Chapter 29. Of the Tenth Commandment.
WILLIAM PERKINS
Chapter 29. Of the Tenth Commandment.
The tenth Commandment concerns concupiscences,
committed against our neighbour.
The words are these:
You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything your neighbour has.
The Resolution [Covet] The cogitation or inclination of the heart is of three sorts. The first is some glancing or sudden thought, suggested to the mind by Satan, which suddenly vanishes away, and is not received by the mind. This is no sin. For it was in Christ, when he was tempted by the devil, Mat 4.1 The second is a more permanent thought or inclination, which as it were, tickles and caresses the mind with some inward joy.
The third is a cogitation drawing from the will and affection, full assent to sin. We are to understand this commandment to be about the second sort of inclinations only, not of the first or last, to which the five former commandments belong.
Now then, to covet is to think inwardly, and also to desire anything, by which our neighbour may be hindered, even if no assent of the will ensues to commit that evil. For even Philosophers condemn covetousness of the heart, and Civilians [civil lawyers] disallow merely a purpose to do evil, if it is conjoined with a manifest deliberation.
And as for the concupiscence forbidden in this place, we may well think it is more closely held and secret, because St. Paul, a doctor of the Law, was altogether ignorant of it. Rom 7.7, I would not have known lust, unless the Law had said, You shall
A GOLDEN CHAIN
not lust. Again, if that concupiscence immediately preceding consent, were not prohibited in this place, there must be a great confusion on the Decalogue. For the seventh commandment [against adultery] forbids some kind of coveting of our neighbour's wife.
[House] The commandment is illustrated by an argument drawn from the distribution of the objects of concupiscence; from this it is apparent that only evil concupiscence is condemned in this place, Col 3.5.
For there is a good concupiscence or desire, such as for food and drink, and that of the spirit. Gal 5.17, The spirit lusts against the flesh.
The Negative Part You shall not covet that which is your neighbour's.
Here are prohibited:
I. Concupiscence itself; namely, original corruption, in as much as it is hurtful to our neighbour, Jas 1.14.
II. Each corrupt and sudden cogitation and passion of the heart, springs out of the bitter root of concupiscence. Gal 5.17, The flesh lusts against the spirit. Luk 10.27, You shall love the Lord with all your soul. This pertains to Satan's suggestion, if after the first offer it is then entertained and received in the closet of the heart.
III. The least cogitation and motion which, though it does not procure our consent, delights and tickles the heart. Of this kind are these foolish wishes: I would that such a house were mine, such a living, such a thing, etc. To this we may refer all unchaste dreams arising from concupiscence.
The Affirmative Part Covet only that which is available to your neighbour.
Here are commanded:
WILLIAM PERKINS
I. A pure heart towards our neighbour. 1Tim 1.5, The end of the commandment is love, out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and unfeigned faith.
II. Holy cogitations and inclinations of the spirit.
Paul prays, 1Th 5.23, that the Thessalonians may be holy, not only in body and soul, but also in spirit. Eph
4.23.
III. A conflict against the evil affections and lusts of the flesh. Rom 7.22-24. I rejoice in the law of God, in regard to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, rebelling against the law of my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin, which is in my members. Miserable man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? 2Cor 12.7-9.