‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’
Eccl. 12:13
‘I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy Law is my delight.’
Ps. 119:174
‘The Law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.’
Ps. 119:72
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Subsections
Preface
Relations between the Tables
1st Commandment
2nd Commandment
3rd Commandment
Lord’s Day
Love & Righteousness to Neighbors
5th Commandment
6th Commandment
7th Commandment
8th Commandment
9th Commandment
10th Commandment
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Order of Contents
Intro
Shorter 11+
Medium 15+
Longer 14+
Latin 24+
Commentaries on Ex. 20
In Catechetical Commentaries
In Systematics
Lutheran 2
Jewish 2
Children 1
Poetry 5+
Biblios 2
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Introduction
Do you love God’s Law like the psalmist does? (Ps. 1:1-3; 119:174) Like Jesus Christ does? (Ps. 40:8) For your spiritual feeding, here is solid instruction on the whole duty of man and how to glorify God therein.
While we do not keep God’s Law in order to earn our salvation (which is through faith alone by the grace and righteousness of our Savior, Gal. 2:16), those who are born again through the Gospel and enlivened by the Holy Spirit seek to love, please and glorify God by doing what He says (Jn. 14:15; Lk. 3:10-14; Rom. 7:22; 1 Jn. 5:3) by faith and dependence upon Christ (Jn. 15:5; Phil. 4:13). In doing so, we find that God’s Law is a light to our path (Ps. 119:105), for our good (Ps. 34:11-14; Prov. 3) and that the end thereof is blessing (Ps. 1:1-3; Ex. 20:6,12; Jn. 15:10; Jm. 1:25; Rev. 14:13).
The Ten Commandments, written in the Book of Nature (Rom. 2:14-15; 13:1-4) and in the Book of Special Revelation (in Ex. 20), are a summary form of God’s enduring Moral Law and part of the revelation of his will for us. By peering into this spiritual law (Rom. 7:14) and all of its applications (Mt. 5:21-22; etc.), we find the whole duty of man wherein we are to walk.
While we fall short of the glory of God, need his forgiveness daily (Mt. 6:11-12) and continue to struggle against sin with the Spirit’s impetus and help throughout our lives (Rom. 7), yet, we are freed from the power and bondage of the unremitted guilt and penalty of the Law (Rom. 6) in Christ, and find that God’s commandments are not grievous (1 Jn. 5:3; Ex. 20:6) but are a Law of Liberty (Jm. 1:25), Christ’s yoke being easy and his burden light (Mt. 11:29-30).
Please read and digest with much faith, repentance and spiritual satisfaction these expositions of the Ten Commandments that God wrote with his own finger (Ex. 31:18).
* – Particularly recommended. John Calvin, in the Medium Length section below, is required reading. Calvin, Watson and Plumer rank among the best on the page.
*** – Charles Spurgeon used a three star scale
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Shorter Works 10+
1500’s
Calvin, John – Instruction in Faith (1537) tr. Paul T. Fuhrman (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1949)
8. ‘The Law of the Lord’ 24-32
9. ‘The Summary of the Law’ 32
Gau, John – A Short Declaration of the Ten Commandments (†1553) in The Right Way to the Kingdom of Heaven, pp. 11-25
Gau was an early Scottish Lutheran before the Reformation of 1560.
Bradford, John d. 1555 English reformer and martyr
A Meditation upon the Ten Commandments 25 pp. in Writings, vol. 1
Prayer on the Ten Commandments in Writings, vol. 2, pp. 256-263
Becon, Thomas – The Ten Commandments of God, with Confirmations of Every Commandment out of the Holy Scripture (d. 1567) 9 pp. in Catechism English reformer
Virel, Matthew – A Learned & Excellent Treatise Containing All the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion (London, 1594), bk. 2, 1. Of Good Works, 1st Part, pp. 76-167
Intro
Exposition of the Moral Law
Intro
Preface
1st Commandment
2nd Commandment
3rd Commandment
4th Commandment
Intro
5th Commandment
6th Commandment
7th Commandment
8th Commandment
9th Commandment
10th Commandment
Virel (1561-1595)
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1600’s
Perkins, William
pp. 1021-23 of An Advertisement to all favorers of the Roman Religion, showing that the said religion is against the catholic principles and grounds of the Catechism [Apostles’ Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, Lord’s Supper] in A Reformed Catholic… ([Cambridge] 1598)
Bruch, Richard – The Ten Commandments in The Life of Religion… (London: Beale, 1615), pp. 13-27
Bruch was an English minister.
Horne, Robert – A Short Exposition of the Ten Commandments in Questions & Answers (1617) 39 pp. in Points of Instruction for the Ignorant as also, an Expositition on the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer, by Questions & Answers…
Horne (1565–1640) was an English divine.
Yates, John – A Short & Brief Sum of Saving Knowledge Consisting of the Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer & the Sacraments (1621) no page numbers
ch. 3, ‘Of Good Works’
ch. 4, ‘Of Charity’
Yates (†1657) was a reformed, Church of England minister in St Andrews in Norwich.
Boys, John – The Decalogue in Works (1629), pp. 45-58
Boys (1560–1643)
Scudder, Henry – pp. 93-110 of The Christian’s Daily Walk (1631)
Scudder (d. 1659?) was an English minister of presbyterian views, known as a devotional writer, and a member of the Westminster Assembly.
Twisse, William – A Catechism Touching the Ten Commandments (1632) 23 pp. in A Brief Catechetical Exposition of Christian Doctrine, Divided into Four Catechisms, comprising the Doctrine of the 1. Two Sacraments. 2. Lord’s Prayer. 3. Ten Commandments. 4. And the Creed.
Twisse was the first moderator of the Westminster Assembly.
Palmer, Herbert – Questions & Answers Tending to Explain the Ten Commandments (1644) 7 pp. in An Endeavor of Making the Principles of Christian Religion, namely the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments…
Palmer (1601-1647) was a Westminster Divine.
Fenner, William – Questions 58-104 37 pp. in The Spiritual Man’s Directory guiding a Christian in the path that leads to true blessedness in his Three main duties towards God: how to believe, to obey, to pray, unfolding the Creed, Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer GB (London: T.F., 1648)
58. How many commandments are there?
59. What rules are to help us in the right understanding of the Law?
60. Who be under the Law, the rigor and curse of the Law?
61. Wherefore serves the Preface: “I am the Lord thy God…”
62. Are the duties of the First Table greater than the duties of the Second?
63. What art thou commanded in the First Commandment?
64. Now because we must serve God and fear Him, and love Him, and trust in Him, and so forth, according to his attributes, which be they?
65. How do the attributes of God concern thine obedience to God, especially in this commandment?
66. What art thou commanded in the Second Commandement?
67. What else art thou commanded?
68. What art thou commanded in the Third Commandment?
69. What more art thou commanded?
70. What art thou forbidden?
71. What art thou forbidden more?
72. What art thou commanded in the fourth Commandment?
73. What say you more of the Sabbath?
74. May no works but only of God’s immediate worship be done on the Sabbath?
75. There be many arguments to prove this commandment to be moral; which be the first six of them?
76. Some object the Sabbath is not engraven in men’s hearts, neither is there any mention before the flood or after, etc.: What arguments prove it moral?
77. How comes it now to be changed into the first day of the week?
78. What art thou commanded in the Fifth Commandment?
79. But what must my parents do for me?
80. What is the meaning of the Sixth Commandment?
81. Is it not lawful to kill in any wise?
82. What else does this commandment urge?
83. What more does it command?
84. What is the meaning of the Seventh Commandment?
85. What say you of marriage?
86. What say you of contracts or espousals before consummated marriage?
87. What is the duty of man and wife?
88. What must they do that are to marry? and what say you more of this commandment?
89. What is the Eighth Commandment?
90. What does this commandment forbid more?
91. What more does this commandment command?
92. What say you of men’s particular callings, for they come here to be examined?
93. Now because the rich are the poor’s purse bearers and do steal from them, if they be not merciful and bountiful to them, what say you of alms and bounty?
94. What is the meaning of the Ninth Commandment?
95. Which be speeches that seem to be lies and are not?
96. What lying reports go for currant on the godly?
97. What pretenses have the Papists for their equivocations and their mental reservations, and how are they answered?
98. Now for the Tenth Commandment? Firstly, tell me what is Original Sin?
99. You said, that Original Sin is threefold: which is second branch?
100. Which is the third?
101. How is Original Sin called in Scripture?
102. Papists say that it is not properly a sin, but after a manner; Pelagians say there’s no such sin by propagation, but only by imitation; Anabaptists say that now under Christ there’s none born in sin; How do you prove there is such a sinful corruption of nature properly so called?
103. What does this doctrine of Original Sin teach us?
104. What does the last commandment command and forbid?
Fenner (1600-1640) was a reformed, puritan minister.
Andrewes, Lancelot – ‘The Ten Commandments Paraphrased’ in Holy Devotions, with Directions to Pray, also a Brief Exposition upon the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the 7 penitential psalms, the 7 psalms of thanksgiving, together with a litany (1663) 30 pp.
Intro
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
This is a very brief and simple exposition of the 10 commandments; much more accessible than his larger works below.
Patrick, Simon – pp. 1-6 of A Brief Exposition of the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer (London, 1665)
Patrick (1626–1707) was an Anglican bishop and theologian.
Heidegger, Johann H. – 14. ‘On the Decalogue’ in The Concise Marrow of Theology tr. Casey Carmichael in Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 4 (1697; RHB, 2019), pp. 95-107
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1700’s
* Hole, Matthew – Discourse on the Ten Commandments (†1730) 8 pp. in vol. 4 of Practical Discourses on the Liturgy of the Church of England
Hole (1640-1730) was a divine in the Church England. See a short bio here.
Chandler, Samuel – pp. 14-24 in A Short & Plain Catechism, being an Explication of the Creed, the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer 2nd ed. (London: J. Noon, 1752)
Chandler (1693-1766)
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1800’s
* Scott, Thomas – A Brief Exposition of the Ten Commandments, as comprising the substance of the Moral Law (†1821) 29 pp. in Theological Works, vol. 5, Essay 4, pp. 64-93
Intro 64
1st Command 68
2nd Command 71
3rd Command 74
4th Command 76
5th Command 79
6th Command 81
7th Command 84
8th Command 87
9th Command 89
10th Command 90-93
Scott (1747–1821) was an evangelical in the Church of England who was known for his whole commentary on the Bible, amongst other things.
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Medium Length Works (14+)
1500’s
Hooper, John – A Declaration of the Ten Holy Commandments of Almighty God wrotten Ex. 20, Deut. 5. Collected out of the Scripture Canonical EEBO (1548) 180 pp.
1. What the Law is.
2.Of the use of the Law
3. A preparation unto the Ten Commandments
Exposition of
4. First Commandment
5. Second Commandment
6. Third Commandment
7. Fourth Commandment
8. Fifth Commandment
9. Sixth Commandment
10. Seventh Commandment
11. Eighth Commandment
12. Ninth Commandment
13. Tenth Commandment
Certain Objections that keep man from the obedience of God’s laws solved
14. Of time and place
15. Exception of persons
16. Presumption
17. Curiosity
18. Desperation
19. Ignorance
** – ‘After the manner of the English Reformers. The style is harsh to the modern ear, and the matter too much occupied with the controversies raging in the author’s times to be very interesting now.’ – Spurgeon
* Calvin, John †1564
Institutes of the Christian Religion tr. Henry Beveridge (1559; Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845), vol. 1, bk. 2
8. ‘Exposition of the Moral Law’ 425
1st Commandment 442
2nd Commandment 447
3rd Commandment 452
4th Commandment 459
5th Commandment 466
6th Commandment 470
7th Commandment 471
8th Commandment 475
9th Commandment 478
10th Commandment 481
Sermons on the Ten Commandments tr. I.H. (London: 1579 / 1581) EBOO
Dedicatory Epistle
1. Intro on Dt. 4:44-46
2. Intro on Dt. 5:1-7 & First Command
3. Second Command
4. Third Command
5. Fourth Command
6. Fourth Command, pt. 2
7. Fifth Command
8. Sixth Command
9. Seventh Command
10. Eight Command
11. Ninth Command
12. Tenth Command
13. On Dt. 5:22
14. On Dt. 5:23-25
15. On Dt. 5:28-33
16. On Dt. 6:1-2
Cranmer, Thomas – A Short Instruction Concerning the Ten Commandments in A Short Instruction into Christian Religion, (London: 1548), pp. 3-97 Cranmer counts the commandments in the Catholic way.
A general beginning for all sermons
1. First & Second Commandment
2. Third Commandment
3. Fourth Commandment
4. Fifth Commandment
5. Sixth Commandment
6. Seventh Commandment
7. Eighth Commandment
8. Ninth Commandment
9. Tenth Commandment, pt. 1
10. Tenth Commandment, pt. 2
Cranmer was a leading English reformer.
Bunny, Edmund – A Short Sum of Christian Religion under the Consideration of the Ten Commandments EEBO in The Whole Sum of Christian Religion… (London: Gwalter Lynne, 1576), pp. 30-74 EEBO
General Discourse of All Together
1st Commandment
2nd Commandment
3rd Commandment
4th Commandment
5th Commandment
6th Commandment
7th Commandment
8th Commandment
9th Commandment
10th Commandment
Conclusion; Of the end and use of this Law
Bunny (1540–1619) was an English Calvinistic divine who also published an abridgment of Calvin’s Institutes.
Knewstub, John – Lectures of John Knewstub, upon the Twentieth Chapter of Exodus & Certain other Places of Scripture (London: Harrison, 1577)
Dedicatory Epistle
1. Prologue 1
2. 1st & 2nd Commands 21
3. 3rd Command 46
4. 4th Command 63
5. 5th Command 76
6. 6th Command 93
7. 7th Command 114
8. 8th Command 133
9. 9th Command 149
10. 10th Command 162
11. 10th Command, pt. 2 182
12. On 1 Cor. 13:4-7 200
13. On Gal. 3:3 229
14. On Jn. 3:16 258
15. On Mt. 6:9-10 291
16. On Mt. 6:11 318
17. On Mt. 6:12-13 337
Errata
Knewstub was a moderate puritan, a follower of Thomas Cartwright and was proposed to succeed William Whitaker.
* – ‘More valuable for its antiquity than for anything else.’ – Spurgeon
Beza, Theodore, Anthony Faius & Students – Propositions & Principles of Divinity Propounded & Disputed in the University of Geneva by Certain Students of Divinity there, under Mr. Theodore Beza & Mr. Anthony Faius… (Edinburgh: Waldegrave, 1591)
28. ‘Of the Law of God’ 63
29. ‘Upon the Preface of God’s Law & the First Commandment’ 66
30. ‘Second Commandment’ 68
31. ‘Third Commandment’ 72
32. ‘Concerning Vows’ 75
33. ‘Fourth Commandment’ 78
34. ‘Fifth Commandment’ 82
35. ‘Sixth Commandment’ 86
36. ‘Seventh Commandment’ 89
37. ‘Eighth Commandment’ 92
38. ‘Ninth Commandment’ 94
39. ‘Tenth Commandment’ 97
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1600’s
Perkins, William – A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600)
19. Concerning the Outward Means of Executing the Decree of Election, & of the Decalogue
20. 1st Commandment
21. 2nd Commandment
22. 3rd Commandment
23. 4th Commandment
24. 5th Commandment
25. 6th Commandment
26. 7th Commandment
27. 8th Commandment
28. 9th Commandment
29. 10th Commandment
Estey [Estye], George – An Exposition upon the Ten Commandments (1603) 73 pp. in Certain Godly & Learned Expositions upon Diverse Parts of Scripture as they were Preached…
1st & 2nd Command 41
3rd Command 47
4th & 5th Command 48
6th Command 61
7th Command 66
8th Command 69
9th Command 71
10th Command 73
Estey (1560-1601) was a reformed Anglican.
Granger, Thomas – The Tree of Good & Evil: or a Profitable & Familiar Exposition of the Commandments, directing us in the whole course of our life, according to the Rule of God’s Word, whereby we must be Judged at the Last Day (London, 1616) 75 pp. ToC
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Prayers
Granger (1578-1627) was reformed.
Bunny, Francis – A Guide unto Godliness, or, A Plain & Familiar Explanation of the Ten Commandments, by Questions & Answers Fittest for the Instruction of the Simple & Ignorant People (1617) 232 pp. ToC
Dedicatory Epistle
Introductory 1
1st Command 4
2nd Command 29
3rd Command 65
4th Command 89
5th Command 117
6th Command 169
7th Command 187
8th Command 200
9th Command 212
10th Command 223
On the Law 227
Bunny (1543-1617) was a calvinistic prebendary in the Church of England, in Durham.
Whately, William – A Pithy, Short & Methodical Opening of the Ten Commandments (1622) 256 pp. ToC
To the Reader
Intro
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Whately was an English preacher at Banburie in Oxfordshire.
** – ‘Exceedingly scarce, but as rich as it is rare.’
Yates, John – ch. 1, ‘Of the Law’ in A Model of Divinity, Catechistically Composed, wherein is Delivered the Matter & Method of Religion, according to the Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer & the Sacraments (1622), bk. 2, pp. 297-321
1st Command 307
2nd Command 309
3rd Command 314
4th Command 315
5th Command 318
6th Command 319
7th Command 319
8th Command 319
9th Command 320
10th Command 320-21
Yates (†1657) was a reformed, English minister in St Andrews in Norwich.
Ames, William – bk 2 of The Marrow of Theology trans. John D. Eusden (1623; Baker, 1997)
1st Command
1. Observance in General 219
2. Virtue 224
3. Good Works 232
4. Religion 236
5. Faith 240
6. Hope 245
7. Charity or Love 250
8. The Hearing of the Word 254
9. Prayer 258
10. Taking Oaths 267
11. Lots 271
12. Testing God 275
13. Instituted Worship 278
14. The Manner of Divine Worship 283
15. The Time of Worship 287
16. Justice & Charity toward our Neighbor 300
17. The Honor of our Neighbor 308
18. Humanity toward our Neighbor 314
19. Chastity 317
20. Commutative Justice 321
21. Telling the Truth 325
22. Contentment 328-31
Barker, Peter
A Judicious & Painful Exposition upon the Ten Commandments wherein the Text is Opened, Questions & Doubts are Resolved, Errors Confuted & Sundry Instructions Effectually Applied, first delivered in Several Sermons… (1624) 316 pp. Index
Dedicatory Epistle
Preface
Intro
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Barker (1597-1624) was a reformed minister in Dorsetshire, England. ‘Painful’ in the title referred to taking great pains and labor to expound the text.
** – ‘Old-fashioned, remarkably quaint, and even coarse in places. Barker’s work abounds in Scriptural illustrations, but it is almost forgotten.’ – Spurgeon
A Learned & Familiar Exposition upon the Ten Commandments (London: 1633) 2nd ed. much enlarged
Wolleb, Johannes – bk. 2, ‘The Service of God’ in Abridgment of Christian Divinity (1626) in ed. John Beardslee, Reformed Dogmatics: J. Wollebius, G. Voetius & F. Turretin (Oxford Univ. Press, 1965)
1. Nature of Good Works 191
2. Virtues of the Universal Worship of God & Decalogue 194
3. Works of 1st Commandment 197
4. Works of 2nd-4th Commandments in General 201
5. Works of 2nd Commandment Specifically 202
6. Virtues & Works of 3rd Commandment 214
7. Duties of 4th Commandment 220
8. Virtues of 2nd Table 224
9. Virtues & Works of 5th Commandment 230
10. Virtues & Works of 6th Commandment 234
11. Virtues & Works of 7th Commandment 238
12. Works of 8th Commandment 246
13. Virtues & Works of 9th Commandment 251
14. Virtues & Works of 10th Commandment 257-62
Wolleb (1589–1629) was a Swiss reformed theologian. He was a student of Amandus Polanus.
Downame, George – An Abstract of the Duties Commanded, and Sins Forbidden in the Law of God (1635) 192 pp.
