A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 151 (Question 41)
SERMON CLI.
QUESTION XLI.
WHERE is the moral Law ſummarily comprehended?
ANSWER.
THE moral Law is ſummarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments.
WE have already conſidered the moral Law in the Nature of it; and …ow God gave it to Man at the firſt for the Rule of his ſpecial Government over him, and after what manner …e pleaſed to reveal it to and in our firſt Parents: As alſo what Obligation Man is under to pay Obedience to it notwithſtanding the Apoſtaſy; and what uſe it is of to Chriſtians under the Covenant of Grants How far alſo it may be ſaid to comp…ize under it the whole Rule of Man's Obedience.
THAT which next co…es under Inquity, it, How Man may come to be acquainted with it ſees his Fall? for if it ſtill remains to be ſuch a Rule, it is very neceſſary that Man be acquainted with it, how elſe ſhall he be able as yield conformity to it? For this there … be a …ew Revelation, as will preſently …e maiteſted. And this our Catechiſm tells …s that God hath given us the Sum and Ab…ct of in the Ten Commandments.
HERE we may Inquire,
1. Why God was phy…d to renew the Revelation of the …ral … is fallen Man?
2. To … be bith made in Revelation?
3. After what winner be hath … it?
4. H…e it may be ſaid to be compri… … in the Ten Commandments?
5. By what … we are to red…e all moral Daties to theſe to Commandments?
1. WHY God was phaſed to review the Reve… of the moral Law to fallen Man?
…ſ. WE may take a brief Account of this in the following Remarks,
1. THAT it is Man's indiſpenſible Duty to … God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs. It …not only Adam's Duty in a ſtate of Integrity, when he was furniſhed with the mage of God for it; but, though the power be loſt i… fallen Man, yet the Obligation remains, …ſe being the parts of Ma…'s Ob…d e…ce which God enjoyned him in, by the rule of ſerial Government under which he was …ed in his Creation; nor can his ſinful … his ability diſcharge him fr…m his ſtay. We are therefore told, in Job 23.28. And … man he ſaid, behold, the ſear of the Luk this is wiſdom, and to depart from evil is …ling. And this is declared to be one end of Chriſt's Redemption, viz. to reſtore us … ſuch a power, and re…engage us in this Service, Luk. 1.74, 75. That he would grant unto … we being delivered cut of the hands of us …mies, might ſerve him with ut ſear, In …ſs and righteouſneſs before him all the days of us …ſe.
2. THAT the moral Law is the Rule of this Ha…ſi & Righteouſneſs, and muſt therefore be … in order to Practice. That theſe are be two parts of moral Obedience, and how …y comprehend the S…m of Man's Duty … them, will be particularly conſidered under the next Queſtion. From whence it will appear that Law is the Rule by which we are directed to and in them. And indeed a… …tal Goodneſs is comprized under them, … afterwards he further demonſtrated. Now it M…n would practice theſe as a Reaſ…lk Service unto God, it is requiſite that they be acquainted with them. Blindneſs and Ignorance muſt needs leave Men to error and …ndring. And without this Knowledge the Mind cannot be good: though a bare literal knowledge is not ſufficient to make it good. Hence that, Joh. 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them.
3. THAT by Man's Apoſtaſy the firſt inſcription of that Law on his Heart is greatly deſa…ed. …e obſerved that the whoſe Law was fairly …graven upon it when … ca…e out of God's Hand. But Sin did not only … him of the Image of God, but alſo made w…ul blu…s and bl… upon his Rule, ſo that many Principles of it are quite loſt, and others are wofully obſcured. Hence a Sinner, and a F…l, are in Scripture terms Sy…ym…cal Pſal. 14.1. Sin hath rendred us fooliſh, ſot iſl…, bruit ſh… We have loſt the knowledge of the true God, and are bewildred in our apprehenſions about him, and entertain wrong rations about his Nature and Perfections, and have ſet up an Idol in his room. We have loſt the right conceptions of true Happineſs, and taken up in the room of them ſuch opinions of Felicity, that will lead us into and leave us in miſery. The Law of God is thurſ… our, and the law of Sin hath taken place in our Hearts in the room of it. We are miſtaken in the true Worſhip of God, and turned to Idolatry, nor are we a…right opinionated about the Duties of Juſtice and Charity. In a word, we call good evil, &c Iſai 5 20.
