A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 211 (Questions 80 cont.-81)
SERMON CCXI.
II. WITH reſpect to Others; This Precept requires a Right and Charitable Frame of Spirit, &c. The Sum of this is, That we ought to Delight in our Neighbour's Proſperity, and by all ſuitable Expreſſions, Teſtify this Delight, as if it were our Own: And this is to be teſtified with reſpect to All his outward Concerns in this World, when we ſee the Bleſſing of God following him therein; and this ought to be, tho' we ſee that his Condition is Better than ours, tho' he hath a greater Affluence of theſe things than we have; tho' he is Rich and we Poor; tho' he is filled with outward Bleſſings, and we are in want of them; he dwells in a fair Houſe, and we in a poor Cottage; he hath his Wife, and Children, and Servants about him, and we are Bereaved.
HERE,
1. WE ſhould be Thankful to God for it, and acknowledge His Kindneſs and Benignity therein, and teſtify our Joy in that regard. This is the right Frame of a Godly Man▪ Hence the Pſalmiſt preſumes of this, Pſal. 119 74. They that fear thee will be glad when they ſee me: becauſe I have hoped in thy word. And it is enjoyed on all Chriſtians as Duty, Rom. 12.15. Rejoyce with them that do Rejoyce. And if our Spirits be Right, we ſhall eſteem that God is Kind to us, when we are ſo to others; if we do, as we ought, Love them as our ſelves. And if we are Glad with and for them, it is the way for us to reap the Good and Benefit of their Proſperity; for whatſoever we can truely Rejoice in, we are really Advantaged by▪ Paul could ſay, 2 Cor 1….9. For we are glad when we are weak, and ye are ſtr…ng: and this …. And this will hold as well in their Temporal, as Spiritual Good.
2. WE …ld Wiſh & Pray for their Pr…ſpe…ty. This alſo is o… thing, in which our Love to them is to be expreſs; we ought not only to Pray for their Salvation, but their Welfare in this Life, and a Bleſſing from Heaven upon them, and all their Concerns: ſuch a wiſh we find the Apoſtle uſing concerning G…s, 3 …. 2. And it was a Salutation approved of by God, with which His People ſhould entertain one another▪ not in Airy Complement, but with hearty wiſhes, Peace be to you which comprehends all Temporal as well as Spiritual Bleſſings under it. Hence that direction given, …mb 6.23 24 Speak unto A…ron, and unto his …, On this wiſe ye ſhall bleſs the children of Iſrael, ſaying unto them, The Lord bleſs …, and keep thee.
3. WE ſhould alſo be Grieved for them, when they are brought into Adverſity▪ When they meet with Frowns in God's Providence, Croſſes, Loſſes, Bereavements, we ought to ſhew them or Compaſſion and Mourn with and for them. Hence that▪ Rom. 12.15. Weep with them that weep. And in this regard the Pſalmiſt Vindicateth himſelf, and aggravates the Guilt of his wicked Neighbours, Pſal. …5.1…, 14. …ut as for … when they were ſick, my …thing was ſackcloth: I humbled my ſoul with faſting, and my prayer returned into mine own b…ſom. I behaved … ſelf as tho' he had been my friend, or brother: I …ed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his …ther
BUT it may here be objected; are theſe Duties Univerſal?
Queſt. MAY we not Wiſh, Pray for & Rejoyce … the Adverſity of …i…ked Men, and thoſe that … us, and the Cauſe of Chriſt in the World?
