Deuteronomy 5

Question. Why is the house put before the wife? In Deuteronomy the wife is put first (Deuteronomy 5:21): Neither shall you desire your neighbor's wife, neither shall you covet your neighbor's house. Here the house is put first.

An effectual fervent prayer prevails much; this is both the fire and the incense, without fervency it is no prayer. 2. Love him as a God (Deuteronomy 5:6). You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.

But then the question is, whether these means be the preaching of the Gospel, or of the same God revealed as Creator, by the Sun, Moon, and Stars, who is revealed in the Gospel, and salvation by him. Now the Sun, and Stars, and heaven declare the glory of God, and sound forth hi…

Therefore the Mediatour here mentioned, is Moses, who stood betweene the people and God, in the deliuerie of the law. Deut 5:5. It may be obiected, that there is but one Mediatour Christ, 1.

Fifthly, the law was in nature by creation: the Gospel is above nature, and was revealed after the fall. Sixthly, the law has Moses for the mediator (Deuteronomy 5:27), but Christ is the mediator of the new testament (Hebrews 8:6). Lastly, the law was dedicated by the blood of b…

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of that power, might be of God, and not of man. There is set down (Deuteronomy 5:23 etc.) a notable ground for the institution of the holy ministry by man, in stead of God's lively voice from heaven. And it was one of…

For by the verb exhortative, walk in it, he adds some relief to help our perseverance lest some difficulty or other might slacken our course, as it often falls out. Objection. But that which he adds of the right hand and the left, may seem absurd, in regard that when Moses showe…

Godliness consists not in a heart to intend to do the will of God, but in a heart to do it. The children of Israel in the wilderness had the former, of whom we read, Deuteronomy 5:27-29. Go near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say; and speak to us all that the Lord our…

For these things do not denote the Principle of Holiness it self, which is seated in the Mind, or Understanding and Will, whereas they are the names of Affections only; but they signifie the first Way whereby that Principle does act it self in an holy Inclination of the Heart to…

The corrupt sense given by the Scribes and Pharisies, is propounded in the words of the Holy Spirit, Leuit. 19. 12. Deut. 5. 11. you shalt not forsweare your selfe, but shall performe yours oathes unto the Lord: which are not here taken in that true meaning wherein Moses set the…

And so God (although in propriety of speech he can doubt nothing, nor fear anything, yet) is pleased to express his jealousy by such speeches as intimate distrust and dissidence. And therefore when the Israelites made that solemn promise to the Lord (Deuteronomy 5:27), "All that…

Their duty at that time in general is to do what lies in them, that it may go well with their children after their departure. Both the reasons which are often urged by the Holy Ghost, to stir up parents to yield obedience to God, taken from extent of God's blessing (in this kind…

Intermission, ease, and rest from labor at seasonable times, is as needful and requisite, as food and apparel. The reason which God renders of the fourth commandment shows that masters ought to afford rest to their servants: it is this, that your servant may rest (Deuteronomy 5:…

1. Because mortal men cannot endure his glorious presence. Deuteronomy 5:23: "When you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, for the mountain did burn with fire, you said, Behold, the Lord our God has showed us his glory, and his greatness, and we have heard his voic…

1. We beg a heart to do it. (Deuteronomy 5:29) O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always! It is not enough to set ourselves to do what God has commanded; but we must get a renewed, sanctified heart.

Oftentimes the soul may be strongly moved and affected for the present, and carried out to the Gospel under the notion of holiness, but it is but the lighter part of the soul that is so moved, not the whole heart, therefore it is not durable. The people meant as they spoke, when…

Our resolution is not to be determined and judged of so much by the course of our language, as by the bent of our heart. Empty promises signify nothing unless they are the result of the heart's determination (Deuteronomy 5:29-30). The people has said well, says God, all that the…

2. It directs us in our desires of knowledge, what should be our scope; come with a fixed resolution to obey, and refer all to practice. Knowledge is the means, doing is the end (Deuteronomy 5:31). I will speak to you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments whi…

Free-will-pangs of natural devotion are soon spent, they are like the morning dew, suddenly falls, and suddenly dried up. (Deuteronomy 5:29) When the people were frighted into a sense of religion, say they, All that the Lord has spoken, will we do. They have well said says God,…

Doctrine. Constancy and perseverance in obedience, is the commendation of it. When David promises to obey, he says he would do it continually for ever and ever: This is the obedience God longs for (Deuteronomy 5:29), O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear m…

1. Hearing without doing is disapproved (Deuteronomy 4:5): I have taught you good statutes and judgments, that you might do so. (Deuteronomy 5:1) Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and do them: Otherwise we de…

