A. The fecond reafon annexed unto the fecond commandment, is God's propriety in us, in thefe words, "Thy God;" I the Lord thy God.

Q. 4. What is the force of this fecond reafon ?

A. The force of this fecond reafon is, That because we belong unto the Lord, therefore we ought to keep clofe unto him and his appointments, and take heed especially of idolatry and fuperftition, which do alienate the heart from him. Pfal. xcv. 6, 7. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our God. Pfal. cvi. 19. 21. They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. They forgot God their Saviour.' Q. 5. What is the third reafon annexed unto the second commandment?

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A. The zeal which God hath to his own worship, is his jealoufy, whereby, out of love to his own worship and inftitutions, he is highly offended with those that turn afide from them unto their own inventions: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God." Exod. xxxiv. 14. Thou shalt worship no other God: for the Lord, whofe name is Jealous, is a jealous God.'

Q. 6. Wherein doth this zeal and jealousy of God for his own worship fhew itself?

A. The zeal and jealoufy of God for his own worship doth fhew itself, 1. In his accounting the breakers of this commandment, thofe that hate him, and threatning to punish them unto the third and fourth generation: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." 2. In his efteeming the keepers of this commandment, fuch as love him, and promifing mercies unto thoufands of them; " fhewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

Q. 7. How can God, in juftice, vifit the iniquity of the fa thers upon their children ?

A. 1. If children do not walk in the fteps of the fame fins with their parents, God doth not punish them for their fins. Ezek. xviii. 14. 17. If he beget a fon that feeth all his father's fins which he hath done, and confidcreth, and doth not fuch like; he fhall not die for the

iniquity of his father, he fhall furely live.'. If God doth vifit the iniquity of the fathers upon their hildren, it is when the children are guilty of the fame inquity, and fo fill up the measure, and the punishment of then is moft equal and righteous. Ezek. xviii. 25. 'Is not by way equal? Are not your ways unequal?'

LIII. Queft. Which is the third commandment ?

Anfw. The third commandment is, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” LIV. Queft. What is required in the third commandment? Anfw. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent ufe of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works.

Q. 1. What are we to understand by the name of God which we are forbidden in this commandment to take in vain?

A. The name of God which we are forbidden in this commandment to take in vain, is to be taken generally and comprehensively for any thing whereby God makes himself known.

Q. 2. By what is it that God doth make himself known ?

A. God doth make himself known, 1. By his names taken particularly, which he hath given unto himself in fcripture, fuch as, GOD, LORD, I AM, JEHOVAH, and the like. Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, The Lord our God is one Lord.' Exod. iii. 13, 14. And they shall fay unto me, What is his name? What fhall I fay unto them? And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM : Thou fhalt fay, I AM hath sent me unto you.' Exod. vi. 3. I appeared unto Abraham by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known.' 2. By his titles; fuch as Lord of hofts; holy One of Ifrael; the God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob; Creator; Preferver of men; the King of kings, and Lord of lords; King of nations; the King of faints; the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift; the Father of mercies; the God of falvation; the Hearer of prayer; and the like. Ifaiah i. 9. Except the Lord of hofts had left unto us a very small remnant.' Ifaiah lx. 14. • The Zion of the holy One of Ifrael.'

Exod. iii. 6. I am the

God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac, and the God of Ja

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cob.' Ifah xl. 28. The Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Job vii. 20. • What fhall I do unto thee, 'The bleffed and thou preferver of men?' 1 Tim. vi. 15. only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.' Je x. 7. Who would not fear thee, O King of naons.' Rev. xv. 3. 'Juft and true are thy ways, thou King of faints.' 2 Cor. i. 3. Bleffed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of mercies.' Pfal. lxviii. 20. He that is our God is the God of falvation. Pfal. lxv. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee fhail all flesh come.' 3. By his attributes, which are his perfections and properties, whereby he distinguisheth himself from his creatures; such as, omnipotency, eternity, invifibility, infinite wifdom, omniprefence, holiness, unchangeablenefs, mercifulness, love, and the like. Rev. xix. 6. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.' Tim. i. 17. Now, unto the king, eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honor, and glory.' Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power his understanding is infinite.' Jer xxiii. 24. Can any hide himfelf in fecret places, that I fhall not fee him? faith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth? Pfal. xcix. 9. For the Lord our God is holy.' Mal. iii. 6. 'I am the Lord, I change not.' Pfal. cxlv. 8. Lord is gracious, and full of compaffion.' 1 John iv. 8. "God is love. 4. By his ordinances; prayer, hearing, the facrament. Pfal. lxxvii. 13. 'Thy way, O God, is in the fanctuary.' 5. By his word, law, and gofpel. Pfal. cxxxviii.

