A37049:508
A37049:508
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
5. A good end is to be proposed, namely one of these three, God's Honour, the good of others, or our own necessary vindication in something, that so it be not taken to no purpose.
There is this difference betwixt this Command and others; in other Commands, God expresseth the highest degree of every kind of sin, to scare men from the breaches of these Commands; ⟨p. 124⟩here he mentioneth not Forswearing or Blasphemy, but taking the •ord's Name in vain▪ which is the lowest degree of that kind; that by this God may teach us what reverence we owe to Him, and of what large extent the Command is, and how careful he would have us to be, lest we should come upon the borders of any thing that seemeth to be a breach of it.
If it be asked, Why the Lord is so peremptory in urging this Command, and in pressing the thing here commanded in the very lightest?
If it be asked, Why the Lord is so peremptory in urging this Command, and in pressing the thing here commanded in the very leightest?
Answ.
1. That he may in this set out his own Greatness, and work a fear and reverence of him in the hearts of his people; therefore will he have them reverently using that which concerneth him, that the due distance betwixt God that is in Heaven, and Creatures that are on Earth, may be imprinted on us, and entertained by us, Eccles. 5.1, 2, 3. Lev. 22.31, 32. Psal. 89.9.
2. Because his Name, whereby he holdeth forth something of himself, or that infinite excellent Being, called God, is great, dreadful and glorious, and is so to be had in reverence, Psal. 111. that more than ordinary watchfulness should be used in testifying our respect to it.
2. Because his Name, whereby he holdeth forth somthing of himself, or that infinit excellent Being, called God, is great, dreadful and glorious, and is so to be had in reverence, Psal. 111. that more than ordinary watchfulness should be used in testifying our respect to it.
3. Because this is the way to curb Atheism and Profanity, which the Devil driveth on by these steps; first to think little of God, and then by little and little to inure men to profanity, and habituate them to baffle and affront the Name of God: Hence it is that he takes possession, mainly, of young ones this way; and hardly ye will see any that irreverently meddleth with the Name of God, but they are gross, or fall at length to be gross, in other things.
3. Because this is the way to curb Atheism and Prophanity, which the Devil driveth on by these steps; first to think little of God, and then by little and little to inure men to prohanity, and habituate them to baffle and affront the Name of God: Hence it is that he takes possession, mainly, of young ones this way; and hardly ye will see any that irreverently medleth with the Name of God, but they are gross, or fall at length to be gross, in other things.
4. God's Name is precious, and given to his people for a great refuge, Prov. 18.10. therefore will he not have that which is their singular mercy to be abused.
5. God is a Friend in Covenant, yet so as that relation may not in the least wear out his honour and our due distance with him, Deut. 28.58. Its the great and dreadful Name, the Lord our God.
6. Because this honoureth God, and adorneth the profession of the Gospel before others, whereas Irreverence therein dishonoureth God before them.
For more particular considering the matter and breaches of this Command, we shall draw it to these heads; and 1. We shall speak to what concerneth Swearing, Vowing, or public Cov •nanting with God 2. To what concern •h Blasphemy. 3. Concerning the taking of the Name of the Lord in vain, in worship, private or public, particularly, how it is taken in vain by Hypocrisy. 4. Of taking it in vain out of worship rashly and unnecessarily. 5. How it is taken in vain in our conversation, as others are occasioned or caused to Blaspheme God's Name by our carriage. 6. Concerning Lots, &c. These we shall consider, especially with respect to our practise.
For more particular considering the matter and breaches of this Command, we shall draw it to these heads; and 1. We shall speak to what concerneth Swearing, Vowing, or publick Cov •nanting with God 2. To what concerne •h Blasphemy. 3. Concerning the taking of the Name of the Lord in vain, in worship, private or publick, particularly, how it is taken in vain by Hypocrisie. 4. Of taking it in vain out of worship rashly and unnecessarily. 5. How it is taken in vain in our conversation, as others are occasioned or caused to Blaspheme God's Name by our carriage. 6. Concerning Lots, &c. These we shall consider, especially with respect to our practise.
In speaking of what concerneth Oaths, we would 1. speak of an Oath. 2. Of the Obligation of it, for this Command both requireth Oaths, and the keeping of them, and it may be broken in reference to both.
We would in the entry distinguish betwixt these four 1. Oaths. 2. Asseverations. 3. Simple affirmations or Assertions. 4. Imprecations or Curses.
2. Asseverations (called vehement Assertions) are expressed thus, As the Lord liveth, As that Light shineth, in Conscience, Faith, &c.