TO this let me briefly Anſwer,
Anſ THAT Scripture Imprecations are for the moſt part Prophetical, and are therefore generally uttered in the Future Tenſe, as Predictions: and ſometimes we find them uſed ſinfully, and therefore not for Imitation but Avoidance. And as to the matter it ſelf, it is obſervable, that Wicked Men are to be looked upon, either … being …et in a State of Nature, but carrying it Civi…ly among Men; or as they are our Perſonal Enemies, and treat us ſpitefully and unworthily; or as the open Enemies, and Perſecutors of the Cauſe and Church of God in the World: and there is a diverſe reſpect to be had to theſe. As to Unregenerate Men in general, we are to Pray for them, and Long for their Converſion, and Rejoyce when we have hopes of it; and accordingly we ſhould be glad in their Welfare. As to our Perſonal Enemies, the Word of God is fully clear, that we ſhould reward them Good for Evil, and if they rejoyce in our hurt, we ſhould rejoyce in their good. Our Saviour hath given us a full clearing up of this Caſe, Matth. 5.44. But I ſay unto you, Love your enemies, bleſs them that c…rſe you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which deſpitefully uſe you, and perſecute you: And this in Oppoſition to the Phariſaical gl…ſs, in …. 23. …e have heard that … …th been …. Th… … …v… thy neighbour, and ha… th… enemy. Finally, as to the Enemies of God & Godlineſs, who oppreſs the Church of God, and ſet themſelves with violence to ſuppreſs His Intereſt in the World Doubtleſs we ought to pray God to Appear, and Plead His own Cauſe, and Check their Proſperity, or Succeſs in their Undertakings, and be glad when God breaks their Deſigns, and brings to nought their wicked purpoſes▪ and ſuch Imprecations are warranted in the Word of God. Nevertheleſs, as to their Perſons, we ought, as l…rg as there is any hope, to reſerve ſuch a Love for them, as to Pray that th… may be Converted, and ſo made to proſper. And we know that Paul whilſt a Phariſee was ſuch an one; and how glad were the People of God when he became another Man, Gal. 1. ult. …nd they glorified God in me. But as to others, we ought to Acquieſce in the Providence of God; and l…e well ſatisfied, as in His diſpenſations to us, ſo to them, tho' they abound when we are under the Hatches; tho' they have greater Gifts, Abilities, Favour among Men, Advancements to Offices, or whatever elſe of like nature, it ſhould pleaſe us well, becauſe the Sovereign. Wiſe, and Holy God, who hath all things at His diſpoſe, hath ſeen it meet that it ſhould be ſo; and becauſe it pleaſeth Him, we ſhould be well ſatisfied with it.
QUESTION LXXXI.
WHAT is forbidden in the Tenth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Tenth Commandment forbiddeth, all Diſcontentment with our own Eſtate, envying or grieving at the good of our Neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his.
WE obſerved in the Affirmative part of this Precept, that the Duties come under Two Comprehenſive Heads, viz. With reference to Our Selves, or to our Neighbours; accordingly the Sins Forbidden, are reduced in this Anſwer and may be ſo taken up. Hence,
1. THE Sin with regard to Our Selves, is all Diſcontentment with our own Condition. By our Condition we are to underſtand, that Outward State which we are in with regard to the concerns of the Outward M…n: and it is all manner of Diſcontent whatſoever, which undermines our Satisfaction in the wiſe diſpoſure of God; or makes our Neighbours better Condition an eye-ſore to us, that is Forbidden, as it carries a reflection on the Governing Providence of God, in the diſpoſal of Humane Affairs. Now we reduced the Outward Condition to Two Heads, viz. Proſperity and Adve…ſity, and in both regards this Diſcontent may be o…preſſed.
1. THERE is a Diſcontent in Proſperity; viz. When tho' our Condition be Proſperous, …t we cannot be ſatisfied with it, …ut …e ſtill in …ſreſt about it. There is not only a Craving after more, which …efers to the Eighth Command, but we are Diſſatisfied and vexed at our Condition, as that which is not Good … for us, & find fault with it, as if we were Injured by it; either we think that we Deſerve better and therefore cannot be thinkful to God for what we have; or we ſee others in an higher O… than we are, and we think we deſerve it as well as they do, and look on our ſelves as dealt Partially by; and thus God is tacitly impeached, as if He were a Reſpecter of Perſons; and we inſtead of Rejoycing in God's Goodneſs, are Leavened in our Minds, and loſe all the Good of what we do enjoy.
