Abridgment of the Whole Body of Divinity, Part 2 · Subpart 13
The third Commandment.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain:Third Commandment. for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.
The Affirmative part of this Commandment is this.Affirmative part.
Here we are first commanded to be zealous for Gods glory, above all things in the World, Numb. 25. 8. Ps. 69. 9.
Secondly, to use Gods Titles onelyonly in serious affairs, and that with all reverence, Deut. 28. 58. Rom. 9. 5.
Thirdly, to celebrate the praise of God, which we see brightly shining in his Creatures, Jer. 5. 22.
To this part of this Commandment an Oath doth belong,An Oath. the parts of which are these.
1. Confirmation of a Truth.Its parts.
2. Invocation of God alone, as a witness of the truth, and a revenger of a ly.
3. A confession that God is a revenger of perjury; when he is brought in as a false witness.
4 A binding over unto punishment, if in it deceit be used.
The form of an Oath is this.Its form.
1. We must swear truly, least we forswear.
2. Justly, least we swear to that which is wicked.
3. In judgement, least we swear rashly, or for a trifle, Jer. 4. 2. Isa. 48. 1.
There are some persons whose Oaths binde them not, as the Oaths of those that swear in their drink; and the Oaths of Frantick, furious men, Fools, and children binde them not.
The end of an Oath is to confirm some necessary truth in question, as Heb. 6. 16. Rom. 1. 9. 2 Cor. 2. 23.
An Oath is either publick, or private.
A publick Oath is, when a Magistrate without any peril to him that sweareth, doth upon just cause desire a Testimony under the reverence of an Oath.
A private Oath is that, which two, or more in serious affairs take privatly, as did Jacob and Laban, and as did Boaz and Ruth.
An asseveration is like an Oath, but is no Oath.
An asseveration is nothing else but an earnest assertion of our meaning,An Asseveration what it is? the name of a Creature being sometimes used in it.
An asseveration without the use of the Name of the Creature is this of Christ. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Joh. 10. 1.
An asseveration with the use of the name of the Creature, is this of David: Indeed as the Lord liveth, and as thy Soul liveth, 1 Sam 20. 3.
Though it be unlawfull to swear by Creatures, yet thus far may we use them in an Oath, as to make them pledges, and as it were cognisances of Gods glory.
An Oath that a man makes of a lawfull thing must be performed, though with great difficulty, Psal. 15. 4.
Or it might be redeemed, as Numb. 27. 2.
The Oath of Maids under the Jurisdiction of Parents,Oath of Maids. might by the Father of the Maid be disallowed in the day that he heard it; And so likewise the Oath of a married Woman by her Husband in the day that he heareth it, Num. 30. 3. 6.
If a Man swear to perform things unlawfull, either out of ignorance, errour, infirmity, or any other way, his Oath is to be recalled, for we must not add sin to sin, 1 Sam. 25. 21. 22. 33.
Here we are commanded to sanctify Gods Creatures, as Meats, Drinks, Works, Callings, Marriage bed, by the reverent use of the holy Name of God. As by calling upon his Name for a blessing on them, or returning thanks to his Name for the benefit of them.
The means of the sanctification of Creatures are two. 1. The word of God. 2. Prayer, 1 Tim. 4. 4.
The word teacheth us how to use the Creatures to the glorie of God, Ps. 119. 24.
Prayer is a Petition by which we do obtain of Gods Majesty assistance by his grace, to make an holy use of his Creatures, and ordinances, Eph 5. 18.
Prayer is used upon particular occasions: As
Sometimes for a prosperous journey, Act. 21. 5.
Sometimes for a blessing upon meat, or drink, Joh. 6. 11.
Sometimes for good issue of Child-birth, 1 Sam. 1. 12.
Sometimes for good success in business, Genes. 24. 12.
Thanksgiving is the magnifying of Gods Name through Christ, for his grace, aid, and blessing, in use of the Creatures, Phil. 4. 6. 1 Thes. 5. 18.
It is also used after meat, Deut. 8. 10.
Sometimes after the loss of outward wealth, Job 1. 21.
For deliverance out of servitude, Exod. 10. 18.
Sometimes for obtaining of children, Gen. 29. 35.
Sometimes for Victory, 2 Sam. 32. 1.
Sometimes for good success in domestical affairs, Thus Abrahams servant did, Gen. 24. 48.
The Negative part of this Commandment is this.
1. Here Perjury is forbidden, that is,Negative part. when a man sweareth to do a thing & doth not perform it, Matt. 5. 33. Perjury containeth under it.
1. Either lying unto God. Or lying, or Invocation on Gods Name to confirm a ly. And contempt of Gods threatnings.
2. We are here forbidden to swear any thing that is false by the Name of God; For this is to make God like the Devil, Joh. 8. 44. Zach. 5. 4.
3. To swear in common talk, Matth. 5. 37.
4. To swear by strange Gods, or by that which is no God, Jer. 12. 16. and 5. 7.
5. Blasphemy, that is, a reproach of, and against God; and a contempt of his Majesty, Levit. 24. 15. 16.
6. All cursing of enemies, or of our selves in any kinde what ever.
7. All use of Gods Name carelesly in our common talk, Phil. 2. 10. Isai 45. 23.
8. Here is forbidden the abuse of Gods Creatures, whither it be by deriding Gods workmanship, or his manner of working; for in all things we must give God his praise and glory, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Ps. 191.
9. Here is forbidden the abuse of lots, because the disposition of them doth immediatly come from the Lord, and the proper use of them is to decide great controversies, Prov. 16. 33. and 18. 18.
