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Covenant； let us see in the next place； what lawes God propounded
to them； now those are knowne to all； to wit； the Decalogue； and
those other； as well judiciall as ceremoniall lawes； which we
find from the 20。 Chap。 of Exodus to the end of Deuteronomie； and
the death of Moyses。 Now of those lawes deliver'd in generall by
the hand of Moyses； some there are which oblige naturally； being
made by God； as the God of nature； and had their force even
before Abrahams time； others there are which oblige by vertue of
the Covenant made with Abraham； being made by God as the God of
Abraham； which had their force even before Moyses his time； by
reason of the former Covenant； but there are others which oblige
by vertue of that Covenant onely which was made last with the
people themselves； being made by God； as being the Peculiar King
of the Israelites。 Of the first sort are all the Precepts of the
Decalogue which pertaine unto manners； such as； Honour thy
Parents； thou shalt not Kill； thou shalt not commit Adultery；
thou shalt not Steale； thou shalt not beare false witnesse； thou
shalt not Covet； For they are the Lawes of nature； Also the
precept of not taking Gods name in vaine； for it is a part of
naturall worship； as hath beene declar'd in the foregoing Chap。
Art。 15。 In like manner the second Commandement of not
worshipping by way of any Image made by themselves； for this also
is a part of naturall Religion； as hath beene shewed in the same
Article。 Of the second sort is the first Commandment of the
Decalogue； of not having any other Gods； for in that consists the
essence of the Covenant made with Abraham； by which God requires
nothing else； but that he should be his God； and the God of his
seede： Also the Precept of keeping holy the Sabbath； for the
Sanctification of the seventh day is instituted in memoriall of
the six dayes Creation； as appeares out of these words； Exod。 31。
ver。 16； 17。 It is a perpetuall Covenant； （meaning the Sabbath）
and a signe betweene me； and the Children of Israel for ever； for
in sixe dayes the Lord made Heaven； and Earth； and on the seventh
day he rested； and was refreshed。 Of the third kind are the
Politique； judiciall and Ceremoniall lawes； which onely belong'd
to the Jewes。 The lawes of the first and second sort written in
Tables of stone； to wit the Decalogue； was kept in the Ark it
selfe。 The rest written in the volume of the whole Law； were laid
up in the side of the Arke。 Deut。 31。 ver。 26。 For these
retaining the faith of Abraham might be chang'd； those could not。
XI。 All Gods Lawes are Gods Word； but all Gods Word is not
his Law。 I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land
of AEgypt； is the word of God； it is no Law： Neither is all that
which for the better declaring of Gods Word is pronounc't； or
written together with it； instantly to be taken for Gods Word：
For； Thus saith the Lord； is not the voice of God； but of the
Preacher or Prophet。 All that； and onely that； is the word of God
which a true Prophet hath declar'd God to have spoken。 Now the
writings of the Prophets comprehending as well those things which
God； as which the Prophet himselfe speaks； are therefore called
the word of God； because they containe the word of God。 Now
because all that； and that alone； is the Word of God which is
recommended to us for such； by a true Prophet； it cannot be
knowne what Gods Word is； before we know who is the true Prophet；
nor can we beleeve Gods Word； before we beleeve the Prophet。
Moyses was beleev'd by the People of Israel for two things； His
Miracles； and his Faith； for how great； and most evident Miracles
soever he had wrought； yet would they not have trusted him； at
least he was not to have beene trusted； if he had call'd them out
of AEgypt to any other worship then the worship of the God of
Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob their Fathers。 For it had beene
contrary to the Covenant made by themselves with God。 In like
manner two things there are； to wit； supernaturall Prediction of
things to come； which is a mighty miracle； and Faith in the God
of Abraham their deliverer out of AEgypt； which God propos'd to
all the Jews to be kept for marks of a true Prophet。 He that
wants either of these is no Prophet； nor is it to be receiv'd for
Gods word which he obtrudes for such。 If Faith be wanting； he is
rejected in these words； Deut。 13。 ver。 1； 2； 3； 4； 5。 If there
arise among you a Prophet； or a dreamer of dreams； and giveth
thee a signe； or a wonder； and the signe or the wonder come to
Passe； whereof he spake unto thee； saying； Let us goe after other
Gods； & c。 That Prophet； or that dreamer of dreames shall be put
to death。 If Praediction of events be wanting； he is condemn'd by
these； Deut。 18。 ver。 21； 22。 And if thou say in thine heart； how
shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken？ When a
Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord； if the thing follow
not； nor come to Passe； that is the thing which the Lord hath not
spoken； but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously。 Now； that
that is the word of God which is publisht for such by a true
Prophet； and that he was held to be a true Prophet among the
Jewes； whose faith was true； and to whose praedictions the events
answer'd； is without controversie。 But what it is to follow other
Gods； and whether the events which are affirm'd to answer their
praedictions； doe truly answer them； or not； may admit many
controversies； specially in praedictions which obscurely； &
aenigmatically foretell the Event； such as the praedictions of
almost all the Prophets are； as who saw not God apparently like
unto Moyses； but in darke speeches； and in figures。 Numb。 12。
ver。 8。 But of these we cannot judge otherwise then by the way of
naturall reason； because that Judgment depends on the Prophets
interpretation； and on its proportion with the Event。
XII。 The Jewes did hold the booke of the whole Law which was
called Deuteronomie； for the written word of God； and that onely；
（forasmuch as can be collected out of sacred history） untill the
Captivity； for this booke was deliver'd by Moyses himselfe to the
Priests to be kept； and layd up in the side of the Ark of the
Covenant； and to be copyed out by the Kings； and the same a long
time after by the authority of King Josiah acknowledg'd againe
for the Word of God。 Kings 23。 ver。 2。 But it is not manifest
when the rest of the books of the Old Testament were first
receiv'd into Canon。 But what concernes the Prophets； Isaiah and
the rest； since they foretold no other things then what were to
come to passe； either in or after the Captivity； their writings
could not at that time be held for Prophetique； by reason of the
Law cited above。 Deut。 18。 ver。 21； 22。 Whereby the Israelites
were commanded not to account any man for a true Prophet but him
whose Prophecies were answer'd by the events； And hence
peradventure it is that the Jews esteem'd the writings of those
whom they slew when they Prophesied； for Prophetique afterward；
that is to say； for the word of God。
XIII。 It being known what Lawes there were under the old
Covenant； and that Word of God receiv'd from the beginning； we
must farthermore cons