The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV. Of the Second Commandement.
Qu. 1. WHat are the words of the second Commandement?
A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the Water under the Earth: Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them. For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me, and she wing Mercy to thousands of them that Love me and keep my Commandements.
Q. 2. How prove you against the Papists, that this is not part of the first Commandement?
A. 1. By the matter which is different from it. 2. And by the Scripture which saith, There were Ten, and without this there is but Nine. 3. And by historical Tradition; which we can prove that the Papists falsifie.
Q. 3. What is the true Meaning of the Second Commandement? and wherein doth it differ from the …rst?
A. The first Commandement bindeth us to give God his own, or his due as God, both in heart and life, and to give it to no other. The second commandeth men to keep so wide a difference between God and Heathen Idols, as not to worship him as the Heathens do their Idols, nor yet to seem by their bodily action to worship an Idol, though they despise it in their Thoughts, and pretend to keep their hearts to God. Corporal and outward and seeming Idolatry is here forbidden. For though a man renounce in Heart all other Gods, yet if he be seen to bow down before an Image, …. He seemeth to the▪ beholder to mean as Idolaters do, while he symbolizeth with them. And as Lying and Perjury with the Tongue is sin, though a mans inward thoughts do own the truth, so bowing as Worshippers do before an Image, is Bodily Idolatry, though the mind renounce all Idols: And God is the God of the Body as well as of the Soul: And God would not have others encouraged to Idolatry by so scandalous an Example. 2. And if it be the true God that such profess to worship, it is interpretative Blasphemy; As if they told men, that God is like to that Creature whose Image they make. So that …andal and Bodily Idolatry and Blasphemy are the things directly forbidden in this Commandement, as the real choosing and Worshipping a false God is in the first.aDeu. 4. 16, 17. Lev. 26. 1, 2. Deu. 16▪ 22. Dan. 3. Deu. 7. 5. Isa 40. 18, 25. &… 46. 5.
Q. 4. By this it seems that scandal is a hainou… sin?
A. Scandal is enticing, tempting or encouraging others to sin, by doing or saying that which is like to be abused by them to such an effect: or laying a Stumbling-block in the way of blind or careless Souls. If they will make our necessary duty the occasion of sin, we may not therefore omit our duty, if indeed it be an in indispensable duty at that time: But if it be no duty, yea or if it be only a duty in other Seasons and Circumstances, it is a hainous sin to give such Scandal to another, much more to Multitudes or publick Societies.
Q. 5. Wherein lyeth the evil of it?
A. 1. It is a countenancing and furthering sin. 2. It is uncharitableness and cruelty to mens Souls. 3. And therefore it is the Devils work.bMat. 18. 6, 7. 8, 9, &c. & 13. 41. 1 Cor. …. 13. Lev. 19. 14. Ezek. 14. 3, 4, 7. Ro. 14. …3. Rev. 2. 14.
Q. 6. But if our Rulers command us to do a thing indifferent, which others will turn to an occasion of sin and damnation, must we disobey our lawful Governours to prevent mens sin and fall?
A. If the thing in its own nature tended to so great and necessary good as would weigh down the contrary evil to the scandalized, we must do our duty and labour to help them some other way. But supposing it either Indifferent or of so small benefit as will not preponderate against the sin and …anger of the scandalized, we are Soul-murderers if we do not forbear it. For 1. God hath given no Rulers power to Destruction of Souls, but to Edi…cation; no power to command us that which is …o contrary to the indispensible duty of Love or Charity. If an Apothecary, or Physician, or King command his Servant to sell Arsnick to all that will buy it without exception, the servant may not lawfully sell it to such as he knoweth mean to Poyson themselves or others by it. If the Commander be a sober man, the servant ought to suppose that he intended such exceptions though he exprest them not. But if he exprest the contrary, he commanded contrary to Gods command, without authority, and is not to be obeyed. 2. God himself dispenseth with his own Commands about Rituals or smaller matters, when greater good or hurt stands on the other side. The Disciples did justly pluck and rub the Ears of Corn, and the Priests in the Temple break the rest of the Sabbath, and an Ox or Ass was to be watered o… pull'd out of a pit on that day: If the King o… Priest had made a Law to the contrary, it had been null: If Gods Laws bind not in such cases, man… cannot. God bids us preach and pray, &c. and yet to quench a Fire, or save mens Lives, we may and must at that time forbear Preaching, or Sacraments, or other publick Worship.cRom. 14. 15, 17, 20. 2 Cor. 10. 8. & 1… 10.
Q. 7. But what if as many will be scandalized or tempted to sin on the other side if I do it not?
A. No duty being a duty at all times, much less a thing indifferent though commanded, ever… Christian must prudently use the Scales, and by a… the helps of wise men that he can get, must discern which way is like to do most good or hur… considering the persons, for number, for quality and probability of the effect. God binds us to Charity and Mercy, and no man can disoblige us from that. And he that sincerely desireth to do the greatest good, and avoid the greatest hurt, and useth the best means he can to know it, shall be accepted of God though men condemn him.d1 Cor. 10. 33. & 6. 12, 13. & 9. 22. & …. 26.
