The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a sermon / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]

The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a sermon / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]

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Title page

The Danger of Taking God's Name IN VAIN.

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The Danger of Taking God's Name IN VAIN.

Deut. 5.11.

Thou shalt not take the Name [...]f the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will of hold him guiltless, that taketh his Name in [...]ain.

IT is worthy of observation, that God in Delivering the Moral Law, which is summed up in the Decalogue, or Ten Com [...]andements, giveth eight of these Commands Negatively, and but two Affirmatively, therein [...]stly and more directly pointing at the Sins [...]hereby the precept is in danger of being Vi [...]lated▪ and herein he hath Accommodated [...]imself to the Infirmity of Fallen Man, who [...] easier come to understand what he should [...]ot than what he should do: this also discovers [...] pro [...]eness there is in our hearts to hurry [Page] [...] into Sin so that we stand in need of a prohibition with a Commination, as a Thorn-Hedge, to keep us within Compass, and let us know, that one great end of the Law, with respect to Fallen Man, is to be a Bridle to curb him in from his Exorbitancies; and withal signifies, that it is no little part of the work of Ministry, to Preach against Sin.

It is Davids observation▪ Psal▪ 1 [...]9.96. I have seen an end of all Pers [...]ion, but thy Command is exceeding broad. These ten words would make ten Volumns, if they were drawn out at length; each of them partakes in this quality, having a very great depth and fulness in it, as by the Rules given for expounding of the Commandments, will easily be Evinced.

There is in every Command something that is expresly declared, and a great many more things that are necessarily included. This Rule is applicable to the third Command, which is the Subject of our present Consideration, as much as to any of the rest. The Command is given Negatively, and therefore speaks directly of a sin that is prohibited in it; though there are also many sins contained under the prohibition; but my present business is only to speak of that which the words do in terms express.

Here then two things are to be observed.

[Page]1. The sin which is prohibited, and that is, Taking the Name of God in vain. The word Translated, Take, firstly signifies, to lift up a thing, and it nextly aims at the words of men, the taking up of Gods Name into their mouths; although it also extends to thoughts and deeds; but it is the former that I am at present to take notice of. The name of God is of great extent, for it includes in it, every thing of God, in which he hath made any discovery of himself to the Creature: but more expresly it intends, any word by which the Great God is understood, whether Essentially or Personally; and so, every one of his Attributes, which are so many Letters in which he hath written his Name unto us, are here to be considered. The word, In vain; is sometimes used Substantively, and then it signifies Temerity & falseness ▪ sometimes it is used Adverbially, and there it imports as much as, lightly, unnecessarily, unprofitably.

2. The danger in committing of this sin is discovered, in a severe Commination. For the Lord will not hold him guiltless, &c.

The word that is translated, To hold guiltless, [...]gnifies in the first Conjugation, to be Pure, free, void; and in the Conjugation here used, it imports the treating of one as so;. It therefore aim [...] at Innocency in the [Page] person, and Impunity the Consequent upon it. And there is a Mei [...]sis or [...] in the expression; it is▪ q. d. he will certainly hold him a guilty person, and deal with him as such an one: such manner of expressions are used in the Scriptures, and contain a very awfull threatning in them:

Hence,

DOCTRINE:

It is a fearful sin for any vainly to take Gods Name into their mouths; and Exposeth them that so do, to Tremendous Judgments,

Though this be not all, yet it is one thing plainly pointed at in this command and than which I scarcely know any thing that calls for a more solemn and severe Testimony to be b [...]rn against it; it being a sin that is not only practised by the openly profane sort of men, but is also too lamen [...]ably allowed in themselves by many that make an open profession of God and his fear, as will be more than manifest when we have considered the nature of this sin distinctly. There are therefore two thing [...] to be enquired into;

1. How or wherein men do incur the guilt of this sin? 2. what discovery may be made [Page] of the grievousness o [...] fearfulness of it?

1. How or wherein men do incurr the guilt this sin?

A. A Thing is then truly said to be done vainly, when it is to no good end or purpose; when there is no benefit or advantage that accrues to men by the doing of it; they neither profit themselves nor others: and consequently it is much more so, when it proves pernicious, and turns to a great deal of damage; Gods people are not to abstain from taking of his name into their mouths, but contrarily, they are to be often making mention of it; but they then do it▪ vainly, when they do it after any other manner then is becoming. Now the ways by which men may bring themselves under the guilt of this sin, may be referred to two Heads: It is commited, either in their ordinary communication, or in and about Swearing.

1. In their Ordinary Communication or discourse: and there are many respects in which men may be charged justly for taking the name of God vainly into their mouths on this account; I shall instance in some of them.

1. By mentioning the Name of God without Reverend Thoughts of him: when men use this Name as a word of course, and have not together with it the aw of his Majesty [Page] upon their hearts, but they speak of him without considering who he is whom they are speaking of: we should never think or speak of him, without due reverence of him all they therefore that do not Honour and reverence Him in their hearts, mention his name in vain; Mal. 1. [...]. Psal. 50.16.17. and thus must every unregenerate man needs do, because he is without this Reverence; ungodly men have [...]ot on them the [...] of God; impossible it is therefore for them not to break this Command, if ever they speak of God.

