A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 163 (Questions 53-54)
SERMON CLXIII.
QUESTION LIII.
WHICH is the Third Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Third Commandment is, Thou … act take the Name of the Lord thy … vain, for the Lord will not hold him …, that taketh his Name in vain.
… two former Commands, Precept is give us about the kinds of Workſhip, which we obſerved were, Natural, directed … the Firſt ; and Inſtituted, about which … is given us in the Second. The two following Precepts do alſo refer to Workship, … …ing to the firſt Table; and they ſerve to regulate us in the right performance of the …hip required in both the former. And … …es under a double Conſideration, Firſt, … …pect to our due behaviour in our Car… towards God, which is required in the … Secondly, With reſpect to the Time … Worſhip, which is laid down in … …th Command.
… due behaviour in our Cartilage towards … required in the Third : Command, … at we may take a diſtinct Account of … be conſidered in the Poſitive and …ire part of it, for, tho' the Precept is … Negatively, yet there are A…i…ma… that belong to it, Here then,
QUESTION LIV.
WHAT is required in the Third Commandence?
ANSWER.
THE Third Commandment requires; the Holy and Reverend Uſe of God's Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinaces, Word and Works.
THAT we may take a particular Account of what is contained in this Anſwer, we may conſider, 1. The Object of this Duty, viz. the Name of God. 2. The matter about which this Duty is to be purſued, i. e. the taking of it up. 3. The Duty it ſelf, viz. Holy Reverence.
1. TOUCHING the Object of this Duty, it is ſaid to be the Name of God. Now by the Name of God we are to underſtand all thoſe Manifeſtations of himſelf, which he hath made in and to the Creation. It is one way by which Men diſtinguiſh things, one from another, by giving Names to them; which is the firſt reaſon of the impoſing of them. This therefore when aſcribed to God, comprehends in it his declarative Glory; …t his back Parts in oppoſition to his Face: As appears, if we conſider, Exod. 33.20, 2, And he ſaid, Thou canſt not ſee my face : for there ſhall no man ſee my face, and live. And I will take away mine hand, and thou ſhall ſee my back parts? but my face ſhall not-be ſeen. With Chap. 34.5, 6. And the Lord deſcended in the cloud, and ſtood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord poſſed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-ſuffering, and abundance in goodneſs and truth. By God's Face is intended his Eſſential Glory, and hath no Name. Hence that, 1 Tim. 6.16. Who a… hath memmortality, dwelling in the Night which … man can approach unto, whom no man hath ſeen nor can ſee. His back Part therefore are his manifeſtative Glory, or that of himſelf which he hath ſeen meet to reveal, by which we may have ſuch a knowledge of him, as is ſa…d to our cr…ted Capachies, and ſufficient for our bleſſdneſs. Whatſoever therefore either hears on it the impreſſion of any of his Perfections, which are to be read in it, or whatſover notice is given to him, whereby he is differenced from all other Beings, belongs to his Name. Theſe are in our Catechiſm reduced to ſeveral comprehendſive Heads; and this is to be underſtood metonymiscally: Not that the things themſelves are God's Name, but that his Name is engraven on them, and the Letters of it are to be underſtood by them And for that reaſon not the things themſeves, but God appearing in them, is to be acknowledged by us, and a ſuitable reſpect is to be paid to him upon the disſcory. Theſe are,
1. HIS Name. By which we are to underſtand, thoſe Names which he hath aſſumed to himſelf in his Word; either Incommunicably, and cannot be put upon any other Being without Blaſphemy: Such as El, Schadda…, Gen. 17 1. I am, Exod 3.14. Jehovah, Exed. 6.3 Every whereof diſcover him to be an incomparable Being. Or ſuch, as tho' they may be given in low and diminative reſpect to ſome ſecond Beings, yet are by way of Eminency aſcribed unto him, and there is but and obſcure ſhadow of them in the Creature; as E…him, tranſlated Gods; and other things, which will more properly be conſidered under his Attributes.
2. HIS Titles. By which we are to underſtand thoſe Prerogatives which he aſſumes to himſelf, with relation to his Creatures, which properly belong to him, and may not be aſcribled to any other Being whatſoever; many whereof the Scriptures do furniſh us withal: Such as,the Lord of bests, the Holy one of Iſrael, the King of Saints, the God of Salvation, and many more. Which Titles may not be inſerted into the title of the greatest Monarch in the World, but carry in them the ſignfication of a Being ſupper-tranſcendent.