Q. 8. But is nothing here forbidden but symbolizing with Idolaters, in seeming to mean as they by doing as they?
A. That's it that is directly forbidden. But by consequence it is implyed, that all Doctrines are forbidden that falsely represent God, and all Worship …or acts pretended to be Religious, which are un…itable to Gods holy Nature, Attributes, Will or Word; as being prophanation, and an offering to God that which is unclean.ePs. 50. 21, 22, 23.
Q. 9. What is the Command which is here im…lyed?
A. That we keep our Souls chast from all outward and seeming Idolatry; and that we worship …im who is the Infinite, Almighty, Holy Spirit, with Reverence, Holiness, in Spirit and Truth; according to his Blessed perfect Nature, and his holy Will and Word.f1 Ioh. 5. …. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Cor. 8. 10, 11. & 10. 19, …, 27, 28. Rev. 2. 14, 20. Isa. 2. 18.
Q. 10. Hath God given us a Law for all things … his Worship?
A. The Law of Nature is Gods Law, and ob…geth man to that devotion to God and worship …f him which is called Natural. And the sacred duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page Scripture prescribeth both that and also all those positive means or Ordinances of Gods Worship which are made necessary to the universal Church on Earth: And as for the meer Accidents of worship (which are no proper parts) as Time, Place, Words, Methods, Gesture, Vesture, &c. Gods Laws give us gèneral Precepts, only telling us how to order them, leaving it to humane Prudence and Church Guides to order them according to those general Rules.
Q. 11. Is àll use of Images unlawful?
A. God did so much hate Idolatry, and the Neighbourhood of the Idolaters made it so dangerous to the Israelites, that he did not only forbid the Worshipping of Images, but all such making or using of them as might become a snar… or temptation to any. So that though it be lawful to make Images for Civil uses, and when they are made, to fetch holy Thoughts or Meditation… from them, as from all other Creatures, or thing… in the World; yet in any case when they becom… a snare or danger (being not necessary things … they become a sin, to those that so use them as snare to others or themselves.gEx. 34. 13, 14, 15. Num. 33. 52. Deu. 7. 2 Kin. 11. 18. & 23. 14, 24.
Q. 12. Is it lawful to make any Picture of God?
A. No: for Pictures are the signs of Corporeal things, and it is Blasphemy to think God lik… a bodily Substance: But it is Lawful to make suc… Pictures (as of a Glorious Light) from which o… casion may be taken of good thoughts concerni… God.hEx. 25. 18, 1… 20. 1 Sam. 4. 4. Ps. 18. 1. Ezek. 10. 2.
Q. 13. Is it lawful to make the Picture of Christ as Man, or as Crucified.
A. The doing it as such is not forbidden, nor the right use of it when done: But the abuse, i. e. the worshipping of it or of Christ by it, is forbidden, and the making or using such, when it tendeth to such abuse, and hath more of snare than profit.
Q. 14. Why is Gods Iealousie here mentioned?
A. To make us know that God doth so strictly require the great duty of worshipping him as the true God, and hate the sin of Idolatry or giving his Glory to another, or blaspheming him as if he were like to painted things, that he would have us accordingly affected.
Q. 15. Why doth God threaten to visit the iniquities of the Fathers on the Children in this Command rather than in the rest?
A. God hath Blessings and Curses for Societies as well as for individual persons; And societies are constituted and known by the Symbols of publick profession. And as Gods publick Worship is the Symbol of his Church which he will bless, so Idolatrous Worship is the Symbol of the societies which he will Curse and Punish. And it was Specially needful that the Israelites should know this, who could never else have been excused from the guilt of Murdering Man, Woman and Child of all the Nations which they conquered, had not God taken it on himself as judging …hem to death for their Idolatry and other Crimes, …nd making the Israelites his Executioners.iIer. 10. 25. Deu. 2. 34. & 3. 6. & 4. 26. Num. 33. 50, 51, 52. Deu. 7. 2, 23, 24. & 12. 2, 3. … 20. 17, 20.
Q. 16. But doth not God disclaim punishing the Children for the Fathers sins, and say the Soul that sinneth shall die?
A. Yes; when the Children are either wholly innocent of that sin, or else are pardoned through Christ upon their true repentance, and hating and renouncing their Fathers sins. But not else.
Q. 17. Are any Children guilty of their Parents sins?
A. Yes, all Children are guilty of the sins which their Parents Committed before their birth, while they were in their loins. Not with the same degree and sort of Guilt as the Parents are; but yet with so much as exposeth them to just penalties.
Q. 18. How prove you that?
A. First by the Nature of the Case: For though we were not Personally existent in them when they sinned, we were seminally existent in them, which is more than Causally or Virtually: And it was tha… semen which was guilty in them, that was after made a person, and so that person must have the same guilt… 2. From the whole History of the Scripture, which tells us of the Children of Cain, the old World, Sodo… Cham, the Canaanites, Saul, David (as an Adulterer,) Achan, Gehazi, and others punished for thei… Parents sins: And the Jews cast off and Cursed o… that account to this day. 3. And our common Original sin from Adam proveth it.