Dedicatory Epistle
Preface, containing the rules of direction for expounding
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
Sum & Division of 2nd Table
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
** – ‘A sort of catalogue of sins, arranged in a tabular form under the Ten Commandments. These are the heads and divisions of a larger treatise, which does not appear to have been published. These mighty men could afford to leave in the oblivion of manuscript works which would cost modern weaklings half a lifetime to write.’ – Spurgeon
* Fisher, Edward – pt. 2 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity pp. 265-317 (1646; Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1850)
Dedication 265
To the Reader 267
Intro 269
Ignorant men confine the meaning of the Ten Commandments 270
Sum of First Commandment 272
Wherein the First & Second differ 278
Wherein the Second & Third differ 283
Difference between Third & Fourth 291
Sum of Fifth Commandment 294
Sum of Sixth Commandment 302
Sum of Seventh Commandment 305
Sum of Eighth Commandment 307
Sum of Ninth Commandment 310
Sum of Tenth Commandment 312
Requires perfect obedience to all 10 Commandments 315
All men by nature under sin, wrath and eternal death 317
Christ has redeemed believers from law’s curse 317
Every man’s best actions are corrupted and defiled with sin 320
Least sinful thought makes man liable to eternal damnation 323
Though man cannot be justified by the Law, yet shall not his obedience be in vain 325
Man is naturally apt to think he must do something towads his own justification and act accordingly 327
Christ requires that believers do desire and endeavor to yield perfect obedience to all the 10 Commandments 331
Believers shall be rewarded for their obedience, and with what 332
After what manner believers are to make confession of their sins upon a day of humiliation 334
Why and to what end believers are to receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper 336
Difference between the Law and the Gospel 337-43
This is in the form of a dialogue. Evangelista is the good guy; Nomista is the legalist.
** – ‘This exposition is part of the work which occasioned the famous Marrow controversy. One fails to see anything calculated to stir up such a strife. Fisher might have said that the lines had fallen to him in troubled waters.’ – Spurgeon
D’Espagne, Jean – New Observations upon the Decalogue: or The Second of the Four Parts of Christian Doctrine, preached upon the [French Reformed] Catechism (London, 1652) 173 pp. Detailed ToC
Dedicatory Epistle
To the Reader
The Natural Man & his Qualities
The Pretended Merit of Works
Good Works: the Effects of Faith
Of Repentance & Obedience
Tables of the Law in General
Prologue
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
. Promise of
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
You shall love your neighbor as yourself
Diverse Duties of the Law
D’Espagne (1591-1659) was a French, reformed minister who lived for a significant amount of time in London.
Leigh, Edward – A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 9, pp. 749-57
1. Some Things General of the Commandments
2. First Commandment
3. Second Commandment
4. Third Commandment
5. Fourth Commandment
6. Fifth Commandment
7. Sixth Commandment
8. Seventh Commandment
9. Eighth Commandment
10. Ninth Commandment
11. Tenth Commandment
Rijssen, Leonard – ch. 15, ‘The Decalogue & Good Works’ in A Complete Summary of Elenctic Theology & of as Much Didactic Theology as is Necessary trans. J. Wesley White MTh thesis (Bern, 1676; GPTS, 2009), pp. 170-97
On the Decalogue & Good Works 170
1st Command 174
2nd Command 178
3rd Command 181
4th Command 184
5th Command 188
6th Command 190
7th Command 191
8th Command 192
9th Command 192
10th Command 193-96
Rijssen (1636?-1700?) was a prominent Dutch reformed minister and theologian, active in theological controversies.
Barrow, Isaac – ‘An Exposition of the Decalogue’ in A Brief Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer & the Decalogue, to which is Added the Doctrine of the Sacraments (d. 1677; London, 1681), pp. 63-200
Intro
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Barrow (1630-1677) was an Anglican Christian theologian and mathematician who discovered the fundamental theorem of calculus. Isaac Newton was a student of his.
Baxter, Richard – chs. 32-43 in The Catechizing of Families, a Teacher of Householders how to Teach their Households (London: Parkhurst, 1683), pp. 229-379
10 Commandments in General
Prologue
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Leighton, Robert – An Exposition of the Ten Commandments (†1684) 66 pp., in Works, vol. 3, pp. 107-72
Prologue 107
1st Command 116
2nd Command 122
3rd Command 129
4th Command 135
5th Command 141
6th Command 145
7th Command 149
8th Command 154
9th Command 160
10th Command 166-72
Leighton was a godly bishop in late-1600’s Scotland.
* Watson, Thomas – pp. 211-328 of Body of Practical Divinity (†1686; NY: Robert Carter, 1855) This work is an exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Obedience to God’s Revealed Will 211
Love 215
Prologue 218
Of the Commandments 241
1st Command 244
2nd Command 251
3rd Command 269
4th Command 275
5th Command 296
6th Command 307
7th Command 317
8th Command 325
9th Command 329
10th Command 332
Man’s inability to keep the moral law 339
All sins not equally heinous 342
What sin deserves 346-49
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology, tr. George M. Giger, ed. James Dennison Jr. (1679–1685; P&R, 1994), vol. 2, 11th Topic
1. ‘Whether there is a natural law, and how it differs from the moral law. The former we affirm; the latter we distinguish.’ 1
2. ‘Are the precepts of the decalogue of natural and indispensable right? We affirm.’ 7
3. ‘Is the moral law so perfect a rule of life and morals that nothing can be added to it or ought to be corrected in it for the true worship of God? Or did Christ fulfill it not only as imperfect, but also correct it as contrary to his doctrines? The former we affirm; the latter we deny against the Socinians, Anabaptists, Remonstrants and papists.’ 18
4. ‘May anything be added to the moral law in the way of counsel? We deny against the papists.’ 28
5. ‘Are four precepts rightly assigned to the first table and six to the second? We affirm.’ 32
6. ‘What rules are to be observed in explaining and keeping the precepts of the decalogue?’ 34
1st Command
7. ‘Is God alone to be worshipped and invoked? Or is it lawful to invoke and religiously worship deceased saints? We affirm the former and deny the latter against the papists.’ 38
8. ‘Should the bodies of saints and relics be adored with religious worship? We deny against the papists.’ 47
2nd Command
9. ‘Is it lawful to religiously worship images of God, the holy Trinity, Christ, the virgin and other saints? We deny against the papists.’ 51
10. ‘Whether not only the worship, but also the formation and use of religious images in sacred places is prohibited by the Second Commandment. We affirm against the Lutherans.’ 62
3rd Command
11. ‘Whether every oath so obliges the conscience that we are bound to keep it by an inevitable necessity. We distinguish.’ 66
12. ‘Whether it is lawful to use ambiguous equivocations and mental reservations in oaths. We deny against the papists and especially the Jesuits.’ 70
4th Command
13. ‘Whether the first institution of the Sabbath was in the Fourth Commandment; and whether the commandment is partly moral, partly ceremonial. The former we deny; the latter we affirm.’ 77
14. ‘Whether the institution of the Lord’s Day is divine or human; whether it is of necessary and perpetual or of free and mutable observance. The former we affirm and the latter we deny (as to both parts).’ 92
15. ‘Whether it belongs to the faith in the New Testament that besides the Lord’s Day there are other festival days properly so called whose celebration is necessary per se and by reason of mystery, not by reason of order or ecclesiastical polity only. We deny against the papists.’ 100
5th Command
16. ‘May children withdraw themselves from the power of their parents and marry without their consent? We deny against the papists.’ 104
6th Command
17. ‘Are the rights of war and punishment contained under this commandment? Are suicide (autocheiria) and duelling prohibited? The former we deny; the latter we affirm.’ 112
7th Command
18. ‘What is forbidden and what is enjoined by the precept concerning not committing adultery?’ 120
8th Command
19. ‘What is forbidden and commanded by the precept concerning not stealing? Is usury of all kinds contained under it? We deny.’ 123
9th Command
20. Whether a lie under any pretext can be rendered virtuous and lawful. We deny against the Socinians.’ 129
10th Command
21. ‘What concupiscence is prohibited by the tenth precept? Are the incipient motions sins? We affirm.’ 134
.
1700’s
Witsius, Herman – ch. 4, ‘Of the Decalogue’ in The Economy of the Covenants Between God & Man... (d. 1708; NY: George Forman, 1798), vol. 3, pt. 4, pp. 1-39
Witsius (1636-1708) was a reformed Dutch theologian. He wrote this body of divinity through the lens and outline of the covenants of God. He took a mediating position between that of Voetius and Cocceius.
This chapter does not expound each commandment individually.
Edwards, John – 3rd Part, ‘Of the Ten Commandments’ in Theologia Reformata: or, The Body and Substance of the Christian Religion, comprised in distinct discourses or treatises… (1713), vol. 2, pp. 273-619
On Moral Law or Moral Goodness 275
Our Savior’s Abridgment of the 10 Commandments 289
10 Commandments in General 297
1st Command 304
2nd Command 325
. Of Idolatry or the Polytheism of the Gentile World 333
3rd Command 411
4th Command 440
Of the 2nd Table, our Savior’s Abridgment 462
5th Command 472
. Character of Good Magistrates & Rulers, on 2 Sam. 23:3 493
6th Command 489
7th Command 506
. Table of Forbidden Marriages 528
. On Marriage 529
8th Command 537
9th Command 571
10th Command 596-619
John Edwards (1637–1716) was an influential reformed Anglican during the early 1700’s, and the son of Thomas Edwards, who wrote the famed book ‘Gangraena’ in the 1640’s.
* Hole, Matthew – Exposition of the Second Part of the Church-Catechism: containing the Decalogue or Ten Commandments in A Practical Exposition of the Church Catechism, vol. 2 (†1730; London,1731), pp. 364-547
Preface 364
1. On Mt. 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law…” 367
2. On Ps. 119:96, “They commandment is exceeding broad.” 375
3. Prologue 381
4. 1st Command 388
5. 1st Command 395
6. 2nd Command 402
7. 2nd Command 410
8. 3rd Command 417
9. 3rd Command 424
10. 4th Command 430
11. 4th Command 438
12. 5th Command 444
13. 5th Command 453
14. 6th Command 458
15. 6th Command 465
16. 7th Command 472
17. 7th Command 479
18. 8th Command 485
19. 8th Command 492
20. 9th Command 499
21. 9th Command 506
22. 10th Command 512
23. 10th Command 519
24. On Eccl. 12:13, “the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments” 525
25. On Mt. 22:37-38, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” 532
26. On Mt. 22:39-40, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” 540-47
Hole (1640-1730) was a divine in the Church of England and a rector of Exeter College in Oxford.
.
1900’s
Vos, Johannes – pt. 2, chs. 11-13 in The Westminster Larger Catechism, a Commentary ed. G.I. Williamson (1946-49; P&R, 2002), pp. 221-408
ch. 11, ‘Obedience to God’s Revealed Will’, Q. 91-99 221
ch. 12, ‘God’s Will with Direct Reference to Himself’, Q. 100-121 255
Prologue 255
1st Command 259
2nd Command 281
3rd Command 301
4th Command 320
ch. 13, ‘God’s Will Expressed in our Duty to Others’, Q. 122-49 340-408
5th Command 340
6th Command 361
7th Command 370
8th Command 376
9th Command 385
10th Command 402-8
Vos was a mid-western pastor in the RPCNA. This is the most accessible and usable commentary on the Larger Catechism. It is a medium level treatment and is in the format of questions and answers, which is well done.
.
Longer Works 15+
1500’s
Bullinger, Henry – The Decades ed. Thomas Harding (1549; Cambridge: Parker Society, 1849)
vol. 1, 2nd Decade
1st Sermon, ‘Of laws, and of the Law of Nature, then of the laws of men’ 193-209
2nd Sermon, ‘Of God’s Law, and of the two First Commandments of the First Table’ 209-37
3rd Sermon, ‘Of the 3rd Precept of the Ten Commandments, and of Swearing’ 237-53
4th Sermon, ‘Of the 4th Precept of the 1st Table, that is, of the Order and Keeping of the Sabbath Day’ 253-67
5th Sermon, ‘Of the 1st Precept of the 2nd Table, which is in order the 5th of the Ten Commandments, touching the honor due to parents’ 267-98
6th Sermon, ‘Of the 2nd Precept of the 2nd Table…’ 298-322
7th Sermon, ‘Of the office of the magistrate, whether the care of religion appertain to him or no, and whether he may make laws and ordinances in cases of religion’ 323-44
10th Sermon, ‘Of the 3rd Precept of the 2nd Table… ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery of wedlock;’ Against all intemperance; of Continency’ 393-435
vol. 2, 3rd Decade
3rd Sermon, ‘Of the patient bearing and abiding of sundry calamities and miseries; and also of the hope and manifold consolation of the faithful’ 64-111
4th Sermon, ‘Of the Fifth & Sixth Precepts of the 2nd Table…’ 111-24
Vermigli, Peter Martyr – The Common Places… (d. 1562; London: Henrie Denham et al., 1583), pt. 2
3. ‘Of the Law’ 297
‘Of Philosophy, and the comparison thereof, especially moral, with Divinity’ 300
‘Necessary Rules for the Interpretation and Keeping of the Law’ 304
4. ‘The First Precept, where is entreated of Idolatry, and sundry kinds of Idols’ 307
‘Whether it be lawful for Christians to dwell among infidels’ 309
‘Whether it be lawful to have teachers, which believe not in Christ’ 311
‘Of the suffering of Jews and heretics’ 328
‘Of Heresies’ 331
‘What is, to tempt God’ 331
‘Of curiosity’ 332
5. ‘The Second Precept, which concerns Images, their Beginning, Antiquity & Cause’ 333
‘Whether it be lawful to express Christ, the angels and other creatures in Images’ 340
‘Whether it be lawful to place images in churches’ 351
‘Of Cherubim and Teraphim’ 356
‘Of human sacrifices’ 359
‘Of the establishing of the Second Commandment, whether the child shall bear the iniquity of the father’ 362
6. ‘The Third Precept: of Sanctification of the Name of God and Generally of Oaths’ 368
7. ‘The Fourth Precept: of Sanctifying the Sabbath Day’ 374
‘Of other feast days of the Jews’ 376
‘Whether it be lawful to solemnize the birthday of any man’ 377
8. ‘The Fifth Precept: of the Honoring of Superiors’ 377
‘A Comparison between the Duties of Parents and Magistrates’ 377
‘What Dominion the Husband has over the Wife’ 379
‘Of Ambition’ 381
‘Of the Desire of Praise’ 382
‘Of Flattery’ 383
9. ‘The Sixth Precept: of Friendship’ 384
‘Of Homicide, or Manslaughter’ 385
‘Of the fact of Elijah, and that a perverse imitating of him must be avoided’ 386
‘Whether Elijah did well in killing of the Baalites’ 388
‘Of Parricide’ 390
‘Of Sword-Play’ 390
‘Whether it be lawful for any man to kill himself’ 391
‘Of Repelling of Violence’ 397
‘Of Cursings, Imprecations & Bannings’ 397
‘How far it may be lawful to rejoice in our enemy’s overthrow’ 400
‘Of a Curse & Shunning of Revenge’ 403
‘Of Affects, or Affections in General, out of the Commentaries upon Aristotle’s Ethics’ 405
‘Of Some of the Affects Severally’ 411
‘Of Shamefastness’ 411
‘Of Temperance’ 412
‘Of Mercy, & the Affect called ‘Nemesis’’ 412
‘Of Cruelty’ 414
‘Of Envy’ 416
‘Of Emulation’ 417
‘Of Revenge’ 417
10. ‘The Seventh Precept: of Not Committing Adultery’ 418
‘Of Matrimony & Concubines’ 418
‘Of Polygamy’ 420
‘Of Barrenness’ 430
‘Whether it be lawful for children to marry without the consent of their parents’ 431
‘Of Rapine, or violent taking away’ 437
‘Whether Marriage be lawful in persons of sundry religions’ 442
‘Of Degrees forbidden in marriage’ 447
‘Whether any Dispensation may be made in the degrees of kindred prohibited by God’ 453
‘Of Dowries’ 454
‘Of Divorcements’ 457
‘Whether Matrimony be a Sacrament’ 462
11. ‘Of Whoredom, Fornication & Adultery’ 468
‘Of Bastards’ 475
‘Of Adultery’ 478
‘Of Idleness & other enticements unto wickedness’ 479
‘Of the Punishments of Adultery’ 482
‘Whether the man or woman do sin more grievously in adultery’ 489
‘Of Reconciliation of man and wife after adultery committed’ 495
‘Of Wine & Drunkenness’ 497
‘Of Dances’ 503
‘Of Garments & Apparel’ 506
‘Of Counterfeit & False Coloring’ 507
12. ‘The Eight Precept: of Not Committing Theft’ 517
‘Of Well-Doing & Hospitality’ 518
‘Of Benefiting & Unthankfulness’ 523
‘Of Plays & Pastimes’ 524
‘Of Gentleness & Affability’ 528
13. ‘The Ninth Precept: of Not Bearing False Witness’ 528
‘Of Contempt’ 528
‘Of Suspicions’ 533
‘Of Mocking & Taunting’ 534
‘Of Deceit or Guile’ 534
‘Whether guile be lawful for the rooting out of idolatry and heresies’ 539
‘Of Dissimulation’ 541
‘Of Truth & of a Lie’ 542
‘Whether it be lawful to lie for preserving the life of our neighbor’ 546
‘Whether we may lie for modesty’s sake’ 547
‘Whether Faith against a promise breaker must be kept’ 548
‘Of a Fable & Apology’ 550
14. ‘The Last Precept: against Lusting’ 551
‘Of the Comparison between Sins’ 553
‘Of Charity, which is the fulfilling of the law’ 556
‘Of Salutations’ 560
‘Whether the commandment of loving God with all the heart, etc. may be kept in this life’ 562
‘Whether the first motions should be accounted sins’ 565
‘Whether by rewards we ought to be moved to the obedience of God’ 573
Musculus, Wolfgang – Common Places of the Christian Religion (1560; London, 1563)
Of the Decalogue 34.a
Division of 35.a
1st Commandment 36.b
Against the Worship of Dead Saints 40.b
2nd Commandment 41.b
Kneeling to Images 46.b
Of them which worship the image of the Father and the Son 47.a
The images of God in the Papists’ Churches 47.a
Of the Image of Christ 47.b
How worshipping appertains unto Christ 47.b
All worship and adoration only to God the Lord 48.b
That God is jealous 48.b
The nature of zeal and emulation 49.b
How these words agree with that of Eze. 18:4, 18 50.a
How the revenge of God is extended to the third and fourth generation 51.a
Against the teachers of merits 53.b
3rd Commandment 45.a
The less sins be forbidden to the intent we should abstain from the greater 56.a
The abuse of oaths 56.a
The calling of counsels 56.b
The name of God is contemned when his Word is negligently heard 57.b
4th Commandment 60.a
The consideration of this precept of the Sabbath 60.b
Things to be observed in the letter of this precept 61.a
The two sorts of sanctifying the Sabbath 61.b
The day of the Sabbath 62.a
That six days were employed to work and one to rest 62.b
Isa. 58:13-14 63.a
The profanation of the Sabbath 63.b
