A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 162 (Question 52)
SERMON CLXII.
QUESTION LII.
WHAT are the Reaſons annexed to the Second Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Reaſons annexed to the Second Commandment are, GOD's Sovereignty over us, His Proptiety in us, and the Zeal he hath for his own Worſhip.
ALL the Commands of God, are highly rational; and becauſe he treats with Men as Reaſonable Creatures, he lays matter of Conviction before them, of the Reaſonableneſs of their Obedience. It is true, he hath not ſubjoyned particular Reaſons to every of the Precepts, but only the firſt Five, viz. all the Four of the Firſt Table, and only the firſt of the Second; the reaſon whereof, is to be carried to all that follow. Now theſe Reaſons are, partly from the Authority of him that Commands, partly from the Conſe…es of Obedience or Diſobedience. As to … … tionality of the Duties themſelves whi… Commanded, the Precepts themſelves … carry it in them, either in general, or … lar, they being accommandated to the … of Slab; and therefore Witneſſed … the Conſciences of Men by the light … ture. For the Decalogue given on … Sin…i, was in the Preceptive part of it … mary of the Law of Nature. It is … are Poſitive Precepts of Inſtituted … which are to be red used to the Second … mand, which Man's Conſcience would … have diſcovered to be Duties, if God … ſo Commanded them, nor jadeed, … otherwiſe been Duties at all. But … Command it ſelf, which requires as … they in all theſe Command, and to rece… … tutions of Worſhip from gone elſe but … is Moral, and Natural. The limitling alſo of the Sabbath to the revolution of ſuch … number of Days, and to this or that Day … particular, is Poſitive, in the Fourth Command, … there could not be a Change of the Day, … there is in Goſpel titues; but the keeping of ſome Time Holy, for Religious Worſhip, is M…al, and taught by the Light of Nature, and hath in all Ag…s been prac…ced by the Henben… not meetly by Tradition, but ra… C…tion.
THE Reaſ… … joyned to this Command before us, are …e…ch … from bo…h theſe Top…cks, the …ſt from the tormer, and the otrer from the latters a… are in our Catechiſm gather… up under Three Particulars: Of which … may treat particularly.
1. HIS Severe gn…y ever us; I am the Lord, …. And how often … we …i…d this to … the only R…a… given for particular Pre… in the Lavi…al Law. And what force … is in the Conſideration of the Divine …cy, to make us very careful in Keep… doſe to the Duties of th…s Command, will be evident from theſe Conſiderations,
1. THAT God hath a Saprean Right of Go…nt ver all his Creatures. This Supre… of his, is …duputable. The Creatures … all his, every way. They are his by the … of Creation: They had their Being in…ly from him, a…d therein they owe themſelves wholly to him, Pſ al. 1….3. Know ye … the Lord … is God, it is be that hath made … and not we our ſelves; we are his people, and … …eep of his ſa…are. He…ce that, in Pſal. 9…. 5, 6. The ſ…a sh…s, and be made it: and his … formed the dry land. O… come, let us worſ… … how d…e… let us kneel before the Lord …ker. He who gave the Creature its …i… may well challenge its Homage. He who is their Creator, muſt neceſſarily be … ledged to be their Governour. He … the right of Preſervation: all Beings … mintained and ſuſtained by him, Heb. 1.3. …lling and things by the to…rd of his power. They live upon his Beneficence; they have …i…g but what he gives them. Surely then … Command them. Act. 17.25, 28. He … to all liſe, and breath, and all things, For … we live, and move, and have our being. And in reſpect of his own People, he hath the right of Redemption. The great Price this has laid down to Purchaſe them, was that they might ſerve him; and it carries … Obligation in it, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. In a …, He hath the right of the firſt Cauſe, … he muſt needs be the laſt End of all … Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, … him are all things: to whom be glory forever.
