A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 154 (Questions 45-46)
SERMON CLIV.
QUESTION XLV.
WHICH is the Firſt Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Firſt Commandment is, Thou ſhalt have no other Gods before Me.
IT hath been formerly obſerved, that beſides the Diſtribution given of the Moral Law into Ten Commands, unto which, as to ſo many ſeveral and diſtinct Heads, all moral Duties are to be reduced; this Law was alſo written upon Two Tables, which leads us to a more narrow Diſtribution of theſe Duties, pointed to by God himſelf, in his ſo writing of them. And this alſo was taken notice of, to direct us to the next and immediate Objects of that Love which is required in the Law, and is to influence our whole Obedience to it, viz. God and our Neighbour; which our Saviour Chriſt manifeſtly directs us to, in Mat. 22.37, 38. So that by the Conſideration of the matter contained in theſe Precepts, we are … by the hand to conclude, that the Fear Firſt of theſe did conſtitute the Firſt Table, and the Six latter the Second. As to the Popiſh and Lutheran Diſtribution, allowing but I … to the Firſt Table, putting the Firſt & Se… in one, and making Seven in the Second Table, by dividing the Tenth into two, that ſo … may retain the number of Ten, the va…ty and ſinfulneſs of this will appear, in the after Conſideration of them. The former of theſe Tables preſcribes to us the Duties of Worſhip to God, and the latter thoſe of Chari… to one Neighbour; and each of theſe Preceptes contains a diſtinct Topick under it; as alſo may be made manifeſt.
NOW, in as much as God, is himſelf the beſt Object, and alſo the laſt End of all one Obedience, even …f our Love to our Neighbour, whom we cannot Love aright, unleſs … be in order to God, and for his ſake. It is therefore fitting that thoſe Commands which reſpect the Worſhip of God, ſhould occ…y the firſt Place, and conſtitute the Firſt Tables. Which Worſhip alſo comes under directs …derations, and accordingly affords ma… … … diſtinct Commands: Which God hath … to rank under. Four Heads; which … …e to … a diſtinct Account of. The …cal Diſtribution of th…ſe is variouſly … by Divi…es, which I ſhall not here … into, but may take up with one; which … help us in aſſigning to each of theſe its … Subject.
… the Worſhip of God then, there are … things to be obſerved, viz. the kinds of … are directed to in the Firſt & Second …: And the manner of performing … which is regulated in the Third & Fourth. … as the kinds of Worſhip they are two, … and In…ured; the one of which … and is to be argued from the very Being … Nature of God, and directed according to the Nature of his: The other depends on …, and is regulated by poſitive Pre…. And accordingly, the one is perpe…al … …angeable, the other variable, and … admitted of divers Changes ſince the …. The former lyeth in common, as … incum…ent on all Mankind; the other … a Duty only to ſuch to whom God is … to make it known. The former of … is the thing aimed at in the Firſt Com… … in the Second. And to make … Command of theſe two, is to confound … that ought to be ſeparated … Conſideration. And the ſhuffling of … by ſome, was the better to hide … …tions Worſhipping of Pictures and … Natural Worſhip, here properly …eth the firſt Place, becauſe that which … …eted depends upon it, and is argued … from it. And indeed, this Na… Worſhip or God, hath in it the Foun… of all Obedience, and gives force to … Command in both Tables; and there… upon the account of its univerſal I flu… is moſt Methodically comes here to be ….
AND before we proceed further, let this … obſerved, that every Command … Directive and Cautionary; it is both … direct unto Duty, and a Hedge to … within the compaſs of Duty, that we … …ſgreſs. Hence, as we before took … there is in every Precept ſomething …, & ſomething Prohibited; ſomething …ive, and ſomething Negative. And … uſeful, in laying upon the Rules of …, which are more peculiarly Practical … out the Sands and Sh…lves, as well … Land-marks: To ſhew Men, as what … ought to do, ſo what they ought to a…. … becauſe …he primary End of every …, is Directive, the Affirmative, or … to be done, is firſt to be confidered. …spand… us to.
QUESTION XLVI.
… is required in the Firſt Com…?
ANSWER.
THE Firſt Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge the only true God to be our God, and to Worſhip and Glocify him accordingly.
THIS is that which we call Natural Worſhip. And there are two Reaſons for which more eſpecially it may be called Natural, viz.
