Mal. iii. 5. I will be a swift witness against | liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousthe sorcerers and adulterers, against false ness. swearers, saith the Lord of hosts. Isa. xlviii. 1. Jer. v. 2. 9. Hos. x. 4. 1 Tim. i. 10. Instance, Matt. xxvi. 72. 74. Lev. v. 1 to 6. False swearers enjoined to make confession, offer sacrifice. Ch. vi. 2 to 6, and to make restitution to those they have injured. CLXIX. Swearing by the creatures. Matt. v. 34-36. Swear not at all; neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by Jerusalem, nor by thy head. Ver. 33. Jam. v. 12. Matt. xxiii. 16 to 22. Instances. Gen. xlii. 15, 16. By the life of Pharaoh. 1 Sam. xx. 3. As thy soul liveth. Ch. xxv. 26. 2 Sam. xi. 11. Heb. vi. 16. An oath for confirmation is an end of all strife. 2 Chron. vi. 22. CLXXVI. Such oaths to be carefully kept. Ps. xv. 1. Lord who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill ?— Ver. 4. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. xxiv. 3, 4. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. CLXXVII. The things to be sworn to, are, truth and duty. Deut. xxix. 10. You stand this day all of you before the Lord your God. Josh.-Ver. 12. That thou shouldst enter into the name covenant of the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day. Ver. 13, 14. CLXX. Swearing by other gods. xxiii. 7. Neither make mention of the of their gods, nor cause to swear by them. Jer. v. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and have sworn by them that are no gods. Hos. iv. 15. Amos viii. 14. Zeph. i. 4, 5. CLXXI. Swearing in common conversation forbidden. Matt. v. 34. Swear not at all; neither by heaven, &c. Ver. 35, 36. James v. 12. Above all things, my brethren, swear not; neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay, &c. CLXXII. Swearing to commit sin, or to encourage it. Instances. 1 Sam. xxviii. 10. Saul to the witch of Endor. Ps. cii. 8. David's enemies CLXXIII. Rash, unnecessary swearing. Instances.-Israel, Judg. xxi. 1 to 18.-Saul, 1 Sam. xiv. 24. 39. 45.-David, 1 Sam. xxv. 22.-Joab, 2 Sam. xix. 7.- Herod, Mark vi. 23. : CLXXIV. The positive part of this commandment God only is to be sworn by. Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ch. x. 20. Isa. lxv. 16. He that sweareth shall swear by the God of truth. Jer. xii. 16. If they learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, &c. then shall they be built, &c. Heb. vi. 16. Men verily swear by the greater. 1 Kings viii. 31. Ps. lxiii. 11. CLXXV. The nature and duty of an oath. Jer. iv. 2. Thou shalt swear, The Lord 2 Chron. xv. 12. They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their soul.— Ver. 14, 15. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; and the Lord gave them rest on every side. Ezra x. 5. Ezra made the chief priest and Levites, and all Israel, to swear to a covenant with God. Ver. 3. Neh. x. 29. They entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in God's law. Isa. xix. 18. Five cities in the land of and swear to the Lord of hosts. Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan, xlv. 23. Unto me, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear. See Neh. xiii. Ps. cxix. 106.-cxxxii. 2. Ezek. xvi. Dan. ix. 11. Hab. iii. 9. 25. 59. CLXXIX. The breach of such oaths pu- | keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy, nished. 2 Sam. xxi. 1. 9. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 13. Ezek. xvii. 16. CLXXX. Private compacts ratified by oath. Gen. xxiv. 2. 9. 37. 41. Abraham takes an oath of his servant, concerning a wife to his son Isaac. xxv. 33. Esau sells his birth-right upon oath. xlvii. 29, 30, 31. Jacob takes an oath of Joseph concerning his burial. 1. 25. Joseph takes an oath of the children of Israel to carry his bones out of Egypt. Exod. xiii. 19. 1 Kings i. 13. 29. David by oath fixed Solomon to be his successor. 2 Kings xi. 4. Jehoiada takes an oath of the rulers to conceal Joash from his enemies. Neh. v. 12. Nehemiah takes an oath of the priests to do justice to injured persons. CLXXXI. Oaths sworn to kings. Eccl. viii. 2. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. which he sware unto thy fathers. Ch. iv. 31. -vii. 8.-viii. 18.-ix. 5.-xxviii. 9. Fo continue the seed of David, Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4. I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish for ever, and will build up thy throne to all generations. Ver. 35. 