A37049:1387
A37049:1387
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
17. We also may by with-holding a testimony to the truth, ⟨p. 444⟩by not clearing of another, when it is in our power to do it, be guilty of this sin.
But especially is forbidden here public lying and wronging of another judicially, either in his person, name, or estate, and that 1. By the Judge, when he passeth sentence, either rashly, before he heareth the matter, and searcheth it out, which Job disclaimeth, asserting the contrary of himself, Job 29.16. or ignorantly, or perversely for corrupt ends, as being bribed to it, or otherwise. 2. By the Recorder, writing grievous things, Isa. 10.1. or making a clause in a decree, sentence, or writ, more favourable to one, and more prejudicial to another then was intended. 3. By the Witnesses, who either conceal truth, or express it ambiguously, or refuse to testify, or assert what is not true. 4. By the Advocate, by undertaking to defend or pursue what righteously he cannot; or by hiding from his Client that which he knoweth will prejudge his c •use; or by denying it when he is asked about it; or by not bringing the best defences he hath. And as to the first point here about Advocate •s, it is to be regretted (as a great Divine in the Neighbour-Church hath most pathetically, according to his manner, lately done) as a sad matter, that any known unrighteous Cause should have a professed Christian, in the face of a Christian Judicatory, to defend it; but incomparably more sad, that almost every unjust Cause should find a Patron; and that, no contentious malicious person should be more ready to do wrong, then some Lawyers to defend him for a (dear bought) •ee! I speak not here of innocent mistakes in cases of great difficulty; nor yet of excusing a cause bad in the main from unjust aggravations; but (says that great man) when money will hire men to plead for injustice▪ and to use their wits to defraud the righteous, and to spoil his Cause, and vex him with delays for the advantage of their unrighteous Clients, I would not have the conscience of such for all their gains, nor their account to make for all the world: God is the great Patron of innocence, and the pleader of every righteous Cause: and he that will be so bold as to plead against him, had need of a large fee to save him harmless. 5. By the Accuser or Pursuer, when unjustly he seeketh what doth not belong unto him, or chargeth ⟨p. 445⟩another with what he should not, or justly cannot. 6. By the Def under, when he denieth what he knoweth, or •••ceth it, &c.
But especially is forbidden here publick lying and wronging of another judicially, either in his person, name, or estate, and that 1. By the Judge, when he passeth sentence, either rashly, before he heareth the matter, and searcheth it out, which Job disclaimeth, asserting the contrary of himself, Job 29.16. or ignorantly, or perversly for corrupt ends, as being bribed to it, or otherwayes. 2. By the Recorder, writing grievous things, Isa. 10.1. or making a clause in a decree, sentence, or writ, more favourable to one, and more prejudicial to another then was intended. 3. By the Witnesses, who either conceal truth, or express it ambiguously, or refuse to testifie, or assert what is not true. 4. By the Advocate, by undertaking to defend or pursue what righteously he cannot; or by hideing from his Clyent that which he knoweth will prejudge his c •use; or by denying it when he is asked about it; or by not bringing the best defences he hath. And as to the first point here about Advocat •s, it is to be regrated (as a great Divine in the Neighbour-Church hath most pathetically, according to his manner, lately done) as a sad matter, that any known unrighteous Cause should have a professed Christian, in the face of a Christian Judicatory, to defend it; but incomparably more sad, that almost every unjust Cause should find a Patron; and that, no contentious malicious person should be more ready to do wrong, then some Lawyers to defend him for a (dear bought) •ee! I speak not here of innocent mistakes in cases of great difficulty; nor yet of excusing a cause bad in the main from unjust aggravations; but (sayes that great man) when money will hire men to plead for injustice▪ and to use their wits to defraud the righteous, and to spoil his Cause, and vex him with delayes for the advantage of their unrighteous Clyents, I would not have the conscience of such for all their gains, nor their account to make for all the world: God is the great Patron of innocence, and the pleader of every righteous Cause: and he that will be so bold as to plead against him, had need of a large fee to save him harmless. 5. By the Accuser or Pursuer, when unjustly he seeketh what doth not belong unto him, or chargeth ⟨p. 445⟩another with what he should not, or justly cannot. 6. By the Def •nder, when he denyeth what he knoweth, or •••ceth it, &c.