1. BECAUSE the Natural Relation which there is between God and Man plainly dictate it to …. There are ſuch Relations between God and the Reaſonable Creatures, as ſpeak it Man's indiſpenſable Duty to Worſhip him after ſuch a manner. As he is a Creature, he muſt needs owe all that he is and hath to the Service of God his Creator; for if God be the firſt Cauſe, be muſt the laſt End of the Second Beings. This therefore is preſſed as an Argument to invite all to ſerve him, Pſal. 100.3. Know ye that the Lord be is God, … is be that hath made us, and not we our ſelves; its … his people, and the …eep of his paſture. As he is the Preſerver of their Beings ſo made, and they owe the continuance of their Being, and all the Supplies which render it comfortable to them, to his Conſervation, ſo they can owe their Service to no other but him; and it muſt needs he due to him. Hence that, Pſal. 6….8.9. Ob…eſs our God ye people, and make the voice of his paiſe to be heard. Which b…ld…th our ſoul in life, and ſ…fer…th not our ſect to be moved. As he is the Lord and Governour of all this Creatures, and this his Right is founded in the former, ſo they muſt needs owe Subjection to him: And as Reaſonable Creatures are in Subjection to his ſpecial Government, ſo they own him a Reaſonable Service, Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye preſent you bodi…s a …ving ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. In which they are to pay to him all the tribute of Glorifying him, in all his declared Perfections, in which this Worſhip is concerned; as will appear in the Sequel. Hence God himſelf ſo argues, Ma… 1.6. A ſon hono…eth vaſervant his maſter: if then I be a ſ…her, where is …ine honour? and if I be a m…ſter, where is …y fear?
2. BECAUSE the Light of Nature clearly teacheth Man this Worſhip. That reaſon which God put into the Nature of Man at firſt, and which goes into his Definition, viz. that he is a Reaſonable Creature, Inſtructs him in this Duty, and all the Parts of it. This carries Conviction in it, both that there is a God, and that he is the Creator and Governour of all things; and therefore to be Worſh…pped. And this leaves all Men inexcuſable, when they deny or with hold from him this Worſhip, Rom. 1.19, 20. And tho' Man's Apoſtafy hath greatly beclouded his Reaſon, and the exerciſe of it upon this account, yet thoſe Principles are rooted in him, and cannot be totally obliterated. This therefore is ſa…d to leave all Men without excuſe, Rom. 1.21.
NOW our Catechiſm ſums up all … Worſhip under three Heads, viz.
1. To Know God,
2. To acknowledge him the only True God to be Our God.
3. T… Worſhip and G…r…ſ… him accordingly. In which we have both the Worth p…t ſelf, and the Ground of it laid ope… to out Conſideration. A brier diſtinct Explication of which may here ſuffice.
I. Tills Command requires as …o Know God. And h…e is laid the Foundation of our r…ght Worſh…pping of … as ſuch. The Pſalmiſt 10. ſets all true Worſhip hither, Pſal … …nd they that … thy came will pat them truſt in thee. For except we know him, it is impoſſible that we ſhould Worthip him. The Apoſtle …axeth the … with Sap…iſt… … this regard, Acts …7.22, 23. The Underſtanding. Will, Affections, and the w…de Man are to … … pl…y…d in Natural Worſhip; for we owe our, all to God, a…d are to gl… him with all, 1 Cor. 6.20. And tho the. Word Know, he fometim…s …ſ…d in a m…re l…x ſenſe, to comprehend all, yet here I ſhall look upon it as reſtrained … U…derſtanding,, which muſt neceſſa…lly he employed in all true Worſhip, Pſal. 47.…. God is the king of all the earth, ſing ye praiſes, …ith underſtanding. Now in this Knowledge there are two Things comprehended, a…d …q…ſ…ie…er ou… Obedience to this Precept, viz. 1. The Aſſent … the Underſtanding upon … the Truth of a thing. 2. The Apprehenſion in the Underſtanding by which it underſtands the Nature of the …. For we can know a thing no father than we … of the Nature of it. B…h theſe the… are … …nquited after, as belonging to the duty of Natural Worſhip.