4. THAT though, ſince the Fall, there are ſome remains of the Lare on the Conſciences of Men, enough to leave them without excuſe, yet not ſufficient to direct them in a way of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs. Here are three Things,
(1.) THAT ſince the Fall there are ſome remains of the Law on the Conſciences of Men. The Heart of fallen Man is like to ſome old ruined Fabrick, which was once ſtately, but now lies in rubbiſh, only here and there are to be ſeen ſome relicks of its Glory, which ſerve only to let Men know what a woful Cataſtrophe hath befallen it; and witneſs that once it was Glorious, to help us the more to bemoan its Deſolation. The Heathen have ſome moral Truths leſt in them, but they are impriſoned in unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. Hence they have uſed the light of Nature in them ſo far as to let us know that there is a Syntereſis in their Conſcience, out o' the Records whereof many broken fragments of Divine Truths may be read: Though we are not to ſuppoſe that all the natural Divinity pretended to by Etheick Philoſophers was gathered meetly from their own reaſon, but much of it by Converſe with the People of God.
(2.) THAT theſe remains of natural light on the Heathen are ſufficient to leave them without excuſe. When God calls them to their Trial, there will be enough found of the Law written on their Conſciences, to convince & condemn them. See Rom. 1.20. … 2.14, 15. They will be f…und to have ſinned againſt Light, and inward Warnings; to have done things, which their Conſciences told them they ought to have avoided, and neglected Duties which they ſuggeſted to them. There are the common Principles in the Light of Nature, that are practical and improvable by humane reaſon, in the obſervation of the Works of Creation and Providence; the neglect whereof will in…o…ce Men to confeſs themſelves Guilty. That told Men that there is a God, that he is the greateſt and heſt of Beings, and ought therefore to be worſhipped and ſerved by Men: That Man is made for an End, which muſt be better than himſelf; and that becauſe God is the beſt Being, he muſt needs be Man's laſt End. That there are Rules of Righteouſneſs, and a Juſtice, Equity, and Charity to be maintained between Men; and that there are Sins againſt theſe which deſerve Death, Rom. 1. ult. Who knowing the p…igments of God, that they which do ſa…h …gs are w…thy …f death. Hence, how many of them have been terrified & diſtracted with the Stings and …be…ations of their own Conſciences, after the comm…ſtion of ſome enormous Crimes, which was nothing elſe but a judgment which they paſt upon themſelves according to the Law of God.
(3.) YET they …ive not ſufficient to …rect them in the way of Holineſs Righteouſneſs. Not only have they no knowledge of the …ew Way, revealed in the Goſpel, but they have loſt the knowledge of the …atitude of the Law of the firſt Covenant. Many moral Duties they are ignorant of, both in reſpect of the Worſhip of God, and Righteouſneſs towards Man. Their Minds are blinded; they have condemned many Vertues of Folly, and adva…ced many V…ces into the number of Vertues. The Apoſtle giveth them ſuch a Character, Eph. 4.17, 1…. This I ſay therefore and teſtify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the v…nity of their mind, Having their underſtanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſs of their beart. They truſt to their own carnal reaſonings, and they contradict the Spiritual things of the Law of God, and m…ſlead them into deceits and errors.
5. THAT except God had again revealed this Law, fallen Man muſt have thole in his natural Ignorance of it. The whole World was gone out of the way. Not only had they loſt all the impreſſions of Holineſs and Righteouſneſs on their Hearts, by loſing the Image of God on them, but they were filled with all carnal Luſts, which poſſeſſed them, and fixed them in thoſe curſed Principles, that they ſtill were on the I ſi…g hand; a…d their Minds were ſo perverted, that they could not ſo much as diſcover the deceit they were under. Hence that, Iſai 44.20. He ſeedeth of aſhes: a deceived heart hath turned him aſide , that be cannot deliver his ſoal, n…r ſay, Is there not a lie in my right han…? Rom. 1.21. Hereupon we have them ſadly Characterized, Rom. 3.10,—19. Who then ſhould have ſhewn them the Rules of Obedience, required by the Law, it God had not a new declared them?