Q. 19. But our Original sin from Adam had an… ther cause; God decreeing that Adam should stan… or fall for all his posterity?
A. We must not adde to Gods Word, much le… blaspheme him, as if it were God himself that b… a Decree or Covenant made all the world sinne… save Adam and Eve. If Adam had not sinned, it would not have saved all or any of his Posterity, unless they also had continued innocent themselves. Nor did God make any promise to continue and keep innocent all Adams posterity, in case he sinned not. We sinned in Adam because we were seminally in him; and so are our Children in us: And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean, if it was essentially in it?
Q. 20. If we are guilty of all neerer parents sin, will not our guilt increase to the end of the World, and the last man have the greatest guilt?kOn this I have written a peculiar Treatise of Original sin.
A. No: because all guilt from Adam, and from our nearer parents too, is pardoned by Christ, when we are baptized as sincere Believers or their seed: But it's true that we are so far more guilty as to have the more need of a Saviours grace. 2. And Guilt is considerable either as more obligations to the same punishment, or as obligation to more or greater punishment. It's true, that impenitent persons who are the seed of a line of wicked Ancestors, have more obligations to the same punishment; but not obligation to greater punishment: because as great as they were capable of was due before.
Q. 21. But many say that for nearer parents sins no punishments but temporal are due?
A. 1. If any at all are due, it proveth an answerable guilt: 2. To say that Adams sin deserveth our spiritual and eternal punishment, and all other Parents sin only temporal, is to speak without and against Scripture and the Nature of the Case? The Case of the seed of the old World, the Sodomites, the Canaanites and the present Heathens, speaks much more. 3. It's clear that nearer Parents sin is a cause that many of their Posterity are more sinful (in Lust, Pride, Fornication, Heresie, Ignorance) than others: And Sin (as well as Grace) hath a tendency to perpetuity, if not cured and remitted.
Q. 22. Why doth God name only the third and fourth Generation?
A. To shew us, that though he will punish the sins of his Enemies on their Posterity who imitate their Parents, yet he sets such bounds to the Execution of his Justice, as that sinners shall not want encouragement to repent and hope for Mercy.
Q. 23. Who be they that be called here Haters of God?
A. All that have a predominant hatred to his Servants, his Service and his holy Laws. But the Text specially meaneth those Societies of Infidels, Heathens, and Malignants, who are the professed enemies of his Church and Worship. As I said before, The outward symbols of Idolatry were the Professing signs by which his Churches Enemies were openly noted in the World; as Baptism and the Lords Supper were the Badges of his Church and Servants.lDe…. 32. 41. Psal. 81. 15. Rom. 1. 30. Luk. 19. 27.
Q. 24. What is the meaning and extent of the promise of Mercy to thousands of them that Love him and keep his Commandements?
A. 1. As to the Subject it must be noted, that such a Belief in God as causeth men to Love him and keep his Commandements, is the qualification of them that have the promise of Gods saving Mercy: Faith working by Love and Obedience.
2. The words signifie Gods wonderful Mercy and his delight to do good to those that are qualified to receive it.
3. And they signifie, that God will not only love and bless a Godly Offspring for their own sake, but also for the sake of their godly Ancestors, and while they succeed them in true Piety, God will increase his Blessings on them.
4. And though those forfeit all, that prove ungodly when they come to age, yet the Insant-seed of the Faithful, while such, are in Covenant with God, on the account of their relation to those godly Parents who dedicate themselves and theirs to him.
Q. 25. How doth God perform this Promise, when many godly Parents have wicked and miserable Children?
A. This Promise doth not say that God will keep all the Children of the faithful from sinning against him, and casting away his Mercy and Salvation: But if men be sincerely Godly, and dedicate themselves and their Children to God, and enter them into his Covenant, and perform their own part promised by them, God will accept them into his Family, and pardon their Original Sin, and give them the necessary helps for their personal Faith and Obedience when they come to the use of Reason: mProv. 20. 7. Psal. 37. 28. 26. Mat. 19. …3, 14. Act. 2. 39. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Isa. 45. 25. & …5 23. Mal. 2. 15. Ro. 4. 16. & 9. 8.And if the Children keep their Covenant according to …heir capacity, and do not violate it and reject his Grace, God will accept and save them as actual obedient Believers.
Q. 26. Will he not do so also by the Children of Unbelievers?
A. If such at age see their Parents sin and forsake it, and devote themselves to God, he will accept them. But as Infidels and wicked Hypocrites have no Promise of Gods acceptance of them and theirs, so such do not dedicate themselves and their Children to God: He that will devote his Child to God, must do it as it were a part of himself; and cannot do it sincerely if he first devote not himself to God.
Q. 27. But may not others do it for his Children?
A. In Infancy they are considered in the Covenant of Grace, but as Infants, that is, Appurtenances to another. As the Infidels Infants they have neither Capacity nor Promise. But if any other adopt them and take them truly as their own, I am in hope that God accepteth such so devoted to him.