1. WE muſt know that God it. The Faith of this is … to be abſol…tely needful to … coming to God in the way of Worſhip, Heb. 11.6. This Principle is the Foundation and Co…no… Sc…ve of all Religion. The very Pagan Rel…gion was grounded on this Cor… ſion, viz that if theſe he a God, there is a Worſhip due to him. And becauſe they were … of that, they …g…ge. In this …, all Th…logical Ob…d…nce is enfo… on Men's Mi… by this, that … is a Divi… Comma…d …, that the Precept en…i…ing of …, derive… from the Authori… of God himſelf. Now his Author…ry cannot …e confeſſed, if his Being …e doubted of. Theſe are therefore … together, in Heb. 11.6. But … ſaith it is in paſſible to … for he that cometh to God… muſt believe that …e is, and that he is a rewarder …f th… that diligently ſeek him. Atheiſts muſt needs be Men of to Religion; they can acknowledge no Rule of Divinity, not imbrace any Theological Principles. Knowing and ſerving of God muſt be inſeparably connected ſo far, that without the former, there cannot be the latt…. Now the fuſt Principle in Religion muſt be, that there is a God; to which the Man is to give his rational Aſſen…: And that muſt be from … Evidence as commands the credit of th… Underſtanding. For an humane Underſtanding doth not aſſent to a thing that is true, … becauſe it is in it ſelf ſo, but becauſe … enlightened …o diſcern the T…th of … therefore according to the force of … … …nce in it, …po…onable … Aſſent, … ſ…metimes only amounts to an Opinio… … time; to a certainly, which …ter is … be conſidered. Hence we muſt for…ily … … derſtandings with all theſe Argume…, … this Principle is eſtabliſhed … and Conſ…lences of Men, and … upon all thoſe Sophiſms that are brough … Men's corrupt Reaſonings to oner … and the father becauſe of the addicted … fallen Man's heart to Atheiſm, as Pſal. … The foot hath ſaid in h…s heart. There is as God they are corrupt, they have done abominable … there is …ne that d…th good.
2. WE muſt know who this God it. And … deed, the tormer cannot be without this; … theſe two are ſo inſeperably connected … notion of them, that the one …nnot … the humane Underſtanding without the … For, to the belief of the Being of a … muſt needs have ſome Idea in my … thing believed to be, or elſe I … not what, which is ridicalou…. And … reaſon it is not a little deba…ed among …, in what Order true method… … theſe Queſtions to be handled viz. … the thing … and what the thing is … indeed can a thing be really proved … without the conſideration of the Natu… … Properties of it. For it is not meetly … Name that is inquired about, but the … indigit…ted by that Name. For Names … only uſed to expreſs things. Here … …ve, that a thorough & perfect Knowledge of God, is too big for the graſp of a … Underſtanding; ſo Infinite and Incomp… fille is He in his Being & Perfections. … that in. Joh 26.14. L…, theſe are …, but … little a portion is … of … And Chap 27.23. Tenching the … cann…t …ind him …. Yet ſuch a Knowledge … God as he hath been pleaſed to … ſelf, in his Word and Works, is to be … and imb…aced, by all that would … acceptably. And they that … not … him, are declared to be miſerable, … 9. For Men to profeſs themſelves to … th… there is a God, and withal to … ſuch Conceptions of him, as are altogether improper to ſuch a Being, is Ignor… … the root of Idolatry and Atheiſm. … cer…ain, that according to the Opi…ion … we entertain of God in out Though… … will be the Worſhip that we offer to him … we make and Id… of him, we ſhall … as ſuch in all our Services. If we have … and ignoble Conceptions about his Being and Attributes, out Carriage towards him … be I…eve…end, and no ways becoming … j…ſty. Whereas, when we have … prehenſion of his Glorious Attributes, this will till us with an holy awe and reverence of him. Yea the very reaſon of our Worſhipping him lieth in this Conſideration, of what a manner of God he is. Now, it is God in his back parts who is the Object of this Knowledge: Of which we took a diſtinct … in the beginning of the Catechiſm. Summarily, theſe are made known to us in his S…fficiency, and in his Efficienty, in his Attributes, and in his Works, in which theſe … …hine forth convincingly. We ſhould read …is Word with Faith, and eye what a God be exhibits himſelf there to be. And we ſhould ponder the great Works of Creation and Providence, and read in theſe Effects that diſplays are therein made of the Cauſe of them, and from thence arga… our ſelves … Satisfaction, what a and he muſt needs be who is the Author of them. Rom. 1.20. in the inviſible things of here from the creation of the world are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, …en his eternal … and God…ead. We muſt thus ſee, and … Satifactorily to prove to our ſelves, … be is Almightly, Eternal, Infinite, Omini…feal, moſt Wiſe, moſt Holy, moſt juſt, &c … in theſe lies the reaſon of our Worſhipping him; and no little part of our Worſhip … in our aſcribing of theſe to him. And … this we may conclude, that c…e great … appertaining to this Command, conſiſts in ſolemn … frequent Meditation of Gods … by the Contemplation of his Glory, we … be the more raiſed to our Devotional Worſhipping of him. Hence that, Ptal. 104. … My meditation of him ſhall be ſweet: I will … in the Load. Not are we to reſt ſa…ed in any meaſures of this Knowledge … we have already obtained, but preſs in…ſly after more, till we come to know … are known.
