Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Now note by the way, that there are sundry ways, whereby we abuse ¹the name of God, and first of all we abuse it as often as our harts are with out all reverence to God him self, when we do unreverently, filthily, wickedly, and blasphemously speak of God, of his judgements, of his word and of his laws: when we do with scoffing allusions, apply Gods words to light matters and trifles, by that means turning and drawing the Scriptures into a profane and unhonest meaning. Moreover, we do disgrace yt name of the Lord our God, when we call not upon his name, but turn our selves rather to, I know not what sort of Gods, to mans skill and succour, to things forbidden, to Idols, and conjurers, which we fall a doing then especially, when being wrapped in misery and calamities, either for our sins, or else because God will try us, we do presently begin to murmur against God, and to accuse his judgements, hardly abstaining from open blasphemy, in grudging to bear the things, that for our deserts we do worthily suffer. Here unto belongeth the abuse of beastly knaves, which do not stick to use the holy name of God in obtaining their filthy lusts, which they call love, and also the naughtiness of them, that thereby seek to find and recover the things that are lost, or else are stolen from them. We do unhallow the name of the Lord our God, when we give not to him all honour and glory. We shall peradventure do some good deed, there is perhaps in us something worthy to be praised: if we therefore shall challenge the praise thereof to our selves, or at the least, shall pare out a piece of that glory for our own share, and give the rest to God, not referring it all and whole to God the author of all, then do we therein defile the name of God, which ought alone to be praised for ever and ever. Furthermore, if we deny the Lord, or blush at, and be ashamed of his holy Gospel, because of this wicked world and the naughty men therein: if also we do spot our selves with a filthy and unclean life, which is to the slander of Gods name, and the offence of our neighbour, then do we take the Lords name in vain, yea, we abuse it to his dishonour and reproach. We do abuse the name of the Lord, if we take a solemn oath in a trifle or matter of no effect, or if we do not keep & perform the oath that we have sworn.

Nowe note by the way, that there are sundry wayes, whereby we abuse ¹the name of God, and first of all we abuse it as often as our harts are with out all reuerence to God him selfe, when we do vnreuerently, filthily, wickedly, and blasphemously speake of God, of his iudgements, of his word and of his lawes: when we doe with scoffing allusions, apply Gods wordes to light matters and trifles, by that meanes turning and drawing the Scriptures into a prophane and vnhonest meaning. Moreouer, we do disgrace yt name of ye Lord our God, whē we call not vpon his name, but turne our selues rather to, I knowe not what sort of Gods, to mans skill and succour, to things forbidden, to Idols, and coniurers, which we fall a doing then especially, when being wrapped in miserie and calamities, eyther for our sinnes, or else bycause God will trie vs, we doe presently beginne to murntur againste God, and to accuse his iudgementes, hardly absteining from open blasphemie, in grudging to beare the things, that for our desertes we do worthily suffer. Here vnto belongeth the abuse of beastly knaues, whiche doe not sticke to vse the holy name of God in obteining their filthy lustes, whiche they call loue, and also the naughtinesse of them, that therby seeke to finde and recouer the thinges that are lost, or else are stolne from them. We doe vnhallowe the name of the Lord our God, when we giue not to him all honour and glory. We shall peraduenture do some good déede, there is perhaps in vs somthing worthy to be praysed: if we therfore shall challenge the praise thereof to our selues, or at the leaste, shall pare out a péece of that glory for our owne share, and giue the rest to God, not referring it al and whole to God the authour of all, then doe we therein defile the name of God, which ought alone to be praysed for euer and euer. Furthermore, if we denie the Lorde, or blushe at, and be ashamed of his holy Gospell, bycause of this wicked world and the naughtie men therein: if also we doe spot our selues with a filthy and vncleane life, which is to the slander of Gods name, and the offence of our neighbour, then doe we take the Lordes name in vaine, yea, we abuse it to his dishonour and reproche. We do abuse the name of the Lorde, if we take a solemne othe in a trifle or matter of no effect, or if we do not kéepe & performe the othe yt we haue sworne.