The law unsealed

To conclude, sure we are this Opinion is not unsuitable to the end of the Law, and that absolute Purity and Angelical Holiness God calleth for in it; namely, that not only when we are awake we are to be still with him, but that our sleep should not break our Communion with him: And certainly it is most safe for man ⟨p. 16⟩to humble himself under the sense of his sinful nature, and the sad necessity of sinning, both waking and sleeping, he hath brought on himself▪ that thereby he may the better press on himself the necessity of a Mediator for Righteousness, which are the great ends and uses of the Law.

We come now more particularly to the words which the Lord himself spoke: concerning the number of these Commandments, and general scope of them (as hath been said) there is no question: but there be four things we would speak a little to, for further clearing of the Text, before we come to speak particularly to the first Commandment. The first is, whether these words, I am th• Lord thy God, &c. be a part of the first Commandment, or a Preface to all the Ten? Answ; We think it is a ground laid down for pressing and drawing forth our obedience to all the Commandments, yet it hath relation more especially to the first Commandment▪ as the negative expression there cleareth, which is, Th•• shalt have no other god• before […] that is, no other then Me: what Me? even Me the Lord thy God that brought thee •ut of the Land of Egypt: So then there is a special relation betwixt this Commandment and the Preface, as including the positive part of this negative Commandment, and it doth especially clear these three things.

We come now more particurarly to the words which the Lord himself spok: concerning the number of these Commandments, and general scope of them (as hath been said) there is no question: but there be four things we would speak a little to, for further clearing of the Text, before we come to speak particularly to the first Commandment. The first is, whether these words, I am th Lord thy God, &c. be a part of the first Commandment, or a Preface to all the Ten? Answ; We think it is a ground laid down for pressing and drawing forth our obedience to all the Commandments, yet it hath relation more especially to the first Commandment as the negative expression there cleareth, which is, Th shalt have no other god before that is, no other then Me: what Me? even Me the Lord thy God that brought thee ut of the Land of Egypt: So then there is a special relation betwixt this Commandment and the Preface, as including the positive part of this negative Commandment, and it doth especially clear these three things.