II THIS command requires us to acknowledge the any T…ne God, to be our God. The acknowledging a thing, contains ſomething … is it, than the bear knowing of it. This …ly refers to the Underſtanding, and is my …endful in order to that; but that which to the Will and Affections and the whole Man. For ſuch is all Onedience. So … the former Knowledge is to farther to …red to Obedicence, that as it helps to as Acknoledgement; for the uſe of that … to enlighten the whole Man to this Acknowledgement, and this is manifeſtly con… in the Precept; for the Hebrew is, … ſhall not be to thee other Gods. Where… Acknowledgement is eſſential to our … him a God to us. For the more diſ…ying opon of this, we may conſider … the Nature of this Acknowledgement, … Things to to be acknowledged.
1. TOUCHING the Nature of this Acknowledgement: There are Three Things contain…, or there are Three ways in which God … to be acknowledged by us.
1. WE are to acknowledge him in our Hearts. This is the firſt and printipal, and without it, any other is but vain and Hypocritical. This therefore is the great thing which God requires of us, Prov. 22.26. My ſon give me there Heart, and let thine eyes obſerve my ways. And indeed, this cordial Acknowledgement of him, is the root and ſpring of all true Obedience. This is the firſt Qualification of our Divine Love. Mat. 22.37. Thus the Pſalmiſt engageth, Pſal. 9.1. I will praiſe thee. O Lord, with my whole heart. And this principally points to the Will and Affections, which are to be employed in it; when theſe are entirely ſet upon God: Which how it is to be done will afterwards be conſidered,
2. WE are to acknowledge him with our Tongues. Though our Acknowledgement muſt begin at the Heart, yet it muſt not reſt there, but proceed further. The Heart and the Tongue muſt go together in this Affair, Rom. 10.10. We are not to he aſhamed of our God, or ſuppreſs our Religion, but to make open Confeſſion of him and his Service. This was one main end for which Man's Tongue was given him; and for that reaſon is David ſuppoſed to call it his glory, which he calls upon to its Works, when he had gotten his Heart fixed, Pſal. 57.7.8. And it the Heart be right, the Tongue will follow. Pſal. 45.1.
3. WE are is acknowledge him in our whole Lives. There is a practical, as well as an Heart and Lip Acknowledgement due to God, by which we are to prove the Sincerity of the former. And this is when we live as becomes thoſe, who profeſs themſelves to be the Servants of this God. When we are holy as he is, 1 Pat. 1.15.16. By this we ſhew forth his Praiſes or Vertues, Chap. 2.9. And there muſt be all theſe three going together to make up a thorough and compleat Acknowledgement of God, according to this Precept.