2. THERE is a Diſcontent in Adverſity. When, If we ſuffer any Croſs in outward Concerns, or are L…w in the World, it ſo D…ſquiets our Minds, as puts us beſides ourſelves, and from our Patience: We cannot bear our State, nor ſerve God with Chearfulneſs in it; but it diſturbs us in our Work, and we ſeek all irregular Courſes to get rid of it. Hence when we are in a Low Poſt, and we muſt and will Live Above it, and break any of the other Commands of God, rather than comply with God's Will manifeſted to us in His Providence, this is doubtleſs influenced with this Diſcontent: And indeed a want of Submiſſion to this Command, and a Rebellion in our Minds againſt it, is that which hath a powerful influence into our Tranſgreſſing of the …. And he that cannot reſolve, rather to ſu…er the greateſt Penury in the World, than Tranſgreſs any one of the Commands of God, is under the powerful influence of this ſinful Diſcontent. He that cannot ſay with Paul, Phil. 4.12. I know both how to be abaſed, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things I am inſtructed, both to be full and to be …ngry, both to abound and to ſuffer need: hath not yet learned the Leſſon of Chriſtian Contentation. If we think, that if our Condition were otherwiſe, we could ſerve God cheerfully, but cannot do it in the preſent, we Che… our ſelves. It was a ſaying of Epic…r…s himſelf, He that thinks not his own Eſtate, though ſmall, ſufficient for him; tho' he ſhould be made Lord of the whole World, would ſtill be Miſerable▪ And becauſe this Diſcontent as it refers to this Command, ariſeth from our comparing our own Condition with others, tho' it leads us to Quarrel and Murmur againſt God's Government: It is therefore the Root of the Sins which refer to our Neighbour, and there…re is peculiarly to be regarded in our preſent Conſideration.
Hence,
II. THE Sins againſt this Command with reſpect to Others, are ranked under Two Heads, viz.
(1.) ENVYING or Grieving at their G…d By … we are to underſtand their Proſperity; or their Enjoyment of any of the Good things of this Life; and that, whether Abſolutely, if they enjoy them at all; or … p…ritively, if they have them … Affluence than we have; they have more o… better than we. Envy and Grief are here … together, as being the ſteps or degrees of the ſame Sin; or they may be conſidered as m… tual Cauſes and Effects. If we Envy another his Condition, it will cauſe Grief in us at the Obſervation of it; and this Grief will naturally nouriſh Envy, and ſet it on Work to do … Evil thing in the venting of it. Envy therefore is forbidden in the Word of God as a miſchievous Evil, and that which is pernicious to Mankind; and we are told that it ariſeth from the Concupiſcence that is in tho hearts of ſinful Men by Nature; Jam … …. The ſiprit that dwelleth in us …ſ…eth to envy. Of it we may take this Deſcription; ENVY is, a Man's repining at his Neighbours proſperity, looking upon himſelf to be Hart by ….
And here we may obſerve,
1. THE Object of this Envy is another's Good or Proſperity: Men are not wont to Envy themſelves, nor yet the Miſery or Infelicity of their Neighbours; but it is ſome Good thing which they Enjoy; either their Wealth, or Health, or Honour, or any Gifts & Ornaments which God in His Providence beſtow upon them. Thus … Envied that … and Me…a… ſhould Propheſy, Numb. 11.29. Thus K…r… and his Company Envyed M…ſes and A…ron the Preſerment which God had advanced them to, Pſal. 1…6.16. And the Pſalmiſt confeſſeth, Pſal. 73.3. For I was envious at the foo…iſh, when I ſaw the proſperity of the wicked.
2. IT is ſuch a Good of another, that doth not reallly Damnify us. We indeed think it doth, but it is Envy that makes ſuch a Repreſentation of it to us. We are never the worſe in our ſelves, becauſe another enjoys a Proſperous Condition; it is of God that his State is ſuch, and it no way makes ours other than it is, but it is the ſame which God hath laid ou… to us, who is the Sovereign Diſp…ſer …f all His Gifts and Benefits. Nay, poſſibly we are really Benefited by it, we receive a great deal of Kindneſs and Charity from him; nevertheleſs we Envy him, becauſe he is able to do for us, and we muſt be beholden to him.
