that is, he will be severely avenged on such an one. " The Lord will not hold him guiltless." Here the Lord speaks after the manner of a judge who holds the court of assize; the judge here, is God himself; the accusers, Satan, and a man's own con- science; the matterof factis, "TakingGod's name in vain ;" the malefactor accused is found "fuiltv, and condemned ; " The Lord will not hold him guiltless." Methinks these words, " The Lord will not hold him guiltless," may set a lock upon our lips, and make us afraid of speaking any thing that may redound dishonour u])on God, or may be a taking his name in vain. " The Lord will not hold him guiltless." It may be men may hold such guiltless, when they curse, swear, speak irreverently of God; )>ie?i may hold them guiltless, let them a- lone, not punish them. If one takes away another's good name, he shall be sure to be punished : but if he takes away God's good name, where is he that doth punish him ? He that robs another of his goods shall bo put to death ; but he that robs God of his glory, by oaths and curses, he is spared ; but God himself will take the matter into his own hand, and he will punish him who takes his name in vain.
1. Sometimes God punishes swearing and blasphemy in this life. 1.*^^^, Swearing. In the country of Samurtia there arose a great tempest of thunder and lightning: a soldier burst forth into swearing, — but the (emj)est tearing up a great tree by the root, it fell upon him, and crushed him to pieces. The German history relates of a youth, who was given to swearing, and did use to invenl new oaths, the Lord sent a canker into his mouth, which did eat out his tongue, where- upon he died. 2d!f/, Blasphemy. He who did blaspheme God, the Lord caused him to be stoned to death, Lev. xxiv. 11, 23., " The Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that thev should brinff forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones." Olynipias, an Arian bishop, reproached and blasphemed the sacred Trinity, whereupon he was suddenly struck with three Hashes of lisfhtnine which burned him to death. Felix, an officer of Julian, seeing the holjr
OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
27ft
vessels which were used in tlic sacrament, said, in scorn of Christ, " See what precious vessels the Son of Mary is served withal !" Soon after he was taken witli a vomitincr of l)lood out of his hlasj)hemous moutli, where- of lie died.
2. Or, if Cod should not execute judfj- ment on the profaners of his name in this life, yet their doom is to come ; God will
not remit their guilt, hut deliver them to Satan the j^aolcr, to torment them for ever. If God justify a man, who shall condemn him? But if Cod condemn him, who shall justify him? If God lay a man in prison, where shall he {jet hail or main-prize? God will take his full l)l()\v at the sinner in hell, Ileh. X. 31., " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
ExoD. XX. 8. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work : Bui the seventh day is the Sabbath of the lA)rd thy God ; in it thou shalt not do any ivork, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant^ nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is icithin thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it.
THIS commandment was engraven in stone by God's own finger, and it will be our comfort to have it engraven in our hearts. — The sabbath-day is set apart for God's solemn worship ; it is (lod's enclo- sure, and it must not be alienated t<> com- mon uses. The Lord hath set a preface be- fore this commandment, — he hath put a memento to it, — " Remember to keep the sabbath-day holy." This word, " remem- ber," shews that we are apt to forget sab- bath holiness ; therefore we need a me- morandum to put us in mind of sanctifying this day.
rl shall explain the word. I. Here is a solemn command, " Remem- ber the sabbath- day to keep it holy."
II. Many cogent arguments to induce us to observe the command.
I. In the command, (1.) The matter of it, viz. The sanctifying of the sabbath, which sabhath-sanctification consists in two things: — 1. In resting from our own works. — 2. In a conscientious uischarge of our religi- ous duty.
(2.) The persons to whom the command of sanctifying the sabbath is given: 1st, Eeither superiors, and they are, 1. More private, as parents and masters. Or, 2. More public, as Magistrates. Or, 2(liy, Inferiors. 1. Natives, as children and ser- vants, " Thy son, and thy daughter, thy j
man-servant, and thy maid-servant." 2. Foreigners, " The stranger that is within thy gates."