3. HIS Attributes. Which tho' in a large and comprehenſive ſenſe, they comprize both the former, yet more reſtrainedly, they intend thoſe Perfections of his Nature, which are Eſſential to him, and are uſually called the Divine Properties; Such as his Eternity, Omnipotency, Omnipreſence, Immortality, Immutability, &c. For by our apprehending of a Being, to whom theſe do appertain, and acknowledging of them to him, we aſcible the. Divine Glory to him, which is his due; and they are ſo many Letters, by which we ſpell a God. Thus, 1 Tim. 1.17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, inviſible, the only wiſe God, be honour and glory, for ever & ever, Amen.
4. HIS Ordinances. By which we are to underſtand, thoſe holy Appointments of Inſtituted Worſhip, which he hath commanded his People to ſerve him in: Of which we conſidered under the former Precept. Theſe …o all be…r his Name on them, in that they come forth by his Supream Authority, and have his Name underwritten. I am the Lord. Nor can any other Name in Heaven or Earth, warrant any ſuch Inſtitution : and in …e… we are to read God'd Sovereignty, his Wiſdom, and his Power, in making them ſerviceable … his own Glory, and our Salvation.
5. HIS Word. By which we are to conceſen his written Word, or the Holy Scriptu… Tho's it alſo comprehends all thoſe Revelation of his Will, which he hath at any time made extraodinarily to his People, or to Men inſpired. For we are told, Heb. 1.1. God who at ſunday times, and in divers manners; ſp… in time post unto the fathers by the Pro…. Yet theſe are now collected together, and commended to us, in our Bible: Of which we read, Pſal, 138.2. Thou haſt m…gni… word above all thy name. And indead … great deſign of giving to us theſe W… was to help us to acquaintance with God … bring us to the enjoyment of Him.
6. HIS Works. Under which is comprehended his whole Efficiency in Creation and Providence. Which are for that reaſon aſcribled to his Name, becauſe in them, … are the convincing Diſcoveries made of his Being, and glorious Perfections; and tho' they come incomparably ſhort of ſo making him known, as is done by the Goſped, yet … have ſuch ſtamps of his Glory upon th… … bear witneſs to his Being, and Divinity, and reſtify in the Natural Conſcience that … is none like him. Of the Works of Creation ſee. Pſal. 19.1. The heavens declare the glory of God : and the firmament ſheweth his … work. Rom. 1.20 For the inviſible things him from the creation of the world are … ſeen, being underſtood by the things … made, even his eternal power and Godhood … his Works of Providence, Pſal. 9.16. … is known by the judgments which he … Pſal. 86.8. Among the gods there is … unto thee (O Lord) neither are any … unto thy works. Act. 14.17. Now in… one of theſe, the Duty required in thi… … mand is concerned, as will be diſco… … the Sequel.
II. TOUCHING the Matter about … Duty is to be excerciſed or purſued, … the taking up of this Name; We may obſerved … the word tranſlated take, ſignifieth … thing up, to bear it, and to elevate … up on high: and is in the Word of … plied to many purpoſes: And in this … it comprehends any manner of uſe … make of the Name of God. And … two Things,
1. THAT there is on uſe to be … the Name of God. God hath therefore … his Name to us, that we ſhould im… Diſcoveries for his Glory, and our … There is therefore a glory owning to be from us, which we ought to pay unto it. Hence that, Pſal. 29.2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.
2. THAT we be very cautions, what … do make of it. That we take heed to our ſelves, that in all reſpects we carry it … thily towards this Name of his … what it is, will be afterwards conſidered. Here only obſerve, that this Command, being of the …irſt T…le, properly …ers to the Worſhip of God. The Name of God is the Object of our Worſhip… we are to Worſhip … accordi…g to what he hath revealed of himſelf to us and therefore we are never to … this N…e of his, but with a frame …ble to Worſhip. And we may further …e, that this taking up of his Name, … pri…th both our Thoughts, Words and …, in all whereof this Ca…ion …s to be … For the…e is in Internal a…d an Exter… Worſhip … to him from us …t which … …ſt here take our Direction. And final… … may take not…ce, that this Duty is to … pract…ſe…, not … in the Obſervances of …ed Worſhip, but alſo … all the parts of natural Worſhip, which we are to pay to … all times …r… this …d Command … reſpect to our due C…rriage to God, in … …an…er of our performing Obedience, to … the former.