6. THAT God had merciful Ends in thus revealing it to Men. It was a great favour of God, to give to Man a new fair tranſcript of the moral Law, when the, which was at firſt written on their Hearts was ſo woſully defaced. And this may be confirmed, if we conſider what it was for; viz.
1. Negatively; NOT that the moral Law was ſufficient to point fallen Man to Fa… That now ceaſed of it ſelt to be able to … Sinners the way how they might rec… God's Favour, and ſo live as to pleaſe him. It now no longer offered to Man the … of a Covenant of Life, as it did at the …; it doth not now ſay to him, this do and live. For all this is introduced by the Goſpel, … the New Covenant, which is there opened, and Men are invited into. The Apo…e … down that aſſertion, and gives the reaſon of it, Rom. 3.20. Therefore by the ceeds of the law, there ſhall … ſl…ſ… be juſt…ed in his …: for by the … is the knowledge of ſin.
2. Poſi…ively; IT had eſpecially … three Ends in it, (1) TO convince Unregenerate Men of … Sin and Miſery. We are told, in the … ci…ed. Rom. 3.20. &c. So that Man's … his clear knowledge of the Law, …end…ed … very inſenſible of his ſinful and undone …. Hence aroſe that woful ſecurity that … laboured of; Conſcience not being able … its Office fully for want of Light. F…l … us how it was with him, when though it had the Law in the Letter, yet he was without the right apprehenſion of it, Rom. 7.9 How then muſt it be with them that have… the Letter of it affo…ed them. (2) TO make way for their entertainment of Chriſt in the Goſpel Reve…ation. The end of Chriſt's coming was to ſupply the Law's … ficiency of being able to lead ſinful Man … Bleſſedneſs, Rom. 8.3. Now that Men may be brought to ſee their reed of Chriſt to be a Saviour, that ſo they may be perſ…ded … ſeek to him for Salvation, it is neceſſary that they be made to know what their O… dition is by Sin; how miſerable and hel…p… that hath made them: And for this, God renewed the Law, as being moſt ſerviceable thereunto. And by this means it becomes a School-maſter to Chriſt; as we are told … 3.23, 24. (3.) TO help Believers in their new Obedience. The Law is the Rule of Man's Obedience. Believers are in Regeneration Sanctified, with a new Principle turniſhing them for this Obedience; in the faithful performance whereof they glorify God, and honour their Profeſſion, and ſerve to the End they were made for. God therefore hath required this, that ſo they may have their Rule made plain, by which they may be pointed in their way And therefore David gives it that commendation, Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a …p … to my feet, and a light unto my paths.
7. GOD alſo did it in Sovereignty, to have ſome the move inexcuſable. It doth not … its gracious. End in all to whom it is reve…l…, but they neglect it, and uſing it to lead then to Chriſt, and hereby they aggravate that Guilt, and bring the greater Condemnation upon themſelves. The Apoſtle on this ac…t hath that diſtinction, Rom. 2.12. For … many a… have ſinned without the late, ſhall alſo periſh without law: and as many as have ſi… is the … ſhall be jalged be the law. Without Law. i. e. the written Law: And they ſhall … without Law, i. e. it ſhall not be Charg … on them, that they had it this given them. The con…raty to which be aſſerts of the other: …ing an aggravation of Sin by it.
II. To whom be bath made this Revelation?
Anſ. WE may briefty take this up in three Par…colars.
1. NOT to all the World. Through all Mankind are equally talled under the loſt of the … gravings of it, yet all are not …ved with the new Edition of it. The Apoſtle plainly diſſinguiſheth between ſuch as are with…ut it, and them that are under it, in the … Rom. 2.12. God hath … leſt the bigger part of Mankted … this Priviledge.
