The Tree of Good and Evil, Commandment 3 – Commandment 4
The third Commandement.
Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine▪ For the Lord will not hold him guiltleſſe that taketh his name in vaine.
THe occaſion of this commandement, is our aptneſſe & readineſſe to deſpiſe God.
Vices, or ſinnes forbidden.
I. To giuegive occaſion to the wicked to ſlander the Goſpell, Rom. 2. 24. 1. Sam. 2. 17.
II. Vaine & curious talking of the Scripture, Tit. 3. 9. Col. 2. 8:
III. To mingle Scripture and ribaldry together, as Minſtrels do at feaſts, &c. Col. 3. 16. 17.
IIII. Blaſphemy, whereof there are fiue ſorts.
1 To thinke or ſpeake of the Scripture in mocking, ieaſting, or ſcoffing manner, 2. Pet. 3. 4. 5. Eſay 5. 19.
2 To make ieaſts out of the Scripture, Eſay 66. 2.
3 Groſſe reproach againſt God, 2. King. 19. 10. Mat. 27. 29. & ver. 40. &c.
4 Alleaging of Scripture to maintaine ſin errour and hereſie, Math. 4. 6.
5 Excuſing of ſin by the infirmities of holy men in the Scriptures.
V. To vſe the name of God careleſly in common talke, Phil. 2. 10.
VI. Lightly to paſſe ouer Gods iudgements in our ſelues and others, Luke 13. 1. 2.
VII. To abuſe the name of God to charming and witchcraft, Actes 19. 13.
VIII. Popiſh hallowing of Candles, Aſhes, Oile, and Palmes, Salt and Water.
IX. To praiſe and thanke God for euill things: 1, Sam. 23. 21.
X. Curſing and banning, either of our ſelues, ſimply, or conditionally.
XI. To abuſe the properties of God, as
1 His power, by raſh, and faithleſſe ſpeaking of it, 2. King. 7. 2.
2 His wiſedome and prouidence, vnderunder the names of chance and fortune.
3 His mercy and patience to embolden vsus in ſin, and impenitency, Rom. 2. 4. Ezech. 12. 27. Amos 6. 3.
XII. Fearefull ſwearing by the names and properties of God.
XIII. Vaine and idle ſwearing among ignorant people, Math. 5. 33. 34. Iam. 5. 12.
XIIII. Superſtitious ſwearing, Ioſh. 23. 7. Zeph. 1. 5. Ier. 5. 7.
XV. Blaſphemous, and out-ragious ſwearing, as among Dicers and Carders.
XVI. Swearing wickedly to doe euill, 1. King. 19. 2. Actes 23. 12. 1. Sam. 25. 22.
XVII. Periury, Leuit. 19. 12. Mal. 3. 5.
XVIII. Vaine and wicked Lots caſting. Prou. 16. 33. Actes 1. 26.
XIX. Mocking, ieaſting, and ſpeaking vnreuerently of the workes of God.
XX. Superſtition.
Vertues commanded.
Firſt, Reproofe, correction, and puniſhment of the former ſinnes and ſinners, according to our power, place, and calling, 1. Sam. 2, 23, &c. Tit. 1. 3. Leuit. 19. 17. Math. 18. 16.
Secondly, a lawfull and religious oath, Deut. 6. 13. Exod. 22. 11. Heb. 6. 16.
Thirdly, priuate inſtruction of Families, Deut. 6. 6. Ioſh. 24. 15.
Fourthly, to take, & ſeek occaſion in time, & place conuenient, to commend Gods Greatneſſe, Excellency, Wiſedome, Power, Goodneſſe, Iuſtice, Mercy, manifeſted in his Word and Workes.
Fifthly, to vſe the names of God onelyonly in waighty affaires, and with all reuerence, Deut. 28. 58.
Sirthly, Zeale of Gods glory aboue all things in the world, Numb. 25. 8. Pſal. 69. 22. Actes 7. 51. 52. Actes 13. 10. Reu. 3. 19. Tit. 2. 14. Gal. 4. 18.
Fiue ſignes of true Zeale.
1 It beginnes at our ſelues.
2 It is ſuſpitious of our owne ſecret euils.
3 It is conſtant, not hote by fits.
4 It cauſeth vsus to reioyce in the proſperity of the Church, though our ſelues bee in affliction.
5 It is earneſt in matters of godlineſſe, but cold in worldly things.
Seuenthly, Sanctification of Gods gifts and ordinances; they are ſanctified by two meanes.
1 By the Word, that teacheth the holy and right vſe of them, Pſal. 119. 24.
2 By prayer, whereby wee obtaine the aſſiſtance of Gods grace to vſe them rightly: and whereby we magnifie and bleſſe God for giuing them to vsus, and giuing vsus grace to glorifie him in them.
The fourth Commandement.
Remember that thou keepe holy the Saboth day: Sixe daies thou ſhalt labour, and do all that thou haſt to do; But the ſeuenth day is the Sabaoth of the Lord thy God; In it thou ſhalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy ſon, and thy daughter, thy man-ſeruant, and thy maid-ſeruant, thy cattell, and the ſtranger that is within thy gates: For in ſixe daies the Lord made heauen and earth, the ſea, and all that in them is, and reſted the ſeuenth day; Wherefore the Lord bleſſed the ſeuenth day and hallowed it.
THe occaſion of this Commandement, is our readineſſe to fall away from God, vnleſſe daily meanes bee vſed.
Vertues commanded.
Firſt, Preparation of ye body ye day before, by moderate labour, and diet, and earely riſing on the Saboaths morning, Exod. 32. 6. Ex. 19. 14. 15.
Secondly, preparation of mind, by fréeing it from worldly thoughts and cares.
Thirdly, preparation of the heart, by purging out corrupt luſts and euill affections, Eſay. 1. 13.
Fourthly, the reſt of man, and beaſt, the whole day from all labour not neceſſary, nor holy, Exod. 34. 21.
Fifthly, Sanctification of the Saboath, that is, the ſeparating of it to Gods worſhip onelyonly, as the ſecond commandement requireth, Eſay 58. 13.
Sixthly, viſiting of the ſicke.
Seuenthly, relieuing of the poore, 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. Neh. 8. 12.
Eightly, inſtruction of our Families, Deut. 11. 19.
Ninthly, reconciliation of them that are at variance, and admonition of them that offend.
Vices forbidden.
Firſt, to do any worke at any time, without preſent and euident neceſſitie, Ex. 34. 21. Math 12. 11. Numb. 15. 25.
Secondly, néedleſſe iournies, Ex. 16. 29.
Thirdly, Bargaining, Faires, and Markets. Neh. 13. 15, &c.
Fourthly, all vaine ieaſting, ſporting, gaming, dancing, banquetting, Eſay 58. 13.
Fifthly, outward worſhip without inward affection, Eſay 1. 14. 15. 2 T. im. 3. 5. Amos 5. 21, &c.
Sixthly, giuing liberty to ſeruants and children, to ſpend the Saboath in idleneſſe and gaming.
Seuenthly, neglect of bringing our whole Family to the Church, as neceſſity ſhall permit.