A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 161 (Question 51)
SERMON CLXI.
QUESTION LI.
WHAT is forbidden in the Second Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Second Commandment forbiddeth, the Worſhipping of GOD by Images, or any other way not appointed in His Word.
THE right Conſideration of what is Required in any Precept, will give us light into thoſe things which are Prohibited by it, or Tranſgreſſion of it. And the beſt way to underſtand that diſtinctly, is to conſider the Subject about which the Precept is nextly concerned. And we have before obſerved, that there are two ways in which a Command may be broken, viz by Omiſſion & Commiſſion: Neglect of the Duties required, or doing the Things forbidden by it. And tho' the Anſwer only mentions the latter, yet both may here come under our Conſideration. The Subject-matter of the Second Command, is Inſtituted Worſhip, in which it is ſuppoſed, that there are Inſtitution; of Worſhip, and that GOD alone is the Author of them, and that Man is, by vertue of his Authority, under the Obligation of Obedience to them. And tho' the Command is delivered Negatively, yet there is ſomething, Poſitive included in it. There is Duty to be actually done, as well as Sin to be avoide. And not to do thoſe Duties, is equally a Sin, as to do the things Prohibited. We may therefore take a brief account of each of theſe.
1. THIS Command forbids the Neglect or Contempt of any of thoſe Ordinances, which God hath inſtituted in his Church. By ſuch Neglect or Contempt, God's Authority is deſpoſed, and thoſe Means which he hath by his Precept made neceſſary helps to Salvation, he diſregarded. And here,
1. THEY Sin againſt this Commond, who renounce all the Goſpel Inſtitutions, under pretence os Spiritual Worſhip. There is a Generation of ſuch in the World, who caſt all the reproach they can upon the Goſpel Ordinances, and ſcornfully revile thoſe that maintain the Profeſſion and Obſervance of them: As if the Worſhipping of God in the Spirit, … ſeded and aboliſhed all outward Service, and was to come in the room of it; whereas God requires the whole Man, 1 Cor. 6.20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which … God's. And theſe Ordinances are Means appointed on purpoſe, to be helps in our Spiritual Worſhipping of God, and to promove that mediate. Communion with him, which is the higheſt that is allowed us in this Life. When therefore Men do caſt off the Ordinances, they lay aſide the very form of Godlineſs, and put themſelves quite out of the way of ſerving God acceptably.
2. THEY that content themſelves to live without any of them. Hitherto belongs ſuch Societies of People, as live without the ſettled Goſpel Ordinances among them, and can be content with a neglect of right Endeavours to obtain it; or, if they have they Word Preached to them, ſeek not further, but live without the Diſpenſation of the Seals of the Covenant. Such Perſons as do not in an orderly way, ſeek to participate in theſe Seals, but live, either without the initiating or confirming Sacrament, or if they are Baptized, they reſt here, and are ſatisfied without the Supper of the Lord. Not that Men are to men raſhly upon this or are to be received without diſtinction, but when they think it no great matter whether they enjoy in or no, … ſeek after a fitneſs for it, they practically declare it, to be vain or ſuperflous, contrary to the Command of Chriſt, who ſaid, … this in remembrance of me.
3. SUCH as too frequently and eaſily neglect … attend upon theſe Ordinances. The Apoſtle gives his Hebrews warning about this, Heb. 10. 25. When, tho' Men do acknowledge it to be their Duty, yet every little thing diverts them. They come when there is nothing to hinder, but every trifling excuſe is ſufficient to make an excuſe of, and poſſibly they are not ſorry to have one. Not but that God's Providence may often prevent them, and ſometimes God would have Mercy rather, than Sacrifice. But one that hath a due regard to this Precept, will reck on it a rebuke in Providence, when he is thus taken off.
4. WHEN they attend upon theſe Ordinances …erſunctorily. There is indeed a ſpecial Reference due to the Ordinances, which belongs to and may hereafter be treated of under the Third Command. But they miſtake, who …i… this Command to have reſpect only to the …tward performance of theſe Services. It is certain, that every Command requires the Heart, without which, it cannot be perforced acceptably to God, who expects it, P…. 23.26. My ſon, give me thine heart. It is therefore his Complaint of them, Iſai. 29.13. This people draw near me with their mouth, … with their lips do honour me, but have re…d their heart far from me, and their fear … me is taught by the precepts of men. W… Men think, that to preſent a Body at an Ordinance, is enough; and if they can but …try out the time of it, they have done …irly; and mean while entertain themſelves with wandring Thoughts, and vain Objects, and never know what it is to have Communion with God in it, nor ſeek after it: Poſſibly … weary of it, and glad when they are diſ…om it: Theſe are here guilty, & offer … …rible ſlight, to thoſe Holy Appointments ….
