The Way for a People to Live Long in the Land

p. 1The Way for a People to Live Long in the Land that GOD hath given them.

Honour thy Father and thy Mother: that thy dayes may be long upon the Land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

THE Moral Law was revealed unto men from the beginning of the World: it is probable that God implanted the habitual knowledge thereof on the minds of Adam and Eve: if so, this work was much of such a nature, as when God taught the Apostles at once divers Languages, that they had never Learned. This work differs from two other ways of writing the Law on mens hearts: One is spoken of Rom. 12. 15. Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts. This is nothing else but the giving of men natural Understandings and Consciences, able to discern the difference between right and wrong. The other is spoken of, Jer. 31. 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. The thing intended is that God would give them a disposition to keep his Laws.

In succeeding Ages God handed down the knowledge of his Laws partly by immediate revelation, partly by the instruction of the Patriarchs, until the time that the Children of Israel were come into the Wilderness of Sinai: at that time God published the Ten Commandments both by word of Mouth, and also in writing on two Tables of Stone. This Publication of the Law was attended with many awful manifestations of the Majesty of God. There were thunders and lightnings, and a thick Cloud, and the sound of a Trumpet, exceeding loud, Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoak, because the Lord p. 2descended upon it in fire; and the smoak ascended like the smoak of a furnace, Exod. 19. 16, 18.

One ◊◊ason of this terrible appearance at the giving of the Law, was to prepare the Children of Israel for the Observation of it. They were a rude and untractable People, and needed such discoveries of the greatness of God, as might make an abiding impression on their hearts, and dispose them to keep his Commands: But there seems to be another reason of it; which is, that though the Children of Israel were not under a Covenant of works, yet they were under a Legal dispensation of the Covenant of Grace: this dispensation that they were under did shadow forth a Covenant of works: and therefore Paul makes use of the threatnings and promises of Moses, to set forth a Covenant of works, Gal. 3. 10, 12. And therefore he gives a representation here of the dreadful danger of those that are under the Covenant of works.

p. 2This Law is divided into two Tables, the first respects duties of worship unto God, the second duties of love to Man. These words contain the first Commandment of the Second Table: where you may Consider, (1.) The Precept. (2.) The Promise.

Quest. 1. Who are meant by Father and Mother?

A. Nextly natural Parents: But the words are not to be limited to them, they are particularly instanced in: but all Superiours are comprehended; for other Superiours are called Fathers in the Scripture: 2 King. 5. 13. 2 King. 2. 12. And there is an honour due to them, which is required in this Commandment.

Quest. 2. What is the Honour here required?

A. That honour that their relation calls for. Reverence, Obedience, Recompence, according to the nature of the Relation. Men must carry towards Parents, Masters, Teachers, Magistrates, suitably to the honourableness of that Station, which God has set them in.

Quest. 3. What is further implyed by this Precept?

A. That Parents and all Superiours do carry so as to deserve Honour. That Superiours do their duty to their Inferiours: as God don't allow a liberty to Children to carry as they will to their Parents, so he does not allow Parents to carry as they will to their p. 3Children. As he takes care of the Parent, so of the Children.

Quest. 4. What is intended by the Promise?

A. 1. That Obedient Children shall have their lives lengthned out. This is indefinitely promised. The Apostle does so explain it, Eph. 6. 2, 3. Besides it is implyed that they shall have such outward blessings as shall make their lives comfortable.

2. That while the Rulers and People of Israel keep this Command, God would preserve them in their own Land and bless them there: it was the manner of the Babylonian Kings when they conquered a People, to transplant them, and carry them into some other Countries. So the Ten Tribes, and afterwards Judah were carried into Captivity. But God promises, that while they keep this Command, it shall not be so, but he will bless them in their own Land. This is evident because the Law was not only given to them as a rule of Life to particular Persons, but as the Condition of a publick Covenant with the Church and Common-wealth of Israel, Deut. 5. 2. The Lord our God made a Covenant with us in Horeb. And God promises to bestow publick blessings on them, in case this Command be kept.

p. 3DOCT. The way for a People to be Preserved and Blessed of God, is for the Publick Rulers and the Ruled, to do their Duty to one another. It is a matter of great concernment for a People to be blessed of God: and in this way God has promised to bestow it upon them. Many of the Rulers of the World do neglect to do their duty to their People; they are Tyrants, they are Oppressors, they are Persecutors: & many People carry contrary to their Duty to their Rulers, they are guilty of Seditions, Insurrections and Murmurings, and are otherwise faulty, such carriages open a door to Ruine. But if the fifth Commandment be kept the People will be kept. It is a difficult thing for Rulers, to carry as they ought to the People, and there is difficulty in the Peoples carrying as they ought to their Rulers, but there is great incouragement to do it, so long as they do it God will preserve them. While Rulers and Ruled do their duty one towards another, it is a sign of a considerable degree of Religion, and a procuring cause of Prosperity. Their Observation of this Command will p. 4be their preservation: it is not a matter of indifferency how Rulers carry to the People, and how People carry to the Rulers, Gods blessing or cursing of the Land does depend upon that. The abuses that are offered unto a People by their Rulers, and the abuses that are offered unto the Rulers by the People are deeply resented by God. But while Rulers and Ruled do attend their relative duties, God will continue his relation to them, and be their defence; while they keep this Command, they will keep their Land, their Lives will be long on the Land which the Lord their God giveth them.