In seeking the Honour and Pleasing of God, and the Good of our neighbour, we shall most certainly find our own Felicity, which nature teacheth us to desire. So that all the Law is Fulfilled in Love, which includeth Self-denial, as Light includeth the expulsion of darkness, o• rather as Loyalty includeth a Cessation of Rebellion, and a rejection of the Leaders of it, and as ⟨image 24⟩conjugal fidelity includeth the rejection of Harlots. The very meaning of the first Commandment is [Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, &c.] which is the sum of the first Table, and the Commandment that animateth all the rest. The very meaning of the last Commandment is [Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thy self] which is the summary of the second Table, and in General forbiddeth all particular injuries to others, not enumerated in the fore-going precepts, and secondarily animateth the four antecedent precepts. The fifth Commandment looking to both Tables, and conjoining them, commandeth us to Honour our Superiors in Authority; both as they are the Officers of God, and so paticipatively Divine, and as they are the Heads of humane Societies, and our subjection necessary to Common good, so that self-denial is principally required in the first Commandment, that is, The denying of self as opposite to God, and his Interest. And self-denial is required in the Last Commandment; that is, The denying of self, as it is an enemy to our neighbours Right and welfare, and would draw from him unto our selves. Self-love and self-seeking as opposite to our neighbours good, is the thing forbidden in that Commandment: and Charity or Loving our neighbour as our selves, and desiring his Welfare as our own, is the thing commanded. Self-denial is required in the fifth Commandment in a double respect, according to the double respect of the Commandment. 1. In respect to God, whose Governing Authority is exercised by Governors, their Power being a beam of his Majesty, the fifth Commandment requireth us to deny our selves by due subjection, and by honouring our Superiors; that is, to deny our own aspiring desires, and our refractory minds, and disobedient self-willedness, and to take ⟨image 25⟩heed that we suffer not within us, any proud or rebellious dispositions or thoughts, that would lift us up above our Rulers, or exempt us from subjection to them. 2.
In seeking the Honour and Pleasing of God, and the Good of our neighbour, we shall most certainly find our own Felicity, which nature teacheth us to desire. So that all the Law is Fulfilled in Love, which includeth Self-denial, as Light includeth the expulsion of darkness, o• rather as Loyalty includeth a Cessation of Rebellion, and a rejection of the Leaders of it, and as ⟨image 24⟩conjugal fidelity includeth the rejection of Harlots. The very meaning of the first Commandment is [Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, &c.] which is the sum of the first Table, and the Commandment that animateth all the rest. The very meaning of the last Commandment is [Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thy self] which is the summary of the second Table, and in General forbiddeth all particular injuries to others, not enumerated in the fore-going precepts, and secondarily animateth the four antecedent precepts. The fifth Commandment looking to both Tables, and conjoyning them, commandeth us to Honour our Superiours in Authority; both as they are the Officers of God, and so paticipatively Divine, and as they are the Heads of humane Societies, and our subjection necessary to Common good, so that self-denial is principally required in the first Commandment, that is, The denying of self as opposite to God, and his Interest. And self-denial is required in the Last Commandment; that is, The denying of self, as it is an enemy to our neighbours Right and welfare, and would draw from him unto our selves. Self-love and self-seeking as opposite to our neighbours good, is the thing forbidden in that Commandment: and Charity or Loving our neighbour as our selves, and desiring his Welfare as our own, is the thing commanded. Self-denial is required in the fifth Commandment in a double respect, according to the double respect of the Commandment. 1. In respect to God, whose Governing Authority is exercised by Governours, their Power being a beam of his Majesty, the fifth Commandment requireth us to deny our selves by due subjection, and by honouring our Superiours; that is, to deny our own aspiring desires, and our refractory minds, and disobedient self-willedness, and to take ⟨image 25⟩heed that we suffer not within us, any proud or rebellious dispositions or thoughts, that would lift us up above our Rulers, or exempt us from subjection to them. 2.