2. GOD aſſerts this Sovereignty of his, in … Laws to his Reaſonable Creatures. There …wofold Government of God, in which … …ifeſts his Supream Juriſdiction over …nd Beings: The one is common, in diſ… of them according to his Pleaſure, for …ly ends or purpoſes, Pſal. 115.3. But … …d is in the heavens, he hath done what ſo… pleaſeth. The other is ſpecial, in which … …les them by Laws and Precepts, to which …e …ires their active Obedience, with pro… them Rewards if they obey, and menacing them wi…h T…e …, in caſe of their d…e…ce. N… h…ght, of giving La…s to …, …el…gs … him, as he is their S…ver…g…. He…ce L… … Lawgiver are pat to ge…er. Iſ…. 33.22. A…d that this is his ſ…ie Prer…gative, we are told, Jam. 4.12. There is one lawgiver, who is a…le … ſave, and to deſtr…y.
3. THAT the …ivine Will is the Supre… reaſon …ur Chedrence. The diſtinction which … me uſe, that ſome things are willed by God becauſe they are juſt, and other things …e juſt becauſe he wills them, frund …. For tho… it be true, that God hath accommodated the moral Law to Man's Nature, and yet reſerved to himſelf a I berry of addi…g P…i…i…e Precepts as he ſees meet, to let Men know that he hath a Lordſhip over them; yet both the Nature that he put int. Man, and the Law by which he g…verrs them, are the reſul…a…cy of his l…nite W…ſdom and Will. And for this reaſon, the whole Rule is called his Wi…l. 1 Per. 4.2. For tho… he be Holy and Wiſe, and therefore will not Command any thi…g but what is juſt and good, yet he expects that becauſe He Commands, there …re We ſhould Obey.
4. THAT hence God's Will muſt be know by us, in order to our right ſerving him: Knowledge is neceſſarily requiſite to the Obedience of a Reaſonable Creature. For God is ſerv…d in nothing by Man as ſuch, but in comtormi…y to the Precept; for which it is neceſſary that he underſtand it. That therefore is ſuppoſed, Joh. 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them. If we do not do his Will, we do not pleaſe him, nor honour, but diſhonour him; and if we know it not, we cannot do it.
5. THAT God hath in his Word declared his Will to be, that we attend his inſtitutions, and conform to no other but his. This hath already been proved; and the Scripture is abundant in the Teſtimony of it. God herein proves his People's Fidelity: And whatſoever ſubterfuges and pretences Men may uſe, to put off the dint of theſe Precepts, yet it will ſtand a Truth impreg able to the end of the World, that the appointing of, or conforming to any Ordinances of Worſhip, beſides thoſe which God himſelf hath appointed, is a direct breach of this Command, and violation of the Authority of it.
6. HENCE every Tranſgreſſion in this kind, is a proper withſtanding of the Sovereignty of God. His Prerogative is here not only diſputed, but denied. God ſaith, I am the Lord, and require that you acknowledge Me to be ſo, and for that end, I command you to do theſe things & to avoid thoſe I reſerve to my ſelf the Power of making Ordinances of Worſhip; and if you acknowledge Me your King, do not dare to make or obſerve any other. So that when Me… tranſgreſs here, upon any pretence, they reflect upon God's Crown, and go about to pluck the moſt Orient Gem out of it: They caſt off his Authority, and ſay that he ſhall not reign over them. And if it be thus, ſurely then there is the higheſt reaſon, that we be very circumſpect to our ſelves in this Affair.
