Question 44

How many reasons or arguments are there in the Preface to oblige and perswade us to keep all Gods Commandments?

Two, 1. God is the Lord. [I am the Lord.] 2. God is our God and Redeemer. [I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of Bondage.]

How are we bound and obliged to keep Gods Commandments, as he is the Lord?

As he is the Lord, he is our Creator and supream Soveraign, and we owe him obedience, as we are his Creatures and Subjects.^a

You say you owe God obedience as you are his Creatures and Subjects, what mean you thereby?

We mean that once we were not, were made, and are preserved by God, or that we derived our Being from, and hold it of God, and that we are under the unlimited and absolute Dominion and Soveraignty of God, and therefore ought to serve and glorifie God in 〈◊〉 Body, and in our Spirit, which 〈◊〉 Gods, and to be in perfect subjection 〈◊〉 the Laws of Heaven.

How are we bound and obliged 〈◊〉 keep Gods Commandments as he is our God and Redeemer?

As our God and Redeemer [our Father and Benefactor] he hath brought us into the special relation of Children to himself, and hath entred into Covenant with us to bring us out of spiritual Egypt▪ and Bondage under sin, as he brought his people of old out of the earthly Egypt▪ and the Bondage of men.^b These two Rules must be learn’d for the understanding of the Commandments. Rule 1. That when any sin is forbidden, the contrary Duty is required and when any Duty is required, the contrary sin is forbidden. Rule 2. That where any sin is forbidden, all the Kinds and Degrees of it, temptations and incentments to it are likewise forbidden; and when any Duty is required, all the kinds, and the highest perfection of it, together with all the means and helps to it, are also required.