Q. 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
41.1. Was the moral law in force before the ten commandments were given? Yes: for Abraham commanded his children to keep the way of the Lord, Gen 18:19. Was it at last summed up in these commandments? Yes: for the law was given by Moses, John 1:17. Was the law of the ten commandments given first to Israel? Yes: He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts to the children of Israel, Ps 103:7. But are they binding to us now? Yes: for Christ came not to destroy the law but to fulfil, Matt 5:17.
41.2. Did God himself give these commandments? Yes: from his right hand went a fiery law for them, Deut 33:2. Did God himself speak to them? Yes: Thou camest down upon Mount Sinai, and speakest with them from heaven, Neh 9:13. Did he use the ministry of angels therein? Yes: they received the law by the disposition of angels, Acts 7:53. Did God himself write them? Yes: he gave unto Moses two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God, Exod 31:18.
41.3. Was the law given with much terror? Yes: for it was given upon a mount that burned with fire, and with blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:18. Was the sight terrible to Moses himself? Yes: for he said, I exceedingly fear and quake, Heb 12:21. Did it strike an awe upon the people? Yes: for they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient, Exod 24:7. And should not we be awed by the consideration of it? Yes: knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, 2 Cor 5:11. Did the ten commandments include the whole moral law? Yes: If thou wilt enter into life,
keep these commandments, Matt 19:17.
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves.
42.1. Is all the law summed up in a word? Yes: all the law is fulfilled in one word, Gal 5:14. Is that a short and sweet word? Yes: for it is love; love is the fulfilling of the law, Rom 13:10.
42.2. Is it our duty to love God? Yes: Take good heed to yourselves that ye love the Lord your God, Josh 23:11. Must we love him with a sincere love? Yes: Grace be with them that love him in sincerity, Eph 6:24. And with a strong love? Yes: My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, Ps 42:2. And with a superlative love? Yes: There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee, Ps 73:25. And is all this included in the first and great commandment? Yes: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment, Matt 22:37-38. And is this the sum of our duty to God? Yes: for if any man love God, the same is known of him, 1 Cor 8:3. Must those who love God be careful to please him? Yes: for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, 1 John 5:3. And must they be afraid to offend him? Yes: Ye that love the Lord, hate evil, Ps 97:10.
42.3. Is there good reason why we should thus love God? Yes: Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, Deut 11:1. For is he most lovely in himself? Yes: God is love, 1 John 4:8. And most loving to us? Yes: we love him because he first loved us, 1 John 4:19. Will he return our love? Yes: I love those that love me, Prov 8:17. Will he reward it in this world? Yes: all things shall work together for good to them that love God, Rom 8:28. And in the other world? Yes: for eye hath not seen what God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor 2:9. Will you then love God above all? Yes: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength, Ps 18:1. And pray to God to give you grace to love him? Yes: the Lord direct our hearts into his love, 2 Thess 3:5.
42.4. Is it our duty to love our neighbour too? Yes: He that loveth God, must love his brother also, 1 John 4:21. Can we pretend to love God, if we do not love our neighbour? No: he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen, 1 John 4:20. Is this the fulfilling of the law? Yes: all is comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Rom 13:9; James 2:8; Gal 5:14. Is it the second great commandment? Yes: the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Matt 22:39. Is it an old commandment? Yes: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, I am the Lord, Lev 19:18. Is it a new commandment? Yes: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, John 13:34.
42.5. Must we have a respect for all men? Yes: Honour all men, 1 Pet 2:17. Especially for all good men? Yes: we must honour them that fear the Lord, Ps 15:4. Must we esteem one another? Yes: Let each esteem other better than themselves, Phil 2:3. Must we sympathise with one another? Yes: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep, Rom 12:15. Must we please one another? Yes: for even Christ pleased not himself, Rom 15:2-3. Must we help one another? Yes: Bear ye one another's burthens, Gal 6:2. Must we do good to one another? Yes: as we have opportunity we must do good to all men, Gal 6:10. Must we pray for one another? Yes: Pray one for another that ye may be healed, James 5:16. Must we love even our enemies? Yes: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, Matt 5:44.