No holy days are to be appointed unto the names or memories of saints 63.b
Of cattle: why the rest of the Sabbath was commanded to them also 65.a
That strangers ought not to be compelled unto the religion of the place where they come 65.b
What the hallowing of the seventh day signifies 67.b
The spiritual Sabbath is not tied to any time 68.a
The heavenly Sabbath 68.a
Of the abrogation of the law of the Sabbath 66.a
The error of the [Saturday] Sabbataries is refuted, Gen. 2 66.a
That the Decalogue pertain to the Israelites only 66.a
In what respect we ought not to refuse the Sabbath 66.b
The Lord’s Day, Rev. 1 [Musculus appears to be for keeping the 1st day of the week] 70.a
The 2nd Table of the Decalogue 70.a
5th Commandment 70.a
Things to be observed in that he says ‘Honor the father and mother’ 70.b
Who He appointed to be honored 71.a
The word of ‘honoring’ 71.b
Of the transgressors of this precept 72.b
Parents must not alienate the hearts of their children 73.a
Things to be observed in that he says, ‘That thou may long live upon the land, which the Lord thy God shall give thee’ 74.a
If it be good of itself to live, it is also good to live long 75.a
It is not therefore evil to live here because it is better to live in heaven 75.a
The dwelling in the land requires the keeping of the commandments 76.a
6th Commandment 76.b
Things to be considered in this precept 76.b
He says not, ‘Be not angry,’ but ‘Kill not.’ 77.b
How men do sin against this law 78.a
Who kill themselves 78.a
Of Sampson in Judg. 16 78.b
The magistrate’s sword does good service to his law 79.a
Gen. 9 79.b
The rightness of the justice is to be judged by the authority of God’s will 79.b
Casual murder or by chance medley 80.b
Defensive murder 80.b
Of them which, though not in act, yet in word become murderers 81.a
Of them which be murderers in heart 82.b
7th Commandment 83.a
A consideration of wedlock 83.a
Pureness of Life required by this precept 83.a
Bachelors and widowers 83.a
Wedlock the fountain of man’s life 83.a
This precept defends not whoredom 83.b
What is adultery 83.b
Peter Lombard 83.b
How great care God has of wedlock 84.a
Contemners & Defilers of matrimony 84.a
Heb. 13 84.a
There is no specification set 84.b
The corruption of our flesh 84.b
This law was given to the circumcised people 85.a
Of the transgressions of this law 85.a
Of the transgression of the law we must judge according to the mind of the lawgiver 85.a
1 Thess. 4 85.a
Men do sin by work, word and signs and heart 85.a
With the married 85.a
Lev. 18 85.a
Lev. 20 85.b
With a virgin 85.b
With violence and ravishment, Gen. 34; 2 Sam. 13 85.b
The sole man with the sole woman 85.b
Against pasture (sodomy) 85.b
Of signs and words 85.b
Not only the act, but the will and endeavor also of adultery is forbidden 86.a
The concupiscence of the heart 86.a
Difference to be made between the judgment of God and the judgment of man 86.a
An admonition 86.b
Of the causes of adultery, and all kind of uncleanness 86.b
The first cause is the universal corruption of our flesh, Rom. 7 86.b
The secondary causes 87.a
The stirring up 87.a
Touching 87.a
Filthy reasoning 87.b
Impunity 87.b
Occasion 87.b
Of the grievousness of whoredom and adultery 87.b
The general and special griefs 87.b
To offend against the tables of the Covenant: a Similitude 88.a
The weight by circumstances 88.a
Of the evil of whoredom and adultery 88.a
A common evil which excludes men out of the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6 88.a
The fountain of our nature is defiled 88.a
Public honesty is distained 88.a
They do sin against their own bodies, 1 Cor. 6; 1 Thess. 4 88.b
Man is besotted 88.b
A continual desire of sin grafted in them 88.b
A man is made light and unprofitable 88.b
They fall into great dangers, Prov. 6-7 88.b
Two persons are wrapped in sin 89.a
How much evil is done peculiarly to Christian men, 1 Cor. 6 89.a
Of the punishment of forbidden lusts, whoredom, deflowering, incest, ravishment, adultery, sodomy and beastish meddling 89.b
We must not only hear the precepts, but also the penalties 89.b
Two kinds of penalties of sin 89.b
Penalties of adulterers, Lev. 20; Dt. 22; Lex Julia 89.b
Christian princes have weakened the law of adulterers 89.b
Of the penalty of incest 90.a
Of deflowerers of maids, Dt. 22 90.a
Of ravishers 90.a
Of them that sin against nature, Lev. 20 90.a
8th Commandment 90.b
Rom. 13; Gen. 31; 40; 2 Sam. 19; 15; What God forbids 90.b
How many kinds of stealing there be; Two kinds of theft, Ex. 11 91.a
Bishops are the thieves of the Church goods 91.a
Princes are the thieves of Church goods 91.b
Thieves of the name and Word of God, Jer. 23 91.b
Thieves in worldly matters 91.b
From whence comes the desire of stealing 91.a [sic]
The sin of theft has a spring, veins and courses, Mt. 15 91.a
Occasion; advices 91.a
Against calculators which do ascribe the necessity of stealing to stars, Gen. 1 91.a
How grievous a sin theft is 92.b
Some theft is greater than others 92.b
Scriptures which do extenuate the offense of theft, Eccl. 5 93.a
Whether every theft be culpable and sin 93.a
Two kinds of those things which be rehearsed in the Decalogue 93.a
Theft upon obedience, Ex. 12 93.b
Theft of injustice 93.b
Theft of industry 93.b
Theft of warning 93.b
Theft of diligence 93.b
Wherefore the Lord did not rather forbid violence, robbery and depredation than theft 94.a
The difference between theft and robbery 94.a
The offense of theft is more general than that of robbery 94.a
Robbery is more manifest than theft 94.a
Men do withstand robberies than theft 94.a
How many ways a man is partaker of thefts 94.b
Accessory, bidding or commanding, council, consent, commending, concealment, partaking, sufferance, silence 94.b
Of the punishments and correction of theft 95.a
Reformation and correction by laws 95.a
Of the hanging of thieves 95.b
Of the ecclesiastical correction 95.b
The restitution of the things stolen; the stolen good must be restored to the owner 95.b
An example of a certain young man at Augsburg 96.a
If things cannot by any means or not safely and honestly be restored 96.b
9th Commandment 96.b
The meaning of this precept 96.b
What is witness and what the use of it is 96.b
We have more use of faith than of knowledge 97.a
1. How many kinds of witness there be 97.a
Testimonies in open court and out of court 97.a
2. That we be not forbidden to bear witness 97.b
3. We be not forbidden to bear witness against our neighbor 97.b
How a man may witness against his neighbor not breaking charity 98.a
How we must love our neighbor 98.a
4. How many ways false witness is borne 98.a
Ignorance, wittingly, pleasant lies 98.a
False witness in judgment 98.b
5. Of what kind of witness this law of God does speak 98.b
That he means the testimony is open court 99.a
The testimony or verdict in open court is most dangerous 99.a
6. What need it was to command that no false witness should be born against a man’s neighbor 99.a
The precept seems to be superfluous 99.a
The general cause of the whole Decalogue 99.b
The special cause, because every man is a liar, Jn. 8 & 14 99.b
We do the worse, knowing better 99.b
Against thy neighbor 99.b
7. Of the evil of false witness 99.b
The evil of lying generally 99.b
It excludes us from the hill of god, Ps. 15 100.a
It does defile our tongue 100.a
It takes away faith 100.a
It is increased by circumstances, Acts 5 100.a
Two kinds of flattery 100.b
Saul, 1 Sam. 18 100.b
The Pharisees, Mt. 22; the Serpent 100.b
Cain; Joab, 2 Sam. 3 & 10; Prov. 27 100.b
Ps. 53 101.a
The evil of backbiting 101.a
Backbiting has flattery for his companion 101.a
Backbiting hurts him that is absent 101.a
It hurts the neighbors good name and life; Esther 101.a
Haman; Doeg; 1 Sam. 22; David; 1 Sam. 24 101.a
What the Scripture does attribute to a backbiting tongue 101.a
The evil of false witness; 1 Kings 21; Dan. 13; Acts 6-7 101.a
Cruel inquisition and examination 101.a
8. Of the penalty and revenge of false witness 102.a
The revenge of God, Prov. 6 & 21 102.a
The revenge of the Law, Dt. 19 102.b
Dt. 22 & 19 102.b
Augustine, Question 33 102.b
10th Commandment 103.a
How this precept is joined unto them before 103.a
Specification 103.a
1. What concupiscence is 103.a
The strength of concupiscence 103.a
The contrary unto concupiscence 103.b
The nature of concupiscence 103.b
2. How many sorts of concupiscences there be 103.b
Concupiscence before sin 103.b
The affects of concupiscence are of two sorts 103.b
Whereof the corruption of our concupiscence is 103.b
We must mark in us the work of God and the work of Satan 103.b
The cause of the natural affections in us 103.b
To desire no thing belongs to the dead and not to the living 104.a
3. What kind of concupiscence is forbidden 104.a
The concupiscence of the spirit is not forbidden, Gal. 5 104.a
Nor natural concupiscence is forbidden 104.a
The concupiscence of the corrupt flesh is forbidden 104.b
Josh. 7; Dt. 7 104.b
4. Of the motions of naughty concupiscence 104.b
By what means the naughty concupiscence is moved 104.b
The natural senses 104.b
Concupiscence is stirred by thought only 104.b
Ps. 119 105.a
The loathsomeness of honest and lawful things 105.a
5. Of the naughtiness and malice of inordinate desire 105.a
Evil concupiscence placed within, even in the affections of our hearts 105.a
Concupiscence is the minister of sin 105.a
Rom. 6 105.b
Concupiscence blinds 105.b
Concupiscence does choke the Word of God in the heart, Mk. 4 105.b
Concupiscence does provoke the man altogether to sin 105.b
Concupiscence does torment the heart 105.b
Concupiscence is rather stirred up by law of justice than restrained, Rom. 7 106.a
Concupiscence is not extinguished by age 106.a
Concupiscence is unsatiable 106.a
In what account this concupiscence is before God 106.a
How concupiscence alone is sin in the sight of God 106.a
Mt. 5, a similitude 106.a
If the desire is before god as the fact, what avails it to abstain form the doings? Mt. 5;1 Cor. 6 106.b
Gen. 34; 2 Sam. 11 106.b
7. What things are to be considered in the words of this precept 106.b
Ex. 20; Dt. 5 106.b
Of the division of the Decalogue 106.b
Augustine, Question 7 106.b
Ex. 20 107.a
The Lawmaker applied Himself to the quality of his people 107.a
God does ascribe his goods unto us 107.b
The propriety of things is confirmed 107.b
That he says not any man’s house, but thy neighbor’s house 107.b
Neighbors ought to be loved for two respects 107.b
He does not make difference between neighbors 108.a
He makes no difference between our estates, Prov. 16 108.a
Whether that ignorance do excuse the desire of another man’s goods or no 108.b
Of the concupiscence of a [married] woman not known [to be such] 108.b
Whether we may buy that which we cannot covet 109.a
Naboth’s vineyard, 1 Kings 21 109.a
“Nor anything that is they neighbor’s” 109.b
The eyes be ministers of concupiscence, 2 Kings 20 109.b
We must chasten the unlawful concupiscence 110.a
The conclusion of the Decalogue 110.a
Of the Order of the Ten Precepts 110.a
The First Table 110.a
The Second Table 110.a
Mt. 22 110.b
* Babington, Gervase – A Very Fruitful Exposition of the Commandments by way of Questions & Answers for greater plainness together with an application of every one to the soul and conscience of man, profitable for all… (London: Midleton, 1583) 514 pp.
Dedicatory Epistle 1
Dedicatory Epistle 2
To the Reader
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Babington (1549–1610) was a bishop in the Church of England.
Ursinus, Zachary
The Sum of Christian Religion: Delivered… in his Lectures upon the Catechism… tr. Henrie Parrie (d. 1583; Oxford, 1587)
Of the Law of God, or of the Decalogue & the Ten Commandments
1. What the Law is in general
2. What are the parts of the Law
3. What the use of the Law is
4. In what the Law differs from the Gospel
5. How far the Law is abrogated
6. How the Decalogue is divided
7. What the substance or meaning of the Decalogue & of every Commandment thereof
Certain Conclusions of the Decalogue
First Commandment
. The vices, which are opposite or contrary to the virtues of this First Commandment
1. How Far Images may be Allowed to be Made
2. Why Images are to be abolished in the churches of Christians
3. How images are to be abolished
Certain objections of the Papists
1. What an Oath is
2. By whom we must swear
3. Of what things we are to swear
4. Whether all oaths are to be kept
5. Whether a Christian may take a right and lawful oath
The objections of the Papists which use invocation and prayer, unto the Saints departed
Fourth Commandment
Of the Sabbath. The chief Questions
1. How Manifold the Sabbath is
2. The causes for which the Sabbath Day was instituted
3. How the sabbath is sanctified or kept holy
4. How the sabbath is broken or profaned
5. How the sabbath belongs unto us
Objections against the abrogating of the ceremonial sabbath
The proper or peculiar virtues of this Fifth Commandment
The vices contrary to the peculiar and proper virtues of this Fifth Commandment
The common virtues of this Fifth Commandment
The vices contrary to these common virtues of this Fifth Commandment
The virtues of this Sixth Commandment
The virtues not hurting the safety of men
The virtues helping and furthering men’s safety
The vices contrary to the virtues of this Sixth Commandment
1. What Marriage is
2. What are the causes of marriage
3. Whether marriage be a thing indifferent
4. What are the duties of married persons
5. What things are contrary to matrimony
The virtues of this eight commandment, together with their extremes or contrary vices
Certain objections against the former distinction of Rights and Possessions
Ninth Commandment
. The virtues of this Ninth Commandment, together with their vices
1. How the Law is possible
2. What is the use of the Law
Rules & Axioms of Certain Chief Points of Christianity in A Collection of Certain Learned Discourses… (Oxford, 1600)
15. Law of God 256
16. Parts of God’s Law 257
17. Use & Abrogating of God’s Law 260
18. Exposition & Division of the Decalogue 261
19. First Commandment 263
20. Six First Commandments 266
21. Things Indifferent 270-71
.
1600’s
* Dod, John & Robert Cleaver
The Bright Star which Leads Wise Men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or a Familiar & Learned Exposition on the Ten Commandments… (1603) 102 pp. Index
To the Reader
Prologue 1
1st Command 13
2nd Command 28
3rd Command 43
4th Command 61
5th Command 1
6th Command 37
7th Command 51
8th Command 57
9th Command 80
10th Command 97-102
A Plain & Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments. With a Methodical Short Catechism, containing briefly the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion 15th ed. (1603; London: Richard Field, 1622) 380 pp. Detailed ToC Indices: Subject, Scripture
Dedicatory Epistle
To the Reader
Prologue 1
1st Command 27
2nd Command 59
3rd Command 92
4th Command 125
5th Command 178
6th Command 248
7th Command 276
8th Command 290
9th Command 324
10th Command 355-65
The Catechism
Meditations on the Name of God, on Ex. 34:6-7
** – ‘This work was published by John Dod [1550-1645] and Robert Cleaver [c. 1561-c. 1614], with an intimation that the name of the author was purposely suppressed. Our edition, dated 1632, is the eighteenth, so that the work enjoyed a rare popularity in its own time. It has been frequently reprinted since. The book has been long held in esteem.’ – Spurgeon
Elton, Edward
An Exposition of the Ten Commandments of God wherein the Principal & Most Material Doctrines are set down (London: Mylbourne, 1623) 257 pp.
1st Command 1
2nd Command 11
3rd Command 18
4th Command 42
5th Command 62
6th Command 125
7th Command 174
8th Command 195
9th Command 230
10th Command 254-57
Elton (1569-1624). These two works are significantly different.
God’s Holy Mind touching matters Moral, which Himself uttered in Ten Words, or Ten Commandments… 380 pp. in God’s Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral which Himself Uttered in Ten Words, or Ten Commandments. Also Christ’s Holy Mind touching Prayer, delivered in that most Holy Prayer, which Himself taught unto his disciples… (London: Robert Mylbourne, 1625)
Dedicatory Epistle
To the Reader
Prologue 1
1st Table 6
1st Command 6
Atheism 7
False opinions of God 7
Praying to angels and saints 8
Not acknowledging God as revealed 10
Confidence in creatures 16
Affirmative part 17
Confidence and resting in God 23
Invocation 25
2nd Command 26
The words of the command 27
Obections to images of God and Christ answered 30
Contra presence at idolatrous service, Naaman 32
Marriage with idolatrous unbelievers 34
Affirmative part 39
3rd Command 54
What it forbids 55
Contra enchantments 61
Swearing by creatures 62
Abuse of Scripture 66
Abuse of sacraments 67
Abuse of prayer 69
Abuse of lots 70
Affirmative part 70
Wise and reverent use of God’s name 72
Anabaptists who refuse all oaths 75
Reverence to God’s name in action 80
Confession of God’s truth 81
Threat against breakers of 3rd Command 84
4th Command 87
How far ceremonial vs. moral 88
Affirmative part 91
On baptism and Lord’s Supper 93
Private duties on Sabbath 94
Works of mercy 96
Negative part 96
Labors at special times of year 102
Pleasures that hinder the Sabbath 104
How far prohibition of Sabbath extends 109
Anabaptists answered about magistrates constraining Church attendence 112
When Sabbath begins and ends [midnight] 114
4 Textual reasons to keep the Sabbath 116
2nd Table 122
5th Command 123
Affirmative part 125
Duties of inferiors, superiors and equals 126
Duties within families 129
Wife’s duties 139
Husband’s duties 142
Duties of servants and masters 147
Duties in the Church 158
Anabaptists answered about paying pastors 161
Superiors and inferiors in commonwealth: of subjects 165
Papists answered about Circa sacra 174
Relations of age 183
Relations of gifts 184
Relations of benefactors 185
“That your days may be long in the land…” 188
6th Command 192
Negative part 193
That which hurts bodily life 193
Particular cases 210
Omissions 215
What hurts man’s soul 217
Things proper to superiors, especially ministers 222
Affirmative part 227
Arguments against fleeing from pestilence answered 229
Things tending to life of the body 235
Outward things for the body’s good, help and comfort 238
Things for the preservation and welfare of man’s soul 243
7th Command 249
Negative part 250
Objections to unlawfulness of fornication answered 260
Affirmative part 265
Negative part 275
Sin of usury for gain 296
8th Command 313
9th Command 326
Negative part 328
10th Command 369
Affirmative part 378-80
* – ‘This work discusses the Decalogue in question and answer, in a somewhat dull manner; but touches many cases of conscience, and deals wisely with them. Belief in witchcraft comes out very strongly in some passages.’ – Spurgeon
Willet, Andrew – Hexapla in Genesis & Exodus… (d. 1621; 1633, London), pp. 263-371
