Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Q1. How is the sum of the Ten Commandments divided in this answer?
A. Into the sum of the four commandments in the first table, which contain our duty to God; and into the sum of the six commandments in the second table, which contain our duty to man.
Q2. What is the sum of the four commandments in the first table, which contain our duty to God?
A. It is to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, Luke 10:27.
Q3. Why is this called "the first and great commandment?" Matt. 22:38.
A. Because the duties of the first table have a more direct relation to God, as being the immediate object of them, or, because love to our neighbour should flow from love to God, as the proper fountain and principle of it, 1 John 5:1.
Q4. What is meant by the sum of the commandments?
A. The comprehensive duty of the law, which includes all other duties in the bosom of it, Rom. 13:9.
Q5. What is the comprehensive duty of the law?
A. It is LOVE; for "love is the fulfilling of the law," Rom. 13:10.
Q6. What is the nature of that love which is the comprehensive duty of the law?
A. It is such as flows from faith, as the source and fountain of it; for "faith worketh by love," Gal. 5:6.
Q7. What ought to be the supreme object of our love?
A. The Lord, or JEHOVAH himself, as he is our God, Deut. 30:6.
Q8. How many ways may the Lord be said to be our God?
A. Two ways; either by external revelation and offer; or, by special property and possession.
Q9. To whom does he make the external revelation and offer of himself, as their God?
A. To all such of mankind, without exception, as have the word of this salvation sent to them, Proverbs 8:4; Heb. 8:10.
Q10. When is he our God by special property and possession?
A. When by faith we are united to Christ, 1 Cor. 3:23, in whom mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other, Psalm 85:10.
Q11. What is it to love the Lord our God with all our heart?
A. It is to love him unfeignedly, without hypocrisy or dissimulation, Rom. 12:9.
Q12. What is it to love him with all our soul, and mind?
A. It is to have an intelligent, cordial, and affectionate love to God; expressed in all the duties, in which any power or faculty of the soul can be exercised, Isaiah 26:8, 9.
Q13. What is it to love the Lord our God with all our strength?
A. It is to love nothing so much as God, Matt. 10:37; and nothing but in subordination to him, Luke 14:26.
Q14. How may we know, if we have such a supreme love to the Lord our God?
A. If we love him purely for himself and his own matchless excellency, as shining in the face of Jesus, Song 1:3; if we account all things but loss in comparison of him, Phil. 3:8; and if we centre in him as the only resting-place of our souls for ever, Psalm 73:25, 26.
Q15. What is the sum of the six commandments in the second table, which contain our duty to man?
A. It is to love our neighbour as ourselves, Matt. 22:39 - "The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Q16. Why is the sum of the second table said to be like unto the sum of the first?
A. Because the duties of the second table are enjoined by the same authority as those of the first, James 2:10.
Q17. In which of the two tables is the lawful love of ourselves contained, seeing it is not expressly mentioned in either of them?
A. It is fairly implied and supposed in both tables, particularly in the second, where love to ourselves is made the example and pattern, according to which we should love others, Luke 10:27 - "Thou shalt love - thy neighbour AS thyself."
Q18. What is lawful self-love?
A. It is an aiming at our own happiness, in subordination to the glory of God, which ought to be our chief and ultimate end, 1 Cor. 10:31.
Q19. Whom are we to understand by our neighbour?
A. All of mankind to whom we have any way access to be useful, either as to their temporal or spiritual good, Luke 10:36, 37.
Q20. What is it to love our neighbour as ourselves?
A. It is to love him as truly and sincerely as we do ourselves, Eph. 5:29 - "No man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it."
Q21. Should our love to our neighbour be as great as it is to ourselves?
A. It is not required that it be as great in degree, but only that it be as sincere, and free of hypocrisy, as it is to ourselves, Rom. 12:9.
Q22. What is the rule according to which our love to our neighbour should be regulated?
A. That we do to others what we would have them do to us, Matt. 7:12.
Q23. How is this rule to be explained for preventing the abuse of it?
A. That we do as we would be done to, from a well-informed judgment; and by such as place themselves in the same relations, and in the same circumstances with us.
