only is the Lord our God by this forbidding cōmandeth the contrary that he only shuld be acknowledged God he alone so loved feared c. In this commandement therefore we are first cōmanded the true knowledge of one true God then the confidence loue feare c. which is to be giuen to his person The true knowledge of the true God is to knowe his nature spirituall infinite pure constant most simple c. his properties of power goodnes justice c. the distinction of three persons in one Godhead the actions or workes of God his constant decree from before all time of all things his wise and perfect execution of the same in the creation and the governing of the world In this we should delight and growe as the chiefest knoweledge Ier. 9.23.24 Here is forbidden first Atheisme to perswade our heart there is no such true God in heauen Psal 14.1 Exod. 5.2 Mockers of him and his works 2. Pet. 3.4.5 c. 3. Those that oppone themselues to the true knowledg of God Mat. 12.21 Actes 6. Not to acknoweledg the loue grace power c. of God Mal. 1.2 psal 82.6 To deny his justice Malac. 3.13 The forgiuenesse of this sinne was bought by the slaunder of ignorance and blasphemie laid on Christ and the anguish of his soule which he felt for our errors laid on him by which also we die vnto this sinne and raise this part of obedience Ephe. 4.13 After this true acknoweledging of the Lord out of his word must proceed first a sure confidence in the Lorde with the fruites of the same Psal 100.3 Then the other affections of loue reverence feare of the Lorde Also a sure confidence in the Lorde is from the assurance of his favour to be assured from him onlie for continuall defence deliverance and succour in soule and bodie Psal 27.1 3. and 3.7.9 Prou. 14.26 From this confidence springes trust or hope which is to waite and looke for the help which in confidence wee assure our selues of from the Lord Psal 33.18.19 20.21 Yea although meanes be wanting wee giue glorie vnto God Rom. 4.10 2. Kings 6.16 From hence commeth it that we feare not in greatest dangers 2. Kin. 6 16 Psa 3 7 and 27.3 That in the time of affliction we are patient Prou. 20.22 Heb. 10.33 Without all murmuring to holde our peace Psal 39 10. Receiuing them as from a father Iob. 1. ver 21 Psal 89 39 49 Reioycing in them assuredlie Iam. 1 2 Hence also in every condition of life to glorie and rejoice vnspeakablie Psal 13.6 and 16.7.8.9 Ioel. 2.23 Zepha 3.14 Here is forbidden first the want of these and the contrarie as to wauer or doubt Psal 13.1.3 and 88.15 To leaue our hope Heb. 10.39 To dispair Gen. 8.13 Impatience Ierem. 20.14.18 To haue trust in ordinarie meanes and to make flesh our arme is forbidden Iere. 17.5.6.7 c. To glorie in these and be proude of them Deut. 8.17 2. Chron. 16.1 Ierem. 49.3.16 and 2.13 Eze. 28.2.3 Esai 30.12 Diffidence in binding God to means Gen. 16.2 Num. 14.3 2. King 7.2 Luke 1. To feare for the signes of heauen Iere. 10 2. To cleaue too much to the holinesse of places and persons distinct Ierem. 7 49. 1. Kin. 12 18. To hope in Astronomers Interpreters of dreams Witches c. Dan. 2 2. In Southsaiers c. Leu. 19.6.7 Planet gasers Deu. 18.11 To vse evil means to doe good 1. King 12 25 26. Ro. 3 4. Out of this cōfidence farther proceedeth a cōtinual carefulnes that in al our waies that is thoughts words and deeds c. we see his wil approoue it so for that cause look for his blessing and direction Pro. 3 6 and 16 3. Gen. 5 22. and 17 1 and 48 15. Psal 146 9. Numb 15 39. Here is forbidden to walke according to our own judgement and wisdome Numb 15 39. Gen. 11.4 Also a distrustful care Mat. 6 25. Luke 12 26. To this last of all is adjoyned humilitie when emptying our selues of all we giue God the whole glorie of all good thinges which are in vs. Genes 18 17. 1. Pet. 5 5. Esai 40 3 4. Forbid loue of our honor Math. 18.3 4. Vaine glorie Phil. 2 3. Boasting of any thing in vs 1. Corinth 4 7. Presumption Zeph. 3 11 12. Hitherto of a sure confidence commanded in the Law with those thinges which spring from the same the affections commaunded here the vse whereof is perpetuall are the true loue and reverence of God The true loue of God is when with all our soule strength c. we cleaue to the Lord aboue all Math. 22 26. Hence is commaunded to desire his presence more visible in heaven aboue all and rejoice in it aboue all Psal 16 10 11 12. 