fiaitli, " Tlie law is spiritual, but I am car- nal," Rom. vii. 14-. 2r//y, The Antinomi- ans, who will not admit the moral law to be a rule to a believer. We say not he is under the curse of the law, but the com- mand ; we say not the moral law is a Christ, but it is a star to lead one to Christ ; we say not it doth save, but it doth sanctify. They wlio cast God's law behind their backs, God will cast their prayers behind his back ; they who will not have the law to rule them, shall have the law to judge them. 3rf///, The papists, who (as if God's law were imperfect, and when he spake all these words he did not speak enough) add their canons and traditions to the moral law. This is to tax God's wisdom, as if he knew not how to make his own law. And sure- ly it is an high provoking sin, Rev. xxii. 18., " If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book." As it is a great evil to add any thing to a man's sealed will, so much more to add any thing to that law God himself spake, and ^vl•ote with his own fingers.
Use 3d. If God spake all these words, viz. of the moral hiw, then this presseth upon us several duties : 1. If God spake all these words, then we must hear all these words. The words which God speaks are too pre- cious to be lost. As we would have God hear all our words when we pray, so we must hear all his words when he speaks. We must not be as the deaf adder which stoppeth her cars : he that stops his ears when God cries, shall cry himself, and not be heard.
2. If God spake all these words, then we must attend to them with reverence. Every word of the moral law is an oracle from heaven ; God himself is the preacher ; this calls for reverence. If a judge gives a charge u])on the bench, all attend with re- verence. In the moral law God himself gives a charge, " God spake ail these words," Therefore, with what veneration should we attend '^ Moses put off his shoes from his feet, in token of reverence when God was about to speak to him, Exod. iii. 5, 6.
3. If God spake all these words of the moral law, then we must remember them.
Sure all God speaks is worth remembering. Those words are weighty which concern salvation, Deut. xxxii. 47., " It is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life." Our memory should be like the chest in the ark where the law was kept : God's orjicles are ornaments, and sliall we forget them ? Jer. ii. 32., " Can a maid forget her ornaments?"
4. If God spake all these words, then be- lieve them. See the name of God written upon every commandment. The heathens, that they might gain credit to their laws, reported that they were inspired by the gods at Rome. The moral law fetcheth its pe- digree from heaven : Ipse dixit, — Ciod spake all these words. Shall we not give credit to the God of heaven ? How would the an- gel confirm the women in the resurrection of Christ, Mat. xxviii. 7., " Lo, (saitli he) I have told you ;" I speak in the w »)rd of an angel. Much more should the moral law be believed, when it comes to us in the word of God. " God spake all these words." Unbelief enervates the virtue of God's word, and makes it prove abortive, Heb. iv. 2., " The word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." Eve gave more credit to the devil when he spake, than she did to God.
5. If God spake all these words, then love the commandments, Ps. cxix. 97., " O how love I tliv law ! it is mv meditation all the day." " Consider how I love thy ])rece])ts," Ps. cxix. 159. The moral law is the copy of God's will, — our spiritual directory; it shews us what sins to avoid, what duties to pursue; the ten commandments are a chain of pearls to adorn us. they are our treasury to enrich us, they are more pncious than hinds of spices, or rocks of diamonds, Ps. cxix. 72., " The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver." The law of God hath truth and goodness in it, Nell. ix. 13. Truth, for God spake it ; and goodness, for there is nothing the commandment enjoins, but is for our good. O then let this command our love !
6. If G()d spake all these words, then teach your children the law of God, Deut, vi. 7., " These words which I coiuniand thee this day shall he in thy heart, and tlum shalt teach them diligently to thy children." He who is godly, is both a diamond and a load
OF THE PREFACE TO THE TEN COM\IANDME>^TS.
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