The law was delivered to Moses upon two tables of stone, and comprised in ten commandments.
The first of the commandments respects the object of our worship, " Thou shalt have none other gods but me." In this we are required to believe in God, to love him, and to serve him with all our hearts, and minds, and souls, and strength : and if we examine ourselves by it, we shall see that our transgressions are neither few nor small : for instead of believing in him at all times, how rarely have we either trembled at his threatenings or confided in his promises ! Instead of loving him supremely, have we not set our affections on the things of time and sense 1 Instead of fearing him above all, have we not been swayed rather by the fear of man, or a regard to our worldly interests ? Instead of relying on him in all difficulties, have we not rather " leaned to our own understanding, and trusted in an arm of flesh ?" and instead of making it our meat and drink to do his will, have we not lived to ourselves, seeking our own pleasure, and following our own ways ? Surely if we seriously inquire into our past conduct, we shall find that throughout our whole lives " other lords have had dominion over us," the world has been our idol, and self has usurped the throne of God. If therefore we were to be tried by this commandment only, our offences would appear exceeding numerous, more than the hairs of our head, more than the sands upon the sea shore.
The second commandment respects the nature of worship : " Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image." God is a Spirit, and therefore is not to be addressed by the medium of any sensible object, but is to be " worshipped in spirit and in truth." Yet, whenever we have presented ourselves before him, we have scarcely paid him more respect, yea frequently much less, than the heathens manifest towards their gods of wood and stone. Let us only consider what has been the frame of our minds when we have ap- proached the throne of grace ; how little have we stood in awe of his Majesty ! How unaffecting has been our sense either of our wants, or of his power
1831. J VIOLATIONS OF EVERY COMMANDMENT. (i?
and readiness to help us! And if we look at the prayers which we have offered, we shall see cause to acknowledge that they have been dull, formal, and hypocritical. Our confessions have neither been at- tended with humility nor followed by amendment : our petitions have been without faith and without fervour : and our thanksgivings, which should have been the warm effusions of a grateful heart, have frozen on our very lips. Indeed secret prayer is by the generality either wholly omitted, or performed as a task or drudgery : as for family devotions they are wholly, and almost universally, neglected : and in the public assemblies, instead of breathing out our hearts before God, our thoughts are wandering to the ends of the earth, or, as the Scripture has said, " we draw nigh unto God with our mouth, but our heart is far from him." Let us all therefore consult the records of our own consciences, that we may judge ourselves with respect to these things ; nor let us forget that every such omission and every such defect has swelled the number of our transgressions, and greatly aggra- vated our guilt and misery.
The third commandment respects the manner of worship; " Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." The name of God is never to be uttered by us but with awe and reverence. But, not to mention the stupid indifference with which it is often repeated in prayer, how generally, how daringly is it profaned in common conversation, so generally, that no age, sex, or quality is exempt from this im- pious custom ; and so daringly, that it is even vindi- cated : the thoughtless manner in which that sacred name is used, is often urged as an excuse for the profanation of it ; when it is that very thoughtless- ness which constitutes the profanation. But instead of extenuating the guilt of this sin, we shall do well to consider what God has said respecting it, " The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."