A37049:287
A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience.
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.
This Commandment is more largely set down than the former, partly to clear the Mandatory part of it, and partly to press it; in which two it may be taken up.
THis Commandment is more largely set down than the former, partly to clear the Mandatory part of it, and partly to press it; in which two it may be taken up.
The preceptive, or commanding part, is expressed in two things, v. 4. and v. 5. at the beginning. 1. That no Image be made: And 2. That it be not worshipped.
Next, it is pressed three ways: 1. From a reason. 2. By a threa inning. 3. By a Promise: The words are multiplied, that they may the more fully and clearly express what is intended.
Next, it is pressed three ways: 1. From a reason. 2. By a threa •ning. 3. By a Promise: The words are multiplied, that they may the more fully and clearly express what is intended.
1 That this Commandment is against all making of Images for Religious service, is clear from a threefold extent mentioned in the Prohibition. 1. The Image of nothing in heaven above, or the earth beneath, or under the earth; that is, the similitude of no Creature is allowed for this end.
2 Men are forbidden to make either similitude or likeness, that is, no sort of Image, whether that which is engraven in, or hewn out of stone, wood, silver, &c. or that which is made by painting, all kinds are discharged.
2 Men are forbidden to make either similitude or likeness, that is, no sort of Image, whether that which is ingraven in, or hewn out of stone, wood, silver, &c. or that which is made by painting, all kinds are discharged.
3 No sort of worship or service religious is to be given to them, wh •ther mediate or immediate, whether primarily as to themselves, or secondarily with respect to that which they represent. This is understood under the second part of the Commandment, Th •• shalt not bow down to them, nor serve or worship them: under which two, all external reverence is discharged, which is clear from the reason adjoined, because God is jealous, and he will not only not endure Idolatry, but whatever may look like it; as a jealous Husband will not abide any suspicious-like carriage in his Wife.
3 No sort of worship or service religious is to be given to them, wh •ther mediate or immediate, whether primarily as to themselves, or secondarily with respect to that which they represent. This is understood under the second part of the Commandment, Th •• shalt not bow down to them, nor serve or worship them: under which two, all external reverence is discharged, which is clear from the reason adjoyned, because God is jealous, and he will not only not endure Idolatry, but whatever may look like it; as a jealous Husband will not abide any suspicious-like carriage in his Wife.
That we may have the clearer access to the meaning and use of this Commandment; let us see 1. What is the scope of it. 2. Wherein it is differ •nt from the former.
The scope of this Commandment is not merely and only to forbid making and worshipping of Images, which is the most gross way of abusing the worship of God; but under that to forbid all manner of grossness in the external worship of God, and to command exactness and preciseness in it (as well as internal worship) according to the Rule pr •s •ribed thereunto by the Lord; and so this Commandment includeth all externals commanded in the Ceremonial Law, and doth forbid all will-worship and superstition in the worship of God, all hono •ring him by precepts taught by men, and not by himself, Isaiah 29.13. and Mat. 15.9. So then in the first Commandment the worshipping of the only true God is commanded, and the worshipping of any Idol is forbidden: here the true worship of that God is prescribed, and the contrary forbidden; the first Commandment showeth who is to ⟨p. 52⟩be worshipped, the second how he is to be worshipped, not in the manner that Heathens worshipped their Idols, nor in any other manner that men shall feign and devise to themselves, but in the manner he himself prescribeth.
The scope of this Commandment is not meerly and only to forbid making and worshipping of Images, which is the most gross way of abusing the worship of God; but under that to forbid all manner of grosness in the external worship of God, and to command exactness and preciseness in it (as well as internal worship) according to the Rule pr •s •ribed thereunto by the Lord; and so this Commandment includeth all externals commanded in the Ceremonial Law, and doth forbid all will-worship and superstition in the worship of God, all hono •ring him by precepts taught by men, and not by himself, Isaiah 29.13. and Mat. 15.9. So then in the first Commandment the worshipping of the only true God is commanded, and the worshipping of any Idol is forbidden: here the true worship of that God is prescribed, and the contrary forbidden; the first Commandment sheweth who is to
In sum, this Commandment holdeth forth these three things. 1. That God will not only be served inwardly in the heart, by good thoughts and intentions (which is prescribed in the first Commandment) but also outwardly in the confessing him before men, in external service and worship, in words and gestures suitable; for the forbidding this sort of external gestures, worshipping and bowing before Idols, doth include the contrary affirmative in all its kinds (according to the first Rule before-mentioned for the right understanding of all the Commandments.) Thus it taketh in all Ordinances of Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Ceremonies, &c. and failing in these, breaketh this Commandment, when even they are not rightly gone about.
