Of the Third Precept of the Ten Commandments, and of Swearing. The Third Sermon
The third commandment of the first table is thus word for word: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; because the Lord will not let him go unpunished that taketh the name of the Lord his God in vain.” In the second commandment the Lord did set down the worship that he would not have, that he misliked of, and did flatly forbid; to wit, a worldly, earthly, and carnal kind of honour, a base
[[ ccelestia, Lat.] [5 prime tabulwe, seu Decalogi, Lat. ] [6 sive Decalogi, Lat. omitted. ]]
and vile kind of worship, a service that is directly contrary to the spirit, nature, and majesty of God; that is, to think that God will in shape resemble a man, or any other creature made of earth or corruptible stuff or matter; and then again, to worship him under those shapes and figures with corruptible things, that were first ordained and created for the use and behoof of men, and not of God. For God is an eternal Spirit, which goeth all over! and preserveth every thing; whom all the most excellent creatures of the whole world, if they were joined together in one, are not able to resemble, nor yet to represent the least jot of exceliency in the living God. God is so far from lacking any corruptible things, that he himself supplieth the want of all our necessities. It is a mere folly therefore to set up a percher?, a taper, or a smoky torch before the maker. and giver of light. It is a very toy to offer flesh of beasts to that eternal Spirit, who in the Psalms saith: All the beasts of the wood are mine, and the cattle in a thousand hills. I know all birds upon the mountains, and in my power are all the beasts of the field. If I be hungry, I need not to tell thee, since the world 1s mine, and all that is therein3.”
Now, therefore, in this third commandment the Lord doth very exquisitely, although very briefly, declare the manner how he will be worshipped, that is, in holy reverencing of his holy name. The names whereby God is called are God, God’s majesty, God’s truth, God’s power, and God’s justice. Now the charge of this commandment is, not to abuse the name of Godand not to use it in light and trifling matters; but to speak, to think, and judge honourably, reverently, holily, and purely of God and godly things. But the pith and effect almost of the whole lieth herein, that he saith, the name of the Lord thy God;” to wit, which is thy chief goodness and felicity, thy Creator, thy Redeemer, and thy tender Father. Now note, that the Lord doth not barely forbid to use his name; but he chargeth not to use it lightly or in vain, that is, beyond necessary use or our behoof, and beside the honour and glory of God. Let us see, therefore, how we ought to sanctify the Lord’s name, and how we may devoutly use the name of God, and, last of all, so worship him as he himself hath appointed us to do.
First of all, we have to think of God as of the chief feli- [! omnia permeans, Lat.]
[2 See page 199.] [3 Ps. 1. 10—12.]
city and infinite treasure of all good things, who loveth us exceedingly with a fatherly affection, always wishing and by all means desiring to have us men saved, and to come to the perfect knowledge of the very truth; whose judgments are true and just, whose works for their excellency are wonderful, and whose words are most true, and truth itself. Then must this holy name of God continually be called upon in prayers, need, and requests: by that alone we must look to obtain whatsoever is needful for our bodies or souls. We must never cease to give thanks to that for all the good benefits that we do or shall receive; for what good soever men have and enjoy, that have they not from elsewhere than from God, the fountain and giver of all. This glory must ever be given to God. If we be nipped with any adversity, let us not by and by murmur against God’s good pleasure and his secret judgments; but rather, suffering and submitting ourselves under his mighty and fatherly hand, let us say with the prophet David: “It is good for me, Lord, that thou hast chastened me?” Let not us appoint God what he shall do, but wholly and always submit ourselves to his good will and holy pleasure. Let us in all things give God the glory, in praising openly and plainly professing his name and doctrine before kings and princes, yea, and in sight of all the world, so often as occasion shall be given, and the glory of God shall seem to require. Let us not be ashamed of God our Father, of his truth and true religion. Let us not be ashamed of Christ our Redeemer, nor yet of his cross. But let us be ashamed of errors, idolatry, of the world and vanity, of lies and iniquity. Let us holily, reverently, and devoutly, both speak and think of God, his works, and his word. Let the law of God be holy to us, let his gospel be reverend in our eyes; and let the doctrine of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles be esteemed of us as that which came from God himself. Let us not take the name of the Lord our God into our mouths, unless it be in a matter of weight. Let us not blaspheme, curse, nor lie in the name of the Lord. Let us not use, nay, rather abuse, the name or word of God in conjuring, juggling, or sorcery: for in these things the name of God is most of all abused. Let us