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CLXXXI. Oaths sworn to kings. Eccl. viii. 2. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Oaths exacted by kings from the people. See 1 Kings ii. 42.-xviii. 10. CLXXXII. The oath of a single person decides controversy. Exod. xxii. 10, 11. In cases of property where no other evidence can be had. Numb. v. 12 to 22. A woman's oath in case of jealousy without evidence against her.

CLXXXII. The duty and lawfulness of swearing upon proper occasions is urged not only from the foregoing scriptures, but also, from the following examples.

CLXXXIV. God promised upon oath to bless Abraham, and to multiply his offspring.

Gen. xxii. 15. The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham and said, Ver. 16. By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord,

Ver. 17. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore. Exod. xxxii. 13. Deut. xiii. 17.

CLXXXV. To give the land of Canaan. Gen. xxiv. 7. Abraham said, the Lord God of heaven sware unto me, saying, unto thy seed will I give this land. Ch. xii. 7.

xxvi. 2. The Lord appeared unto Isaac, and said,

Ver. 3. I will be with thee and will bless thee, for unto thee and unto thy seed, will I give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swear unto Abraham thy father. Ch. xxii. 16.-1. 24.

CLXXXVI. To fulfil his covenant. Deu. vii. 12. If ye hearken to these judgments and keep and do them, the Lord thy God will keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy, which he sware unto thy fathers. Ch. iv. 31. vii. 8.-viii. 18. ix. 5.-xxviii. 9.

To continue the seed of David. Ps. lxxxix. 3. I have sworn unto David my servant.

Ver. 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and will build up thy throne to all generations. Ver. 35, 49.

CLXXXVII. The perpetuity of Christ's priesthood. Heb. vii. 21. The Lord sware and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck. Ps. cx. 4. See Isa. xlv. 22, 23.

CLXXXVIII. To fuiful his threatenings against the unbelieving and disobedient.

Heb. iii. 18. To whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not. See Ňumb. xiv. 23.—xxxii. 10, 11. Judg. ii. 15. Jer. xlix. 13.-li. 14. Amos vi. 8. also Lev, xxvi and Deut. xxviii. referred to in these threatenings.

CLXXXIX. Example 2d. Jesus Christ answers upon oath, Matt, xxvi. 63, 64, tendered to him by the high priest.

CXC. Example 3d. The angel. Rev. x. 5, 6. The angel lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, that there shall be time no longer, &c.

CXCI. Example 4th. Asseverations of sincerity which are equal to an oath among Christians.

Rom. i. 9. God is my witness. Phil. i. 8. God is my record.

2 Cor. i. 23. I call God for a record upon my soul.

xii. 19. We speak before God in Christ. Ch. ii. 17. Gal. i. 20. Behold before God I lie not.

1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God.

CXCII. Ancient forms of swearing among men were, by lifting up

the hand.

Gen. xiv. 22. Abraham said, I have lift up my hand to the Lord. See Deut. xxxii. 40. Rev. x. 5. By putting the hand under the thigh of him that administered the oath. Gen. xxiv. 2, 3, 9.

The usual expressions were. 1 Sam. xxv. 34. As the God of Israel liveth. 1 Kings xvii. 1.-xviii. 15. 2 Kings iii. 14. As the Lord of hosts liveth. Ch. v. 16. 2 Kings ii. 2. As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth. Ch. iv. 30. 1 Sam. xx. 3. As thy soul liveth. Ch. xxvi. 26. 2 Sam. xi. 11.

CXCIII. Of blasphemy forbidden. Col. iii. 8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications.

CXCIV. Occasions of it to be avoided. 2 Sam. xii. 14. Nathan said to David, because by this deed, thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.

2 Sam. xii. 14. The child that is born unto thee, shall surely die. Isa. lii. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 20. Mal. ii. 17. Rom. ii. 24.

1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. Tit. ii. 5.

CXCV. From whence it proceeds. Matt. xv. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, false-witness, blasphemies. Mark vii. 22. Gen. vi. 5.-viii. 21.

CXCVI. Instances of blasphemers and their punishments. Lev. xxiv. 10. The son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, and a man of Israel strove together.

Ver. 11. And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed.

Ver. 14. The Lord spake unto Moses saying, bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp, and let all the congregation stone him. Ver. 16. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.

2 Kings xviii. 32, 33. and xix. 10. The King of Assyria's blasphemy. xix. 35, 36, 37. His punishment.

Ps. lxxiv. 10. O Lord, shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Ver. 18. Remember, O Lord, that the foolish people have blasphemed thy naine.

Isa. Ixv. 7. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; therefore will I measure their former works into their bosoms. Ezek. xx. 27.-xxxv. 12. Luke xxii. 65. Many other things blasphemously spake they against Jesus.

Acts xxvi. 11. I (Paul) compelled them to blaspheme, I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly.

xviii 6. The Jews opposed and blasphemed. Ch. xiii. 45.

1 Tim. i. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, whom I have delivered unto Satan. that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Tim. iii. 1. In the last days perilous times shall come. Ver. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers.

James ii. 7. Do not rich men blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called.

Rev. ii. 3. I know the blasphemy of them, which say they are Jews and are not.

xiii. 1. The beast had upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Ver. 5. There was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.

Ver. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell therein. xvi. 9. Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God. Ver. 11. 16.

CXCVII. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, its punishment. Matt. xii. 3. All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. Mark iii. 28. Luke xii. 10. 1 John v. 16.

