A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 152 (Question 42)
SERMON CLII.
QUESTION XLII.
WHAT is the Sum of the Ten Commandments?
ANSWER.
THE Sum of the Ten Commandments is, … Love the Lord our God with all our …, with all our Soul, with all our Se…gth, and with all our Mind, and our Neighbour as our ſelves.
THE Moral Law being given to Man for a …ole to direct him, in the ordering … his whole Life ſo as to pleaſe God, God at only ſaw meet to revive it, when Man's S… had defaced that fair engraving of it, which … is firſt written upon his Heart, but alſo to pe…ce it to the general and comprehenſive Heads, which might help us the better to underſtand and and remember it. In the Procla…ing of this Law on Mount Sinai, it pleaſed God …duce it to Ten Commands; of which, how … they comprize the Subſtance of that what Law, we have conſidered under the foreign. But he ſaw good afterwards to commis …e Precepts to Writing; for which he … choice of two Tables of Stone, on which be himſelf engraved them, Exod. 34. 28. I ſhall not inſiſt on the Reaſons. why he wrote them on Tables of Stone; probably it …ight …e, partly to ſignify the Hardneſs of Heart which Man had contracted by Sin. For the natural Man's Heart is called an Heart of Stone. Ezek. 36.16. Partly to expreſs the Durability of the Moral Law, it being an Unchangeable Rule of Obedience given to Man: whereas the Ceremonial Law was Temporaty, and in time to vaniſh away. Hence we find ſuch expreſſions, Job 19.22, 24. O that my words were now written oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an if a… pen, and ſaid in the r…ck for ever! But that which will be direction of our preſent Confideration. is, that God wrote theſe upon two diſtinct Tables; which leads us to a yet more comprehenſive diſtribution of the moral Law; and that which reduceth the Sume of it into a narrower compaſs. Had God ſeen meet, he could have written them all upon one Table; and why he did it rather upon Two, we may be informed both from the Scriptures, and from the Nature of the thing it ſelf. We may gather this from the recapitulation of the whole Law under two Heads, by our Saviour, Mat. 22.37, &c. So that there is no moral Precept, but it is reducible to one of theſe; and the matter of the Commands themſelves will convincingly infer it. And this will be evidenced by a particular Explication of the Anſwer before us, which is taken from thoſe words of our Saviour; who perfectly underſtood the Mind of God, and the Nature of his Law.
THERE are then, two Things here to be obſerved, in which the Sum of theſe. Ten Commandments is comprized, viz. 1. There is ſomething generical, or wherein they all agree, viz. Love. 2. There is ſomething ſpeciſical, or a distribution of this Love into its diverſe Objects; which are God and our Neighbour, and diverſe Degrees. And ſomething may be ſpoken to each of theſe to make way for a more diſtinct handling of them.
I. THERE is ſomething in general, in which all the Commands do agree: They may all be ſummed up in one Word, and that is Love, Rom. 13.10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the ſu…filling of the law. For the whole Law is nothing elſe but a Rule of Love; and for that reaſon, all Obedience is expreſſed under that Title. This therefore makes one eſſential part of fallen Man's Religion, 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold faſt the form of ſound words, which thou haſt heard of me, in faith & love which is in Chriſt Jeſus. Obedience is called Lore Metonymically, becauſe, if it be one, it ever proceeds from that Principle, which is rooted in the Will, and operates by the Affections; and becauſe Love is the root of all the chufing Affections, it very aptly ſerves to ſet forth this Principle of new Obedience; as it implies the choice of the Will, which is diſcovered in and by the Activity of this Love. And there are two Things which it points us to,
1. THAT there is no Command in the moral Law, but what is in itſelf exceeding lovely & deſirable. Certainly where Love is required, there is an Object exhibited that is ſuited to attract it, and a Duty very agreable to the Nature of the Subject. Sin indeed hath defiled our Nature, and ſown prejudices in our Hearts againſt the Law of God, and filled them with enmity. Rom. 8.7. But the Law it ſelf, in every Article or Canon of it, is ſo accommodated to the Nature of Man, as it was in its Integrity, that nothing could be more obliging; and where the Spirit of God hath renewed his Image in any, it is lovely to them, ſo far as renewed. And indeed, there is no property in the Law of God, but what renders it amiable. Pſal. 19.7, &c.