And by all of them, when business is delayed and protracted through their respective accession to it, as well as when justice is more manifestly wronged; this is the end of Jethro's advice to Moses, Exod. 18.23. that the people may return home, being quickly, and with all convenient diligence dispatched; which, to their great loss and prejudice many ways, the unnecessary lengthening of Processes obstructeth, and maketh Law and Lawyers, appointed for the ease and relief of the people, to be a grievous and vexatious burden to them; for which men in these stations and capacities will have much to answer to God, the righteous Judge of all the Earth, when they shall be arraigned before his terrible Tribunal, where there will be no need of leading witnesses to prove the guilt, since every mans conscience will be in place of a thousand witnesses, neither will the nimblest wit, the eloquentest tongue, the finest and smoothest pen of the most able Lawyer, Judge, Advocate, Notary or Litigant that shall be found guilty there, be able to fetch himself fair off. O! then all the fig-leaves of their fairest and most flourishing, but really frivolous pretences, wherewith they palliate themselves, vvill be instantly blown away by the breath of that Judges mouth, and so be utterly unable to cover the shame of their nakedness in the manifold breaches of this Command; then the greatest stretches of Wit, and highest strains of Eloquence made use of to the prejudice of truth and justice, vvill be found and pronounced to be poor, silly, and childish wiles, yea, very fooleries and babblings; after which, they vvill not speak again, but laying their hands on their mouths, eternally keep silence; It vvill therefore be the wisdom and advantage of the guilty in time to take with it, and resolving to do so no more, to betake themselves, for the pardon of it, to that Advocate with the Father, even Jesus the Righteous, who throughly pleadeth, and without all peradventure or possibility of loosing it; doth always carry the Cause he undertaketh to plead.
And by all of them, when business is delayed and protracted through their respective accession to it, as well as when justice is more manifestly wronged; this is the end of Jethro's advice to Moses, Exod. 18.23. that the people may return home, being quickly, and with all convenient diligence dispatched; which, to their great loss and prejudice many wayes, the unnecessary lengthening of Processes obstructeth, and maketh Law and Lawyers, appointed for the ease and relief of the people, to be a grievous and vexatious burthen to them; for which men in these stations and capacities will have much to answer to God, the righteous Judge of all the Earth, when they shall be arraigned before his terrible Tribunal, where there will be no need of leading witnesses to prove the guilt, since every mans conscience will be in place of a thousand witnesses, neither will the nimblest wit, the eloquentest tongue, the finest and smoothest pen of the most able Lawyer, Judge, Advocate, Notary or Litigant that shall be found guilty there, be able to fetch himself fair off. O! then all the fig-leaves of their fairest and most flourishing, but really frivolous pretences, vvherevvith they palliate themselves, vvill be instantly blovvn avvay by the breath of that Judges mouth, and so be utterly unable to cover the shame of their nakedness in the manifold breaches of this Command; then the greatest stretches of Wit, and highest strains of Eloquence made use of to the prejudice of truth and justice, vvill be found and pronounced to be poor, silly, and childish vviles, yea, very fooleries and bablings; after vvhich, they vvill not speak again, but laying their hands on their mouths, eternally keep silence; It vvill therefore be the vvisdom and advantage of the guilty in time to take vvith it, and resolving to do so no more, to betake themselves, for the pardon of it, to that Advocate vvith the Father, even Jesus the Righteous, vvho throughly pleadeth, and vvithout all peradventure or possibility of loosing it; doth alvvayes carry the Cause he undertaketh to plead.
In sum, that which in this Command in its positive part is levelled at as the scope thereof, is the preserving and promoting of truth, honest simplicity and ingenuity amongst men; a sincerely and cordially loving regard to the repute and good name of one another; and a sweet inward contentation, joyful satisfaction and complacency of heart therein; with a suitable love to, and care for our own good name.
UNTO all the other Commands the Lord hath subjoined this, for mans humbling and deep abasement in his sight, and it reacheth further in then all of them, being (as the words bear) not about any new object, (for it is concerning wife, house, &c.) but about a new way of acting in reference to that object, and condemning directly a sin, not so condemned in any other of the foregoing five Commandments, so that it also seems to be added to the other as a full and more clear explication of that spiritual obedience that is required in all the rest.
UNTO all the other Commands the Lord hath subjoyned this, for mans humbling and deep abasement in his sight, and it reacheth further in then all of them, being (as the words bear) not about any new object, (for it is concerning wife, house, &c.) but about a new way of acting in reference to that object, and condemning directly a sin, not so condemned in any other of the foregoing five Commandements, so that it also seems to be added to the other as a full and more clear explication of that spiritual obedience that is required in all the rest.
In it we have to consider, 1. the act, 2. the object: The act is not to cov •t, the Apostle expresseth it, Rom. 7.7. Thou ⟨p. 448⟩shalt not lust, which implieth an inordinateness in the heart, as being dissatisfied with what it hath, and so the positive part is contentment and satisfaction with a mans own lot, Hebr. 13.5 L •t your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: so that whatsoeve • motion is inconsistent w •th contentment, and inordinately desireth or tendeth to a change of our condition, falleth in as condemned here.
