Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Chapter 31
CAP. XXXI.
Of the third Commandement. Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine, &c.
Q. WHat is the drift of this third Commandement?
A. To provide for the glorifying of Gods great name, in our tongue and doings; that we ſo behave our ſelves, as God in all things may be glorified. [This Commandement directs us to an holy uſe of all Religion, and of every thing upon which God hath ſet his name.] 1 Pet. 4.11. Levit. 10.3. Joh. 2.16. Ezek. 22.26. Mal: 1.13. Ezek. 8.12. Ezek. 18.2, 19. Deut. 28.58. Mat. 5.16. Mat. 6.9. Joh. 11.4. Joh. 15.8.
Gods name is taken in vain, either
In an Oath,
Or, Without an Oath.
Q. How many waies is it taken in vain in an Oath?
A. Foure. 1. By vain, and needleſſe, and cuſtomary ſwearing in mens common talk: Oaths cannot come unawares from a gratious heart, much leſſe ordinarily. Eccleſ: 9.2. Iam. 3.12. Mat. 5.34.37. Ier. 6.7.
Q. How, ſecondly?
A. By falſe ſwearing; as when we a affirme a falſhood, or deny and conceal the truth, b or falſifie what we have promiſed by oath. [This is called perjury.] a Zach. 5.4. Mal. 3.5. Lev. 5.1. Zach: 8. 16, 17. b Pſal. 15.4. Ezek. 17.16, 18. with Judg: 9.20, 56, 57. 2 Sam. 21.1, 7. with Joſh. 9.15. Men are perjured, when they goe from what they have promiſed by Oath, as well as when they ſwear an untruth.
Q. How, thirdly?
A. By wicked ſwearing, that is, when by an oath, or vow, we bind our ſelves to doe evill, to doe any thing againſt charity, piety, juſtice, duty. [As that I will not come to ſuch a mans houſe, or that I will be revenged on him: Alſo all ſinfull combinations, Covenants and Oaths, to hide evill, or to ſet up any pretended good, contrary to Authority, Law, and duty; or contrary to any former Oaths and Proteſtations All this is wicked ſwearing: for Gods ordinance muſt not be a bond of iniquity.] 1 King. 19.2. Act. 23.12. 1 Sam: 25.22. Hoſ. 10.2, 3, 4. See Iunius & Diodate in loc.
Q. How, fourthly, do men take Gods name in vaine in an Oath?
A What they ſweare by the creatures, as many doe by their Faith and Troth, by the Maſſe, by their Drink, or, as I live, &c. [vainly, cuſtomarily, or in paſſion.] Mat. 5.33, 34. Jam, 5.12. For theſe things men are damned. Amos 8.14. Zeph. 1.5. Eſa. 45.23.
Q. But is it not lawfull to ſwear before a Magiſtrate, for the maintenance of truth, juſtice, and peace among men?Three conditions in an Oath.
A. Yes: Firſt, provided that we ſwear in truth, (the thing ſworne, or vowed, muſt be a knowne truth.) Secondly, in judgement. (as becomes a wiſe Chriſtian.) Thirdly, in righteouſneſſe. (not to the hurt of another.) Jer. 4.2. Exod: 22. 10, 11.
Q. Is it not lawfull to make a vow and promiſſory Oath, whereby we bind our ſelves to God, to perform the thing that is gone out of our mouthes?
A. Yes; it is with theſe two conditions:Of a vow. Firſt, that the thing vowed & promiſed be lawfull to us, and within our power and callings to performe. [Elſe we take Gods name in vain, if we bind our ſelves to doe that which is not in our Power, or not lawfull for us in our places to performe [And therefore to vow ſingle life, abſolute and blind obedience to ſuperiours, as Popiſh Prieſts doe; or to vow any thing againſt our duty, callings, former Vowes and Oathes, they be all unlawfull, and to be broken.] Num. 30.3. Jer. 44.25. Pſal. 24 4.
