A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 153 (Questions 43-44)
SERMON CLIII.
QUESTION XLIII.
THAT is the Preface of the Ten Commandments?
ANSWER.
THE Preface of the Ten Commandments is in theſe Words, I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the Houſe of Bondage.
QUESTION XLIV.
WHAT doth the Preface of the Ten Commandments teach us?
ANSWER.
THE Preface of the Ten Commandments, reacheth us, that becauſe God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his Commandments.
WE before obſerved, that the Law Moral, which in the firſt I ſcription of it on Man's Heart, may properly is regard of that Inſcription be called the Law of Nature, being every may adapted to Man's Nature, as it was Sanctified, by the Image of God, which it was … ſtamped withal, having that Inſcription very much blurred and defaced by Sin, was again revered by God, in his Covenant Tranſaction with his People Iſrael, partly by word of Mouth, in that ſolemn Tranſaction at Mouth S…a…, partly by written it on two Tables of Sto…e, in which Proclamation, as he appeared with terrible Majeſty, in fire and ſin…ak, in lightnings and thunders, putting a Dread, not only on the People, but Moſes himſelf; as we are told, Heb. 12.18, 19, 21. Thereby diſplaying his Holineſs, and righteous Severity, againſt all that ſhould be found guilty of the breach of that Law, that he might convince them of their miſerable State by Nature, and abſolute need of a Propitiation, ſo to prepare them to entertain the ceremonial Law, in which, under Shadows and Types, he diſervered to them the way of their Reconciliation; ſo to prevent their Deſpair, and nouriſh Hope in them, he ſaw meet to introduce the Precepts themſelves, with a gracious Preface, thereby inſinuating what forceable and indiſſoluble Obligations they lay under, to yield Obedience to that Law, giving them to underſtand, that it was an Eternal Rule for Man, and that they were ſo far from being diſcharged from Duty in reference to it, by the introduction of a new Covenant, that there were new and potent Engagements laid on them thereby to ſtudy Conformity to it. This Preface therefore contains in it, the Arguments with which God ſaw meet to enforce his Commands on his People, that they might therein be convinced, that it was a reaſonable Service that he required of them therein treating them according to the Nature he had put into them. And though the language of it is ſuited to the peculiar Concerns of that People, yet the nature of the Arguments themſelves, is ſuch as is accommodable to all univerſally, with whom God ſees meet to tranſact in the way of the new Covenant, as will appear in the particular inveſtigation of them; of which we may now take a brief & diſtinct account, that ſo we may ſee that it is not a blind Obedience which God requires of us, and he put upon the more ſerious ſtudy of the Law of God, in order to our careful Obſervance of it, and that we may know that it is not a vain thing, but tha… it is our Life, and to neglect it is worſe then brutiſh. The Reaſons then, which God here makes uſe of to urge our Obedience are three, which are very ſuitably expreſt in our Catechiſm. The firſt is taken from the Conſideration of what he is in himſelf, I am the Lord. The ſecond, From what he is to his People, in the Covenant of Grace, Thy God. The laſt is taken from what he hath done for his peculiarly, or thoſe diſtinguiſhing Favours, whereof he hath made them to partake, Which have brought thee, &c. Let us then conſider what force there is in each of theſe to bind us unto firm and ſure Obedience.
I. HE puts them on conſidering what he is i… himſelf: I am the Lord. The word is Jehovah, a Name which God hath incommunicably aſſumed to himſelf, or which is not any where in the Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, … pically attributed to any other Being. … Name which Divines obſerve to be uſed … expreſs his Divine Perfections, which … eſſential to him, comprehending under it, hath his Being and his Attributes, which indeed are nothing elſe but his Being, though … Underſtandings are incapable of conceiving of them, but under diſtinct Notions. And the force of the Argument lies here, viz. That becauſe God is Jehovah, therefore we are indiſpenſably bound to yield him Obedience in all that he ſees meet to command …. And that every one of his glori us Attributes gives force to his Precepts. Now this Argument reſpects all Mankind in general and carries in it a reaſon, which the very light of Nature muſt ſubſcribe unto, from the Conviction which there is on all Men's Conſciences, that there is a God. Though the light of Revelation in which we have a more clear and diſtinct Diſcovery made to us of this …, in his Being and Perfections adds to the force of the Reaſon, and renders our … of Obedience, the more aggravated and inexcuſeable. And the force of this may be more particularly obſerved, in the Conſideration of ſome of thoſe Attributes of his, which flow from his being Jehovah, and do thereupon …rceably call for our Homage.
