A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 165 (Question 55)
SERMON CLXV.
QUESTION LV.
WHAT is forbidden in the Third Commandment:
ANSWER.
THE Third Commandment forbiddeth, the profaning or abuſing of any thing, thereby GOD maketh Himſelf known.
THO' it be ſufficient in itſelf for out knowing what is Sin, to lay open the Duty before us diſtinctly, yet ſuch is our dulneſs and i…dvertency, that we have need alſo to be peniculatly inſtructed about Sins which are a breach of the Command. And tho' it be a comprehenſive Rule, that every Aberration from the Precept, either by Omis;ſion or Pr…ſgre…ion, is a ſinful breach of it, yet we are too apr either to forget or miſtake; and … that reaſon God hath done both of the…e i… his Word, and made it the Duty of his Miniſters, not only to lay down the Command, but alſo to ſhew his People the Tranſgreſſions of it, Iſal. 58.1. Cry aloud, ſpare not, liſt up thy …ine like a trumpet, and ſhew my people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Jacob their ſ…. Yea, this Command, as the moſt of the Decalogue, is laid down Negatively, pointing us …tly what we are to avoid. Let us then … a brief view of the Negative part of it.
WE obſerved under the Poſirive part of this …mmand, that the comprehenſive Duty re…d in it, is holy reverence of God, in reſpect of all thoſe Diſcoveries which be maketh of himſelf to us. The contrary to this, or the Sin …dden, is in the Command called, a taking … his Name in vain: This our Catechiſm …eſſeth in two words, viz. Profaning or …g this Name of his. In which Words … is a gradation contained. Profaning a … according to the uſage of it, is as much …s taking it Common, and is oppoſed to …ing it; which is done by a ſeparation … …om all common uſe, and conſecrating … …hat which is Sacred. When therefore … do, either in Thought, Word, or Deed, … a common, mean, or low account upon … precious Name, they then profance it. … of it hath a reſpect to ſomething … higher and more grievous, and it in… …e caſting diſparagement or reproach … …ing, to abuſe it to ſordid and baſe ends, … active indignity upon it. And this is … when we ſbordinate it to our Luſts … Corruptions, and theſe Two are compre…e of the meaning of taking it in Vain. …W the ſeveral ways in which this Com… is broken, and are for that reaſon for… in it, are too many here to be enume… I ſhall endeavour to give ſome touch … the principal, as they come under the … Heads mentioned in the former Anſwer, by which the Name of God is to be underſtood by us, according to the Scriptures. Here then.
Firſt, IN reſpect of God's Names, Titles and Attributes, this Command is many ways violated: More eſpecially and comprenehenſively by ſuch things as theſe,
I BY a light and frothy uſing of them in common Diſcourſe. It is true, we ought to be often ſpeaking of God, but i… ſhould always be with greateſt Reverence, ſo a… to make it appear that we have an awful Fear of him in our Hearts: but when raſhly and indeliberately, we meation his Names o… Perfections, and ſo make them common, we profan… them; for herein we make i… to appear, that we have a low O…inion of them, and that we have not that awe of God upon our hearts; contrary to Mal. 1.6. Thus when Perſons at every turn cry our, Oh Lord, oh God, God Almighty, and the like; as if the Names and Perfections of God were for nothing elſe but for Men to play withal. How much more, when Men ſpeak or expreſs themſelves paſſionately, unbecomingly, and cry, God forgive me, &c. Which is to entitle him to our Sins…. How do ſuch forget that duty, Dent. 28 58. That thou mayeſt ſear this glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD.