CXCVIII. Persons unjustly accused and put to death for blasphemy. 1 Kings xxi. 10, 13. Naboth. Acts vi. 11, 13. Stephen. Jesus Christ. Matt. ix. 3.-xxvi. 65. Mark ii. 7. Luke v. 21. John x 33, 36.

CXCIX. Of vows. They are religiously to be fulfilled. Numb. xxx. 2. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Deut. xxiii. 21. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it, for the Lord thy God wiil surely require it of thee, and it would be a sin in thee.

Ver. 22. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. Prov. xx. 25. It is a snare after vows to make enquiry. Eccl. v. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, deter not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools, pay that which thou hast vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay. See Job xxii. 27. Ps. xxii. 25.—l. 14.—lvi. 12.—lxi. 5, 8, 13.—lxxvi. 11.—cxvi. 14, 18. Jer. xliv. 25. Nah. i. 15.

CC. Vows to do duty. Instances. Gen. xxviii. 20. Jacob vowed a vow saying, if God will be with me and keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, then shall the Lord be my God. Ver. 21. Ch. xxxi. 13. Numb. xxi. 2. 1 Sam. i. 11, 28. Ps. cxxxii. 2. Jonah i. 16.-ii. 9.

CCI. Sinful vows. Judg. xi. 30 to 39. Jephtha's vow.

Mal. i. 14. To vow a corrupt thing.

Lev. xxvii. The redemption of things vowed.

Numb. xxx. 3, &c. A woman's vow in her virginity and married state, in what cases binding.

vi. 2, &c. Of a Nazarite's vow. Concerning Nazarites, See Judg. xiii. 5, 7.—xvi. 17. Lam. iv. 7. Amos ii. 11, 12.

COMMANDMENT FOURTH.

CCII. Of the Sabbath. Exod. xx. 8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, &c. Ver. 9, 10, 11,

Exod. xxxi. 13. Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep, for it is a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord which doth sanctify you. Gen. ii. 2, 3. Deut. v. 12, 15. Ezek. xx. 12. xliv. 24.

CCIII. The Sabbath a day of rest from servile work. Exod. xx. 10. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is is within thy gates. Ver. 11.

xvi. 23. The Lord said, to-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath.

Ver. 29. Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day, to gather manna.

xxiii. 12. Six days thou shalt do thy work, in the seventh day thou shalt rest, that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thine handmaid, and the stranger may be refreshed. Ch. xxxiv. 21.-xxxv. 23. Deut. v. 14, 15.

Jer. xvii. 21. Thus saith the Lord, take heed to yourselves and bear no burthen on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of

Jerusalem.

your

Ver. 24. Neither carry forth a burthen out of houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work. Luke xxiii. 56. Heb. iv. 9. CCIV. The duties of the Sabbath, worshipping God, reading, hearing his word, &c.

Lev. xix. 30. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary, I am the Lord. Ch. xxvi. 2.

Ezek. xlvi. 3. The people shall worship before the Lord in the Sabbaths.

Mark vi. 2. When the Sabbath day was come, Jesus began to teach

in the synagogue.

Luke iv. 16. Jesus, as his custom was, went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read.

Ver. 31. He came to Capernaum and taught them on the Sabbath day. Ch. xiii. 10.

Acts xiii. 14. The disciples went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Ver. 15. After the reading of the law and the prophets,

Ver. 16. Paul stood up and said, men of Israel, and ye that fear God give audience.

Ver. 27. The prophets are read every Sabbath day.

Ver. 42. The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached unto them the next Sabbath.

Ver. 44. The next Sabbath day came almost the whole city toge ther to hear the word of God.

xv. 21. Moses hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

xvii. 2. Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbaths reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

Ver. 3. Opening and alledging that Christ must needs have suf fered.

xviii. 4. Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath.

CCV. Works of charity and mercy to be done on the Sabbath day. Instances. Matt. xii. 1. Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the

corn, and his disciples being an hungred began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. Mark ii. 23.

Matt. xii. 2. The Pharisees said, thy disciples do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath.

Ver. 3. Jesus said, have ye not read what David did?

Ver. 5. Have ye not read in the law, &c.?

Ver. 7. I will have mercy and not sacrifice.

Ver. 12. It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day.

Ver. 13. He healed the withered hand. Mark iii. 2, 4. Luke vi. 9. Mark ii. 27. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Luke xiii. 15. The Lord said, doth not each of you loose his ox or his ass on the Sabbath day? Ch. xiv. 3, 5.

Ver. 16. And ought not this women to be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath day? See John v. 8, 9, 10, 18.—vii. 22.—ix. 14.

CCVI. Promises to them that keep the Sabbath. Isa. lvi. 2. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.

Ver. 4. Thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant. Ver. 5. Even unto them, will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters, &c. Ver. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his ser vants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant.

Ver. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.

lviii. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasures, nor speaking thine own words.

Ver. 14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob.

CCVII. The care of God's people to sanctify the Sabbath themselves, and to prevent the profaning it by others.

Neh. x. 29. They entered into an oath, and into a curse to walk in God's law.

Ver. 31. And if the people of the land bring ware, or any victuals, on the Sabbath day to sell, not to buy it of them on the Sabbath.

xiii. 15 In those days I saw in Judah, some treading wine pressés on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and leading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burthens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I testified against them, in the day wherein they sold victuals.

Ver. 16. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Ver. 17. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day?

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