Samuel Crook on the Third Commandment

VirginiaHuguenot · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 01:26 PM

Samuel Crook, The Guide Unto True Blessedness, pp. 99-103:

Quote:

Sect. XXVII.

Of the third Commandment.

1. Q. What are the words of the third Commandment?

A. Thou fhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, &c.

2. Q. What is the meaning of this Commandment?

A. That we impeach not, but by all means advance the glorious name of God, in all things, whereby he maketh himfelf known to men, as his holy Titles, and Attributes, Word, and Works; and that under a dreadful penalty, viz. that howfoever mans law, for the moft part, taketh not hold of offenders in this kinde, yet God will not acquit them, nor fuffer them to efcape his righteous, and fearful judgment.

3. Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment?

A. Every wrong offered to the name and glory of God, as namely hypocrifie; the evil life of profeffors; fhrinking in case of peril, and denying God the honor of our fuffering for him; abufing his Word, or any part thereof, unto idel and curious queftions, jefting and profane mirth, defence of error, charms or forceries, &c. Unreverent mention of his Titles, as Lord, God, Jefus &c. in foolifh admonition; idle wifhes, imprecations, and curfings, &c. murmurning at his providence, under the names of fortune and chance; prefuming upon his mercy, to harden our hearts in finning; cavilling at the doctrine of predestination, &c. not feeing God in his works or not ufing them as we ought. Finally, in an oath, whether by fwearing by an Idol, or by calling God for a witnefs, either of vain and frivolous things ufual fwearing, or of our furious anger by paffionate fwearing, or of an untruth by forfwearing.

4. Q. What is required in this Commandment?

A. Whatfoever may advance Gods glory; as the holy converfation of profeffors; yea, martyrdom, if caufe be; reverent mention of the Titles, Attributes, Word, and Works of God; efpecially obferving and recounting, what fpecial mercies he hath vouchfafed us in particular; receiving, and ufing all the Creatures of God to his glory, with thankfgiving: Finally, in the matter of an oath, when we fwear

1. In truth affirming what we know to be true, and verifying by deed what we undertake.

2. In judgment, which is a due confideration both of the nature, and greatnefs of an oath, wherein God is taken to witnefs againft the foul of the fwearer, if he deceive; and of the due calling, and warrant of an oath, whether publike, being demanded by the Magiftrate, without peril to the fwearer, or private, in cafe of great importance, when the truth cannot otherwife be cleared.

3. In righteoufnefs, that is, both in the due form, viz. by God alone, not by any Creature, or Idol; and to a right end, which is the glory of God, and peace among men.

5. Q. What are the helps or hinderances of the obedience of this Commandment?

A. Firft, that we both enure our hearts to fear and reverence the great and dreadful name of the Lord our God, and keep a careful watch over our lips, and lives, left by any means we difhonor him.

Secondly, that we avoid both the company of profane perfons, who fet their mouth againft Heaven, and all unneceffary dangers, whereby divers have been occafioned to deny the Lord.