2. By using of his name in any suddain and ras [...] Exclama [...]ions. If the former be a Sin against this Precept, this then must needs be so, for it is a proper fruit and result of it: Rashness & Reverence cannot well be supposed to be consistent one with the other; for Reverence will surely make men to deliberate, and to think before they will adventure to speak. There are some▪ who upon every sudden vexation that is given them, or distress that comes upon them, will cry out, Oh Lord! Oh God! there are others that if any thing frighten them, or some unexpected trouble comes upon them at unawares, will earnestly say, Lord bless me, what shall I do! we have little reason to believe them, if they [...]hould tell us, that these are Ejaculatory [Page]Prayers to God, when as the Speakers neither know, nor have time to consider what they say; nor are they for the present in any composed praying frame; no, it is a real taking of Gods name in vain. The Jewish interpreters understand that in Levit, 24.11. the Jsraelitish wom [...]ns for blasphemed the name of the Lord ▪ of his expresly mentioning the Name Jehovah, in a rash and irreveren [...] manner.

3. By speaking blasphemously or reproachfully of God. The word which is used by the Hebrews for Blaspheming, signifieth to Pierce or bore through a thing, and the evill tongue is compared to [...] sharpe and two-edged sword? when men speak of God with any reflection upon him, or upon any of his Attributes, they do, as it were, stab his name thorough with this sword: Reproaching and Blaspheming are put together as Synonymical or Exegetical; 2 Kings ▪ 19.22. any thing that i [...] either, said of him, or as [...]ribed unto him, which in unbecoming of his Glory, is a Taking of his Name in vain; this they did egregiously, when they said, Ezek. 8.12. The Lord [...]eth not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth, and hitherto belong all those f [...]ettings, [...]pinings and murmuring complaints which men do at any time make against the Providence of God, when it goes cross to their inclination: [Page] wh [...]n they do cha [...]ge him foolishly.

4. By professing and maintaining of any False Doctrine. Doctrines in Religion are nothing else but so many Predications of the Name of God. He is the Author of Religion, he also is the object of it, for it point [...] to him as its ultimate end: The Profession of it is in Scripture called the Confessing of his Name; whatsoever Opinion therefore▪ that men wi [...] maintain▪ and stand up in the defence of which is unbecoming of God, and contrary to what is revealed of his mind in the Holy Scriptures, is a reflection upon him, and putting of his Name to the authorizing of a falsehood, and that must needs be to use it in vain; this is therefore called vain [...] or ja [...]ging, 1 Tim. 1.6. and because it so nearly concurreth God▪ the vanity of it must need reflect upon his Name.

5. By Impre [...]a [...]i [...] or Cursings; either of themselves, or others; either Positively, or Condi [...]iona [...]ly; and that whether Gods Name be expresly men [...] implied in them: for because the accomplishing of such things as are Imp [...]ca [...]ed belongs to his Providence necessarily; hence he is really in [...] in all such Execrations: There are indeed [...], and those Personal, Recorded in the Word of God; but they are not to be drawn down into a president, [Page] except we were extraordinarily Inspired, as they were who uttered them; and indeed, they are but a Rhetorical denunciation of Gods Judgments, by inspiration; and oftentimes against such for whom they did mean while pray, There are also general Imprecations against Gods, and his people implacable enemies, which are exemplary; such as that, Judg 5.31 so let all thine Enemies perish Oh Lord! But there are those that are profane: and such is a mans cursing of himself; though it be Hypothetically; as when men wish that they may dye upon the spot, or that they may never speak a word more, or any other thing of like nature, if such a thing which they say be not true, or if they do not do this or that: hitherto belong Johs and Jeremiah's cursing of their day, which was a discovery of the remainders and prevalency at that time of corruption in them; for men to confirm any thing they say with such Imprecations, is more than yea and na [...], which our Saviour Christ tells us is enough, & assures us that any thing more [...] sin, Mat. 5. [...]7. there is also a prophane Imprecation upon others too much in practice, and that horrid one, so frequent in the mouths of some, Damme you, where the Name of God is intended, though suppressed, who alone hath the power of Damnation, or whatever other [Page] mischief is wished to men: it is contrary to Scripture Precept, which hath commanded us, saying, Bless and Curse not, Rom. 12.14.

6. By the using of Gods Name in Charms. God would have no Charmer to be suffered amongst his people, Deut. 18.1 [...]. The name comes of a word that signifies, to Consociate: and the reason of it is, because such persons have real society with the Devil [...]; who, that he may cheat men into familiarity with him, transforms himself into an Angel of light: and hath to that end, taught men to use the name of God, or of Christ, or some notable Sentence that is recorded in Gods Word, (which is also his Name) either for the keeping of Devils out of places, or for the Curing of these [...] those Maladies that men labour of, which is [...]ndeed nothing else but plain conjuration, and [...] horrible abusing of the Name of God to such purposes as serve egregiously to the Establishing of the Devils Kingdom in the hearts of men.

