Exposition of the Ten Commandments, Commandment 2
The ſecond Commandement. The Negatiue part.
The ſecond Commandement containes,
1 A precept or commandement.
2 A confirmation of the commandement by arguments perſwading to the obedience of it.
The precept or commandement forbids all manner of Idolatrie, vnderunder which is forbidden,Ezech. 14.3.4.7. Deut. 27.15. 1 Ioh. 5.21. Exod. 23.24. Deut. 7.25. Deut. 12.3.
1 Inward Idolatrie of the heart, which is when men miſconceiuing God, do worſhip him according to that miſconceit.
2 Outward Idolatry of the hand, which is when men make an image or ſimilitude, and erect and ſet it vp for religious vſe. And that is done two wayes,
1 By making and erecting an image repreſenting either ſome fayned god, Deut. 4.15.16 Iſay 40.18.25 Act. 17.29. Rom. 1.23. Hoze. 13.2. Deut. 7.25.26 1 King. 18.19. 1 Cor. 6.20. Deut. 7.2.3. Ezra. 9.2.12.14. 2 Chron. 19.2. Pſal. 106.35.36. Mal. 2.11. 2 Cor. 6.14.15.16.or that which is not God.
2 By making and erecting an image of the true God and of Chriſt to worſhip it.
3 Approbation of Idolatrie by preſence, ſpeech, geſture, ſilence, &c.
4 All vnneceſſarie dealing or familiaritie with Idolaters.
2 Contempt of the outward worſhip of God, which is
1 Inward, when men in their hearts contemne the holy ordinances of God, Ezech. 22.8. Mat. 22.5. Luke 14.18.19.20. Mal. 3.14. Iob. 2.15. 1 Cor. 1.18.21and the duties and parts of his worſhip, and think baſely of them; which brings forth either,
1 Neglect of them altogether.
2 Or intermiſſion of the duties of Gods worſhip.2 Chron. 30.5
3 Or an hypocriticall coming vntounto them, Iſai. 29.13.and a formall performance of them.
2 Outward, Num. 11.2.6. Act. 17.18.when men openly manifeſt their contempt of the holy ordinances of God, and the duties and parts of his worſhip, either by word or deed, and that
1 Either in part contemning the Preaching of the word, &c.2 Theſ. 5.20. 2 Chro. 30.10
2 Or in wholl, Pſal. 14.4. Heb. 12.16. Compared with Gen. 25.34.contemning all the holy ordinances of God, and all the holy duties of his worſhip, which is properly called Prophaneneſſe.
3 All humane deuiſes, Mark. 7.3.4.or ſuperſtition in the worſhip of God, (that is) ſuch things in the worſhip of God, as are inuented by men; and are contrarie vntounto the rule of Gods word; and ſuch things men do deuiſe two waies,
1 By adding ſomething to the eſſentiall worſhip of God: and things added are,
1 Either, things meerely deuiſed by men, hauing no warrant at all in the word of God.
2 Or things in themſelues indifferent, Mar. 7.3.4.made neceſſary parts of Gods eſſentiall worſhip.
2 By detracting ſomething from the worſhip of God, contrary to Gods word.
And humane deuiſes are
1 Either ſuch as men take vp of themſelues vponupon a bare and naked good intent, 1 Sam. 13.9.10 13.thinking that thereby they worſhip God, Coloſſ. 2. vlt.which is properly called wilwor-ſhip.
2 Or they are ſuch as hauehave bene deuiſed by others, Ezech. 20.18. Mat. 15.2. Mar. 7.3.and receiued from them, properly called traditions of the Elders.
The affirmatiue part of the ſecond Commandement.
It requires that the true God be worſhipped with ſpiritual worſhip, Exod. 25.9. Deut. 12.32. Iſa. 1.12. Ioh. 4.23.24. Iſai. 1.13.14.15. Iſai. 66.3.or after a ſpirituall manner. And that
1 Standing in two things
1 In worſhipping God in ſuch things as are agreable to his will.
2 In worſhipping God in things and duties commanded of God, in ſuch manner as is agreeable to the nature of God, in ſpirit and truth.Iohn 4.22. Micha. 6.6.7.8
2 Grounded on true and ſound knowledge of the expreſſe will of God, Mat. 15 9. Eccleſ. 4.17.teaching all the parts of his worſhip, and the manner of the performance of them.
3 Is to be expreſſed in the exerciſe and performance of thoſe things that concerne the holy and ſolemne ſeruice of God, (namely) the true and ordinarie meanes of holineſſe, and the parts of Gods worſhip; which are eſpecially
1 Prayer, 1. Sam. 1.15. Pſal. 42.4. Iſai. 37.4. Lam. 3.41. 1. Cor. 2.4. 1. Cor. 14.24.25. Act. 26.2.5.publike and priuate, ſtanding in petition, and thankeſgiuing.
2 The Miniſterie of the word of God. 1. Cor. 11.23. 1. Pet. 4.11.
3 The Sacraments. 1 Cor. 10.16
4 Is expreſſed in the vſing of the ordinarie meanes of holineſſe, and the parts of Gods worſhip, after an holy maner.1. Tim. 4.8. Rom. 14.17.
5 Is helped forward and furthered by ſuch things as do binde, and ſtirre vp men to the performance of holy duties; which things are
1 Speciall vowes.
2 Religious faſting.
The confirmation of the Commandement by Arguments perſwading to the obedience of it, taken
1 Partly from the nature of God, in two Attributes; as that he is
1 Strong (that is) able to puniſh the diſobedient, Nahum. 1.3.4.5.6. Apocal. 18.8 Dan. 3.17. Dan. 6.20.21.22. Rom. 8.31. Hoze. 10.19.20. Ierem. 2.2. Ierem 3 1.2.6.7. Ezech 16.15.16.17. &c.and to maintaine & defend all ſuch as truly worſhip him againſt all that oppoſe them.
2 Iealous (that is) louing his Church with exceeding great and ſuperabundant holy louelove, being exceedingly offended for Idolatrie, and executing his wrath moſt ſharply vponupon Idolaters.
2 Partly, from the effects of his,
1 Anger, Exod. 20.5.viſiting the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon the children, vppon the third generation and vponupon the fourth of them that hate me, (that is) taking notice of iniquitie, and puniſhing the iniquitie of the fathers vponupon their children going on in their ſinnes, to the third and fourth generation.
2 LoueLove, Exod. 20.6.ſhewing mercy vntounto thouſands, to them that louelove me & keep my commandements, (that is) doing good to many generations of the faithful ſucceſſiuely, going on in the ſteps of their godly parents, and obeying God as they did.