… THE Duty itſelf which is here required. … Revern…; or a relig…ous Veneration o… … glorious Name of his. The Duty pro… this Comma…d, is that which is oppo… … the Vanity forbidden, for in negative …cepts we are to judge of the Nature of … …irmative Duties, by the negative: they … the contrary to that which is …o… d… N…w the Word, in Vain, is uſed both …nally a…d …d…tally; and it …ig…ies …od, raſhneſs, levity, and uppro…i…a…le … the contrary to all which is ſummarily …ed in that comprehen five Duty of Re…: which is uſually in Scripture …age called Fear. Hence that is aſſerted …g his Name, Pſal. 111.9. H…ly and … is his name. N…w this religious …rence of God's Name, is an awful Reſ… which we have e…graven upon our Hearts, a… …hich we maintain the E…erciſe of, in … thoughts W…ds and Actions: Or which, J…. 10.7: W… would not ſear thee, O King of …? for to thee doth i… appertain. Now … a civil Reverence which we owe to … who are our Superiours, and a religious …, which is due from us to God, and theſe … are vaſtly different one f…om another; … this latter, which is the Subject of … preſent Speculation.
NOW the Expreſſion of this Reverence, … conſidered either generally, or particu…. with reſpect to the ſeveral things, in … the Name of God is made known to ….
…, IN general, I ſhall only obſerve theſe … things,
1. THAT whenſoever we any way make uſe … Name of God, we ought to obſerve our … Diſtance. We ſhould always have in …, what an infinitely glorious Being he is …ted above all Glory and Praiſe, and … low and little things we are; and ex… we ever carry the Impreſſion of this upon our Hearts, we ſhall not pay him the Rev…rence that we owe to him. We have this exemplitied in Abraham, Gen. 1….27. And Abr…ham anſwered and ſaid, Behold n…w, I have take upon me to ſpeak unto the Lord, which am but …ust and …ſues. And are directed about it, Eccl 3.2. Be not raſh with thy mouth, and let not …e heart be haſts … u…ter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and then upon earth… therefore let thy words be …ew. Our Carriages therefore muſt be meaſured according to this.
2. THAT we do always exalt God's Name, when we make uſe of it. We obſerved, that the Word take, ſingnifies to …ſt a th…ng up on high. And metaph…rically it is uſed for the giving it ſuperlative Commendation; and this is a very proper. Expreſſion of our keeping our diſtance. This Word is therefore uſed, for extolling of God, Pſal. 68.4. Sing unto God, ſing praiſes to his Name; ext…l…i… that ru…th upon the heavens by his name J…h, and rej…yce before him. We muſt in all reſpects give him the Acknowledgement of being infinitely greater and more glorious than all Beings whatſoever, and on all Occaſions make it to appear, that we do really entertain ſuch Thoughts concerning him… …o he reſolved. Pſal. 145.1, 3. I will extol thee, my God, O King, and I will bleſe thy name f…rever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſs is unſearchab…e.
Secondly, IN particular, We may conſider the ſeveral Duties reſpecting the diverſe wa…, in which God communicates his Name to us. For though we are ever to maintain a Reverence toward God, yet there are diverſe ways in which we are to expreſs it, ſuitable to the ſeveral thi…gs in which he hath mainifeſted himſelf unto us. And theſe may be confidered,
1. IN reſpect of his Names, Titles, and Attributes. I put theſe three together, becauſe they are very nearly related, and the difference between them is not great. F… …is Names and Titles may in a ſound ſenſe, be ref…rred to his Attributes; and hence the Duties here, are common to them all. And theſe are.
Firſt THE Thoughts of theſe ſhould raiſe ſuitable D…ſp…ſitions in our Souls, towards God. When we medirate or theſe glorious Perfections of his, we ſhould entertain them with Affections becoming. Hence,
1. THEY would raiſe in us adoring Thoughts of God. They all of them commend him to us, as a moſt worthy Being. And we ſhould upon them acknowledge, that he doth tra…ſcend all the Praiſes of Angels or Men: As he, Neh. 95. Bleſs the Lord your God forever and ever, and bleſſed be thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all bleſſing and praiſe. We ought on this account, to gaze upon theſe Perfections of his, with the moſt ſurpr…zing Admiration, confeſſing the Infiniteneſs and Inſcrutableneſs of his Glory, and accordingly to acknowledge our Ignorance of him, yea, that no Creature can come at the Comprehenſion of them, ſo great, and ſo wonderful is he. And accordingly make his demand, Job. 11.7.8, 9. Canſt thou by ſearching find out God? canſt thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? it is as high as heaven, what can…t thou do? d…per then bell, what canſt th… know? The meaſure thereof is longer then the earth, and br…der then the ſea.
