Rules to be observed for the understanding of the Moral Law, or the Ten Commandments.
1 Rule, That Christ the Lawgiver is the best Interpreter of Moses; or that the Gospel is the fullest and clearest Interpreter of the Law. The Writings of the Prophets are many times good Expositions of the Law of Moses. But the Writings of Christ and his Apostles are far more clear and full. In reference to Christ we have a known instance in the 5th of Mat. passim. And the Apostles frequently in their Epistles, as when we are commanded to shun all occasions of evil, to love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and our neighbour without dissimulation, and not to defraud him any way, &c.
⟨p. 80⟩2 Rule, That the Law is perfect, Psal. 19.7. as (1.) In it self, not admitting of any additional Precepts in the Gospel, which are generally obliging to all Christians which were not obliging before that Christ came in the flesh. For as for those three Precepts of the Gospel, for a man, (1.) To deny himself. (2.) To take up his Cross; and (3.) To follow Christ; they are rather interpretations and instances of that honour and love we are to have for Christ as God, which is required in the First Command, than any additions obliging, which did not oblige before; nay David himself did in some respect deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow Christ; the middle of these had place when he said, The reproaches of those who reproached thee are fallen upon me; and so Moses denied himself, and Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord fully. (2.) The Law is perfect in its extent and comprehension, in regard of the subject, for it doth command the whole Soul in all its powers and faculties; for it doth require the understanding to know, the judgment to approve that which is good; the will to choose it, the memory to retain it, and the affections to pursue and enjoy it; and upon this account it is said, that the Law is spiritual.
3 Rule, Whatever the Law commands, it doth forbid the contrary; as when it commands us to honour our Parents, it doth forbid us to dishonour them; and whatever the Law ⟨p. 81⟩forbids it commands the contrary; as when it forbids us to take the name of God in vain, it requires us to use any of the names, or titles, or ordinances of God with reverence.
Rules to be observed for the understanding of the Moral Law, or the Ten Commandments.
1 Rule, That Christ the Lawgiver is the best Interpreter of Moses; or that the Gospel is the fullest and clearest Interpreter of the Law. The Writings of the Prophets are many times good Expositions of the Law of Moses. But the Writings of Christ and his Apostles are far more clear and full. In reference to Christ we have a known instance in the 5th of Mat. passim. And the Apostles frequently in their Epistles, as when we are commanded to shun all occasions of evil, to love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and our neighbour without dissimulation, and not to defraud him any way, &c.
⟨p. 80⟩2 Rule, That the Law is perfect, Psal. 19.7. as (1.) In it self, not admitting of any additional Precepts in the Gospel, which are generally obliging to all Christians which were not obliging before that Christ came in the flesh. For as for those three Precepts of the Gospel, for a man, (1.) To deny himself. (2.) To take up his Cross; and (3.) To follow Christ; they are rather interpretations and instances of that honour and love we are to have for Christ as God, which is required in the First Command, than any additions obliging, which did not oblige before; nay David himself did in some respect deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow Christ; the middle of these had place when he said, The reproaches of those who reproached thee are faln upon me; and so Moses deny'd himself, and Caleb and Ioshuah followed the Lord fully. (2.) The Law is perfect in its extent and comprehension, in regard of the subject, for it doth command the whole Soul in all its powers and faculties; for it doth require the understanding to know, the judgment to approve that which is good; the will to chuse it, the memory to retain it, and the affections to pursue and enjoy it; and upon this account it is said, that the Law is spiritual.
3 Rule, Whatever the Law commands, it doth forbid the contrary; as when it commands us to honour our Parents, it doth forbid us to dishonour them; and whatever the Law ⟨p. 81⟩forbids it commands the contrary; as when it forbids us to take the name of God in vain, it requires us to use any of the names, or titles, or ordinances of God with reverence.
