Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 7
Now to the Affirmatiue part of this Commandement.
Quest: What are the duties commanded in this first Commandement?
Ans: These two:
First, that the minde and heart hauehave a due respect to God. Secondly, that wee hauehave confidence in God, and rest in him alone.
Of these in Order.
Quest: How hath the mind and heart a due respect to God?
Answ. Thus,Isai. 8.13. 1 Chron. 28.9. Ierem. 9.24. Ierem. 24.7. Iohn 17.3. when wee set vp and sanctifie the Lord in our hearts & minds, wee adore & worship him, acknowledging and confessing him to be such a God, as he hath reuealed himselfe to be in his Word, and workes; and looking to him in all our thoughts, words, and workes.
Quest: What is the ground of this acknowledgement and confession?
Psal. 9.10. Hose. 4.1.6. Coloss. 1.10.Answ. This, true knowledge of God, as hee hath made himselfe knowne in his Word; both in his Essence, Persons, Properties, and Workes.
Quest: Wherein is this acknowledgement and confession of God expressed?
Answ: In these three things especially. In Faith, in Hope, and in LoueLove.
Quest. What is that Faith wherein our acknowledgement of God is expressed?
Psal. 73.25. Heb. 11.6.Answ: This, when we beleeue the Trinitie, euen the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost, to be the true and only God; and wee beleeue all the truth of God reuealed in his Word.
Quest: How many sorts of faith be there?
Answ: Foure sorts or kindes.
Quest: What is the first of these?
Heb. 11.6. Heb. 6.1.Answ: This; the Faith of beginnings or fundamentall faith, apprehending the Essence, and Beeing of God.
Quest: What is the second sort?
1 Cor. 13.2.Answ: This; the faith of miracles, apprehending the power of God.
Quest: What is the third sort?
Answ. Historicall faith, apprehending the truth of God, and beleeuing all things to be true,Iam. 2.19. that are written in the Scriptures,
Quest: What is the fourth sort?
Answ. Iustifying faith, particularly apprehending, and applying the mercy of God and the merits of Christ,Gala. 2.16.20. Rom. 3.26. called the faith of the Sonne of God, and the faith of Iesus.
Quest. Are all these sorts of faith commanded in the first Commandement?
Answ. No; only the first, second, and third sorts, and not the fourth.
Quest: How may that appeare?
Answ. By these reasons.
First, the Morall Law requires no more then that; which was imprinted in the heart of man by nature, as the Morall Law was: Rom. 2.14.15. but faith in Christ was not so, that is wrought by Grace aboue Nature. 2 Thess. 3.2. Ephes. 2.8.
Secondly, Faith in Christ is not a Worke of the Law, they are opposed one to the other. Romans 3.28. Rom 4.5.
Quest. What is that hope, wherein our acknowledgement is expressed?
Answ. When we looke vp to God,2 Chro. 20.1…. Isai. 8.17. Psal. 27.14. Psal. 37.7. Rom. 8.24.25. patiently expecting his presence, and assistance in things to come; and wayting on him, for the giuing of eueryevery good thing, that he hath promised in his owne good time.
Quest: What followes on this hope?
Answ. Spirituall fortitude,Psal 27.14. Ephes. 6.10. Isa. 48.1.2.5. or spirituall courage and boldnesse.
Quest: VVherein standeth spirituall fortitude, courage, and boldnesse?
Answ. In three things.
1. In spirituall securitie.
2. In constancie in good things.
3. In patience, in trouble and aduersitie.
Quest. VVhat is it to be spiritually secure?
Answ. This;Psal. 3.5.6. Psal. 55.2. Nehe. 6.11. On the carefull vse of all the good meanes of good; to be certainely assured that God who is able, will of his goodnesse, according to his promise, doe vsus good at all times.
Quest. VVhat is it to be constant in good things?
Answ. This; to continue and to go on in doing good,Iohn 1.6.7. 1 Chro. 28.10.20. Dan. 6.10. Mat. 10.28. Heb. 11.27. Gen. 50.20. 2 Sam. 16.10.11.12. Heb. 12.27 Iam. 5.11. Deut. 6.5. Luke 10.27 Acts 17.…8 Iames 1.17. and not to feare, nor to be discouraged by any opposition, looking to the power and goodnesse of God.
Quest. What is it to be patient in trouble and aduersitie?
Answ. This, willingly and cheerefully to vndergoe the afflictions laid on vsus; looking to the hand of God whence they come and expecting from him in his good time, a good issue out of them.
Quest. What is that louelove wherein our acknowledgement of God is expressed?
Answ. This, when we acknowledge God to be goodnes it selfe, & the giuer of al good things, & because of his goodnes towards vsus, we louelove him aboue all things.
Quest: Wherein is our louelove to God manifested?
Answ. In these things especially:
Malac. 3.16. Psal. 119.55. 2 Tim. 4.8. Psal. 27.4. Psal. 84.1.2.3.4. Psal. 119.97.131 Psal. 16.3. 1 Iohn 5.1. 1 Iohn 2.4.101. First, in often thinking and speaking of God to his glory, and desiring his presence.
2. Secondly, in louing his Word and Ordinances, as Prayer, Preaching of the Word, Sacraments, and such like.
3. Thirdly, in louing his Children and Seruants.
4. Fourthly, in louing his glory, and being zealous for that aboue all things. Exod. 32.12.32. Luk. 14.33. Psal. 66.9.
Iohn 12.21. Iohn 15.14.5. Fiftly, in doing the will of God cheerefully.