49. CLXXXVII. The perpetuity of Christ's priesthood. Heb. vii. 21. The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek. Ps. cx. 4. See Isa. xlv. 22, 23. CLXXXVIII. To fulfil his threatenings against the unbelieving and disobedient. Heb. iii. 18. To whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? See Numb. xiv. 23.-xxxii. 10, Amos vi. 8; also Lev. xxvi. and Deut. xxviii. 11. Judg. ii. 15. Jer. xlix. 13.-li. 14. referred to in these threatenings. CLXXXIX. Example 2d. Jesus Christ Oaths exacted by kings from the people. answers upon oath, Matt. xxvi. 63, 64, tenSee 1 Kings ii. 42.-xviii. 10. dered to him by the high priest. CLXXXII. The oath of a single person decides controversy. Exod. xxii. 10, 11. In cases of property, where no other evidence can be had. Numb. v. 12 to 22. A woman's oath in case of jealousy, without evidence against her. CLXXXIII. The duty and lawfulness of swearing upon proper occasions, is urged not only from the foregoing Scriptures, but also from the following examples. CLXXXIV. God promised upon oath, to bless Abraham, and to multiply his offspring. Gen. xxii. 15-17. The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore. Exod. xxxii. 13. Deut. xiii. 17. CLXXXV. To give the land of Canaan. Gen. xxiv. 7. Abraham said, the Lord God of heaven sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land. Ch. xii. 7. xxvi. 2, 3. The Lord appeared unto Isaac, and said, I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee and unto thy seed, will I give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham, thy father. Ch. xxii. 16.-L. 24. CLXXXVI. To fulfil his covenant. Deut. vii. 12. If ye hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, the Lord thy God will CXC. Example 3d. The angel. Rev. x. 5, 6. The angel lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, That there shall be time no longer, &c. CXCI. Example 4th. Asseverations of sincerity, which are equal to an oath among Christians. Rom. i. 9. God is my witness. Phil. i. 8. God is my record. 2 Cor. i. 23. I call God for a record upon my soul. xii. 19. We speak before God, in Christ. Ch. ii. 17. Gal. i. 20. Behold, before God, I lie not. men were-By lifting up the hand. Gen. CXCII. Ancient forms of swearing among xiv. 22. Abraham said, I have lifted up my hand to the Lord. See Deut. xxxii. 40. Rev. x. 5. By putting the hand under the thigh of him that administereth the oath. Gen. xxiv. 2, 3. 9. The usual expressions were: 1Sam. xxv. 34. 1 Kings xvii. 1. As the God of Israel liveth. 1 Kings xviii. 15. 2 Kings iii. 14. As the Lord of hosts liveth. Ch. v. 16. 2 Kings i 2. As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth. Ch. iv. 30. 1 Sam. xx. 3. As thy soul liveth. Ch. xxvi. 16. 2 Sam. xi. 11. CXCIII. Blasphemy forbidden. Col. iii. 8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications. CXCIV. Occasions of it to be avoided. | name of blasphemy.-Ver. 5, 6. There was 2 Sam. xii. 14. Nathan said to David, Because, given to him a mouth, speaking great things, by this deed, thou hast given great occasion and blasphemies. And he opened his mouth to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his child that is born unto thee shall surely die. name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell Mal. ii. 17. in heaven. Isa. lii. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 20. Rom. ii. 24. 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. Tit. ii. 5. CXCV. From whence it proceeds. Matt. xv. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, false witness, blasGen. vi. 5.phemies. Mark vii. 21, 22. viii. 21. CXCVI. Instances of blasphemers and their punishments. Lev. xxiv. 10. The son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, and a man of Israel strove together.-Ver. 11. And the Israelitish woman's son blas xvi. 9. Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God. Ver. 11. 21. CXCVII. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; its punishment. Matt. xii. 31. All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. Mark iii. 29. Luke xii. 10. 1 John v. 16. Acts vi. 11. 13. Stephen. Jesus Christ: See Matt. ix. 3.-xxvi. 65. СХСІХ. Of vows: they are religiously be fulfilled. Numb. xxx. 2. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. phemed the name of the Lord, and cursed.