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"Tis done! the great transaction's done!

I am my Lord's, and he is mine;

He drew me, and I followed on,

Charmed to confess the voice divine."— Doddridge.

QUEST. 53. Which is the third commandment?

ANS. The third commandment is, 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.

Ex. xx. 7. DEUT. V. 11.

This will be more fully explained in subsequent questions. "The literal meaning of this command is doubtful. It may mean, 'Thou shalt not utter the name of God in a vain or irreverent manner;' or 'Thou shalt not utter the name of God to a lie,' i.e., 'Thou shalt not swear falsely.' The ancient Syriac version, the Targum of Onkelos, Philo, and many modern commentators and exegetes, understand the command as directed against false swearing: 'Thou shalt not utter the name of God to a lie.' This interpretation is consistent with the meaning of the words. 'In vain' is elsewhere rendered 'falsehood.' See Ps. xii. 2, xli. 6; Isa. lix. 4; Hosea x. 4. To lift up, or pronounce the name of God for a lie, naturally means, to call upon God to confirm a falsehood. Compare Lev. xix. 12: 'Ye shall not swear by my name falsely.' The general import of the command remains the same, whichever interpretation be adopted. The command not to misuse the name of God includes false swearing, which is the greatest indignity which can be offered to God."-Dr. Hodge.

ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

The eminent Puritan divine John Howe, being at dinner with some persons of fashion, a gentleman expatiated largely in praise of Charles I., and made several disagreeable reflections on others. Mr. Howe, observing that he mixed many horrid oaths with his discourse, took the liberty to say that, in his humble opinion, he had omitted one great excellence in the character of that prince; and when the gentleman had pressed him to mention it, and waited with impatience to hear it, he told him it was this,-that he was never heard to swear an oath in common conversation! The gentleman took the reproof, and promised to break off the practice.

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,

God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

"Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,

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Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea,
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

'Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity."—Heber.

QUEST. 54. What is required in the third commandment? ANS. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works.

MATT. vi. 9. Our Father which art in fools: for they consider not that they do heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

ISA. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts.

Ps. cxi. 9. Holy and reverend is his

name.

DEUT. xxviii. 58. That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD.

REV. xv. 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy.

ECCLES. V. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of

evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ps. cxix. 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Ver. 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

Ps. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.

REV. XV. 3. Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

There are six terms employed here which show the wide range of this subject. I. God's names.--' --The name of God signifies generally all that by which he makes himself known, but specially those epithets by which he is designated. The latter are such as Jehovah, the self-existent; God, as sovereign; Lord, as governor.

II. God's titles.-These are significant, namely, as God of nature, Creator, Preserver, King of kings; as God of grace, God of salvation, Father of mercies, God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and the

names of the Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The persons of the Godhead have also separate titles.

III. God's attributes.-These are defined in the fourth question of the Catechism-infinity, eternity, unchangeableness, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

IV. God's ordinances.-These are what he has established in his Church, as revealed in Scripture-such as prayer, praise, the sacraments, the ministry, and oaths. Vows may belong to these also.

V. God's word.-The Bible is God's word, as inspired, infallible, and profitable to salvation. All are to be used in a holy and reverent manner. VI. God's works.-These are creation, providence, and redemption.

LESSONS.

1. It is our duty to know God as he has revealed himself.

2. Saving knowledge promotes reverence.

3. Oaths should only be used on solemn occasions.

ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Jews have had always very great reverence for the name of God. It has been said that every name of God is a secret chamber; his titles, cordials; his attributes, magazines of comfort and fountains of fulness; his ordinances, breasts of consolations; his word, a goodly heritage; and his works full of wonder.

Gregory the Great said that God's word was like a stream of running water, where an elephant might swim and a lamb wade without losing its feet.

King Alfred the Great wrote a copy of the Psalms of David, and carried it always in his bosom. Sir William Wallace, the national hero of Scotland, always carried a psalter with him; and when he was about to be executed in London, he caused it to be opened and held before his dying eyes.

On one occasion the Rev. Andrew Fuller, when travelling in the Portsmouth mail-coach, was much annoyed by the profane conversation of two young men who sat opposite to him. After a time, one of them, observing his gravity, accosted him with an air of impertinence, inquiring in rude and indelicate language whether on his arrival at Portsmouth he should not indulge himself in a manner corresponding with their own vicious intentions. Mr. Fuller, lowering his ample brows, replied in a measured and solemn tone, "Sir, I fear God." Scarcely a word was uttered during the remainder of the journey.

