Ignorant men confine the meaning of the Ten Commandments
EVANGELISTA, a Minister of the Gospel.
NOMOLOGISTA, a Prattler of the Law.
NEOPHYTUS, a Young Christian.
INTRODUCTION
Ignorant men confine the meaning of the Ten Commandments
Neo. Sir, here is our neighbour Nomologista, who, as I suppose, is much mistaken touching a point that he and I have had some discussion about. And because I found you so ready and willing to inform and instruct me when I came to you with my neighbours, Nomista and Antinomista, I presumed to entreat him to come along with me to you: assuring both myself and him that we would be welcomed by you, and that you would make it apparent he is deceived.
Evan. You are both very kindly welcome. And just as I was willing to give you the best instruction when you were formerly with me, even so, God willing, I am willing now. Therefore I ask you, let me understand what the point is in which you think he is mistaken.
Neo. Why, sir, this is the thing: he tells me he is persuaded that he goes very near the perfect fulfilling of the law of God; but I cannot be persuaded of it.
Evan. What do you say, neighbour Nomologista; are you so persuaded?
Nom. Yes, indeed sir, I am so persuaded.
I. For whereas, the first commandment is, “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other God before my face,” I am confident I have the only true God for my God, and none other.
II. And whereas, the second commandment is, “You shall not make for yourself any graven image,” etc. I tell you truly, I defy all graven images, and count it a great folly in any man either to make them, or worship them.
III. And whereas, the third commandment is, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” it is well known that I do not swear, nor can I abide to hear others swear by the name of God.
IV. And whereas, the fourth commandment is, “Remember to keep the Sabbath-day holy,”I am sure I very seldom either work or travel on that day; but go to the church both morning and afternoon; and I both read, and hear the word of God read, when I come home.
V. And whereas, the fifth commandment is, “Honour your father and mother,” etc., I thank God I was very careful to do my duty to my parents when I was a child.
VI. And whereas, the sixth commandment is, “You shall not kill,” I thank God that I never yet murdered either man, woman, or child; and I hope I never shall.
VII. And whereas, the seventh commandment is, “You shall not commit adultery,” I thank God that I was never given to women, God has up to now kept me from committing that sin, and so I hope he will do while I live.
VIII. And whereas, the eighth commandment is, “You shall not steal,” I do not remember ever taking twelve pence’ worth of any man’s goods in all my life.
IX. And whereas, the ninth commandment is, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour,” I thank God, I abhor that sin, and was never guilty of it in all my life.
X. And whereas, the tenth commandment is, “You shall not covet,” I thank God, I never coveted anything except what was my own, in all my life.
Evan. Alas! neighbour Nomologista, the commandments of God have a larger extent than it seems you are aware of. For it seems you imagine that the whole Moral Law is confined within the compass of what you have just now repeated; as though no more were required or forbidden than what is expressed in the words of the Ten Commandments; as though God required no more than the bare external or actual performance of a duty; and as though he forbids no more than the bare abstinence and gross acting of sin. The Scribes and Pharisees had the very same concept of the law of God. And therefore it is no marvel that you imagine you keep all the commandments, even as they did.
Nom. Well, sir, if I have been deceived, you may do well to instruct me better.
Evan. I shall endeavour to do it with all my heart, as the Lord is pleased to enable me. And because I begin to fear that it is not your case alone to be ignorant of the larger extent, and the true sense and meaning of the law of God, I also begin to blame myself that I have not taken the opportunity to expound the commandments in my public ministry since I came among you.
And therefore, I now resolve,by the help of God, to very speedily set about that work. And I hope I will then make it apparent to you that the Ten Commandments are but an epitome or an abridgment of the law of God, and that the full exposition of it is to be found in the books of the prophets and apostles, called the Old and New Testaments.