3. HENCE, This Envy is, a K…pining at his Proſperity. If he is …t, it makes us Lean, our Spirits are corroded by it, we are vexed by it, and our Minds are filld with inward Diſquietment, and cannot take reſt; and this produceth Grief in us, at the ſight and obſervation of it. The Word Envy ſignifies a Looking into a thing, and it ſuppoſeth an …l Eye. Hence that, Matth. 2….15. I thine eye e…il, becauſe I am good. He is always po…i… upon, and prying into his Neighbour's Comforts; and thereby …e feeds his Malice againſt …, ti…l he is ready to burſt with it. If our Neighbour Proſpe…s it makes us ſad; if he be Commended, we are Enraged; if he enjoys any thing Better than we do, we Hate ſ… for it; if he do any worthy Action we M…ign him, as the wiſe Man obſerves, Eccl. 4.1. Again I conſidered all travel, and every right …, that for this a men is en…ed of his neighbour. T… is alſo van…y and vex…tion of ſpirit.
4. THE Root of this Envy is, We think our …ives hurt by this Proſperity of our Neighbour. But that we are ſo, but we entertain ſuch an … of it in our Minds, and thereupon think he … in our way: and that we cannot bear. There is a Carnal Emulation in ſinful Men, which moves them to Malign others any thing which they have not, becauſe they ſuppoſe that it …e…iens them, and they ſtand in their way: This was the ground of Joſh… 's Envy, Numb. 11.29. This w… the Reaſon of their Malice ag… D…tel, D…n. 6.3, 4. And this ariſeth from … Ambition of vain glory, which the proud …ts of ſinful Men are poſſeſſed withal; he …aks therefore, that if any Good happen to …ther, there is a real Evil befallen him, and be Repines at it. Now the things wherein this Envy diſcovers if ſelf, either in the Man, or to the World, are eſpecially,
1. HE inwardly Hates i… for his Proſperity, and …ſ…eth him all Miſchiefs. Envy & Malice …e inſeparable; and when a Man is Hated for any excellency he enjoys, either in the Worlds Goods and Preſerments, or ſhining Gifts, Na…ral or Acquired, that is properly Envy, or the … born of it. This was …m's hatred of his …her, Envy at him, as, 1 Joh. 3.12. Not as …, who was of that wicked one, and ſlew his …her: And wherefore ſlew be him? Becauſe … works were evil, and his brothers righ…. Whence that which is Good in another, makes him to be Maligned by us, it can proceed from nothing but Envy, which ſucks Poy… out of the beſt Flowers: and that which is the firſt indication of this in the Man is that he w…eth him Ill for this; inſtead of wiſhing his Proſperity, he longs for his Ruine; and nothing an better pleaſe him, than if he were out of … way: he cannot look upon him without …ration of ſpirit, and often his very counte…ce betrays a Murderous heart; ſo did Ca…n, …. 4.5. And if he ſhould proceed no fur…er, yet herein is he guilty of Tranſgreſſing … Command.
2. HE Meditates his Miſchief: And this it gennine Effect of the former. Where Ha…nd is entertained, it naturally and ſpontane…ly ſtudieth Revenge; and becauſe the Envias Man thinks his Neighbour wrongs him, by being in a better Condition than he, he counts him to be a proper object of his Revenge: his ward working on his heart are, how he may … out ſome way to Undermine his Proſperity, … bring him into a more obſ…re Condition, … he may no longer ſtand in his light. And in this he ſays a foundation for Tragedies, and …ere wants in thing but a fair Opportunity for as bringing to paſs his Devices, & giving being to his Pl… and no thank to him if he is prevented; and his Envy is acerbated and made more intenſe, and virulent Here…. Thus alſo Ca…m diſcovered his Malice againſt his Brother, in plotting his Death, and taking the Opportunity to proſecute it, Gen. 4.8.
