12. Introduction to the Ten Commandments (Qs 98-101)
98 Where is the moral law summarily
comprehended? A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten
commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon Mount Sinai, and
written by him in two tables of stone;(1) and are recorded in the twentieth
chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and
the other six our duty to man.(2)
(1)Deut.
10:4; Exod. 34:1-4
(2)Matt. 22:37-40
99 What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of
the ten commandments? A. For the right understanding of the ten commandments,
these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth everyone
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) 4. That
as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden;(4) and, where a
sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded;(5) so, where a promise is
annexed, the contrary threatening is included;(6) and where a threatening is
annexed, the contrary promise is included.(7) 5. That what God forbids, is at no
time to be done;(8) what he commands, is always our duty;(9) and yet every
particular duty is not to be done at all times.(10) 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.
(11) 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.(12) 8. That in what is commanded
to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to
them;(13) and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden
them.(14)
(1)Ps. 19:7;
James 2:10; Matt. 5:21,22
(2)Rom. 7:14;
Deut. 6:5 compared with Matt. 22:37,38,39; Matt.
5:21,22,27,28,33,34,37,38,39,43,44
(3)Col. 3:5;
Amos 8:5; Prov. 1:19; 1 Tim. 6:10
(4)Isa.
58:13; Deut. 6:13 compared with Matt. 4:9,10; Matt. 15:4,5,6
(5)Matt.
5:21-25; Eph. 4:28
(6)Exod.
(7)Jer.
18:7,8; Exod. 20:7; Ps. 15:1,4,5; Ps. 24:4,5
(8)Job
13:7,8; Rom. 3:8; Job 36:21; Heb. 11:25
(9)Deut.
4:8,9
(10)Matt.
12:7
(11)Matt.
5:21,22,27,28; Matt. 15:4-6; Heb. 10:24,25; 1 Thess. 5:22; Jude 23; Gal. 5:26;
Col. 3:21
(12)Exod. 20:10; Lev. 19:17; Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15;
Deut. 6:6,7
(13)2 Cor.
(14)1 Tim.
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 several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to enforce them.
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.(1) Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as
being JEHOVAH, the eternal, immutable, and almighty God;(2) having his being in
and of himself,(3) and giving being to all his words(4) and works:(5) and that
he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people;(6) who,
as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our
spiritual thraldom;(7) and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God
alone, and to keep all his commandments.(8)
(1)Exod. 20:2
(2)Isa. 44:6
(3)Exod. 3:14
(4)Exod. 6:3
(5)Acts
(6)Gen. 17:7
compared with Rom. 3:29
(7)Luke
1:74,75
(8)1 Pet.