2. THEY ſhould maintain in us, an holy Fear of offending Him. And accordingly raiſe in us a Caution to ourſelves in all we think, ſpeaK, or do, that we avoid every thing which may expoſe us to his righteous Diſpleaſure. When we confider who, or what manner of God he is, it ſhould make us to draw that Concluſion, Heb. 10.31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And thereupon render us exceeding Circumſpect in our whole Walk. Doubtleſs the Pſalmiſt had been in this Speculation, when he drew up that Reſolve, Pſal. 76.7. Thou, even th… art to be feared, and who may ſtand in thy ſight when once thou art angry?
3. THEY ſ…ould kindle in us, an inſatiable Deſire after an Intereſt in his Favour. And this ſhould …lit up in us, reſtleſs endeavours to ſecure a Title to him as our God. Think what inconceivable Happineſs it muſt be, to view his glorious Perfections, and be able to underwrite in the foot of the Accompt, This God is our God forever. Hence we ſhould make our humble ſuit to him for his Grace, and earneſtly implore him, that he would accept us into his Favour. David could ſay, Pſal. 63.3. becauſe thy loving kindneſs is better than life; my …ips ſhall praiſe thee. And it was the Contemplation of his Infinite Excellencies, that drew this Profeſſion from him.
Secondly, WE ſhould be very careful about our Words, or taking of his Name into our Mouths. It is a Duty incumbent on all the People of God, to be often ſpeaking of him. It is ſaid in, Pſal. 29.9. In his temple doth every one ſpeak of his glory. And David tells us what he and others would do, Pſal. 145.4. &c. But we ought to maintain an holy Reverence of him in our Hearts, and make it appear in the manner of our ſpeaking.
1. Here, IN our ordinary Diſcourſe, we ſhould mention God's Name with great Seriouſneſs. If we ſpeak of him at all, it muſt be with a Diſcovery, that his very Name, bears an Awe upon our Hearts. We ſhould put the higheſt Honour upon him, in every mention that we make of him. The Name of God is ſaid to be great and fearful, Deut. 28.58. If then we ſpeak of it, we ſhould aſcribe Greatneſs to it, and teſtify our Fear of it. We ſhould not uſe any of the Names, Titles or Attributes of God, as Words of Courſe, in common and light Talk, but with Solemnity, and to put the greateſt Honour on Him.
2. IN swearing. We ought in this to uſe utmoſt Care, to pay a reverend Reſpect to the Name of God. Swearing is uſed as a Confirmation of a Teſtimony, and it is done by calling upon the Name of God, is which we appeal to him, to be a Witneſs to the Truth, of what we teſtify unto. There is … vaſt difference between a Teſtimony and a… Oath, the former belongs to the ninth Commandment, and ſo refers to the ſecond Table, which hath Man for the Object immediate, whereas an Oath is a part of religious Worſhip; and is uſually re…erred to the third Command, in that in it we pretend to a Ve…tation of God's great Name. That an Oath belongs to Worſhip, and muſt therefore be reduced to the firſt Table is evident, becauſe it … God for its immediate Object. And for … reaſon, Swearing by the Name of God, is often Synecdochically put for all religious Worſhip, as, Pſal. 63.11. and elſewhere. And that the right and reverend uſe of it bel…gs to this third Command, is evident, becauſe all Reverence of God in Worſh…p is poi… to by it; or all profitable uſing of God's Name; though the Duty itſelf may belong to the firſt. That it is lawful & warrantable for Chriſtians, in the Days of the Goſpel … ſwear, and ſometimes a Duty ſo to do, it a Truth which he that denies, renders … Guilty of a ſuperſtitious breach of the ſecond Command. Nor doth that of Chriſt Mat. …. But I ſay unto you, Swear not at all. Or th…t of the Apoſtle, Jam 5.12. But above all … my brethren, ſwear not. Diſprove it ſince … manifeſt, that in both of theſe Texts, S… ing in common Talk is only forbidden, … is indeed great Sin & Profaneneſs. Wh… in Suppoſition, that Man had continued … State