42.6. Must you hurt nobody in word or deed? No: A citizen of Sion doth not evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour, Ps 15:3. Must you be true and just in all your dealings? Yes: That which is altogether
just shalt thou follow, Deut 16:20. Must you bear no malice or hatred in your heart? No: for whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, 1 John 3:15.
42.7. Are we to love our neighbour as ourselves? Yes: for we are members one of another, Eph 4:25. As truly as we love ourselves? Yes: Let love be without dissimulation, Rom 12:9. And as fruitfully? Yes: Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, 1 Cor 10:33. And as constantly as we love ourselves? Yes: Let brotherly love continue, Heb 13:1. Ought we therefore to do as we would be done by? Yes: Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them, Matt 7:12. Should we in our places promote Christian love? Yes: for every one that loveth is born of God, 1 John 4:7. And will this be our comfort? Yes: Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you, 2 Cor 13:11.
Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
43.1. Did God himself speak the ten commandments? Yes: God spake all these words, saying, Exod 20:1. Was it fit they should be introduced with a solemn preface? Yes: Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken, Isa 1:2. Did he therein assert his own authority? Yes: I am the Lord thy God. Did he remind them of the great things he had lately done for them? Yes: I am the Lord thy God, from the land of Egypt, Hos 12:9.
43.2. Was the condition of Israel in Egypt very miserable? Yes: for the Egyptians made them to serve with rigour, Exod 1:13. Did God bring them out of Egypt? Yes: He brought Israel from among them, for his mercy endureth for ever, Ps 136:11. Did he do it miraculously? Yes: With a strong hand, and a stretched-out arm, for his mercy endureth for ever, Ps 136:12. Did this oblige them to keep his commandments? Yes: When I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I said, Obey my voice, Jer 7:22-23. But does this concern us? Yes: for unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them, Heb 4:2. For is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes: of the Gentiles also, Rom 3:29.
Q. 44. What does the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teaches us, that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all God's commandments.
44.1. Is God the Lord Jehovah? Yes: I am the Lord, that is my name, Isa 42:8. Is that a reason why we should keep his commandments? Yes: Ye shall observe all my statutes, and do them, I am the Lord, Lev 19:37. Is he our God? Yes: He is thy praise, and he is thy God, Deut 10:21. Is that a reason why we should keep his commandments? Yes: for all people will walk every one in the name of their God, Mic 4:5; Ps 95:7.
44.2. Is he our Redeemer? Yes: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, Isa 63:16. Has he redeemed us from outward troubles? Yes: Behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, Josh 14:10. And are we therefore bound to keep his commandments? Yes: Truly, I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds, Ps 116:16. And are we very ungrateful if we do not? Yes: Now thou hast given us such deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandments? Ezra 9:13-14.
44.3. Has God brought us out of a spiritual Egypt? Yes: for Christ proclaims liberty to the captives, Isa 61:1. Are we delivered from the bonds of sin? Yes: He shall redeem Israel from all their iniquities, Ps 130:8. And is our deliverance by Christ greater than theirs out of Egypt? Yes: for if the Son make you free, then you shall be free indeed, John 8:36. And are we therefore bound to keep all his commandments? Yes: for we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies, that we might serve him, Luke 1:74-75. And
was this the design of our redemption? Yes: He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, Titus 2:14. Is there then all the reason in the world why we should be religious? Yes: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, Isa 1:18.
Q. 45. What is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
45.1. Is it an essential duty of religion to worship God? Yes: for those have no hope that are without God in the world, Eph 2:12. Are we concerned to be right in the object of our worship? Yes: We must know what we worship, John 4:22. Does the first commandment direct us in this? Yes: for the first of all the commandments, is this, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, Mark 12:29.