II. BY ſinful Swearing. That Swearing doth of its own nature belong to Religious Worſhip, we have before abſerved; for God's Name and Attributes are concerned in it; it being an Appeal to his Judgment, who is allknowing, and able to take Vengeance; who is no other but God. that it is ſometimes lawful and a duty to Swear, hath alſo been evidenced. But there are ſeveral ways in which his Name may be abuſed on this account; and more particularly,
1. BY common Swearing. When perſons mix Oaths with their ordinary Diſcourſes, and poſſibly can ſcarce utter a few Sentences without Swearing; which is too much the cuſtom of the Age we live in. They therein horribly profane God's Name, and contradict the Precept which hath bounded our ordinaty Converſe to bare Affirmations and Negations. Mat. 5.34, 37. But I ſay unto you, Swear not at all. But let your converſation be Tea, yea: Nay, nay: for whatſoever is more than theſe, cometh of evil. Whereas how many think no Oratory ſo graceful as that which is lined with Oaths.
2. BY falſe Swearing. The uſe of an Oath is for the confirmation of the Truth of what one aſſerts, and it is by calling on God to be a Witneſs thereto. Now God is a God of Truth, and he hates all falſhood. There can therefore be no greater diſhonour put upon him, than to make him the Parton of a lye; to put his Name down for a Witneſs to that which is not ſo. Nor can there any greater contempt …e caſt upon G…, than is done by this. …r h… Saca…ing we invoke God to puniſh us it what we ſay be not true: Which how could we …are to do, if the …ear of God had a… impreſſion upon our Hearts? It ſaith that Man re…d not that Curſe, Zech. ….2.
3. BY … S…ing. Poſſibly they do think the thing is true, but do not firſt p…der it in all the Cirrumſt…nces of it, to ſee that ther a…t m…ſtaken, but that they know it to be …d… thy …ear-ſay only. but of their own knowledge and diſtinct mem…y. Precipitancy in it is a ſign that we d…n… … …er that God is a jcal…us God for his great Name, but that we practicaily be… that …e little regards what we ſay, and will no… call us to an acount. And what is this, but to deſpiſe him?
4. BY needleſs Swearing. Northing can be more ſ…l…m… this an Oath; and therefore in nothing do M… ſh…w more, either of their reverence or contempt of God. For Men therefore to call God a Witneſs againſt their own Souls, which is implied in every Oath, 2 …. 1.23. when the thing it ſ…ll is not of weight or moment, is an Argument of a… irreligious frame of Spirit. And this is do…e, either when neither the thing not circumſtances are of weight … to make it needful, or when the thing is ſuffi…ently clear without our A …davi…; and therefore it is ſuperfluous, and the Controverſy may well enough be ended without it.
5. BY ſ…ll…us Swearing. Tho' there is no difference in God's account between this and falſe Swearing. Hence be is charged with lying, Pſal 12.3. Thou liven evil more the good; end …ing rather th… to ſp… rightteouſneſs. Yet in the thing among Men there is this difference, in that the thing it ſ…lt is falſe, but in this it may in ſome ſenſe be true, but under a cloak of decent: either by ſuppreſſing part of the Truth, or expreſſing of it in amb…g…as Terms, ſo as to impoſe on Men by it; a… therewith a deſign to pervert Judgment, and to wrong the Innocent. And ſuch was Dregs teſtimony. Now this is to becloud the Truth, and not to give light to it, which is an abaſe offered to God's Holy Name. That therefore is a note of one who ſhall aſcend into God's Hill, Pſal. 24.4.— Nor ſ…n deceitfully.
6. BY Swearing by any ether Name but that of the true God. The Name by which we Swear, is a Scripture teſt, to prove of what Religion Men … for he by whoſe Name Men Swear. is the God whom they pretend to Worſhip. Thus, Gen 31.53. And Jac…b ſware by the ſear of his father Iſaac. For the very nature of an Oath implies, that in it we addreſs him to whom we aſcribe the Divine Perfections. If then it be not the true God, it is an Idol. And to put any other in the room of God, is highly derogatory to his Name and Glory. Hence that is an Article againſt Men, Jer. 5.7. Thy children have forſaken me, and ſworn by them that are no gods. God is alſo deſpiſed, when Men Swear by thinks which they know to be unable to Judge them: when inſtead of Swearing by God, they Swear by the …ble, by the Evangeliſts, by their Faith, Tr…th, by their Head, by the Temple; all of which are compprehended, Mat. 5.34, 35.36
7. BY vi…lating of their Promiſſory O… When Men do not only make Premiſes, but call God to witneſs to them, and yet they neither regard their own Truth, not God's Glory, which is now concerned peculiarly in it, they certainly break this Command, and therefore there is much aggravation of Sin … this. 2 Ch…on. 2.13. And be alſo re…ed againſt king Nebu…adne…er, who had made him ſw…r by God. Becauſe herein Men in…e God himſelt to be their Security, for their faithful performance of their Promiſes; whom they he rely diſhonour.
