A brief exposition of the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer. By Symon Patrick rector of St. Paul Covent Garden.

A Brief EXPOSITION OF THE Ten Commandments AND THE Lords Prayer.

Question.

WHat doth the Preface to the Commandments teach you?

Answer.* 1.1 The right that God hath to Command, and the reason that I have to obey, both as he is my Creator and Benefactor.

Q. Ʋnto what Duties doth the first Commandment engage you?

A. To acknowledge the one God of Israel to be the onely true God, so as to honoura 1.2 worshipb 1.3, fearc 1.4, loved 1.5, and believe hime 1.6, to trustf 1.7, and hopeg 1.8 in him, to offer the sacrifices of Prayer and Praise to himh 1.9, and perform all other du∣tiesi 1.10, which a creature owes to his all-seeing Creatork 1.11, and to him onlyl 1.12.

Q. What Duties do you think are re∣quired of you by the second Commandment?

A. That I give all that external wor∣shipm 1.13 to the invisible God which he hath prescribed, but by no means make any corporealn 1.14 image of him, nor give such religious worship to the image of any thing whatsoever ito 1.15 be.

Q Can you discern any reason whereby God doth inforce this Command?

A. Yes, I observe first that he was jealous of his own people, that the very having of an Image would estrange them from him. And secondly, That such worshippers of other things he accounts Haters of him, and will punish them e∣ven in their Posterity, to the Third and Fourth Generation. And thirdly, that he will multiply mercies. To many Ages upon those who onely serve him, as the persons who truely Love and obey him.

Q. What are the Duties to which by the third Commandment you take your self to be obliged?

A. First, Not voluntarily upon any occasionp 1.16, or for any purpose to swear at all; and secondly, when upon weighty causes I am legally required, never to swear falselyq 1.17, nor promise that which I mean not to perform; and thirdly not to use the name of God but with greatr 1.18 re∣verence.

Q. Are the sins against this Command∣ment more dangerous than others?

A. Yes,* 1.19 Gods plagues shall certain∣ly light upon such sinners. For he saith expresly He will not hold them guilt∣less.

Q. What do you think the fourth Com∣mandment teacheth you?

A. First To set apart from my lawful, worldly imployments and recreations, one day in seven for the solemn worship of Gods 1.20; That I may advance myt 1.21 soul in Piety, and learn to cease all my life from sinu 1.22, thereby preparing my self for the eternal praising of God and my Re∣deemer, in the Rest which remains for his people* 1.23 and secondly, to endeavour to bring those who are under my charge to the same observation.

Q. But why do you observe the first day of the week, when the Commandment speaks of the seventh?

A. In memory of Christs rising from the dead on the first day, that he might enter into his glorious rest, having here finished his work of redemption;* 1.24 for which I have the example of the holy Apostles, and the Church of God.

Q What do you here take notice of, that enforces your allowing Gods worship such a portion of your time?

A. I see that he hath allowed me six times as much for my worldly business; and that he himself hath by his proceed∣ing in the Creation, signified so much to me, and thereupon allowed one day, af∣ter six daies labour, to be a day of bles∣sings unto me.

Q. What do you think you are bound to practise by the fifth Commandment?

A. First, To reverence,x 1.25, lovey 1.26 and

obeyz 1.27 in all things (not disagreeing with Gods Commandsa 1.28) my natural Pa∣rents. Secondly, to respect the Agedb 1.29. Thirdly, To be ruled with humility by the Governours of the familyc 1.30, King∣domed 1.31, or Church where I livee 1.32.

Q What blessings attend upon such obe∣dient persons?

A. Commonly a long and prosperous life, Eph. 6.2, 3. Rom. 13, 3. 1 Pet. 2.14. Psal. 34 12, 13, 14.

Q What duties do you charge your self withal from the sixt Commandment?

A. Not to take away my own life* 1.33, nor any other mans† 1.34 (unless publique Justice* 1.35, and necessary defence of my own life† 1.36 make it unavoidable) nor willingly to go to war, unless when I am lawfully commanded, for preservation of the peace. Jam 4.1, 2.