The land of Canaan was devided by lots, Joshua 14. 15.
The Priests under the Law were commanded to choose the scape Goat by lot, Levit. 16. 8. 10. The use of lots we may also read of in these places of Scripture, Joshua 7. 13. to the 19. 1 Sam. 10. 20. 21. 22 23. Acts 1. 26.
10. Here is also forbidden Superstition, that is, an opinion conceived of the works of Gods providence contrary to Gods word, and to the course of nature.
Examples of this Superstition are these.
To think it unlucky to have Salt fall toward a man,Superstitions.
Or have a hare cross the way before him,
Or to have the right ear burn,
Or to think it good luck to finde old iron,
Or to have the left ear burn,
Or to have drink spilled upon a man.
Or to pair the Nails upon some day of the week,
Or to dream of some certain things,
Or to think that beasts may be tamed, by verses, short prayers, or other charms,
Or to think that the repetition of the Creed, or Lords prayer can infuse into Herbs, or other things, a faculty of healing diseases.
Palmestry is a Superstitious thing of this kinde.Palmestry. Such abominations as these are all detested of God, and ought also to be detestable in the eyes of Gods people, as appeareth, Deut. 18. 10. 11.
11. Here is also forbidden Astrology;Astrology. whither in the calculating of Nativities, or used in Prognostications, For in these regards Astrology is nothing else but the abuse of the Heavens, and off the Stars.M. P. p… For the Imaginary twelve Houses are made o… the fained signs of a supposed Zodiak, in the highest sphear, which is commonly called the first moveable, and truly, because it is thus high, therefore can no man certainly know their influence and vertues.
This Art can not arise from experience,Ibidem. because the same position of all Stars never happen twice, and if they did, yet there could be no observation made of them, because the influencies of the Stars are all confusedly mixt, both in the Air, and in the Earth, even as if all herbs were mingled together in one Vessel.
By this Art,Astrology draws mens mindes from the contemplation of Gods providence. Mens mindes are drawen from the contemplation of Gods Providence, when as they shall hear that all things fall out by the motion, and position of the Stars.
Stars were not ordained to foretell things to come, but to distinguish dayes, moneths, and years, Genes. 1. 14. Isai 47. 13.
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsellours, Let now the Astrologers, the Star-gazers, and Prognosticatours, stand up and save thee from the things which shall come upon thee, Dan. 2. 2.
Books of this kinde they were that for zeal of Gods glory, and love to the truth were burned by the faithfull, in the days of the Apostles, such as these were the curious Arts those books treated off, Act. 19. 19.
All Astrological predictions are conversant, or busied about such things, as do either simplely depend on the will, or dispensation of God, or about such things as do depend upon Mans free-will, (and so are altogether contingent, and therefore can neither be foreseen nor foretold,) and not upon the Heavens.
It is impossible by the bare knowledge of such a cause as is both common to many, and far distant from such things as it worketh in, precisely and infalliblely to set down particular effects.
The Stars have indeed a great force, but such as doth manifest it self onelyonly in the operation, which it hath in the four principal qualities of natural things, as in heat, cold, moisture, driness.
The Stars can not at all force the will, or give the least inclination to it. It is beyond the reach of man to define how great the force of the Stars is.
The effects of the Sun and of the Moon,Effects of the Sun & Moon. are apparent in the constitution of the four parts of the year. But the effects of the Planets and of the fixt Stars, though they be of great force, and innumerable, are not so manifest unto us. And now, because a man can know but some Stars onelyonly, and their operations, and not all the Stars, and all their operations and forces, he can not certainly foretell future things, or things to come; yea, though they did depend on the Stars. For though the position of certain Stars do demonstrate such an effect to ensue, yet the Aspects of such Stars as we know not may hinder those effects, and produce the contrary for ought we know.
That part of Astrology which concerneth the alteration of the Air,M. P. p. 44▪ is for the most part of it false and frivolous, and therefore all manner of predictions grounded upon the Doctrine of it, are nothing else but toys and delusions.
And that part of Astrology which concerneth Nativities,Astrology concerning Nativities is wicked. Revolutions, Progressions, Directions of Nativities, Elections of times, and the finding again, of things lost, is very wicked; yea, it is very probable that this Art, is of the same brood with implicite Magick, and that for these reasons.
1. Because the word of God reckoneth Astrologers amongst Magicians,Astrologers how they are reckoned of in Scripture. and adjudgeth them both to the same punishment.
2. Because the precepts of that part of this Art which concerneth predictions are rediculous; And therefore such things can not be told by them, but by a secret suggestion from the Devil, or instinct of the Devil.
Augustine, lib. 5. cap. 7. de Civitate Dei, saith the same, For saith he, if we weigh well all those things, we will not without cause believe, that Astrologers, when they do wonderfully declare many truths, work by some secret, instinct of evil Spirits, (which desire to fill mens brains with dangerous and erroneous opinions concerning starry destinies;) And not by any Art derived from any inspection and consideration of the Horoscope, which indeed is none.
12. Here is also forbidden Popish Consecration of Water and Salt, to restore the minde to health and to chase away Devils.
13. Here is also forbidden making jests of the Scripture, Isa. 66. 2.
14. Also, all setting-light of Gods Judgements, which are seen in the World, Matth. 26. 34. 35. Luke 13. 1. 2. 3.
15. Here is also forbidden all dissolute conversation, Matth. 5. 16. 2 Sam. 12. 14.