A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(3.) The Word is yet more specially used for the Transgressions of the first Table: Rom. 1.18. The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness, and Unrighteousness of Men. There all Sin is distinguished into two Branches and Kinds, Ungodliness and Unrighteousness. Ungodliness, that respects their Carriage towards God; and Unrighteousness, their Carriage towards Men: and in this sense it is taken here; Ungodliness is put for that part of Sin, whereby we rob God of his Honour, Respect and Service established by the first Table: and Worldly Lusts, for all those Sins by which we wrong our selves and others. Ungodliness then is not giving God his Right, and due Honour. And therefore that you may conceive of it aright, let me tell you, that there are four particular Notions ingrafted in the Heart of Man, which are the Ground and Foundation of all Religion. (1.) That God is, and is one. (2.) That God is none of those things which are seen, but something more excellent. (3.) That God hath a care of Human Affairs, and judgeth with Equity. (4.) That this God is the Maker of all things that are without himself. These are grafted in the Heart of Man by Nature, and are the Sum and Foundation of all Religion. Now to these four Principles are suited the four Commands of the first Table. The first Principle is, That God is, and is one; and in the first Commandment there is God's Unity clearly established; Thou shalt have no other Gods ⟨p. 32⟩besides me. The second Principle is, That God is none of those things which are seen, but something more excellent. And in the second Commandment we have God's invisible Nature; for Images are forbidden upon that ground, because God cannot be seen: Deut. 4.12. You saw no Similitude, only you heard a Voice. The third Principle is, That God hath a care of Human Affairs, and judgeth with Equity. And in the third Commandment, you have the Knowledge of Human Affairs, even of a Man's Thoughts, ascribed to God, for that is the Foundation of an Oath, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain. The chief intent of that Commandment is to forbid Perjury, it also forbids rash Swearing, and mentioning the Name of God without Reverence; for in an Oath God is invoked as a Witness, as one that hath Knowledge even of the Heart, there his Omniscience is acknowledged.