1. Method and argument
2. Diverse readings
3. Questions
1. Whether “I am the Lord” be a commandment
2. Distinction and difference between Moses’s laws in general
3. Validity of the laws: Moral, Ceremonial, Judicial; Which are abrogated, which are not
4. Difference between the Moral and Evangelical law
5. Manifold use of the law in the fourfold state of man
6. Why it pleased God now and not before to give his written Law to the world
7. How the Lord spake all these words and why
8. Why it pleased God Himself to speak to his people in the giving of the law
9. Division of the Moral Law
10. Whether four commandments or three only belong to the First Table
11. Whether all moral precepts, as of loving of God and our neighbour, be reduced to the Decalogue
12. General rules to be observed in expounding the commandments
13. Why the commandments are propounded negatively
14. Special manner of accenting and writing observed in the Decalogue more than in any part of the Scripture beside
15. Why this preamble is set before: “I am Jehovah thy God.”
16. Why their deliverance out of Egypt is here mentioned
1. Whether it is better read “strange gods” or “other gods”
2. Why they are called “strange gods”
3. Whether any kind of external idolatry be forbidden
4. Meaning of “Before me”
5. What reasons ought chiefely to move us to acknowledge the Lord only to be our God
1. Particular contents of the First Commandment
2. Unity of the Godhead
3. Belief in the Trinity is commanded in the First Precept
1. Justifying faith is not contained or commanded in the Law
2. Romanists’ arguments for invocation of saints
3. Scriptural reasons disproving the invocation of saints
1. Neglect of the honor and worship of God: the cause of calamities in the world
2. Not to trust in riches
3. Against those that run unto witches and soothsayers
1. What a graven image is
2. What things a similitude must not be made of to worship
3. Difference between “bowing down” and “serving”
4. What sense the Lord is called “a jealous God”
5. Titles which the Lord here gives Himself and wherefore
6. General threat and promise annexed
7. How it stands with God’s justice to punish the children for the fathers’ sins
8. Why mention is made of the third and fourth generation
9. Why mercy is promised to be showed to a thousand generations
10. How men are said to hate God
1. Particular contents of this commandement
2. All is to be ascribed to God’s mercy: nothing to man’s merit
3. True obedience proceeds from love
1. An idol and an image are all one
2. Against the Popish difference between idol worship and idol service
3. Against Turks that allow of no images
4. Not lawful to make any image of the Trinity
. Objections answered
5. Whether it be lawful privately to have the image of Christ
6. Against the toleration of images in churches
. Objections answered
. Against the adoration and worship of images
7. Against the adoration of images
. Objections answered
. Human precepts and traditions
8. Against human traditions
1. God is full of long suffering
2. Fathers for love unto their children should fear to offend
3. God is more inclined to mercy than to severity
1. What is signified by “the name of God,” and how diversely it is taken
2. It is more to abuse the name of Jesus than simply of God
3. How many ways the name of God is taken in vain
4. What is required in taking of a right oath
5. Whether men be bound to swear often
6. Whether it be lawful to use cursing
7. For what things an oath is not to be taken
8. Whether all kinds of oaths are to be kept
9. The threat added to this commandment
1. General and particular contents of this commandement
2. What an oath is
1. Not lawful to swear by saints or other creatures
2. Against Romanists that say faith is not to be kept with heretics
3. Against Anabaptists on the lawfulness of an oath
1. Against common and rash swearing
2. Fearful judgment of God threatening against blasphemers
3. Against breakers of oaths and perjured persons
1. Order of the Fourth Commandment, why it is put after the other
2. Why it is said only in this commandment, “Remember, etc.”
3. Why the Lord thought good to appoint a day of rest, and that upon the seventh day
4. Whether the precept of keeping the Sabbath were altogether ceremonial
5. To observe one day of seven unto the Lord is moral
6. What things in the Sabbath were ceremonial, what moral
7. What it is to sanctify the Sabbath Day
8. Laboring six days, whether it be a commandment
9. What works were permitted to be done upon the Sabbath
10. Why the children, servants and cattle are commanded to rest
11. What strangers were enjoined to keep the Sabbath’s rest
12. Why a reason is added to this commandment
13. How the Lord is said to have rested
14. Changing of the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week
15. How the Lord is said to have blessed and sanctified the day
1. General and particular contents of this commandment
2. How the Sabbath is to be sanctified
1. Against the Jews and the Sabbatarians that contend for the Jewish Sabbath
2. Against the Jews’ carnal observing of the Sabbath
3. Jews’ superstition in the precise and strict keeping of the Sabbath rest
4. Against Anabaptists that would have no day kept holy unto the Lord
5. Against Zwinckfeldians that hold the preaching of the Word superfluous, whereby the Lord’s day is sanctified
6. Lord’s Day is warranted by Scripture and not by tradition only
7. Preeminence of the Lord’s Day beyond other festivals
8. To commit any sin upon the Lord’s Day is a double transgression
1. Against hypocrisy and vain glory
2. Against those which spend the Lord’s Day in carnal delight
3. No work must be put off until the Lord’s Day
4. Not enough for the master of the family to keep the Lord’s Day unless his whole family also do sanctify it
1. Whether this precept belong to the First Table
2. Why the precepts of the Second Table are said to be like unto the First
3. Why the precept of honoring parents is set first in the Second Table
4. Why special mention is made of the mother
5. Whether the child is more bound to the father or mother
6. Why the Lord commands obedience to parents, a thing acknowledged of all
7. Who are comprehended under the name of “fathers and mothers”
8. Why the Lord here uses the name of father and mother to signify the rest
9. What is meant by this word, “Honor”
10. Certain doubts removed, how and in what cases parents are to be obeyed
11. What sense Christ bids us hate our parents
12. How far children are bound to obey their parents
13. What age it is most convenient for men to marry to get children
14. Whether the reciprocal duty also of parents toward their children be not here commanded
15. Wherein the duty of parents consists toward their children
16. Whether all the duties of mercy and charity are commanded in this precept
17. True meaning of, “that they may prolong it”
18. What sense the apostle calls this the first commandment with promise
19. Why the promise of long life is made to obedient children
20. What other blessings are promised under long life
21. This promise of long life did not only concern the Jews
22. Whether long life simply be a blessing and to be desired
23. Why wicked and disobedient children are suffered to live long
24. How this promise of long life is performed, seeing the righteous seed are many times soon cut off
[sic] 23. Duty of subjects toward their prince
24. How far subjects are bound to obey their governors
25. Whether it had been lawful for David to have killed Saul: against William Bucanus [Bucanus was quoting someone else]
1. General and particular contents of this commandment
. Duties peculiar to inferiors
. Duties common both to superiors and inferiors
2. Honoring of the spiritual parents by giving them due maintenance, as by tithes, etc.
1. Against the Manichees
2. Against Anabaptists which deny government
3. Against the Papists that would have the clergy exempt from the authority of the magistrate
1. Duty of children to their parents
2. Care of parents toward their children
1. Why this precept is set before the others that follow
2. Whether it be here forbidden to slay any beasts
3. Diverse kinds of killing
4. How the soul is killed by evil persuasion
5. Not lawful for a man to kill himself
6. Inward murder of the heart forbidden
7. What to take heed of in anger
8. Railing and reviling
9. Whether beating and wounding, though there be no killing, be forbidden here
10. Why actual murder is such an heinous sin before God
11. How diversely murder is committed
12. Diverse kinds of murder
13. Magistrates are not guilty of murder in putting malefactors to death
1. General contents of this commandment
2. Particular virtues here commanded
1. Against Stoics that denied any passion at all to be in a wise man
2. Against those that think no anger be forbidden
3. Against Anabaptists, that it is lawful for Christians to bear armor and to make war
4. Against Romanists that make difference between counsels and precepts
5. Against the Popish distinction of mortal and venial sins
1. Not to be hasty to anger
2. Challenging of one another into the field forbidden
3. Surfeiting by excess: forbidden
1. Order and negative propounding of this commandment
2. Whether the unclean desire of the heart be forbidden in this precept
3. Other acts of uncleanness besides adultery here forbidden
4. Sins of unnatural lust
5. Why some kind of uncleanness is not forbidden by human laws
6. Greatness of the sin of adultery
7. Adultery as well forbidden in the husband as the wife
8. Whether adultery be a more grievous sin in man or woman
9. Whether adultery be now necessarily to be punished by death
10. Whether it be lawful for the husband to kill his wife taken in adultery
11. Simple fornication: whether a breach of this commandment
12. Spiritual fornication is not a breach of this precept
13. Lawfulness and dignity of marriage
14. Espousals and contract of marriage, with the difference and diverse kinds thereof
15. Marriage consummated, and the rites and orders therein to be observed
16. What conditions are required in lawful marriage
17. Ends of the institution of matrimony
18. Mutual matrimonial duties between man and wife
19. Whether marriage be left indifferent to all
1. General and particular contents of this precept
1. Against Anabaptists and Nicolaitans who make their wives common
2. Against Manichees and Marcionites that condemn marriage
3. Against Romanists that forbid marriage
4. Against Aquinas that says in matrimonial copulation there may be mortal sin
5. Against Tostatus that would not have simple fornication punished by human laws
1. Against shameless adulterers that thrust themselves into the congregation of the Lord’s people
2. Against fornication
3. Against disguising of the body and uncomely apparel
1. Whether the stealing of men only be forbidden in this precept
2. Order and phrase used in this precept
3. General heads of the things here prohibited
4. Sacrilege
5. Whether it be lawful to convert things consecrated to idolatry to other uses sacred or profane
6. Sacrilege of spiritual things
7. Of simony
8. Of common theft with the diverse kinds thereof
9. Diverse kinds of transactions and contracts
10. Diverse kinds of fraud and deceit used in contracts
11. Unlawful and deceitful trades
12. How this precept is broken by procuring our neighbor’s ill
13. Abuse of men’s goods and substance, another general transgression of this precept
1. General and particular contents of this precept
1. Against the Anabaptistical community [of common property]
1. Take heed even of the smallest theft
2. All deceivers and extortioners are accounted before God as thieves
3. Greatness of the sin of theft
1. What false testimony is
2. Whether false testimony in judgment be here only forbidden
3. How diverse ways a false testimony is borne
4. Who is to be counted our neighbor
5. What conditions must concur to convince one of falsehood
6. Of the diverse kinds of lies
7. Some cases wherein the truth is not uttered and yet no lie committed
8. How the truth may be uttered and yet this commandment broken
9. Of the diverse kinds of false testimonies
10. Of a false testimony in matters of religion
11. Falsehood and error in
12. How falshood is committed in judgment
13. Danger of bearing false witness in judgment
14. Detorting and wresting of words to another sense: another kind of false testimony
15. Violating of faith in leagues and covenants
16. Whether are more grievous, public or private false witness-bearing
17. Diverse kinds of private false testimonies
18. False testimony which a man gives of himself
1. Particular virtues commanded with contrary vices forbidden
1. Against Origenists that in some cases made it lawful to lie
2. Against the Priscillianists
3. Against Tostatus that makes lies in merriment tolerable
4. Against the Jesuits’ new trick of equivocating
1. Against the evil custom of lying
2. Not to conceal the truth, whether publicly or privately
1. Whether this be two or one precepts
2. What manner of concupiscence is here forbidden, and how this precept differs from the former
3. Whether involuntary concupiscence, having no consent of the will, is here forbidden
4. Why there is no precept to direct the inward passion of anger, as of coveting
5. Whether sin properly consist in the internal or external act
6. The law of Moses did not only restrain the hand, but the mind
7. Whether any moral and natural duties were to be restrained by positive law
8. Perfection and sufficiency of the moral law
9. Abrogation of the law
1. Particular contents of this precept
2. Several properties of possessions and goods, and the distinction of callings
3. Difference between divine and human laws
4. Concupiscence of the soul, and of the flesh
1. Against Pelagians that deny concupiscence to be sin
2. Against Papists that deny concupiscence to be sin in the regenerate
3. No concupiscence is a venial sin in itself
4. Mary was not void of original sin and concupiscence
5. Against Romanists, that it is impossible in this life to keep the law of God
6. The Moral Law, nor any precept thereof may be by human authority dispensed with
1. Why covetousness is to be taken heed of
2. Remedies against concupiscence
3. How the Lord has punished the transgressors of his law
Rest of 20th Chapter
1. What sense the people are said to have seen the voices, which are properly heard and not seen
2. What is meant here by “voices,” whether the thunder or other voices
3. Whether there were a sound of the trumpet besides the voices
4. Fear of the people and their going back
5. Why the people desire that Moses would speake unto them
6. Why the people are afraid they shall die
7. How the Lord is said to come unto them and why
8. How the Lord is said to tempt and prove his people
9. Why the people stood afar off, and where
10. How Moses is said to draw near to the darkness
11. Why the Lord says He spake unto them from heaven
12. Why this precept is repeated of not making any graven image
13. Meaning of “Ye shall not make with me”
14. Why mention is made only of images of silver and gold
15. Why the Lord commanded an altar of earth to be made
16. What altar of earth he means
17. Why the altar was not to be made of hewn stone
18. Why the lifting up of the tool is said to pollute the altar
19. How Jeremiah is made to agree with Moses, who says the Lord commanded not anything concerning sacrifices
20. Difference between burnt offerings and peace offerings
21. Whether it was lawful to sacrifice in no other place than before the ark or Tabernacle
22. Whether it was lawful to sacrifice before the ark and at the Tabernacle while they were asunder
23. How long the ark was severed from the Tabernacle
24. Removing of the Tabernacle
25. Places where it was lawful or unlawful to sacrifice
26. How God is said to come and go, and how He is said to be in the world
27. Whether it were not lawful to go up by steps to the altar
28. Why they were forbidden to use steps up to the altar
29. The abominable idol of the gentiles called Priapus, and the filthy usages thereof
30. Why the secret parts are counted uncomely
1. Difference of the Law and the Gospel
2. One truth, one religion
1. Against Tostatus, that it is no more lawful to make images in the New Testament than it was under the Old
2. Against the grossness of idolatry
3. Against those which say the Godhead may be comprehended
1. Not to contemn or despise the ordinary ministry
2. How fearful the Day of Judgment shall be
3. Against curiosity
.
Weemes, John – An Explication of the Moral Law, the First Table (300 pp.), the Second Table (360 pp.) (1632, 1636) Indices: Subject 1, 2; Scripture 1, 2
Dedicatory Epistle
Intro
1. Excellency of the Moral Law above all other laws 1
2. Manner how the Lord gave the Law 9
3. Law was written in Tables of Stone 13
4. Preface of the Law 19
1st Command
5. We should have God only for our God 28
6. God is to be loved with the whole heart 36
7. Highest degre of man’s love to God 48
8. We canot love God and mammon 52
2nd Command
1. Idolatry in general 59
2. No spiritual worship is to be given to any creature invisible 65
3. No visible thing in the heaven or in the earth to be worshipped 69
4. No image can be made to represent God 74
5. That idolatry is most opposite to God 78
6. How base idols are in the sight of God 82
7. What force idols have to allure those who worship them, and to draw the after them 85
8. The many evils which the people got of idolatrous Egypt 87
9. A comparison betwixt the golden calves set up in the wilderness, the golden calves in Dan and Bethel, and the Popish idols 90
10. Of the increase of idolatry, and how it spread through the world 93
11. Whether Gideon made the ephod an idol or not? 97
12. Whether Naaman might bow in the house of Rimmon or not? 100
13. Of mixtures of religion 104
14. Of the motives which moved the heathen to worship idols 108
15. Whether things idolatrous may be converted to any use either in the service of God, or may we convert them to our own use 111
16. The reason why the Lord will not suffer idolatry 117
17. The punishment for the breach of the Second Commandment 122
18. Of the extent of God’s justice, and his mercy to those who break and keep his commandments 131
3rd Command
1. How the Jews superstitiously abuse the name of God, Jehova 138
2. Jews’ superstitious and deceitful oaths 140
3. What great sin it is to curse God 144
4. Men should not curse the creatures 147
5. Perjury 152
6. Blasphemy 157
7. Give God his right titles and attributes 161
8. A lawful oath 163
The word “Amen,” whether it be an oath or an asseveration 170
A coerced oath 171
An oath of enchantment 172
9. Gestures which they used in swearing 174
10. Vows 177
11. Jephtha’s vow 184
12. David’s vow 188
13. Punishment for breach of this commandment 191
4th Command
1. The word “sabbath,” how it is taken in the Scriptures 197
2. When the Sabbath Day begins [at dawn] 200
3. Of the Moral, Judicial and Ceremonial part of the Sabbath 208
4. Difference between the Sabbath and other feast days 214
5. Sanctification of the Sabbath 218
6. Man is commanded to labor six days 222
7. No work is to be done upon the Sabbath 225
8. Whether the Sabbath was from the beginning or not 229
9. Change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week 234
10. Works of necessity do not violate the Sabbath 237-43
Additions 245-54
Dedicatory Epistle
2nd Table
1. How the Second Table is like unto the First 1
5th Command
2. Duties of wife to husband 15
3. Husband’s duty to wife 20
4. Duty of children to parents 24
5. Parents’ duty to children 30
6. Parents should correct their children 36
7. Provision for the eldest 39
8. Provision for the daughters 45
9. Imposition of name to child 50
10. Duty of servants to masters 53
11. Masters’ duty to servants 63
12. Duties of subjects to king 68
13. Spiritual fathers and honor due to them 75
14. Promise annexed to this commandment 79
6th Command
1. Murder in general 84
2. Unjust anger or murder in the heart 88
3. Killing of an infant in the mother’s womb 95
4. Self-murder 99
5. Cruel murder 105
6. How the Lord enquires for blood 109
7. How a man may lawfully defend himself 113
8. Casual slaughter [homicide] and who were to be admitted to the city of refuge 120
9. Whether the revenger of blood was bound by the Law to kill the manslayer, or was it a permission only 129
10. Why David, a man of blood, was forbidden to build the temple 132
11. Order of the sixth and seventh commandment 137
7th Command
1. How vile a sin adultery is 139
2. Allurements of the whore to adultery, and how vile she is being compared with wisdom 144
3. The adulterous eye is a motive to adultery 147
4. How the tongue breaks this commandment by filthy speeches 151
5. The dressing of the hair is a motive to adultery 153
6. Worish apparel 156
7. What unclean persons were called dogs 162
8. Whether David might marry Bathsheba after that he had committed adultery with her 166
9. Against polygamy 171
10. Divorce 179
11. How man and woman may live chastely in holy wedlock together 184
12. Punishment of adultery 188
8th Command
1. Theft in general 190
2. What theft is 192
3. Oppression 197
4. Covered theft 201
5. Usury 204
6. Sacrilege 213
7. Every man should have a lawful calling 218
8. Commutative justice 225
9. Distributive justice 236
10. Restitution 246
9th Command
1. A judge may be a false witness 255
2. Against false witnesses 263
3. Against equivocation 270
4. Against lies 282
Whether Jacob made a lie 284
Whether David made a lie 284
5. Against boasting of ourselves 287
. The Pharisee’s brag, Lk. 18 289
6. Hyperbolic speeches in excess or defect 294
7. Againgst railing and backbiting 297
8. Against mocking 302
9. Against flattery 306
10. Rebukes 314
11. How a man should rule his tongue 325
10th Command
1. Against concupiscence 329
2. This commandment is one, not two 343-46
Additions 347-48
Weemes was a Scottish divine.
** – ‘Solid, sober, weighty. [William] Orme says of Weemse: ‘He was well acquainted with the original Scriptures, with Jewish manners and antiquities, and with the best mode of interpreting the Bible. The style is quaint, but always intelligible.”
.
Andrewes, Lancelot
The Moral Law Expounded: Largely, Learnedly, Orthodoxly… upon the Ten Commandments, being his Lectures in Cambridge… whereunto is annexed nineteen sermons of his upon prayer in general and upon the Lord’s Prayer… (d. 1626; London: Sparke, 1642), On the Ten Commandments This work is different than the one below.
Intro
Preparation to Law’s Exposition
Law’s use and end
Prologue
Division into two tables
Law’s interpretation
Contraries to Humility
Hope
Invocation
Amor Dei, the love of God
Patience
Perseverance
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
Sum of 2nd Table
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
* A Pattern of Catechistical Doctrine at Large; or a Learned & Pious Exposition of the 10 Commandments EEBO (1675) 392 pp. Detailed ToC
1. Catechizing
2. Duties of the catechized
3. Religion
4. Way to come to God is only by faith
5. We must believe there is a God; against atheism
6. There is a God proved
7. God has a providence over man
8. Against paganism
9. Against Judaism
10. Against Islam
11. Christianity proved
12. Special reasons for Christianity contra Judaism
13. Papists vs. Protestants
14. Law vs. Gospel
15. Law
16. Moral law known by the heathen
17. Questions about the Law
18. Prologue
19. Manner of Law’s Deliverance
20. Ends of the Law
1. Requisites in a lawgiver: wisdom and authority
2. Division and rules of interpreting Decalogue
3. False rules; Chuch customs; Qualifications to; Relations of Tables; Interpreting obscurity, ambiguity and controversies
4. Observations on Decalogue; Observations on 1st Command; Inward vs. outward worship
5. 1. We must have a God. 2. We must have the Lord for our God. 3. We must have Him alone for our God.
6. Knowledge of God; Ignorance is forbidden; What we are to know of God.
7. Faith
8. Fear of God
9. Humility vs. Pride
10. Hope vs. Presumption & Despair
11. Prayer
12. Love of God
13. Effects of the love of God
14. Patience
15. Reasons for having the true God as our God; True religion; extremes of religion
16. Have only the true God; Sincerity
17. “Before Me”; Integrity vs. Hypocrisy; Perseverance
1. Parts of this command; 1. God must be worshipped as He requires. 2. Reverence must be showed in the performance; Observations; Making of images was absolutely forbidden the Jews: in this respect the precept was positive and reached only to them. Whether all voluntary or free worship be forbidden under the name of “will-worship”.
2. God will not be worshipped by images
3. What Romanists allege out of the Fathers, ancient liturgies and councils for images; fathers against images
4. 5 rules for expounding this commandment. In God’s outward worship are: 1. substance, 2. ceremony. Substance: preaching, prayer, sacraments (eucharist as a sacrifice), discipline.
5. Ceremonies in God’s worship.
6. Manner of outward worship; no reverence to be given to images. Dulia vs. Latria; Laymen’s books examined; pictures for memory’s sake
7. Manner of outward worship; reasons for outward bodily worship. In public worship must be: 1. Uniformity. 2. Fear. 3. Heart be present. 4. Silence. 5. Constancy till all be done.
8. Threat of this commandment
9. Threat of; God’s justice in punishing fathers’ sins on children
10. Promise of mercy; Our love must manifest keeping his commandments.
1. General scope of; glorifying the name of God by praise
2. What is meant by God’s name; Glorifying his name inwardly, outwardly by confessing, defending it, remembering and honoring it; taking God’s name in vain
3. God’s name in an oath; causes and grounds of an oath; how God is glorified by; what is commanded; vain swearing
4. What a vow is; necessity and use of; what things one may vow; vows in time of the Gospel; performing vows; qualifications of
5. Glorifying God’s name from the heart; threat and punishments of this commandment; God is jealous of his name
1. Order of the commandments; Why God appointed a set time for public worship; Why this commandment is larger then the rest; Six special things to be observed in this commandment; We must sanctify the Sabbath Day
2. What is commanded: 1. a rest. 2. sanctification; Rest is required for sanctification; Lord’s Day is by divine right; Jewish Sabbath is abolished by Christs death, proved at large
3. 1. Some time to be set apart for public worship; 2. Law of Nature does not dictate the proportion of seven or any other in particular; 3. Most probable seventh day was appointed by God from the beginning; symbolical rest afterwards was enjoined to the Jews only; 4. Lord’s Day is of divine institution; 5. Fourth Commandment is in force for moral equity: at least a seventh be given to God; literally it requires only the seventh day from the creation, not a seventh day; the day altered by the apostles by special authority; 6. Jewish-sabbath partly moral, which continues still: partly symbolic, which is expired; how the rests of the Sabbath and Lord’s Day differ; how the Lord’s Day succeeds the Sabbath; 7. The Sabbath kept with the Lord’s Day by the primitive Christians till the Council of Laodicea was not in a Jewish manner.
