OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Ten Commandments," by Thomas Watson

BOOK REVIEWED: The Ten Commandments, by Thomas Watson
REVIEWER: Phil, a husband, dad and carpenter living with his family in Ohio
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "The following is an excerpt from Thomas Watson’s book, The Ten Commandments. It’s definitely a good read. Though I’m not finished with it, I wanted share an excerpt from it and recommend it for any who might be interested in understanding the Ten Commandment’s place in the life of a follower and believer of Christ. Though we are convinced that salvation is in Christ alone, what purpose does God’s commandments, particularly the Ten Commandments, have in our lives as born again Christians? How are they fulfilled and what does God intend for our attitude to be in regard to God’s Law? I could say a lot and cite a lot of scripture to address those questions, but I’ll leave that to the book and only reference John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” NIV You can follow the link at the bottom of this post to read the book online. The following excerpt is from the book I have and referenced as such.

“What means should be used to excite our love to God?
(1) Labour to know God aright. The schoolmen say truly, Bonum non amatur quod non cognoscitur; ‘we cannot love that which we do not know.’ God is the most eligible good; all excellencies which lie scattered in the creature are united in him; he is Optimus maximus. Wisdom, beauty, riches, love, all concentrate in him. How fair was that tulip which had the colours of all the tulips in it! All perfections and sweetnesses are eminently in God. Did we know God more, and by the eye of faith see his orient beauty, our hearts would be fired with love to him.
(2) Make the scripture familiar to you. Augustine says that before his conversion he took no pleasure in Scripture, but afterwards it was his chief delight. The book of God discovers God to us, in his holiness, wisdom, veracity, and truth; it represents him as rich in mercy, and encircled with promises. Augustine calls the Scripture a golden epistle, or love-letter, sent from God to us. By reading this love-letter we become more enamoured with God; as by reading lascivious books, comedies, romances, &c., lust is excited.
(3) Meditate much upon God, and this will promote love to him. ‘While I was musing, the fire burned.’ Psa xxxix 3. Meditation is as bellows to the affections. Meditate on God’s love in the gift of Christ. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,’ &c. John iii 16. That God should give Christ to us, and not to angels that fell, that the Sun of Righteousness should shine in our horizon, that he is revealed to us, and not to others; what wonderful love is this! ‘Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?’ Prov vi 28. Who can meditate on God’s love, who can tread on these hot coals, and his heart not burn in love? Beg a heart to love God. The affection of love is natural, but not the grace of love. Gal v 22. This fire of love is kindled from heaven; beg that it may burn upon the altar of the heart. Surely the request is pleasing to God, and he will not deny such a prayer as ‘Lord, give me a heart to love thee.’”
– Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments, The Banner of Truth Trust, pgs. 78-79; rev. ed. 1965, reprinted in Great Britain by The Bath Press, Bath 2002.
To read the book online go to http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/classics/ten_comand.html. To read the Ten Commandments from Exodus 2o:1-17, look it up in the Bible or follow this link, http://www.chalcedon.edu/articles/0309/Ten%20Commandments
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For more information or to purchase this book, CLICK HERE.