Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 15 – Part 17
Now to the third Commandement.
Quest. How differ the second and third Commandements one from another?
Answ. Thus; The second Commandement prescribes the solemne worship of the true God. And the third prescribes the glorifying of that God in the affaires of this life.
Quest. What are the words of the third Commandement?
Answ. Those we finde, Exod. 20.7.
Thou shalt not take the name of Iehouah thy God in vaine: for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine.
Quest. What are the generall things contained in these words?
Answ. These two. First, a Precept, or Commandement.
Secondly, a Commination, or a threatning denounced against the breakers of it.
The Precept, in these words, Thou shalt not take the Name of Jehouah thy God in vaine.
The threatning, in the words following, For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine.
Of these in order.
Quest. What is meant by the Name of God?
Answ. Not any name properly giuen him; for God is infinite, and cannot be comprehended in a name; but any thing whatsoeuer it is, by which God makes himselfe knowne to men,Exod. 3.15. Psalm. 68.4. Psalm. 44.5. Actes 9.15. Psalm. 8.1. that is the name of God, as his holy titles, his attributes, his holy word and ordinances, and his workes. Iehouah the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, Izhak, and Iacob. Iehouah our Lord.
Quest. VVhat signifies the word (Take?)
Ans. It is a word borrowed from excellent and precious things, which for their excellencie may not bee touched, taken vp, or lifted vp, without licence: for the word properly signifies to lift vp.
Quest. What is then meant when God saith, Thou shalt not take the name of Iehouah thy God?
Answ. Thus much; thou shalt not take into thy minde, or mouth; or, as it were, touch the sacred and glorious Name of the Lord thy God, with thy mind, or mouth.
Quest. VVhat is meant when God saith (in vaine?)
Answ. Thus much; for no cause, or no matter, or eueryevery light and trifling occasion, rashly, idlely, carelessely,Prou. 12.11. or contemptuously.
Quest. VVhat is the summe of this Commandement?
Answ. This; that by no meanes, or in any thing we prophane, nor abuse the Name of God: but that by all meanes, and in all things we aduance his glorious Name. Psal. 29.2.
Now this Commandement being Negatiue, we will first shew what it forbids.
Quest. VVhat is forbidden in this Commandement?
Answ. In generall, all manner of prophanation, and abuse of the Name of God.
Quest. VVherein stands the prophanation, and abuse of the Name of God?
Ans. In abusing either his titles, or his attributes, or his workes, or his word and ordinances.
Of these in order.
Quest. How are the holy titles of God abused?
Ans. Thus; when men take them into their mouthes, and vse them in their speech vnreuerently, & without due respect.
Quest. How many wayes is that done?
Ans. Two wayes; either without an oath, or with an oath.
Quest. How are the holy Titles of God vnreuerently vsed in speech without an oath?
Answ. Thus; when men mention any of Gods titles, as Lord, God, Iesus, in their common talke, rashly, carelessely, and vnreuerently. Deut. 28.58.Deut. 25.58.
Quest. How many wayes are Gods titles mentioned in common talke rashly and carelessely?
Answ. Foure wayes especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; In foolish admiration, as when on some sudden accident, or strange report, men breake out, and feare not to vtter these or the like wordes, and to say, Good God, Good Lord, O Iesus, O Christ, Lord hauehave merciemercy on vsus, what a thing is that? naming Gods Titles without any feare or reuerence.…lip 2.10. Philip. 2.10.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; In idle wishes and imprecations, as when men in a passion wish ill vntounto themselues, or to others, and vse the name of God in their wishes; as when they say, I pray God I may neuer stirre, if such a thing bee not so; God confound me, and such like; or iestingly, God speed, meaning nothing lesse; or God bee Iudge betweene mee and you: example,…ne. 16.5. Genes. 16.5.
Quest. What is the third?
Answ. This, In cursing; as when men say, Gods curse light on such an one, or such a thing; or, the vengeance or plague of God be on thee,…m. 3.9, 10. Sam. 16.7, 8. or take thee. Jam. 3.9, 10. 2 Sam. 16.7, 8.
Quest. What is the fourth?
Answ. This; in praising God for euill things, as when theeues thank God for their booty, or vsurers for their gaine, or Gamesters for their good lucke, and such like: the like example we hauehave, 1 Sam. 23.21.1 Sam. 23.21.
Quest. How are the Titles of God vnreuerently vsed in speech with an oath?
Ans. Thus; when men vse any of Gods titles, and sweare by them in their speech lightly, and profanely.
Quest. How many waies are Gods titles abused in swearing by them?