Q Are these all?

A. No, I take my self necessarily en∣gaged, First, to suppress all causeless, and immoderate, long continued (though not causeless) angerf 1.37Secondly, to put away all contumelious, railing, and con∣tentious languageg 1.38. Thirdly, To root out all hatred, and to love even my ene∣mies, and to do them goodh 1.39. Fourthly, to meditate no revenge of wrongsi 1.40Fifth∣ly, Not to oppress and gripe any man, but to relieve the poork 1.41.

Q Do you take your self to be restrained by the seventh Commandment from more than that which we call adultery?

A, Yes, I think all other actsl 1.42 and lustsm 1.43 of uncleanness, and whatsoever may be the cause or beginning of themn 1.44, are thereby prohibited; And that I may not so much as gaze upon a womans beau∣ty to satisfie my lust, without being guil∣ty of hidden Adulteryo 1.45.

Q Is there any thing else that you can here observe also to be forbidden?

A. Yes, the putting away of a mans wife (except for adultery) and marrying another, or the marrying her that is so put away.

Q. What charge doth the eighth Command∣ment give you?

A. First, Not to take away or de∣tainp 1.46 my Neighbours goods, either by force or fraudq 1.47. Secondly, not to with∣hold relief from those that need itr 1.48.

Q. Is there any one precept which you think will secure all the duties of this Com∣mandment?

A. Yes, that of our Saviours. As you would that men should do to you, do to them likewise, Luk 6.31. Matth. 7.12.

Q What do you apprehend to be the things forbidden in the ninth Command∣ment?

A. Chiefly the giving any false Testi∣mony before a Judge against any mans 1.49. And also lying, and false accusationt 1.50. Whatsoever likewise may defame my brother, or detract from him before menu 1.51; and all rash judgment, and censures of him in my own breast* 1.52.

Q. What Obligations do you think the tenth Commandment laies upon you?

A. Not to desire to my self the pos∣sessions of my Neighbour, nor to envy them to him; but to be content in what∣soever state I am, without carefulness for the future, Phil. 4.6, 11. Mat. 6. ult. Heb. 13.5.

Q Have you never observed any place of scripture that briefly comprehends the sum of all these Commandments?

A. Yes, Christ tels me of two Com∣mandments upon which the whole Law and Prophets hang; which are mention∣ed (besides other places) in Mat. 22.37, &c. Mar. 12.30, &c. Rom. 13▪8, 9, 10.

Q. What is the meaning of those words which secure all your duty to God, viz. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind, and all thy strength?

A. That I esteem and desire him a∣bove all things, and bestow upon him my whole self.

Q. What mean you by these words which give your neighbour security from you? viz. Love thy Neighbour as thy self?

A. That I deal with every man so justly as I would he should deal with me, and so mercifully as I wish to be dealt withal by God.

Q. Canst thou do all these things of thy self without Gods special grace?

A. No, without me, saith Christ, ye can do nothing.

Q. How do you think to obtain his grace?

A. One way is by frequent prayer of faith.

Q. What is frequent prayer?

A. That which bears some proporti∣on to my minutely needs, to the great∣ness of the blessings which I ask, and to the favour of being invited to be much in the presence of God, by praying without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5.17.

Q. When do you pray in faith?

A. When I pray with an humble con∣fidence that God will give what I ask,* 1.53 and with an obedient readiness to do that my self which I desire he would do for me.

Q. Hath Christ left any direction for your prayers?

A. Yes, he hath taught me when I pray to say,* 1.54Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, &c.

Q. To whom do you direct your Prayer?

A. To our Father who is in heaven.

Q. What do you mean by that appellation?

A. I express by it my reverencex 1.55 to him, and my faith in him, that his good¦nessy 1.56 will, and his power* 1.57 can, grant my request for my self and others.

Q. What are those requests which you have such an humble confidence that he will grant?

A. They are six. In the three first, I more immediately respect his glory, in the three last my own good.

Q. What do you desire in the first Peti∣tion,

when you say, Hallowed be thy Name?