2. THAT true Obedience is of Choice, and not by Compaſſion. The Affections are the Inſtruments of the Will, by which it exerts itſelf in the Imperate Actions, and is therefore to be judged of by them. They are the Feet of the Soul, which carry it to or from the Object which it hath either choſen or rejected, and are accordingly ſignals of thoſe Elicit Actions: Where then our Love is exerted and exerciſed about any thing, it is a witneſs that we have choſen that thing, upon an high eſteem of, and value for it. For this Election being an act of a Cauſe by Counſel, it argues, that the Soul hath diſcovered that in the Law, which hath ſatisfyed him of the worth and excellence of it, for which it hath rationally given it the preference to every other thing. And he can ſay of it, as, Pſal. 119. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me, the is thouſands of gold and ſilver. And this choice is not made on the account of any ex… or adventitions Advantages, which he app… hends that he may gain by his Obedience which often allores Hypoctites to a temp… ry compliance, and they are pleaſed in it … long as that laſts, but from the intri… goodneſs and worth of the Law, which they are perſwaded of, and can teſtify for it, … he, Rom. 7.12. Wherefore the law is holy, … the commandment holy, and juſt, and good. … let Men's pretended Conformity to the Law … otherwiſe never ſo exact, yet if it wants … Principle to animate it, it will not be … ed by God as Obedience. And where this … dorth influence, he will accept and rev… in Chriſt, notwithſtanding much imper… on adheting to it.
II. THERE is ſomething ſpecifical, in … this Love is diverſifyed, and that is with … to the next and immediate Objects about … it is to be imployed, or unto which it is to … is ſelf, and the different degrees of Pots … in regard of the diverſe Objects of it. … theſe may be conſidered jointly, i. e. We … together with each of theſe Objects, co… the degree which is requited in our Love a either of them; and that will appear … conſideration of the diver… Nature of … Objects, and different ground of the O… tion lying upon us to our loving of then. Now the Objects commended to us is … diſtribution are two, viz. God and our… bour. And as by God we are to underſtand the Infinitely Glorious, Friſt Being, Faiths, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, who, tho' they are … Perſons, are yet but One God, of the … undivided Eſſence: So by our Neigh … we are to underſtand comprehenſively the Creature, or all Second Beings, ſo fac… … ſtand related to them, and owe a Day to them: But it more eſpecially … to Mankind, who are of the ſame Nature …s us, and there is ſome relation or other which we bear unto them, in every of which … are Duties enjoyned us by the Law as … Now for the right ſtating of this mi…, … us obſerve the following Particulars,
1. THAT the Firſt Table of the moral …, points us in the Duties of Love, which …e ſo God immediately & ulitmately; the S… Table contains the Duties that we owe to … Neighbour mediately & ſubordinately. O… Account the Four firſt Commands …end the Firſt Table, as is apparent it the very matter of them: And the Six letter Commands conſtitute the Second Table, as is a… obvious. On this account, all month Days is diſtributed into Worſhip and Chartry, … for this reaſon all Obedience is divided i… Holineſs and Righteouſneſs, and the… … the Image of God, which is the … over-powering of us to this Obedience … diſtributed, Eph. 4.24. And that ye po… … new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs, and true holineſs.
2. THAT this diſtribution of the Object, is not Univerſal, or of things …ordinces, and … … but of things ſubordinate. God and our Neighbour do not ſtand upon even ground, … that theſe muſt divide our Love and Obedience between them; but though it may … to be a Parador, yet it is a great Truth, that God muſt have all our Love, and yet … Neighbour muſt have ſome of it too; He muſt have our whole Heart and Soul, and yet the other muſt have our hearty & undiſſembled Love; and this would be a contradiction if it were not for this ſubordination. But … is a manifeſt Solution of it, viz. God … as the ultimate Object, and higheſt … and Center of all our Love, to whom … to be directed finally and intentionally: … the Creature in ſome things ſtands between … and God, and is to ralle of our Love as is … along to him, tho' ſtill it is to paſs thro' … Creature, and not to reſt till it determines …: As a River that in its courſe waſh… the Shore, and refreſheth the Lands it … through, but yet goes along, and …eth … …ll it falls into the Ocean, where it l…eth …. And the reaſon of this is, becauſe … is the chief Good, and laſt End of all …: Whereas, tho' other things may bear … relation of an End to ſome things, that … in subordination to them, yet in order to … End, they are all but Media, and he … End of them. And hence, what a Man … for the ſubordinate End nextly, be doth … …tually and Intentionally for the laſt End. … hence, let a Man love his Neighbour n… … paſſionately, yet if it be ultimately for anothe reſpect but for God, … for his Glory, … will not be rec…oned to him for …ience.