Q24. Why are we enjoined to esteem others better than ourselves? Phil. 2:3.
A. Because the more of the grace of God we have in our hearts, we will the more clearly see that we ourselves are the chief of sinners, 1 Tim. 1:14, 15, and have the seed of all sin in us, which would soon spring up into the worst of actions, if not restrained, Rom. 7:23.
Q25. What is the difference between the love we should have to all in general, and the love we should have to the saints in particular?
A. We should love all men in general, with a love of benevolence, and likewise of beneficence according to our ability, Gal. 6:10; but we should love the saints with a love of complacency and delight, Psalm 16:3.
Q26. How ought our love to extend itself to our enemies?
A. By forgiving them, and praying for them, Matt. 5:44; Acts 7:60.
Q27. What may we learn from the sum of the commandments?
A. That charity, or love, which is the end of the commandment, ought to flow from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. 1:5.
Q1. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. To love the Lord our God with a supreme love, and men with a sincere love, in and for him; Matthew 22:37, 38. Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment: The second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Q2. What is the first thing contained in our supreme love to God?
A. It implies the loving of God purely and absolutely for himself. The excellencies that are in him; Canticles 1:3. Your name is as ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love you. And the benefits we receive from him; Psalm 116:1. I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplication.
Q3. What is the second property of this supreme love?
A. Supreme love denotes the whole man to God and Christ: So that in life and death that man designs the glory of God as his main end; Romans 14:7, 8. For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.
Q4. What is the third property of supreme love?
A. It causes the soul to depreciate and slight all other things in comparison with God's glory, and a saving interest in Christ; Acts 20:24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy; Philippians 3:8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
Q5. What is the fourth property of supreme love?
A. It centers the soul in God as its only rest; Psalm 116:7. Return unto your rest, O my soul. And cannot be satisfied until it come to the full enjoyment of him; 2 Thessalonians 3:5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Q6. Why must we love God with a supreme love?
A. Because such a love only suits the transcendent excellency of God; commands all we are and have for God; and is the only love that will continue to the end; Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Q7. What is it to love our neighbor as ourselves.
A. It is the exact observation and practice of the golden rule of Christ; Matthew 7:12. Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Q8. Are all men to be loved alike, and with the same degree of love?
A. No; though we must love all men with the love of benevolence, yet the saints only with the love of delight; Psalm 16:3. But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Psalm 15:4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that fear the Lord. And to such we must especially do good; Galatians 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Q9. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. Hence we learn the excellency of divine love. Moses expresses the whole duty of man in ten commandments: Christ hangs the whole law upon these two, love to God and our neighbor; Mark 12:30, 31. And you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself: There is none other commandment greater than these. And the apostle reduces these two into one; Galatians 5:14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this.-You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Q10. What is the second inference from hence?
A. It convinces the holiest of men how far short they come in their obedience to the rule of duty, and therein the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, Galatians 3:24.
Q11. What is the third inference from hence?
A. It discovers the excellency and perfection of the law of God; Psalm 19:7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: And that we are highly to honor and magnify it as a rule of duty, though we must utterly renounce it as the way of our justification.
Q12. What is the last inference from hence?
A. That there is nothing too dear for a Christian in this world, but he must give it up by self-denial, when it comes in competition with his supreme love to God; Luke 14:26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple; that is Love them less than me. Of the Preface to the ten Commandments
Q1. Is all the law summed up in a word?
A. Yes: All the law is fulfilled in one word, Gal. 5:14.
Q2. Is that a short and sweet word?
A. Yes: For it is love; love is the fulfilling of the law, Rom. 13:10.
Q3. Is it our duty to love God?
A. Yes: Take good heed to yourselves that ye love the Lord your God, Josh. 23:11.
Q4. Must we love him with a sincere love?
A. Yes: Grace be with them that love him in sincerity, Eph. 6:24.
Q5. And with a B love?
A. Yes; My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, Ps. 42:2.
Q6. And with a superlative love?
A. Yes: There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee, Ps. 73:25.
Q7. And is all this included in the first and great commandment?
