A. It is unquestionably the duty of every man to obey the will of God, so far as he hath made it known to him; Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with, thy God.
Q. 2. On what account is man's obedience due to God?
A. It is due to him, First, as he is our Creator, in whom we live, and move, and have our being ; Acts xvii. 27, 28. Secondly, As he is our Benefactor, from whom we receive all our mercies ; Dent. xxviii. 47. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyful- ness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things ; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. Thirdly, As he is our Lord, and lawgiver; James iv. 12. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.
Q. 3. Is obedience due to none but God only ?
A. Yes; subjects must obey their lawful magistrates; Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God ; The powers that be are ordained of God. Peo- ple their ministers; Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. Children their parents ; Eph. vi. 1. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. But not as they are to obey God.
Q. 4. What is the difference betwixt our obedience to God's com- mands, and men's ?
A. We are to obey God, chiefly and supremely, for his own sake, but creatures secondarily, and for God's sake ; 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of men for the Lord's sake. And Eph. vi. 1. Children obey your parents [in the Lord,] for this is right.
Q. 5. What must we do when the commands of God and men fall cross to one another ?
A. In that case we must yield our obedience to God, and not to man, whatever we suffer for it; Acts iv. 19. Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God^ judge ye.
Q. 6. Why must we obey God rather than man ?
SI 8 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMRLy's CATECHISM,
A. Because God is the supreme and sovereign Lord of our con- sciences ; and no creature hath power to command our obedience but in and from him ; Isa. xxxii. 22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, he will save us.
Q. 7. Have the people liberty to compare the laws of God and men, and judge how they agree or differ ?
A. Yes ; their judgment of discretion is both commanded ; 1 Cor, i. 10, 15. I speak as to wise men ; judge ye what I say. And com- mended ; Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thes- salonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Q. 8. What is the only rule for our obedience to God ? A. The will of God revealed in the scriptures is our only rule of obedience ; Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light ia them.
Q. 9. But if a man have a voice, a vision, or a dream, seeming to hint the secret v\ ill of God, may he not obey it ?
A. Yes; if it be consonant to the revealed will of God in the word, otherwise not ; Deut. xxix. 29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed, belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence ? A. That it is highly sinful and dangerous to disobey the known will of God in any thing ; Horn. i. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Luke xii. 47. And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Q. 11. What is the second instruction ?
A. That is a blessed man, who conscientiously labours to obey the will of God, so far as he can discover it ; John xiii. 17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Gal. vi. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy. Q. 12. What is the third inference?
A. It is highly sinful and dangerous to command others, or obey commands from others, which are not according to God's command; Hosea v. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Jer. vii. 31. And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart*
Quest. 40. and 41. W HAT did God at first reveal to man for
the rule of his obedience r
AX EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLy's CATECHISM. 219
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law,
Q. 41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended ?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten com- Qnundments.
Q. 1. Is every man under the direction and obligation of law?
A. Yes ; man being a reasonable creature, is capable of, and fitted for government by law, which other creatures are not ; and being an accountable creature to God, must needs be under a law ; Rom. ii. 15. Which shew the works of the law written in their hearts ; their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing one another.
Q. 2. How could man be under a law before the law was given by Moses ?
A. Before ever the law was given at Sinai, all tlie race of Adam had a law written in their hearts, viz. the light of reason, and dictates of natural conscience; Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves. And besides this, the church had the revealed will of God to direct them ; 2 Pet. i. 19, 20. We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Q. 3. What is the meaning of the moral law ?
A. It is not a law to direct and order our manners ; but a law that binds universally and perpetually, as the ten commandments do those to whom they are promulged, and the light of nature doth all others ; Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves. Luke xvi. 17. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Q. 4. Why is it said to be summarily comprehended in the ten commandments ?