3. HE purſ…s him with Deſtr…tion. Poſſibly, he hath nothing elſe to revile him for, but his Proſperity; he therefore takes all Opportunities to undervalue it to others, by ſhewing jealouſies & ſuſpicions, which may tends to his reproach; and if he can find any thing, which he may faſten upon, that carries a diſcovery of an appearance of Evil, he huſbands it to all advantage, and ſets it forth with the blackeſt colours that he can put upon it. If he cannot deny his Neighbours Excellency, he will put in ſomething to allay it; if he commends him, 'tis always with an Exception, which ſhall take away all the Commendation: if another commends him, he hath ſomething to throw in, which ſhall be a dead Fly in the Oyntment. Yea, he will for ever have ſome Fault to find with him, and after he hears any evil report of him, he ſpread, it and if there be none, he will Forge it; and if he do not aſſert it, he will inſinuate ſuſpicious, to undermine him withal; and if he be obſerved, you ſhall hardly ever hear him speak any thing well of his Neighbour without a ſting in the Tail: And the too common practice of this among Men, is a clear diſcovery, how much this cancred Venome of Envy, lies wrankling in the breaſts of Men.
4. HE Rejoyceth in his Hart: And this follows by the Rule of Contraries For he that Grieves at his Neighbours Welfare, he muſt needs be Glad at his faring Ill; he takes more Content in ſeeing Miſchief befall another, than if he himſelf ſhould proſper; nor can he take ſatisfaction in any thing, as long as he ſees the other in Proſperity: His thoughts are as Haman's words declared, Eſth. 5.11, 13. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes & ſervants of the king. Yet all this availeth me nothings, ſo long as i ſee Morde… the Jew ſitting at the kings gate. If a loſs befall him in his Eſtate, if he is …r…ſied in any of his Comforts; if any Reproach befalls him, and he looſeth the Favour of Men, and fall under any Obloquy this is ſport for him, and he can make himſelf Merry with it, as if he had ſo …nd great Spoils. Of ſuch as theſe the Pſalmiſt complains, Pſal …. 8 An evil diſeaſe, ſay they, cleaveth faſt unto him: and now that he lieth, he ſhall riſe up no more. And, 35.15. But in mine edverſity they rejoyed, and gathered themſelves together: yee, the objects gathered themſelves together againſt me, and I knew it not, they did t…r me, and ceaſed not. Job therefore purgeth himſelf of this, in Vindication of himſelf Job 21.29. If …joy…ed at the deſire … of him that hated me, or liſt up …, ſelf when evil ſound him. New they Inſult, and Vaunt over them, as if they had obtained a triumph over them, and … out. A…a ſo would we have it. And de…bleſs, there is not a more deteſtable V… t…le ſound in the World, and more carefully to be avoided & deteſted by us being every way miſchievous: It is a thing moſt unreaſonable; to Envy Men the Proſperity which God beſtows upon them, is to Hate them without a Cauſe; or when they have offered us no real Affront or Provocation. It is an Affront effered to the Divine Sovereignty; it is God who lifts Men up, and puts them down; He is the Supream diſpoſer of all the Affairs of the Children of Men. It implies a fault found with His Government of the World, as if He dealt Unjaſtly, and did not diſtribute His-Favours, either in Wiſdom or Righteouſneſs. It Envys God His Glory in the World, in that it is Angry if He be Glorified by another; becauſe he thinks that in ſo doing he out-ſhines him, and darkens his Light. It deſpiſeth and reflects upon the Gifts and Favours of God, as if they were Loſt, becauſe they are not Concentr… …n him. It endeavours to hinder Men from being Serviceable in their Capacities, who otherwiſe might do much Good in their Generation. It is far worſe and more harmful than Wrath or Anger, as, Prov. 27.4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is autragious; but who is able to ſtand before envy. An Angry Man will let his Anger be ſeen, and ſo it may be avoided; but an Envious Man is like the Adder in the Path: An Angry Man will be appeaſed by a juſt Vindication; but the more Innocent the Party is, the more embittered is Envy. In a Word, Envy lays a foundation for all the Miſchiefs that are perpetrated in the World, and undermines the Peace and Tranquillity of Mankind. And let a Man ſtand in ſome Eminent Place, or do any thing to oblige Men to do him Honour, and teſtify their due Reſpects to him, Envy preſently is ſtirred by it; and it is the common Reward which Ungrateful Men do repay the greateſt Deſerts of Men withal. Surely then, it muſt be hateful to God, and ought to be ſo to all Good Men.
