Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/52

48 wishes well to his neighbour. 4. In proportion as a person is unwilling to commit adultery, so far he desires to live in chastity with his wife. 5. In proportion as a person is unwilling to steal, so far he pursues the path of justice and sincerity. 6. In proportion as a person is unwilling to bear false witness, so far he is desirous of thinking and speaking the truth. 7 and 8. In proportion as a person does not covet the things belonging to his neighbour, so far he wishes that his neighbour may be happy in the enjoyment of his possessions. The same order of reformation is laid down by the prophet in the terms following: "Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well," Isa. i. 16, 17. And again, "Hate the evil and love the good," Amos v. 15. From the preceding examples, in conjunction with the 3d and 4th commandments, which are expressed in a direct or positive form, it plainly appears, that the whole tendency and design of the Decalogue is to inculcate the same principles of love to God and love to man, as are so earnestly recommended in the Gospel. But since man cannot of himself, or by virtue of any power belonging to himself, either shun evils as sins, or perform any act that is really good in the sight of God, and yet he is called upon to do both the one and the other, it follows, that the duty required of him consists in willing, thinking, and acting, apparently of himself, but in reality from the Lord; that is, under a full acknowledgment, that both the inclination and the power to obey his will, are constantly derived from him alone. It is therefore written in the Gospel, "A man can take nothing, except it be given him from heaven" John iii. 27. "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same