4. Reasons of this commandment
5. How far rest is to be kept; why “remember” is prefixed; man’s opposition to God; Six works in particular forbidden Jews, whether such be absolutely forbidden Christians; works of mercy or necessity
6. Sanctification of, public and private: 1. prayer. 2. Word read and preached. 3. meditation of what heard and upon God’s works. 4. conference. 5. praise. 6. sacraments and discipline at special times
7. Works of mercy, bodily and spiritual
8. Homogenea; fasting: public and private
9. Means and helps to keep this commandment: 1. Places. 2. Persons. 3. Maintenance; of places
10. Persons set apart for God’s service
11. Maintenance for such; schools and colleges, seminaries of the Church. Maintenance due is tithes; the tenth is still due under the Gospel; oblations (gifts to Church); No power in magistrate to alienate things dedicated to God
12. 1. Signs of keeping the day. 2. Procuring observation of it by others. Conclusion
1. Sum of 2nd Table. Love of our Neighbor; how 2nd Table is like First. Of love and Christian love; Who is our neighbor; degrees of proximity and order in love; manner of love: as thyself, this must appear in the 1. end. 2. means. 3. manner. 4. order.
2. Division of 2nd Table commandments; Why this is set here between the 1st & 2nd Table; parts of command; ground and order of honor; All paternity is originally and properly in God; Hebrew and Greek words; necessity and original of honoring superiors; government a divine ordinance; honor to parents, country, princes, spiritual fathers, magistrates; honor due to excellency of gifts in rspect of: 1. years, 2. the mind, 3. outward estate, 4. benefits received.
3. Reciprocal duties of superiors and inferiors; duties of inferiors; manner of
4. Duties of superiors; End of government and whether the people be above their governours? Manner how to govern. Whether honor be due to one that is evil? Whether he must be obeyed in maio? Of disobeying unlawful commands; of obedience in things doubtful
5. Between man and wife; special end of matrimony, implied; husband’s office; wive’s duties answerable to these; duties of parents and children, masters and servants.
6. Tutors or Schoolmasters and pupils; original of schools and universities; mutual duties of teacher and scholar; particular qualifications of a scholar; about instruction; scholars’ duties; teacher’s duties; duties of those taught; resultant duties of both
7. Honouring spiritual fathers; four sorts of ministers: 1. thief. 2. hireling. 3. wolf. 4. good shepherd and his duties; rules for doctrine and conduct; people’s duties
8.
9.
10.
11.
How a king may put offenders to death
Lawfulness of war in some cases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Andrewes (1555-1626) was the Church of England, reformed bishop of Worchester.
*** – ‘This is a book indeed; it is a joy to read it, for it flashes with thought and illustration, and sparkles with ingenious remarks. Profound learning did not lead the Bishop into the depths of dulness, as it has done many another divine; he manifests the happy quaintness of Latimer side by side with great scholarship. He was highly esteemed by his contemporaries; but we can hardly believe that his death:
‘Left the dim face of our full hemisphere
All one great eye all drown’d in one great tear.’
Yet so we are informed at the foot of his effigies.’ – Spurgeon
* Durham, James – The Law Unsealed, or a Practical Exposition of the Ten Commandments EEBO Buy (†1658) 500 pp. Index
Dedicatory Epistle
To the Reader
Postscript
Owen to the Reader
Errata
Prologue
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Durham was a leading Scottish covenanter during the 2nd Reformation in Scotland.
*** – ‘Whatever Durham has written is very precious. He has the pen of a ready writer, and indites good matter.’
Towerson, Gabriel – An Explication of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments, with reference to the Catechism of the Church of England, to which are Premised by Way of Introduction Several General Discourses Concerning God’s Both Natural & Positive Laws (London, 1677) 548 pp.
Dedicatory Epistle
Anglican Catechism on 10 Commands
Intro
1. Law of Nature
2. Positive Laws of God, particularly Moses’s Law
3. Christ came not to destroy, but to confirm Moses’s Law
4. Christ came to fulfill and add to Moses’s Law
5. Interpretation of the Decalogue
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
On Doing as we would be done by
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Towerson (c.1635-1697) was an Anglican clergyman and theological writer.
Baxter, Richard – The Catechizing of Families... (London, 1683), pp. 229-33
32. Ten Commands in General
33. Prologue
34. First Command
35. Second Command
36. Third Command
37. Fourth Command
38. Fifth Command
39. Sixth Command
40. Seventh Command
41. Eighth Command
42. Ninth Command
43. Tenth Command
* Hopkins, Ezekiel – An Exposition of the Ten Commandments (1692) 450 pp.
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Sermon on Jn. 7:19, “Did not Moses give you the Law: And yet none of you keepeth the Law?”
Sermon on Gal. 3:10, “For as many as are of the Works of the Law, Are under the Curse:”
Hopkins was an Anglican divine who was a bishop in Derry, Ireland.
** – ‘Hopkins in this exposition searches the heart thoroughly, and makes very practical application of the Commandments to the situations and circumstances of daily life. His homely eloquence will always make his works valuable.’ – Spurgeon
‘A brilliantly written treatise by a leading Puritan writer. Long out of print, it should be purchased if found.’ – Cyril J. Barber
.
1700’s
à Brakel, Wilhelmus – chs. 45-55 in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vol. 3 ed. Joel Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout (1700; RHB, 1992/1999), pp. 35-243
45. Law of God: General Considerations 35
Giver of the Law 36
Manner in which the Law was Given 38
Law of God in relation to Covenant of Grace 40
Ten Commandments: Not a covenant of works 43
Ten Commandments: Not the Covenant of Grace 45
Covenant at Horeb: Not a mixture of the Covenants of Works and Grace 50
Ten Commandments: Binding on New Testament believer 52
Eternal duration of Ten Commandments 55
Law of Christ: Equivalent to Law of Ten Commandments 58
Moral Law: Rule of life for New Testament believers 59
Christ: End of the Law, not the abrogation of the Law 64
Ten Commandments: a perfect and complete rule 68
Perfect compliance with Law not attainable in this life 75
Heaven: Not merited by good works but by Christ’s finished work 78
Final exhortation: Observe the Law diligently as a rule of life 81
46. First Commandment 84
God’s gift of the Law to man: Manifestation of his character 84
Guidelines for ascertaining the Law’s meaning 85
Two Tables of the Law 86
Preamble 88
Exposition of First Command 89
Atheism forbidden 90
Idolatry forbidden 90
Worship of angels and deceased saints denounced 91
Witchcraft forbidden 98
Fortune-telling forbidden 99
Superstition forbidden 100
Virtues enjoined 100
47. Second Commandment 105
Content of 105
Incentives conjoined to 106
Sins prohibited 108
Virtues enjoined 116
48. Third Commandment 119
Focus of this Commandment: Lord’s Name 119
Sins prohibited 120
Games of chance 124
Public lotteries 126
Virtues enjoined 128
Oath 129
Oath: Lawful for Christians 134
Need for self-examination due to oath’s solemnity 135
49. Fourth Commandment 139
Basic contents of 139
Observance of Sabbath 140
Sins prohibited 143
Virtues enjoined 145
Additional incentives for proper Sabbath observance 147
Ceremonial or moral in nature? 149
Sabbath, instituted prior to Fall: not ceremonial 152
Sabbath observance: regulated by Moral Law 158
Eternal duration of Moral Law and Fourth Commandment 159
Sabbath observance to continue after Ceremonial Law’s abrogation 161
Sabath observance by Christ, apostles and Early Church 162
Objections:
1. Sabbath does not issue from God’s character 164
2. Sabbath: part of ceremonial law 167
3. Sabbath: abolished by Christ 169
4. Sabbath: detrimental to Gospel 171
5. Sabbath: typical of New Testament dispensation 176
6. Sabbath: observed on seventh day 178
7. Sabbath: ceremony typifying spiritual worship 182
50. Fifth Commandment 185
Full scope of, “father and mother” 185
Virtues superiors enjoined to 187
Virtues enjoined of subordinates 187
Sins prohibited 189
Incentive conjoined to this commandment 191
Exhortation to superiors 192
Exhortation to children and subordinates 192
Final incentives given for obedience 193
51. Sixth Commandment 195
All homicide not forbidden 195
Sins forbidden 197
Virtues enjoined 202
52. Seventh Commandment 205
Marriage: divinely instituted 205
Sins prohibited 206
Abominable nature of and God’s special judgments on it 210
Virtues enjoined 212
Exhortation: strive for purity of heart 212
53. Eighth Commandment 215
Sins prohibited 215
Means of theft 219
Various manners of theft 221
Cause of theft 223
Virtues enjoined 223
Exhortation to self-examination 224
54. Ninth Commandment 227
Sins prohibited 227
Virtues enjoined 233
Final arguments for Sabbath observance 234
55. Tenth Commandment 237
Man created with desire for God 237
Refutation of covetousness being no sin 238
Sins prohibited 239
Virtues enjoined 242
.
* Boston, Thomas – pp. 51-373 of An Illustration of the Doctrines of the Christian Religion in Works (†1732; Aberdeen: King, 1848), vol. 2 Detailed ToC
Duty which God requires of man 51
Moral Law, the rule of man’s obedience 59
Moral Law summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments 66
Love to God and our neighbor, sum of the Ten Commandments 74
Preface to the Ten Commandments 84
1st Command 92
Duties required 92
Sins forbidden 103
“Before Me” 125
2nd Command 127
Church’s prayer against the Antichristian beast, on Ps. 74:19, “O deliver not the soul of they turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked.” 130
Duties required 141
Sins forbidden 143
3rd Command 157
Duties required 159
Sins forbidden 164
Reasons annexed to this command 178
4th Command 186
Duties required 187
Sins forbidden 197
Reasons annexed to this command 200
5th Command 204
Duties required 206
Mutual duties of husbands and wives 212
Children’s duty to parents 220
Servants’ duty to masters 231
Masters’ duty to servants 234
People’s duty to ministers 237
Ministers’ duty to people 239
Duty of ruling elders and people, 1 Tim. 5:17 239
Duty of magistrates and subjects 247
Duties of other relations 250
Sins forbidden 251
Reasons annexed to this command 254
6th Command 260
Duties required 262
Sins forbidden 265
7th Command 276
Duties required 276
Sins forbidden 280
8th Command 286
Duties required 286
Sins forbidden 293
9th Command 312
Duties required 312
Sins forbidden 317
10th Command 332
Duties required 333
Sins forbidden 350
Man’s inability to keep the Law perfectly 374
Sin in its Aggravations 384
Desert of Sin 389
Boston was a minister in the Church of Scotland. This work is a commentary on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Ridgley, Thomas – A Body of Divinity (Questions #99-153) (d. 1734), vol. 2, Questions #99-153 106 pp. ToC
Legislation from Horeb 311
Q. 99. Rules for understanding the Ten Commandments 312
Q. 100-102. Preface and sum of the Ten Commandments 314
1st Command
Q. 103-4. Duties required 316
Q. 105-6. Sins forbidden 318
. Atheism 318
. Idolatry 321
. Footnote: Doctrines of devils 327
2nd Command, Q. 107-10 328
Difference between 1st & 2nd commands 328
Duties enjoined 329
Sins forbidden 330
Reasons annexed unto 334
3rd Command, Q. 111-14
General view of 335
Duties enjoined 336
Sins forbidden 337
Reasons annexed 341
4th Command, Q. 115-16
Sabbatic institution 341
General import of 341
Nature of 342
Date of Sabbatic institution 344
Change of 346
Relative time of Sabbath (starts at midnight) 352
Q. 117-18 Duties enjoined
Preparatory duties to Sabbath-sanctification 353
Sabbatic rest 355
Works of necessity and mercy 356
Sancifying of 358
Q. 119-21 Sins forbidden 360
Reasons annexed to 361
“Remember” 362
Inferences from 363
Sum of 2nd Table, Q. 122 363
Love to our neighbor 364
Doing as we would be done by 364
5th Command, Q. 123-26
Relations of life 366
“Father” & “mother” 366
Why superiors are styled “father” and “mother” 366
Bases and nature of the social relations 367
Relative Duties, Q. 127-32
Duties of inferiors to superiors 368
Sins of inferiors to superiors 374
Duties of superiors to inferiors 376
Sins of superiors against inferiors 376
Duties of equals 377
Sins of equals 377
Reasons annexed to, Q. 133 378
6th Command, Q. 134-36 380
Duties enjoined 380
Sins forbidden 381
Footnote: Judicial Law; Civil punishment of death 386
7th Command, Q. 137-39 392
Duties required 392
Sins forbidden 392
Aggravations of sins 394
Occasions of these sins 395
8th Command, Q. 140-41 396
Duties enjoined 396
Promotion of our own well-being 396
Promotion of our neighbor’s well-being 397
Sins forbidden, Q. 142 399
Self-robbery 399
Theft 399
Breach of trust 400
Non-payment of debt 400
Oppression 401
Litigiousness 402
Usury 402
Restitution 402
9th Command, Q. 143-45 403
Duties required 403
Sins forbidden 405
10th Command, Q. 146-48
Duties required 416
Sins forbidden 419
Q. 149 Man’s inability to keep the commandments 423
Q. 150 Degrees of sin 426
Q. 151 Aggravations of Sin 426
Aggravations from the person offending 426
From parties offended 427
From the offense’s nature and quality 428
From circumstances of time and place 429
Q. 152-53 Desert of sin and the way of escape from it 430
Desert of sin 430
Way of escape from the desert of sin 431
This was the first commentary published on the Larger Catechism, being a series of sermons through it. Ridgley (1667-1734) was a reformed, English Independent, who was the assistant and successor of Thomas Gouge in London.
.
1800’s
Tudor, Richard – The Decalogue Viewed as the Christian’s Law: with special reference to the questions and wants of the times (Cambridge: Macmillan & Co., 1860) 440 pp. ToC
pt. 1
1. Duty of man 1
2. Whole duty of man 30
3. Fear and obedience the duty of man 65
pt. 2, Duty to God
4. Jehovah revealing Himself as the Lawgiver 99
1st Command, 5. God in Christ, the Reconciler, fulfilling the Law 145
2nd Command, 6. The Lord is a jealous God 192
3rd Command, 7. The name of the Lord glorious and fearful 236
4th Command
8. Jewish Sabbath the rest of a day 283
9. Christian Sabath the rest in the Lord 309
pt. 3, Duty to our neighbor
5th Command, 10. Relative duties of parents and children, the basis of society 365
6th Command, 11. Duty to save life, not to kill 402
7th Command, 12. Sanctity of marriage, safeguard of purity 442
8th Command, 13. Private property a trust from God 492
9th Command, 14. Truthfulness the pillar of society 523
10th Command, 15. Out of the heart are the issues of life 562-96
** – ‘The author attempts to give the Christian sense of the Decalogue in its application to present needs and questions. With much moderation he discusses many of the disputed points of the day, such as the legislative enforcement of the Sabbath, marriage with a deceased wife’s sister [which the 1646 Westminster Confession speaks to], etc. He usually takes the view which is natural to a clergyman; but he says some capital things.’ – Spurgeon
* Plumer, William – The Law of God as Contained in the Ten Commandments, Explained & Enforced (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1864) 645 pp. ToC
1. Great Truths 7
2. Law Defined 11
3. Moral Law as given in Exodus & Deut. 16
4. Giving of the Law 19
5. General Character of the Law 25
6. Correct Rles of Interpreting the Law 25
7. Uses of the Law 39
8. Nature of the Obedience Required by the Law 50
9. Place Good Works Occupy in a System of Grace 57
10. Salvation is not by our Obedience to the Law 63
11. Antinomianism 71
12. Gospel does not Supersede the Moral Law 81
13. Detached Remarks 94
14. First Commandment 104
15. Second Commandment 167
16. Third Commandment 237
17. Fourth Commandment 289
18. Second Table of the Law 343
19. Fifth Commandment 347
20. Sixth Commandment 394
21. Seventh Commandment 452
22. Eighth Commandment 510
23. Ninth Commandment 539
24. Tenth Commandment 580
25. How may we Know our Sins? 598
26. Christian Liberty 606
27. Conscience: Rules for it 614
Index 631
.
Latin
1100’s
Lombard, Peter – Libri IV Sententiarum, 2nd ed. (c. 1150; Florence: College of St. Bonaventura, 1916), vol. 2, bk. 3
27. Charity
1. Of the love (charity) of God and neighbor which is in Christ and in us
2. What is charity
3. Whether God and neighbor are loved (diligitur) with the same charity
4. Why two commandments of charity are spoken of
5. Of the way one ought to love (diligendi)
6. Of the fulfillment of that command: “Love (Diliges) God from your whole heart”
7. That the one commandment is in the other
8. Which things are to be loved with charity
28. Command to Love One’s Neighbor
1. Whether we are commanded to love our whole neighbor and our whole selves
2-4. That in the love of neighbor is included the love of angels
29. Order of Charity
1. Of the order of loving (diligendi), what is first, what after
2. Whether all men are to be equally loved (diligendi)
3. Of the grades of charity
…
36. Interconnection of the Virtues
1. Of the connection of the virtues, which are not separated
2. Whether all the virtues are equal in whoever they are in
3. In what way the whole law depends on charity
37. Precepts of the Law
1-3. Of the Ten Commandments, in what way they are contained in the two. Commandments 1-3.
4-6. Of the commandments of the Second Table. Commandments 4-10.
38. Lying
1. Of the threefold genera of lying
2. Of the eight species of lying
3-4. What is a lie; what is to deceive
5. In what things it errs with risk, or not
39. Perjury
1-3. Of perjury
4. Whether swearing may be evil
5. Of an oath that is through creatures
6. What swearing may be grave, and whether such is by God, by creatures or by the Gospel
7. What it is to say: (I swear) “by God”
8. Of those which swear by false gods
9-11. That an oath or promise made contra God does not hold
12. Of him which forces someone to swear
40. The Two Precepts pertaining to the Heart’s Desire
1. Why the law is said to restrain the hand, not the soul
2. What is the letter that kills
3. Of the difference between the Law and the Gospel
Lombard (c. 1096–1160) was an Italian scholastic theologian and bishop of Paris. For background on the Sentences, see Wikipedia.
Ibn Ezra, Abraham – The Decalogue of Divine Precepts with an elegant small commentary by Rabbi Ibn Ezra… tr. Sebastian Munster (Basil: Frob., 1527)
Dedicatory Epistle
Intro
Prologue
1st Command
2nd Command
3rd Command
4th Command
5th Command
6th Command
7th Command
8th Command
9th Command
10th Command
Targum Onkelos’s Translation of the Decalogue
Rabbi Abraham on the Decalogue
Ibn Ezra (1089 / 1092 – 1164 / 1167) was a major Jewish biblical commentator and philosopher in the Middle Ages. Munster (1488–1552) was a German, reformed Hebrew scholar who taught as a professor at the University of Basel and was also a cartographer and cosmographer.
.
