were allowed, there would be no living in a commonwealth, it would take away all faith and truth from among men. The per- jurer is in as bad a case as the witch ; for by a false oath he binds his soul fast to the devil. In forswearing or taking a false oath in a court, there are many sins linked toge- ther,— plurima peccata in uno : for besides the taking of God's name in vain, the per- juror is a thief, — by his false oath, he robs the innocent of his right, — he is a pervert- er of justice, — he doth not only sin himself, but occasions the jury to give a false ver- dict, and the judge to pass an unrighteous sentence; and sure God's judgments will find him out. When God's flying-roll or curse goes over the face of the earth, into whose house doth it enter ? " Into the house of him who swears falsely : and it shall consume the timber and stones of his house," Zech. A'. 4. Beza relates of a perjurer, that he had no sooner taken a false oath, but he was immediately struck with an apoplexy, and never spake more, but died. O tremble at such horrid impiety !
A. 8. We highly take God's name in vain, when we prefix God's name to any wicked action. I say the mentioning of (lod to a wicked design, is taking his name in vain. 2 Sam. xv. 7., " I pray, (saithi Absalom) let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron.'' This pi-etence of paying his vow made to God, was only to colour over his treason, ver. 10., " When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigneth." When any wicked action is baptized with the name of religion, this is taking God's name in vain. Herein the ])ope is highly guilty when he sends out his bulls of ex- ciunmunication or curses against the Chris- tian ; he begins with. In nomine Dei, — in tlie name of God. What a ])rovoking sin is this ! It is to do the devil's work, and' put God's name to it.
A. 9. We take God's name in vain, when we use our tongues any way to the disho- nour of God's name ; as when we use rail- ing, or curse in our passions ; esj)ecially, wiien we wish a curse upon ourselves if a thing b(! not so when we know it to be false. I have read of one who wished his body mi'Hit rot if tliat which he said was not
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OF THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
true: aiul soon after his body rotted, and be Vjc'came a loatlisome spectacle.
A. 10. We take God's name in vain by rasli a!id unlawful vows. There is a good vow when a man binds himself by a vow to (io thiit which the word binds him to; as, it' he he sick, he vows if God restore him, lie will live a more strict holy life, Ps. Ixvi. 13., " I v.'ill pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered when I was in trouble." But vovtri non debet quod Deo displicet : Buch a vow should not be made as is dis- pleasing to God, — as to vow voluntary po- verty, as your friars, — or to vow to live in nunneries. Jephtha's vow was rash and unlawful ; he vowed to the Lord to sacrifice that to him which he met with next, and it was his daughter. Judges xi. 31, 34. He did ill to make the vow, and worse to keep it he became guilty of the breach of tlie third and sixth commandments.
A. 11. Wlien we speak evil of God, now we take his name in vain, Ps. Ixxviii. 19., " They spake against God." Quest. How do we speak against God ? Ans. When we murmur at his providences, as if he had dealt hardly with us. Mui-muring is the accusing of God's justice. Gen. xviii. 25., " Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" Murmuriug springs from a bitter root, — it comes from pride and discontent, • — it is a reproaching of God and a high taking his name in vain. It is such a sin as God cannot bear. Numb. xiv. 27., " How long shall I bear with this evil congrega- tion that murmur against me ?"
A. 12. And lastly, we take God's name in vain, when we falsify our promise : to Kay, if God spare us life we will do this, and n<'ver intend it. Our promise should be sacred and inviolable ; but, if we make no reckoning to make a j)romise, and men- tion God's name in it, yet never intend to keep it, it is a double sin ; it is telling a lie, and taking God's name in vain. I should come now to the affirmative implied; but
hereafter
Use. Take heed of t.'dcing God's name in vain any of these ways. Remember this commination and threatening in the text, " The Lord will not hold him guiltless." Here is a mciosis, — less is said, and )nore in- tended " He will not liold him guiltless;"