In it we have to consider, 1. the act, 2. the object: The act is not to cov •t, the Apostle expresseth it, Rom. 7.7. Thou ⟨p. 448⟩shalt not lust, which implyeth an inordinateness in the heart, as being dissatisfied with what it hath, and so the positive part is contentment and satisfaction with a mans own lot, Hebr. 13.5 L •t your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: so that whatsoeve • motion is inconsistent w •th contentment, and inordinately desireth or tendeth to a change of our condition, falleth in as condemned here.
The object is instanced in some particulars generally set down, such as our neighbours house, his wife, then his servants, &c. under which (as the general following cleareth) are comprehended all that concerneth him, his place and credit, or any thing that relateth to any of the former Commands.
Thou shalt not grieve that he is well, nor aim at his hurt, nor be discontent that thy own lot seemeth not so good. And as for the reason why this Command is added, its scope holdeth it forth, which seemeth to be this, I not only require you (as if the Lord had said) not to steal from him, and not to let your mind ran loose in coveting what is his, as in the eighth Command, not only to abstain from Adultery or determined Lust in the heart, as in the seventh Command, and not only the abstaining from wronging of his life, as in the sixth Command, and of his name that way spoken of in the ninth Command, or wronging of them that are in place and power by such heart lusts in us as are forbidden in the fifth Command; but I require such holiness that there be not any inordinate lust or motion entertained, nor having a being in the heart, although it never get consent, but on the contrary, that in reference to all these Commands in your carriage towards your Neighbour, there be in you a full contentation with the lot that God hath carved out •o you, without the least inordinate motion or inclination to the contrary, which may either be inconsistent with love to him, or with contentment and a right composure of spirit in your selves.
Thou shalt not grieve that he is well, nor aim at his hurt, nor be discontent that thy own lot seemeth not so good. And as for the reason why this Command is added, its scope holdeth it forth, which seemeth to be this, I not only require you (as if the Lord had said) not to steal from him, and not to let your mind ran loose in coveting what is his, as in the eighth Command, not only to abstain from Adultery or determined Lust in the heart, as in the seventh Command, and not only the abstaining from wronging of his life, as in the sixth Command, and of his name that way spoken of in the ninth Command, or wronging of them that are in place and power by such heart lusts in us as are forbidden in the fifth Command; but I require such holiness that there be not any inordinate lust or motion entertained, nor having a being in the heart, although it never get consent, but on the contrary, that in reference to all these Commands in your carriage towards your Neighbour, there be in you a full con•entation with the lot that God hath carved out •o you, without the least inordinate motion or inclination to the contrary, which may either be inconsistent with love to him, or with contentment and a right composure of spirit in your selves.
From this we may see that this Command is unreasonably and unjustly divided by Papists into two Commands, the one relating to the Neighbours house, th • other to his wife, and ⟨p. 449⟩what followeth: For, 1. this concupiscence or lust looketh not only to the Seventh and Eighth, but to the Fifth and Sixth and Ninth Commands, there being an inordinate affection towards thy Neighbours life and honour, or estimation also; and it is instanced in these two, because they are more discernible and common: This then showeth that God t •keth in this inordinateness of the heart, under one Command, in reference to whatsoever object it be, otherwise we behoved to say that either the Commands are defective, or that there is no such inordinateness to other objects of other Commands (which is absurd) or by the same reason we must multiply commands for them also, which yet the adversaries themselves do not. 2. The Apostle, Rom. 7.7. comprehendeth all inordinateness of heart towards whatsoever object it be in that Command, Thou shalt not lust, which is, as Thou shalt not desire his wife, so nothing else what is thy Neighbours. 3. The inverting the order which is here, in Deut. 5.21. where the wife is put first, not the house, showeth that the Command is one, otherwise what is Ninth in the one would be Tenth in the other, and contrarily, and so the order of these ten words (as they are called by the Lord) would be confounded. But the great thing we are mainly to inquire into, is the meaning of this Command; in which Papists being loath to acknowledge corrupt natures case to be so desperate as it is, and designing to maintain perfection of inherent righteousness and justification by works, do make this sin of Lust, forbidden in this Command, a very general thing, and all of us ordinarily are apt to think light of this sin.
