Marrow of Modern Divinity - Fisher - XIII - Part 2 commenced

Required reading
Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Part Two by reading everything up to the end of the point about the first commandment.

My summary
Now we begin a new section - a dialogue about the ten commandments.

In his letters at the beginning of the section, Fisher tells us that he has 'endeavoured to give both believers and unbelievers their distinct proportion, by distinguishing betwixt the ten commandments, as they are the law of works, having the promise of eternal life, and the threatening of eternal death annexed to them, and so applying them to the unbeliever; and as they are the law of Christ, having the promise of eternal life, and the threatening of eternal death separated from them, and so applying them to the believer.'

Then we are introduced again to two of our old friends, Evangelista and Neophytus - but also to Nomologista.  Nomologista is a 'prattler of the law' and claims in the introduction to have kept the ten commandments.  Evangelista accepts the challenge of showing Nomologista that he has deceived himself.

So today we finish our reading by hearing about the first commandment.  This commandment demands positively that we know God and demands negatively that we do not remain ignorant of God.  Nomologista ends up admitting that he has not fulfilled these demands.

What grabbed me
Nice discussion of how much the first commandment demands negatively of us: 'I know that all these sins are forbidden in this commandment, because that whatsoever the mind, will, and affections of a man are set upon, or carried after, either more or as much as after God, that is another god unto him; and therefore, if a man stand in fear of any creature, or fear the loss of any creature, either more than God, or equal with God, he makes that creature his god: and if he trust unto, and put confidence in any creature, either more than God, or equal with God, that creature is his god; and hence it is that the covetous man is called an idolater, (Eph 5:5); for that he makes his god his hope, and says to the fine gold, "Thou art my confidence," (Job 31:24). And if any man be proud of any good thing he has, and do not acknowledge God to be the free giver and bestower of the same, or if he be impatient and discontented under the Lord's correcting hand, he makes himself a god; and if a man so love any creature as that he desires it being absent, or delights in it being present, either more than God, or equal with God, that creature is another god unto him. And hence it is, that voluptuous men are said to make their belly their god, (Phil 3:19). In a word, whatsoever the mind of man is carried after, or his heart and affections set upon, either more, or as much as upon God, that he makes his god. And therefore we may undoubtedly conclude, that all the sins before mentioned, are forbidden in this commandment.'

This quote proves clearly that we are all guilty of having many gods before God.

Next week's reading
Continue Part Two by reading about the second, third and fourth commandments.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.