2. NOT only to his Elect. For thouth God … revealed it for their ſakes, and with a deſign of their Good; and though none but theſe, have the new inſcription of it made on their Hearts; yet the outward D…ſpenſation of a is more expenſive, and it is made … Pr…viledge to the Elect and others; and it muſt need be ſo, becauſe theſe are next together, and are accordingly equally made to partake in the outward Benefits of the New Covenant, whereof this is one. This is ſuppoſed, in Luk. 12.47. And that from which knew his lords will, and prepared … himſelf, neither did are according to his will, … be beaten with many ſtripes.
3. BUT to the V…ſible Church God deſigning to diſpeaſe his Grace to his Choſen, in the way of Means and Ordinances, accommodated as fiden as Reaſonable Creatures, hath accordingly ſent his Word to Men as he pleaſed, and they have been pertwaded by it to give entertainment thereto by an outward Proteiſi…, and thereby brought into a Viſible Church Some, and made Partakers in the means of Grace, though not all in the ſaving Fruits thereof. According to that, Mat 20.16. For many be called, but few choſen. We are therefore told, Rom 9.6. For they are not all Iſrael, which are of Iſrael. And to theſe pertained the giving of the Law. ver. 4. Now this was of old limited to the literal Iſrael, Pſal. 147.19.20. But hath, ſince Chriſt's appearing in … fl…ſh. been extended to the Gentiles.
III. AFTER what manner be bath made this …letion?
Anſ. THAT we take this up right, we muſt …ſerve, that this Revelation is either External or Internal: Between which there is a diſetence.
I. CONCERNING the External, we may Obſerve,
1. THAT God was pleaſed to ſignify this to ſome of his Servants by Inſpiration and imme… Revelation. The Apottle hints, Heb. 1.1. God who at ſundry times, and in divers man…, ſpake in time paſt unto the fathers. And this was one of them. There were therefore extraordinary Perſons from the firſt: Enoch was ſuch, Jude 14.
2. THAT theſe commant…ated it to ofters. They were ſent by God to Men for this End, and hence they ſpake to others, as God had figniſv'd his mind to them, 2 Pet. 1.21. For the prepheſy came not in old time by the will of man; but boly Men ſpake as they were …ved by the boly Ghoſt.
3. AND this was from Adam to M…ſes banded down by Trantion. The Fathers told their Children, and they their Children. And thus was the mind of God continued from one Generation to another, P…al. 78.5. For be eſt… ſhed a teſtimony to facts, and appointed a law in Iſrael: which to commanded … fathers, that they ſhould make them known to theat chidren.
4. WHEN this Tr…itren grew into decay, God raſed up others, extra…rdamarily ſpirited, to revive it. Men through neglect and folly, loſt the Doctrines taught them, and tell into Apoſtaſy: and God pleaſed to ſend Prophets to reſtore them again; ſo that this knowledge might not be utterly loſt.
5. FROM Moſes … the Canon was perſected, be did it parthy by tradition partly by Revelation, partly by Writing. The firſt writer of Cononical Scripture was Moſes. The Canon was not pertected till all the Sacred Writings were compleated; till then therefore, there were Men continued in the Church, who were extraordinarily i…ſpited.
6. SINCE that, it is compleatly contained in the holy Seriptures; where only we are to ſeek to know our Duty. Hence that Text of the B…ble, Rev. 22.18. For l…eſtify unto every man that beareth the words of the pr…p…eſie of this book, If any man ſhall add unto t…eſe things, God ſhall add unto him the progues that are written in this b…ak.
2. THE Internal is by a mew inſoription of the Law, in the Hearts of God's Children, which is done in Conveſion. Of this we read, Jer. 31.32. And this belonging to Sanctification, is done by Degrees.
IV. HOW it may be ſaid to be comprined in the Ten Commandments?
Anſ.
1. WHEN God revived the Law at Mount S…nat, be delivered it in Ten Words, or Precepts. This is evident both by the Matter it ſelf recorded, which hath neither more, not ſewer diſtinct Subjects in it; and becauſe God himſelf hath ſo enumerated them, Exod. 34.28. Deut. 4.13.