From this we may see that this Command is unreasonably and unjustly divided by Papists into two Commands, the one relating to the Neighbours house, th • other to his wife, and ⟨p. 449⟩what followeth: For, 1. this concupiscence or lust looketh not only to the Seventh and Eighth, but to the Fifth and Sixth and Ninth Commands, there being an inordinate affection towards thy Neighbours life and honour, or estimation also; and it is instanced in these two, because they are more discernible and common: This then sheweth that God t keth in this inordinateness of the heart, under one Command, in reference to whatsomever object it be, otherwayes we behoved to say that either the Commands are defective, or that there is no such inordinateness to other objects of other Commands (which is absurd) or by the same reason we must multiply commands for them also, which yet the adversaries themselves do not. 2. The Apostle,
We would therefore say, 1. That we are to distinguish Concupiscence, and consider it as it is, 1. Spiritual in a renewed man; for there are motions and stirrings called Lustings of the Spirit against the Flesh, Gal. 5.17. 2. As it is partly natural to man to have such stirrings in him, as flow from the natural faculty and power of desiring, so Christ, as man, desired meat and drink; and this being natural, was certainly in Adam before the fall, and as the will and understanding a •e not evil in themselves, so is not this: It is neither of these that this Command speaketh of. 3. There ⟨p. 450⟩is a sinful Concupiscence, called evil Concupiscence, Coloss. 3.5. and the lusting of the Flesh against the Spirit, it is this that is here spoken of, the inordinateness of that Lust or concupiscibleness, or concupiscible power, turning aside out of its natural line to that which is evil: It is this which God forbiddeth in this Command, and setteth bounds to the desiring or concupiscible faculty.
2. We say there is a twofold consideration of this sinful Concupiscence, 1. As it is in the sensual part only, and the inferior faculties of the soul, as to meat, drink, uncleanness, &c. Or, 2. we may consider it as it reacheth further and riseth higher, having its seat in the heart and will, and running through the whole affections, yea, even the whole man, who in this respect is called Flesh in the Scripture, Gal. 5.17. and there is Heresy and other evils attributed unto it, v. 19, 20, 21. which will not agree to the former, so Rom. 7.23, 24 it is called the Law of the Members, and the body of death, and hath a wisdom, Rom. 8.7. that is enmity against God, corrupting all, and inclining and biassing wrong in every thing, so that a man because of it, hath not the right use of any faculty within him: This Concupiscence, which is seated not only in the sensible, but in the rational part of the soul, is that which is intended here, which is the fountain and head-spring of all other evils; for, from the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c. Matth. 15.19. it is the evil treasure of the heart; Matth. 22.25.
2. We say there is a twofold consideration of this sinful Concupiscence, 1. As it is in the sensual part only, and the inferiour faculties of the soul, as to meat, drink, uncleanness, &c. Or, 2. we may consider it as it reacheth further and riseth higher, having its seat in the heart and will, and running through the whole affections, yea, even the whole man, who in this respect is called Flesh in the Scripture, Gal. 5.17. and there is Heresie and other evils attributed unto it, v. 19, 20, 21. which will not agree to the former, so Rom. 7.23, 24 it is called the Law of the Members, and the body of death, and hath a wisdom, Rom. 8.7. that is enmity against God, corrupting all, and inclining and byassing wrong in every thing, so that a man because of it, hath not the right use of any faculty within him: This Concupiscence, which is seated not only in the sensible, but in the rational part of the soul, is that which is intended here, which is the fountain and head-spring of all other evils; for, from the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c.
3. We may consider this Lust, 1. As it is habitual▪ and is even in young ones, and in men when they are sleeping, whereby there is not only an indisposition to good, but an inclination to evil, it lusteth against the Spirit, Gal. 5.17. and is enmity to the Law of God, Rom. 8.7. and lusteth to envy, James 4.5. and conceiveth sin, James 1.15. this is the sad fruit and consequent in all men by nature of Adams first sin, and hath a disconformity to the Law of God, and so is called the Flesh, Rom. 7.5. and the law of sin and death, • Rom. 8.2. in the first respect, this sin is a body and a person as it were, an old man, Rom. 6.6. and in the other, it hath members in particular, to which it giveth Laws, requiring obedience. 2. We may consider i • as acting and stirring in its ⟨p. 451⟩several degrees; And 1. we may say it stirreth habitually, like the raging sea, Isa. 57. penult ▪ and as grace tendeth to good, or as fire is of an heating nature, so is this Lust still working as an habitual distortion, crook or bending, upon somewhat that should be straight; or as a defect in a leg, which possibly kytheth not but when one walketh, yet there is still a defect; or rather it is a venom which is still poisonous; thus Rom. 7.5. it is called the motions of sin in the Flesh. 2. The more actual stirrings of it are to be considered, either in their first risings, when they are either not adverted into and without direct excitation, or actual and formal approbation; or as they are checked and rejected, as Paul did his,
3. It may be considered in general, either as the thoughts are upon riches, or covetousness, or filthiness, without respect to any particular thing or person, or as they go out upon them in particulars.
