The Author To The Well-Affected Reader.
THE AUTHOR TO THE WELL-AFFECTED READER.
Good Reader:
I confess that there are so many godly and learned expositions on the Ten Commandments already extant, that it may seem needless to add any more to that number. Nevertheless, I beg you, do not think it is impossible that God, by such a weak instrument as I myself am, may show his power in doing something more in touching this subject, than has yet been done. I confess, I have had good helps from the labours of others, and have made much use of it, especially for subject matter; yet I have not confined my discourse within the compass of what I have found in other books, but from the warrant of the word of God, I have taken the boldness to enlarge it, both as touching the matter and the manner of it, and especially touching the application. In this I have endeavoured to give both believers and unbelievers their distinct proportion, by distinguishing between the Ten Commandments, as they are the Law of Works — having the promise of eternal life, and the threatening of eternal death annexed to them, and so applying them to the unbeliever — and as they are the Law of Christ — having the promise of eternal life, and the threatening of eternal death separated from them, and so applying them to the believer. I have not denied, but acknowledged, yes, and proved, that the law of the Ten Commandments, truly expounded, is to be a perpetual rule of life to all mankind, and yes, to believers themselves. For though the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to his promise, writes this law in their hearts as their inward rule, yet while they live in this world, it is done only in part — they need the Ten Commandments to be an outward rule for them. For though the Spirit has begotten in them a love for this law, and has wrought in them a willing disposition to yield obedience to it, yet they need the law to be as a mirror to them, in which they may see what the will of God is; and as a rule, to direct them how to actuate their love and willingness. So that, as a precious godly minister of Jesus Christ truly says, the Spirit within, and the law without, “is a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path,” Psalm 119.105.
Yet I conceive that expositors on the commandments should not only endeavour to drive their designs to that end, and terminate their endeavours there, as if there were no further use to be made of the law, either in believers or in unbelievers; but that they should aim at a further end — an end beyond this, especially in unbelievers. And that end is to reveal to them how far short they come of doing what the law requires, so that they may not rest in themselves, but hasten out of themselves to Jesus Christ; and so that believers, by beholding their own imperfections, would take the opportunity to humble themselves, and cling more closely to him by faith.
For when, by way of exposition, it is only declared what is required, and what is forbidden in every commandment, with exhortations, motives, and means to do it afterward, it has been observed that various profane, and mere civil honest people, upon hearing or reading it, have concluded that they must alter their course of life, and strive and endeavour to do more than they have done, and better than they have done, or else they will never be saved. And hereupon they have taken up a form of godliness, in hearing, reading, and praying, and the like; and so they have become formal professors, and they have rested in this, coming far short of Jesus Christ. Indeed, believers themselves have sometimes taken occasion by it, to conceive that they must do something towards their own justification and salvation.
Therefore I have endeavoured — not by any power of my own, but by the grace of God that is with me — not only to show what is required, and what is forbidden in every commandment, but also to show that it is impossible for any man, whether an unbeliever or a believer, to keep any commandment perfectly, or indeed, or to do any action or duty perfectly. So that by the working of God’s Spirit in their reading it, men may be moved not only to turn from being profane, or mere civil honest men, or formal professors, but that they may be driven from all their own works and performances, to Jesus Christ, and so become Christians indeed; and that those who are Christians indeed, may thereby be moved to prize Jesus Christ more. And if the Lord is pleased to enable me or any other man or woman, to make use of this ensuing Dialogue, then my labour shall not be in vain. But my heart’s desire and prayer to God will be that many may receive as much good by the “Marrow” which is contained in this second bone, as they say they received by what is contained in the first — so that God may be glorified, and their souls edified; and then I have my reward. Only let me beg of you, that for whatever good you receive by it, you will beg at the throne of grace for me, that my faith may be increased, and so my love inflamed towards God, and towards man for God’s sake. Then I am sure I will keep the law more perfectly than I have yet done. That we may all do this, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all our spirits. Amen.
Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ,
September 21, 1648.
E. F.