… THIS Command forbids all Poſitive Wor…, which is not of Divine Inſtitution. By …e, I underſtand, that which by an Ar… Precept, is made a Medium of our …hipping of God; none of which can be …tick, but ſuch as have the Seal of his Authority upon them: As hath already been …ced under the Affirmative part of the Command. Our Catechiſm ranks theſe under two Heads: One particular, the if Worſhipping of God by Images; the other general, or any other way not appointed in his Word. Whereupon ſome have ranked theſe under two Heads, viz. Idolatry, and Superstition. But if this be allowed, we muſt take Idolatry in a reſtrained ſenſe. If we take Idolatry for the Worſhipping of a falſe Object, ſo it is equally forbidden in each Command of the Firſt Table; for God is alike the Object of Worſhip in every one of them: And to pay the Duties proper to any of them, to any elſe but the true GOD, is groſs Idolatry: Though it may be more directly aimed at in the Firſt Command, as it is a comprehenſion of them all; as the Fifth is of all in the ſecond Table. For which Reaſon we conſidered God as the only Object of Worſhip, under the former Command, and ranked Idolatry under it, as a Sin forbidden by it. But if we look upon Idolatry, as a worſhipping of God by Images, making this an Invented Medium of paying Divine Honour unto him, ſo it comes under the ſecond Command, and is forbidden by it. And on this Account, ſuch Worſhip is in the Scripture called Idolatry, though it hath been pretended to be paid to the true God. But I ſuppoſe, that becauſe the ſecond Command, doth properly reſpect inſtituted Worſhip, hence all exceſs in this ſort of Worſhip, is properly called Superſtition, and the former of theſe is only one ſpecialty in the Command; and becauſe it was a Sin, which fallen Man was exceeding prone to, it is only named in the Body of the Precept ſynechdochically comprehending all the reſt under it. We may then take a brief Account of each of theſe.
Firſt, THIS Command forbids the Worſhipping of God by Images. This is expreſly mentioned; and that in two Particulars.
1. THE Making of them is prohibited. Thou ſhalt not make. And under a graven Image and Similitude is comprehended, every manner of Repreſentation of God, whether in Statues or Pictures: For this general Prohibition, doth not reſpect things meetly Civil, but only a Repreſentation of the Derry, as we may gather from, Deut. 4.15, 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourſelves, (for ye ſaw no manner of ſimilitude on the day that the Lord ſpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midſt of the fire.) Leſt ye corrupt yourſelves, and make you a graven image, the ſimilitude of any figure, the likeneſs of male or female. Iſai. 40.18, 19. To whom then will ye liken God, or what likeneſs will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, &c.
