Deuteronomy 5:1
All Israel — Namely by their elders, who were to impart it to the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
All Israel — Namely by their elders, who were to impart it to the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not with our fathers — Only: but with us, who are all alive — He saith not, that all who made the covenant at Sinai are now alive, but this covenant was made with all that are now alive; which is most true, for it was made with the elders in their persons, and with the rest in their parents, who cov... [ Continue Reading ]
Face to face — Personally and immediately, not by the mouth or ministry of Moses; plainly and certainly, as when two men talk face to face; freely and familiarly, so as not to overwhelm and confound you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Between the Lord and you — As a mediator between you, according to your desire. The word of the Lord — Not the ten commandments, which God himself uttered, but the following statutes and judgments.... [ Continue Reading ]
There being little said, concerning the spiritual sense of the Ten Commandments, in the notes on the twentieth of Exodus, I think it needful to add a few questions here, which the reader may answer between God and his own soul. Thou shalt have none other gods before me — Hast thou worshipped God in... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not make any graven image — Hast thou not formed any gross image of God in thy mind? Hast thou always thought of him as a pure spirit, whom no man hath seen, nor can see? And hast thou worshipped him with thy body, as well as with thy spirit, seeing both of them are God's?... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain — Hast thou never used the name of God, unless on solemn and weighty occasions? Hast thou then used it with the deepest awe? Hast thou duly honoured his word, his ordinances, his ministers? Hast thou considered all things as they stand in rela... [ Continue Reading ]
Keep the sabbath — day, to sanctify it — Dost thou do no work on this day, which can be done as well on another? Art thou peculiarly careful on this day, to avoid all conversation, which does not tend to the knowledge and love of God? Dost thou watch narrowly over all that are within thy gates, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Honour thy father and mother — Hast thou not been irreverent or undutiful to either? Hast thou not slighted their advice? Hast thou chearfully obeyed all their lawful commands? Hast thou loved and honoured their persons? Supplied their wants, and concealed their infirmities? Hast thou wrestled for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt not kill — Have you not tempted any one, to what might shorten his life? Have you tempted none to intemperance? Have you suffered none to be intemperate under your roof, or in your company? Have you done all you could in every place, to prevent intemperance of all kinds! Are you guilty of... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt thou commit adultery — If thou hast not been guilty of any act of uncleanness, hath thy heart conceived no unclean thought? Hast thou not looked on a woman so as to lust after her? Hast thou not betrayed thy own soul to temptation, by eating and drinking to the full, by needless famili... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt thou steal — Have you seriously considered, that these houses, lands, money, or goods, which you are used to call your own, are not your own, but belong to another, even God? Have you ever considered, that God is the sole proprietor of heaven and earth? The true owner of every thing th... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour — Have you not been guilty of evil — speaking? Of needlessly repeating the real fault of your neighbour? If I see a man do an evil thing, and tell it to another, unless from a full and clear conviction, that it is necessary to mention it ju... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt thou covet any thing that is thy neighbour's — The plain meaning of this is, thou shalt not desire any thing that is not thy own, any thing which thou hast not. Indeed why shouldst thou? God hath given thee whatever tends to thy one end, holiness. Thou canst not deny it, without making... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness — That was a dispensation of terror, designed to make the gospel of grace the more welcome, and to be a specimen of the terrors of the judgment — day. He added no more — He ceased for that time to speak immediately, and with that... [ Continue Reading ]
Why should we die? — For though God hath for this season kept us alive, yet we shall never be able to endure any farther discourse from him in such a terrible manner, but shall certainly sink under the burden of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Flesh — Is here put for man in his frail, corruptible, and mortal state.... [ Continue Reading ]
O that there were such an heart in them! — A heart to fear God, and keep his commandments forever! The God of heaven is truly and earnestly desirous of the salvation of poor sinners. He has given abundant proof that he is so: he gives us time and space to repent; by his mercies invites us to repenta... [ Continue Reading ]