II. HIS Propriety in us. This is the ſecond Reaſon given for the Eſtabliſhment of this Command. This is expreſt in that Word, thy God. And this properly reſpects the Covenant into which God hath taken them. And in the renovation of the Law to Iſrael, it points to the New-Covenant, which is opened to fallen Man. For altho' it had its force upon Man in Innocency, while he ſtood nearly related to God in the Covenant of Works, yet by the Apoſtaſy, there was a ſeperation made; and now God was not his God, but his Enemy. And tho' an indiſſoluble Duty of Obedience lay upon him, as he was a Creature under the Law, yet the motive from God being his Portion, which is intimated in this expreſſion, now ceaſed; nor did the Covenant give him any hope, or ſhew him any way of recovering that Priviledge again. And tho' God had a Propriety in all Creatures, as they intirely derive from, & depend upon him, yet it is another manner of Propriety which is here intended, and is mutual. He is their God, and they are his People. Now the New Covenant may be conſidered, either as to the External, or Internal Diſpenſation of it, in both whereof there is an Obligation lying upon Men, to obſerve and keep this Command. As will appear by the following Conſiderations,
1. THAT God hath opened a New Covenant to fallen Man, in which be offers to reſtore to Life and Happineſs, upon Terms. Man was become every way miſerable by Sin. The Covenant under which he had his ſtanding, could not relieve him, but leſt him to deſpair; for it ſpake nothing but Curſes to him. But the New Covenant brought in a better hope. God in it tells Man, that he hath found out a way, how to ſalve the honour of the Juſtice of the Law, and yet extend Mercy, to the ſaving thoſe who ſtood condemned to die by it, Rom. 3.26. To declare. I ſay, at this time his righteouſneſs: that he might be juſt, and the juſt …ſier of him which believeth in Jeſus. But this Covenant partakes in the nature of all Covenants, viz. it hath its Terms, on which the Benefits of it are to be come at. And it is ſo, not only in the External Diſpenſation of it, but alſo in the Nature of it. For the Benefits engaged in it are convoyed in no other way to any, but by their being conformed to theſe Terms; nor doth God ſave any of the Children of Adam in any other way. The notion of an abſolute Covenant, is neither ſenſe in it ſelf, nor agreable to the whole tenure of the Goſpel. For God hath therein aſſured us, that we ſhall ſtand or fall, according to theſe. Hence we read, Mar. 16.16. He that believeth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be damned. Rom. 8.13. For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die: but if ye through the Spirit do m…rs…y the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live.
2. THAT in theſe Terms, God requires of Men Obedience to his revealed Will. True, … doth not require this Obedience under that Sanction, that he ſhall die, if his perſond conformity be not perfectly adequate to the Command, ſor he hath provided another joundation of Juſtification. However, he … ſo required hearty compliance with his Command, that none of thoſe who deny it, ſhall obtain Salvation by Chriſt. For not only … Law, but the Goſpel Threatning is out … gainſt all ſuch. We are therefore told, … Heb. 12.14. F…ll…w peace with all men … b…lineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. 1 J…h. 3.3.2 Theſ. 1.8. And tho' God … and will, pity and pardon the infirmities and follies of his Children, yet if they be not … right and cordial in their ſubjection to … he will reject them; if they be workers … Iniquity, they muſt expect to hear that … Word, Depart, Mat. 7.28.
3. THAT all that own Subjection to this … venant, d… therein profeſſedly devote themſ… to the service of God. There is an out … Diſpenſation of the Covenant, under the Goſpel, in which God treats with Man, about this great Concern. To which End, he … the Goſpel to them, makes the Offers of … vation to them invites them to comply … theſe Offers, according as they are prop…, and Men do give an Entertainment the…, ſo far as to ſubject themſelves profeſſedly … the Covenant, & bring themſelves under a … clared Obligation to it; by Virtue … they become the People of God, by … ward Denomination, and are Subjects of the Goſpel Covenant. Now all ſuch do de… their Subjection to God, and promiſe Ob… ence unto his Precepts; for this belongs … the Eſſentials of the Goſpel Covenant, … which they give themſelves up to God to be for him, and for no other. Yea, this is … thing that is ſealed in Baptiſm, in which we are conſecrated to God, to be his So…ts, and to do his Will. This therefore is required of all ſuch as ſo acknowledge God, … 2.19. Let every one that nameth the N… if Chriſt, depart from iniquity.
4. THAT all their Hope of enjoying God … their God in this Covenant, is upon th… … plying with theſe Terms. There are g…d precious Promiſes, contained in the … Covenant, and they that are Owners of them indeed, ſhall be happy forever. … Promiſes are ſet before all to whom … Go… comes, and thoſe who profeſs the Faith, do in ſome reſpects ſtand related to theſe Fro… It is therefore ſaid of Iſrael, Rom 9. … Who are Iſraelites: to whom pertaineth the …, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the ſervice of God, and the p… miſes. But ſtill, theſe Promiſes are make … them, on this Hypotheſis, viz. that they come up to the things there demanded of all ſuch as are ſo related to the Covenant; ſo …, till they come up to theſe Terms, they … nor challenge the good promiſed, to be … own, and if they never do ſo, they will not only miſs of it, but bring more and greater … upon themſelves. There is indeed, a …od Hope ſet before them, and they enjoy act the Advantages of the Means for obtaining, but if they remain in their Sins, and do not yield all Obedience to the Command, according to Truth and Sincerity, they will loſe their Hopes, and come into greater Condemnation. Hence that, Joh. 3.19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the …, and men loved darkneſs rather than light, becauſe their deeds were evil.