1. GOD as he is Jehovah, hath a … right of Government over his Creatures. … who is the abſolute juſt Being, and gives being to all other Beings, muſt of neceſſity be acknowledged to have the full diſpoſed of them for his own Glory, according to the Counſel of his Will. Here is his Kingdom made indiſputable; and ſo ſome underſtand that, Pſal. 29.10. The Lord fitteth upon the ſtood; yea, the Lord fitteth King forever, Viz. of his giving all things their Being; and refer it to Gen. 1.2. Now the right of Government, reſpecting reaſonable Creatures, is firſtly Legiſlative, or preſcribing Laws to them, which being ſtamped with his Authority, do therein make it their Duty to obey them; and hence, though there is a reaſon of all moral Duties, in the Nature of the things themſelves ſo required, yet it is enough to command our Conſciences, to conſider … they are D…rine Edicts, though we do not ſ…e into the Co…veniency and Equitableneſs of the things themſelves. And this makes all poſitive Precepts equality obliging with thoſe that are entirely Moral. God therefore often gives that only Reaſon of many Precepts, … the Lord.
2. GOD, as …e is Je…v…, is infinitely Wiſe. And therefore all His Works are …ne…: Wiſdom. Pſal. 10….24. Hence that, Pſal. 147.5 Great … Lord, and of creat power; his underſtanding is infinite. His Laws therefore are the Product of his unſearchable Wiſdom, and ſo muſt needs be every way ſuitable for the Creature to whom they are given. On this account they are ſaid to make them wiſe, who are favoured with them. Pſal. 19.7. And … keeping of them is that which will re…mend us for wiſe to others. D…. …. 5. …dom mainly appears in ſuiting of Means to their End, and the greater aptitude there is in them for this, the more doth the Wiſdom appear in the appointing them. Now Man's great End is to glorify God, and therein to obtain his Favour, which is his Happineſs, and for this the Law is accommodated, as Job. 28.28.
3. GOD as he is Jehovah, is Good, yea, Goodneſs itſelf. It is eſſential to him. Hence that, Mat. 19 17. There is none good but one, that is God. And this eſſential Goodneſs of his, …kes it neceſſary that all his Works of Efficiency be good; and this hath reſpect unto his Commands. Hence that Argument is … in, Pſal 119 68. Thou art good, and d…eſt …; teach …e …y ſtatutes. This therefore is … of the Titles aſcribed to the Law. Rom. …. 12. And how elſe ſhould it ever be enacted by a good God? And this is enough to ſa… …s of the Goodneſs of it, becauſe it hath him for its Author. It is good in itſelf, and … for us, or elſe he would never have pre… it to us. With this God encourageth his People to careful Obedience to it, as that which was moſt profitable to them. Miz. 6 8.
4. GOD, as he is J…h…h, is moſt Holy. And … this Account all his Commands are ſo. …ineſs is God bound for his own Glory as … End. And as this Attribute is made … in all his Works of Providence, (Pſal. …5.…7.) ſo he hath diſplayed it in his Law. Hence that belongs to its Encomium, Pſal 19.…9. The …tatutes of the …rd are right, rejoycing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is … …ightning the eyes: The fear of the Lord ad…, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. And, … 7.12. The whole therefore is calculator for the direction of the reaſonable Creature in the beſt way wherein it may glorify …: the Conſideration whereof muſt needs … great Force, to oblige ſuch as know and … that they were made for the Glory ….