2. THIS being given as a Rule of moral Obedience, it muſt needs comprehend the ſubſtance of the whole Law. God is ſaid to make a Covenant with them, Deut. 5.2. And we are told what that was, v…z the giving of this Law, and it is ſaid, ver. 22. a…d be added no more. Now this was a revival of the Covenant of Works, to make way for the gracious Covenant that followed; and therefore it muſt comprize all the Precepts of that Covenant.
3. GOD afterwards gave forth many particular moral Precepts to his People. And that both by Moſes, for many of the Laws, delivered by him, were purely Moral, as Lev. 18. and elſewhere; and by the Prophets that ſucceeded after Moſes, whoſe Writings abound with them.
4. THAT all theſe Precepts are but Commentaries upon the ten Commands. God did, in and by them explain the meaning of theſe, and therein give a Specimen of the great breadth of that Law. So that there is not one of them but is refetrible to one or other of theſe Claſſes. And if we would rightly underſtand the full purport of them, we muſt reduce them hither. And herein the great Wiſdom of God hath diſcovered it ſell, in ſo Epitomizing all moral Duties, for our better carrying of them in our Minds, and to facilitate our right underſtanding of them. It therefore becomes us, whenſoever we find any particular Precept in the Word of God, to reduce it to its proper Head in the Decalogue. And for our help in this, we may proceed to inquire,
V. BY what Rules we are to reduce all Moral Duties to the Ten Commandments?
Anſ. THERE are divers profitable Rules for this laid down by Divines, and variouſly expreſſed: The ſubſtance whereof may be taken up in theſe that follow.
1. THAT every of theſe Commands hath ſomething in it diſtind from every other. The Matter of each is diverſe from all the reſt. There are no tautologies in them. This may be diſtinctly evidenced, when we come to the Conſideration of each of them in particular. And hence if we would know God's Mind, and our Duty, we muſt inquire after the particular Subject deſigned in either of them.
2. THAT every of theſe Precepts extends to the whole Man. They greatly ert, who think theſe Commands to require only the outward he haviour of Men, for the ſufficient obſerving of them. Men's Laws can reach no further, but God is Lord of the Conſcience, and Judge of that: and he obſerves, not only what we do, but with what Heart. Hence that, 2 Chron. 25.2. And he did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, but not with a perſed heart. God requires the inward Man, Prov 23.26. My ſon, give me thin heart. And we are told, Heb. 4.12. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and ſharper than any twoedged ſword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoul and ſpirit, and of the joints & marrow, and it adiſcerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart. This Law, reſpects the Thoughts, as well as the Words and Actions; and may as well be broken by them, as by the other, Mat. 5.28. They alſo are miſtaken, who think, that the outward actions are aimed at in ſome, and the Heart only in others, for every Command of the Law is Spiritual, Rom. 7.14.
3. THAT hence the Habits of Sanctifying Grace are required in every of them. As when the Law was given, Men had all Grace fitting him for Obedience, ſo the Law expects that the Man ſhould have kept that Image, and condemns the loſs of it. Hence that Law not only forbids Actual, but … Original Sin; and condemns that luſt or … cupiſcence in the Heart, which unhis as ſin moral Obedience, Rom. 7.14. For we have that the law is ſpiritual: but I am carnal, ſ…ll under ſin. That looks after the Principle from which all our Actions flow; and that is the reaſon why the natural Man cannot ſend God, but ſins in his Duties. This is the … ſon why the Prayer of the Wicked is al… nation.
4. THAT both the Affirmative and Neg… is included in every Precept. There are … of … theſe expreſſed Affirmatively, as the Fourth and Fiſth, and the reſt Negatively, … in each of theſe the other is included. Wh… we are forbidden to have any other God, … are therein enjoyned to take the trus God, and him alone for our God. When we are forbidden Adultery, we are commanded Chaſtity. When we are commanded to … the Sabbath Holy, we are forbidden all P… phanation of it: and ſo of the reſt. Iſ…. …. 13 And the reaſon is evident, becauſe of the inſeperable connexion between Sins of Commiſſion, and Omiſſion.