III. BY. ſinful …rriage about Vows. We formerly to had theſe under promiſſory Swe… ing, tho' ſome ſuppoſe ſome nice diſtinctions between them. A Vow is a ſol…ma binding our ſelves to perform ſomething to God … for his Glory, and ſo hath God for the j… diare Object to whom it is devoted, … Lawfulneſs and Uſefulneſs of ſuch Vows, … have already taken notice of. But as God is honoured by them when they are righly attended, ſo his Name is reproached by the… when it is otherwiſe. And this is done … eſpecially,
1. BY unlawful Vows. And this more … cullatly reſpects the …hing Vowed. The end of a Vow is to bind our ſelves to ſo…ing by which God is honoured; and the… … Vow that which the doing of will di…g him, is an abuſe to his Name. To old … ſelves to do that which is itſelf ſinful, is … And hither belongs, Jeptha's Vow, if it devoted his Daughter to Death. Hither … the P…p…ſh Vows of Chaſtity, Pover… and Monaſtical Obedience, which are Su… ous, and therefore unlawful: For … they preſume that God will be plea… …ith ſuch things, which is an high reflection … his Name.
2. BY the performance of ſuch Voces … pretence of Conference. It is true, Me… … making ſuch Vows, and ought therefore … humbled before God for it, and repenty it but to reſolve that they muſt do it be… of the Vow, is ſuperſtitious and erroneous … ſo to do, is to offer a farther affront … It therefore added to Jeptha's Sin, if … Conscience of his Vow, he ſacrificed or … Daughter. And his duty to do it is in … pleaded from Lev. 27.29. None devoted, which ſhall be devoted of men, ſhall be redee…d, … ſhall ſurely be put to death. In the H…b… … is very Cherom or Anathema; which is … themiz'd out of Men: it is not ſaid … Man noting the Subject. Now it was not lawful for Men to devote their Children to D…t… nor Sacrifice, but utterly forbidden by the Law. It therefore intends ſuch as God hath devoted, and probably intends the … nanites, whom they were not to ſpate,
3. BY their not regarding to perſorm their …ful Vows. That is a duty, Pſal. 76.11, V…, and pay unto the Lord your God. And not … do it, is to diſregard God's Name, to which … have obliged our ſelves. And this neglect …e…more manifeſts either falſeneſs and by po… …ur Vowing; or diſregard to God, as … were no matter whether we were true … or no. We are therefore told, Eccl. … …er is it that thou ſhouldeſt not vew then … thou ſhouldeſt vow and not pay.
IV. BY Imprecations or Curſes. It is true, … is an implicit imprecation in every Oath … is made by Men becauſe in it they in… God to be a Judge, and if they Swear … to puniſh them. But there are more …diate and direct imprecations, which are … Curſing, diſtinct from Swearing. And … when Men do call for ſome miſchief …fall themſelves or others, which is uſually …ioned by ſome diſguſt they take, or … Paſſion they are thrown into: in which God is either exp…citly, or at leaſt implicitly …ed, to execute our ill wiſhes: Not only … Men expreſs God's Name, as when they by, God da…n them; or when they Petition God to deſtroy or blaſt, whether themſelves …; but alſo when they wiſh any evil …fall Men, that they may die, or ſome … may overtake them; or devote them … the Devil, and many like; becauſe here is …it addreſs to God's Providence which … all Affairs, and ſo to God himſelf, … i… the Governour. And yet how much … this Sin is practiſed among Men that call …ſelves Chriſtians. Men by thus doing, … a daring treſpaſs upon this Command, … to the Precept, in Rom. 12.14 Bleſs … which perſecute you, bleſs and curſe nor. …ry here be alledged, that there are in…s in the Word of God, of ſuch as have …ted againſt themſelves or others, who … godly Men, and that very frequently; … then it is lawful. A little to clear …ner, let us obſerve,
1. THAT ſome Imprecations of Good Men … ſinful, and flowed from their ſinful Infirmity. … Job's & Jeremiah's curſing their Birth, …ny Perſons, as Job 3. Jer. 20.14. Such … written for our learning, but avoidance.