5. GOD, as Jehovah is Juſt. His eſſential Juſtice is the rectitude of his Nature; from whence it follows, that he can do nothing but what is right in his Adminiſtrations, Pſal. 145.17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. And hence though his Laws are Acts of Sovereignty, yet they are all very Juſt. For ſuch is his Nature that he cannot will any thing but what is Juſt, and nothing more is requiſite to vindicate the Equity of his Commands, but to conſider, that they are willed by him. Now Juſtice is either commutative or diſtributive. As to that which is commutative, there is no room for that between him and the Creature. According to that challenge, Rom. 11.36 Or whom hath …rſt given to him, and it ſhall be re…penſed unto him again. Diſtributive conſiſts in adm…iſtring Rewards and Puniſhments to Men according to the Sanctions of the Law; and becauſe he is Juſt, he will unfailingly thus do to Men, according as they are found, Rom. 2.6. And this muſt needs be a powerful Motive to Obedience.
6. GOD, as Jehovah, is Omniſcient. And this carries matter of great Awe in it, to make us very careful of keeping his Commandments; becauſe on account of this, none can eſcape his righteous Judgments; in this regard, none of our Actions can be hidden from him; he cannot be miſtaken or impoſed on. Hence that, Heb. 4.13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his ſight … but all things are n…ked, and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Eſpecially when we conſider, that he improves this Omniſcience of his, in a curious Obſervation of all the Actions and Courſes of Men. According to his acknowledgment, Job 31.4. Doth not be ſee my ways, and count all my ſteps? And 1 Sam 2.3. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. And ſtill more, when we add to think, that he ſees and obſerves our very Hearts and Thoughts, and all the retired movings of them, and not one of them eſcapes him, Pſal. 139.2, 3, 4. And he is a Judge of all theſe, Jer. 17.10. I the Lord ſearch the heart, I try the reins, even to give to every m…n according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
7. AS Jehovah, he is Omnipotent. And this added to the former, gives them yet the greater force. He is not only Holy and Righteous, and ſo hath a Will to remunerate Men according to their Actions; and All-ſeeing, and ſo cannot be ignorant of, or miſtaken about them, but he is alſo able to recompence Men, nor can he be impeded in the Execution of his Law. He is able to protect his Servants that obey him, againſt all that would harm them; and he is able to puniſh all that diſobey him; and there are no created Powers that can reſcue them out of his Hand. Hence that warning given, Pſal. 50.22. Now conſider this, ye that forget God, leaſt I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. And that advice, Mat. 10.28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoul: but rather fear him which is able to deſtroy both ſoul and body in bell. And when all theſe things are put together, it will appear to be our greateſt Wiſdom to obey him, and the greateſt folly and madneſs to provoke him.