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Thou haft magnified thy word above all thy name.' 6. By his works of creation and providence Pfal. xix. I. 'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament fheweth his handy-work.' Pfal. ix. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth.' A&s xiv. 17. He left not himself without witnefs, in that he did good, and gave us rain, and fruitful feafons.'

Q. 3. What doth the third commandment require, in reference unto these things whereby God doth make himfelf known? A. The third commandment doth require, in reference unto the things whereby God doth make himfelf known, 1. The ufe of them. 2. The holy and reverent ufe of them, that we fhould use them with holy ends, defigning

the glory of God, and in a reverent manner, as is fuitable unto the majesty of God, who maketh himself known by them. Pfal. xcvi. 8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.' Rev. xv. 3, 4, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty. Who fhall not fear thee, and glorify thy name?'

Q. 4. How should our holiness and reverence fhew itself towards thefe things?

A. Our holinefs and reverence fhould fhew itself, 1. In reference unto God's names, titles, and attributes; in our holy and reverent thoughts, and meditating on them, fo as to admire, fear, love, defire, and delight in God; and in our holy and reverent mention of them with our tongues. 2. In reference unto God's ordinances; in our holy and reverent making use of them, waiting upon, and seeking after God in them. 3. In reference unto God's word; in our holy and reverent minding the majesty and authority of God therein, fo as to yield ready obedience thereunto. 4. In reference unto God's works of creation; in our holy and reverent contemplation of God's infinite power, and wisdom, and greatnefs, therein manifefted; and in reference unto God's works of providence; in our holy and reverent eyeing, following, and complying with God's defigns in all his providential difpenfations, bleffing and praifing him for all his mercies, fubmitting unto, and patiently bearing his corrections, and any fort of afflictions.

Q. 5. When Should we especially, holily, and reverently make use of thofe things whereby God maketh himself known? A. At all times, but efpecially when we are called to the duties of his immediate worship, we should be holy and reverent in the use of these things, fanctifying the name of God in them.

Q. 6. What is the difference between the worship of God required in this third commandment, and that which is required in the first and fecond commandments ?

A. The first commandment hath a respect unto the object of God's worship; the second commandment hath a refpect unto the means of worship; but this third commandment hath a respect unto the manner of worship, re

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quiring that it be performed with humility and holy fear, with fincerity, fervency, and all kind of holy affections. LV. Queft. What is forbidden in the third commandment? Anfw. The third commandment forbiddeth the profaning or abufing of any thing whereby God maketh himfelf known.

Q. 1. How are God's names, titles, and attributes, profaned and abufed ?

A. God's names, titles, and attributes, are profaned and abufed, 1. When perfons do think flightly and irreverently of them, without any fuitable affections to them; efpecially when their hearts are filled with defpif ing, hatred, and averfion towards the name of God. Mal. i. 6. If I then be a Father, where is mine honor? and if I be a mafter, where is my fear? faith the Lord of hofts unto you that defpife my name.' 2. When perfons fpeak irreverently concerning God, making mention of any of his names, titles or attributes, in ordinary dif courfe, crying O Lord, O God, God forgive me, God fave me, and the like; without minding what they fay, or having any awe of God upon them, while they are fpeaking of him. Pfal. cxxxix. 20. Thine enemies take thy name in vain.' 3. When perfons do fwear by the name of God, and that either vainly and wickedly, mingling their ordinary fpeech with hideous oaths, priding themfelves in their invention of new oaths, and emphatically pronouncing of them; or when perfons being called to fwear lawfully before a magiftrate, or the like, they do fwear falfely. Matth. v. 34. 37. But I fay unto you fwear not at all. But let your communication be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay: for whatfoever is more than thefe cometh of evil.' Zech. v. 4. It fhall enter into the houfe of him that fweareth falfely by my name. 4. When perfons do curie either themfelves or others in the name of the Lord, either jettingly, rafhly, or maliciously. 1 Sam. xvii. 43. 6 And the Philifline curfed David by his gods.' Matth. xxvi. 74. Then began he to curfe and to fwear, faying, I know not the man.' 5. When perfons blafpheme the name of the Lord, by fpeaking against any of thofe names, titles, or attributes, whereby he hath made himfelf known, or by afcribing any thing unto him which is