A25294:946
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The thirty fourth Lords day.
Exod. 20. 1, 2, 3. Ver. 1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
IN these words are contained the preface of the Moral Law, and the first precept thereof. In the preface is contained the definition, division, and confirmation of the Law: The definition is pointed at by circumstances, which are as it were the specificative or differencing notions of it, whereby this Law is distinguished from all others: Whereof the 1. is, that God himself spoke it, or immediately by himself pronounced the words of this Law. 2. That then he spoke it; that is, after such a singular preparation ⟨p. 209⟩of the people, as never was used in the giving of any other Law. The division of it is contained in these words; that God is said to have spoken all the words of it; that is, of both the Tables, or all the t•n words; where respect to the whole, and to its parts is plainly pointed at. The confirmation, or persuasion used to confirm it, is verse 2. where a most strong argument is brought to induce to obedience suitable to this Law; and it is twofold, 1. In general from the Covenant; I am thy God. 2. From a special benefit bestowed upon them by virtue of that Covenant. The first precept it self, is verse 3. whereby is enjoined us, that we have Jehovah for our God; or Jehovah alone: So that in it two points are together enjoined us. 1. That we acknowledge Jehovah to be the true God, and none else. 2. That with all religious honour and worship, we worship him, and that with all our heart, &c. For that is to have Jehovah for our God; and not to be understood speculatively only, but practically, effectively, and really.