II. HE adviſeth them what he is to his own People, who are related to him in the Covenant of Grace; Thy God. This word, thy, is a term of approbation, and when God aſſumes it to himſelf in reſpect to Men, it is to expreſs and intimate Relation between him & them, which refers to ſome Covenant in which it is made. It cannot be intended of the Relation which is made by Creation, in which he is their Creator, and they are his Creatures; for ſo he is the God of all Second Beings, which equally derive their Original from him: But it properly points to a Covenant in which he hath taken them to be his People, and engaged himſelf to be their God. Thus it is expreſt, Exod. 6.7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God. And if it be here enquired, from what Covenant God fetcheth this Argument; whether it lead us back to the Covenant of Works, or calls us to the conſideration of the Covenant of Grace? I anſwer, The moral Law was firſt given to Man, immediately upon his Creation, and then ratifyed as a Rule of Government in that Covenant which God plighted with Mankind in their firſt Parents; and there was a forceable engagement ſaid upon Man, to pay Obedience to God by that Covenant. For, beſides that it required of Man no more than what was his natural Duty to his Creator, and he could not without horrible unreaſonableneſs with hold himſelf from, God alſo endowed him with both ability & diſpoſition for that Obedience, by imprinting his own Image upon him, and made Promiſe of a glorious Reward in caſe of his Obedience, and threatned him with a miſerable Death if he ſhould diſobey. But altho' God thus became his God in Covenant, and would have been his Portion for ever, if he had not revolted from him, yet Man's Apoſtaſy violated the boud of Friendſhip therein made, loſt all claim to God as his Inheritance, and inſtead of being his God, he became his Enemy: Tho' therefore Man's Duty abides, yet there is no encouragement left in that Covenant, nor can he ever by that recover this Title to God again; being totally fallen out from the Promiſe of it. Hence the Argument here uſed in this Preface refers to the Covenant of Grace, which God was pleaſed to open to Man upon his failure in the former; and with reſpect to that People, then immediately concerned, it aimed at the Covenant which God had plighted with Abraham, and renewed with Iſaac and Jacob; and hath pleaſed to continue to his Spiritual Iſrael as an Everlaſting Covenant, in the Subſtance of it, tho' there were ſome particular & typical Promiſes made to them. God therefore, when in the Scriptures he ſpeaks to his People of being their God, and aſſumes that Title to himſelf, always deſigns a Covenant which he hath taken ſome into ſince Adam's Fall; which Fall had cr… off the primitive tenure, that Man held by th… firſt: nor could Man ever more have c… lenged an intereſt in God by that. That the Covenant made with Abraham was a Covenant of Grace, Paul frequently aſſerts and prove in his Epiſtles. And God was Iſrael's God, becauſe he was Abraham's God. And this is that Covenant which is continued & extended to us Gentiles; who are on that account called Abraham's Children, Gal. 3.7. Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the ſame are the children of Abraham. Rom. 4.16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promiſe might be ſure to all the ſ…, not to that only which is of the law, but to that alſo which is of the faith of Abraham, who is … father of us all. Now from this Covenant, there is a mighty inducement to Obedience on all thoſe who are concerned in it. We are here to carry in mind, what hath before … evidenced, viz. That God requires Obedience to the Command under the Covenant of Grace, the Law being a Rule adapted to rega… Man in his ſerving of God. Now there … not be greater engagements laid upon Ma… … this Obedience, than what are exhibited in this Covenant: So far is it from opening a door to Sin, and encouraging Licentiouſneſs, as ſome …ould pretend. And this may be conſidered under two Particulars,
1. THE wonderful Kindneſs of God … appearing, in that he is willing to take j… Man again into Covenant with himſelf Cer… ly, great Kindneſſes are great engagements … Gratitude, but never was there a greater h…d of then this, nor can we ever ſuffciency teſtify our Thankfulneſs to him for it. The Breach of the firſt Covenant was an i…t Provocation, it was unreaſonably ingr…l, a riſing up in Rebellion againſt the Lord that made us, a deſpiſing his Government, a … tempt of his Favour, a conſpiracy with his Enemies againſt his Throne. Man by him… was become unprofitable, having loſt all his power of Obedience. Rom. 3.12. They … gone out of the way, they are altogether … unprofitable; there is none that doth good, … one. His ſtrengh was gone, nor could be … any thing but Sin againſt God, and di… him. God ſtood in no need of him, or … Service. It was his Benignity at firſt that he would accept and reward any thing of …. He is bettered by nothing that Ange… Men can do in Obedience to him. Job. 35.47. If thou ſinneſt, what doeſt thou againſt him? or if thy tranſgreſſions be multiplied, what … thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what gi…eſt thou