The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. The nature of ſins of Omiſſion in general.
Firſt, COncerning the firſt, i. e. the nature of them. I ſhall ſpeak to one more generally, and two more particularly.
1. By the ſeveral diſtinctions of theſe Sins.
2. By their agreement with, and difference from ſins of Omiſſion.
1. More generally, a ſin of Omiſſion is a neglect of ſome Duty commanded us in the Word of God.
In every Command, there is a Precept and a Prohibition. A Precept enjoyning, and a Prohibition forbidding. A Precept enjoyning ſome Duty, and a Prohibition forbidding the contrary. The neglect of doing what the Precept enjoyns, is a ſin of Omiſſion, and the doing what the Precept forbids is a ſin of commiſſion.
The truth is, in every Commiſſion there is an Omiſſion; as in every deadly Diſeaſe ſomewhat of a Feavor. For in every Commiſſion, as in Drunkenneſs, or Oppreſſion, or Uncleanneſs, there is a neglect or omiſſion of the Duty commanded, as Temperance, Charity, and Chaſtity. But thoſe we moſt properly call ſins of Omiſſion, which are extrinſicate from ſins of Commiſſion; as not praying, not reading the Word, not believing, not feeding the hungry, &c. But to ſpeak ſtrictly, there is no ſin but ſins of Omiſſion; for all ſin conſiſts in privation of due rectitude or deficiency, and coming ſhort of the rule. Though the Commands are generally deliver'd by way of negation, partly becauſe of the proneneſs of men to commit thoſe ſins that are forbidden, and God would by his Negative command, curb, and keep them in. Thou ſhalt not, &c. thou ſhalt not, &c. partly becauſe Negative Commands bind more ſtrongly than the Affirmative. The Affirmative obligant ſemper, but not ad ſemper; but the Negative bind ſemper & ad ſemper, as the School-men ſpeak. The Affirmative bind us always, (i. e. there is no time wherein it can be ſaid that they are of no force,) but not to all times. I am always bound to pray, but I am not bound to pray at all times; I am bound always to ſpeak truth, but I am not bound to ſpeak all truth at all times. But Negative Commands bind always, and at all times; as, Thou ſhalt not kill, Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery. Theſe bind every moment of a mans life, I mean every moment of his life theſe ſins are to be forborn; they are at no time lawful: Though, I ſay, the Commands are deliver'd Negative for the moſt part, (viz. eight of them,) yet we muſt underſtand, that all the Negative Commands of God include their Affirmative; as, Thou ſhalt have no other gods before me; this includes, thou ſhalt have me for thy God, thou ſhalt know me, love me, fear me, truſt me, and worſhip me as thy God. And when God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any graven Image, &c. this includes, thou ſhalt Worſhip me according to my Will, revealed in my Word. When God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; this includes, thou ſhalt uſe reverently all my Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinances, Word and Works. VVhen God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not kill; this includes, thou ſhalt uſe all lawful means for the preſervation of thine own and thy Neighbours life. When God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not commit Adultery; this includes, thou ſhalt by all juſt ways maintain thine own and thy Neighbours Chaſtity, in thought, word, and deed. When God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not ſteal; this includes, thou ſhalt be true, faithful, and juſt in all thy Contracts and Dealings with others, reſtore what is ill gotten, be diligent in thy Calling, and endeavour the furtherance of thy own and thy Neighbours eſtate by all juſt ways. When God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not bear falſe witneſs againſt thy Neighbour; this includes, thou ſhalt to thy power promote truth in thy ſelf and others, maintain thine own and thy Neighbours good Name. When God ſaith, Thou ſhalt not covet, &c. this includes, thou ſhall be fully ſatisfied with thine own Condition, and deſire and delight in thy Neighbours proſperity. Thus the Negative Commands of God include their Affirmative, ſo that to depart from the evil forbidden, is not to keep theſe Laws, unleſs alſo we practiſe the Duties commanded. The neglect of any of them is a ſin of Omiſſion.