—to 2 Kings xviii. 32, 33, and xix. 10. The king of Assyria's blasphemy. Ch. xix. 35, 36, 37. His punishment. Ps. lxxiv. 10. O Lord, shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?-Ver. 18. Remember, O Lord, that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Isa. lxv. 7. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; therefore will I measure their former work into their bosoms. Ezek. xx. 27.-xxxv. 12. Luke xxii. 65. Many other things blasphemously spake they against Jesus. Acts xxvi. 11. I [Paul] compelled them to blaspheme. 1 Tim. i. 13. I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly. xviii. 6. The Jews opposed and blasphemed. Ch. xiii. 45. 1 Tim. i. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 2 Tim. iii. 1, 2. In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers. James ii. 7. Do not rich men blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? | Rev. ii. 3. I know the blasphemy of them, which say they are Jews and are not. Deut. xxiii. 21, 22. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee, and it would be a sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. Prov. xx. 25. It is a snare after vows to make inquiry. Eccl. v. 4, 5. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay. See Job xxii. 27. Ps. xxii. 25.-l. 14.—lvi. 12.— Ixi. 5. 8.—lxxvi. 11.-cxvi. 14. 18. Jer. xliv. 25. Nah. i. 15. CC. Vows to do duty. Instances. Gen. xxviii. 20. Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, then shall the Lord be my God. Ver. 21. Ch. xxxi. 13. Numb. xxi. 2. 1 Sam Ps. cxxxii. 2. Jonah i. 16.-ii. 9 i. 11. 28. CCI. Sinful vows. Judg. xi. 30 to 39. Jephtha's vow. Mal. i. 14. To vow a corrupt thing. Lev. xxvii. The redemption of things vowed. Numb. xxx. 3, &c. A woman's vow in her virginity, and married state, in what cases binding. vi. 2, &c. Of a Nazarite's vow. See also Judg. xiii. 5. 7.-xvi. 17. Lam. iv. 7. Amos xiii. 1 The beast had upon his heads theii. 11, 12. COMMANDMENT FOURTH. xvii. 2, 3. Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbaths reasoned CCII. Of the Sabbath. Exod. xx. 8. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, alleging that Christ must needs have suffered. with them out of the Scriptures; opening and &c. Ver. 9, 10, 11. ye xxxi. 13. Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you, that may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Gen. ii. 2, 3. Deut. v. 12—15. Ezek. xx. 12.-xliv. 24. CCII. The Sabbath a day of rest from servile work. Exod. xx. 10. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates.-Ver. 11. Ch. xviii. 4. Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. CCV. Works of charity and mercy to be done on the Sabbath-day. Instances. Matt. xii. 1. Jesus went on the Sabbath-day through the corn; and his disciples, being an hungered, began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. Mark ii. 23. xii. 2, 3. The Pharisees said, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath. Jesus said, Have ye not read what David did? -Ver. 5. Have ye not read in the law, &c.? xvi. 23. The Lord said, To-morrow is the-Ver. 7. I will have mercy and not sacrifice. rest of the holy Sabbath.-Ver. 29. Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day, to gather manna. xxiii. 12. Six days shalt thou do thy work, in the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger may be refreshed. Ch. xxxiv. 21.-xxxv. 2, 3. Deut. v. 14, 15. Jer. xvii. 21, 22. Thus saith the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burthen on the Sabbath-day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. Neither carry forth a burthen out of your houses on the Sabbath-day, neither do ye any work. Luke xxiii. 56. Heb. iv. 9. CCIV. The duties of the Sabbath; worshipping God, reading, hearing his word, &c. Lev. xix. 30. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. Ch. xxvi. 2. Ezek. xlvi. 3. The people shall worship be fore the Lord in the Sabbaths. Mark vi. 2. When the Sabbath-day was come, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue. Luke iv. 16. Jesus, as his custom was, went into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day, and stood up for to read.