A. That God may be known to be what he isz 1.58 and accordingly esteemeda 1.59, worshippedb 1.60 and praisedc 1.61, in wordd 1.62, and deede 1.63, throughout the worldf 1.64.

Q. What is it that you pray for in the second, saying, Thy Kingdom come?

A. That Christ may so rule in mine own, and all mens hearts by his holy Laws and spiritg 1.65, that his Kingdom in this world attaining its just heighth 1.66, the eternal Kingdome of the Father may appeari 1.67.

Q. What do you beg in the third, saying. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven?

A. That he will give to me and to all men else his grace, whereby we may as cheerfully, unanimously, and impartially execute his Commandsk 1.68, and submit to his disposalsl 1.69,j 1.70 as the Angels dom 1.71.

Q. What do you intreat of God in the fourth, saying, Give us this day our daily bread?

A. That he would day by dayn 1.72 while we are in this world, grant us (in the use of honest meanso 1.73) all things fitting and sufficient for the support of our bodily p, and spiritual life q.

Q. What is it that you ask in the fifth, saying, Forgive us our trespasses, as we? &c.

A. That he would not so charge us with our sins as to punish usr 1.74; we promising the like kindness and mercy to the persons who offend uss 1.75.

Q. But Why doth Christ teach us to beg this thing conditionally, rather than any of the rest?

A. For two reasons.

Q. What is your first?

A. To learn us that forgiveness of sin (upon which all our Religion depends,* 1.76 and without which we can expect none of the other blessings) is not absolutely granted to any.

Q. What is your second?

A. To learn us that this particular of forgiving others, is one of the most befit∣tingt 1.77, yet difficult conditionsu 1.78.

Q. What do you pray for in the sixth and last petition, saying, Lead us not in∣to temptation, but deliver us from evil?

A. That God would give us grace to persevere, and go on to perfection, that we may not fall back to our sins againx 1.79, by the force of any temptationy 1.80 from the world, the flesh or the Devil.

Q. Why do you so conclude all your re∣quests, saying, For thine is the King∣dom, the Power, and the Glory, for e∣ver and ever? Amen.

A. We do again express, First, our sense, that to God of right belongs eter∣nally that dominion, obedience, and ho∣nour, which we ascribed unto hima 1.81; and Secondly, our confidence that he is wil∣ling, able, and in honour, ingaged to grant all these our petitionsb 1.82.

The Lord fulfill all thy Petitions,

Ps 20.5.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lev. 11.44, 45. Lev. 19.1, 2, 3. Lev. 20.7, 8. Deu. 10.12, 13.
• a 1.2