5. THAT when God hath given to Men, the … neceſſary for this Obedience, be doth is for this Deſign. Man by his Fall, loſt not only his …elity, but his Ability too, being ſtript of all thoſe ſanctifying Graces, in which his Power lay. Now God, in the internal Application of the new Covenant, which is done is Converſion reſtores thoſe Powers to the M…n, by renewing him in the Image of his Mind; by putting his Spirit upon him, and …priating on his Heart, thoſe Graces which he had loſt, and which are neceſſary to all ſuch as ſerve God acceptably. Thus there firſt the Tenor of the new Covenant is expoſed, Jer. 31.32. &c. Now there muſt be … Aim or Deſign in this Work of the Spirit ſo… God doth nothing in Vain; and this was that they might be enabled to comply with the Terms of the Covenant, and ſerve God in newneſs of Life. God himſelf hath … on this Account, Iſa. 43.21. This people … I formed for my ſelf, they ſhall ſhew forth of praiſe. And it is expreſſed in, Luk. 1.74, … That he would grant unto us, that we being …red out of the bands of our enemies, might ſaw him without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him, all the days of our life. This … …med at in the Redemption wrought by Chriſt. So that if theſe do not thus live they would have received the Grace of God in Vain.
6. THAT all the Promiſes of this Convenant, … to be the Encouragements of this Obedience. There are great and precious Promiſe …le in the Goſpel to all the Children of God, and they are ſealed to them upon their … cloſing in, with the Terms on which they are offered. Now, though it be true, time all theſe Promiſes are free, and made for the diſcovery of the Riches of God's Grace to …le Man; yet as they are connected … preceptive Part of the Covenant, and …table from it, ſo they are thoſe Cords …tore, with which God draws us to his Ser… as they are to let us know that we ſerve … Maſter, ſo they are to ſtimulate us to … him cheerfully and faithfully. The A… therefore builds his Exhortation upon … 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe promiſes (dearly beloved) let us cleanſe ourſelves … all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, perſecting … in the fear of God. And it is uſed as … Argument, to animate Chriſtians to Fide… and Conſtancy, in their ſerving of God, had … 6.9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due ſeaſon we ſhall reap, if we ſaint … Rev 2.1…. There are a great many Temptations and Diſcouragements which God's People encounter, in the way of now Obedience, but they are correc…rated by theſe Premiſes againſt them all. This carried Moſes thro' all. Heb. 11.26. Esteerming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures an … he had reſpect unto the re…m…enſe … reward. And indeed, this is the only way wherein we can teſtify our Gratitude to God. for all the kindneſs he hath ſhown us in the Covenant, and all that he requires of us. As he told them, Deut. 10.1…, 20. I …all heaven end earth to reward this day againſt …, that I have ſet before yea life and death … and our ſing; therefore …ſe life, this …th th…n and thy ſeed may …: That … a …ed love the Lord thy God, end that i… a …y…ſt they …, end thou then n…d have unto him.
7. THAT God's Glory is ſpecially concerned, in their faithful keeping of his Command. We formerly obſerved, that ſeveral of the Reaſons given to particular Commands, are in themſelves general, and applicable to them all, as inforcing of Univerſal Obedience: and ſuch is this under our Conſideration. But there is ſome ſpecially intended, in affixing it to this particular; and that is, that God is more peculiarly honoured or diſhonoured, according as this Command is obſerved or neglected. Inſtituted Worſhip is a main diſtinguiſhing note between the true & falſe Church. Iſrael were therein to be diffe…renced from all the Nations, by their ſtanding faſt to the Laws and Ordinances given them by God. This is the great trial of out Obedience, and wherein we make it appear that we do acknowledge him to be the Lord our God. when we dare not to turn away from the Command, to the right hand or to the left. This was his commendation, 2 Kin 22.2. And he did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not to the right hand or to the left.