4. We say we would put a difference betwixt tentations objectively injected by the Devil, as he did on our Lord Jesus, Matth. 4.1▪ and Lusts rising from an internal principle, which are most common, see James 1.14. The first is not our sin of it self, except it be 1. entertained some way, or 2. not rejected, or 3. not weighting and grieving us for the ill scent it leaveth behind it; for we having such combustible matter within, hardly cometh a tentation in, even from without, but it fireth us, or rather we having the kindling within, the Devil cometh but to blow on it, and stirreth that which is in us, hence it cometh, that seldom there is a temptation assaulting, but some guiltiness remaineth, because there is not a full abhorrence of these abominable ⟨p. 452⟩strangers that come into the heart.
4. We say we would put a difference betwixt tentations objectively injected by the Devil, as he did on our Lord Jesus, Matth. 4.1▪ and Lusts rising from an internal principle, which are most common, see James 1.14. The first is not our sin of it self, except it be 1. entertained some way, or 2. not rejected, or 3. not weighting and grieving us for the ill scent it leaveth behind it; for we having such combustible matter vvithin, hardly cometh a tentation in, even from vvithout, but it fireth us, or rather vve having the kindling vvithin, the Devil cometh but to blovv on it, and stirreth that vvhich is in us, hence it cometh, that seldom there is a temptation assaulting, but some guiltiness remaineth, because there is not a full abhorrence of these abominable ⟨p. 452⟩strangers that come into the heart.
5. This Lust may be considered, either as it is in natural m •n, where its shop is, and so it is called reigning sin, and the dominion of sin, it is a yielding to sin to obey it in the Lust thereof, to obey it willingly, as a Servant doth his Master, Rom. 6.12, 13. or as it is in the renewed and regenerate, so it is indwelling sin, without dominion, and endeavoured to be expelled, a law in the Members, and that continually is acting, but counteracted by a contrary lusting, Rom. 7.23, 24.
5. This Lust may be considered, either as it is in natural m •n, vvhere its shop is, and so it is called reigning sin, and the dominion of sin, it is a yielding to sin to obey it in the Lust thereof, to obey it vvillingly, as a Servant doth his Master, Rom. 6.12, 13. or as it is in the renewed and regenerate, so it is indwelling sin, vvithout dominion, and indeavoured to be expelled, a law in the Members, and that continually is acting, but counteracted by a contrary lusting, Rom. 7.23, 24.
3. We may consider this Lust, 1. As it is habitual▪ and is even in young ones, and in men when they are sleeping, whereby there is not only an indisposition to good, but an inclination to evil, it lusteth against the Spirit, Gal. 5.17. and is enmity to the Law of God, Rom. 8.7. and lusteth to envy, James 4.5. and conceiveth sin, James 1.15. this is the sad fruit and consequent in all men by nature of Adams first sin, and hath a disconformity to the Law of God, and so is called the Flesh, Rom. 7.5. and the law of sin and death, • Rom. 8.2. in the first respect, this sin is a body and a person as it were, an old man, Rom. 6.6. and in the other, it hath members in particular, to which it giveth Laws, requiring obedience. 2. We may consider i • as acting and stirring in its ⟨p. 451⟩several degrees; And 1. we may say it stirreth habitually, like the raging sea, Isa. 57. penult ▪ and as grace tendeth to good, or as fire is of an heating nature, so is this Lust still working as an habitual distortion, crook or bending, upon somewhat that should be straight; or as a defect in a legg, which possibly kytheth not but when one walketh, yet there is still a defect; or rather it is a venom which is still poysonous; thus Rom. 7.5. it is called the motions of sin in the Flesh. 2. The more actual stirrings of it are to be considered, either in their first risings, when they are either not adverted into and without direct excitation, or actual and formal approbation; or as they are checked and rejected, as Paul did his, Rom. 7.15. and 2 Cor. 12.3, or as they are delighted in, though there be not a formal consent, yet such a thing in the very mind is someway complyed with, as desirable and pursued after, this is called morosa delectatio; or as they are resolved on to be acted, and when men seek means and wayes how to get the sin committed, after that inwardly approving complacency and liking of the thing hath prevailed to engage the mind, to conquish, (for instance) such an estate unjustly, or to compass and accomplish the act of filthiness with such a woman.