-Ver. 31. He came to Capernaum and taught them on the Sabbathdays. Ch. xiii. 10. Acts xiii. 14-16. The disciples went into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day. After the reading of the law and the prophets, Paul stood up and said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. Ver. 27. The prophets are read every Sabbath-day. Ver. 42. The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached unto them the next Sabbath.-Ver. 44. The next Sabbath-day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. xv. 21. Moses hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day. Ver. 12. It is lawful to do well on the Sab bath-days.-Ver. 13. He healed the withered hand. Mark iii. 2. 4. Luke vi. 9. Mark ii. 27. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Luke xiii. 15, 16. The Lord said, Doth not each of you loose his ox or his ass on the Sabbath-day? (Ch. xiv. 3. 5.) And ought not this woman to be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath-day? See John v. 8, 9, 10. 18.vii. 22.-ix. 14. CCVI. Promises to them that keep the Sabbath. Isa. lvi. 2. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it. Ver. 4, 5. Thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house, and within my walls, a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters, &c. Ver. 6. 7. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. lviii. 13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob. CCVII. The care of God's people to sanctify the Sabbath themselves, and to prevent the profaning of it others. Neh. x. 29. by They entered into an oath and into a curse, to walk in God's law.-Ver. 31. And if the people of the land bring ware, or any victuals, on the Sabbath-day to sell, not to buy it of them on the Sabbath. xiii. 15. In those days I saw in Judah, some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burthens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day; and I testified against them, in the day wherein they sold victuals. Ver. 16-18. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath-day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sab bath. Ver. 19-21. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and not be opened till after the Sabbath; and some of my servants I set at the gates, that there should no burthen be brought in on the Sabbath-day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. Ver. 22. And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath. CCVIII. Threatenings against Sabbathbreakers. Exod. xxxi. 14. Ye shall keep the Sabbath: every one that defileth it, shall surely be put death. Ver. 15. Whosoever doeth any work on the Sabbath-day, he shall surely be put to death. Ch. xxxv. 2. Numb. xv. 32-36. While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath-day, and they brought him to Moses and Aaron, and they put him in ward. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died as the Lord commanded Moses. Jer. xvii. 27. If ye will not hearken unto me, to hallow the Sabbath, &c. Ezek. xx. 15, 16. I would not bring them into the land which I had given them; because they walked not in my statutes, but polluted my Sabbaths. Ver. 23, 24. I lifted up mine hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; because they had despised my statutes and polluted my Sabbaths. xxii. 8. Thou hast profaned my Sabbaths. -Ver. 14. Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with thee? Ver. 26. Her priests have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.-Ver. 31. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them, I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; their own ways have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord. xxiii. 38. They have defiled my sanctuary, and have profaned my Sabbaths. Thus saith the Lord God, I will give them to be removed and spoiled.-Ver. 46. CCIX. Sabbath privileges withdrawn. Lam. ii. 6. The Lord hath caused the Subbaths to be forgotten in Zion. Hos. ii. 11. I will cause her Sabbaths to works. Exod. xx. 11. Col. ii. 16, 17. Let no man judge you, in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath-days: which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Rom. xiv. 6. Luke xxiv. 1. 6. Christ rose from the dead on the first day. Acts xx. 7. Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them. John xx. 19. 1 Cor. xvi. 2. On the first day of the week let every one lay by him, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Rev. i. 9, 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. |