2. Cor. 5 8. Here is forbidden the loue of men wiues children or any thing of this life to desire it more than the Lord and his presence Phil. 4 18. Iohn 12 43. Reverence of God is when being overwhelmed with the infinitenes and excellencie of his being wisedome strength goodnes mercie justice purity c. We are drawne to behaue our selues more shamefastly and vprightly in his presence then before the greatest majesty in the world Heb. 12 28. By this is forbidden no reverence lesse reverence vnto the Lorde than vnto men as afore in loue The last is the feare of God The feare of God is when our heartes are moued and troubled with this aboue all least by offence wee shoulde displease our gratious Father and so purchase his wrath and punishment proceeding from it This feare differeth from the feare of the wicked First in that it proceedeth from faith hath alwaies comfort with it sure hope in perswasion of the loue of God Act. 9 31. which the wicked haue not Secondlie this is chiefly least by our infirmity we should displease our God where the wicked onelie tremble because of the punishment 2. Cor. 7.1 Here is forbidden hardnesse of heart and no feare to feare any thing as the losse of life goodes friendes displeasure of men c. equallie or more than the displeasure of the Lord. Mat. 10 26 28 13. Phil. 1 18. Act. 16 9. Apoc. 21 8. And the vse of this shal end when all infirmitie and weaknes shall be taken away Apoc. 21 4 5 6. Our remedie for this our sin is in the death and righteousnes of Christ who being condemned as proud making himselfe equall with God as loving himself more than God was found meek humble faithfull reverent towardes his father at all times 1. Pet. 2 22 25 yet so as when we receiue him thus our righteousnes we must receiue him our sanctification that in all these things we may be holy 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Pet. 1.13 to the ende Thus much of that commandement which hath prescribed duties directlie teaching to the person of the Lord. Now followeth that we owe him but in the outwarde worshipp
or if in any the partes commanded he appear negligent and cold Or to put them to any other vse than is commanded or be given to images superstitious monuments customes occasions or such like If any dishonor the name of God either in the vnreverent vsing or abusing or perverting and not vsing with that preparation before feeling at the present time fruite after which is prescribed his titles Word Sacraments works And if any prophane his Sabboth by vain pastimes going to plaies or giue not him self to the exercises appointed on that day out of the word If any neglect especial duties towards their equals superior or inferior in years gifts authothority as maisters parents ministers servāts childrē or people If any declare not a cōsciēce to fly evil anger malice contention quarelling fighting or any hurting of the person of a man either in soule or body not being carefull to succour the same according to his calling If any be found vnchast in body words countenance or gesture vntemperat in diet in apparel dissolute not caring to maintaine the contrary holines in himself and others If any care not for the goodes of another man but by falshood flatterie oppression c. diminish the same If he be negligent in increasing of his own by honest lawful means if he mispend it at cardes dice gaming c. If any care not to maintaine the good name of others but bee givē vnto vnnecessarie blasing of other mens infirmities by lying slandering backbiting tanting c. If any shewe himself careles to restrain the motiōs intisemēts vnto sin the lusts of the same Thē they shall vse the means following to redresse them The dueties which are to be applied to this rule are these Those which they must do by themselues Those which they must procure to be done by others Iam. 5.15 And the prayer of faith shall saue the sick and the Lord shal raise him vp and if he haue committed sinnes they shall be forgiuen him As this must be done for him in sicknes so in health as in this so in any other of the like nature The dueties they must do by themselues must haue two properties They must bee done with wisedom fit for those duties Patiencie fit Wisedom is that the causes may be thorowly sifted soundly reproued out of the worde of God According vnto this wisedome also vntill a fitter occasion this duetie may bee lette passe and with keeping the authoritie of the chiefe of the familie bee winked at for a time Eccles 7.21 Applie not thy minde to all the wordes that are spoken seeing thou oughtest not to heir thy servaunt cursing thee 22. For also many times thy minde is priuie that thou hast cursed others Prou. 20.21 Hee which bringeth vp his servants delicatlie shall in the end be depriued of his Children Patience fit for it is with keeping the authoritie of the chiefe of the familie to heare what can be alledged and by equitie also to allowe or dissallowe the same Contrary to which is hastines without discretion making the matter plaine that the conscience may be touched for the fault Also pride not to heare any excuse or defence deliuered in duetie submission and obedience of child or servaunt Finallie bitternesse which may provoke wrath rather then cause amendement Collos 3.21 Fathers provoke not your children to wrath least they bee discouraged Iob. 31.13 If I contemned the cause of my seruaunt or mine handmaid