A Little Cabinet, Section 32
Of the ten Commandments.
THe ten Commandments are divided into two tables, Deut. 4. 13. and 10. 1, 4. Which Chirſt called the two great Commandments, Mat. 22.
The four firſt do contain our duty to God, and the ſix latter, our duty to man.
The firſt commandment is,
Thou ſhalt have no other Gods before me.
This commandment directs us to the choice of the true God, and the entertaining him in all our thoughts, in which there are nine things enjoyned, and three things prohibited or forbidden.
1. Knowledge, Joh. 17. 3.
2. Remembrance, Eccleſ. 12. 1.
3. Love, Deut. 6. 5.
4. Truſt, Prov. 3. 5.
5. Hope, Pſal. 146. 5.
6. Fear, Iſa. 51. 12, 13.
7. Humility, Mich. 6. 8.
8. Patience, Lam. 3. 39.
9. Obedience, 1 John 5. 3.
Things prohibited or forbidden in this firſt commandment.
1. Atheiſm, Heb. 11. 6.
2. Hereſie, Tit. 3. 10, 11.
3. Apoſtacy, Heb. 10. 26.
The ſecond Commandment.
Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any graven Image, nor the likeneſs of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth, thou ſhalt not bow down to them, nor worſhip them, Exod. 20. 4, 5.
This ſecond commandment layes before us the ſolemn worſhip that is to be performed unto God, without images and ceremonies.
This ſecond commandment doth prohibit ſeven things, and enjoyn ſix things; four ordinary, two extraordinary.
The things prohibited or forbidden are theſe ſeven.
1. Idolatry, Pſal. 97. 7.
2. Will-worſhip, Col. 2. 23.
3. Superſtition, Act. 17. 22▪
4. Traditions, Col. 2. 8.
5. Schiſm, 1 Cor. 11. 18.
6. Witch-craft, Exod. 22. 18.
7. Confuſion, 1 Cor. 11. 21.
Things commanded and enjoyned in this ſecond commandment, are, firſt ordinary, ſecondly extraordinary.
Firſt ordinary, Extraordinary
1. Prayer, 1 Theſ. 5. 17.
2. Preaching, Mal. 2. 7.
3. Seals or Sacraments.
4. Diſcipline, Mat. 18. 17.
5. Faſting, Lev. 23. 19.
6. Feaſting and thankſgiving. Eſter. 9. 22.
The third Commandment is this.
Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltleſs that taketh his name in vain, Exodus 20. 7.
This third commandment doth inform us, how we ſhould glorifie God aright, in the actions of our common life, without ſwearing or blaſpheming.
This third commandment doth prohibit four things, and enjoyn five things.
The things forbidden, or prohibited are,
1. Oaths, Jer. 4. 2.
2. Vows, Numb. 30. 2▪
3. Lots, Prov. 16. 33.
4. All unreverent and unholy uſe of his name, and prophaning of his titles, properties, actions, and Ordinances, either by mouth or action, Lev. 21. 32. Mal. 1. 6, 12.
Things commanded or enjoyned in the third commandment, in the ſanctifying of God.
1. His names, Deut▪ 28. 15.
2. Attributes, 1 Pet. 3. 15.
3. Word, Pſal. 50. 16, 17.
4. Works, Pſal. 58. 10, 11.
5. Religion, Epheſ. 4. 1.
The fourth Commandment is this.
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day, Exod. 20. 8, 9▪ 10, 11.
This fourth commandment doth inform us of a certain day ſet apart for Gods ſervice, as the Sabbath or Lords day.
This fourth commandment doth prohibit certain things, and enjoyn many other things.
Things prohibited.
1. The making of it a common day▪ Neh. 13. 15▪
2. Vain ſpeech about wordly things. Iſa. 581. 3.
3. Idleneſs, feaſting, paſtimes, Exod. 32. 6.
4. The doing that on the Lords day, which is no day lawful, Mar. 3. 4. Ezek. 23. 37, 38.
5. The imploying others in worldly buſineſs.
Things commanded or enjoyned to be done on that day.
1. Hearing and reading the word, Luk. 4. 16, 22. Act. 13. 14▪ 15.
2. Prayer and ſinging of Pſalms.
3. Viſiting and relieving the ſick.
4. Examining our ſelves, and thoſe that belong to us.
5. Catechiſing our families.
The fifth Commandment runs thus.
Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy dayes may be l…ng in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee▪ Exod. 20. 12.
This commandment layes before us the duties we owe one to another in regard of our particular relation, unto ſuch as are our ſuperiors, inferiors and equals.
In a word, the fifth commandment preſents us with the duty of,
1. Magiſtrates, 1 Tim. 2. 2.
2. Miniſters, 1 Pet. 5. 2.
3. Parents, Eph…ſ. 6. 4.
4. Maſters▪ Col. 4. 1.
5. Husbands, Epheſ. 5. 25.
6. Noble and rich, 1 Tim. 6. 17.
7. Aged, Tit. 2. 2, 4.
8. Subjects, Rom. 13. 1.
9. People, Heb. 13 17.
10. Children, Epheſ. 6. 1.
11. Servants, 1 Pet. 2. 18.
12. Wife, Epheſ. 5. 24, 33.
13. Poor, 1 Sam. 25. 8.
14. Young, Lev. 19. 32.
The ſixth Commandment runs thus.
Thou ſhalt not murder, Exod▪ 20. 13.
This commandment layes before us our duty in the preſervation of mens perſons, and living in peace and meekneſs.
In this commandment there are five things forbidden, and four things enjoyned.