5. THAT where any thing is commanded … forbidden, it extends to every kind and degree relating thereto. Some of the Precepts mention only one Species, but this is to be underſtood Sy…echdochically, and applied to every other. When Adultery is forbidden, which is properly a defiling of the Marriage …, all ſorts of Uncleanneſſes are comprehe…, even to a laſcivious Look. Hence that, 2 …. 2.14. Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot ceaſe from ſin. Yea though an … Job 31.1. I made a covenant with eyes, why that ſhould I look upon a maid?
6. THAT every Precept includes all the …, Occaſions, and Advantages, which reſer there. When it requires ſuch a Duty, it therefore requires that we uſe all proper Courſes to help us in it. When it forbids ſuch a Sin, it therein prohibits our uſing, and requires … avoiding thereto. And this may be part of the meaning of that, 1 Theſ. 5.22. Abſtain… all appearance of evil. When it forbids Matder, it conſequently Prohibits unjuſt Anger, that is leading thereto, Mat. 5.22. When it forbids Adultery, it warns us againſt coming into the Company of laſervious Perſons, where a train will be laid for us, Prov. 5.8, 9.
7. EVERY Precept bids us not only to evil the doing of ſuch things our ſelves, but to take beed that we do not partake in other Men's Sins. 1 Tim. 5.22. And we bring this Guilt upon our ſelves when we either encourage them in their Sin, and ſeek to hide or cover it, or do not uſe endeavours according to out Opportunity to prevent them.
8. THE ſame Duties may have a reference in divers of theſe Commands in ſeveral re…. There are ſuch ſeveral reſpects which Actions may be cloathed withal, and accordingly are …dy applicable. A Poſitive Command, … be conſidered as Poſitive, and ſo it belongs to the Firſt, or it may be conſidered as refering … Inſtitured Worſhip, and ſo to the Second, or as limiting the Time, and ſo to the F…th; exceſs in Meats, Drinks, and Apparel, may be reckoned as pernicious to the …th, and to belong to the Bixth, or as …y to Sobriety and incentives of fleſhly l…, and ſo to the Seventh, or as a prodigal …ing of …len's Eſtates; and ſo to the Eighth.
9. AND where there are Promiſes or Threatti… …nexed to any Command, the contrary is …d. AS the Promiſe refers to Obedience, … lovolves a Menace againſt Diſobedience. … Third Command there is a Threatning, … to bold Goſltleſs, &c. which aſſures us, that God will accept, commend, and reward ſuch … reverence his Name. In the Fifth, that is a Promiſe, &c. And this infers, that if … deſpiſe their Parents, ſome fearful C… awaits them, as, Prov. 30.17.
USE THIS may point its, what is the proper …e we are to make of the Decalogue, viz.
1. NOT … make our more! Obedience to it, the Ground of our Hope to obtain Eternal Life. We ſhall certainly labour of an undoing …e if thus we do, Rom. 3.20. By the deeds of the lam, there ſhall no fleſh be juſtified in his ſight.
2. TO regulate our Converſation by, in our whole ordering of it. Would we know what is Duty, and what Sin? Would we keep the right Way, and not turn into the Paths of the Deſtroyer? Let us then keep cloſe to this. Iſail. 8.20. To the law and to the teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this word it is becauſe were is no light in them. Truſt not to our own Reaſon, for that is blinded & prejudiced. Lean not upon impulſes and inward Motions, for they are uncertain, and often proceed from the Evil one, &c.
3. TO judge of our Actions by, and that not only at to the Matter, but alſo the Sincerity of them. And hence to lay our ſelves by it, both in the thing done, the Principle by which, and the End for which; all whereof come under the Cognizence of this Law.
4. TO convince us of our ſhort-coming in all this, and to drive us out of our ſelves, to place our whole reliance upon Chriſt, for Pardon and A…ptance. And if thus the Law raiſe out eſteem of Chriſt, it will ſerve to Evangelical Purpoſes.
[MARCH 11. 1701]