Of Man's Duty to God
A. That the world is not the place of the saints rest and satisfaction; Heb. 4:9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 2
Cor. 5:2, 6. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house, which is from heaven: therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
Q. 11. What is the second instruction from hence?
A. That death is a singular benefit to the saints; and though it be an enemy to nature, yet it is the medium to glory; 2 Cor. 5:4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Q. 12. What is the third instruction from hence?
A. The necessity of faith and regeneration in this world. None shall be raised up in glory, acknowledged, acquitted, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God, but believers; Rom. 8:30.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Heb. 12:14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Of Man's Duty to God Quest. 39. WHAT is the duty that God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will.
Q. 1. Is obedience to God's will the duty of every man?
A. It is unquestionably the duty of every man to obey the will of God, so far as he hath made it known to him; Micah 6:8. He hath shewed
thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
Q. 2. On what account is man's obedience due to God?
A. It is due to him, First, as he is our Creator, in whom we live, and move, and have our being; Acts 17:27, 28. Secondly, As he is our
Benefactor, from whom we receive all our mercies; Deut. 28:47.
Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. Thirdly,
As he is our Lord, and lawgiver; James 4:12. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.
Q. 3. Is obedience due to none but God only?
A. Yes; subjects must obey their lawful magistrates; Rom. 13:1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God; The powers that be are ordained of God. People their ministers; Heb. 13:17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. Children their parents; Eph. 6:1. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. But not as they are to obey God.
Q. 4. What is the difference betwixt our obedience to God's commands, and men's?
A. We are to obey God, chiefly and supremely, for his own sake, but creatures secondarily, and for God's sake; 1 Pet. 2:13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of men for the Lord's sake. And Eph.
6:1. Children obey your parents [in the Lord,] for this is right.
Q. 5. What must we do when the commands of God and men fall cross to one another?
A. In that case we must yield our obedience to God, and not to man, whatever we suffer for it; Acts 4:19. Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye.
Q. 6. Why must we obey God rather than man?
A. Because God is the supreme and sovereign Lord of our consciences; and no creature hath power to command our obedience but in and from him; Isa. 33:22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, he will save us.
Q. 7. Have the people liberty to compare the laws of God and men, and judge how they agree or differ?
A. Yes; their judgment of discretion is both commanded; 1 Cor. 1:10, 15. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. And commended;
Acts 17:11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Q. 8. What is the only rule for our obedience to God?
A. The will of God revealed in the scriptures is our only rule of obedience; Isa. 8:20. To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Q. 9. But if a man have a voice, a vision, or a dream, seeming to hint the secret will of God, may he not obey it?
A. Yes; if it be consonant to the revealed will of God in the word, otherwise not; Deut. 29:29. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed, belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Q. 10. What is the first instruction from hence?