A25294:1019
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The thirty six and seventh Lords day.
On Exod. 20. 7. Verse 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
The third command is here proposed, and its Sanction or Confirmation. The Command is concerning the manner of worshipping God, or the right use of such things, as have a special relation to God and his worship: For by the name of Jehovah, all is understood, whereby God is made known to us, or discernible, as a man is by his name. By taking of Gods name into our mouths, is understood then, the use of all such things; because things use to be taken up so commonly, that they may be applied unto use. And by in vain, or vainly, is understood all pravity of this use, by a Synecdoche of the special put for the more general kind; and that because a vain using of sacred and holy▪ things, is a grievous abuse of them, though there may be others that are more grievous, as when not only without their just and true end and fruit, they are used, or for no settled end, that is, rashly, or in vain; but also setledly and purposely, they turn and wrest them about to some wicked and impious uses. So then, by taking Gods name in vain, all abuse of sacred things is understood. The Sanction ⟨p. 234⟩of this precept is by its threatening; which is generally of all misery. This misery is explicated by its proper causes; that is, the prosecution of that guilt, which followeth the breach of this Command, God will not leave him or hold him guiltless, &c. For as the blessedness of a man is declared by the taking away of the guilt of sins,