3. THAT on this Subordination is founded the … of the difference in the quality & degree of the love that we own to God & to the Creature. … is a love due to both, but it neither … the ſame manner, not is it to be in the … degree. Doubtleſs there is a difference … the reſpect that we bear to the End, … the Means ſerving to it, which can … diverſity our eſteem of the Objects; … the End is ever to be loved for itſelf, … the Means are to be valued according to this ſerviceableneſs to the End, and for … of that, and therefore not meerly … their own ſake. And hence our Love to … and our Love to our Neighbour, are … Afferently expreſt in our Anſwer, agre… the Word of God, of which indeed … see a part. We may therefore briefly …er the import of each manner of ex… here uſed, which will give us a clear … of the difference.
1 THE Love of God required of us, is to … all the Heart, &c. The cumulation of … expreſſions, in Mat. 22.37. and fe…cht … Dent. 6.5. is emphatical; and ſerves … with what intenſeneſs and largeneſs …ould exert it ſelf. I ſhall not be ſo … as to enquire. Whether there be di… things intended in Heart, Soul & Mind: … whether they are Synonimical, ſurely they compize under them a moſt ſuperlative and extenſive Love; and may In particular point us to theſe things,
1. THAT one ought to Love God with our whole Man. That all our Faculties & Po…ets both of Soul & Body, are to be devored to him and his Service. For this Love is the root of Obedience, and therefore it muſt extend equally with that; and we owe our Spirit, Soul, and Body to his Service, 1 Theſ. 5.23, 1 Cor. 6.20. As our Love muſt have a deep fixation in our Heart, elſe it cannot be cordial and ſincere, ſo it muſt exert itſelf in our Life and Actions, elſe we may well queſtion whether we love him at all.
2. THE whole of our whole Man muſt be devoted to him and to his Service. As we are not to reſerve any power in us for any other Object, ſo neither are we to divide any between him and others. It is all the Heart, &c. it is to be his alone. It is like a Conjugal Love, which one alone can ſhare in, and if any go about to divide it, they deſtroy it. It is ſuch a … in Heaven or Earth may be Partners with him, Pſal. 73.25. Nay all our love to the choiceſt of Creatures is to be harted in compariſon with it. Hence that; Luk. 14.26. If any man come to me, and bate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and ſiſters, yea and his own life alſo, …e cannot be my diſciple. And on this account our Saviour hath ſuch an expreſſion, Mat. 6.24. No man can ſerve two maſters.
3. THE higheſt degrees of Love from the whole Man, must be ſet upon him. This alſo is implied, in all our Heart, &c. it ſaith, that we cannot love God too much; there can be no exceſs in the Love it ſelf, though there may be error in the manner of expreſſing it which will be, it we go beſide the Command which directs and regulates it, on pretence of over doing; but that we cannot love God enough, much leſs over-love him, is therein evident, becauſe he is an Object of ſuperlative Goodneſs. Our Saviour tells us, in Mat. 19.17. There is none good but one, that is God. i.e. There is none whoſe Goodneſs is comparable to his; that all Goodneſs is Originally centred in him; and that they are but rays of his Goodneſs, which are to he ſeen in the Creature. Hence we cannot love him ſo well, but that he deſerves more. His Goodneſs is increaſed and infinite; but our Love, when we have extended it to the ourſide of its Capacity remains finite, and he only can love himſelf with an adequate Love.
4. THAT God is to be loved by us for himſelf, or for his own ſake. The reaſon of our loving him, is to be ſought and found in him alone. It is true, the diſcoveries which he makes of himſelf to us in his Word and Works, in which he hath made himſelf known to us to be an Object every way ſuitable for us to place our hope and truſt in, are the next motives to ſtimulate us to Love him. And hence we are to Love him froth becauſe he is Good in himſelf, and Good to us, yet theſe two muſt ſtand in ſo …ord …action. And the ground of this is, becauſe our Love is to influence our Obedience. And the great Teſt of the ſincerity of our Obedience is, that we make his Glory our inſt End in all that we do; which we cannot do, unleſs we Love him for his own ſake. Beſides, it is a Rule, that Goodneſs is the Object of the doſing Affections, the primitive whereof a Love. Now God is Goodneſs itſelf, whereas other things are only good by participation; and becauſe his Goodneſs is in himſelf, we cannot Love him, unleſs it be for himſelf.