45.2. Does God lay a stress upon our having him for our God? Yes: Hear, O my people, and I will speak; I am God, even thy God, Ps 50:7. And upon our having him only? Yes: Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee; there shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god, Ps 81:8-9. Did Israel need this commandment? Yes: for their fathers served other gods, Josh 24:2. And were they tempted to serve other gods? Yes: the gods of the people that were round about them, Deut 13:7.
Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
46.1. Does that which forbids us to have any other gods, require us to have the true God? Yes: Put away the strange gods, and serve the Lord only, 1 Sam 7:3-4. Is it our duty to acknowledge God? Yes: The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God, 1 Kings 18:39. And must we acknowledge him to be the only true God? Yes: Thou art the God, even thou alone, 2 Kings 19:15.
46.2. Is it our duty to acquaint ourselves with him? Yes: Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace, Job 22:21. Must we grow in that acquaintance? Yes: increasing in the knowledge of God, Col 1:10. And may we attain to it? Yes: then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Hos 6:3.
46.3. Must we accept of God for our God? Yes: Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, Deut 26:17-18. And must we join ourselves to him? Yes: Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant, Jer 50:5. And consent to be his? Yes: O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, Ps 116:16. Must we take God the Father to be our chief good and highest end? Yes: O God, thou art my God, Ps 63:1. And God the Son to be our Prince and Saviour? Yes: my Lord and my God, John 20:28. And God the Holy Ghost to be our sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter? Yes: for they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God, Rom 8:14. Must we renounce all others? Yes: For by thee only will we make mention of thy name, Isa 26:13. Must we do this deliberately? Yes: Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, Josh 24:15. Must we do it solemnly? Yes: One shall say, I am the Lord's and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, Isa 44:5. Must we do it resolutely? Yes: Nay, but we will serve the Lord, Josh 24:21. May we be at liberty to change our Master? No: but with purpose of heart must cleave to the Lord, Acts 11:23.
46.4. When we have avouched the Lord for our God, must we apply ourselves to him? Yes: if the Lord be God, then follow him, 1 Kings 18:21. Must we glorify him accordingly? Yes: Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, Ps 39:2. Must we worship him? Yes: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, Matt 4:10. Must we worship him with inward worship? Yes: we must serve him with our spirits, Rom 1:9. Is that the worship he requires? Yes: for such the Father seeks to worship him, John 4:23.
46.5. Must we remember God? Yes: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, Eccles 12:1. And think of
him with delight? Yes: My meditation of him shall be sweet, Ps 104:34. Must we adore and admire him? Yes: Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Exod 15:11. Must we fear him above all? Yes: Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread, Isa 8:13. And reverence him? Yes: he is to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Ps 89:7. Must we submit to his word? Yes: Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears, 1 Sam 3:9. And submit to his will? Yes: It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam 3:18.
46.6. Must we love God above all? Yes: O love the Lord all ye his saints, Ps 31:23. Must our desire be towards him? Yes: So panteth my soul after thee, O God, Ps 42:1. Must our delight be in him? Yes: Delight thyself always in the Lord, Ps 37:4. Must our dependence be upon him? Yes: In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, Ps 31:1.
46.7. Must we live a life of communion with God? Yes: Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord, Ps 25:15. And a life of complacency, in him? Yes: Rejoice in the Lord always, Phil 4:4. And a life of conformity to him? Yes: Be ye holy, for I am holy, 1 Pet 1:16. And a life of confidence in him? Yes: Commit thy way unto the Lord, Ps 37:5. And a life of regard to him? Yes: In all thy ways acknowledge him, Prov 3:6. Must our hearts go out towards him? Yes: Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, Ps 25:1. And must we have him always in our eye? Yes; I have set the Lord always before me, Ps 16:8. And must we walk with him in the whole course of our conversation? Yes: as Enoch walked with God, Gen 5:24. And is this inward worship the life of religion? Yes: it is better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, Mark 12:33.
Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying, the true God, as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone.