In an action with the French fleet in 1694-95, Captain Killigrew, on coming up with the French vessel Content, discovered that the whole of the crew were at prayers. He might have poured in his broadside with great advantage. This, however, he refused to do, saying, "It is beneath the courage of the English nation to surprise their enemies in such a posture." Killigrew died in the subsequent action, but this incident showed his

reverence.

A minister, sailing up the Hudson river half a century ago, was pained by the profaneness of a young man in the sloop. Seeking a favourable opportunity, he told him he had wounded his feelings by speaking against his best friend-his Saviour. The young man showed no relentings, and at one of the landings left the boat. The minister was pained, and feared that his labours were in vain. Seven years after, as this minister went to the General Assembly at Philadelphia, a young man accosted him, saying he thought he remembered his countenance, and asked him if he was not on board a sloop on the Hudson river seven years before with a profane young man. At length the circumstances were recalled to mind. "I," said he, "am that young man. After I had left the sloop, I thought I had injured both you and your Saviour. I was led to him for mercy, and I felt I must preach to others that love. I am now in the ministry, and have come as a representative to this Assembly."

"Yea, Amen! let all adore thee,

High on thine eternal throne:
Saviour, take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own;
O come quickly!

Hallelujah! come, Lord, come!"—Madan.

QUEST. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? ANS. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.

LEV. xix. 12. And ye shall not swear by | canst not make one hair white or black. my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.

MATT. v. 33. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Ver. 34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Ver. 35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Ver. 36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou

Ver. 37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

MATT. xxiii. 14. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer.

ISA. i. 13. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

"To profane or abuse any thing by which God maketh himself known, is to use his names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works in a rash, irreverent, and unbecoming manner."

I. By blasphemy, in thought, word, or deed.

1. Some do this in thought. "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity:" Ps. xciv. 11.

2. Some speak blasphemously, Ezek. xxxv. 13; by false doctrine regard

ing God, as Hymenæus and Alexander, 1 Tim. i. 19, 20; by profane swearing, Matt. v. 34-36, which is very common among men.

3. By blasphemous deeds, in an inconsistent life: Rom. ii. 24.

II. By profaning or abusing God's word or ordinances.

1. By total neglect of them: Acts xiii. 41.

2. By wicked observance of them: 1 Cor. xi. 27.

3. By hypocrisy: Isa. xxix. 13.

III. By profaning or abusing God's works.

1. The abuse of mercies of providence: 1 Tim. iv. 3-5.

2. Murmuring against providence: Jude 16.

LESSONS.

1. Guard against the irreverent use of God's name or word. 2. Perjury and profane swearing are great sins against God. 3. Beware of abusing any thing which belongs to God.

ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

"The profanation of the name of God has an evident tendency to lessen our admiration of the majesty of Heaven, and to banish from the mind every sentiment of veneration and reverence. On the other hand, universal reverence for the name and character of God would lead to the practice of all the duties of piety and morality."-Dick's "Philosophy of Religion."

Prince Henry, the son of James I. of England, had a particular aversion to the vice of swearing and profanation of the name of God. When at play he never swore, and on being asked why he did not swear at play as did others, he answered that he knew no game worthy of an oath. Again, when a butcher's dog had killed a stag that he was hunting, he remarked, "How could the butcher help it?" One of his huntsmen said that if his father had been served thus, he would have sworn so as no man could have endured it. "Away!" said the prince; "all the pleasure of the world is not worth an oath."

The learned and pious Dr. Desaguliers was once in the company of gentlemen of rank, one of whom swore habitually, yet at every oath asked the doctor's pardon. "Sir," at length said the doctor, "you have taken some pains to render me ridiculous by your pointed apologies; now, sir, I must tell you, that if God Almighty does not hear you, I assure you I will never tell him."

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The tract called "The Swearer's Prayer" has reproved many a profane swearer, and led such to pray for mercy. The oaths of many are shaped like prayers. One on hearing such an oath, with the words "for Christ's sake appended to it, said, “Friend, God has done many things for Christ's sake; suppose he should do that, what would become of you?" It was a word in season, and led the swearer to repentance.

It is related of the venerable Dr. Matthews, President of Hanover College, America, that on one occasion he was walking near the college, with his slow and noiseless step. A youth, who had not observed him approach, while engaged in cutting wood began to swear profanely in his vexation.

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