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…

Thirdly, we reason further thus; Either there is some Moral Duty, contained in this Command, and laid on by it; which is not in any of the former; or there is but some Ceremonial thing in it, reducible to one of them: For, the Perfection of this Law requireth, that all things needful to the Worship of God, should be summed in it and the Scope thereof, which is, Briefly to compend all requireth there should be nothing in it, that's needless, superfluous, or that might have been left out.

Thirdly, we reason further thus; Either there is some Moral Duty, contained in this Command, and laid on by it; which is not in any of the former; or there is but some Ceremonial thing in it, reducable to one of them: For, the Perfection of this Law requireth, that all things needful to the Worship of God, should be summed in it and the Scope thereof, which is, Briefly to compend all requireth there should be nothing in it, that's needless, superfluous, or that might have been left out.

Now if the matter be Moral; not contained in any former Command, then is the Command it self Moral; seeing a Moral Substance, and Matter Denominateth the Command so: Yea, it must be Moral, other-wise some-thing Morally necessary to Gods Service, (such as the Determination of its chief time) should be omitted. It may be assumed, yet further: It must be Moral, (be it what it will) to eschew a Tautology in ⟨p. 198⟩this short Compend of Duties; and that, of Moral Duties too.

Again, If it be not Moral, but contain some Ceremonial thing reducible to one of the three former Commands: Then 1. It might have been put amongst other Ceremonials. 2. Other Ceremonials might have been put in with it: Or, 3. A Reason given, Why all are not Reducible to some Moral Command. 4. If the matter of this be Reducible to another Command. then can it not be accounted a Distinct Command; neither ought it here to have been given as such, but sub-joined to some other; as the Servants and Beasts resting, is sub-joined to this. 5. It would be shown to what Command it's Reducible as to the Substance of it, if it be Ceremonial: 6. A Reason would be given, Why amongst Ten, One, and Only One, is set down, so far different from all the rest. And if all these Absurdities, follow the Denial of it's Substance to be Moral; then, for eschewing of them, we must conclude it to be Moral: and so the Fourth Command is Moral.