of Integrity, he would have had … Occaſion for Swearing, may admit of a… bate, but the Neceſſity of it ſince the … very great. Man's Sin hath filled him with Falſeneſs and Incredulity. Every Man is a Liar, and Men's Suſpicion one of another, is ſuch, that except they give the greated Confirmation of what they ſay, they are put believed, and ſcarcely then. Yea, God …ſelf is ſometimes put upon it, to ſwear to his People, that he may be believed. Now th…e is nothing more accommodable, according to the light of Nature, to oblige any to …k the Truth, without Diſſimulation, … the Solemnity of an Oath, and many, who make but little Conſcience of lying, are ſta…ed at an Oath, and good reaſon, for as we i… it call God to witneſs to the Truth of what we ſay, ſo we do, implicitly at leaſt, imprecate his Wrath upon our Heads, in Caſe of Falſe …; in which we do neceſſarily acknowledge him to be an all-knowing, and righteous Judge, who taketh Vengeance. Hence the …ual Form of an Oath among the Ancients, began with ſuch Words, God do ſo to me, and more alſo. Hence alſo that of Paul, 2 Cor. 1.23. I call God for a record upon my ſoul. And this is enough to convince us, with what holy Reverence, we ought to addreſs ourſelves, to ſo ſolemn and aweful an act of Worſhip as this is, as knowing, that we can neither impoſe upon God's Knowledge, nor bribe his Juſtice: Now the Reverence too ar…s God, which is here required, may be conſidered other in general, in reſpect of Swearing it …lf, or in particular, with regard to the ſe…l kinds of Oaths.
1. IN general, in reſpect of Swearing it …. And the Duties here follow, from the …re of … Oath, viz. That it is a ſolemn …al to God, and l…cation of him, as an …ſcient and Holy Judge. And here,
1. We ought always when we …o about to …, to call to our Minds, who that God is, when we are now about to invoke. We ſhould … out Hearts with his Majeſty, and Glory. We ſhould conſider, that we are not now ap… ourſelves to an Idol, that can neither … hear, neither do good nor evil, neither … nor puniſh us; but that God who …th Hearts, who is alſo jealous for his … Name, and will not forego his own …y; that God who is holy in all his Ways, … juſt in all his Doings, who is not mocked, and to whom we muſt give an Account … …ls very Act … and this thought will put is upon doing it with fear and trembling; … believe him to be ſuch a God, as he … told us that he is, we cannot but be …y ſerious in what we do.
2. We muſt well ponder what we do, when …. Poſſibly the expreſs Terms uſed, … …ore, but that we ſweat by the living … true God, but we ought diſtinctly to re…e in out Minds, what is included in this. … ſhould make a Commentary on it, in out …ghts, and conſider, that we do now di…y put ourſelves into the Hands of the … Judge; we do now invoke the great …, and adjure him, to pour out his Venge… upon us, and make us the Inſtances of … Wrath and Curſe, if we be not ſincere … upright, and true, in what we ſay; ſo … we lay ourſelves open to all his Judges … in caſe we diſſemble or lie. And now …ber, that this God will certainly do … imprecate upon ourſelves, either in … or in another, in caſe we have wick… expoſed ourſelves to this Judgment of … We ſhould at ſuch a time reflect upon … lying roll, Zech. 5. begin.
3. We ſhould hereupon cautiouſly ſatisfy our … Conſciences about our Call now to Swear. … there is enough in the former to enforce …. Where the hazzards are great, every … will enquire, what Obligation is on him … …ge. That a Chriſtian is ſometimes … is beyond queſtion, and to refuſe or …he it, would be his Sin. God's Glory, … …r Neighbours Welfare may ſuffer by … neglect of it. That he is not always cal… to it of God, when others may ſollicit …, or his ſinful Heart may prompt him, is …lly certain; and he who truly reveren… God, will never Swear but when it is his …, and will for that reaſon firſt deliberate a… enquire. And there are theſe three …es, will be helpful in this Deliberation.
