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4. Q. HOw many waies is Gods Law broken?
A. By doing things for∣bidden, leauing things com∣maunded, and failing in the manner.
First it is to be noted that the Answer is to be vnder∣stood of all actuall sinne: For omission being a priua∣tion of action, the sin there∣of, must be reduced to the head of actuall sinne.
How here are set downe
three waies of breaking the Law: By committing som∣thing forbidden; By omit∣ting; And by defectiue per∣forming of something com∣maunded. The Soule in moouing or resting may misse the rule by which it is to be directed; First by hau∣ing some obiect diuers from that which the Law of God warranteth: Secondly, by carrying it selfe otherwise then it ought, to that Obiect which in Gods Law is com∣maunded.
In sinnes of Commission the soule erreth in the first kinde, for it doth mooue it selfe to something which is forbidden vnto it therein, and this is the highest kinde of euill; For as in a Wife not to loue her Husband is
a great leudnesse, but not onely to neglect his loue, but to turne to the imbrace∣ment of Strangers, is much more hainous: So for the Soule not to cleaue to God in doing righteousnesse is sinnefull, but to leaue him and turne to loue and like any kinde of vnrighteousnes, this is most sinfull.
Now the soule carrieth it selfe otherwise then it should to the good com∣manded, when either it doth suspend, ceasing to mooue after it, as in sinnes of Omis∣sion, or when it worketh for matter that which is requi∣red, but in other manner then God hath prescribed; either by not working the thing that wee had in com∣maund to doe, or by so do∣ing
it, that wee faile in cir∣cumstance. This last branch is or diuers considerations; for the manner of perfor∣mance sometimes is such, as doth change the kinde, and make that a sinne to him who so doth it, which might haue beene a gratefull obe∣dience:* 1.1 Thus Iehu in killing Ahab and his Posterity pro∣pounding priuate regnancie, committed the sin of mur∣ther, which else had beene an acte of Obedience and Iustice. Sometimes it is such as doth not change the kind of it, turning it to sinne, but hindereth the perfection of it, and maketh it sinnefull: thus doth the circumstanti∣all swaruings whereby our best actions are defiled.
The word in Hebrew
which noteth* 1.2 sinne, is de∣riued of a word, that signi∣fieth the missing of a marke: Now a man may misse the marke three waies; By sho∣ting ouer it; By being short of it; By shoting about it, but wide either on the right hand or on the left: So may we by as many waies swerue from the Law (which should be as a marke in our eye) ei∣ther by going beyond that which is commanded in it, as in sinnes of Commission, or by comming short, as in sinne of Omission, or by be∣ing wide, when we are about the thing commanded, but so that wee are wide in re∣gard of the circumstance, of that straightnesse or integri∣tie that should bee in our actions.
[Vse] Let vs therefore take no∣tice how many waies wee breake Gods Law. The Law of Sinne sometime ca∣rying vs to that which is e∣uill, the defect that is in vs making vs to omit good du∣ties, and grace, and sinne be∣ing so intermedled, and the one so lusting against the o∣ther that wee cannot perfect things as we would. Many account it a sin to lye and steale, &c. but not to repent, or not to beleeue, or not to giue all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure, or not to get Knowledge, they cannot see to be sinnes, be∣ing but the omitting of things commanded. To be improfitable in doing no∣thing this way, is not deem∣ed blame-worthy. I hope
(say many) I doe no hurt; I pray God I neuer doe worse: He were an euill Ser∣uant who taking a stoole should sit still and let his worke lie vndone, though he had no other fault: So many if they should neuer go to Church and serue GOD, or say Prayers, &c. they would thinke it a sinne, but to haue their hearts farre from God, to doe those things without reuerence, they see not this to be sinne∣full: Nay if the thing they doe be lawfull, let them vse it neuer so intemperately they thinke they sinne not, nor should not bee rebuked. Let them make a trade and vocation of Pastime; why they hope God allowes re∣creation. So many, if they
speake this or that which is true, though without wise∣dome and loue, they thinke they may doe it; Neuer re∣membring that good stuffe may bee marred in the mak∣ing: Good things may be so performed, that they shall become Sinnes and sinnefull actions.
Hos. 1.4.
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