III. THE Zeal which he hath for his own Worſhip. Which is firſt aſſerted, I am a jealous God; and commorated upon, both in his juſt revenge on the breakers of this Command, viſiting, &c. and in the rich Mercy which he hath in ſtore for ſuch as keep it, ſhewing Mercy, &c. Men may think it a light matter to neglect Inſtituted Worſhip, or to obey & practice humance Inſtitutions in Worſhip, but God aſſures us, that he hath another eſteem of it. The word tranſlated jealous, ſignifies both to be zealous, and jealous, and there is a propinquity in them; for the more Zeal that a Perſon hath for a thing, the more jealous will he be apt to be, of being oppoſed in it. But this Word hath a ſpecial uſe, to ſet forth the jealouſy between Husband and Wiſe, in reſpect of Conjugal Fidelity; and therefore it is connected with the mention of the relation between them, I thy God, am jealous. It intends, the…: God looks on the Covenant between him and them, as a Marriage Covenant; and that he expected they would be true to him; and looked upon it as a moſt horrible abuſe offered to him, to be otherwiſe; and therefore it would be a gri… us prevocation to him for them ſo to do. For this reaſon, all the Idolatrous and Superſtitious practices of Iſrael are ſo often in Prophetical Scriptures, repreſented under the rule of Adultery, becauſe in them they plaid falſe with God, as an Adultneſs doth with her Husband. And the reaſon why this is peculiarly mentioned under the Second Command is becauſe God's Ordinances are the Media of Special & Conjugal Communion between him and his People, in which he applies his peculiar Favours to them, and beſtows his Loves upon them; and they by their Fidelity to them, give teſtimony of their Chaſtity, that their love is ſet upon him alone, that they are ſatistyed in Communnion with him, and that they are for him and no other. Whereas, when they go from God's Inſtitutions, and follow Men's Inventions, they go a Whoring from him, and ſeek after other Lovers, which muſt needs ſtir up his jealouſy. Now God ſets forth this Zeal of his, in two Particulars. The one for our Caution, to take heed how we tamper in matters of Worſhip, the other to encourage us in our Fidelity.
1. HE threatens remarkable Revenge upon thoſe that bring themſelves under we Guilt of falſe Worſhip, Viſiting, &c. Where by the way obſerve, he doth not ſay of thoſe that make graven Images, but of thoſe that late Me, thereby intimating, that falſe Worſhip proceeds from, and is an indication of, Men's hatred of God. The ſpecial Penalty here mentioned is, his leaving ſome notable mark of his diſpleaſure upon the Poſterity of ſuch. Tho' he alſo limits it to the third or fourth Generation; thereby to ſhew his pity; yet he lets ſuch know, that he will make ſome Monuments of his jealous Revenge on them. Touching the equity of God's doing this, there are many Diſputes. I ſhall only here briefly obſerve; That no Man ſuffers Eternal Puniſhments for the Sins of any of his Progenitors, excepting the firſt Tranſgreſſion of our firſt Parents, in whom all ſinned, Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man ſin entred into the world, and death by ſin: ſo death poſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned. But Men ſuffer that for their own Sins. That God ſometimes leaves the Children of ſuch Apoſtates to follow their Fathers ſteps, as a witneſs againſt them, tho' yet theſe Children have Sin enough on them, to juſtify God's ſo leaving them. That God often, in the diſpenſation of temporary Providences, leaves ſome awful marks of this Severity upon the Children of falſe Worſhippers. Sometimes he cuts off whole Families for that reaſon. So he did by the Family of Jereboam, for his ſetting up the Calves: And tho' he had one godly Son, yet he muſt dye too, tho' favoured to die in his Bed. Thus alſo he dealt with Baoſha, and Ahah: And ſometimes he brings the Familiar to beggary and contempt: as he did that of Eſt, for his ſuffering his Sons to abuſe God's Inſtituted Worſhip. Howerver, God uſeth his Sovereignty here. Thus we find, that notwithſtanding Aba… had been wofully guilty, in defiling the Houſe of God with Superſtitions, yet Hezekiah his Son was a great Reformer, and a glorious Prince. Nevertheleſs this is that which ſuch may and ought to expect from God; and they that regard it not, lay in ill for their Children, and diſea… that they are more cruel to them than the Oſtriches. And ſurely, did Men believe the Truth of this Threatning, they would be more heedful to themſelves in this regard.