1. THAT the Thing itſelf be a Matter of Weight or Moment. God's Name ſhould not be invoked, nor God called upon about Tr…ſſe…. We muſt be ſure that it be a Matter worthy of his ſitting a Judge upon. And always this muſt be judged of by the Concernedneſs of God's Honour, and our own, or our Neighbours good in the thing. Hence a Matter that is in itſelf of no Concern, or about which, neither will God be diſhonoured, not Man ſuffer, either in Life, Chaſtity, Eſtate; or Reputation, is beneath the great Weight of an Oath; and thus to eſpouſe God's Name In ſuch things, would be greatly derogatory to it.
2. THAT the Thing itſelf is not …wiſe to be determined, but by …n Oath. We are always to remember, that an Oath is the higheſt Appeal, we now remove the Caſe in queſtion, to the Supream Judge. So that it the Matter be of Weight, yet if it may be cleared and confirmed ſufficiently, and to anſwer the end of an humane Faith, without it, this is not neceſſary, and to add it is ſuperfluous, which our Reverence to the Name of Gods, requires us to avoid. Sometimes, our bere Aſſertion will give Credit to us, ſometimed the Confemo… of the Party concerned will put the thing beyond queſtion, & that which can be done as well without it, cannot require it of us.
3. THAT it requires our particular and perſenal Oath, for the Conformation of it. A thing may be of Weight, and it may require the Eſtabliſhment of it by Swearing. But there is a further Inquiry, viz. Whether ours be neceſſary thereunto; and that is whom the matter will not be ſufficiently confirmed without our Oath be given about it: So that if two or three be already offered, in the ſame Caſe and Circumſtances, Reverence of God will make us afraid of multiplying Oaths, unneceſſarily. And all theſe three are included in that Precept, which requires us to ſwear in Judgment. Jo…. 4. ….
4. We ſhould be exceeding wary, what and how toe ſwear. This Reverence ought to influence both the Matter and the Manner of it. For in both of theſe the Name of God is concerned not a little.
1. WE ſhould be wary what we Swear. We ſhould be exceeding curious and critical, about the Matter of it. And this belongs to the Truth required of us in Swearing. Jer. 4.2. And here we are to weigh and revolve every Article, Word, Circumſtance, that there be no miſtake. For though Truth & Falſehood, belong to a Teſtimony as ſuch, and ſo are not the matter of this Frecept, but the Ninth, yet the Care about them, in order to our Swearing to the Thing, belongs to this, and is a part of that Reverence which we owe to God in it; conſidered, as he is a God of Truth. And though a meer moral Certainty of a thing, may command our humane Credit unto it, yet it is not enough to allow us to atteſt to it with an Oath; becauſe in it, we lay ourſelve open to the Judgment of God, if the thing be not ſo, which no ſerious c…e lates t… do, but upon his own perl…i Knowledge of it. And if we Swear to any one Clauſe, of which we have not ſuch as Aſſurance we therein expreſs a L…v…y of Spirit, unbecoming the Grav…ty of as Oath.
2. WE …ound be equally wary it our ſelves, been we Swear For this Reverence is alſo concerned in the Manner of our ſo doing; and this alſo belongs to the Truth before mean…ed. For this Truth not only … to the Matter or the thing to which we offer our Teſtimony, but alſo to the frame of Heart which we do it withal. There is the Truth of the Thing ſworn, and the Truth of … th… ſwears both whereof are here to be regarded; and this Latter, is of as great Weight as the Former. That therefore is one part of the Character of a …eas man, Pſal. 24. …. H… th… hath …ar binds, and a p…r be…; who hath an liſt of has ſ…d unto … ſwears deceitfully. A Man may Swear nothing but Truth in Words, and yet reſerve a Meaning to himſelf, which makes his Teſtimony ſ…llacious, and Men are impoſed on by it, which is one ſort of Equivocation. A Man may Swear that which … falſe alone, and reſerve in his M…d a Clauſe which would make it time, and this is per…ly jeſuitical. Or, he may Swear in a ſenſe, which he knows Men will not underſtand, but par another Interpretation upon. Or he may Swear only to a part of the Truth, which will altogether alter the Caſe, and pervert it. And this belongs to the Righteouſneſs required. (for 4.2.) that he avoid this. The Reverend reſpect which is due to God, who is not to be macked, will command the Man to avoid all theſe, and to practice Heart-S…nceri… in what he doth. And let us be wary in all theſe things, knowing that we have to do with a jealous God.
[MARCH. 10. 1702.]