1200’s
Aquinas, Thomas
Explanation of the Ten Commandments
Summa
Introductory
pt. 1 of 2, On Law
98. Old Law
99. Precepts of the Old Law
100. Moral Precepts of the Old Law
107. New Law as Compared with the Old
pt. 2 of 2, On Prudence & Justice
122. Precepts of Justice (Whether fittingly expressed)
1st Command
pt. 1 of 2
1. Man’s Last End
2. In Which Man’s Happiness Consists
3. What Is Happiness
4. Things Required for Happiness
5. Attainment of Happiness
pt. 2 of 2
1. Faith
2. Act of Faith
3. Outward Act of Faith
4. Virtue itself of Faith
5. Those Who Have Faith
6. Cause of Faith
7. Effects of Faith
8. Gift of Understanding
9. Gift of Knowledge
10. Unbelief in General
11. Heresy
12. Apostasy
…
15. Vices Opposed to Knowledge and Understanding
16. Precepts of Faith, Knowledge, and Understanding
17. Hope, Considered in Itself
18. Subject of Hope
19. Gift of Fear
20. Despair
21. Presumption
22. Precepts Relating to Hope and Fear
23. Charity, considered in Itself
24. Subject of Charity
25. Object of Charity
26. Order of Charity
27. Principal Act of Charity, Which Is to Love
28. Joy
29. Peace
30. Mercy
31. Beneficence
…
44. Precepts of Charity
45. Gift of Wisdom
46. Folly Which Is Opposed to Wisdom
…
81. Religion
82. Devotion
83. Prayer
84. Adoration
…
97. Temptation of God
…
101. Piety
102. Observance, considered in itself, and of Its Parts
…
104. Obedience
105. Disobedience
106. Thankfulness or Gratitude
107. Ingratitude
…
121. Gift of Piety
…
124. Martyrdom
…
179. Division of Life Into Active and Contemplative
180. Contemplative Life
181. Active Life
182. Active Life in Comparison With the Contemplative Life
183. Man’s Various Duties and States in General
184. State of Perfection in General
…
186. In Which the Religious State Properly Consists
187. Things that Are Competent to Religious
188. Different Kinds of Religious Life
189. Entrance Into Religious Life
2nd Command, pt. 2 of 2
85. Sacrifice
86. Oblations and First-fruits
…
92. Superstition
93. Superstition consisting in Undue Worship of the True God
94. Idolatry
95. Superstition in Divinations
96. Superstition in Observances
…
99. Sacrilege
100. Simony
…
185. Things pertaining to the Episcopal State
3rd Command, pt. 2 of 2
13. Sin of Blasphemy, in General
14. Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost
…
87. Tithes
88. Vows
89. Oaths
90. Taking of God’s Name by Way of Adjuration
91. Taking the Divine Name for the Purpose of Invoking It by Means of Praise
…
98. Perjury
4th Command, pt. 2 of 2
pt. 1, Work of Six Days
73. Things Belonging to the Seventh Day
pt. 1 of 2
100. Of the Moral Precepts of the Old Law
pt. 2 of 2
122. Of the Precepts of Justice, article 4
5th Command, pt. 2 of 2
103. Dulia
104. Obedience
105. Disobedience
106. Thankfulness or Gratitude
107. Ingratitude
6th Command, pt. 2 of 2
32. Almsdeeds
33. Fraternal Correction
34. Hatred
35. Sloth
36. Envy
37. Discord, which is Contrary to Peace
38. Contention
39. Schism
40. War
41. Strife
42. Sedition
43. Scandal
…
47. Prudence considered in Itself
48. Parts of Prudence
49. Each Quasi-integral Part of Prudence
50. Subjective Parts of Prudence
51. Virtues Which Are Connected with Prudence
52. Gift of Counsel
53. Imprudence
54. Negligence
55. Vices Opposed to Prudence by Way of Resemblance
56. Precepts Relating to Prudence
…
64. Murder
65. Injuries Committed on the Person
…
108. Vengeance
123. Fortitude
…
125. Fear
126. Fearlessness
127. Daring
128. Parts of Fortitude
129. Magnanimity
130. Presumption
131. Ambition
132. Vainglory
133. Pusillanimity
134. Magnificence
135. Meanness
136. Patience
137. Perseverance
138. Vices Opposed to Perseverance
139. Gift of Fortitude
140. Precepts of Fortitude
…
157. Clemency and Meekness
158. Anger
159. Cruelty
…
166. Studiousness
7th Command, pt. 2 of 2
146. Abstinence
147. Fasting
148. Gluttony
149. Sobriety
150. Drunkenness
151. Chastity
152. Virginity
153. Lust
154. Parts of Lust
155. Continence
156. Incontinence
…
160. Modesty
161. Humility
162. Pride
…
167. Curiosity
168. Modesty as Consisting in the Outward Movements of the Body
169. Modesty in the Outward Apparel
8th Command, pt. 2 of 2
57. Right
58. Justice
59. Injustice
60. Judgment
61. Parts of Justice
62. Restitution
63. Respect of Persons
…
66. Theft and Robbery
67. Injustice of a Judge, in Judging
68. Matters Concerning Unjust Accusation
69. Sins Committed Against Justice on the Part of the Defendant
70. Injustice with Regard to the Person of the Witness
71. Injustice in Judgment on the Part of Counsel
…
77. Cheating, Which is Committed in Buying and Selling
78. Sin of Usury
79. Quasi-integral Parts of Justice
80. Potential Parts of Justice
…
120. “Epikeia” or Equity
9th Command, pt. 2 of 2
72. Reviling
73. Backbiting
74. Tale-Bearing
75. Derision
76. Cursing
…
109. Truth
110. Vices Opposed to Truth, and First of Lying
111. Dissimulation and Hypocrisy
112. Boasting
113. Irony
114. Friendliness Which is Called Affability
115. Flattery
116. Quarreling
…
145. Honesty
10th Command
pt. 1 of 2
30. Of Concupiscence
31. Of Delight Considered in Itself
32. Of the Cause of Pleasure
33. Of the Effects of Pleasure
34. Of the Goodness and Malice of Pleasures
pt. 2 of 2
117. Liberality
118. Vices Opposed to Liberality, and in the First Place, of Covetousness
119. Prodigality
…
141. Temperance
142. Vices Opposed to Temperance
143. Parts of Temperance, in General
144. Shamefacedness
…
170. Precepts of Temperance
.
1300’s
Duns Scotus, John – The Ordinatio: Oxford Commentary on the Four Books of the Master of the Sentences, bk. 3 in All the Works, new ed. (Paris, 1891)
Bk. 3
Virtues
26. Whether hope may be a theological virtue, distinct from faith and charity 321
27. Whether some theological virtue may incline to love God above all 354
28. Whether by the same habit may be love to one’s neighbor by which God is loved 377
29. Whether one may be bound to love oneself to the highest degree after God 389
30. Whether it may be necessary from charity to love an enemy 395
31. Whether charity may abide in heaven (patria) that it be not extinguished 406
32. Whether God may love with charity all equally 426
33. Whether moral virtues may be in the will as in a subject 438
34. Whether virtues, gifts and blessedness, and fruits may be severally the same habit 464
35. Whether wisdom, knowledge (scientia), understanding and counsel may be an intellectual habit 587
36. Whether the moral virtues may be connected 595
Decalogue
37. Whether all the Decalog’s precepts may be of the law of nature 741
38. Whether every deception may be a sin 861
39. Whether every perjury may be a moral sin 984
40. Whether the new Law may be more grave than the old 1084
.
1500’s
Luther, Martin – Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard in D. Martin Luthers Werke (1510-1511; Weimar: Hermann Bohlau, 1893), vol. 9 Prefatory material is in German; the work is in Latin.
bk. 3
30. 93
[31-33 not present]
34. 93
[35-38 not present]
39. 93
Luther (1483-1546), a German, composed this commentary in becoming a doctor, as was the standard requirement at the time.
Ursinus, Zacharias – Theological Places in Theological Works, vol. 1 (Heidelberg, 1612) ToC
Of the Divine Law 664
First Command 682
Second Command 689
Third Command 699
Fourth Command 715
Fifth Command 725
Sixth Command 729
[The End]
Ursinus (1534-1583)
Bullinger, Henry – A Catechism Written for Adults, about the First Principles of the Christian Religion (1559; Zurich, 1563)
Law of God & Decalogue 8b
Explication of 1st Table 10
1st Command 10
2nd Command 12
3rd Command 17
4th Command 18
Explication of 2nd Table 21
5th Command 21
6th Command 22
7th Command 23
8th Command 24
9th Command 25
10th Command 26b
Law Moral, Ceremonial, Judicial 27b
True use of the Law 28
Whether the Law is able to be fulfilled by us 28b
Compendium of the whole Law 29-29b
Ramus, Petrus – Commentary on the Christian Religion (Frankfurt, 1576; 1594)
Bk. 2 [Of the Decalogue]
2. Of the Preface of the Law 100
3. Of the First Precept, unto the Worship of God 104
4. Of the Second Precept, Against Idolatry 111
5. Of the Third Precept, Against a Vain Oath 124
6. Of the Fourth Precept, unto the Sanctification of the Sabbath 133
7. Of the Fifth Precept, unto Honoring Parents 143
8. Of the Sixth Precept, Against Murder 152
9. Of the Seventh Precept, Against Adultery 161
10. Of the Eighth Precept, Against Stealing 172
11. Of the Ninth Precept, Against Lying 180
12. Of the Tenth Precept, Against Covetousness 187-203
Bk. 3 [Of Prayer]
…
9. Of Temptation, According to the Tenth Precept 244
Ramus (1515-1572)
Szegedin Pannonius, Stephan – Common Places of Pure Theology, of God & Man, Explained in Continuous Tables & the Dogma of the Schools Illustrated (Basil, 1585/93), An Annual of the Well-Done, Vast Things of God
Moral Laws, or the Decalogue 50
…
Distinction of Law moral, ceremonial and judicial 54
Sabbath 56
…
Abrogation of the Law 64
Fulfillment of the Law 65
…
Precepts of God in General 68
Exposition of 1st Table 69
Exposition of 2nd Table 70
Szegedin (1515-1572) also was known as Stephan Kis.
Zanchi, Girolamo – Of the Fall of the First Man, of Sin & of the Law in The Theological Works, vol. 4 (d. 1590; Stephanus Gamonetus, 1613)
10. Of the Law in General 185
11. Of the Decalogue 221
12. Of the First Precept 234
13. Of the True Religion & Worship & its Parts 273
14. Of the Second Precept 362
15. Of Images 380
16. Of the External Worship of God 411
17. Of the Corruptions of the External Part of True Worship 498
18. Of the Third Precept 547
19. Of the Fourth Precept 661
20. Of the Fifth Precept 856
21. Of the Sixth Precept 858
22. Of the Seventh Precept 859
23. Of the Eighth Precept 860
24. Of the Ninth Precept 861
25. Of the Tenth Precept 862
26. Of the End of the Divine Law 862
27. Of the Use & Office of the Law 867
28. Of the Abrogation of the Law 870-72
.
1600’s
Martinius, Matthaeus – ch. 2, ‘Of the Decalogue’ in Summary Heads of Christian Doctrine which are contain in the Apostles’ Creed, the Decalogue, the Lord’s Prayer, the Institution of Ecclesiastical Discipline, sacred Baptism and the sacred Supper, breifly, perspicuously, popularly and distinctly explained… (1603), pp. 34-62
Of the Decalogue 34
Table of Decalogue 39
Rules on the internal and external worship of God in general 40
Preface to the precepts 40
1st Command 43
2nd Command 45
3rd Command 47
4th Command 49
Admonition on the 2nd Table 52
5th Command 53
6th Command 54
7th Command 56
8th Command 57
9th Command 58
10th Command 60-62
Bachoff, Reinhard – Decalogue, or the Ten Precepts, Q. 92-113 in Catechism of the Christian Religion, which is Taught in the Churches & Schools of the Palitinate (Hanau, 1603), pp. 393-578
Q. 92, Distinction of the Decalogue 393
Q. 93, In what way are these precepts divided? 397
Q. 94, What does God postulate in the First Command? 398
. Flee all idolatry 398
. Magic, incantation, superstition, etc. 400
. Invocation of saints, etc. 406
. Humility 410
. Pride 415
. Patience 422
Q. 95, What is idolatry 423
Q. 96, What does He postulate in the Second Command 424
. Not to make any image or figure of God 424
. Nor by any other rule 425
Q. 97, Are then no images or likenesses to be made at all? 426
. Creatures however may indeed be depicted 426
Q. 98, Whether even in church buildings images are not able to be tolerated, which are instituted as books for the multitude? 429
. By no means, for it does not become us to be wiser than God 429
. Who has willed that his Church should be taught, not by dumb images 429
Q. 99, What does God sanction in the Third Command? 430
. That we do not abuse the name of God by cursing or perjury 431
. But also that we do not profane it by rash swearing 431
. But sanctify the name of God 440
Q. 100,
…
Bachoff (1544-1614)
Tilen – An Ordered Arrangement of Theological Disputations held in the Academy of Sedan, vol. 1 (Corvinus, 1607, 1611)
34. Law in General 287
35. Mosaic Law 293
36. Preface of the Decalogue 301
1st Command
37. Faith 307
38. Hope 316
39. Love 324
40. 2nd Command 333
3rd Command
41. First disputation 342
42. Vows 352
43. 4th Command 361
44. 5th Command 369
45. 6th Command 378
7th Command
46. First disputation 387
47. Marriage 395
48. 8h Command 407
49. 9th Command 414
50. 10th Command 424
Tilen (1563-1633)
Mylius, Conrad – Catechetical Essays, or Homilies in the Heidelberg Catechism (Hanau, 1618)
36. Law of God & Understanding the First Precept 805
37. 2nd Precept 843
38. 3rd Precept 880
39. Oaths 907
40. Sabbath 927
41. 5th Precept 948
42. 6th Precept 977
43. 7th Precept 1000
44. 8th Precept 1021
45. 9th Precept 1044
46. 10th Precept 1068-90
Mylius (fl.1616-1618)
Alsted, Johann Heinrich – Cases of Conscience around the Ten Commandments, chs. 7-11 in A Compendium of Theology, Exhibiting a Method of Scriptural Theology in 8 Parts (Hanoviae, 1624), pt 6, Theological Cases
7. 1st & 2nd Commands 422
1st Command 423
Humiliation before God 423
Adhering to God through faith, hope and charity 423
Idolatry of the heart 425
Heresy 425
Schism 426
Apostasy 426
Paganism, Judaism & Islam 426
Magic 427
2nd Command 428
8. 3rd & 4th Commands 429
3rd Command
Confession of faith 429
Oath 430
Vow 430
Fasting 431
Blasphmey 431
4th Command
Sabbath 432
Feasts 433
Tithes & Ecclesiastical goods 433
9. 5th & 6th Commands 434
5th Command 434
Honoring superiors, equals and inferiors 435
Office of parents and children 436
Office of lords and servants 436
Office of relatives 436
Office of teachers and disciples 437
Office of pastor and hearers 437
Office of magistrate and subjects 437
6th Command
Hate, wrath and ill-will 438
Homicide 439
War 440
Vindication and retaliation 440
Alms 440
10. 7th & 8th Commands 441
7th Command
Use of food and drink 441
Use of clothes 441
Use of recreations 442
Chastity 442
Sins of luxury 442
Grades of consanguinity and affinity 444
Betrothals 444
Rites of marriages 445
8th Command
Right and justice 445
Legitimate use of wealth 445
Lord of things 446
Theft 446
Legal right to use and fruit, and use 447
Possession 447
Ways of acquiring 447
Restitution of something stolen 447
Usury 448
Contracts 448
11. 9th & 10th Commands 448-51
9th Command
Sins of the tongue 449
Restitution of reputation and honor 449
Fraternal correction 449
Silence except when necessary or useful 450
Judgment 450
10th Command 451
Buxtorf, Jr, Johann
On the Decalogue (1643) (Introductory)
1. Preface & First Command
2. First Command
3. Second Command
4. Second Command
5. Third Command
6. Fourth Command
7. Fifth Command
8. Sixth Command
9. Sixth Command
Voet, Gisbert
A Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), 2nd section, tract 1, III. Of the Covenants & the Gospel, & its Comparison with the Law, 5. Of the Mode of the Dispensation of the New Covenant after Christ, Exhibited, or of the Gospel Abbr.
“…
Whether idolatry was as prescisely and strictly forbidden in the Old Testament as now under the Gospel? Affirmed”
“…
4th Command
Whether this precept is wholly abrogated? Denied.
Whether Christ or the apostles by doctrine or example abrogated the observation of a weekly sabbath? Denied.
5th Command
Whether the function of the magistrate in the New Testament is able to be exercised by the faithful without sin? Affirmed against Anabaptists.
6th Command
Whether it is lawful for the magistrate to use the sword? Affirmed.
Whether the regal power with them who from him depend, be abolished by the Gospel? Denied.
Whether war is lawful under the Gospel? Affirmed.
Whether in the Old Testament personal vindication was permitted? Denied against Socinians.
Whether God in the Old Testament commanded concerning loving enemies? Affirmed.
7th Command
Whether polygamy was lawful in the Old Testament yet forbidden under the New? Former is denied.
Whether this vice was never reprehended under the Old Testament? Denied.
Whether concupiscence of a foreign wife or virgin under the Old Testament was not a sin? Denied.
…”
“…
10th Commandment
Whether this precept prohibits even the first motion or grade of conscupiscence? Affirmed.”
Select Theological Disputations, vol. 4 (Utrecht, 1648-1667)
6th Commandment
21. ‘On Murder & Hurting of Oneself, even of Voluntary Flagellation’ 244
. Appendix 1: Problems 270
. Appendix 2: ‘On the Burning of One’s Own Ship’ 281-92
22. Of a Plague, or on the Spiritual Antidote of a Plague 292
7th Commandment
23. ‘On the Vanities [Excelsis] of the World, on the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue, First, of Dances’ 325
24. Second, ‘Of Comedies’ 356
25. Another Part 367
26. Third: ‘On Abuses in Food & Feasts’ 385
27. Fourth: ‘On Luxury & Vanity in Clothes, Houses & Goods’ 403
28. pt. 2 417
29. Fifth: ‘On the Decoration of the Face & Hair’ 429
30. pt. 2 444
31. pt. 3 453-93
32. Of Intoxication 493
8th Commandment
33. ‘On Simony’, pt. 1 515
34. pt. 2 523
35. pt. 3 533
36. pt. 4 540-55
37. ‘On Usury’, pt. 1 555
38. pt. 2 557
. ‘Of Money-Lenders’ 575-905
39. Of a User of False Papers 590
40. ‘On Restitution’ 608
. Appendix: Some Special Questions 616-31
9th Commandment
41. Some 9th Commandment Problems: ‘On Lying, False Appearance & of Disguising’, pt. 1 631
42. pt. 2: ‘On Deceit, Equivocation & Mental Reservation’ 640
43. pt. 3: ‘On Falsehood’ 661
44. pt. 3: ‘On Falsehood’, pt. 2 681
. Appendix: Some Questions 695
45. ‘On Calumny, Detraction & Reviling’, pt. 1 702
46. pt. 2 715-29
50. ‘A Syllabus of Questions on the Whole Decalogue’, pp. 763-824
‘Good Works’ 763
‘Intellect’ 764
‘Will’ 764
‘Sense, or the Sensitive Power’ 765
‘Appetite, or the Affections’ 765
‘Locomotion’ 766
‘Habit’ 766
‘Conscience’ 767
‘Law of God’ 767
‘Motives of Good Works & Especially on Examples’ 769
‘Grace of God’ 770
‘Adjuncts & Requisites of Good Works: truthfulness or sincerity, necessity, preciseness, constancy or progress, efficacy or causality and of the opposite, merit, of imperfection’ 770
‘Division of Good Works’ 771
‘Opposites of Good Works, namely Sins’ 772
1st Commandment 773
Of the Knowledge of God & its Opposites 773
Of faith & its opposites 773
Of infidelity, heresy & apostasy 774
Of doubt 774
Of adherence to God 775
Of hope & despair 775
On the love of God 776
On desire, on zeal and its opposite: coldness & tepidness 776
On delight & joy 776
On peace of conscience and tranquility 776
On spiritual humility & pride 777
On obedience and its opposites 777
On patience and its opposites, namely impatience and murmuring 777
On self-abnegation, resignation, mortification & hatred of oneself 777
Of the fear of God 777
On the honor and worship of god, or religion 778
Of its opposites in defect: irreligiousness, impiety, profanity & atheism 778
Of idolatry 778
Of magic 779
Of superstition strictly speaking: of every vain observance 779
2nd Commandment 780
Of instituted worship 780
On the sacred 780
Of rites & ceremonies 780
On consecrations and consecrated things 781
On benedictions in general & on sacraments in specific 781
On images 781
“1. Whether images of God, whether in worship or outside of it, are able to be made or to adhere? Denied.
2. Whether images of creatures which are able to be made are instituted means and instruments of worship? Denied.
3. Whether God is able to be worshipped or adored toward [ad] images, through images or in images, whether of God or creatures? Denied.
4. Whether images, as books of the laity, are able to be had in church buildings as to institution? Denied.
5. Whether they are able to be retained as indifferent things in church buildings for decoration and a civil ornamentation, or whether they are to be excluded and removed? Prior is denied; latter is affirmed.
6. Whether images of God or creatures are to be religiously adored or worshipped? Denied.
7. Whether this is made statute by the Roman Church and so made of the Faith? Affirmed.
8. Whether they statute the same images to be adored, that is images of the Trinity, Christ, even the cross, by the [highest] worship of latria, and images of Mary by the worship of hyperdulia [the highest lesser worship]? Affirmed. See here Select Disputations, p. 3, on Images.”