2. THE offering of Divine Worſhip to them, or before them. Thou ſhalt not bow &c. And the latter is exegetical to the former. God reckens any religious bowing to an Image or Repreſentation, to be a worſhipping it. For tho' Idolaters have been ſo brutiſh, as to direct their Worſhip nextly and immediately to the Image, yea, the wiſe Heathens themſelves were not ſo groſs, as to acknowledge that they look… upon their Idols, to be real Deities in themſelves, or terminate their Worſhip on them: but they conceived of a God, whom they repreſented by the image, through which they ſuppoſed him to communicate himſelf to them, and in which they adored him, hoping for a better Acceptance. The Egyptians, when they found good or benefit by any Creature, they worſhipped God in it, not ſuppoſing that the thing itſelf was God, but that God communicated himſelf to them, by and through the Creature, and that they ought to worſhip him in it, and the Creature no further, then they ſuppoſed God to be in it. For this End alſo they made Images, or Portraitures of theſe and thoſe Creatures, before which they paid their Devotions, and on which they impoſed the Name of their God. And this is repreſented as ſinful and ſuperſtitions, Rom. 1.21, 22, 23. Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkened. Profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they became ſools: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God, into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four ſ…ted beaſts, and creeping things. Of this Nature was the Golden Calf, which Iſrael made in the Wilderneſs, in Imitation of the Egyptians, among whom they had lived and converſed. Nor did they ſuppoſe it to be God himſelf, but a Repreſentation of him, and put his Name upon it, as we do of a Perſon on his Statue or Picture. Hence they kept the Feaſt to Jehovah, Exod. 32.5. To marrow is a ſeeſt to the Lord. Of the ſame Nature was Jere…am's Calves, which were erected at Dan and Fethel, to facilitate the People's Worſhip, and was ſurrogated in the room of the Ark, at the Temple in Jeruſalem. Hence that Reaſon is given of the making of them, 1 Kin. 12.28. Whereupon the king took counſel, and made two …xs of gold, and ſaid unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jeruſalem. It is true, thoſe are called Gods, in the Word of God, and the worſhipping of them is called Idolatry, yea, they are named Devils, and their Service Devil-Worſhip. See. 2 Chron. 11.15. And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. Pſal. 106. 36, 37. And they ſerved their idols which were a ſnare unto them. Yea, they ſacrificed their ſons and their daughters unto devils. Partly becauſe the ignorant among them, were become ſo brutiſh in their Imaginations, as to terminate their Service on the Idol. Hence that Complaint, Iſai. 44.19, 20. And none conſidereth in his heart, neither is their knowledge nor underſtanding to ſay, I have burnt part of it in the fire, yea alſo I have baked bread upon it… coals thereof: I have roſted fleſh and eaten it, and ſhall I make the reſidue thereof an abomination? Partly alſo, becauſe God doth not account himſelf to be acknowledged as God, if his Laws of Worſhip be neglected, and other Rules be invented in the room thereof Acts 17.24, 25. And by this, the horrible Idolatry of the Church of Rome is manifeſted. Nor will all their Evaſions, and copious Distinctions, excuſe them from the Guilt of it. Falſe Worſhip is ſuppoſed to be paid to … God that will accept of it, which muſt be … falſe God, for the true GOD abhors it.
Secondly, THE Commandment forbids the Worſhipping of God, in any other Way, not appointed in his Word. Not only is it broken by making Images for Adoration, and building and dedicating of Temples to them, but by making any thing to be a religious Ordinances; by any other Authority whatſoever, beſides th… Appointment of God. It is not ſufficient for any Authority in the World, to enjoy a any thing as a Part of Divine Worſhip, becauſe the thing itſelf, is not expreſly forbidden in the Scripture, becauſe God hath in ſo … Words forbidden us, either to add to, or … miniſh from any of his Inſtitutions, Deut. 12. 32. There is therefore Emphaſis in that, J…. 