A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

To close up all, let us consider a little these words, Rom. 7.7. I had not known lust except the law had said thou shalt not covet: I shall only premit this one word, that it is something peculiar to this Command, that men in nature come not the length of taking it up, Paul before conversion knew that the consented-to desire of an unlawful thing was sin, but he knew not this narrow bounding of men to be intended in this Command.

In the words then you may take up these three, 1. That there is a great sinfulness and inordinacy in folks hearts, even in the least things, which oft-times they take no notice of 2. That generally men in nature do not advert to this, and are never throughly humbled under it. 3. That there is such an indwelling lust as this, which is spoken of here even in the heart of the believer, and obedience to this Command will be as seriously aimed at by him, and he will be as much troubled and affected with the breach of it, as of any of the other Commands.

In the words then you may take up these three, 1. That there is a great sinfulness and inordinacie in folks hearts, even in the least things, which oft-times they take no notice of 2. That generally men in nature do not advert to this, and are never throughly humbled under it. 3. That there is such an indwelling lust as this, which is spoken of here even in the heart of the believer, and obedience to this Command will be as seriously aimed at by him, and he will be as much troubled and affected with the breach of it, as of any of the other Commands.

As to the first, I shall first interrogate you a few things, 1. How often is your mind stirring and reeling like the raging Sea? 2. How often, or rather how seldom, can ye say that these motions and stirrings are conform to the Law of God, or consisting with true love to God, and delight in him and in his Law? Are there not in your hearts wonderful swarms of vain Imaginations that ye cannot give a reason for, and cannot tell how they come in, nor how they go out? which yet are all breaches of this Command. 3. How often do ye take notice of them, or are suitably affected with them? 2. For further conviction of the sinfulness of this, consider the extent of the Command, 1. A man by the breaking of this Command may be guilty of the breach of all the rest: 2. It's extensive, in respect of the occasions a man hath to break it, his eye will look to nothing but this lust will take occasion from it to sin, the hearing of such and such a thing, will by means of this waken a desire to be at it, though the impossibility of acting it may impede his determination: 3. It is extensive in respect of the continual bad posture the heart is in, so that hardly can a person take a look of it, but he will find this sin of inordinacy in the thoughts in it, and some plagues as effects following on it. 3. For yet further conviction, consider the greatness of the sin, 1. In that it not only runneth after particular objects, the coveting whereof is against the other Commands, but foreseeth and inventeth objects in the brain, and so this Lust is broader then a man hath existent objects to it, as when he desireth to be rich, but knoweth not how: 2. We may gather the