On the cross 782
On the canonization and worship of saints 782
On relics & pilgrimages 782
On consecrated things, the Lamb of God, blessed water, etc. 782
3rd Commandment 783
On the use & abuse of the divine name in the reading, hearing and application of Scripture, in the perception of the sacraments and public and private prayers 783
On benedictions 784
On cursings, dreadful sayings, execrations & anathemas 784
On blasphemy 784
On an oath in general 785
On perjuries, perfidies, mental reservation, idle words & actions, & of a fearful oath 785
On the use & abuse of lots and of bets 786
Of vows 786
4th Commandment 787
Of the Sabbath 787
Of feasts in general & of OT feasts 787
Prologue to the 2nd Table 788
Of the love of all creatures & specially of the angels 788
Of the love of oneself 788
Of the love of neighbor or another man 788
Of love for the dead 789
Of righteousness & of right, & the opposites: of unrighteousness & injury 789
Of equity 789
On partiality of persons 789
On gratitude & ingratitude 789
On restitution 789
On humility toward equals 790
On humility toward inferiors 790
On alms 790
On hospitality 791
On the visitation of the infirm, captives, widows, orphans 791
Of merciful works towards one’s neighbor by which his soul’s salvation is promoted, namely by exhortation, rebuke, by turning from error and by consolation 791
On concord, peace friendship and the opposites 791
On civil morals 792
On feasts 792
On prudence & imprudence 792
5th Commandment 792
Of grades of superiors & inferiors, & of inequality 792
Of humility & pride 793
Of honor, dignity & nobility 793
Of the duties of superiors towards inferiors in general 793
Of the duties of inferiors towards superiors in general, & of their opposites 794
Of the mutual duties of husbands & wives 794
Of men & women 794
Of the order & duties of parents & children 794
Of stepfathers, stepmothers, stepchildren, fathers-in-law, a mother-in-law, son-in-laws, etc. 795
On adoption & the adopted 795
On legal tutors, guardians and writers of testaments 795
On teachers & students 795
On the mutual duties of seniors and those younger 795
On lords & servants 796
On the mutual duties of ministers & the faithful in the ecclesiastical body 796
On magistrates & subjects in general 796
On magistrates & their subordinates, or on officials in specific 796
6th Commandment
On mildness, tolerance and placability, and the opposites: wrath, having a temper, lust for vengeance, envy and apathy 798
On fortitude and its opposites: timidity and audacity 798
On concord, discord and bursting, divisive and harsh words 799
On harming and mutilation of oneself or others 799
On suicide 799
On killing others 800
On abortion, babies that repulse from liquid, the malformed, dead humans and the exposing of infants 800
On cruelty and clemency toward beasts 801
On avoiding and fleeing hazards, land or sea offering themselves, the same regarding pestilence, leprosy, dysentery and other contagious diseases 801
Of medicine and physicians 802
Of the care and conservation of life and health 802
On the conservation and care of the life and health of one’s neighbor 803
On the moderating of an innocent guardian, and on vindication 803
On the punishment of homicide, of asylums and of pardons 803
On war in general 804
Of the opposites of war, namely tumult, sedition, rebellion, robbery, piracy, peace and judgments 806
Of the Belgic War 806
7th Commandment
Of Chastity 806
On shameful acts not-to-be-named 807
On abducting, adultery, incest and violent lying together 807
On sleeping together, rape, whoring and fornication, also on brothels, prostitutes and the art of pimping 807
On temperance, continence and modesty 808
On marriage & its opposites 808
On the punishments of impurity 809
8th Commandment
On the dominion of things 809
On riches and poverty 809
On acquiring dominion in general, and its opposites 810
On the first occupation, riverside soil and markers 810
On prescription and ownership by long possession 810
On gifting and heredity 811
On contracts in general 811
On a bill of purchase and of sale 811
On lots, bets and securities 812
On censuses 812
On changes and exchanges, or alterations 813
On a command 813
On acquisition through the right of a treasury, also through right of war and victory 813
On the goods of being shipwrecked and of reprisals 813
On a pledge, fee-farm, fiefs, habituation [? inseudatione], a surety [fide-jussione] 813
On a deposit, loan, usury by a mutual contract, location, hiring, social contract, and a request 814
On theft 815
On more manifest and direct species of theft: of kidnapping, robbing sacred things, simony, embezzlement, cattle-stealing, pillaging of crops, the violent robbing of mobile things, piracy, on a band of robbers, rioting 815
On less manifest or crass species of theft: on devouring gifts, covered-over reward, fraudulent measurement, monopoly, threshing of grain, adulteration and shaving of currency, biting interest and usury, deceitful ceding, usurping the hunt, fowling or fishing, fraud and abuse around invented things or deposits, abuses around testaments and legacies, of confiscation of shipwrecked goods 816
Of recreations and games 818
Of avarice and care about temporal things 818
Of prodigality or lavishness 819
Of idleness, leisure and negligence 819
Of curiosity 819
Of parsimony 819
On the punishments of theft 819
9th Commandment
Of veracity and deception in general 820
Of candor, simplicity, fidelity in words and promises, and the opposites: simulation, fawning, contrivances, frauds, equivocation and mental reservation or restriction 820
On some crass species of deception: detraction, cavillation, disparagement, calumny, or defamation through words, writings, comedies and widespread libels 821
On deriding 821
On envy, pride, arrogance, rash judgment, presumption and suspicion 822
On loquaciousness, or much-speaking 822
On keeping silent, governing the tongue and defense and vindication of a report 822
On punishments of deceptions 822
10th Commandment
On riches 823
On joy and a good-mood 823
On inherent and actual concupiscence 824
On sloth, prying into and solicitude 824
On self-love and gladness over another’s misfortune 824
.
Forbes, John – Ten Books of Moral Theology in which the Precepts of the Decalogue are Expounded, and various things around the Law of God and special controversial precepts of the same are dissolved, and cases of conscience are explained Detailed ToC in All the Works (d.1648; Amsterdam, 1703), vol. 1
1. On the Law & First Precept 1
1. Eternal law and of terms, law improperly called 1
2. Definition and division of law properly called 2
3. Collation of laws divine and human concerning agreement and differences 2
4. Custom 4
5. Example 5
6. Some distinctions of human laws 8
7. Law of nature 8
8. Law of God given to created man without being written 9
9. Some distinctions of the written Law of God 11
10. Abrogation of some Old laws 12
11. Evanglical counsels and works of supererogation 15
12. Vindication of Scriptures adduced by Rome for its doctrine of evangelical counsels and works of supererogation 18
13. Those which pertain to the moral law, and of the partition of the Decalogue 29
14. Rules to be observed in the exposition of the Decalogue 29
15. Exposition of the First Command 31
16. What is denoted by the name of “conscience” 38
17. Difference between conscience and prudence, and synteresin and the practical intellect, as taken for a habit 39
18. Acts of conscience 42
19. Multifold distinction of conscience according to its various states and attributes 44
2. Second Precept 49
1. What is prohibted and what is commanded 49
2. What kind of artificial image is understood; of the teraphim, and in which sense images are called “gods” 50
3. Whether images are rightly placed in church buildings 51
4. Whether images are to be made 54
5. Sanction added to this command 56
3. Third Precept 60
1. Transition and a compendious exposition of the words of this command 60
2. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit 60
3. Whether it is lawful to swear and to take an oath 61
4. Nature of an oath 63
5. Perjury 64
6. Vows 70
7. Cursing through the Devil 73
8. Threat annexed to this command 74
4. Fourth Precept 75
1. What in this command is ceremonial and what moral 75
2. Lord’s Day 78
3. Way of sanctifying the Lord’s Day 79
4. Other feast days and certain times of sacred worship 81
5. Fasting 81
5. Fifth Precept 85
1. Duties of superiors and inferiors between themselves 85
2. Collation of the political power and ecclesiastical power 86
3. Power of the devil, Antichrist, tyranny, etc. 91
4. Right of the king and kingdom 91
5. Ecclesiastical senate 96
6. Adjoined promise of this command 97
6. Sixth Precept 99
1. Brief exposition with the proposing of some questions 99
2. Whether it is lawful to kill a magistate 100
3. Sanctions of civil laws 100
4. Power of coercing heretics 101
5. Political laws in Moses of capital punishment for transgressors of the Second Table 105
6. Execution of laws 106
7. Intercession for criminals and of redemption 107
8. Public power to kill, as far as war 110
9. Private protection 110
10. Counselor or procurator of a homicide and of remitting an injury 111
7. Seventh Precept 112
1. Various transgressors of this precept 112
2. Whether a husband may retain an adulterous wife, or is able to recall her after dismissing her, or not 114
3. Institution and definition of marriage 115
4. In which grades of consanguinity and affinity marriages are conceded or prohibited 115
5. Spiritual and legal kindred and affinity 117
6. Some other contrary conditions 118
7. Essential form of marriage 119
8. Firmness and perpetuity of the matrimonial union, and of nullifying impediments to espousals 121
9. Impediments to marriage 122
10. Error, condition, vow, kindred-relation and accusation 122
11. Disparate worship 125
12. Power, order, bond, honor, affinity, impotence and clandestine weddings 127
13. Definition and divorce with seven questions on divorces 129
…
20. Whether new marriages are to be conceded to the guilty party [in a divorce] 141
8. Eighth Precept 143
pt. 1, Theft in general
1. What is theft prohibited by the Eighth Command, and what is commanded 143
2. Division of theft and subdivision of theft in its characteristics, and its opposite duties 144
3. Species of external theft are propounded with some distinctions of things and persons and modes of thieving 145
4. General distinction of modes of thieving in acquisition and of military thefts 146
…
21. Corollaries on the ownership of things and things exempted from ownership 162
pt. 2, Simony and right of patronage
1. Meaning of simony in this tract: difference of sacrilege and simony, and of the tract’s order 163
2. What simony is; definition of simony is propounded and explained 164
3. Right of patronage 167
1. Its origin, foundation and what way it is acquired; then what rights patrons have in churches; lastly the three parts of the rights of patronhood are explained, even presentation, defense and utility 167
2. What rights in churches patrons have 168
3. Those three parts of the right of patronage are explained in the way proposed: 169
i. Presentation 169
ii. Defense 170
iii. Utility 170
4. Distinctions and species of simony, from the mode 171
5. Species of simony from the worth 173
6. Species of simony from the commodity 174
7. The doctrine of the above chapters is confirmed by the authority of Scriptures 175
8. Testimonies of the fathers and councils serve for the same doctrine 176
9. Atrocity of the crime of simony 178
10. Inutility of simoniacal commerce 180
…
12, pt. 1 …
pt. 2, …
13. Some examples of simony in the Roman chair 187
14. Dispensation 189
pt. 3, Sacrilege
1. Meaning of sacrilege here received 192
2. What sacrilege is and of sacred things, even the right of tenths 192
3. Various divisions and species of sacrilege 193
…
13. Restitution 204
pt. 2 …
pt. 3 …
14. …
pt. 4, Usury
1. Distribution and order of this tract, with a dissertation on the name of usury 209
2. What usury is of which is queried 210
3. Scriptural testimony on usury 217
4. Civil law of the Romans on usury 217
5. Usury in canon law 220
…
12. Interpretation of places of Scripture with a conclusion 252
9. Ninth Precept 257
10. Tenth Precept 316-557
Forbes of Corse (1593–1648)
Maresius, Samuel – The Hydra of Socinianism Expunged, vol. 2 (Groningen, 1651), bk. 4 ToC
8. Decalogue & even of the First Command 506
9. Prayers 512
10. In what way God is to be worshipped in Christ, and first of the worship of Christ 533
11. Invocation of Christ 537
12. 2nd Command 565
13. 3rd Command 579
14. 4th Command 589
15. 5th Command 592
16. 6th Command 596
17. 7th Command 608
18. 8th Command 637
19. 9th Command 653
20. 10th Command 656-66
Rivet, Andrew – More Full Lectures on Exodus 20 in which the Decalogue is Explicated, so what they call Cases of Conscience… 3rd ed. in Theological Works (Rotterdam: Leers, 1651), vol. 1, pp. 1221-1459
Ennumeration of the Precepts 1226
Rules on the Precepts to be Observed, Explicated 1229
v. 2 1230
Whether the Decalogue pertains to us? 1231
v. 3, 1st Command 1233
Dissertation on the worship of religious adoration 1235
On the worship of invocation 1241
Of magic arts 1244
Various kinds of divination 1246
Judiciary astrology 1247
Whether a demon is able to inquire into things exceeding its capability? 1248
vv. 4-6, 2nd Command 1249
Whether the precept on images is moral and perpetual? 1251
Which images then are prohibited by the precept 1253
Whether it is allowed to depict God? 1254
Whether images may be allowed to be arranged in church buildings, even outside of worship? 1257
Whether and which religious images one may be allowed to break? 1260
Dissertation on the worship of images 1261
. Appendix 1272
“For I the Lord your God am a jealous God” 1274
v. 7, 3rd Command 1278
What is an oath? 1279
Of Jesuit equivocations 1280
Whether it is allowed for Christians to swear? 1281
Whether it is allowed to swear by creatures? 1285
Whether one is able to extract an oath from an idolater? 1288
Whether it is allowed to extract an oath from one who one knows will commit perjury? 1289
What kind is the obligation of an oath? 1290
Blasphemy in general 1291
Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 1292
Of lots 1294
Of vows 1297
vv. 8-11, 4th Command 1302
The first origin of the observation of the Sabbath Day 1310
Appendix, response to the editors of Gomar 1314
Preface 1314
1. 1315
2. 1316
3. 1319
4. 1320
5. 1320
6. 1323
7. 1325
8. 1327
9. 1332
Of the quality of the 4th Command, what in it was ceremonial, what abides as moral 1333
Of the Lord’s Day, in the Gospel 1336
Appendix: Of the meaning of the name of the Lord’s Day 1338
Of feast days 1344
v. 12, 5th Command 1347
Whether paternal power conflicts with liberty? 1351
Whether children are able to remove themselves from the power of unwilling parents? 1352
Whether it is lawful for children with unwilling parents to contract marriage 1357
Of the obedience owed to parents 1362
Of the political magistrate 1363
Whether and in what way ecclesiastical men are subject to the political magistrate? 1365
Whether the magistrate is in some way subject to ecclesiastical ministers? 1371
What authority does the magistrate have around religion? 1371
v. 13, 6th Command 1376
Whether it is lawful for the magistrate to inflict capital punishment on offenders under Christianity? 1382
Whether Christ may have abolished all right of war? 1385
Whether it is lawful to repel force with force? 1391
Whether a duel is lawful in any circumstance? 1394
On accidental homicide 1397
On the secrecy of confession in the matter of paricide, the judgment of the Jesuits and some others is examined 1398
Whether a pius man is able to intercede for homicide 1398
Of punishments for homicide in ecclesiastical court 1399
v. 14, Seventh Command 1399
Whether simple fornication is able to be excused from sin? 1403
Whether brothels and houses of harlots ought to be tolerated? 1404
Of dancings and dance performances 1407
On theatrical performances 1409
v. 15, Eighth Command 1415
Whether all goods ought to be common? 1417
Whether at any time another’s property may be able to be used without the will of the owner, without the crime of theft? 1420
Of the civil punishments of theft 1421
On lending and usury 1422
On [commercial] business 1432
v. 16, Ninth Command 1433
Of Jesuit equivocations 1436
Whether Papal doctors may teach that [good] faith is not to be kept with heretics? 1441
On the office of a judge 1446
On the duties of plaintiffs and defendants in a trial 1448
On the duties of witnesses 1448
v. 17, Tenth Command 1449
Dissertation on concupiscence 1449
vv. 18-19 1452
vv. 20-21 1453
vv. 22-23 1455
vv. 24-25 1456
v. 26 1458-59
Rivet (1572–1651) was a French Huguenot theologian and professor at Leiden.
Wettstein, Gernler & Buxtorf – 7. Law in A Syllabus of Controversies in Religion which come between the Orthodox Churches & whatever other Adversaries, for material for the regular disputations… customarily held in the theological school of the academy at Basil (Basil, 1662), pp. 21-26
Law in general 21
1st Command 22
2nd Command 22
3rd Command 22
4th Command 23
2nd Table 23
5th Command 23
6th Command 24
7th Command 24
8th Command 25
9th Command 25
10th Command 25
Hoornbeeck, Johannes – ch. 1, ‘Of the Law of God’ in Practical Theology (d. 1666; 1689), pt. 1, bk. 3, pp. 201-85
On Mt. 22:37-40 201
1st Command 202
2nd Command 206
3rd Command 212
4th Command 212
5th Command 228
6th Command 239
7th Command 256
8th Command 271
9th Command 276
10th Command 283-85
Momma, Wilhelm – ch. 7, ‘Of the Message given at Mt. Sinai’ in On the Varied Condition & State of the Church of God under the Threefold Economy of the Patriarchs and the Old and New Testament… (Basel: Brandmuller, 1718), vol. 1, bk. 2, pp. 129-50
1. Parts of the chapter 129
2-4. Author at Sinai 129
5-7. Clouds, fire, lightning, terror 130
8. Why no species and form of God was seen in the mount 131
9-10. Angels 131
11-12. Hearers of this message 132
13. Special commands before the pronounced message 132
14. Desire of Israel that God would speak no more to them 132
15-24. Prologue 133
25-27. Number and distribution of commands 134
28-30. 1st Command 135
31-39. 2nd Command 135
40-42. 3rd Command 139
43-62. 4th Command and Gen. 2:2-3 140
63. 2nd Table 146
64. 5th Command 146
65-70. Remaining words of 5th 146
71. Ten Commands are a Covenant 147
72-81. Nature and characteristics of Covenant 147
82-85. Solution to an objection 149
86. Various judicial laws were pronounced afterward 150
Momma (1642-1677) was a reformed professor of theology at Hamm, Germany.
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology (Geneva, 1679-1686; NY, Robert Carter, 1847), vol. 2, 11. Law of God, pp. 3-128
1. ‘Whether there is a natural law, and how it differs from the moral law. The former we affirm; the latter we distinguish.’ 3
2. ‘Are the precepts of the decalogue of natural and indispensable right? We affirm.’ 8
3. ‘Is the moral law so perfect a rule of life and morals that nothing can be added to it or ought to be corrected in it for the true worship of God? Or did Christ fulfill it not only as imperfect, but also correct it as contrary to his doctrines? The former we affirm; the latter we deny against the Socinians, Anabaptists, Remonstrants and papists.’ 18
4. ‘May anything be added to the moral law in the way of counsel? We deny against the papists.’ 26
5. ‘Are four precepts rightly assigned to the first table and six to the second? We affirm.’ 30
6. ‘What rules are to be observed in explaining and keeping the precepts of the decalogue?’ 32
1st Commandment
7. ‘Is God alone to be worshipped and invoked? Or is it lawful to invoke and religiously worship deceased saints? We affirm the former and deny the latter against the papists.’ 35
8. ‘Should the bodies of saints and relics be adored with religious worship? We deny against the papists.’ 43
2nd Command
9. ‘Is it lawful to religiously worship images of God, the holy Trinity, Christ, the virgin and other saints? We deny against the papists.’ 47
10. ‘Whether not only the worship, but also the formation and use of religious images in sacred places is prohibited by the Second Commandment. We affirm against the Lutherans.’ 56
3rd Command
11. ‘Whether every oath so obliges the conscience that we are bound to keep it by an inevitable necessity. We distinguish.’ 59
12. ‘Whether it is lawful to use ambiguous equivocations and mental reservations in oaths. We deny against the papists and especially the Jesuits.’ 63
4th Commandment
13. ‘Whether the first institution of the Sabbath was in the Fourth Commandment; and whether the commandment is partly moral, partly ceremonial. The former we deny; the latter we affirm.’ 68
14. ‘Whether the institution of the Lord’s Day is divine or human; whether it is of necessary and perpetual or of free and mutable observance. The former we affirm and the latter we deny (as to both parts).’ 81
15. ‘Whether it belongs to the faith in the New Testament that besides the Lord’s Day there are other festival days properly so called whose celebration is necessary per se and by reason of mystery, not by reason of order or ecclesiastical polity only. We deny against the papists.’ 88
5th Commandment
16. ‘May children withdraw themselves from the power of their parents and marry without their consent? We deny against the papists.’ 92
6th Commandment
17. ‘Are the rights of war and punishment contained under this commandment? Are suicide (autocheiria) and duelling prohibited? The former we deny; the latter we affirm.’ 98
7th Commandment
18. ‘What is forbidden and what is enjoined by the precept concerning not committing adultery?’ 105
8th Commandment
19. ‘What is forbidden and commanded by the precept concerning not stealing? Is usury of all kinds contained under it? We deny.’ 108
9th Commandment
20. Whether a lie under any pretext can be rendered virtuous and lawful. We deny against the Socinians.’ 113
10th Commandment
21. ‘What concupiscence is prohibited by the tenth precept? Are the incipient motions sins? We affirm.’ 118
22. Which and how many fold is the use of the Moral Law, according to the varied states of man? and whether it is able to oblige to obedience and the penalty simultaneously? 121
23. Whether the Moral Law has been wholly abrogated under the New Testament? or whether truly it yet pertains in some respect to Christians? The former is denied; the latter is affirmed, contra Antinomians. 124-28
.