Answ. Three wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Ans. This; when men call God for a witnes of vaine and friuolous things,Ierem. 23.10. Hosea 4.2. M…th. 5.57. by vsuall swearing in their ordinary talke. Iere. 23.10. Hoz 4.2. Mat. 5 37.
Quest. What is the second way?
Answ: This; when men call God for a witnesse of their furious, angerly, passionate swearing; or swearing reuenge, that they wil be meete with such an one: 1 Sam. 14.39. 1 Sam. 25.34. or of their wicked purpose. Mark. 6.23.
Quest. What is the third way?
Answ. This; when men call God for a witnesse, of an vntruth, by swearing falsely, or forswearing themselues. Leuit. 19.12. Zach. 5.4.
Ans. How many wayes doe men forsweare themselues?
Ans. Three wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Ans: This; when men sweare that which they know, or thinke to bee false, and that either directly against their knowledge or thought. Mat. 26.27.
Or deceitfully, as when being examined before a Magistrate, they answer not according to the intention of the examiner, but according to another meaning, which they frame of themselues and sweare to it.
Quest: What is the second?
Answ. This; when men sweare that which they meane not to doe. It is a note of an vpright man, who though hee sweare to his owne hinderance be changeth not. Psal. 15.4.
Quest. What is the third?
Answ. This;2 Chro 36.13. Ezech. 17.13.15.16. when men sweare to doe a thing which they also meane to doe, and is lawfull to bee done, and yet afterwards they doe it not.
Quest. Is it alwayes periury, when men sweare to doe a thing, and afterwards doe it not?
Answ. No, in some cases it is not.
Quest: What are the particular cases in which it is not periurie?
Answ. First, in this; if after the oath taken, God make the thing promised, impossible to be done.
Secondly, in this; if the thing that men sweare to doe, bee not simply required to be done, but either the doing of that thing, or some other thing proportionable to it; as in the Penall Statutes of Societies and Incorporations; that is such Statutes as concerne only outward order and decency; as touching apparrell, gesture, and such like.
Quest. What are the sinnes contained in periurie?
Answ. They are three.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; lying, the vttering and maintaining of a lye.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; the calling on God to be a witnesse to a lye: wherein men, as much as in them is, make God and the Deuill both alike. Iohn. 8.44.
Quest. What is the third?
Answ. This; the calling for a curse on men, wishing God to be a witnesse of their speech, and a iudge to reuenge, if they sweare falsely.
Quest. When is periury most grieuous?
Answ. When men forsweare themselues before a Magistrate in publike, and in a matter to be publikely tried, according to Truth and Iustice.
Q. What is the highest degree of vnreuerent vsing Gods titles?
Answ. Blaspheming of them.
Quest. How are Gods titles blasphemed?
Answ. By speaking basely, contumeliously, and reproachfully, of any of Gods titles, Leuit. 24.11.15.16.Leuit. 24.11.15.16. the word (foreign)foreign signifies smote,perforauit. or pierced thorough the name of Iehouah. Thus did Iulian the Apostata.
Quest. How are the attributes of God abused and prophaned?
Isai. 6.3.Answ. Thus; when men thinke, or speake of them otherwise then beseemes the perfect purity and holinesse of them; they being absolutely holy and pure.
Quest. How many waies is that done?
Answ. Two wayes; either by thinking or speaking of any of them rashly, and vnreuerently: or by peruerting any of them to a wrong vse, and not applying them to that good vse, for which God hath reuealed them.
Quest. What are the attributes of God, that are most commonly abused and prophaned?
Answ. These; his Power, his Prouidence, his Iustice, his Mercy, his Patience.
Of these in Order.
Quest. How is Gods power abused?
Answ: Thus;Exod. 5.2. Psal. 12.4. 2 King. 18.30.34.35. 2 King. 7.2. when men either call the greatnesse of his power into question: Or when men thinke, or speake of it carnally, and carelesly, and contemptuously.
Quest: How is Gods prouidence abused?
Answ. Thus; When men being vnderunder the hand of God, doe fret, and shew themselues offended with the work of his prouidence, and grudge against it.
Quest. How many wayes is that done?
Answ. Two wayes;Deut. 1, 27. either by Murmuring against the prouidence of God; directly and in plaine tearmes, speaking grudgingly against it. Or by speaking grudgingly, against the work of his prouidence, vnderunder other names; as vnderunder the name of fortune or chance, and the like: and say, what ill lucke was that! what misfortune was that! and such like.
Quest: How is the Iustice of God abused?
Answ: Thus; when men either thinke or say,Psal. 50.21. Malac. 3.13.14.15. that God approues or likes of sinne, or of wicked sinners, who speake stout words against the Lord.
