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7. Wherein much of that internal worship consists which belongeth unto God. 8. That the law of the Lord is infinitely holy, and exceeding broad. 9. That none can obey it, so as to obtain life by it.

Sins Forbidden.

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 other which is due to him alone.

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ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,

1. That we are forbidden to deny God. Psal. xiv. 1.fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

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2. That we are forbidden to refuse or neglect to worship and glorify God. Isa. xliii. 22.—“ Thou hast not called upon me, Ŏ Jacob; thou hast been weary of me, O Israel." Dan. v. 23.-"The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified."

3. That we are forbidden to worship God improperly, as if he were not the only true God. Matt. xv. 8.-" This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

4. That we are forbidden to worship God, as if he were not our God. Ezek. xliv. 9.-"Thus saith the Lord God, No stranger uncircumcised in heart, or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary."

5. That we are forbidden to give that worship and glory to any other, which is due to God alone. Rom. i. 25."Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." Psal. xcvii. 7.-" Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 194.-The First Commandment forbiddeth the denying of the true God; or atheism.

Atheism is distinguished into speculative and practical.

1. Speculative atheism is a full persuasion in the heart that there is no God, and an open profession of it with the mouth; or it is a rejection of those essential truths which clearly prove the existence of God. The denial of a revelation from heaven, or that the Bible is such a revelation, is likewise called atheism; or deism, which is the acknowledgment only of the God of nature and providence. But, according to the Scriptures, they who reject the Bible, in which is revealed the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, are also guilty of denying the Father.-See 1 John ii. 23.

2. Practical atheism is to confess that there is a God, and, at the same time, to deny him by works, or to live as if there were no God.-See Psal. x. 4, 11; Tit. i. 16.

They are guilty of practical atheism, who do not worship and glorify the true God, as God, and their God,-who have an opportunity of knowing the true God, but remain ignorant of him, who forget God, and do not ask counsel of him, but walk according to the light of their own eyes,-who do not worship God according to his Word, but live in the habitual neglect of those duties which he hath enjoined,-who do not glorify God according to his Word, but set themselves up as their own rule, and propose themselves as their own endwhich is directly contrary to revelation, and who wilfully commit sin; for it is evident that they do not at that time believe that there is a God; or, if they do believe this, that they regard him not, which is very similar to a not acknowledging of God.

Obs. 195.-The First Commandment forbiddeth the not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God, and our God; or profaneness.

We are here informed, that we may worship and glorify the true God, but not as God, nor as our God.

1. To worship and glorify God, but not as God, is to draw near to him with the mouth, and to honour him with the lips, while the heart is far from him.-Matt. xv. 8; Isa. xxix. 13.

2. To worship and glorify God, but not as our God, is to be regardless whether or not we have come to the knowledge of him, so as to call him our God; or it is to want the habitual exercise of the faith of our covenant relation to him.-Psal. lxxxi. 10, 11.

Obs. 196. The First Commandment forbiddeth the giving of

that worship and glory to any other which is due to God alone; or idolatry.

Idolatry is distinguished into gross and spiritual idolatry.

1. External or gross idolatry is a paying of religious worship, homage, or adoration, to any person or thing besides the true God.

2. Internal or spiritual idolatry is a setting up of idols in the heart; or a giving of that place in our heart-that affection or regard to any thing whatever, which ought to be given to God alone.-1 John ii. 15.

Obs. 197.-Besides those things already mentioned, the First Commandment forbiddeth the following things :—

1. Bold and curious searching into the secret things of God. Deut. xxix. 29.

2. All compact and consultation with the devil.-Deut. xviii. 10, &c.; Acts xix. 18, &c.

3. All hearkening to the suggestions of the devil.

4. The making of man the lord of the conscience in things pertaining to religion.-Matt. xxiii. 8, &c. ; 2 Cor. i. 24.

5. The charging of God foolishly for the evils which he inflicts upon us.-Psal. xxxvii. 7, 8, and lxxiii.

6. The ascribing of the praise of any good we either have done, are doing, or can do, to fortune or to ourselves.-See Deut. viii. 17, 18; Dan. iv. 30.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. That all shall hereafter find that there is a God, whether they now believe it or not. 2. The daring nature of atheism, which levels at the being of God-of the only true God. 3. The necessity of being habitually impressed with the belief of every divine perfection. 4. The danger of drawing back from following God. 5. That God, who is a Spirit, requireth spiritual worship. 6. That many are idolaters, who believe it not. 7. The necessity of being regulated in all things by God's unerring Word. 8. The danger of imbibing unworthy views of his providence. 9. The necessity of resignation to the will of God in all things. 10. That we are indebted to God for all that we possess.

Of the expression "Before Me."

These words, "Before Me," in the First Commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other god.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That God seeth all things. Heb. iv. 13.-"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

2. That God taketh special notice of the sin of having any other god. Psal. xliv. 20, 21.—“If we have stretched out our hands to a strange god, shall not God search this out?" 3. That God is much displeased with the sin of having any other god. Deut. xxxii. 16.—“They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 198.- God, who seeth all things, taketh special notice of the sin of having any other god before him.

The strength of the argument implied in the words "before me," is, that the sin of having another god is committed in the presence of him who seeth all things,—that is, who hath a most intimate, perfect, and comprehensive knowledge of all things.-Psal. cxlvii. 5, and xciv. 8, 9. To deny this, would be to deny one of the glorious perfections of Deity,—namely, omniscience.-See Psal. cxxxix. If God were not acquainted with the works of his own hands, he could not be the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the world; nor could he at last judge the world in righteousness.-See 1 Cor. iv. 5.

God taketh special notice of the sin of having any other God, or of the sin of idolatry; which is to have our minds, wills, and affections set on other objects, as much as, or more than on God himself.

As this sin strikes more immediately and directly against the authority of God, so he taketh special notice of it,—that is, he threatens to resent it with the highest marks of displeasure, not only in the world to come, but even in the present life.-Deut. xxix. 24-29; Rev. xxi. 8.

Obs. 199.—God is much displeased with the sin of having any other god before him.

The reason why God is so much displeased with idolatry, both external and internal, is, because it sets up a rival in his stead, and that in his very presence; and gives that honour to another, which is due to him alone. See his threatenings against those who commit such sins, in Deut. xxix.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. That we cannot be guilty of any sin with which God is unacquainted. 2. That God is particularly displeased with the sin of idolatry. 3. The necessity of examining our hearts, that we may see who sits enthroned there,-whether God, or the world, or self, or any sinful object, any object loved equally with God or more than God. 4. That we ought to set our hearts on those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.

The Second Commandment.

The Second Commandment is, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the 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."

Exod. xx. 4-6; Deut. v. 8-10.

Duties Required.

The Second Commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God hath appointed in his Word.

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