2. AS to the Things that are to be acknowledged: They may be reduced to Three Particulars.
1. WE muſt acknowledge but One God. And this is a main Article belonging to this Command, for in it God challengeth of us that we own him to be God and no other. The Unity of the Deity, is one differencing Note between the true and falſe Religion, as 1 Cor. 8.5, 6. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many and lords many.) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord, Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and we by him. We are required to have but one ultimate Object of our religious Worſhip, in whom it is to terminate, Deul. 6.4. There can be but one firſt Cauſe, and ſo but one laſt End, and conſequently, we cannot lawfully pay Divine Honour to any more than one. To confeſs a plurality of Deities is to diſhonout that One God by taking from his Glory, and giving it elſewhere; which he hath told us he will not hear, Iſai. 42.8. And our Saviour hath aſſured as, Mat 6.24. No ma… c… ſerve two makers for either be will fure the … & … the …th…r, or elſe be will b… to the we & depoſe the other. Ye cannot ſerve God and man…. Her, though there is a Plurality of Divine Perſons in the Godhead, to when Divine Honour is da… yet we they not diverſe and diſtinct Beings but One. 1 Job. 5.7. For there are … that … in heaver, the Father the Word, and the body …. and the… three are …. And ſo the Worſhip that is raid to each … them, muſt term…re in that One a…d rido. Being. Mat. 4.12. We muſt ack anledge, that there is to Reing like to him, cor to be computed with him, but that his Being and Perſections do ſurpaſs all caber: Pſal. …6.8, and … 1… 11. Orthes Account, we are to aſcribe the Drive … …cable Attributes to … other but to him, and thoſe that are called…e m… …ca…e, muſt be aſcribed to him, after another and more tranſcendent manner than to any other. There are ſome Attributes which ſo belong to him, as in no reſpect to agree with any ſecond Being; ſuch is the Name Je…orah, which is therefore an where in Scripture predicated of any ſecond Being. Iſal. 41.8. And ſuch are all thoſe Attributes which appear from his Being. conſidered as the moſt abſ…lure muſt Being, as Infiniteneſs. Eternity, Omnipreſence, &c. There are other Perfect o… which are in him eminently, and are to be found by way of Analogy in the Creature, and we muſt be …s;…re to make an imm…e Difference between theſe conſidered as in him, and as in other Beings. Holineſs, Wiſdom, Goodneſs, &c are in their meaſure to be found and acknowledged in ſome of his Creatures but they infinitely differ as they are in him, and in them. They are but Rays and Faint-Beams that are in them, but he is the Fountain of them. They can be aſcribed to the Creature but in the Concrete, whereas they belong to him in the Abſtract. There is Goodneſs in the Creature; and yet our Saviour ſaith, Mat. 19.17. There is none good but one, that is God. For he is Goodneſs itſelf. The Wiſdom of the Creature is but a Drop, but his is an Ocean, Prov. 8.14. And ſo of the reſt. To aſcribe therefore any of theſe to any other abſtractively, is a complemental Blaſphemy.
2. WE muſt acknowledge the True God. We muſt be ſure that we pay our Acknowledgement to no other. It is not enough that we reſtrain our Judgment to one, and maintain that he who is God can be but one, but we muſt take heed that we be not miſtaken in this one; for if we confeſs but one, yet if this be any other beſides Jehovah, it is as truly a Breach of this Command, as if we pleaded for many. The firſt Command is mainly concerned about the Object of Worſhip, and it is of infinite Concern that we be right here. The Nature of Worſhip is, to reſtify our Dependance entire upon the Obeject, for all good and Bleſſedneſs; and there is none but he who is God, can be ſuch to us. Though there is but One true God, yet … are many that are called Gods, 1 God ….…. And it is of infitine moment that we do … miſtake are of theſe for the true God. And that we be not miſguided here, it comes us, not only to c…tertain a general Nation of a God, but he ſure that all the Proper… and Perfections of a Deity be in him who… we adore. Paul could ſay, 2 Tim. 1.12. … the whole cauſe, I alſo ſuffer theſe things: … …ſs; I am … …med, for I know … have be…ed, and I am perſ…ded that be in … to keep that which I have command now … him, … gai…ſt that …y. And let we be able to ſay after him, or with the Church, Pſal. 4…. … For that God is … God for ever and row, … will be cut guide once u… death. We muſt not trame to out ſelves a… Idea of a God himed to our own carnal imaginations, and … to him only ſuch Properties as pleaſe at, … be able to ſay that be is Incomparable, and challenge all the Idol Worſhippers in the World; and ſay as the Church, Dest. 32.3…. For their reck is not as our Reck even … … wies themſelves being judges. Thus the Pſalmiſt, Iſal. 115.3, 4, &c. For this end, we muſt take a ſtrict account of our ſelves, what … ner of God it is whom we have choſen to … to us for a God: That he is l…cite and … ral in Being, Almighty in Power; a God Omnipreſent, and Omniſcient; Glorious in Holineſs and Juſtice; who loves Righteouſneſs, and will Reward it, hates Iniquity, and puniſheth it: The God who made … Earth and Seas; who giveth unto all Life and Breath, and all things; Infinitely Wiſe, and Good; before whom all the Nations are as the light duſt in the Ballance, and are counted by him as nothing and leſs than nothing and vanity: A ſufficient Portion to all that truſt in him; and Everlaſting … ings to his Adverſaries: This God, and … other, muſt be acknowledged by us, in Obedience to this Command.
[JUNE 3. 1701.]