The First Part.
Of the Law and Obedience.

      M.  Forasmuch as ^rour obedience whereof we have first to speak, is to be tried by the rule of the law of God, it is necessary that we first search out the whole substance and nature of the law, which being found and known, it cannot be unknown, what and of what sort our obedience ought to be.  Therefore, begin to tell what thou thinkest of the law.

      S.  I think that the law of God is the ^sfull and in all points perfect rule of the righteousness that is required of man, which ^tcommandeth those things that are to be done, and forbiddeth the contraries.  In this law God hath ^urestrained all things to his own will and judgment, so as no godliness toward him, nor dutifulness toward men can be allowed of him but that only which doth in all things agree with the straitness of this rule.  Vainly, therefore do mortal men invent to themselves forms of ^wgodliness and duty after their own fancy; for God hath set forth to us his law, ^xwritten in two tables, as a most sure rule both of our worshipping of God, and ^yof our duties to men, and therewith also hath declared that there is nothing on earth more pleasant ^zand acceptable to him than our obedience.

      M.  Whereof treateth the first table?

      S.   It treateth of our ^agodliness toward God, and containeth the first four commandments of the law.

      M.  Whereof treateth the second?

      S.  Of the duties of ^bmutual charity or love among men, which containeth six commandments.  And so, in a sum, ^cten commandments make up the whole law, for which cause the law is called the Ten Commandments.

      M.  Rehearse me the first commandment of the first table.

      S.  God spake thus: “^dHear, O Israel: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt have none other gods before me.”