A37046:156
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
AN EXPOSITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Delivered in several LECTURES. › Preface
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.
2. It cleareth what is the right Channel in which our service should run, it is in the Channel of the Covenant, our obedience is to be directed, not to God abstractly considered, but to God as our God, I am the Lord thy God, saith he, and thy God by Covenant; so the expression is, Deut. 28. 58. That thou m••st fear this glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD. This maketh our service and worship sweet and kindly; and without this relation there can be no acceptable service performed by sinful man to God; and that relation (that by the Covenant of Works once stood betwixt them) being broken, it saith it must be made up again, which only can be done in Christ: and it saith also, that this relation to God in him, and obedience to the Law, can consist well together.
3. It cleareth what is the right and great motive of obedience, to wit, the benefit of Redemption, love and thankfulness, upon that account, constraining to the performing of these duties that are commanded, that they may be done willingly, and in a cheerful manner.
3. It cleareth what is the right and great motive of obedience, to wit, the benefit of Redemption, love and thankfulness, upon that account, constraining to the performing of these duties that are commanded, that they may be done willingly, and in a chearful manner.
Secondly, It may be asked, why the second Commandment, and the fourth Commandment, have reasons pressing obedience annexed to them, which none of the other hath, at least expressly set down by the Lord? Answ. This may be a reason, because all the other Commandments are by the Law of Nature determined in mens Consciences, and the sins against them are by Natures Light seen to be evil; but the substance of these two, to wit, what way he will be worshipped in externals, and on what day as the solemn time of worship, being determined by Gods positive Law, they are not so impressed on mens Consciences as the duties required in the other Commandments are; therefore the Lord addeth reasons to each of these to persuade to the obedience of them, as to the second, I am a jealous God; and therefore will not admit of any the least appearance of declining from me, even in externals, and to the fourth, keep the Sabbath day, for I have put a difference betwixt it and other days, though before there was none, which is further amplified in the Text: Now by this reason