A. That it is highly sinful and dangerous to innovate and prescribe by human authority such symbolical rites in the worship of God, as he never appointed or allowed in his word ; Matth. xv. 9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Q. 12. What is the fourth instruction hence?
A. Hence we learn how much parents and children are obliged to worship God constantly, spiritually, and agreeably to his will revealed in his word ; otherwise the jealousy of God will visit them both in •the way of judgment : For as obedience entails a blessing, so disobe- dience entails a curse on posterity ; Exod. xxxiv. 14. For thou shalt
230 A>; EXPOSITION? OF THE ASSEMBLY^'s CATECHISM.
worship no other god ; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is si jealous God.
Of the tim'd Commandment.
Quest. 53. W HIGH is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, [Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord xvill not hold him g'uiltless, that takeih his name in vain.'\
Quest. .54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The tJiird commajidment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and woi-ks.
Quest. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment Jbrbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.
Quest. 5^. What is the reason annexed to the third command- ment ?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judg- ment.
Q. 1. How doth this commandment differ from the first and se- cond ?
A. The first hath respect to the object of worship, forbidding us to worship any other but God. The second respects the means of worship, forbidding us to worship God by any other means than what he hath prescribed. But the third respects the manner of his wor- ship, forbidding all careless, or profane use of his name, and conv- manding an holy reverence from us in all our solemn addresses to him, or ordinary mention of his name. Mai. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master : If then I be a father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a master, where is my fear! saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name : And ye say. Wherein have we despised thy name ?
Q. % What is the first thing especially required in the third com- mandment ?
A. It requires the most awful and reverential frame of our hearts in all our approaches to God ; Psal. Ixxxix. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints ; and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. And in his worship ; John iv. 24. God is a Spirit ; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Q. 3. AVhat is the second thing required in this commandment ?
A. It requires truth in our witness-beaiing, as knowing God seeth our hearts, and is witness to all that we think or speak ; Zech. v. 4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name, &c.
Q. 4. What is the third thing required in this commandment ?
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASST.MBLY's CATECHISM. -^1
A. That in all our appeals to God in secret, or doubtful matters, we be sure that the appeal be necessary, awful, and true ; Jer. xvii, 16. As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow tliee, neither have I desired the woeful day, thou knowest : that which came out of my lips was right before thee. Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24. Search me, O God, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me ; and lead me in the way everlasting.
Q. 5. What doth this commandment especially forbid ?
A. It forbids and condemns all profane oaths, as most injurious to the name of God, Matth. v. 34, 37. — Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, &c. But let your communication be, Yea, yea ; Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil.
Q. 6. AVhat is the danger of profane or false swearing ?
A. Such are reckoned enemies to God, Psalm cxxxix. 20. Thine enemies take thy name in vain. The curse of God enters into such families. Zech. v. 4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name, &c. And the Lord will not hold them guiltless.
Q. 7. What else is forbidden in this commandment.?
A. It forbids and condemns all heedless, wandering, and drowsy performance of God's worship; Isa. xxix. 13, 14. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men : Therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work, and a wonder ; for the w isdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. And 2 Kings x. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel, with all his heart : for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
Q. 8. What other sin is forbidden in this command ?
A. It forbids all light and irreverent use of the scriptures, espe- cially in our jests, or by way of scoffing ; Jer. xvii. 15. Behold, they say unto me. Where is the word of the Lord ? Let it come now. Jer. vi. 10. — Behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Q. 9. By what argument doth God enforce the third command- ment on men ?
A. That the breakers of this commandment shall surely be punish- ed by the Lord, either in this life, Deut. xxviii. 58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God : Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and
232 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
sore sickness, and of long continuance : Or in that to come, Rom, ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God : Except they repent and reform.
Q. 10. What is the first instruction from the third command- ment ?
A. That great and infinite is the patience of God in forbearing and provoking sinners so long as he doth ; Rom. ix. 22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, en- dured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruc- tion ?
Q. 11. What is the second instruction from hence.''