A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…

1. He speaketh authoritatively, and in his own Name: Good Men and good Angels may command, but it must be (as subordinate Magistrates) in the Name and Authority of their Prince and Sovereign; but God commandeth in his own Name and Authority: God gives Authentity to what-ever he speaks, and he speaks with Authority when he speaks. God speaks as one that hath Right and Power to Command, and as one that, upon his own account, expecteth to be obeyed: I am the Lord, is enough to warrant Obedience to the whole Decalogue, Thou shalt have no other God; Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, &c. For I am the Lord thy God.

1. He speaketh authoritatively, and in his own Name: Good Men and good Angels may command, but it must be (as subordinate Magistrates) in the Name and Authority of their Prince and Soveraign; but God commandeth in his own Name and Authority: God gives Authentity to what-ever he speaks, and he speaks with Authority when he speaks. God speaks as one that hath Right and Power to Command, and as one that, upon his own account, expecteth to be obeyed: I am the Lord, is enough to warrant Obedience to the whole Decalogue, Thou shalt have no other God; Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, &c. For I am the Lord thy God.

His Authority is the highest, the greatest reason of any Precept, and the strongest warrant for Obedience; Therefore Thou shalt not swear by my Name falsely, (why?) I am the Lord: Thou shalt not curse the Deaf, nor lay a stumbling block before the Blind, (why not? the Deaf cannot hear if I do curse them, nor the Blind see if I do lay a stumbling-block before ⟨p. 157⟩them,) I am the Lord, &c. Levit. 19.12. &c. It's said of Christ, He taught as one having Authority, and not as the Scribes, Matth. 7. ult. He did not beg attention, but enjoin it; nor beseech Obedience, but command it. As when Princes Enact Laws, they do not entreat, but require Obedience at the peril of their Subjects. This is the Word of the Lord, and Thus saith the Lord, and the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, is sufficient to awe and require Subjection from all that hear it. God is his own Authority, not so Men or Angels: They speak from God, but he from none but himself. His Word is a Light,