19.5. They have built alſo the high places of Baal, to burn their ſons with fire for … offerings unto Baal, which I commanded … ſpake it, neither came it into my mind. God indeed, hath a ſovereign Prerogative to … Ordinances, & to repeal them, yea, to ch… the whole frame of outward poſitive Worſhip, as he did after Chriſt's coming, in … ſettling & eſtabliſhing of the Goſpel Ch… But he hath reſerved this as his Prerogative, and never did, not will part with it … Man or order of Men in the World. And the pretending of ſuch a Power about … indifferent, is a meet bigging of the Q…. For whatſoever indifferency may be allowed, to the things in themſelves, though all … Divines acknowledge, that there is nothing morally indifferent, yet God hath left nothing indifferent in the Eſſentials of Worſhip but reſerved the Power of determining them to himſelf, and therefore, if he hath not … manded them, they are for that very … forbidden. And the great Noiſe which ſ… do make about that Text, 1 Cor. 14.40. L… all things be done decently, and in wh… … but a Noiſe, and no more. There is … an Order and Decorum to be obſerved in the Worſhip of God, and there are the oc…, and variable Circumſtances, which at…d upon Worſhip, of which, there is … particular determined in the Word of God, but the Light of Nature, and the …ered Rules of the Scripture, are to direct thereof and theſe things are to be varied as the Circumſtances vary, and the Edification of God … People is concerned therein. But to … duce new Ordinances, or Parts of Worſhip, under the notion of Circumſtances, is a … ſo far beyond Religion, that the Rules of right Reaſon will not allow the Conſequence. It is ſinful and provoking to God, being … verfive of the Government of Chriſt in … Church, to call up any of the antiquated … remonics and Ordinances of the Lev… low, though once the Glory of the Church …, yet being revoked by God himſelf, they are now become rude and beggarly ble…s Paul therefore to deals with them, Gal. 4.9. But now after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, born turn ye … to the weak and beggarly elements, where… ye deſire again to be in bondage? And …res them, Chap. 5.2. Behold, I Poul ſay … you, that if ye be circumciſed, Chriſt ſhall … you nothing. And it that which was … glorious, when it had the Stamp of … Authority upon it hath now loſt its … when the Seal is torn off from … ſhall that which can pretend only to … …ne Original, ſtand in Competition … God's inſtitution? How unreaſonable? … may be believed, all ſuch Worſhip to …, Mat. 15.9. And needs muſt it be ſo, … it wants that Approbation of God, … alone Men can expect a Bleſſing upon … …hout which, it can never reach to the … of an Ordinance. It would be endleſs … …erate all the Particulars, wherein this Precept is on this Account tranſgreſſed, …king Additions to the Worſhip of God; …tile have been the Inventions, and ſo thought the Attempts of vain Men upon this …. Hitherto belong, the almoſt uncoun… Forgeries and Foppeties of the myſtical …lon, or the Church of Rome, who have … expunged, and partly depraved, the … Order of Worſhip appointed by Chriſt … Goſpel Church, and introduced an …ecal and Idolatrous Worſhip inſtead … Not are theſe only Guilty on this Ac…, but this Sin is to be found among … who have proteſted againſt this Mother …ots, and attempted towards a Refor… of theſe Abuſes, who yet notwith… do retain among them, ſome Relicts … Soperſtition, or have taken up others as … forbidden by this Command, though … not ſo notoriouſly Scandalous and I…s. And though ſome do practice … it than others, yet probably; there … Church, this Day upon the Earth, …th not more or leſs of the Guilt of … upon it. Eſpecially if we allow, as … …t to do, the pleading of meer Pru… to be Inſt itſions, and taking up of … Practices, upon no other Founda… becauſe their Fathers practiced ſo … them, not enquiring whether they …dained by Chriſt for ſuch. Hitherto … all thoſe Eccleſiaſtical Offices, which … in the Church, with new Names, … Powers, not only circa ſacra, but in …, which Chriſt never gave Order about, … they his Aſcenſion Gifes, Eph. 4.10. … alſo belong, all thoſe ſignificant Ce…ts, which are obtruded on the Church …, beſides ſuch as Chriſt himſelf hath …. There are indeed two Sacraments … Chriſt, which are myſtical Ceremo… be uſed for ſpiritual Edification, in … under outward Signs, ſpiritual Bleſſings are ſignified, and: Bleſſing is pu…m…ted to the right aſing of them. And theſe Chriſt thought ſufficient for Goſpel Times, and hath given us no Licence to …rid day moth to them. Furthermore, to this belong all b… commanded Terms of Communion, or Teſts by which Men are to be received into Fellowſhip in the Ordinances, when are not commanded. Chriſt indeed hath de…lateds, as that all ought not …e promiſcuouſly received, ſo what are the Rules or Trial, u…det which Men are to pus, in order thereto; and whatſoever is more, is Sin, and a Snake th… Men's Conſciences, Hitherto likewiſe belong?, a ſcrupolus Abſtinence, from any of the Creatures of God, under a Pretence of Conſcience, either altogether, or at theſe and thoſe Seaſons: And the Injunction of ſhell Abſtinence, under a Protest of Worſhip, of Imitation of Chriſts Faſt in the Wilderneſs And many more things of a like Nature, might be inſtanced in, but theſe may ſuffice. Nor will all the Pleas brought to excurved theſe things, vindicate them, ſince that one thing ſtands againſt them all. God hath no where required and therefore it is unlawful: Which