Melchior, Johann – The Fundamentals of Didactic Theology: Aphoristic Summary Truths joined together with an Exposing of the Sinew of Today’s Errors (Herborne, 1685), bk. 2, pt. 2
3. Of the Decalogue 232
4. Of the Law of Precepts in Judgments 247-56
Melchior (1646-1689)
Leydekker, Melchior – A Synopsis of the Christian Religion (Utrecht, 1689), bk. 3
5. Law of God, from which is the Knowledge of Sin 183
6. Commandments of 1st Table 191
Prologue 191
1st Command 192
2nd Command 197
3rd Command 199
4th Command 201
7. Commandments of 2nd Table 204
5th Command 204
6th Command 205
7th Command 206
8th Command 209
9th Command 210
10th Command 211-12
8. Certain Questions about the Nature & Use of the Decalogue 213-23
1. Whether the whole moral law, the Decalogue, is of the divine natural law, flowing by necessity from the nature of God? Denied. 213
2. Whether the whole moral law is to us natural law? Affirmed. 213
3. Whether the same moral law was even given and known before Moses? Affirmed. 214
4. Whether the law in the Old Testament on mount Sinai, as given, was perfect, needing no correction or amplification in the New Testament? Affirmed. 215
5. Whether the Decalogue on mount Sinai was given by the instrument and kind of the Covenant of Works, being again erected with the Israeli people? Denied. 216
6. Whether the Old Testament is itself the Legal Covenant, repeated in the Decalogue, and entered into with the Israelite people, who in the meantime had been received into the Covenant of Grace and the evangelical covenant by faith in the Messiah? Denied against Lutherans. 216
7. Whether the Law (or Decalogue) in mount Sinai was given in the instrument of a third kind of legal covenant, which succeeded in place of the Covenant of Nature and was indirectly, or by accident, subservient (although opposed) to the Covenant of Grace? Denied. 217
8. Whether the Decalogue was at first given in the form of the pure Covenant of Grace, its appearance afterward being changed through the sin of [Greek word, of the golden calf], when the legal scheme was superimposed upon it? 218
9. Whether the Law of the Decalogue pertains even to us under the New Testament? 219
10. What was the end and scope of God the Legislator under the Old Testament in bearing up the Law, and what is the use of the Law even in the New Testament? 220-22
Braun, Johannes – The Doctrine of the Covenants, or A System of Didactic & Elenctic Theology (Amsterdam, 1691), pt. 4, Locus 17
3. Moral Law of God in General 421
4. First Three Commands 429
1st Command 429
2nd Command 429
3rd Command 433
5. 4th Command, of the Sabbath 435
6. Commands of the 2nd Table 453
5th Command 453
6th Command 454
7th Command 455
8th Command 455
9th Command 457
10th Command 457-58
7. Perfection of the Moral Law 459
8. Use of the Moral Law 465
Braun (1628-1708)
Marck, Johannes à – A Compendium of Christian Theology, Didactic and Elenctic (Amsterdam, 1696; 1722)
11. Worship of God & Rule of his Law 200
12. Decalogue & Each Precept 229-62
2. First Precept 230
5. Second Precept 232
9. Third Precept 236
13. Fourth Precept 240
18. Fifth Precept 245
21. Sixth Precept 248
24. Seventh Precept 251
27. Eighth Precept 253
31. Ninth Precept 258
33. Tenth Precept 260-62
Marck (1656-1731)
van Mastricht, Petrus – Theoretical & Practical Theology… new ed. (1698; Utrecht, 1724), The Idea of Moral Theology
bk. 1, Observance of Faith in General
Prologue 1202
1. Obedience of Faith, & Obedience 1203
2. Study & the Neglect of the Law 1203
3. Keeping & the Neglect of Conscience 1204
4. Knowledge & Ignorance 1205
5. Humility & Pride before God 1205
6. Fear & Scorn of God 1206
7. Zeal & Lukewarmness 1207
8. Sincerity & Hypocrisy 1208
9. Virtue & Vice [Vitio] 1209
10. Prudence & Imprudence 1210
11. Vigilance & Somnolescence 1211
12. Fortitude & Infirmity 1212
13. Confidence & Timidity 1213
14. Constancy & Levity 1214
15. Patience & Impatience 1215
16. Temperance & Intemperance 1216
17. Good & Bad Action 1217
bk. 2, Religion
1. Piety & Impiety 1219
2. Faith & Unbelief 1221
3. Profession of, & the Denying of the Faith 1222
4. Hope & Desperation 1223
5. Love & Hatred of God 1224
6. Hearing of, & the Neglect of the Word of God 1226
7. Exercise & Neglect of Prayer 1228
8. Confession & Suppression of Sins 1230
9. Use & Abuse of Vows 1232
10. Oath & Perjury 1233
11. Communion with God & Alienation from Him 1235
12. Institution of Worship, & of Superstition 1238
13. Sanctification & Profanation of the Sabbath 1240
bk. 3, Righteousness & Injury to our Neighbor
1. Righteousness to our Neighbor in General, & of Injury 1243
2. Love & Ill-will to our Neighbor 1245
3. Honor & the Vilification of our Neighbor 1247
4. Humanity & Homicide 1249
5. Chastity & Luxury 1251
6. Commutative Justice & Theft 1253
7. Veracity & a Lie 1255
8. Contention & Concupiscence 1257-58
Heidegger, Johann H.
The Marrow of Christian Theology: an Introductory Epitome of the Body of Theology (Zurich, 1713) 14. Of the Decalogue Extended ToC
4-5. Of the Love of God 302
…
15-17. Division of the Decalogue 306
18-23. First Precept 307
24-39. Second Precept 310
40-50. Third Precept 316
51-61. Fourth Precept 320
62-74. Fifth Precept 327
75-84. Sixth Precept 332
85-96. Seventh Precept 337
97-115. Eighth Precept 341
116-128. Ninth Precept 349
129-133. Tenth Precept 356
134-136 Use of the Decalogue 357-59
Heidegger (1633-1698)
A Body of Christian Theology, Exhibiting True Doctrine, which is according to godliness (Tigur, 1700), vol. 1, Place 14, ‘Of the Decalogue’
Sect. 1, Nature of the Decalogue; epitome of the love of God and neighbor, its division 499 Extended ToC
Sect. 2, 1st Table Commands are Expounded 515 Extended ToC
1. Distinction of 1st Table of Commands 517
2. Prologue 517
3-19. 1st Command 517
20-59. 2nd Command 523
60-84. 3rd Command 541
85-105. 4th Command 550-60
Sect. 3, First Commands of 2nd Table 560 Extended ToC
1-7. 2nd Table 561
8-35. 5th Command 563
36-62. 6th Command 574
63-86. 7th Command 587
Sect. 4, Latter Command of 2nd Table 599 Extended ToC
1-42. 8th Command 601
43-72. 9th Command 620
73-84. 10th Command 638
85-90. Decalogue’s use, Antinomian arguments cut up 642-44
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1700’s
Vitringa, Sr., Campegius – The Doctrine of the Christian Religion, Summarily Described through Aphorisms, vol. 4 (d. 1722), ch. 20, Of the Second Time-Interval of the Promise, from Abraham to Moses
Decalogue 321-22
Author & Promulgation of the Decalogue 323-28
Nature of the Decalogue 329-35
Use of the Decalogue under the New Testament 336-44
Tables of the Law 345-48
Division of the Decalogue 349-54
Accessories to the Decalogue 355-60
Sabbath 360-62
Origin of the Sabbath 363-401
Nature of the Fourth Precept 402-72
Whether the 1st Day, out of the 7th Day, is to be Observed under the New Covenant 473-84
Origin of the Lord’s Day 485-517
Observation of the Lord’s Day 518-23
Duration of the Lord’s Day 524-28
Name of the Sabbath 529-32
Vitringa, Sr. (1659-1722)
Ouseel, Philippus
Theological Exercitations:
On the Author of the Decalogue, pt. 1, 2
On the Decalogue being given Solely to Israel, pt. 1, 2, 3
On the Nature of the Decalogue, pt. 1, 2
Ouseel (1671-1724) was a reformed professor of theology at Frankfurt.
Deusing, Hermann – Commentario Mystico in Decalogum
Deusing (1654-1722)
Vriemoet, Emo Lucius – ‘Decalogue’ in Dogmatic Theology of the Old Testament, vol. 3: Select Philological-Theological Annotations on Classical Sayings (Franeker: Udink, 1758), ch. 14, p. 134-206
Intro 134
Prologue 136
1st Command 139
2nd Command 144
3rd Command 150
4th Command 152
5th Command 164
6th Command 168
7th Command 171
8th Command 172
9th Command 173
10th Command 175-78
Vriemoet (1699-1760) was a Dutch reformed theologian and professor of Oriental languages at Franeker.
De Moor, Bernard – A Continuous Commentary on John Marck’s Compendium of Didactic & Elenctic Christian Theology, vol. 2 (Leiden, 1761-71)
11. Worship of God & the Regulating Rule of It 503 Extended ToC
12. Decalogue, & of Each Precept of It 688-976 Extended ToC
2. First Command 694
5. Second Command 714
9. Third Command 747
13. Fourth Command 787
18. Fifth Command 837
21. Sixth Command 857
24. Seventh Command 889
27. Eighth Command 916
31. Ninth Command 941
33. Tenth Command 959
34. A Sum of Corollaries 967
De Moor (1709-1780)
.
Bible Commentaries on Exodus 20
See also Commentaries on Exodus, the Pentateuch, the Whole Old Testament and the Whole Bible.
.
1500’s
.
1600’s
Jackson, Arthur – Ex. 20 in A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, vols. 1 (Torah) (Cambrdige: Roger Daniel, 1643)
Jackson (1593-1666) was a reformed puritan.
Hall, Joseph – Contemplation 5, ‘Of the Law’ in Contemplations on the Historical Parts of the Old Testament (London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1868), pp. 55-58
Hall (d. 1656) was an influential reformed Anglican bishop. These devotional and practical contemplations savor of deep spirituality and are very insightful.
.
1800’s
Edersheim, Alfred – vol. 2, ch. 10, ‘Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai – The Preparations for the Covenant – The “Ten Words?” and their meaning’ in The Bible History of the Old Testament (1887), pp. 192-97
Edersheim was converted from Orthodox Judaism by the influence of John Rabbi Duncan and others. He became a pastor in the Free Church of Scotland, and then entered the ministry of the Anglican Church the second half of his life. Edersheim was a leading conservative scholar of his day.
The work here is easier to read and less technical than his Life and Times of Jesus Christ the Messiah, though it still abounds with intriguing scholarship mediated through a child-like faith in the O.T.’s profound teachings.
Hengstenberg, Ernst W. – 2nd Period, 1st Section, ch. 5, ‘The Covenant on Sinai’ in History of the Kingdom of God under the Old Testament (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1871), vol. 1, pp. 311-36
Hengstenberg was a conservative O.T. scholar in late-1800’s Germany (one of the few).
.
1900’s
De Graaf, S.G. – ch. 41, ‘The Covenant Established, Ex. 18-24’ in Promise & Deliverance, vol. 1 (P&R, 1977), pp. 295-303
De Graaf was a Dutch Reformed minister.
“De Graaf studies the Old Testament with an eye on the covenant and the kingdom of God. The book is written in an easy-to-undrstand style.” – Tremper Longman III, 4 out of 5 stars
.
Advanced
1800’s
Barrett, Richard A.F. – Ex. 20 in A Synopsis of Criticisms upon those Passages of the Old Testament in which Modern Commentators have Differed from the Authorized Version, Together with an Explanation of Various Difficulties in the Hebrew & English Texts, vol. 1 (Gen-Lev 6) (London: Longman, Brown, Green, 1847), pp. 301-5
Though it should be read with discernment, this commentary is very valuable for the massive amount of information it contains. For passages where modern commentators differ from the KJV reading, first the Hebrew of the verse is given, then the Septuagint and then the KJV reading is provided. Then arguments for and against the English KJV reading are given.
The preface is helpful in understanding the perspective and purpose of the author. The author is moderately conservative (though not wholly so). He speaks of ‘the unsafe remedy of correcting the text upon insufficient grounds.’ He, out of principle, upholds miracles and the doctrines of Scripture and (rightly) calls the liberal German critics ‘neologians’.
The KJV, as the author affirms, is a very good translation; however, the English translation is not perfect. Sometimes the difference of translation is not a difference of the Hebrew text, but simply a difference of a translation of a Hebrew word, or how one understands the multiple, legitimate, grammatical possibilities inherent in the Hebrew.
We do not recommend ever preferring the Greek Septuagint version over the Hebrew text. We also do not recommend preferring a Hebrew variant which does not occur in the traditional Masoretic text.
* Keil, Karl & Franz Delitzsch – Ex. 20 in Commentary on the Old Testament
The best, mostly conservative scholarship from two late-1800’s European scholars; highly technical and grammatical.
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Latin
See also Latin Commentaries on the Whole Bible, the Old Testament and the Pentateuch.
.
1500’s
.
.
From Catechisms & Commentaries Thereon
Heidelberg Catechism Questions 91-115
See also Commentaries on the Heidelberg Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions 39-82
See also Commentaries on the Shorter Catechism 151
Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 91-152
See also Commentaries on the Larger Catechism (4) and Commentaries on the Westminster Confession and Catechisms (3)
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From Systematic Theologies
Many systematic theologies (especially from the Reformation and Puritan eras) contain an exposition of God’s Moral Law, the 10 Commandments. See:
Every Reformed Systematic Theology Online
See, for instance, Musculus, Vermigli, Viret, Ursinus, Wollebius, Ussher, Leigh, Turretin, A’Brakel and many others.
.
Lutheran
Martin Luther
ch. 5 in Lectures on Deuteronomy in Luther’s Works (Saint Louis: Concordia, 1960), 9:61-64
‘The Ten Commandments’ in The Large Catechism
Ten Sermons on the Catechism (1528) in Luther Works ed. & trans. John W. Doberstein (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966), 51:133-93
Treatise on Good Works (1520) trans. W. A. Lambert in Luther Works, ed. James Atkinson (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966), 44:15-114
.
Philip Melancthon
‘On the Law’ in Common Places in:
‘Divine Laws’ in ‘The Law’ in Melanchthon & Bucer (1521 ed.) ed. Wilhelm Pauck (Louisville: WJKP, 1969), pp. 53-57
ch. 7, ‘Of Divine Law’ in Melanchthon on Christian Doctrine, Loci Communes, 1555 trans. Clyde L. Manschreck (NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), pp. 83-129
The Chief Theological Topics: Loci Praecipui Theologici 1559 Buy (Concordia Publishing, 2011) 549 pp.
This was the last expansion and revision of the common places before Melanchthon’s death in 1560.
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Ancient Jewish Expositions
Philo, from Works, vol. 3
Concerning the Ten Commandments which are the Heads of the Law, pp. 136-387
Philo (†50) was an important Jewish historian, commentator and theologian in Alexandria, Egypt during the time of Christ.
Josephus – On the Ten Commandments at Patristic Bible Commentary
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For Children (see also the short poetic versions below)
* Newton, Richard – The King’s Highway Buy (1861) 380 pp. ToC
*** – ‘Though intended for children, ministers will find it useful, for it teems with illustrations, and brings up little points of conduct worth touching upon. Dr. Newton is the prince of preachers to children.’
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The Ten Commandments in Poetry (shortest to longest)
Order of
Bale
New England Primer
Horne
Wither
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John Bale
A Comedy concerning Three Laws, of Nature, Moses & Christ, corrupted by the Sodomites, Pharisees & Papists (Wesel, 1548[?])
Love thy Lord God. Swear thou none oath.
Thy Sabbath keep, Please thy friends both.
Witness none ill. Hold no man’s wife.
Bribe no man’s good. Slay not with knife.
Wish no man’s house, nor ox nor ass.
As thou wilt have, so thou like casse [cast?].
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The New England Primer, ‘The Ten Commandments put into Short and Easy Rhymes for Children’
1. You shall have no more gods but Me.
2. Before no idol bend your knee.
3. Take not the name of God in vain.
4. Dare not the Sabbath Day profane.
5. Give both your parents honor due.
6. Take heed that you no murder do.
7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.
8. Steal not, though you be poor and mean [lowly].
9. Make not a willful lie, nor love it.
10. What is your neighbor’s, dare not covet.
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Robert Horne, A Brief Rehearsal of the Ten Commandments (1617)
1. See that thou have no God’s but one
2. and truly worship Him alone.
3. God’s name in vain thou shalt not take.
4. The seventh day holy thou shalt make.
5. Honor thy parents.
6. Murder flee:
7. A fornicator never be.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. False speech eschew
10. and covet not another’s due.
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George Wither (1588-1667)
From Divine Poems (by way of Paraphrase) on the Ten Commandments (1688)
1. Serve but one God, and let Him be
. that God who made and ransom’d thee.
2. Let every hand and heart refrain
. an image of our God, to fain.
3. If thou wilt free be kept from blame;
. take not in vain, GOD’s holy NAME.
4. To hallow, do not thou forget
. those times, which God apart hath set.
5. On them all honors due, bestow,
. who, by the name of parents go.
6. Thy Maker’s image do not spill,
. where God commands thee not to kill.
7. Commit thou no such act unclean,
. as here adultery, doth mean.
8. What want so e’re oppress thee may
. steal not, another’s goods away.
9. In any case no witness bear,
. of things which false or doubtful are.
10. Another’s right desire not,
. but be contented with thy lot.
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From Hymns and Songs of the Church Divided into Two Parts (1623)
I am the LORD thy GOD, and I alone
from cruel Egypt’s thralldom set thee free;
(1) And other gods but Me thou shalt have none.
(2) Thou shalt not make an image to adore
of ought on earth above it or below:
a carved work thou shalt not bow before,
nor any worship on the same bestow.
For I thy GOD, a jealous GOD am known,
and on their seed the fathers’ sins correct
until the third and fourth descent be gone,
but them I always love that me affect.
(3) The Name of GOD thou never shalt abuse
by swearing or repeating it in vain:
for him that doth his Name profanely use,
The LORD will as a guilty-one arraign.
(4) To keep the Sabbath holy, bear in mind:
Six days thine own affairs apply thou to;
the seventh is GOD’s own day for rest assign’d,
and thou no kind of work therein shalt do:
thou, nor thy child, thy servants, nor the beast;
nor he that guest-wise with thee doth abide,
for, after six days labor GOD did rest
and therefore He that day hath sanctified.
(5) See that unto thy parents thou do give
such honor as the child by duty owes,
that thou a long and blessed life mayst live
within the land the LORD thy GOD bestows.
(6) Thou shalt be wary that thou no man slay.
(7) Thou shalt from all adultery be clear.
(8) Thou shalt not steal another’s good away,
(9) nor witness-false against thy neighbor bear.
(10) With what is thine remaining well apaid,
thou shalt not covet what thy neighbor’s is:
his house, nor wife, his servant, man, nor maid,
his ox, nor ass, nor anything of his.
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An Exposition in Poetry
* Wither, George – Divine Poems (by way of Paraphrase) on the Ten Commandments (†1677; 1688) 110 pp.
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Bibliographies
Articles
1800’s
Malcom, Howard – ‘Commandments’ in Theological Index... (Boston, 1868), p. 91
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2000’s
Svensson, Manfred & David S. Sytsma – ‘III. Commentaries and Loci on the Decalogue’ in A Bibliography of Early Modern Protestant Ethics (ca. 1520-1750) (2020), pp. 24-35. Includes entries in multiple languages and attempts to be a collation of all the protestant works on the Decalogue in the early modern era.
All of the entries in English from this bibliography are on this webpage.
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Latin Article
1700’s
Vitringa, Campegius – pp. 321-22 in The Doctrine of the Christian Religion, Summarily Described through Aphorisms, 6th ed. Martin Vitringa & Theodore Schelting (d. 1722; Arnheim: Moelemann, 1761), vol. 4, ch. 20, ‘Time Period of the Promise of the Blessings of the Testament of Grace’, Second Time-Interval of the Promise, from Abraham to Moses
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Related Pages
Bible Verses on God’s Revealed Will as His Will, Desire, Pleasure and Wish
Historic Reformed Quotes on the Distinction Between God’s Revealed Will & his Will of Decree