It is a rule generally known in the exposition of the Commandments, ⟨p. 72⟩that all sins forbidden in the Word of God, are reduced to the ten Commandments, and fall under the prohibition of one of them or other, for there is no sin but is a transgression of some or other commandment of the law, 1 Joh. 3.4. and upon the two Tables of the Law hang all the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 22.40. Now it is plain, that all sins are not contained in the letter of the ten Commandments, and therefore there is no judicious Expositor of them, but openeth the letter of the Commandments by Synecdoches and Metonymies; Synecdoches to comprehend all sins of the like kind, and all the degrees thereof, and Metonymies to comprehend all causes and means and occasions thereof; so that for opening the second Commandment, which forbids both making and the worshipping of any image or similitude, it is requisite to consider in what sense or respects Images or similitudes are forbidden: Images or similitudes are forbidden in the second Commandment, not as objects of worship, for all false objects of worship are the false gods forbidden in the first Commandment; Images then and similitudes are forbidden in the second Commandment, not as false objects of worship, wherein the worship is terminated and fastened, but as false means of worshipping the true God. For so are the Images considered that are forbidden in the Word. The golden calf was not considered as the God of Israel, that brought them up out of the Land of Egypt, but as an Image of that Jehovah which did bring them up out of the Land of Egypt. Whence it is said, that Aaron proclaimed a feast, not to the calf, but to Jehovah, whereof the calf was but an Image. To morrow, saith he, is a solemnity (or feast) to Jehovah, Exod. 32.5. The Calf therefore was not the god, but the Image of the god which they worshipped, as that which resembled him, and put them in mind of him, helped their hearts nearer to him, or his presence nearer to them: As it is written in the Psalm, that they turned their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass, Psal. 106.20. And in this ox or calf they looked at Jehovah as near unto them, and as going with them, and before them, Exod. 32.1.
It is a rule generally knowne in the exposition of the Commandements, ⟨p. 72⟩that all sinnes forbidden in the Word of God, are reduced to the ten Commandements, and fall under the prohibition of one of them or other, for there is no sinne but is a transgression of some or other commandement of the law, 1 Joh. 3.4. and upon the two Tables of the Law hang all the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 22.40. Now it is plaine, that all sinnes are not contained in the letter of the ten Commandements, and therefore there is no judicious Expositor of them, but openeth the letter of the Commandements by Synecdoches and Metonymies; Synecdoches to comprehend all sinnes of the like kinde, and all the degrees thereof, and Metonymies to comprehend all causes and meanes and occasions thereof; so that for opening the second Commandement, which forbids both making and the worshipping of any image or similitude, it is requisite to consider in what sense or respects Images or similitudes are forbidden: Images or similitudes are forbidden in the second Commandement, not as objects of worship, for all false objects of worship are the false gods forbidden in the first Commandement; Images then and similitudes are forbidden in the second Commandement, not as false objects of worship, wherein the worship is terminated and fastned, but as false meanes of worshipping the true God. For so are the Images considered that are forbidden in the Word. The golden calfe was not considered as the God of Israel, that brought them up out of the Land of Aegypt, but as an Image of that Jehovah which did bring them up out of the Land of Aegypt. Whence it is said, that Aaron proclaimed a feast, not to the calfe, but to Jehovah, whereof the calfe was but an Image. To morrow, saith he, is a solemnitie (or feast) to Jehovah, Exod. 32.5. The Calfe therefore was not the god, but the Image of the god which they worshipped, as that which resembled him, and put them in minde of him, helped their hearts nearer to him, or his presence nearer to them: As it is written in the Psalme, that they turned their glory into the similitude of an oxe that eateth grasse, Psal. 106.20. And in this oxe or calfe they looked at Jehovah as neare unto them, and as going with them, and before them, Exod. 32.1.