  Mal. 1.6.
• b 1.3

  Psal. 95.6, 7. Psal. 96.6, 7, 9.
• c 1.4

  Lev. 19.14.
• d 1.5

  Mat. 22.37.
• e 1.6

  1 Chr. 20.20.
• f 1.7

  Psal. 62.7, 8.
• g 1.8

  Psal. 130.7.
• h 1.9

  Ps. 50.14, 15. Psal. no. 1, 2, 3.
• i 1.10

  Deut. 10.12, 20, 21.
• k 1.11

  Heb. 4.13.
• l 1.12

  Matth. 4.10.
• m 1.13

  Psal. 95.6. 1 Cor. 6.20.
• n 1.14

  Deut. 4.12.15, 16, 17, 18, 23. Isa. 40.18, &c.
• o 1.15

  Psal. 97.7.
• p 1.16

  Mat. 5.34, 35, &c. Jam. 5.12.
• q 1.17

  Mat. 5.33. Eccles. 5 4, 5.
• r 1.18

  Lev. 19.12.
• * 1.19

  Zach. 5.3, 4. Jam. 5.12
• s 1.20

  Luk 4.16. Act. 13 14, 27. Act. 17.2.
• t 1.21

  Psal. 92.1, 2.12, 13, 14.
• u 1.22

  Heb. 4.10.
• * 1.23

  Heb. 4.9.
• * 1.24

  Act. 20 7. 1 Cor. 16.2. Rev. 1▪ 10
• x 1.25

  Heb. 12.9.
• y 1.26

  1 Tim. 5.4.
• z 1.27

  Luk. 2.51. Col. 3.20. Eph. 6.1, 2.
• a 1.28

  Luk. 14.26.
• b 1.29

  Lev. 19.32.
• c 1.30

  Eph 6.5, &c. Tit. 2.9, 10.
• d 1.31

  Rom. 13.1, 5, 7. 1 Pet. 2.17.
• e 1.32

  Luk. 10.16.
• * 1.33

  Act 16 27, 28.
• † 1.34

  Gen. 9.6.
• * 1.35

  Psal 101.8. Rom. 13.4.
• † 1.36

  Exod. 22.2 Deut. 22.26.
• f 1.37

  Mat. 5.21, 22.
• g 1.38

  Ibid & Ephes. 4.31.
• h 1.39

  1 Joh. 3.15 Luk. 10.29. &c. Mat. 5.44.
• i 1.40

  Mat. 5.39, 40, 41.
• k 1.41

  Isa. 1.15, 16, 17. Prov. 14.21.
• l 1.42

  Heb. 13.4. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10.
• m 1.43

  1 Thes. 4.4, 5, 7. Prov. 6.25.
• n 1.44

  Rom. 13 13. Eph. 5.3, 4, 5 Col. 3.8. Ezek. 16.49, 50.
• o 1.45

  Mat. 5.38. Mat. 5.32.
• p 1.46

  Jam. 5.4. Deut. 24.15. Pro 3.27, 28. 1 Tim. 5.18.
• q 1.47

  Prov. 11.1. Lev. 19.13, 35 Deut. 25 14.
• r 1.48

  1 Joh. 3.17. Prov 14.21. Lev 19.9, 10, 11. Deut 24.19.
• s 1.49

  Exod. 23.1. Deu. 19.18, 19
• t 1.50

  Eph. 4.25. 1 Pet 2.12. Luk. 3.14.
• u 1.51

  Psal. 15.3. Rō. 1.29, 30.
• * 1.52

  Luk 6.37. Rom. 14.4. 1 Cor 13.5, 7.
• * 1.53

  Jam. 1.5, 6, 7 Heb. 5.7.
• * 1.54

  Luk. 11.2, &c. Mat. 6.9, &c
• x 1.55

  Mal. 1.6. Eccl. 5.2.
• y 1.56

  Mat. 7.11.
• * 1.57

  Psal. 115.
• z 1.58

  Rom. 11.36.
• a 1.59

  Psal 89.6.
• b 1.60

  Psa 97.7, 9.
• c 1.61

  Psa. 113.
• d 1.62

  Psa. 63.4, 5
• e 1.63

  1 Cor. 10.31. Mat. 5.16. 2 Th. 1.11, 12
• f 1.64

  Psal. 86.9.
• g 1.65

  Mat. 24.14. Rom. 6.12, 14.
• h 1.66

  1 Cor. 15.25.
• i 1.67

  Mat. 13.43.
• k 1.68

  Act. 96.
• l 1.69

  Act 21.14.
• j 1.70

  Cor. 15.28.
• m 1.71

  Ps. 103.20 Rev 22.9.
• n 1.72

  Mat. 6.25, 34.
• o 1.73

  2 Thes. 3.10, 11, 12. 1 Tim 69. Mat. 7.9, 11. Luk. 11.11, 13. Mat. 5.16. 2 Th. 1.11, 12.
• r 1.74

  Psal. 51.1.
• s 1.75

  Mat. 5.7.
• * 1.76

  Isa. 1.16, 17. Act. 3.19.
• t 1.77

  Eph. 4. ult.
• u 1.78

  Mat. 18.24, &c. 35.
• x 1.79

  Joh. 5.14. Joh. 8.11
• y 1.80

  2 Tim. 4.17, 18. Rom. 16.20. 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Luk. 22.31, 32.
• a 1.81

  1 Tim. 6.15, 16.
• b 1.82

  Mat. 21.22. 2 Cor. 1.20. Ephes. 3 20▪ 21.