when they pleaded with me 14. For what shoulde I doe if the strong God should rise or if he shuld visite what should I answere him Nomb. 22.26 After the Angell of the Lord went forwarde stoode in a narrowe place where there was no place to decline either to the right hand or to the left 27. And when the Asse seeing the Angel of the Lord God lay downe vnder Baalam Balaam being kindled with wrath smote the Asse with his staffe 28. And the Lorde opened the mouth of the Asse which said vnto Baalam what haue I done vnto thee that thou hast smitten me nowe three times Baalam said vnto the Asse because thou hast mocked me I woulde there were a sworde in my hand for euen nowe would I kill thee Ephe. 6. And ye maisters do the same things towards them letting passe threatnings knowing also that your maister is in heauen neither that there is respect of persons with him And these are the properties of those duties The divers sortes are Rebuke Correction Prou. 22.15 The foolishnes which is bound vnto the hart of a Childe the rodde of instruction will remoue farre from him Prou. 23.13 Withdraw not correction from thy son when as thou shalt strike him with the rodde he shall not die thereof 14. Strike him with the rod and thou shalt deliuer his soul from the graue Prou. 20.30 Horscombes are for the evil man blewnes wounds and stripes pearcing throgh the inner partes of the bellie Prou. 29.15 The rod and rebuke giueth wisdome but the child let alone to himself shameth his mother Rebuke is a sharp admonition to take heed of the euill reprooued aright as is gathered out of that before Correction is when with a sharpe rebuk of instruction punishment is inflicted or laid vpon the offender according to their discretion cōsideration being had of the fault all circumstances of the same Yet if this at any time for some causes be omitted a greter is to be threatened and performed when they shall next deserue the same Prou. 19.19 Be thou greate in the fervencie of anger in forgiuing the faulte saying that if thou shalt deliuer him thou wilt further punishe him afterwarde Contrary to this is too much lenitie also immoderate correction Prou. 19. The rod and rebuke giueth wisedome but a sonne permitted to himselfe shamed his mother Prou. 29.16 Chastise thy childe and he shall bring thee rest he shall delight thy soule Prou. 29.19 A servaunt is not chastised with wordes c. That which they must procure to bee done by other is that when the former meanes will not serue they do according to S. Iames his rule send for the elders of the Churche that they may by new admonitions rebukes and censures of the Church draw them to repentance and if that serue not to bring them to the Magistrate and so those which they may to discharge them from the familie vnlesse they amend and those which they may not to kepe them in such order till God or the common-wealth cut them of Iam. 5.15 And the praier of fayth shall saue the sicke and the Lorde shall raise him vp and if hee haue committed sinnes they shalbe forgiven him Mat. 18.16 But if he shal not hear thee take yet with thee one or two that of the mouth of two or three witnesses the whole matter may be confirmed Deut. 21.18 If any man shall haue a stubburne and rebellious sonne
Corint 9 8. For ruling of his Church by his word Rulers who haue the care of soules committed to them Heb. 13 17. Iames. 5 14. Act. 14 23. And some of them to labor also in the word one by teaching another by exhorting some to attend vnto maners watching ouer the people to admonish them to comfort theÌ„ to pray with them when they be in distresse c to ioine with the others in the rest of the governing of the Church Also for the better relieving of the poore distributers of the Church reliefe Act. 6 2 Rom. 12.8 1. Tim. 3.7 c. Al which we must know delight in procure and everie one according to his owne calling set forward as Psal 27 4 42 23. 1. Chro. 13 1 29 6 7 8 9 c. 2. Chron. 15 3 12 13 29 30. Hag. 1 4. 14. In all these thinges commanded forbidden we may easily feele severall sinnes and corruptions by due examinatioÌ„ of our selues severally in every one but Christ hath by his death satisfied for our sinnes Rom. 4 25. and hath bin zealous in the obedience of the partes of this law that in him we may haue perfect obedieÌ„ce yet so as by his death we more and more die vnto these sins by his resurrection be made liuely to serue the Lord sincerely according to his will Hitherto of the commandement it selfe Now followeth the reason which is drawen from a double propertie of the Lord his jelousie in wrath and his mercie For I the Lord thy God .i. euen then being joyned vnto thee by my mercifull covenant as a husbande to his wife Chap. 19 6. A strong God The first title is added to note his great power to doe what he will so that being perswaded in the first propertie of his readines to punish and in the second