him? or what receiveth be of thine hand? And he could have glorified his Juſtice in his r…. He needed not to have been a loſer by …im: His declarative Glory was ſecured, lot things fall which way they would. His Glory … Man's Salvation were not inſeparably … nected, becauſe Juſtice will have its tri…l Eternally, in thoſe who ſhall ſuffer under the execution of the Sentence of Wrath th… … denounced for Sin. And that God ſhould … ſuch a Creature as Man hath made … by Sin, with ſuch a kind reſpect as … open a Covenant of Grace with him. Eter… will be too ſhort to celebrate the Grati… for it. Well may we ſay as he, Job 7.17. What is man, that thou ſhouldeſt magnify him? and that thou ſhouldeſt ſet thine heart upon him? And what is it wherein we are to juſtify our Gratitude, but in obeying & ſerving him; as Den…. 10.12. And now Iſrael, … doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but … the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, … him, and to ſerve the Lord thy God … all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul. And … we do too much of this? Eſpecially if we add,
2. THE wonderful Encouragement afforded to … Obedience in this Covenant. The Old Covenant indeed, affords matter of dread to … terrify them from Sin, but it gives … management to Obedience; it diſcovers … to it, it offers no reward of Life for it: … known no acceptance of it with God. All theſe things are out of doors as to that. … in the New Covenant there is all that my …ve to animate it. In this is diſcovered the way for us to eſcape the miſery fallen the … …s by the Curſe of the Law, by which we the detained as long as we are under that, … 2.10. In this is revealed to us the way of Salvation, and it offers us all direction to … Feet in the paths of Peace. It not … …lares to us that there is Life to be … but how we may obtain it, and opens … Treaty about it. This not only requires …ful Obedience of us, but alſo provides … Strength for us by which we may be enabled to run the way of God's Commands, … …5.24. This alſo hath provided for us the acceptance of our ſincere, tho' imperfect Obedience, in and through Jeſus Chriſt. It … …ra…ties, it covers our Infirmities, … of our cordial Diſires and Endea… … aſſures us, that God will not be … mark what is amiſs in them, but … forgiveneſs to us upon our renewed …, Pſal. 130.3, 4. And it ſecures … …lous Reward of our meaneſt Services … God in uprightneſs. Mat. 10.42. And … …ithſtand the force of ſuch Engage … theſe are?
… acquaints them with what he hath done …, or thoſe diſtinguiſhing Favours, which … on them; Which brought thee out …, &c. It is taken from the conſide… of …uſe Benefits which God had be… on them: Which tho' in the Letter …, they were appropriate to that People … in the Spiritual intendment of them, … all that ſtand related to God in the … Covenant. Here let us obſerve,
1. THAT all the Good which God doth for Fallen …, it on Obligation on him to Obedience. … him none: He hath forfeited all …, and pulled down all Miſeries on …. Hence the common Goodneſs of … Men to Repentance, Rom. 2.4. Or …ſpſeſt thou the richest of his goodneſs. & for hearance, and long-ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance. Every Mercy that we receive from God, challengeth our Love to him, and if we do Love him, that will bind us to keep his Commandments. It will therefore be an Atriale againſt Sinners, to aggravate their Guilt, that they have abuſed theſe Bleſſings of God. Hence that, in Act. 14.17. Nevertheleſs he I…i not himſelf without a witneſs, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful ſeaſons, filling our hearts with food & gladneſs. Rom 1.21.
2. BUT that which is more peculiarly intended in theſe expreſſions, is the Spiritual Benefit which God hath provided for his People, in and by the Redemption wrought out for them by Chriſt; and applied to them by the Holy Spirit. That outward favour which God ſhewed to Iſrael, in freeing them from Egyptian Bondage, was not only a real benefit in itſelf, and laid them under engagement to ſerve him, who had ſo delivered them, but it was alſo Typical. There was ſomething more ſhadowed in it, than the Mercy itſelf. The Egyptian Servitude was a Type of our Spiritual Captivity under Sin and Satan, and the Curſe of the Law: And their miraculous reſcue from thence was a figure of our Deliverance from Devils, Hell, and Curſe. Moſes was a Type of Chriſt, who leads his People from all theſe; who brings them out with a mighty Arm, and carries them through the Wilderneſs of this World, and gives them ſate conduct to, and finally full poſſeſſion of the Heavenly Canaan. This Argument therefore is levelled for the Children of God, to bring them under ſpecial Engagements to glorify God by new Obedience, from the conſideration of the grea Work of Chriſt in their Converſion, in which their actual Deliverance was wrought about: And this naturally and neceſſarily calls them to look back to that Work of Redemption by which way was made for this Delivery, by the Death and Obedience of Chriſt; which carries the moſt forcible and commanding engagement of all in it. Yea, there are manifold Threads of which this Cord is made, and by which it is made ſtrong, viz.