Note hence, 1. Doctrine. The fear of God is the grand principle of obedience (Deuteronomy 5:29): Oh that there were such an heart within them, that they would fear me, and keep my commandments always. Here consider, 1. What is the fear of God. 2. What influence it has upon obedi…

You owe all your time, and strength, and service to him, and therefore you should still be doing his will, and abounding in his work. 3. He enjoins nothing but what is good (Deuteronomy 5:29): Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my comm…

1. Seriously and advisedly, not in a rash humor. The people when they heard the Law, and were startled with the majesty of God (Deuteronomy 5:28-29), answered, All that the Lord has spoken, we will do. It was well done to come to a purpose and resolution, but O that there were s…

Some talk of the world, and declaim against it as a vanity, who think vainly in their heart, that their houses shall endure for ever (Psalm 49:11). So the rich man said within himself, you have good laid up for many years (as if he thought these things his happiness) but it is s…

Whatever then does transgress the law of God (in whole or in part (James 2:10)) is therefore, and is therein a sin, whether it break an affirmative or a negative precept; that is, whether it be the omission of good, or commission of evil. 2. To proceed and lay open wherein espec…

Now these three together, the workings of conscience, the sight of the goodness of the law, a desire to be saved, may bring forth in a man great purposes against sin, and yet he may have no heart to perform his own purposes. This was much-what the case of them, (Deuteronomy 5),…

You are utterly mistaken if you do not find application beyond your strength as well as redemption: this mistake in imagining that we can make the application arises especially upon a double ground, which is most dangerous and least discerned. First, when from the general offer…

My Spirit shall not always strive with man: he has striven by his terrors, by his mercies, striven and laid hold upon you by heart-breaking [illegible]; turn, why will you die? turn, and cause others to return, and so iniquity shall not be your ruin (Ezekiel 33:11). Oh that ther…

But are not the wicked many times willing to part with their corruptions? See how far they speak, how freely they profess (Deuteronomy 5:27): All that you have spoken, we will do. (Jeremiah 42:5) The Lord be judge [reconstructed: between] you and us, enquire at the mouth of the…

Therefore certainely, says the LORD, their turne of evil and misery shall come: they trusted in GOD, but not with their whole heart. So likewise,Deut. 5:25 the people there desire Moses to goe and receive the Commandements from God for them, and whatsoeuer God should say to them…

So they expound (Exodus 20:20) the other Covenant was to restrain from all sin. Indeed and so was that on Mount Sinai, to do all that are written in the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 28:1-4, etc.) to that same end, to love God with all the heart, and with all t…

Persons are two ways in Covenant with God, externally by visible profession, and conditionally, not in reference to the Covenant, but to the thing promised in Covenant, which none obtains, but such as fulfill the condition of the Covenant: For consent of parties, promise and res…

They have become the kingdoms of the Lord, not only because they are truly converted, but because they are the chosen of God in the office-house of Christ, and Christ reigns over them by the scepter of his Word whom he is to convert. And external covenanting with God is of itsel…

Hence there is no ground at all, nor truth in what Arminians say, that the covenant of Grace is made with all and every one of mankind, as was the covenant of Works. For this must be true, that in Paradise, the covenant of Grace was made with Adam, and all his seed: but a covena…

Spiritual duties cannot be divided: half a faith, half a love, is no faith, no love; saving grace is an essence that consists in indivisibili, and cannot be parted. 3. A new heart is a fixed and established heart by grace, it's a new state, not a new transient flash, a new heart…

But 2. Justification by grace does not, in iisdem apicibus, in the same points, have the same adversaries. 1. Moses and the Prophets contend most with ceremonial hypocrites, who sought righteousness much in ceremonies, washings, sacrifices, new moons, and also their own inherent…

Proof 15. The fifteenth proof urges God's earnest expostulations, pleadings, and protests to those many of whom perished (Romans 11:27; Isaiah 10:22) — such as: 'Oh that there were such a heart in them to fear me, that it might be well with them' (Deuteronomy 5:29); 'What more c…

This was the glory and privilege of Israel, as the Psalmist declares (Psalm 147:19-20): "He shows his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel; he has not dealt so with any nation." The church then knew him; yet so as that they had an apprehension that he dwel…

Did not we solemnly covenant to be the Lord's people, to shine in sanctity, going each one before another in an exemplary Reformation? Deuteronomy 5.28, 29. They have well said, in all that they have spoken, O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me and ke…

(Hosea 11:8) How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver you, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah? how shall I set you as Zeboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. (Deuteronomy 5:28-29) They have well said all that they have spoken. O…

Fourthly, it was ordained by angels (who are ministering spirits sent forth for the good of those that shall be saved) in the hand, or by the ministry of a mediator, namely of Moses (with relation to whom Christ is called mediator of a better covenant); for as Christ was the sub…