47.1. Is it a great sin to deny the being of God? Yes: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God, Ps 14:1. Or to deny his omniscience? Yes: they say, The Lord shall not see, Ps 94:7. Or to deny his justice? Yes: He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it, Ps 10:13. Or his holiness? Yes: Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself, Ps 50:21. Or his goodness? Yes: I knew thee to be a hard man, Matt 25:24. Or his faithfulness? Yes: Where is the promise of his coming? 2 Pet 3:4. Is it a sin to question God's providence? Yes: is the Lord among us? Or is he not? Exod 17:7. Or to question his power? Yes: Can God furnish a table in the wilderness, Ps 78:19. And is there such a thing as practical atheism? Yes: They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, Titus 1:16.
47.2. Is it a great sin to be ignorant of God? Yes: Some have not the knowledge of God; I speak it to your shame, 1 Cor 15:34. Is it a damning sin? Yes: He shall take vengeance on them that know not God, 2 Thess 1:8. Is it the cause of all other sins? Yes: There is neither truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God, in the land, Hos 4:1. Is it a great sin to forget God? Yes: Thou hast forgotten the God that formed thee, Deut 32:18. And to cast off the fear of him? Yes: There is no fear of God before his eyes, Ps 36:1. And to live without prayer? Yes: Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, Isa 43:22. And not to glorify him? Yes: The God in whose hand thy breath is, hast thou not glorified, Dan 5:23.
47.3. Is all distrust of God a sin? Yes: the evil heart of unbelief departs from the living God, Heb 3:12. And tempting God? Yes: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, Matt 4:7. And all the coldness of our love to him? Yes: But their heart is far from me, Matt 15:8. Does this commandment forbid all ungodliness? Yes: for the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness, Rom 1:18. And all idolatry? Yes: Little children, keep yourselves from idols, 1 John 5:21.
47.4. Had the Gentiles other gods besides
the true God? Yes; they had gods many, and lords many, 1 Cor 8:5. And were those gods devils? Yes: they sacrificed to devils, and not to God, 1 Cor 10:20. May we have communion with them? No: I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils, 1 Cor 10:20. Have those fellowship with them who consult with witches? Yes: Is it because there is not a God in Israel, that thou goest to inquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, 2 Kings 1:3. Did the Gentiles multiply their gods? Yes: According to the number of thy cities are thy gods, Jer 2:28. Were they gods of their own making? Yes: And they that make them are like unto them, Ps 115:8. Was not that a great affront to the living God? Yes: They changed the truth of God into a lie, Rom 1:25.
47.5. Is there not such a thing as spiritual idolatry? Yes: These men have set up their idols in their hearts, Ezek 14:4. Is it idolatry to make a god of our appetites? Yes: Whose god is their belly, Phil 3:19. Or a god of our money? Yes: for covetousness is idolatry, Col 3:5. May we give that respect to any creature which is due to God alone? No: for his glory he will not give to another, Isa 42:8. Is it therefore a sin to love them more than God? Yes: He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me, Matt 10:37. And to trust in them? Yes: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, Jer 17:5. Is this spiritual adultery? Yes: She went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord, Hos 2:13.
Q. 48. What are we especially taught by these words, [before me,] in the first commandment?
A. These words, [before me,] in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
48.1. Are we always in God's sight? Yes: Thou knowest my downsitting, and my uprising, Ps 139:2. Are all our actions in his sight? Yes: All my ways are before thee, Ps 119:168. Does he take notice of them? Yes: he pondereth all our goings, Prov 5:21.
48.2. Are all our good works before him? Yes: I know thy work, and thy labour, and thy patience, Rev 2:2. Does he know all our inward worship of him? Yes: The Lord hearkened, and heard those that thought on his name, Mal 3:16. And should that encourage us to have him for our God? Yes: for your Father sees in secret, and will reward openly, Matt 6:4.