1. THE Conſideration of the Neceſſity of our periſhing for ever, if Chriſt had … thus redeemed us. We were all involved in the Curſe, going to endleſs Perdition: There was no Eye to pity us, nor any Hand in the Creation able to ſave us; our Redemption had ceaſed for ever. We muſt have periſhed without the leaſt hope, as the fallen Angels do, if He had not ſtept in for our relief. Here lies the reaſon, &c. Job 33.24. Then he is gracious unto him, and ſaith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ranſom, 2.
2. THE great things which be did and ſuffered for us, to the end, that he might ſo …em us Our Redemption was precious, it coſt the Son of God, his Blood, his Life, a Petit. 18.19. He … Bleſſing of the New Covenant might derive to us, Gal. 3.13. And if we would know what this was, let us read and meditate on, 2 Cor. 5.21. Iſai. 53.4, &c. Certainly, there never was ſuch a Love heard of, or could have a parallel with this.
3. THE great things which he hath purchaſed for us by this Redemption. Certainly, the greater the Benefit is, the more potent is the Obligation. Chriſt did not come to precure for us earthly favours only, which had been little things in compariſon, but a Crown and a Kingdom, a Title to Life Eternal, an Inheritance among thoſe that are Sanctifyed. We are therefore told, Joh. 10.27, 28. My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſt, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my hand.
4. THE conſideration of the great end of his Redeeming us. It was not only to bring us to Heaven, but that he might have a People that ſhould ſerve him. We are therefore ſaid to be redeemed from our vain Converſation, 1 Pet. 1.18. And this deſign is very frequently recorded in the Word of God. See, Pſal. 22.30. Luk. 1.74, 75. Eph. 5.26, 27. Tit. 2.14. So that we can in no other way anſwer the end of our being ſo ranſomed. The Apoſtle therefore ſo argues, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the body Ghoſt, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are God's.
5. IF we conſider, that our dying Saviour, leſt this as a thing that be required to be a pledge … taken of our Love to him, far all the Love which be hath ſtewn to us, in doing and dying for …. This therefore is put into his laſt Charge given to his Diſciples when he was about to … them, Joh. 14.15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.
USE. 1. LEARN hence, how much their S… is aggravated who live under the Diſpenſation of the Covenant of Grace. Becauſe theſe b…k the ſtrongeſt bonds of Love. Well might our Saviour ſay, as in, Joh. 15.22. If I … come, and ſpoken unto them, they had not … but unto they have no cloke for their ſin. How directly then do they contradict the deſign of the New Convenant, who ſay, let us Sin, th… Grace may abound?
USE. II. LET this then inſtruct us, with … Arguments to quicken our ſelves to Duty, … to reſiſt the Temptations to Sin. If we … fetch them from the Covenant of Works, … delude our ſelves. There is no Promiſe … to relieve us; there is no Threa…ning th… kindly to excite us, ſince the Menances of that, tend directly to drive us to deſpair. But if we would be faithful to God, and che… ſerve him in new Obedience, let us ſ… … Intereſt in the New Covenant, and in God through it: And then let us be ever containing our Thoughts with the …npend… Benefits that we are made Owners at by …. Which will make the hardeſt Duty eaſy, … the moſt Self denying Service for him delectable unto us.
[MAY 6. 1701.]