tend this head of _divine
commands_. For clearness' sake, thus distinguish, thus resolve:

God's commands are either immediate or mediate.

1. Immediate divine commands: as those which God propounds and urges; as
the ten commandments, Exod. xx., Deut. v., and all other injunctions of
his in his word positively laid down. Of such commands, the apostle
saith, "I command, yet not I, but the Lord," 1 Cor. vii. 10.

Now these immediate commands of God, in regard of their manner of
publishing and propounding, are either explicit or implicit.

1. Explicit: which are expressly and in plain terms laid down, as the
letter of the commandments of the decalogue, Exod. xx. The commands of
Christ, "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep," John xxi.; "Go, disciple ye all
nations," &c., Matt, xxviii. 19; "Do this in remembrance of me," Matt,
xxvi; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, &c. Now whatsoever is expressly commanded of
God in plain, evident terms, that is of divine right, without all color
of controversy. Only take this caution, the divine right of things
enjoined by God's express command, is to be interpreted according to the
nature of the thing commanded, and the end or scope of the Lord in
commanding: e.g. 1. Some things God commands morally, to be of perpetual
use; as to honor father and mother, &c.; these are of divine right
forever. 2. Some things he commands but positively, to be of use for a
certain season; as the ceremonial administrations till Christ should
come, for the Jewish church, and the judicial observances for their
Jewish polity; and all these positive laws were of divine right till
Christ abrogated them. 3. Some things he commands only by way of trial,
not with intention that the things commanded should be done, but that
his people's fear, love, and obedience may be proved, tried, &c. Thus
God commanded Abraham to offer up his son Isaac for a burnt-offering,
Gen. xxii.: such things are of divine right only in such cases of
special infallible command. 4. Some things he commands extraordinarily
in certain select and special cases: as, _Israel to borrow jewels of the
Egyptians to rob them_, without intention ever to restore them, Exod.
xi. 2, &c. The disciples to _go preach_--yet to _provide neither gold
nor silver_, &c. Matt. x. 7-10. The elders of the church (while miracles
were of use in the church) _to anoint the sick with oil in the name of
the Lord_, for their recovery, James v. 14. These and like extraordinary
commands were only