Unlawfulneſs is not removed by anything elſe but a Precept of God, making it a Duty. Not, that the things are in themſelves indifferent, becauſe as ſo, they are no fit Media of Worſhip, and if they become Expedient, they belong to Prudentials, and are ſo far a moral Duty to be uſed, but becauſe that is murable, they may not be fixed; Not becauſe there is a Decency ſuppoſed to be in them, or becauſe they are thought to be orderly, for thoſe things may be ſo in Men's eſteem, which are lightly accounted of by God. Beſides, theſe things, under this Nation, belong not to the Ordinances of the Church, but the Prudentials. Not becauſe they have been practiſed by theſe and thoſe eminent Perſons, or famous Churches, for they alſo have had their Errors and miſtakes; and when they have at firſt come out of Apoſtaſy, they have neither ſeen every wrong thing, not been able to reform all that are ſeen, at once. Not becauſe Men ſuppoſe they may have a national Tendency to Edification, as being apt to move Affections in Men, or on Suppoſtion, that Rien have received Edificaton by them; for all that moves the Affections doth not truly promove Platy in Men, which is the only right Edification, but rather ſtirs up a ſuperſtitious Devotion, which is indeed deſtructive to true Godliness. As alſo becauſe the …ieſſ… and good Succeſs of Ordinances depends on God, and our uſing of them in Faith, muſt derive from a Promiſe made to be with us, and bleſs us in them. Whereas God Hath made this Promiſe to no other Ordinances, but ſuch as he himſelf hath appointed. Not a Pretence hereby to win Unbelievers, to have a good Opinion of the Chriſtian R…llgion, who are apt to take Prejudice, and deſpiſe the Goſpel Way, becauſe or the plainneſs of it. For God hath to need of ſuch Tricks to lavengle Men withal, but can, and doth when he lees meet bleſs the deſpiſed Goſpel to the Converſion of Sinners, 1 Cor. 1.21, 23, 24. For after that, in the …ſeem of God, the narid by wiſ…em …eem not God, it peaſed, by the f…o…s…aſ, of preaching to ſaw them that be have f…ouſ…ſ… of preach Chru… …, unto the Jesus a fian…regbink, and unto the Greeks f…e…iſuceſe: Eat unto them which are cali…i, both … and Greeks, Co…iſt, the power of God, and the …ſh… of God. As for other things they are but a pompoes ſhew at the beſt. Not finally, a Love to preſerve the Purity of the Church, and preſerve the Worſhip of God from Pollution. For beſides that all Additions to the Divine Ordinarces, are in themſelves a Pollution of God's Houſe, and a Depravation of his Worſhip, this is to impeach Chriſt himſelf, for want, either of W…ſacon or Fidelity, as if he knew not what was ſuficient for the guarding of his Worſhip, but needed the Wiſdom and Counſel of Men to help him; or that he had not Care for his Church, which belonged to the great Saepherd & Biſhop… Souls; than which, nothing can be more diſh…ourable to him, who is the Head of his Church: And of whom we have that Afiara…ce given us, Heb. 2.2. Who was faithful to him that appointed how, as alſo Muſes was faithful in all kith uſe.
USE. 1. SEE here the Danger of taking up Ordinances upon Truſſ. It is not a Matter of light Concern, whether we keep God's Commands or no. If then this Precept hath limited us in the Ordinances with which we are required to ſerve God; and either to neglect them, or to join others with them, be a Tranſgreſſion of it; it muſt needs reprove the … leſſneſs of thoſe, who do not enquire … footing every ſuch Practice hath in the Word of God. For, not only are we to do the things, but to do them in Faith, which require … Conviction that God hath ordained them.
USE. II. WE hence leare, what is the only Rare, by which to reform the Abuſes, which a any Time once unto the Church of God. …i… reſpect to the Ordinances, and the Adam … of item. If we would do this aright and … Purpoſe, we muſt reduce all to the P… given by Chriſt. We muſt ſearch the … tures, to ſee whether thoſe things do again to the Command of Chriſt, and redone … exactly hither. When there was an … crept into the Church of Cerim…h, abounds Adminiſtration of the Lord's Supper, …luſeth no other Rule to reduce them, … only by telling them, what he had reveived … Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11.23. For I have received of the Lord that which alſo I detroeved unto you. And if this be not laid in the bottom, all … Attempts will but tend to a greater D… vation.
Use. III. THIS may exhort us to be … careful to curſeives how we carry ourſcl…, … reſpect to the poſtive Worſhip. In a Wordd… take heed that we be not Careleſs, or Slig… about our attending on the Ordinances, and take Care that we keep cloſe and … thoſe which are commanded to us by Chriſt own Authority; elſe we ſhall bring … ſelves the Guilt of breaking this Command And of how great Moment this is, will … conſidered under the near.
[JANUARY 13. 1701.]