Chapter 32: Of the Christian Life and the Law of God

Q. What ought to be the life of them that are in Christ?

A. A course of holy obedience, and service to God all the days of their life (Luke 1:74, 75; 1 Peter 1:14, 15, 16, 17; Titus 3:8; Ephesians 2:10).

Q. What is the general rule of obedience?

A. Not the commandments of men, nor that which is good in our own eyes, but that will of God which is therefore revealed to us that we might do it.

Q. Whether may not unbelievers perform duties of obedience?

A. They may perform many things which are good for the matter of them, but not so as to please God in any thing they do.

Q. If they cannot please God in any thing they do, had they not best then to neglect good duties altogether?

A. Not so: for they are nowhere exempted from the commandment.

Q. Are believers able to perform obedience to God?

A. They are able by the power of Christ that strengthens them, to do the will of God in some measure of truth, as being now alive from the dead, and created in Christ Jesus to good works (Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:11).

Q. But can they do this in such perfection as the Law of God requires?

A. No, in no wise, and the reason is because they know but in part, and have flesh dwelling in them, and lusting against the Spirit.

Q. Should they not then omit good duties altogether, seeing they cannot perform them in that perfection which the Law requires?

A. Not so, but do them in uprightness of heart, as God shall enable them, because God of his mercy through Christ has promised to pardon their infirmities and sins, and to accept their sincere, though weak endeavors.

Q. What is the special rule according to which the life of a christian ought to be framed?

A. The life of a christian ought to be framed according to the moral Law of God (Romans 13:8, 9; Ephesians 6:2, 3; James 2:8).

Q. How may that be further cleared?

A. Because christians are not set at liberty to sin, and no man knows what is sin but by the Law.

Q. How else?

A. Because in the new covenant God does not promise to take away the Law, but to write it in our hearts.

Q. What rules are to be observed for our better understanding the commandments of the Law?

A. Every commandment of the Law is spiritual, reaching not only to the outward man, but also to the heart, soul, and conscience (Romans 7:14; Matthew 5:22, 28).

Q. What is another rule?

A. Under the negative part the affirmative is comprehended, and under the affirmative the negative (Mark 3:4; Psalms 34:14).

Q. What may be a third rule for the same purpose?

A. Under one vice forbidden, all of the same kind are forbidden also; with all the causes, occasions, and signs thereof. And under one duty are commanded all of the same kind, with all the means and helps thereof.

Q. What may be a fourth rule?

A. God requires not only that we keep the Law ourselves, but that as much as is in us we cause others to keep it also.

Q. How many are the commandments of the Law?

A. In respect of the general heads they are ten; but all may be referred to two kinds: duties to God in the four first commandments, and duties to our neighbor in the six latter.

Q. What is the main scope of the first commandment, You shall have no other Gods before me?

A. Here is required all that natural worship of God, whether the same be inward or outward, which is such as if there were no Law prescribed, yet if we well know his nature, we would undoubtedly perform it to him.

Q. Name some principal duties that are here required, with the contrary vices forbidden?

A. Here is required faith in God, love to his majesty, and hope in him, hearing his voice, calling upon him by prayer, and such like.

Q. And what are the evils forbidden in this first commandment?

A. Here is forbidden atheism, ignorance of God, unbelief, despair, pride, hatred, and contempt of God, and all inordinate setting of our hearts upon any creature.

Q. What is the main scope of the second commandment?

A. The second commandment enjoins all that worship of God which is by divine institution and ordinance (Matthew 28:20; Deuteronomy 12:32).

Q. What are some of the particulars?

A. The public and solemn preaching and hearing of his word, and prayer, celebration of sacraments, church fellowship, election and ordaining of ministers and their whole ministration, with the due observation of church discipline.

Q. What is the evil here forbidden?

A. All neglect of the instituted worship of God, and all worshipping of him after the images, imaginations, or inventions of men.

Q. What is the sum of the third commandment?

A. The things here required are the due manner of observing and using all things that pertain to the natural or instituted worship of God, and all that name of God whereby he makes himself known to his people.

Q. Show it by some instances?

A. Here is required preparations to God's service, reverence, devotion, sincerity, fruitfulness under ordinances, comeliness, order, and such like.

Q. What is the evil forbidden in the third commandment?

A. All rash, vain, and light using of the titles, word, and ordinances of the Lord, as sleeping at sermons or at prayer, and wandering thoughts at the same, all confusions in church meeting, and all using of any thing that is called God's name, otherwise than it ought to be used.

Q. What is the sum of the fourth commandment?

A. The consecrating and observing of that seventh part of time in God's solemn worship which he has instituted and ordained, which is the holy keeping of the Sabbath (Isaiah 58:13).

Q. What is the main sin here forbidden?

A. All holy days of men's devising without warrant of his word, and all profaning of the Lord's holy time or any part of it, by needless words, works, or thoughts.

Q. What is required in the fifth commandment?

A. To maintain and yield to men that honor that is due to them in respect of their places and degrees, whether they be natural parents, husbands, masters, magistrates, ministers, aged persons, or any other superiors, or equals, and inferiors.

Q. What is the contrary evil here forbidden?

A. All such carriage as tends to the dishonor of our neighbors.

Q. What is required in the sixth commandment?

A. Due care of the life and person of our neighbor, the contrary whereof is murder; fighting and quarrelling, rash anger, malice, hatred, and envy, and such like.

Q. What is the sum of the seventh commandment?

A. Due care of chastity and purity from all the lusts of uncleanness.

Q. Instance in some of the sins here forbidden?

A. Here is forbidden all unchaste thoughts and lust of the heart, filthy dreams, looks, speeches, and apparel, gestures of dalliance, actions of sodomy, bestiality, self-pollution, adultery, fornication, and wantonness.

Q. What is the sum of the eighth commandment?

A. Due care of our neighbor's outward estate whether it be lands, houses, cattle, corn, or anything else.

Q. Name some of the sins forbidden in this commandment?

A. Here is forbidden all neglect or hindrance of our neighbor's outward estate, whether it be by idleness, covetousness, non-payment of debts, oppression, by excessive prices or wages, robbery, thievery, or deceit.

Q. What is the sum of the ninth commandment?

A. Truth in speeches, promises, and our dealings among men; and the contrary forbidden is all lying and false speaking (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9, 10; Psalms 15:2; Micah 6:12; Psalms 12:2).

Q. What is the sum of the tenth commandment?

A. Contentment with our own outward estate, and not to covet that which is our neighbor's, but heartily to desire and rejoice in his good, as well as in our own.