A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 17
CHAP. 17.
Of the third Commandement.
The ſpeciall vſe of Gods name in this Cōmandemēt, wherin conſider the
Precept, and in it things
Cōmanded in
Generall.
Speciall, the true vſe of
Oathes.
Vowes.
Forbidden in
Generall.
Speciall, the abuſe of
Oathes.
Vowes.
Reaſon.
EXOD. 20. 7. 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.
Q. WHat is the third Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine, &c.
Q. What is meant by the Name of God?
A. The titles, & aExod. 6. 2. 3. & 34. 14. Deut. 18. 19. 22.Attributes of God, together with the bMatth. 28. 19. Act. 2. 38. Act. 21. 13.ordinances, workes, and the whole outward worſhip of God, as that wherby God is made knowne vntounto vsus; which is taken from the manner of men, who are knowne by their names.
Q. What is meant by the taking thereof in vaine?
A. All abuſe thereof: where, mentioning the ſmaller fault, he declareth the hainouſneſſe of the greater: for if the taking of his Name in vaine only be a ſinne; how hainous a ſinne is it, when it is blaſphemed, or vſed for the confirmation of a lie?
Q. VVhat requireth God of vsus in generall in this Commandement?
A. The Maintenance of his Name and honour with our tongue; which is performed by a carefull and heedie watch; as to auoid the prophanation and abuſe of the things aforeſaid, by our tongue; ſo to apply them with all reuerence and circumſpection, to ſuch vſes as they are appointed vntounto by God.
Q. VVhat neceſsity was there to hauehave a ſpeciall Commandement, for the direction of the tongue in this firſt part of the Law, which concerneth the worſhip of God?
A. Becauſe (as the Apoſtle ſaith) it is an vntamed Iam. 3. 8.euill, and vnbridled; and therfore a whole Commandement cannot bee employed amiſſe for the direction of it, in the vſe of the Name of God. And ſeeing in the ſecond Table, there is a Commandement tending almoſt wholly to reſtraine the abuſe of our tongues towards our neighbour; there is much more need of a precept, both for the direction and reſtraint of it, in the matters concerning God, and his moſt glorious Name.
Q. VVhat is here generally to be obſerued?
A. The high honour that God ſheweth vntounto vsus, who being able, either by himſelfe, or by his Angels, to maintaine his owne Name and glory, hath notwithſtanding committed the maintenance therof vntounto vsus; which ſhould teach vsus to bee very charie and carefull to diſcharge our duty faithfully, and thereby to ſhew our ſelues worthie this honour.
Q. By what meanes are we to ſhew this carefulneſſe?
A. By a diligent preparation, before wee ſpeake of any of theſe holy things, by conſidering both of the cauſe that ſhould moue vsus to ſpeake of them, and of the reuerent manner of vſing them.
Q. What doth God require in this Commandement more ſpecially?
A. The true vſe of Oathes and Vowes.
Q. In the true vſe of an oath, what ſhould wee chiefly regard?
A. Firſt, whether the matter be doubtfull whereof we ſpeake.
Secondly, whether it be weighty and worthie of an oath.
Q. Such perſons then as hauehave no weighty matters to deale in, may not take an oath at all?
A. No verily: and therefore it is altogether vnlawfull for children to ſweare, becauſe they cannot thinke ſufficiently of the dignity of an oath: and no Atheiſt or prophane men ſhould ſweare, becauſe either they beleeue not, or they ſerue not God.
Q. What further must we regard in taking an oath?
A. Firſt, whether the queſtion or doubt may bee ended by Verily, or Truly, or ſuch like naked aſſeuerations: Mat. 5. 37.for then by the example of Chriſt, we ought to forbeare an oath. Secondly, whether hee (for whoſe Heb. 6. 16.cauſe we giuegive the oath) will reſt in it, and giuegive credit vntounto it; for otherwiſe the name of God is taken in vaine. Thirdly, if an oath be giuen, wee muſt vſe no other then Gods word alloweth; although in lawfull Deut. 6. 13. Zeph. 1. 5.contracts with an Infidell, or Idolater, wee may admit of ſuch oathes, whereby they ſweare by falſe gods.
Q. What are the things forbidden in this Commandement?
A. Firſt in generall, all vnreuerent, ſudden, and cauſleſſe ſpeaking of the Titles, Attributes, Actions, and Ordinances of God: as when men crie, O Lord, O God, Good God! &c. in matters light, and of no moment. And therefore for reſtraining of this corruption, we ſhould ſeriouſly thinke how powerfull God is, to puniſh ſuch vnreuerent behauiour; as alſo how able and ready to bleſſe them, who ſhall reuerently behaue themſelues in their tongues and words, touching theſe matters: for which cauſe wee are to remember, that the Name Deut. 28. 58. Pſal. 99. 3.of God is fearfull, as it is written.
Q. What is more ſpecially forbidden?
A. Firſt, all abuſe of oathes: as 1. raſh oathes. 2. aMark. 5. 34. 35. 36. Iam. 5. 12. Mark. 9. 25.ſuperſtitious oathes; as by the Maſſe, our Lady, &c. 3. blaſphemous oathes. 4. counterfeit and mockoathes. 5. the errour of Anabaptiſts, condemning all oathes.
Secondly, here is forbidden the abuſe of Vowes: as the making of all vnlawfull Vowes; the not paying, or delaying of lawfull vowes, and the performing of vnlawfull.Eccleſ. 5. 1-5. Pſal. 76. 11.
Thirdly, all abuſes of the Word to magicall Spels, and Charmes, for the healing of diſeaſes, finding out of theft, &c.