A. Yes: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment, Matt. 22:37,38.
Q8. And is this the sum of our duty to God?
A. Yes; For if any man love God, the same is known of him, 1 Cor 8:3.
Q9. Must those who love God be careful to please him?
A. Yes: Ye that love the Lord, hate evil, Ps. 97:10.
Q10. Is there good reason why we should thus love God?
A. Yes: Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, Deut. 11:1.
Q11. For is he most lovely in himself?
A. Yes: God is love, 1 John 4:8.
Q12. And most loving to us?
A. Yes: We love him because he first loved us, 1 John 4:19.
Q13. Will he return our love?
A. Yes: All things shall work together for good to them that love God, Rom. 8:28.
Q14. And in the other world?
A. Yes: For eye hath not seen what God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2:9.
Q15. Will you then love God above all?
A. Yes: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength, Ps. 18:1.
Q16. And pray to God to give you grace to love him?
A. Yes: The Lord direct our hearts into his love, 2 Thess. 3:5.
Q17. Is it our duty to love our neighbour too?
A. Yes: He that loveth God, must love his brother also, 1 John 4:21.
Q18. Can we pretend to love God, if we do not love our neighbour?
A. No: He that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20.
Q19. Is this the fulfilling of the law?
A. Yes: All is comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Rom. 13:9. James 2:8. Gal. 5:14.
Q20. Is it the second great commandment?
A. Yes: The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Matt. 22:39.
Q21. Is it an old commandment?
A. Yes: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, I am the Lord, Lev. 19:18.
Q22. Is it a new commandment?
A. Yes: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, John 13:34.
Q23. Must we have a respect for all men?
A. Yes: Honour all men, 1 Pet. 2:17.
Q24. Especially for all good men?
A. Yes: We must honour them that fear the Lord, Ps. 15:4.
Q25. Must we esteem one another?
A. Yes: Let each esteem other better than themselves, Phil. 2:3.
Q26. Must we sympathize with one another?
A. Yes: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep, Rom. 12:15.
Q27. Must we please one another?
A. Yes: For even Christ pleased not himself, Rom. 15:2, 3.
Q28. Must we help one another?
A. Yes: Bear ye one another's burdens, Gal. 6:2.
Q29. Must we do good to one another?
A. Yes: As we have opportunity we must do good to all men, Gal. 6:10.
Q30. Must we pray for one another?
A. Yes: Pray one for another that ye may be healed James 5:16.
Q31. Must we love even our enemies?
A. Yes: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, Matt. 5:44.
Q32. Must you hurt nobody in word or deed?
A. No: A citizen of Sion doeth not evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour, Ps. 15:3.
Q33. Must you be true and just in all your dealings?
A. Yes: That which is altogether just shall thou follow, Deut. 16: 20.
Q34. Must you bear no malice or hatred in your heart?
A. No: For whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, 1 John 3:15.
Q35. Are we to love our neighbour as ourselves?
A. Yes: For we are members one of another, Eph. 4:25.
Q36. As truly as we love ourselves?
A. Yes: Let love be without dissimulation, Rom. 12:9.
Q37. And as fruitfully?
A. Yes: Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, 1 Cor. 10:33.
Q38. And as constantly as we love ourselves?
A. Yes: Let brotherly love continue, Heb. 13:1.
Q39. Ought we therefore to do as we would be done by?
A. Yes: Whatsoever ye would that men should do to yon, do you even so to them, Matt. 7:12.
Q40. Should we in our places promote Christian love?
A. Yes: For every one that loveth is born of God, 1 John 4:7.
Q41. And will this be our comfort?
A. Yes: Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you, 2 Cor. 13:11.
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The Ten Commandments
The moral law and what God requires of man
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Q41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Q43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
Q48. What are we specially taught by these words, 'before me', in the first commandment?
A. These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
Q49. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Q50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.
Q53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Q57. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Q58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.
Q59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.
Q60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.
Q61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.
Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.
Q63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
Q65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations.
Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour, unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Q70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
Q75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's, wealth or outward estate.
Q76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness bearing.
Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour's, good name.
Q79. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.