The things forbidden are theſe and ſuch like,
1. Unjuſt anger, Mat. 5. 22.
2. Hatred, 1 Joh. 3. 15.
3. Inward deſire of revenge, Rom. 12. 19.
4. Reviling and back-biting, Pſal. 15. 3.
5. Immoderate worldly ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7. 10.
Things enjoyned or commanded.
1. Friendſhip, Prov▪ 27. 9.
2. Mercy and good works, Gal 6. 10.
3. Meekneſs, Epheſ. 4. 32.
4. Overcoming evil with good, Rom. 12. 21.
The ſeventh Commandment is this.
Thou ſhalt not commit adultery▪ Exod. 20. 14.
This commandment preſents us with the preſervation of chaſtity▪ temperance, and marriage.
In this commandment there are eight things forbidden, and ſeven things enjoyned.
The things forbidden are theſe and ſuch like.
1. Wanton geſtures or behaviour, Prov. 6. 13. and 7. 10.
2. Wanton looks, Job 31. 1.
3. Wanton ſpeeches, Epheſ. 4. 29. and 5. 3, 4. 1 Cor. 15. 33.
4. Uncleaneſs 1 Cor. 6. 9.
5. Fornication 1 Cor. 6. 9.
6. Adultery, Heb. 13. 4.
7. Intemperance, 1 Pet. 4. 3.
8. Bad company, 1 Cor. 5. 9.
Things enjoyned in this commandment.
1. Marriage, 1 Cor. 7. 2, 9.
2. Care to keep a good conſcience, Eccleſ. 7. 28.
3. Labour in our vocation.
4. Watchfulneſs over our own hearts, Mal. 2. 16.
5. A Covenant with our eyes, Job 31. 1.
6. Prayer, Pſal. 119. 37.
7. Holy meditation, &c.
The eighth Commandment is this.
Thou ſhalt not ſteal, Exod. 20. 15.
This commandment enjoyns us to have a care, and endeavour the preſervation of our own, and our neigbours good, and therein of the maintaining of juſtice in our dealing one with another.
In this eighth commandment there are ſeven things prohibited, and five things enjoyned.
The things forbidden follow.
1. Theft, Lev. 19. 13.
2. Oppreſſion, Prov 14. 31.
3. Deceit, 1 Theſ. 4. 6.
4. Sacriledge, Prov. 20. 25.
5. Uſury, Deut. 23. 20.
6. Bribery, Prov. 29. 4.
7. Prodigality, Luk. 15. 13.
Things enjoyned in this commandment.
1. Juſt dealing, Lev. 25. 14.
2. Diligence in our calling, Epheſ. 4. 28.
3. Liberality, Prov. 11. 25.
4. Hoſpitality, 1 Pet. 4. 9.
5. Reſtitution, Exod. 22. 5. Lev. 6. 4, 5.
The ninth Commandment is as followeth.
Thou ſhalt not bear falſe witneſs againſt thy neighbour, Exod. 20 16.
This commandment enjoyns us with the preſervation of our own and our neighbours good name, and the maintaining of truth in our teſtimony.
This ninth commandment doth prohibit ſeven things, and enjoyn five things.
Things prohibited in this commandment.
1. Slandering, Prov. 15. 24.
2. Credulity, Pſal. 15. 3.
3. Hearing tale-bearers, Prov. 25. 23.
4. Cenſuring, Mat. 7. 1.
5. Siniſter ſuſpitions, 1 Cor. 13. 5.
6. Flattery, Prov. 27. 14.
7. Silence in defending, 2 Tim. 4. 16.
Things enjoyned in this commandment.
1. A care of our own names, Phil. 4. 8.
2. A care of the names of others, Mat. 1. 19.
3. A care of our ſpeeches, that they be to Gods glory, Epheſ. 5. 4.
4. That they be profitable to the good of others, Col. 4. 6.
5. And laſtly, that our ſpeeches be both true and charitable, for theſe two muſt inſeparably go together, for charity rejoyceth in truth, 1 Cor. 13. 6. And the truth muſt be ſpoken in love, Epheſ. 4. 15. For truth without love ſavoureth of malice, and charity without truth is falſe, vain and fooliſh, becauſe God is true, and the Author of truth, and the Devil a lyar, and the father of lyes; and as truth makes us like unto God, ſo lyes make us like unt the Devil.
The tenth Commandment is as follow e…h.
Thou ſhalt not covet thy neighbours houſe, thou ſhalt not covet thy neighbours wife, Exod. 20. 17.
This tenth and laſt commandment, doth prohibit,
1. Covetouſneſs, Heb. 13. 5.
2. Self-love, 2 Tim. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 10. 24.
3. Evil thoughts, Prov. 24. 9.
4. Envy, Prov. 23. 4.
This commandment doth enjoyn,
1. A pure heart, 1 Tim. 1. 5.
2. Watchfulneſs over our thoughts, Prov. 4. 23.
3. Contentedneſs, Phil. 4. 11.
4. Coveting after ſpiritual things, 1 Cor. 12. 31.
Now in the ſtricteſt ſenſe it is impoſſible that any man ſhould keep theſe commandments in thought, word and deed, from ſuch a principle and to ſuch an end as it ought to be kept; but this may ſerve, Firſt to humble us in the ſight and ſenſe of our ſins, which have made us ſubject to the wrath of God, and the curſe of the Law, that ſo we may be driven out of our ſelves, and with haſt flie unto the mercies of God, in the ſatisfaction of Jeſus Chriſt.