2. HE Promiſeth ſignal Bleſſing to thoſe … uphold the purity of his Worſhip. And ſhwing Mercy, &c. When he ſaith, that keep his Commandments, it reſpects all the Precepts of God: but it is mentioned in this, to let us know, that they who are not careful in this, will not regard the other Commands of God. Theſe are further indigitated, by the Principle from which their Obedience flows, viz. Love to God, that Love Me; ſignifying, that External conformity without cordial reſpect to God, will not be acceptable to him. And be further adds the Spring from which that Bleſſing derives, viz the Mercy of God. The Word ſignifies a free and underſerved benignity beſtowed. Noting, that our beſt Service cannot merit the bleſſing, but it is a fruit of God's meer good will, and that he here alſo acts his Sovereignty And to make it appears, he hath ſometimes left the Children of holy Men, to bring remarkable Judgments on themſelves: As the two Sons of A…ron, God' Sci…, and Manaſſch the Son of holy Hezekiah. … may finally obſerve, the difference between the Threatning and Promiſe; that is limited to the third and fourth Generation, this is extended to a thouſand, i.e. Generations, as it is expounded, Pſal. 105.8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which be commanded to a thouſand generations. Which … Hyperbolical, yet carries great emphaſis in it. And it hath been remarkable, how God hath bleſſed the Poſterity of ſuch as have been Zealous for his Worſhip, and … Reformers of it. So that love to our Poſ…city ſhould it fluence us with this care. A…it is obſervable, that when any of God's …ts have been faithful in looking after the p… Worſhip of God, tho' they have friled in many things, yet God hath born that Teſtimony for them, that they did that which was right in his ſight: Whereas, if they ha… but ſo much as tolerated high Places tho' to offer Sacrifice only to the true God, he hath ſet a note upon that, as diminutive of their glory.
USE. LET the Conſideration of theſethings, make us very cautious to our ſelves, how we entertain the Ordinances of Worſhip: That me keep exact to thoſe of Divine Inſtitution, and neither neglect, nor go beyond them. And there is …ough in the reaſon laid down to inforce … Exhortation. And for our help I ſhall …ly offer thoſe Rules,
1. LET the Fear of God rule in our Hearts. This is that which only will keep us in awe. L…s account his favour better than Life, and his frowns worſe than Death. Belive, that he is an holy God, and jealous for his great Name, and this Fear maintained, will curb … wantonneſs.
2. LET us maintain an high and venerable … of God's Wiſdom & Fidelity. All falſe …ſhip is introduced, under a ſuppoſition, … Chriſt hath not done ſufficient in his …, for the carrying on of Poſitive Wor… and therefore Men muſt do ſomething is their Prudence that may help it. But if … reſolve, as we ought, that Chriſt Loves his Church, and is infinitely Wiſe, and knows what it needs for it's Edification; and is Faithful in his Houſe; this will curb in out Curioſity, and reſtrain our Luxuriancy. and make us abundantly ſatisfy'd in his Ordinances.
3. LET us acknowledge the intire dependance of the Efficacy of all Ordinances in Worship, upon his Bleſſing. Remember, that Means will do nothing of themſelves; that all our Encouragement to attend on them, is our hope that he will bleſs them for our profiting: That he bath promiſed this bleſſing to the due attendance on his Appointments; that he hath not engaged it to any of Men's deviſing, but threatned them that obſerve them. So that we cannot in Faith wait on any other, but thoſe which are his own.
[FEBRUARY 10. 1701.]