Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 23 – Part 24
Now to the Affirmatiue part of this Commandement.
Quest. What is required and commanded in this Commandement?
Answ. In generall; a sober, religious,1 Cor. 10.31. Mat. 6.9. and honourable vsage of Gods holy name: and that in all things, we giuegive him his due glory.
Quest. What is the ground of that?
Answ. A true zeale of Gods glory aboue all things in the world; namely a burning louelove of God,Num. 25.7.8. 1 King. 19.10. with an holy anger, indignation and griefe, for such things as tend to the dishonour of God; or doe any way impeach, or hinder his glory.
Quest. Wherein stands that sober, religious, and honourable vsage of Gods holy name?
Answ. In two things; 1. In yeelding due reuerence to the name of God. And 2. in making a wise, and holy confession of the truth of God.
Quest. How many waies doe men yeeld due reuerence to the name of God?
Answ. Two wayes; either in speech, or in action: either in word; or in worke, or in deede.
Quest. How doe men yeeld due reuerence to the name of God, in their speech?
Answ. Thus;Pro. 31.26. Psal. 71.15. when they hauing occasion to vse the name of God in their speech, doe wisely make mention of it with reuerence, and to good vse and edification.
Quest. How many waies is that done?
A. Either without an oath, or in the lawfull vse of an oath.
Quest. Wherein is the wise and reuerent mention of the name of God, without an oath, to be expressed?
Answ. In speaking; either of his holy titles, or of his attributes, or of his Word, or the parts of his worship, or of his workes.
Quest: How doe men make a wise and reuerent mention of Gods holy titles?
Answ: Thus; when they vse them in their speech,Deut. 28.58. Rom. 9.5. only in serious matters, and with feare and trembling, and to the good of men, and the praise of God.
Quest. How do men make a wise and reuerent mention of the Attributes of God
Ans. Thus; when they breake forth into such a declaration of Gods power,…0.9.10.…6.16.…07.8. wisdome, goodnes, mercy, & such like, as both themselues & others are, or may bee thereby stirred vp to magnifie those holy Attributes, and more earnestly to praise God for the same.
Quest. How doe men make a wise and reuerent mention of the Word of God, and the parts of his worship?
…6.7. 7.30 31. 0.21.Answ: Thus; When they speake of them with such care and reuerence, as beseemes the holinesse and excellencie of them, and apply them only to those good vses, for which God hath ordained them.
Qu. How do men make a wise & reuerent mention of the works of God? 15. to 23.136. whol 145.17.An. Thus; when they speake of them, whether they be works of God within himselfe, or outward workes of God; of creation, of administratiō, of mercy or iustice; with reuerence, and with an approbation of the goodnesse, and excellencie of them; & doe giuegive God the due praise of his wisedome power, and goodnesse, appearing in the same.
Quest: What are the workes of God that are especially thus to be spoken of?
Answ: These two. Either the wonderfull works of God within himselfe, of eternall election, and reprobation, which men are to speake of most reuerently, and with a wonderfull admiration of the vnsearchable depth of them. Thus the Apostle speakes of them: Rom. 11.33.34. Oh the deepenesse of the riches, both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! How vnsearchable are his Iudgements, and his Wayes past finding out. And hee concludes vers. 36. Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things. Or the outward workes of Gods prouidence, that are most contrary to mens owne affections and desires; as their crosses, losses, and afflictions: for which, men are to magnifie and blesse the name of God. Thus Iob: Iob. 1.21. Nebuchadnezzar at the end of seauen yeeres misery. Dan. 4.34.
So much of the wise and reuerent mention of Gods name without an oath: Now to the wise and reuerent mention of his name, in the lawfull vse of an oath.
Quest. How doe men make a wise and reuerent mention of Gods name, in the lawfull vse of an oath?
Ans. Thus; when they sweare by the Name of God lawfully, hauing a lawfull calling thereunto.
Quest. Is it then lawfull to sweare by the Name of God?
Answ. Yes, when men hauehave a lawfull calling thereunto,Deut. 6.13. Deut. 10.20. and doe it lawfully, God commands to sweare by his Name.
Quest. How may it appeare to bee a reuerent vse of Gods Name, and a glorifying of his Name to sweare by it lawfully, and an a lawfull calling?
Answ. By three reasons.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; because by an oath lawfully taken, God is acknowledged to bee the Searcher and knower of the hearts and secret thoughts, and a witnesse of the things that bee hidden from men.
Quest. What is the second?
Answ. This; because by an oath lawfully taken, on a lawfull calling, God is acknowledged to bee a witnesse of the truth, and a most earnest defender of it, and a most seuere reuenger of a lye, and of such as forsweare themselues; and these be the proper Offices of God alone.
Quest. VVhat is the third?
Answ. This; because by an oath lawfully taken, on a lawfull calling, controuersies which hinder LoueLove,Hebr. 6.16. and hurt Christian Charitie, are ended.