Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For it followeth in the words of ¹the Lord, what punishment abideth for them that so disgrace his name, Because saith he, the Lord will not let him go unpunished, that taketh his name in vain. And although this commination of the Lord is very horrible in deed, and of it self effectual enough to make the godly sort afraid to pollute the name of God, yet nevertheless, I will add one example or twain of them, whom the Lord hath punished for defiling his name. David crieth out, and saith: The unrighteous shall not stand in thy sight O Lord: thou hatest them that work iniquity: thou shalt destroy all them that speak lies. But how much more likely is it, that the Lord will destroy all them that speak blasphemy, and abuse his holy name? Saul verily because he called not upon the Lord in his extreme necessity, but asked counsel of the Pythoness, was compelled to kill him self with his own hand, after he had seen his people down right slain by the Philistines his enemies, and his sons lye dead in the midst of the people. Ananias lieth to the holy Ghost, and defileth the name of the Lord, and falling down suddenly dead to the ground, down he goeth with shame enough to the devil of hell. Sennacherib blasphemeth the name of the eternal God before the walls of Jerusalem, but anon after, he is for his labour bereft of his puissant army, and in his own Gods temple, is shot through by his own sons. Jehoiachim and Zedechias both Kings of Judah, and blasphemers of Gods name, are taken captives, & slain by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Ahab, Jezebel, and the Priests of Baal are utterly wiped out by king Jehu, because they under the colour of god and godliness, blasphemed the name of God, and persecuted the true religion. In the. 24. of Leviticus, he that blasphemed the name of god, was overwhelmed with stones to death.

For it followeth in the wordes of ¹the Lorde, what punishment abideth for them that so disgrace his name, Bycause sayth he, the Lorde will not let him goe vnpunished, that taketh his name in vaine. And although this commination of the Lord is very horrible in déede, and of it selfe effectuall inough to make the godly sort afrayde to pollute the name of God, yet neuerthelesse, I will adde one example or twaine of them, whome the Lorde hath punished for defiling his name. Dauid cryeth out, and sayth: The vnrighteous shall not stand in thy sight O Lord: thou hatest them that worke iniquitie: thou shalt destroy all them that speake lies. But how much more likely is it, that the Lord will destroy all them that speake blasphemie, and abuse his holy name? Saule verily bycause he called not vpon the Lorde in his extreme necessitie, but asked counsell of the Pythonisse, was compelled to kill him selfe with his owne hande, after he had séene his people downe right slaine by the Phylistines his enimies, and his sonnes lye deade in the middes of the people. Ananias lyeth to the holy Ghoste, and defileth the name of the Lorde, and falling downe soudainly dead to the ground, downe he goeth with shame inoughe to the deuill of hell. Sanherib blasphemeth the name of the eternal God before the walles of Ierusalem, but anon after, he is for his labour bereaft of his puissant armie, and in his owne Gods temple, is shot through by his owne sonnes. Iehoiachim and Zedechias both Kings of Iuda, and blasphemers of Gods name, are taken captiues, & slayne by Nabuchodonosor King of Babylon. Achab, Iesebel, and the Priestes of Baal are vtterly wypte out by king Iehu, bycause they vnder the colour of god and godlinesse, blasphemed the name of God, and persecuted the true religion. In the. 24. of Leuiticus, he that blasphemed the name of god, was ouerwhelmed with stones to death.