A37046:515
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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 4. Question is, What may be said of Imprecations? Ans. Distinguish betwixt such as one useth against himself; as, Let me not see Heaven i• that be not Truth, or the like. 2. Such as are used against others, (I speak by private Persons,) as, Shame fall thee, Divil take thee, and the like; which are either Conditional, as, If thou do not such a thing, &c. or absolute, without any such Condition. We say then, 1. That keeping the Qualifications, formerly mentioned, and required to an Oath; one may in some cases lawfully use some Imprecations, even to ones self, the Scriptures having such Patterns in them; but with great Caution, Circumspection, and Tenderness.
2. Cursing of others by private Persons, out of Passion or Revenge, is simply prohibited, and that is several Respects. For 1. It derogateth from the Glory of God, if He be therein invocated in making Him subservient to our Passions, and to Execute our Revenge; or if He be not Invocated in these Imprecations; it's worse, because the Devil, or some other thing is put in His room▪ 2. It derogateth also from that love we owe to others.
2. Cursing of others by private Persons, out of Passion or Revengs, is simply prohibited, and that is several Respects. For 1. It derogateth from the Glory of God, if He be therein invocated in making Him subservient to our Passions, and to Execute our Revenge; or if He be not Invocated in these Imprecations; it's worse, because the Devil, or some other thing is put in His room▪ 2. It derogateth also from that love we owe to others.
3. As mentioning the Devil in such Imprecations, as Devil a bit, or Fiend, a Body, or such like, it is most Abominable: For thereby the Devil is employed in Gods Room, and God is forsaken; because there is no ground to expect a hearing of such a Suit from Him, and so you betake you to the Devil, praying him, employing him, reverencing and worshipping him; as if he were just, to Executer your Judgement, when God doth it not: And sometimes by such Imprecations; you call on the Devil who is the Father of Lies, to witness a Truth. Ah! How Abominable to be heard amongst Christians! Men need not go to the Wild-Indians, nor to Witches, to seek Worshippers of the Devil! Alas! There are many such to be found amongst Christians! How sound these Words? What Devil now! The Meckle Devil, &c. It is Horrible to mention, that which goeth out of some Mens mouths without any fear! What can be the Reason that Christians thus Worship the Devil, and swear by him, as Israel did by Baal?