(2) THE other Sin here obſerved is, All …nor…in…te Motions or …ffections, to any thing that is …ur Neighbours And this ſeems to be the moſt expreſs in the letter of the Command, intimated in the Word Covet; which we obſerved, intimates an eager and unſatiable Deſire after a thing. But tho' this be rooted in him, and is chargable upon the Man by his own. Conſcience, tho' there be no Overt Acts, by which he diſcovers it to others; yet it alſo hath its Outward Acts, which are the product of it, and do oftentimes break out as there is Opportunity offered for them; and this alſo doth foment and nouriſh ſuch Sins as in the perpetration of them, do prove to be the Tranſgreſſion of other Commands in the Law of God.
AND there are theſe things to be obſerved in this Sin;
1. THE Object of it is ſome Good Thing which another hath in his Poſſeſſion, and we have not. He is the true and proper Owner of it, by the wiſe Providence of God, in which He diſtributes to Man according to His holy Pleaſure, and hath given to them a Property in it and it cann…t become ours without a … Conſent of the Owner of it: And that th… are ſuch things, we before obſerved, under… Eighth Command.
2. WE look upon it as a Thing Deſ…r…d and thereupon we are moved with an Ex… tant Deſ…e of obtaining it. Poſſibly, we this it is more fit for us, than them; and ſo it attended with Envy; however we muſt here if poſſible, and are carried forth with ſuch lo… ing after it, that we cannot poſſibly be Ca… tent, except we have it from him, and becauſe the Poſſeſſors of it. We think it is more C… venie… for us, than for him, and would do a greater Kindneſs, and this ſtimulates us … wards …, and this was the incentive of A… to Covet Naboth's Vineyard becauſe it … Convenient for him; 1. Kregs …1.1, 2.
3. Poſſibly, WE may to gratify our Defi… be willing to do that which is Juſt, for the obtaining of i…. We would have it, but we …o… come by it in an Honeſt, way, and Pay … for it, than it's real Worth, rather than without it; for if we ſeek to Cheat him of and gain it by Oppreſſion, and his real … mage, this is a Breach of…tae Eighth Comman… but we are very fair in this, only we … have it. We therefore find that Aha… made t… faireſt Offers to Naboth that could be, in V… 2. And Aba… ſpake unto Naboth, ſaying Gi… me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a gard of herbs, becauſe it is near unto my houſe. … I will give thee for it a better vineyard than or if it ſ…em good to tree, I will give thee … worth of it in money. But ſtill he was guil of the Breach of This Command, becauſe could not be ſatisfyed without it.
4. NOR is it a Sin to Offer and Ask ſuch thing in way of Barter or Exchange. Su… Bargains are very Lawful provided there a free Conſent between the Parties, and the may be all Advantage both to the one, and t… other in it. Nevertheleſs, to Urge, and Pre… and purſu… the Perſon with unwearied Urge… cy, when he hath told us once and again, th… he will not forego it, but keep it for his o… Uſe and Benefit; this-ſhews the Inordinacy the Affection towards it; and that is the Covetouſneſs which is here forbidden; becauſe … can never be Quiet ſo long as it is in his hand or till we have gotten it into ours.
5. THIS Covetouſneſs manifeſts it ſelf, the Vexation and D…ſquiet of Mind, which … entertain, and ſometimes diſcover in our C… riages, at the Refuſal we meet withal. If … are ſatisfied, and well content, that our Neig… bour ſhall Uſe his own, which he is unwilli… to part withal, there is no Harm done; but we Pine and Fret, and are put out of good ſo… upon it, we therein ſh…w that we are Inor… nately carried forth after it in our Deſire And this alſo Ahab diſcovered in his Entertai… ment of Navoth's Refuſal; Ver. 4. And Ah… came into his …ouſe, heavy and diſpleaſed, becau… of the word which Nob… the J…rcelite had ſ… kent to him: for he had ſaid, I will not give it the inheritance of my fathers: and he …aid h… d…ven upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would cat no bread. Tho' he had given him a good reaſon, It was his Inheritance from his Fathers; and not only ſo, but it had been a Law of God, that Inheritances in Iſrael were not to be Sold, an he had ſinned if he had ſo foregon if; yet this contented him not.