2. THERE are ſome Imprecatious on Scripture …, which are Prophetical: And were the …ordinary impreſſions of the Spirit of God … that declared them; wherein they … the Judgments of God which he had … againſt ſuch. Such are many in the … divers whereof are alſo Typical; for … …rit of God was the dictator of them, … therefore are not to be drawn into imita… by any who do not ſpeak by Divine In…tion.
3. THAT no Man may Imprecate againſt him… abſolutely. There is indeed an hypothe… imprecation in every Oath; but poſitively … wiſh or pray for miſchief to our ſelves, is directly contrary to that love which every … owes to himſelf by the light of Nature, and law of God. We expreſs hatred to ou… ſelves by ſuch a thing, which is unnatural, and therefore unlawful, Eph. 5.29. No man ever yet bated his own fleſh.
4. THAT it is our duty to love and pray for our p…rſon…. Enemies. Mar. 5.44. But I ſay unto you, love your enemies, bleſs them that curſe you, do good to them that but you, and pray for them which deſpitefully uſe you, and perſecute you. When they curſe, we ought to bleſs them, and to deſire that God would bleſs them. Certainly then, we ought not to imprecate God's Curſe upon them, for any injury they have done to us.
5. THERE are ſome who openly ſet themſelves againſt God's Cauſe, whoſe Converſion we ought to deſire end pray for. There are ſome indeed for whom we ought not to Pray, 1 Job 5.16. But for others we are bound to Pray, that God would turn their Hearts, and cauſe them to favour his Intereſt and People, 1 Tim. 2. begin. Some withſtand through ignorance, others in malice.
6. We ought to diſtinguiſh between the Perſon and the Cauſe. Doubtleſs we are to Pray that God would diſappoint all the Counſels and Attempts of ungodly Men againſt his Goſpel and People: yea, and that he would vindicate out perſonal righteous Cauſe, againſt thoſe that injuriouſly oppreſs us; but ſtill we muſt obſerve that Charity for them which the Precept calls for. In ſum then; To Imprecate any miſchief upon our ſelves is wickedneſs: To Imprecate upon any Man's Perſon, his Ruine and Eternal Deſtruction, except we know him guilty of the Unpardonable Sin, is Unlawful; becauſe we know not but God may give him Repentance; which we ſhould deſire and Pray for. To Imprecate God's Judgments upon our perſonal Enemies, for wrongs which they have done to us, is a revenge forbidden. To imprecate to that Cauſe which ſets itſelf againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt in this World abſolutely, and againſt them who are violently ſet againſt it, hypothetically, is our Duty: for when we Pray that God's Kingdom may come, we implicitly Pray, that Satans Kingdom may be ruined.