Quest. What are the effects of our acknowledgement of God, to be such a God as he hath reuealed himselfe in his Word?
Answ. They are of two sorts.
1. First, such as properly hauehave respect to God.
2. Secondly, such as hauehave more neere respect to our selues.
Quest. What are those effects that properly hauehave respect to God?
Answ. These two.
1. First, an holy submission to the Maiestie of God.
2. Secondly, the feare of God.
Quest. What is that holy submission to the Maiestie of God?
Answ: This; when we submit our selues to the greatnes and Maiestie of God absolutely,Gen. 18.27. Psal. 83.18. Dan. 9.4… and for himselfe; because of his excellency aboue all creatures, and because he is our Creator, and Soueraigne Lord of our bodies and soules, and of all that euer we hauehave.
Quest. What is that feare of God, that is an effect of our acknowledgement of God, to be such a God as he hath reuealed himselfe to be in his Word?
Answ. This; when we stand in awe of Gods Iustice and Power,Isai. 8.13. Leuit. 19.14. Ierem. 10.6.7. …ob. 12.29. in punishing sinne, and so wee make him our only feare and dread.
Quest. What followes on this feare of God?
Answ. Two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; An hatred of sinne,Pro. 8.13. Iob. 31.23. Gen. 20.11. Rom. 3.18. and a carefull auoyding of the offence of God; and a feare to offend him, in any thing whatsoeuer. Iob 31. Iob hauing cleered himselfe, not only of grosse sinnes; but also hauing shewed many good effects, of the graces of Gods Spirit in him, in the performance of good duties, he saith, verse 23. Gods punishment was fearefull vntounto me.
Quest. What is the second thing?
Ans. A care to approue our selues to God in all things.Gen. 5.21. Heb. 12.28.
Quest. How many sorts of Gods feare be there?
Ans. These two.
1. A Child-like feare, a feare of God, as children.
2. A Seruile feare, a feare of God, as Seruants.
Quest. How doe these two differ one from the other?
Ans. In two respects especially.
First, in the beginning and cause,Psal. 130.4. 1 Pet. 1.17. for the child like feare of God, comes from the louelove of God, whom Gods Children feare to offend, because of his goodnesse and mercy.
But Seruile feare ariseth from the consideration of the Iustice, and wrath of God.1 Iohn. 4.11.
Secondly, in respect of the obiect;Gen. 39.9. Rom. 13.5. for child-like feare of God, is set on sinne it selfe, Gods Children fearing sinne principally, because it is sinne and offends God.
But seruile feare, is set on the punishment of sinne, men fearing onelyonly the wrath and vengeance that followes on sinne.
Quest: How may we know that we truely feare God?
Ans: By these two things.
1. First, if wee take notice of his threatnings,Isai. 66.2. Deut. 4.10. Psal. 52.6. and Iudgements against sinne, and tremble at his Word.
2. Secondly, if no reward can allure vsus;Exod. 1.17. Dan. 3.18. nor any punishment man can lay on vsus, can driue vsus to commit sinne.
Quest. What are the effects of our acknowledgement of God, that hauehave more neere respect vntounto our selues?
Answ. These two.
1. First, the deniall of our selues.
2. Secondly, humilitie.
Quest. What is that deniall of our selues?
1 Cor. 3.7. 2 Cor. 3.5. Mat. 16.24. Luk. 9.23.Answ. This, when wee abase our selues euen to nothing, and hold our selues to be as nothing of our selues.
Quest. Wherein is that deniall of our selues expressed?
Answ. In two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Pro. 3.7. 1 Cor. 3.18. Rom. 8.7.Answ: This, an vtter renouncing of our owne Reason, Will, Affections, and all wee hauehave within vsus, as things that of themselues are enmitie to GOD, and all goodnesse.
Quest. What is the second?
Gen. 12.1.4. Gen. 22.1.2.9.10. Heb. 11.8. Deut. 33.9. Mat. 4.20. Luk. 5.11. Acts 20.24.Answ. A submitting of our selues both in our soules and bodies, to Gods Wisedome and Will in all things, though they bee neuer so crosse, and contrary to our willes and desires.
Quest. What is that humility, that is an effect of our acknowledgement of God?
Answ. This; when because of Gods Excellencie and holinesse, and our vilenesse and sinfulnesse, wee acknowledge that wee are not worthy of the least of Gods mercies,Gen. 32.10. 1 Chro. 29.14.15.16. 1 Cor. 4.7. 1 Cor. 1.31. but that the good things we either hauehave, or doe, are the free gifts of his rich grace, and from his free bountie; and wee giuegive to him alone all the praise and glory, of all good things we either hauehave or doe.
Quest. What are the fruits of this humilitie?
Answ. They are foure.
Quest. What is the first of those?
1. Cor. 15.9. 1 Tim. 1.15.Ans. This; it makes men thinke most basely of themselues, in regard of their owne sinnes and corruptions.
Quest. What is the second?
Rom. 12.10. 1. Cor. 4.6. 1 Pet. 5.5. Phil. 2.3.Answ. This; it makes men esteeme better of others then of themselues, hauing the same good giftes that they hauehave, and to giuegive to them that respect and honour that is fitting and due to them.
Qu…st. What is the third?
Answ. This;Phil. 4.11, 12. 1 Cor. 12.7. it makes men content with their particular places, callings, and conditions of life, vsing their gifts therein to the glory of God, and the good of others.
Quest. What is the fourth?
Answ. It makes men not to presume to doe any thing beyond that ability and strength that is giuen them.Psal. 131.1. Rom. 12.3.