commandments, these rules are to be observed:

1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth every one to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto entire obedience for ever; so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least degree of every sin. (1)

2. That it is spiritual, and so reacheth the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul; as well as words, works, and gestures. (2)

3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments. (3)

(1) Ps. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect. James ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Matt. v. 22, 28, 37, 44. Whosoever shall say, [to his brother] Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire.-Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.-But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

(2) Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual. Deut. vi. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Matt. xxii. 37, 38, 39. Matt. xii. 36, 37.

(3) Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Tim. vi. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they

4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden; (1) and where a sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded: (2) So, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included; (3) and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included. (4)

have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Ex. xx. 3, 4, 5. Amos viii. 5.

(1) Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. Matt. xv. 4, 5, 6. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Deut. vi. 13. Compared with Matt. iv. 9, 10.

(2) Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, &c.

(3) Ex. xx. 12. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Compared with Prov. xxx. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

(4) Jer. xviii. 7, 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Ex. xx. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless

5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done; (1) what he commands is always our duty; (2) and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times. (3)

6. That, under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto. (4)

7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound, according to our places, to endeavour that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places. (5)

that taketh his name in vain. 4, 5, and with Ps. xxiv. 4, 5.

Compared with Ps. xv. 1,

(1) Rom. iii. 8. And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. Heb. xi. 25.

(2) Deut. iv. 9. Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons.

(3) Matt. xii. 7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Mark xiv. 7.

(4) 1 Thess. v. 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Heb. x. 24. Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works. Col. iii. 21.

(5) Ex. xx. 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is

8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them; (1) and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden them. (2)

Q. 100. What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?

A. We are to consider in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and the several reasons annexed to some of them the more to enforce them.

Q. 101. What is the preface to the ten commandments?

A. The preface to the ten commandments is contained in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as being Jehovah, the eternal, immutable, and almighty

within thy gates. Gen. xviii. 19. For I know him, that he will cominand his children, and his household after him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Deut. vi. 6, 7. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Josh. xxiv. 15.

(1) 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy.

(2) 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Eph. v. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (3) Ex. xx. 2.

God; (1) having his being in and of himself, (2) and giving being to all his words (3) and works: (4) and that he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people; (5) who as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our spiritual thraldom; (6) and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God alone, and to keep all his commandments. (7)

(1) Isa. xliv. 6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

(2) Ex. iii. 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

(3) Ex. vi. 3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

(4) Acts xvii. 24, 28. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands-For in him we live, and move, and have our being.

(5) Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee. Compared with Rom. iii. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.

(6) Luke i. 74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

(7) 1 Pet. i. 15, 16, 17, 18. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation. Lev xviii. 30, and xix. 37. See also figure (6), above.