_The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb._ THE PROMULGATION OF THE LAW God was ever wonderful in His works, and fearful in His judgments--but He was never so terrible in the execution of His will as now in the promulgation of it. Here was nothing but a display of grandeur in the eyes, in... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am the Lord thy God._ THE MISSION OF LAW In a general sense law is the manner in which an act shall be performed. In civil life it is a legislative declaration how a citizen shall act; in morals it is a rule of conduct proceeding from one who has the right to rule, and directed to those who have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt have none other gods before Me._ OUR DUTY TOWARDS GOD The word “gods” in this passage may be regarded as denoting not only the various objects of religions worship, but also all the objects of supreme regard, affection, or esteem. To acknowledge Jehovah as our God is to love Him supreme... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not make thee any graven image._ THE SECOND COMMANDMENT The Second Commandment contains, like all the commandments, a great principle--the great principle that God can be sought and found, not by outward forms, but only by the clean hands and the pure heart. The First Commandment bids u... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain._ THE THIRD COMMANDMENT I. What is required in it. This supposes that it is an indispensable duty for us to make mention of the name of God. II. The sins forbidden in this commandment; and accordingly we violate it by not using the name of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep the Sabbath day._ THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT I. Here is resting from ordinary employments. When a man does his work, his thoughts and tongue and hands are engaged in it. Consequently, on this day of rest, there must be not only a ceasing frown the actual labour of the hands, but neither the tong... [ Continue Reading ]
_Honour thy father and thy mother._ THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT I. The duties of children are, in the language of the Decalogue, summed up in one word, “honour”--“Honour thy father and thy mother.” No word could well have been more happily chosen. The duties required by it seem to be reducible under thr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt not kill._ THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT First, we are here forbidden to injure our own flesh; to desire our own death out of impatience and passion, or in any way to hasten our end, and bereave ourselves of life. 1. It is a sin against ourselves, and against that natural principle of self-lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou commit adultery._ THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT The original word which our translators restrain to committing adultery is of a large signification, and comprises all kinds of uncleanness and lewdness. So that all unlawful lust and carnal pleasure is here forbidden, and we are enjoin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou steal._ THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT I will consider the negative and, secondly, the positive part of the commandment. For the first, the negative part, to wit, what is forbidden here, we are to know that it extends to ourselves as well as to our neighbours. I begin with the former. W... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou bear false witness._ THE NINTH COMMANDMENT I will speak first of the negative part of this commandment; secondly, of the affirmative. Under the former are forbidden these two things: first, more largely all evil speaking that may be any ways hurtful to our neighbours; and then m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shalt thou desire._ THE TENTH COMMANDMENT Nothing, be it ever so mean, is to be coveted which belongs to another, if it be to his loss and detriment. Wherefore it is observable that this commandment is thus briefly expressed by the Saviour (Matthew 10:19). Defraud not, take not away. Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
_These words the Lord spake._ THE VOICE OF GOD “God spake.” Think of it, worshipper of lust and greed, worshipper of self, worshipper of the many-headed monster of thine own evil desires, worshipper of no God! Think of it, Sabbath breakers who seek only your own pleasure on the Lord’s Day! Think of... [ Continue Reading ]
_God doth talk with man, and he liveth._ TALKING WITH GOD There is no doubt that Adam was originally made for converse with his Maker. The voice of the Lord had no terrors for him until he had sinned. From that time forth the voice of the Lord was in itself calculated to strike terror into man. And... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee._ THE DUTY OF MINISTERS I. It is his special business and privilege to approach with frequency into the presence of God, and to keep up an intimate and familiar intercourse with Him, that he may obtain enlarged disclosures of His... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord heard the voice of your words._ GOD’S HEARING THE VOICE OF THE WORDS OF HIS PEOPLE 1. We may learn, from what is here said, that God notices and approves such religious professions and engagements as are in accordance with His Word, and by which we bind ourselves to do His will. “I have h... [ Continue Reading ]
_That ye may live, and. .. prolong your days._ PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY I. We fall, I conceive, into a very inaccurate method of speech, when we say that the prize which God proposes to His people is set forth in one of these clauses; the duty, or performance by which they are to earn that prize,... [ Continue Reading ]