II. THE Love by which we are to … Neighbour, is to be as our ſelves. This …de needs a little Explaining, becauſe many are miſtaken about it, and too often abuſe it. And here I ſhall firſt in general obſerve ſomething about it, and then offer a more particular Account of it.
1. IN General: is plainly indig…tates an info…ur degree of Love to the former, in reſpect of the immediate Object. There is no proportion between the Love we owe to our ſelves, and that which we owe to God. It is true. Chriſt ſaith, this Second Commandment is like the Eaſt, Mat. 22.29. For it agrees with is, 1. In the Authority by which it is enjoyed. God who requires us to love him, hath overminded us to love our Neighbour; and therefore as well to be obeyed. 2. Is the Grace, it is Love: And ſo in muſt be as read, as ſincere, as truly without diſſu…lation as that. …. In the Doctrine of Religion: It doth not belong to an interi… Art, or Science are, but to Divinity, as well as the other, Jam. 1.27. 4. In inſeperble Conjunction. We cannot have the one Love without the other. The abſence of one is a certain evidence that the other is not in us, 1. Joh. 4.…0. If a man ſay, I love God, and be…th his brother, he is a liar ſee he that …eth not his brother whom he hath ſeen, how can be love God whom be … ſeen? But as his Love terminates on the Creature, as in next and immediate Object, ſo it cannot require as equal degree with the former; for that would be to make the Creature equal with God, and pay it a divine Honour.
2. IN Particular: That we may rightly obſerve what is implied in Loving our Neighbour as our ſelves, let theſe few Particulars be obſerved,
1. THAT every Man owes a Love to himſelf. There is indeed a ſinful ſelf-love which the Word of God condemas, it being irregular, and tending to the Man's own hurt. But there is a Love which is due to a Man's ſelf, without which he cannot perform the duties of the Law which belong to himſelf. For ſo far as Duty reacheth, Love muſt extend; for without it, there is no Obedience, Love and Hatred are contraries, as we are told, Eph. 5.29.
2. THAT this ſelf-love may be regular, the Man muſt love himſelf in order unto God. He is not his own laſt End, and therefore ought not to pay to himſelf the higheſt reſpect. He was not made for himſelf, but for God, and will loſe the end of his being, if he … conſecrate himſelf to God, … 16. …
And here obſerve,
(1.) EXERT Man is to ſeek his own …. Hence that. Prov. 6.12. If thou be wiſe, … ſh… be wiſe ſ… thy ſelf: but if thou ſ… … about …pan… it. He is to … his our word and bodily Comfort, his … his comfortable Support in this Life, his … good Name, &c Above all he is to ſeek … own Salvation, and give and difference to cure it …d work it out, Pſal. 2.12 No … to be willing to be d…ed but ſhould … moſt endeavours to be faved. He … pre…rable to himſelf, Job …2.2. Hence … Men have hath Prayed and uſed Men … …e …cc…ts; and there are Prece… … this abord… in the Word of ….
(2.) BUT this … be, with an … to the Glory of God. God hath in his … Wiſdom connected his own Glory and … Salvation, in … entire …bordivation … therefore we … not ſeperate theſe … ſeeking our Ne…, we muſt ſtudy … he may be glorifyed in it. We ought … fore willingly to part with all our …. Intereſts …en the Glory of God re… and we ought therefore inſ…ably to … our F…ace Salvation; becauſe elſe, … not …ually …fy him.
(3.) HENCE … …re to p…ſue … in … but for ſuch wherein God … glor…ed. In all our ourward Co… … muſt keep cloſe to the Rules of Rightousneſs and Hou…, and not part … breadth front them, tho' it were to … the Wealth and Grandour in the Wo… … count every thing ill gotten in … whereof, we give occaſion that the … God be evil ſp…ten of. And in ſeeking … own Salvation, we muſt comply … Method which God hath in l…ite … laid out for the advancement of the … his Grace; and accordingly to re… … own righteouſneſs, our own worthineſs … own ſtrength of free-will, and come to … for the Waters of Life, without M…cy … our Price, Iſal. 55.1. And be willing … nothing in our ſelves, that he …ary be … all.
