THIS commandment has two parts: First, A negative expressed ; that we must not take God's name in vain, viz. cast any rrflections and dishonour on God's name. Secondly, An affirmative implied ; that we shoi'.ld have a care to reverence and honour his name. But that I shall speak to more fully ^^'llen I come to the first petition in the Lord's ])raycr, "Hallowed be thy name." I shall now speak of the negative expressed in titis comniandmont, or the prohibition, " Tliou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." The tongue is an unruly member. All the parts and organs of the body are defiled with sin, as every branch of wormwood is bitter, " but the tongue is full of deadly poison," James iii. 8. There is no one member of tlie body doth more hreak forth into God's dishonour than the 'iongue ; therefore this commandment is a bridle for the tcmgue, — it is to bind the tongue to its good behaviour ; " Thou slialt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." And tliis prohibition is backed with a strong reason, " For the Lord will not hold him guiltless ;" that is he will not hold him innocent. Men of place and emi- nency take it heinously to have their names abused, and will inflict heavy penalties on the offenders : " The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." God looks upon him as a criminal person, and he will severely punish liim. Well then, the thing to be insisted on is, that
great care must be had that the holy and reverend name of God be not profaned by us, or taken in vain.
Quest. How many ways may we be said to take God's name in vain ?
Aus. 1. We take God's name in vain when we speak slightly and irreverently of his name, Deut xxviii. 58., " That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God." David speaks of God with reverence, Ps. 1. 1., " The Lord even the most mighty God." Ps. Ixxxiii. 18., " That men may know, that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most High over all the earth." And the disciples, speaking of Jesus, did hallow his name, Luke xxiv. 19., " Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God, and all the people." "WHjen we mention the names of kings, we give them some title of honour, as " excellent majesty," so should we speak of God with such sacred reverence as is due to the In- finite INIajesty of heaven. When we speak slightly of God or his works, God interprets it to be a contempt, and it is a taking his name in vain.
A. 2. When we profess God's name, but do not live answerably to it, it is a taking his name in vain, Titus i. 16., In words they profess Christ, " but in works they deny him." Wlien men's tongues and lives cross one another ; when under a mask of profession, men will lie and cozen, and be
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unclean, these make use of God's name to abuse him, they take his name in vain. Siinulata sanctilas duplex iniquitas. Rom. ii. 24., " The name of God is hlaspliemed among the Gentiles through you." When the heathens saw the Jews, who professed to be God's people, to be scandalous, this made them speak evil of God, and hate the true religion for their sakcs.
A. 3. We take God's name in vain when we use God's name in idle discourse. God is not to be spoken of but with an holy awe upon our hearts , and to bring God's name in at CA'ery turn, when we never think of God,— to say, ' O God !' or ' O Christ !' or, * As God shall save my soul !' this is tak- ing God's name in vain. And, how many are guilty in this kind ! Though they have God in their moutlis, tliey have the devil in tlicir hearts. 'Tis a wonder that fire (lotli not come out from the Lord and con- bu:ne tiicni, as it did Nadab and Abihu ! Lev. X. 2.
A. 4. We take God's name in vain, when we worsliip him with our lips, but not our hearts, this is to abuse God. 'Tis the heart which God calls for, Prov. xxiii. 26., " My son give me thy heart." The heart is the diiof tiling in religion ; it draws the will and affections after it, as the Prinutm mo- bile draws the other orbs along with it. The heart is the incense that perfumes our holy things, — it is the altar that sanctifies the offerinc". Now, when we seem to wor- ship God, but withdraw our heart from him, we take his name in vain, Isa. xxix. 13., " This peoj)le draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips they do honour nii', but thev have removed their heart from me."
]sf, Hypocrites take God's name in vain, — their religion is a lie, — they seem to ho- 1 our God, but they do not love him, — their Hearts go after their lusts, lios. iv. 8., " They set their hearts on their iniquity." Their eyes are lifted up to heaven, but their hearts are rooted in the earth, Ezek. xxxiii. 31. These are devils in Samuel's mantle, they take God's name in vain.
2d/i/, Suj)erstitious persons take God's name in vain. They bring (lod a few ce- remonies wliich he never appointed ; they bow at Christ's name, and cringe to the al-