Where observe, 1. The preface to the preface, *' (lod spake all these words, say- ing." 2. The preface itself to the com- mandments, " 1 am the Lord thy God."
OF THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
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1. I begin with tlie first, the preface to the preface, " (Jod spake all these words, saying," &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation, " God spake ;" other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets, Luke i. 70., but here God spake in his own person.
Quest. How may we understand this [God spake], he hath no bodily ports or organs of speech ?
Ans. God made some intelligible sound, or formed a voice in the air, which was to the Jews as God's very speaking to them. In the text, 1. The lawgiver, God, " God spake." 2. The law itself, " all these words."
1. The lawgiver, " God spake." There are two things requisite in a lawgiver. \st. Wisdom. Laws arc founded upon reason ; and he must be wise that makes laws, (iod, in this respect, is most fit to be a lawgiver; *' he is wise in heart," Job ix. 4. ; he hath a monopoly of wisdom, 1 Tim. i. 17., " The only wise God." Therefore lie is the fittest to enact and constitute laws, ''idly. The second thing requisite in a lawgiver is au- thority. If a subject make laws, though never so wise, yet they want the stamp of authority. God hath the supreme power in his hand ; he derives a being to all ; and he who gives men their lives, hath most right to give them their laws.
2. The law itself, " all these words ;" that is, all the words of the moral law, which is usually styled the decalogue or ten com- mandments. It is called the moral law, because it is the rule of life and manners.
St. Chrysostom compares the scrij)ture to a garden, — the moral law is a chief flower in it; the scripture is a banquet, — the moral law the chief dish in it.
(1.) The moral law is perfect, Ps. xiA'. 7., " The law of the Lord is perfect." It is an exact model swd platform of religion ; it is the standard of truth, the judge of con- troversies, the pole star to direct us to hea- ven. Prov. vi. 23., " The commandment is a lamp." Though the moral law be not a Christ to justify us, yet it is a rule to in- struct us.
(2.) The moral law is unalterable ; it re- mains still ill force. Thou'::h tlie ceremo- nial and judiciiJ law are abrogated, yet the
moral law, delivered by God's own mouth is to be of perpetual use in the church. Therefore the law was written in tables of stone, to shew the perpetuity of it.
(3.) The moral law is very illustrious and full of glory. God did put glory upon it in the manner of the promulgation of it. 1. The people, before the moral law was delivered were to wash their clothes, Exod. xix. 10., whereby as by a type, God requir- ed ihe sanctifying of their ears and hearts to receive the law. — 2. There were bounds set that none might touch the mount, Exod. xix. 12., which was to breed in the people reverence to the law. — 3. God wrote the law with his own finger, Exod. xxxi. 18., which was such an honour put upon the moral law as we read of no other written. God did by some mighty operation make the law legible in letters, as if it had l>een written with his own finger. — 4. God's put- ting the law in the ark to be kept, was an- other signal mark of honour put upon it. The ark was the cabinet in which (iod put the ten commandments, as ten jewels. — 5. At the delivery of the moral law, there was the attendance of many angels, Deut. xxxii. Here was a parliament of angels called, and (iod himself was the speaker.
Use \st. Here we may take notice of God's goodness who hath not left us without a law : therefore the Lord doth often set it down as a demonstration of his love, in giving his commandments : Ps. cxlvii. 20., " He hath not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgments they have not known them ;" Neh. ix. 13., " Thou gavest them true laws, good statutes and command- ments." What a strange creature would man he if he had no law to direct him ! There would he no living in the world ; we should have none born but Ishmaels, every man's hand would be against his neighhour. Alan would grow wild, if he had not alllic- tion to tame him, aiul the moral law to guide him. The law of God is an hedge to keep us within the bounds of sobriety and piety.
Use 2d If God Rj>ake all these words of the moral law, then it condemns, l.s/, The Marcionites, and Manichees, who speak slightly, yea, hliisjihemously of the moral law : they say, it is below a Christian, it is carnal, which the apostle confutes, when h%
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OF THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.