3. THIS regular ſelf-love, is the … no… loving our Neighbour. As our Lo… not to center in our ſelves, but to … others, ſo in our application of it, … to take our meaſures from our ſelf … regulate us in our love to others. And this ought ſoecially to extend to all that … … pable of the ſame Rule & Happineſs with our ſelves. But for a more clear diſcovery of this Rule, let us obſerve,
1. THERE are diverſe Degrees of Neighbourhood. The Word Neighbour is very … henſive; it comprehends in it all … with whom we may have any civil Co… … and ſo the greateſt Strangers, and the … of Men. And it involves all the ſeveral … lation, Na…onal, Civil and-Religions … not bear ea… to other. So tear in this reſpect, ſame may be our: nearer Neighbours than others. A Brother is nearer than a Stranger, &c.
2. THAT hence there d… neceſſarily … degrees … the Law. That we are to Law all equally alike, is in vale aſſerted by …, and … from the g…rance of the relations which God hath axed among Mans unto which he hath annexed thoſe ſpecial Duties, which are to be diſcharged by a ſpecial Love one to another. There are ſome to whom … only … Re…erolence, which …ds our Beneficence: but others de… our love of Complecency. Hence that … Pſal. 16.3. But to the … that are in the …, and to the ex…he… is whom is all my light. There are ſome whom we ought to be more concerned for than others. Here,
(1.) EVERY Man … the firſt & price…ed of this Love is himſelf. Every Man is his own … Neighbour. The Rule laid down doth … a parity, but only a ſimilitude. l…e Charity to others, but it muſt begin at …. I may not ſuffer my ſelf to ſtarve, … keep another …. I ought to do all I … for the Salvation of others, but my firſt … is the Salvation of me own Soul, and … others will periſh, I muſt ſee to ſave my ….
(2.) LET it is the ſame Love for kind, that a … is himſelf and to his Neighbour. And that in all reſpects. Tho' there is a difference in the extenſivenesſs, yet they are not … of Love, but one. And here, [1.] HE ought to Love his Neighbour for God, he is Obedience to God, and that he may … God. And therefore what… to unlovelineſs he may ſee in him, or pro… given to engage his hatred againſt …, yet Love to God and reſpect to his Glory …ld preponderate. Hence our Saviour … his Exhortation. Mat. 5.44, 45. But I … you, Love your enemies, bleſs them that … you, … to them that hate you, & pray … which de…itefully uſe & perſecute you: … may be the children of your Father which is in heaven for he maketh his ſan to riſe in … in the …, and ſendeth rain on the … in the unjuſt. [2.] HE ought to deſire & endeavour the ſame … for his Neighbour, which be doth for himſelf. He ſhould ſeek his Neighbours ourward …, and rejoyce in it, and mourn with him in his Adverſity, Rom. 12.15. Rejoyce with them that do rejoyce, and …e… with them that weep. And he ſhould long for and endeavour, as f…r as in him lies, in his nation, the Spiritual Good and Salvation of his Neighbour. Rom. 10.1, 9.1, 2. He ſhould be thankful to God for any takens of his kindneſs to another, and not maliga him for it. [3]. HE might tide all this with the ſame Sincerity. It is the direction given, Rom. 12.9. Let love be without diſe…n: … that which is evil. His Love to his Neighbour muſt not be outſide and Complemental, but inward and Cordial. For it is a …ty that he firſtly owes to God, who requires the Heart in all, and ſearcheth the Hearts of all, and cannot but be deſpleaſed i… he ſees us Hypocritical is any part of our Obedience.
USE I. If WE may hence learn the Unre…ſ… neſs of Son, in that it is …tralidiry in the Rule of Love. God hath required nothing in his Law, but Love; and ſhall any be ſo brutiſh as to reject ſuch a Law, which is ſo ſuited to the natural inclination of the reaſonable Creature? Let this thought then make Sin evil and hateful to us, in that it deſtroys the moſt noble Affection in us, and muſt needs in that very regard make us miſerable.
USE. II. LET this ſerve to commend the Law of God unto us for our Love. And certainly that which hath nothing but Love in in deſerves to be Loved by us. And well might David exclaim, Pſal. 119.97. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. And let this encourage us in a cheerful Obedience to the Law, to conſider the ſweetneſs of it; for ſuch is Love, and all that affords help to it. The Pſalmiſt had ſuch a reſentment when he ſaid, Pſal. 19.10. More to be deſired are they then gold, yea, then much f…e gold: ſweeter alſo than honey, and the honeycomb. Here we are pointed to the beſt Objects of our Love, and to the beſt Rules both for the obtaining, exciting, and exerciſing of it and let it encourage us to conſider, that if we thus Love God and our Neighbour, it will render our preſent Life very pleaſant, and bring us at length to dwell in the fulneſs of the Love of God for ever.
[APRIL 8. 1701.]