. First when a man doth place and worship that which is not God, in the roome of the true God; as the heathen did, who worshipped the sunne, moone, starres,Act. 19.27.15. and such like.
Secondly,Philp. 3.19. Colos. 3.5. Iob. 31.24 2. Cor. 4.4. when a man thinkes some other thing besides the true God to be his chiefest good; as the Voluptuous man, his pleasure; the Couetous man, his wealth. Hence the Diuell is called the God of this World; because the men of the World iudge their owne courses wherein they walke, the best thing in the world for them.
So much of Atheisme. Now to the false opinions of God.
Quest. What are the false opinions of God, forbidden in this Commandement?
Ans: They are of two sorts.
First when men thinke they may ioyne others to God and do not acknowledge him alone: and Secondly, when men do not acknowledge God as he is, and as he hath reueiled himselfe in his word.
Quest: How many wayes doe men ioyne others to god and doe not acknowledge him alone?
Ans. Three waies: First, by professing more then one Religion.
Secondly, by praying to others, besides the true God.
Thirdly, by magicke or witch-craft.
Of these in Order.
Quest. How doe men professe more then one Religion?
Answ. When they hault betweene two opinions, and thinke they may worship God, and others also; and may make a mixture of different Religions.
Quest. Where finde we this sinne condemned?
Answ. In these places of Scripture. 2 Kings 17.32.33.41. Zephan. 1 5. Deut. 22.10.11. 1 King. 18.21.
Quest. How doe men pray to others, besides the true God?
Answ. When they call on others, in prayer, besides the true God, and thinke that they are able to heare their prayers, and to helpe them: As the Papists doe on Angels, and Saints.
Quest. How may it appeare that this is a sinne?
Ans. By these reasons:
First, this is to giuegive religious worship to creatures, which belongs only to God. Deut. 6.23. Deut. 10, 20. expounded by our Sauiour Christ. Mat 4.10.
Secondly, this giues infinitenesse to creatures, and knowing of the hearts of men;Ierem. 17.10. Act. 1.24. which things are proper to God alone.
Thirdly, this giues sacrifice to creatures, which is to bee offered to God only.Exod. 22.20. Acts 14.14. Barnabas and Paul rent their cloathes, when the people would hauehave offered Sacrifice vntounto them.
Now I will answer an Obiection or two, that the Papists make out of the Scripture, for their praying to Angels and Saints departed.
Obiection. 1 First, they obiect Gen: 48.16. where Iacob cal'd on an Angell, and the name of his dead Fathers, Abraham and Izhack. Therefore, it is lawfull to pray to the Angels, and Saints d…parted.
Quest: How is this to be answered?
Ans: Thus, First by Angell is meant the Angell of the Couenant. Malac. 3.1.Malac. 3.1. the Sonne of God the second Person in Trinity: so it is expounded Hosea. 12.4.5.Hose. 12.4.5. Jacob (saith he) had power ouer the Angell and preuailed; he wept and prayed vntounto him, hee found him in Bethell: The Angell hee found in Bethell was God.
Secondly, where he saith, let the name of my Fathers Abraham and Izhak… it is a phrase of Scripture signifying thus much; let them be held and accounted, as belonging to the Stocke and Family of my Fathers, and numbred among their Sonnes: the like phrase is, Isai. 4.1.
Obiection. 2 Secondly, they obiect Job. 5.1. To which of the Saints wilt thou turne? Therefore (saith the Papist) it is lawfull to pray to the Saints.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; 1. By Saints, are not meant Saints in Heauen, but on the Earth. 2. That phrase (Turne thee) doth not signifie invocation, but giuegive me oh Job, if thou canst any of the Saints; who if he were pressed with any calamitie, that did not suffer the same for his sinnes. That is the drift of Eliphaz in that place. Now to the third way.
Quest. How doe men ioyne others to God by Magicke or Witch-craft.?
Ans. Two wayes; first, by being Magicians or Witches themselues: Secondly; by seeking to Magicians or Witches, and vsing their h…lpe.
Quest. What is it to be a Magician or a Witch?
Ans. It is either on a secret, or an open compact with the Deuill, wittingly and willingly to cons…nt to vse his helpe for the working of wonders: Psal. 58.5. Deut. 18.11.
Quest. How many waies doe Magicians or Witches, vse the helpe of the Deuill?
Answ. Three wayes.
First, by superstitious diuination; taking on them, by the helpe of the Deuill,Deut. 18.10. Leuit. 20.27. to reueale secrets by the flying of Foules, and the intralls of Beasts, and the like.
Secondly, by iugling; …aking on them,Exod. 7.11.12.22. by the helpe of the Deuill, to worke wonders beyond the order of Nature.
Thirdly, by charming or inchaunting, taking on them, by the helpe of the Deuill, in the vse of certaine words or ceremonies; to procure present hurt or present helpe; as by the name Iesus, Act. 19 13.by the signe of the Crosse, by Salt, and such like.
Quest. Where find we this sinne of Witchcraft forbidden?
Answ. In these places of Scripture: Exod. 22.18. Deut. 18.10. Galat. 5.20. A worke of the flesh: Reuel. 21.8. Reuel 22.15.
Quest. What is it to vse the helpe of Magicians or Witches?
Answ. To consult and aduise with them, with a perswasion, that they are abl… to doe the things, wee desire, and seeke for, at their hands.
Quest. How may this appeare to be a sinne?
Answ. By these reasons:
2. King. 1.3.16. Isai. 8.19. Leuit. 20.6.First, this is a going from God, and a seeking to the Deuill.
Secondly, this the Lord forbids, and threatens to punish seuerely.
Thirdly, if a man truly repent, hee will abhorre this curious Art. Acts 19.19.