V. BY Blaſphemy. Blaſphemy is any reproachful reflection upon God, in regard of any of his glorious Perfections. Of which there are divers degrees. All of which are ſo far violations of this Precept. Any thing that is ſpoken againſt God, which caſts diſhonour upon him, is certainly a taking of his Name in vain. And this is done, partly by calling in Queſtion any of his Attributes, as his Holineſs, Juſtice, Mercy, Truth, &c. Such as that of Senecherib, Iſai. 37.10 …oith 23. Partly, by aſcribing any thing to God which is unworthy of him. Such is that, Pſal. 50 21. Thou thoughteſt that I was altogether ſuch anone as thy ſelf. And that, Jam. 1.13. Thus when Men make God no better than an Idol, and ſpeak of him as if he were no greater than a Creature, when they charge him either with Impotency, or Falſhood, or Ignorance, they do therein Blaſpheme his Name. And when they reproach Chriſt, who hath God's Name upon him, by denying his Diety, and making him a meer Creature, or not acknowledging him to be the Eternal Son of God, they diſhonour him by Blaſphemy. On which account Paul acknowledgeth, 1 Tim. 1.13. Who was before a blaſphemer.
VI. BY aſcribing any of the Divine Titles or Attributes to any meet Creature. That theſe do belong to the Perſon of Chriſt is certain, for he is God, Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal unto God. The Perfections or Attributes of God are vulgarly diſtinguiſhed into Incommunicable, and Communicable: By which we are only to underſtand, that the word uſed to expreſs them, are ſome, proper to be aſcribed to God; others are uſed, …oth of God and the Creature, by a kind of Analogy. But in theſe there is an infinite diſproportion. Now the vanity of Men doth herein wofully diſcover it ſelf, and their profaneneſs horribly appears, when they give that honour to the Creature, which belongs to God only. And herein the vile Adulation of ſinful Men, diſcovers it ſelf, in giving flattering Titles to ſuch as they would inſinuate themſelves into: And how eaſily doth this profaneneſs ſteal … to Men's Pen…yricks. God challengeth the Glory of his Name unto himſelf, with jealouſy, Iſai. 42.8. I am the Lord, this is my Name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praiſe to graven images. When therefore Men aſcribe to their fellow Creatures, Infinity, Eternity, Omnipotence, or Omniſcience, they reflect diſhonour upon God, by making a Second Being equal to him, in any of theſe Perfections: And yet, how hath the vain Oratory of Men, ſoothed up Princes in this reſpect. And to aſcribe Wiſdom, Juſtice, Bounty &c. to any in the abſtract, to call ſuch an one Wiſdom itſelf, Juſtice itſelf, &c. comes under the ſame Crime. And for Men to accept of ſuch flattery, is highly provoking to God, Act. 12 21, &c.
VII. BY an Hypocritical Prof…ſſ…. An Hypocrite in Religion, is one that profeſſeth himſelf to be a Servant of God, and pretends to his Worſhip, to truſt in him, to ſubmit to him, and he takes God's Name into his mouth, but mean while, he doth it with a falſe Heart, and is inſincere in all that he doth; he hath an Idol in his Heart all the while. Now, though God is not mocked, becauſe he knows, and will call ſuch to an account, yet there are none in the World that do offer at a greater Mockery than this is. The Hypocrite in Heart doth deſpiſe God, elſe he could not be an Hypocrite. And for this reaſon God is ſo frequently in his Word denouncing his ſevere Menaces againſt Hypocrites as the worſt of Men, and ſuch as do moſt grievouſly provoke him.
Secondly, IN reſpect of God's Ordinances. Which are an appointed Medium, for our Communion with him in this World. This Command is violated,
1. BY a Neglect or Contempt of theſe O… nances. God imparts himſelf to his People by his Inſtitutions, and for Perſons either … reject them with Contempt, to reproach th… as things of no value, to ſpeak againſt th… as things that are needleſs; or to take … heed to attend upon them, according to God Command, is to deſpiſe God. They who … der a pretence of liſting up Spiritual … munion with God, do throw dirt upon … the outward Means appointed in the Go… do certainly take God's Name in vain. P… reflect upon them, is to reflect upon the Author and Inſtitutor of them, who is God himſelf And for ſuch as live where the Mean… of … are to be enjoyed, and regard not to wa… … them, but frame all excuſes to abſent … ſelves from them, do thereby depreciate … Wiſdom and Sovereignty of God: Country to Lev. 26.2. Ye ſhall keep my ſabbaths, and … verence my ſanctuary: I am the Lord.