of his readines to reward And first in this of his power we need not to doubt at all such vse wee should make of his titles Psal 2 12.115.3 10. Iealous This is a kind of speach taken from maried folks Hos 2 2. Ezec. 16. who cannot abide their wiues should giue either in affection or in gesture countenaÌ„ce or any maner of behavior to others that which appertaineth to theÌ„ only and by this we gather the greatnes of the sins either of grosse idolatry or any couÌ„tenance vnto it This jealosie he setteth further forth by the fruit that the Lord punisheth severely this sin Visiting iniquitie .i. punishing this sin or the transgression of this Law in dissoluing this holy band for so the generall word iniquitie and evil is taken sometimes for some speciall great sin as Deut. 17.2 psa 78.39 And here it appeareth that it must be so taken because it is not a reason of the whole Law but of this commandement onely This is further declared by the persons on whom it falleth The third and fourth generatioÌ„ Which is both because by the fathers sin disanulling the covenant by idolatrie the child falleth out of the same and continuing in that fall is punished justly for his own sin his fathers both Mat. 23.25 And therfore that which is added declareth those which are punished Those that hate me That is those that securelie commit spirituall whoredome against this commandement so this is nothing contrary to that Ezec. 18. Exercising benignitie This is the second propertie wherein the Lord declareth his reward towards the keepers of this Law that is free liberalitie or bountie for so the word singnifieth in receiving them into a covenaÌ„t of life and blessednes yea and that eternal Act. 2.37 Out of this we learne that as a childe to his father when wee shall doe all that is commanded wee are but vnprofiâ—able servants and haue done but our dutie and as if our father leaue vs no patrimony are we lesse bound to doe our dutie So if the Lord had not bound himselfe by his covenant which came from his free vndeserved goodnes could we haue claimed any thing by fulfilling because we did but our duty for the mercie of creating vs in great dignitie according to his own likenes and righteousnes But now hauing so many times offeÌ„ded since the knowledg of his grace and lying in his wrath both by natural corruption continuall serving of sin from the same daylie now is it not mercie onelie without all deserving when hee giveth vs by imputation the righteousnes of his Son and so eternal life and then transforming vs vnto his likenes againe when we are first set freely in possession of eternal joy This is inlarged by the persons to whome this is graunted To thousand generations Which sheweth that the Lord in respect of vs setteth his mercie aboue his justice But he setteth them forth by their fruites that be partakers of it That loue him and keep his commandements By loue he noteth that this should be the fountaine from which the outward obedience of this commandement shuld spring so that if we loue not delight not in the partes of his worship because in trueth wee loue him and his glorie These things are abhominable Ioh. 14.23 His commandements Here as iniquitie was put for the spiritual whordome against this commandement so commandements are put for the severall partes of obedience in this precept as the circumstance of the place doth shew by which we see all good intents are shut out As they haue bene severely punished of the Lord. Deut. 4.15 Esa 30.21 1. Chro. 15.13 2. Chron. 13.10.11 Hitherto of that coÌ„mandement which hath prescribed vs the severall partes or outward means which we must loue desire c. in his worship which we giue him 3. Command In this commandement as afore wee must consider first the precept then the reason The precept is Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Take that is make any vse for the word signifieth to take vp or lift vp on our shoulders The name of God is his memoriall amongst men which beeing in his titles most properlie is given to them whether drawen from his nature as Iehovah the Lord or his properties just holy merciful c. The God of Abraham Iacob c. Exod. 3.15 Hence because the Lorde in excellencie is remembred in his workes by likenes they are called his name Psal 8.2 2. Chro. 6.32 Much more his Gospel Act. 9.15 His Sacraments Mat. 5.6 Also true praier is the honouring of his name and euill the prophaning of the same Gen. 4.26 Mal. 1.11.12 Therefore here hee comprehendeth all these and forbiddeth to vse vainly that is vnrevereÌ„tlie rashlie falsly or hypocritically lightly or vnprofitably all which are vttered by the Hebrew word so that by the contrarie here is commaÌ„ded to know allow loue desire practise the true vse of Gods name in all the outward means of his worship by being prepared reverently to take it vp by bringing the proper affections in the vse of it