The truth is, in every Commission there is an Omission; as in every deadly Disease somewhat of a Fever. For in ⟨p. 124⟩every Commission, as in Drunkenness, or Oppression, or Uncleanness, there is a neglect or omission of the Duty commanded, as Temperance, Charity, and Chastity. But those we most properly call sins of Omission, which are extrinsicate from sins of Commission; as not praying, not reading the Word, not believing, not feeding the hungry, &c. But to speak strictly, there is no sin but sins of Omission; for all sin consists in privation of due rectitude or deficiency, and coming short of the rule. Though the Commands are generally delivered by way of negation, partly because of the proneness of men to commit those sins that are forbidden, and God would by his Negative command, curb, and keep them in. Thou shalt not, &c. thou shalt not, &c. partly because Negative Commands bind more strongly than the Affirmative. The Affirmative obligant semper, but not ad semper; but the Negative bind semper & ad semper, as the School-men speak. The Affirmative bind us always, (i. e. there is no time wherein it can be said that they are of no force,) but not to all times. I ⟨p. 125⟩am always bound to pray, but I am not bound to pray at all times; I am bound always to speak truth, but I am not bound to speak all truth at all times. But Negative Commands bind always, and at all times; as, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. These bind every moment of a mans life, I mean every moment of his life these sins are to be forborne; they are at no time lawful: Though, I say, the Commands are delivered Negative for the most part, (viz. eight of them,) yet we must understand, that all the Negative Commands of God include their Affirmative; as, Thou shalt have no other gods before me; this includes, thou shalt have me for thy God, thou shalt know me, love me, fear me, trust me, and worship me as thy God. And when God saith, Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, &c. this includes, thou shalt Worship me according to my Will, revealed in my Word. When God saith, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; this includes, thou shalt use reverently all my Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinances, Word and ⟨p. 126⟩Works. When God saith, Thou shalt not kill; this includes, thou shalt use all lawful means for the preservation of thine own and thy Neighbours life.
The truth is, in every Commission there is an Omission; as in every deadly Disease somewhat of a Feavor. For in ⟨p. 124⟩every Commission, as in Drunkenness, or Oppression, or Uncleanness, there is a neglect or omission of the Duty commanded, as Temperance, Charity, and Chastity. But those we most properly call sins of Omission, which are extrinsicate from sins of Commission; as not praying, not reading the Word, not believing, not feeding the hungry, &c. But to speak strictly, there is no sin but sins of Omission; for all sin consists in privation of due rectitude or deficiency, and coming short of the rule. Though the Commands are generally deliver'd by way of negation, partly because of the proneness of men to commit those sins that are forbidden, and God would by his Negative command, curb, and keep them in. Thou shalt not, &c. thou shalt not, &c. partly because Negative Commands bind more strongly than the Affirmative. The Affirmative obligant semper, but not ad semper; but the Negative bind semper & ad semper, as the School-men speak. The Affirmative bind us always, (i. e. there is no time wherein it can be said that they are of no force,) but not to all times. I ⟨p. 125⟩am always bound to pray, but I am not bound to pray at all times; I am bound always to speak truth, but I am not bound to speak all truth at all times. But Negative Commands bind always, and at all times; as, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. These bind every moment of a mans life, I mean every moment of his life these sins are to be forborn; they are at no time lawful: Though, I say, the Commands are deliver'd Negative for the most part, (viz. eight of them,) yet we must understand, that all the Negative Commands of God include their Affirmative; as, Thou shalt have no other gods before me; this includes, thou shalt have me for thy God, thou shalt know me, love me, fear me, trust me, and worship me as thy God. And when God saith, Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, &c. this includes, thou shalt Worship me according to my Will, revealed in my Word. When God saith, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; this includes, thou shalt use reverently all my Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinances, Word and ⟨p. 126⟩Works. VVhen God saith, Thou shalt not kill; this includes, thou shalt use all lawful means for the preservation of thine own and thy Neighbours life.