6. THIS lay a foundation for the Uſing of Unjuſt & Injurious Courſes for the Obtaining of the thing. If he could have come by it in a right way, he would have been content; but if that cannot be, his ungovern'd cravings expoſe him to contrive and practice, ſuch as are moſt injurious; and rather than miſs of gratifying his Luſt, he will comply with the moſt Nefandous Crime in Proſecution of it: he will wait … Advantage to Hurt his Neighbour, in Revenge, o… to Force him to a Conſent againſt his Will, or to Ruine him, rather than be put by of his Deſires. This alſo was Notorious in Ahab; for tho' he did not immediately Act in that horrid Murder of Naboth, yet he Conſented to it; and as ſoon as it was done, he cheerfully went to take Poſſeſſion of the Vineyard: and therefore the Prophet is bidden to lay ſuch a Charge againſt him, Ver. 19. And thou ſhalt ſpeak unto him, ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord, Haſt thou killed, and alſo taken poſſeſſion? And there are many beſides Ahal, who are guilty of this Covetouſneſs, tho' poſſibly they have not riſen unto ſuch an height as he did, in the proſecution of it.
USE FROM the Conſideration of the Manner of the laying down of this Commandment, we may be inſtructed in the Spiritual Nature of the Law of God; in that it not only governs our External Actions, but our Inward Motions. For tho' this, as hath been obſerved, is included in every Precept, it is here peculiarly Pointed at, and it muſt needs be for our Admonition. And probably, God ſhuts up the Decalogue, with a Precept delivered in this Form, to Seal up all the Commands; and give us to Underſtand, that He requires the Heart, as well as the Life, in our ſincere Obedience to each of them: and the rather had we need to be careful to our ſelves on this account, becauſe of the Atheiſm, and Formality, which we are all of us too much addicted to. Let us therefore not content our ſelves, with an Out-ſide performance of Duty, but ſee that our Hearts be right in it; Couſidering, that as we have to do with a God who requires the Heart, ſo He ſearcheth it, and is intimately acquainted with all the framings of it, and is not to be impoſed on. And be we hence quickned, to watch againſt the Firſt Motions, and Stirrings of Concupiſcence within us, and not to nouriſh inordinate Deſires and Luſtings, and dally with them ſecurely; for as we cannot hide them from God's Alfeeing Eye, and curious Obſervation, who will call our Thoughts, as well as our Words, and Actions, to account another day, and charge thoſe Sins upon us which we pleaſing our ſelves withal in Speculation, tho' they never appear on the Stage of Action; (Eccl. 11 14.) So it is an awful Truth, that if we do not ſtifle Luſt in the Conception, it will Ripen for the Birth, and this little ſpark, as we accounted it, will break forth into a Flame if not prevented. And from this. C…mmand in ſpecial, as from every One of the other, if duly conſidered, and rightly underſtood in the extent thereof, we may and ought to learn this Leſſon; That we can never be Juſtified by the Deeds of the Law; but may in it, as a glaſs, ſee our Miſerable State, and abſolute need of Salvation by CHRIST, who only can ſtand between us and the Sentence of the Law which condemns every the leaſt Failure or Defect with Death; that ſo we may be the more powerfully awakened, to purſue that which the Apoſtle tells us was the main thing which he was in Proſecution of, Phil. 3.9. And he ſound in him, not having mine own righteouſneſs. which is of the law, but that which is though the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſs which is of God by faith. And thus ſhall we find the Law to be a good Preparatory to our embracing of the Goſpel-Grace, which is the thing we are next to paſs over unto.
[MAY 28. 1706.]