2 It holdeth forth this, that in that external service and worship, God will not have men following their own humour, but will have them to walk by the Rule given, or to be given by him to them, and otherwise it is in vain whatever worship men perform to him, Mat. 15.9. Hence it is said here, Thou shalt not make to thy self, that is, at thy own pleasure, without my Command, otherwise what is by God's Command is made to him; and this is to be extended to all Ordinances, yea both to the worship it self, and also to the manner of that worship, all is to be done according to God's Command only.
3 It holdeth forth a spiritual service due to God, or that we should be spiritual in all external service, there should not be in us any carnal apprehensions of God, as if he were like any thing that we could imagine, Act. 17.29. as is fully clear from Deut. 4.15. &c. Also all rashness and carnality in external performances is here discharged under •o •ing to Images, &c.
So then, under these three, we take up the sum of this Commandment, whereby it differeth from the former, which may also be cleared from these reasons.
1 The first is, that this Commandment looketh to external worship, and the ordering of that; which is clear: 1. Because the things forbidden in it, as making of Images, and bowing to them, are external acts. 2. These are mentioned as relating to ⟨p. 53⟩God's Worship, for they are placed in the first Table of the Law, and for this end Images are only mentioned, as made use of by Heathens in all their worship, Levit. 26.1. The Lord will not have his people doing so to him, Deut. 12.3, 4, 5. &c. 3. Add, that making and worshipping of Images are but one part of mens abusing of the external worship of God, which is mentioned for all of that kind (as Adultery is pat for all uncleanness in the seventh Commandment) and all kinds of false worship, or all the several ways of mens abusing the external worship of God are condemned under it. 1. Because it is most gross, and this being a most gross way of adding to his worship, it serveth to show, how God accounteth every adding to his word, or altering of it, to be a gross and heinous sin, Deut. 4.23, 24, 25. 2. Because the Nations about, especially Egypt, served their Gods so, and men naturally are bent to it, as appeareth almost by the practise of all Nations; and Rom. 1.25. &c. and by the Israelites practise in the Golden Calf, Exod. 32. from v. 1. to v. 7. and by Jeroboam's practise, 1 King. 12.28. Now the Lord will not be served so, but as he commandeth, Deut. 12. v. 4. Ye shall not do so to the Lo •d, &c. but contrarily, v. 5. as the Lord shall carve out unto you.
1 The first is, that this Commandment looketh to external worship, and the ordering of that; which is clear: 1. Because the things forbidden in it, as making of Images, and bowing to them, are external acts. 2. These are mentioned as relating to
A second reason to clear this to be the meaning, may be taken from the perfection of the Law, which lieth in this, that it condemneth all sin, and commandeth all d ••ies: now it is a sin not only to worship false Gods, but to worship the true God in a false way; and it is a duty also to worship him rightly, according as he hath appointed in his Word: now these sins must be forbidden in this second Commandment, or they are forbidden in none at all; and these duties must be commanded in this Commandment, or they are commanded in none.
Next, that we may clear, that it is sinful to worship God otherwise than he hath commanded, it would be observed, there was a twofold Idolatry found in Israel, and condemned in the Scripture: the first was, when Groves and Images were planted, and made to Idols; and so the people of Israel did often to the Heathen Gods: the second was, when they had Groves, and worshipped in high places, but not to Idols, but to the Lord their God, as 2 Chron. 33.17. so in that place before cited, Deut. 12.2, 3, 4. &c. you will find two things forbidden. 1. Making of Images to the false Gods, which the Canaanites worshipped. 2. Making use of their ⟨image 59⟩manner of worship, and turning it unto the true God, both are forbidden, the first by the first Commandment, the last by the second; compare ver. 8. (which holdeth forth this scope) Ye shall not do, every man what seemeth right in his own eyes, with what followeth, and With ver. 30. & 31, See th •u enquire not how these Nations worshipped their gods, to wit, by Images, &c. as •f ye would do so to the Lord, no, bat ver. 32. Whatsoever thing I command you, observe to do it, tho • shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it, which cleareth the scope of this Command, as being purposely there opened up, Ye shall not do so to the Lord your God, wherein more is comprehended than is expressed, namely, not only ye shall not serve the Lord, as they do their gods, but also ye shall serve him, as he himself prescribeth.
Next, that we may clear, that it is sinful to worship God otherwise than he hath commanded, it would be observed, there was a twofold Idolatry found in Israel, and condemned in the Scripture: the first was, when Groves and Images were planted, and made to Idols; and so the people of Israel did often to the Heathen Gods: the second was, when they had Groves, and worshipped in high places, but not to Idols, but to the Lord their God, as 2 Chron. 33.17. so in that place before cited,