48.3. Are all our evil works before him? Yes: He sets our iniquities before him, Ps 90:8. Is the having of other gods oftentimes a secret sin? Yes: They do it in the dark, and say, the Lord sees us not, Exod 8:12. But does God see? Yes: He that formed the eye, shall he not see it? Ps 94:9. Does he take notice of all our neglects of him? Yes: if we have forgotten the name of our God he knows it. And does he take notice of all our inclinations to other gods? Yes: if we have stretched out our hands to a strange god, shall not God search this out? Ps 44:20-21. And is he much displeased with secret idolatry? Yes: Seest thou the great abominations that they commit? Ezek 8:6. And should this oblige us to be faithful to him? Yes: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, 1 Chron 28:9.
Q. 49. What is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath; or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
49.1. Does the second commandment concern the ordinances of God's worship, as the first object of it? Yes: Therefore ye shall keep mine ordinances, Lev 18:10. Was it requisite there should be a law concerning them? Yes: Lest ye say, How did these nations serve their gods? so will I do likewise, Deut 12:30.
Is this binding to us now? Yes: Dearly beloved, flee from idolatry, 1 Cor 10:14. Are we Christians forbidden to worship images? Yes: That they should not worship idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, Rev 9:20.
49.2. Does this commandment forbid the making of images for a religious use? Yes: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven image, Deut 27:15. Does it forbid the making an image of what is in heaven above? Yes: Lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, shouldst be driven to worship them, Deut 4:19. Or on earth beneath? Yes: As they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox, Ps 106:20. Or in the waters under the earth? Yes: As they made the likeness of creeping things, Rom 1:23.
49.3. Does it forbid us to bow down to them? Yes: Shall I bow down to the stock of a tree? Isa 44:19. Or to worship them? Yes: Thou shalt worship no other God, Exod 34:14. Or to show any respect to them? Yes: I will take away the names of Baalim out of their mouth, Hos 2:17. Was it requisite this commandment should be thus enlarged? Yes: Precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, Isa 28:10. And that it should be backed with many reasons? Yes: for they are mad upon their idols, Jer 50:38.
Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in his word.
50.1. Is it our duty solemnly to worship God? Yes: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, Matt 4:10. Do we thereby honour him? Yes: we give unto him the glory due unto his name, Ps 29:2. Does the light of nature teach us to worship God? Yes: they cried every man unto his god, Jon 1:5. But does it teach us sufficiently how to worship him? No: Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Acts 17:23. Has God in his word appointed us in what way to worship him? Yes: for this was ordained in Joseph for a testimony, Ps 81:5. And must we worship him in the appointed way? Yes: See thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee, Heb 8:5.
50.2. Are we to receive such ordinances as God has appointed? Yes: The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey, Josh 24:24. Should we labour to understand them? Yes: What mean ye by this service? Exod 12:26. And are we to observe them? Yes: Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, Matt 28:20. And to observe them duly? Yes: as the duty of every day requires, Ezra 3:4.
50.3. Are we to keep God's ordinances? Yes: That good thing which was committed to thee, keep, 2 Tim 1:14. Are we to keep them carefully? Yes: Keep them as the apple of thine eye, Prov 7:2. Must we keep them pure without corruption? Yes: Add thou not to his words, Prov 30:6. And entire, without diminution? Yes: We must walk in all the ordinances of the Lord, Luke 1:6. May we neither add nor diminish? No: Thou shalt neither add thereto, nor diminish from it, Deut 12:32.
50.4. Must we worship God in the spirit? Yes: We are the circumcision that worship God in the spirit, Phil 3:3. Must we be inward with God in every service? Yes: for bodily exercise profiteth little, 1 Tim 4:8. Is ignorance the mother of devotion? No: for if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? Mal 1:8. Is it the mother of destruction? Yes: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos 4:6.
50.5. Ought we to have an eye to the word of God in our religious worship? Yes: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin, Rom 14:23. And to glorify God in it? Yes: I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me, Lev 10:3. And ought we to shun all idolatrous worship? Yes: For I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils, 1 Cor 10:20.