Q. What ſecond condition is required in a vow and ſolemne proteſtation?
A. Becauſe all lawfull Vowes muſt be performed: therefore we ſhould foreſee and conſider, how meet, lawfull, and profitable, the Oath will be before we ſwear, that ſo we may ſafely performe our vowes [Our promiſſory Oaths muſt be with much caution and condition: It is a ſinne not to performe a lawfull Vow.] Joſh. 9.14, 15. 1 Sam. 14.44. J…ſh. 2.19. Gen. 24.5. Judg. 11.31. a raſh vow.
Q. How is Gods name taken in vaine without an oath?
A. Firſt, by fooliſh, light, unreverent ſpeaking of Gods a Will, Titles, and Attributes; or of his b Word, and c works. [As in fooliſh admirations, O Lord, O ſweet Jeſus, Lord have mercy upon us, I never ſaw the like! Secondly, When gameſters thank God for their good luck. Thirdly, when men jeſt with Scripture-phraſes. Fourthly, when men ſpeake reproachfully of Gods decrees. as if I be predeſtinated, I ſhall be ſaved; if not, I ſhall be damned, doe what I can, &c.] a Rom. 9.19, 20. b Joh. 6.60. Jer. 23.34. Act. 17. 32. c Gen. 4.24. Mar. 3.22, 29, 30. Eſay 36.20, Mic. 3.11. Zach. 11.5.
Q. How, ſecondly, without an oath?
A. When men have curſings and imprecations in their mouthes. [As a pox, or a plague on thee, the Devill take thee, &c. It is a ſinne to wiſh a curſe to our ſelves, or others; as, God damne me, would I were hanged, &c.] 1 Sam. 17.43. 2 Sam: 16.7.
Q. How, thirdly?
A. When we apply the name Jeſus, or any other name of God, or any ſentence of Scripture, to Charmes, ſorcery, or other ſupernaturall uſes. [As to drive away Devils, to doe cures, to ſanctifie creatures not ſanctified by God; as to baptize Bels, &c. this is a falſe application of Gods Word.] Act. 19.13.
Q. How, fourthly?
A. When men goe about to imitate the miraculous, and extraordinary workes of Chriſt, and the Apoſtles. [As the Popiſh exorciſme; ex tempore, Prophecying of men called and ungifted; laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghoſt; to make empty ſignes, without effects following, &c. This is a miſapplication of Gods power, without promiſe or warrant; expoſing of Religion to contempt, and a taking of Gods name in vaine.] Act. 19.13. Act. 8.18, 19. 1 Cor. 14.31, 32.
Q. How, fiftly, is Gods name taken in vain without an Oath?
A. When we performe any part of Gods worſhip careleſly & perfunctorily. As when we pray without underſtanding and good ſenſe, or for faſhion and oſtentation; when we preach without preparation, and for civill complement, or vaingloriouſly; when we receive the Sacrament, becauſe it is the uſe at certain times in the year, &c. Now is Gods name taken in vain by us, though we ſeem to honour him.] Jer 48.10. 1 Cor. 14.11. See Eccl. 5.1, 2. Mal: 1.13. 2 Tim. 2.15. Phil. 15.16. Luk. 8.18.
Q. How, laſtly, is Gods name taken in vaine without an Oath?
A. When we put Gods Name, Cauſe, & Religion, upon our own worldly, carnall, and baſe ends and enterprizes. [When Religion is made a cloak to carry on, or to cover any vile and unjuſt actions, then is Gods name taken in vain.] Jer. 7.9, 10, 11. Mic. 3.11. Mat. 23.14. 2 Sam. 4.8, 11. They put the name of God upon their wicked murther, ſaying, the Lord hath avenged thee of Saul: with 1 Sam. 26.8.
Q. Why muſt we be carefull of this Law?
A. Becauſe God holdeth all prophaners of his name, for moſt vile perſons; who, though they eſcape puniſhment amongſt men, yet ſhall not eſcape Gods wrath. [They are under the Law, in whomſoever any of theſe ſins reigne.] God will not hold him guiltleſſe that taketh his name in vaine.