2. BY careleſs and unſuitable attending the Ordinances. There is Contempt as will … this, as in the other. There is an it reve… management of our ſelves about the Ordinances, which ſhews the Contempt of th… … really as the rejecting them. Ordinance … be abuſed as well as neglected. And whatſoever is contrary unto, or defective … th… due reſpect which is called for in the … vance of theſe Duties, is here forbidden. … this ſo done in three reſpects.
1. BY ruſking upon Ordinances without the Preparation. It is indeed the duty of Ch… ans to maintain holy frames, by which … may be diſpoſed for any Solemn Service… called to it. Hence to turn their b… any occaſion for it under ſuch a pro… vain & unjuſtifiable. But on the other hand, for Chriſtians to take no time to call th… ſelves up to Meditation on the things … are ſetting about, and to get in a … to meet with God in the ways of … … pointment; but to go the Houſe of …, and hear the Word, and fit at the Lord …, with a common frame of Spirit, is …ect of this Command. I am ſure the … could make ſuch a Profeſſion, Pſal. 57.7. …y heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, … …od ſing and give praiſe. And the neglect …, argues that we have not that venerable them of God, that is his due.
2. BY all manner of Irreverence i… … intending upon the Ordinances. And th… …ther in our Hearts or Geſtures. If we …y our Bodies, and leave our Hearts behind is, we break this Command. Ezek. 33.31. And …y come unto thee as the people cometh, and they …t before thee as my people, and they bear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their …th they ſhew much love, but their heart g…th after their coverouſneſs. If we come to as Ordinance, and do not carry in our minds the Preſence of God with his Appointments, and accordingly regard it not; when we …ech… that we have only to do with Men, and not with the Great GOD, and hence are not …ed with this Thought: when we ſuffer our Eyes … rove, …nd Thoughts to go out with them to …her Objects; when we uſe irreverend …res in the Houſe of God, or at any Religious Duty; when we Sleep at an Ordinance; … we Whiſper together and Laugh, and … thus from the Duty in hand: When … receive the Warnings, Counſels, Reproofs …red with Prejudice: When we are weary … wiſh the Ordinance were over, by reaſon of a low eſteem we have for the Truth … in it: We hereby ſhew a want of the … of God.
…. … a neglect to improve the Ordinances to the … or Purpoſes of them. God comes in … inſtruct and corroborate us in our …. There is therefore an after-uſe to be … theſe, by which only we can glorify Godly them. When therefore all our Zeal … …eligion terminates in the bare formal …dance on the Ordinances, and though … ſeem to be a little raiſed and engaged in … time, yet we go away, and leave all our … and Affection behind us. If we do not …e God's Counſels for our after Practice, … accordingly endeavour to live the Truths which we have been taught; if we do not … …is Warnings ſo as to be awed by them, … more watchful to our ſelves afterwards … Converſation: If we are not allured … the precious Promiſes to more deligent … delightful ſerving of God; we are as …, as fooliſh and lewd as before, and regard … …o… we live, but poſſibly are more bold …; we therein do abuſe the Appoint… of God, and pervert them from their … eſe; and becauſe his Name is on them, … thereby diſhonoured, and his Name pro…. In a Word, when Men make the Ordinances, inſtead of an… help to New Obedience … encouragement to a vain Converſation, … …over to any manner of Wickedneſs, … grievouſly tranſgreſs the Third Command. …, Mat. 23.14. Ye devour widows houſes, … for a pretence make long prayers.
…D let us be very heedful to our ſelves … account: For as there is a grievous …de in our corrupt Nature to this Sin, … is no little hazzard in our thus do… And if thus we take God's Name in … we thereby not only hinder our ſelves of the profit, which otherwiſe we might get … …eans of Grace, but we ſhall incur the … Diſpleaſure, and ſtir up the holy In…ion of that God againſt us, who will … that his Name ſhould be thus tramp… upon by thoſe that pretend to a Venera… of it.
[MAY 5. 1702.]