Secondly , for the writing of them , they were not written as other scriptures , which Saint Peter saith , holy men of God write according to the instinct of Gods holy spirit within them , but God him selfe did write them , as it were with his owne finger , not vsing thereto either men or Angells as instruments . Yea at the first hee made the Tables himselfe also , ( that there might bee nothing seene , wherein was not the immediate worke of God , ) wherein they were written , but afterwardes when Moyses brake them before the Isralites , that had made the goulden Calfe , to shew that they by their idolatrie had broken the couenaunt , and were worthie to be cast off , then though God did bid Moyses make the second Tables , yet himselfe write the law , not vsing thereto the ministry of any of his creatures , shewing that in this regarde they bee more specially GODS wordes , and so more to bee regarded : And besides this testimonie , diuers reasons may bee vsed , to shew that these are GODS owne inuention , and wordes after an extraordinarie manner .

For first , the wonderfull and perfect holinesse that is contayned in them , shewes who is the first founder of them . Because there is no good dutie , which God bound Adam to performe , but it is comprehended and commaunded in one of these , and there is no sinne , that wee are bound to abstaine from and eschew , which is not forbidden , in some one of these tenne wordes . It was aboue the witte of men or Angells to containe in so few wordes , the whole perfection of our dutie ; to God and man .

The lawes of men , though they fill many large bookes and great volumnes , yet they are imperfect , and doe continually stande in neede to haue some increasing or deminishing , and daylie some thing is added to them , that was not beefore thought vpon , and some thinges bee taken away , which now more experience hath prooued not to bee so profitable , so that yet they still stand in neede of renewing and mending . But now , this Law is so absolute and doth set foorth so full and complete a righteousnesse , that if one could keepe them all , hee should bee fully acceptable vnto God and needed not flie to Christ , to bee his redeemer . For indeede this meets with all sinnes , yea with the first & least motions , as Paule saith , that hee had not knowne , that lust , ( meaning the motions of originall concupisence ) had beene sinne , but that the law saith , thou shalt not lust . And as their perfection of holinesse doth witnesse sufficiently from what an one they had their beginning . So secondly this will proue them to bee the words of God , because they bee ingraffed and written and engrauen in euery mans conscience , so that let wicked men shuffle and take one , and keepe what stirre they can to make themselues Atheists , yet it will not be , they cannot blot out Gods writing . These lawes sticke imprinted in their harts and soules , so firmely , as they cannot bee remoued . For as Paule saith , in the Acts. 17. God hath not left himselfe without witnesse , but in euery mans bosome and in euery ones nature , hath planted so much of this his law , as will serue to leaue them without excuse , and to condemne them . For who is there among the most prophane and absurde of men , whose soule doth not constraine him euen against his will sometimes , to confesse that there is a God , and one onely true God , and that this God is to be worshipped also , so as is most pleasing to him , and that hee is not to bee blasphemed , nor his name to bee abused , but that hee is to bee reuerenced , and sometimes to be set a part and consecrated to his worship who can blurre out these lawes out of themselues ? doe they what they can and , striue they neuer so much to choke these seedes of knowledge . So for the second table , of them , what mans nature doth not tell him , that there is an order of gouernment amongst men , which must not , nor cannot , without sinne bee violated , and so heathen and prophane vngodly men , hauing committed murdure , were not able to stand before the furie of their owne conscience , but were in a continuall chase & vexation , which shews that euen corrupt nature bringeth with it , this knowledge into the world , that one must not kill . And for filthie persons and adulterers , though in time of their prosperitie , they haue soothed vp themselues , and hardened their owne harts , by liuing in pleasure , and giuing themselues to idlenesse , and the lusts of their hearts , and so seemed to blot out this law , yet in misery when any affliction hath wakened their drowsie harts , and consciences , these would giue them no rest nor they durst not abide the face of their owne conscience , but are driuen to acknowledge the filthinesse of their sinnes . Besides this place that they haue in mans nature , which proueth they came from God , mans Lord . This also proues them to be his , because all the punishments that are at any time inflicted vpon the world , haue come from the disobedience against this law , and all the blessings and benefites that men enjoy , doe proceede from the disobedience yeelded to it . For when God sets downe his curses and his blessings , are they not all grounded on this law ? doth it not runne thus , if thou obserue and keepe this law then thou shalt bee blessed in soule , in bodie , in children , in cattell , in field , in all things thou puttest thine hand vnto . Contrarily , if thou wilt not obey , but neglectest these , then shalt thou bee cursed in bodie , in soule , in children , in all thou putst thine hand vnto . So that sith God hath so great care to punish those that rebell against these lawes , and to reward those that performe obedience to them , it proues that hee is the lawmaker , and that though the law be briefe in words , yet it is full of matter , and much to be marked and thought on .