Quest: How is Gods mercy abused?
Answ: Two wayes; as first, when men peruert it, & misapply it, presuming on ti, to harden their hearts in sinning, & say, God is merciful, & such like.Deut. 29.19. It is called a roote of bitternes Secondly, when men speake basely, and contemptuously of Gods mercy; as when they say, speaking of a thing trifling, it is not worth God a mercy: this is an abuse of Gods mercy.
Quest: How is Gods patience abused and prophaned?
Ans: Thus; whē men on Gods patience, & forbearāce for a time, to punish thē for their sins, think or say,Zephan 1.12. Rom. 2.4. that God will neither do good nor euill, & that they shall neuer be punished.
Quest: How are the workes of God, abused and prophaned?
An. Thus; when men thinke, or speake of any of his works, or vse any of them vnreuerently, & without due respect.
Quest: What are the works of God that are so abused?
Ans. They are either the wonderful, & vnsearchable works of God within himselfe, as his eternall election, and reprobation. Or the externall, and outward workes of God.
Quest. How are the wonderfull works of God eternall election, and reprobation, thought or spoken off, vnreuerently?
Rom. 9.19.20. Rom. 1… 33.Answ. Thus; when men cauill against them, and seeke to bring them within the compasse of their owne shallow reason; and out of the bitternesse of their hearts, open their mouthes against Gods iustice.
Quest. How are the outward workes of God thought, or spoken off, or vsed vnreuerently?
Answ. Two wayes; either when men see not God in his workes, or when they vse them not, as they ought to be vsed.
Quest. What are the outward workes of God that are so abused?
Answ. They are either the workes of Creation, the Creatures of God, or the workes of Gods administration, and of his prouidence.
Quest. How are the Creatures of God abused?
Answ. Fiue wayes especially.
Quest: What is the first of those?
Answ: This; when men thinke, or speake basely of any of the good Creatures of God,Num. 11.6. Psal. 78.18. debasing the goodnesse of them, and discommending them; as when they finde fault with such meates as God hath giuen them to eate, being wholesome and good.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; when men deride the workemanship of God in any of his creature,Gen. 21.9. 2 Kin. 2.23. especially in men or women, in regard of some naturall defect, deformitie or infirmitie, either of body or minde; as blindnesse, lamenesse, weaknesse of vnderstanding, or the like.
Quest. What is the third?
Answ. This; when men beholding any of Gods creatures,Psal. 19.1. Psal. 1 39.14. giuegive not him the due praise and glory of his wisedome and power, appearing in them.
Quest. What is the fourth?
Answ. This; when men peruert any of the creatures of God to a wrong vse, either contrary to, or differing from that good vse,Gen. 1.14. for which God hath ordained them; as when the Papists consecrate Water, Salt, and such like; to restore the minde to health, and to driue away Deuills; or when men vse Amulets (that is) preseruatiues against inchauntments, to driue away the Witch, and such like,Isai. 47.13. made of herbes or the like, and hang them about their necks to that purpose.
Or when Astrologers take on them, by the Heauens and Starres, to foretell things to come.
Quest: What is the fift?
Answ. This; when men sweare by the creatures;Ierem. 5.7. as Bread, Salt, Light, or such like: or by the Saints, or their owne Soules.
Quest. What are the Creatures that men doe most of all abuse, in swearing by them?
Answ. These; the body of Christ, and the parts and members of his blessed body: as his Armes, Legges, Heart, Sides, Head, and such like.
Quest. How may it appeare to be a fearefull abuse of Christ his body, and the parts of it, to sweare by them?
Answ. By two reasons: First, because this is to account Christ his body and the parts of it, as God himselfe; for what men sweare by, that they make able to witnesse the truth, and to punish them if they sweare falsly.
Secondly, because men in swearing by his body, and the parts of it, doe as much as in them is, crucifie Christ againe; and shew themselues worse then the Iewes that crucified him: for if they had knowne him,1 Cor. 2.8. they would not hauehave crucified the Lord of Glory.
Now some obiections are to be answered, made in defence of the two last things; as first, some obiect that
Obiect. Preseruatiues against inchauntments made of herbes; and such like may bee vsed, because many times they take effect; and God (say they) hath prouided a salue for eueryevery sore.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the efficacie that herbes hauehave in them, is either naturall, and giuen them by creation: or it is giuen to them by some new and speciall appointment of God since th… creation: now there is no efficacie in herbes to preserue from Deuills, either by the gift or Nature in the Creation; or by Gods appointment since the Creation; but the effect they bring forth in that kinde, is by Satanicall operation.