Lastly , Christ himselfe came into the world , to performe obedience to these lawes . For they require a perfect and absolute obedience , as they are perfect , which sith no man could doe , therefore Christ tooke our flesh vpon him to fufill them , that as Adam by his disobedience had cast vs out of Paradise , so hee by his obedience might let vs into heauen , and hee came not onely to obey them himselfe fully , but also to make his Saints able to obey them to , though not in perfection and without any defect , ( for that onely hee himselfe can doe ) yet in truth and perfect sinceritie : for that he requires all his children & members to doe . So that these reasons will confirme that which was said before , that the ten commandements bee after a perculiar sort the words of God , and doe more peculiarly challenge him for their author .

The vse that wee must make of this to our selues , is to teach vs , first to hearken vnto them , and willingly to heere the rebukes and admonitions , that are contained in them , whosoeuer and whatsoeuer hee bee that applies them and speakes them vnto . And indeede hence we shall shew our selues in truth , to beleeue that God is the author of these words , if we can be content to beare , that these precepts should be prest and vrged vpon vs , though by one that is our inferiour and baser in outward respect , then our selues . And this affection was in Iob , as he testifieth of himselfe in his 31. Chap. 34. ver . That though he was a man of such wealth and authoritie , as he could haue made afrayde a great multitude , and could haue crusht them by his power , yet the poorest and most contemtible of his familie , might haue dealt with him , and if hee had seene any fault in him ( as who liues so iustly but sometimes those that bee about may see infirmities in him , ) and had come to tell him that he had broken the law of God , he would haue bene quiet and milde , and would haue bene so farre from fearing them with bigge words as that himselfe would feare beefore GOD , and labour to get pardon , hee would not chafe with his seruants that had brought Gods law to him , and sayde what hast thou to doe to meddle with mee , who gaue thee authoritie to controle thy master , but hee would controle himselfe , and would not goe out of his dores to complaine of his seruants injurie , but hee would complaine to God of him selfe that had broken his Law , and done injurie to his Majestie .

The like may wee see in that holy man Dauid , who though hee was a King annointed at Gods appointment , and one of excellent guifts , a valiant warriour , and had foure hundred men wel appointed wayting on him , yet when Abigail a woman and meane in comparison of him , came alone , and brought with her the sword of the spirit the law of GOD , that it was not lawfull for him to commit murder , and to reuenge his owne cause . What though Nabal had done injurie , she denies not but hee was as his name signified , a foole , and the foole had done foolishlie , that was not the question though , but this she would know of Dauid , whether hee might lawfully kill one in his owne priuate reuenge contrarie to the law of of GOD .

Now when Dauid sees that she comes so well appointed and brings such strong reasons , and that hee could not rush on Nabals bloud but hee should rush vpon the sword of GOD , and God would plague him : he would none , but leaues of , and thanks her for her good counsel . So that when she brought the law of GOD for her warrant , this was so good a warrant , as that Dauid durst not but yelde to it , though he was a King and a Prophet , and a man of most excellent guifts euery way , and she but a woman , and farre his inferiour in graces .

Contrary to this was the spirit of wicked Amaziah , that when hee most absurdly , had ( hauing chased the Edomits ) taken their gods and worshipped them , and set them vp as meanes to help him in the seruice of GOD , and God sent the Prophet to him to tell him that he had dealt foolishly to worship those gods that could not saue their owne people out of his hands , why he now , could not beare this but begins to mock , who saith hee , I pray you , made you of the Kings counsell , are you become a counsellour now to tell the King what he hath to doe , goe to , hold your peace least you be smitten for your paynes .

The Prophet sees him to despise the rebuke of God , and then he would not bestow so much cost as to giue him any more admonition on him , but well saith hee , I will hold my peace as you bid mee , but know that thou shalt surely perish because thou hast done this thing , and not hearkened to my counsell , though it was foolish and naught in him to doe that thing , yet if hee could haue hearkened to the Prophet of GOD bringing the law of GOD , hee had beene on the mending hand , and all would haue beene well , but when hee would doe sinfully and then refuse to bee admonished , then in truth he must needes bee destroyed .

And so hee was shortly after , most fearefully and strangely by the hand GOD , and neither his kingdome nor his wealth nor any thing could keepe off the iudgement of GOD and destruction from him .

So then will wee shew that wee doe in truth beeleeue that these bee the words of GOD , wee must when any man shall presse any of these lawes vnto vs , straight waies yeeld and stoup vnto them , and wee doe then confesse that GOD spake all these words , but if one begin to shift and cloake and colour and distinguish , then hee declares euidently that his hart is not perswaded that God is the author of these lawes .