7. By ascribing any of the Divine Properties to the Creature This sort of Blasphemy is grown into a common complement with some men in the world, whilst in their Adulatory Commendations of those with whom they would f [...]tter themselves into Reputation, they either ascribe unto them the Incommunicable Perfections of God, or those which [Page] are Communicable, in the Abstract, which so belong only to him; and cannot without his reproach be ascribed to the Creature more than in the Concrete: and men addicted [...] insinuate, are too easily bent to excess upon this account, if they be not very needful to their words: In a word, when either God is levelled with the Creatures, or the Creature is made equal to God, his Name is taken in vain: this was their sin, who [...]o flatter a proud Prince, put that Encomium upon his specious Oration, Act. 12.22. The voice of a God, and not of a man.

8. By making of prophane Jests out of the Scripture, Gods Name is put upon his Written Word▪ and it is greatly concerned in it, for which cause he is to be Reverenced [...]n all our mention which at any time we make of it, his Name therefore must needs be villify'd by [...] such as turn it into scarril [...] as all they do, that make sport there [...]hal: when men use their wits in a facetiou [...] Citation of the Scripture, or any portion of it, to make themselves or others me [...]ry, this is to be wittily wicked; it is to degrade the Word of God from the noble end that it was written for, which is to make me a wife unto Salvation, to a vile and base employment, for the supplying of profaneness. Thus these Jews of old abused that awful [Page] Scripture Expression, The burden of the Lord; with which God had been wont to preface Prophetical Comminations of Judgments; and they in contempt would merrily ask of the Prophet, What is the burden of the Lord? for which he sorely threatens them with Destruction, Jer. 23.33, 34.

9. B [...] Railing at Godliness in Gods People. Gods Name is put upon his people, and it in nothing is more evidently to be read than in the [...] holy walking in conformity to his Reveale [...] W [...]l. The Holiness of the Saints, is the Image or Representation of Gods Holiness which is to be see [...] upon them: and when this becomes a reproach unto them, & men can [...]i [...]us and jeer them for it, and make it to be the very matter of their taunting and revil [...]ng of them, herein there is great opprob [...]y reflected upon Gods Holy Name: The Psalmist therefore in his complaint unto God, interested him in them, Psal. 69.9. The Rep [...]o [...]c [...]es of them that have reproac [...]ed are fall [...]n upon me; and what was that for, but his Religions p [...]rformances,? ver. 10, 11.

2 In and about Sa [...]a [...]ing; An oath is properly a Solemn Invoca [...]ion of God, and Appeal unto him, to be a Witness of the truth of of what we say: in it therefore, we submit our selves to his Righteous Revenges if we do not Swear the Truth; it is therefore always [Page] taken either explicitly or impl [...]citly in his Name; that therefore must needs be peculiarly concerned in it; here [...]hen this sin is so much the more notorious, b [...] how much the more there is of Solemnity in the thing: and men may become gu [...]lty of this prophanation, in two respects; viz. Either in giving or in making of an Oa [...]h.

1. In the Giving or Administring of an Oath, those who do Administer it unto others, do make mention of the Great and Dreadful Name of God; and they may then be said to do it vainly.

1. When there is no need of or occasion for it. To call men forth to Swear, to allow them, much more to compel them, in every trivial matter, when the thing it self is not worth it, or the case may be as well determined without it. This doub [...]less is not left at the pleasure of every vain person, who hath no regard to the Glory of God, nor considers the danger of prophaning his Name, but is to be regulated by the discretion of those who are empowered to give it, and the blame will necessari [...]y fall upon them, if there be any male-adminis [...]ration in this regard: and without any doubt, that which is it self Sol [...]mne, requires a Solemne occasion to put it in p [...]actice.

2 Where Oa [...]hs are multipled more than [Page] needs, the main design of an Oath is to put an end to a controversy by taking the highest step that men are capable of for finding out the truth of any matter which depends upon Humane Testimony for the clearing of it: but how often do men being in a multitude of supernumerary and superstititious Witnesses in the management of their cause? a great many that are not to the purpose, and others more more than is necessary; these cannot be admitted indiscriminately without Guilt: Two or three Witnesses are enough to one Article that is pertinent▪ and needs proof, ten then are too many▪ and one is more than enough to that circumstance, which is impertinent. And to th [...]s head may be annumerated, the admitting of cross and contradictory Oaths, when men Swear diametrically opposite one to another, so that it is most apparent that the one or the other must unavoidably come under the guilt of Perjury; if therefore there appear to be a just reason to give the Oath to the one of these Parties, it will consequently upon the same ground be rational to with hold it from the other; both cannot be given without evident affront offered to the Name of God.

3. When it is given to persons uncapable: I [...] such as are Morally so: an Oath is the Confirmation of something spoken by Testimony; [Page] in which Gods truth is called in to ratify it; that which strengthens our Credit of a Testimony by reason of the addition of an Oath to it, is a presumption that the man hath so much of the aw of God upon his Conscience that he would not dare to call him who knows the secrets of the heart, to be a witness to a Lye, lest he should pull down his vengeance upon him by so doing: where then it is notoriously evident that men have no regard to God, or Conscience, or speaking the Truth, how is it possible they should gain any Credit to that they say, by Swearing to it? what reason then or equity can there be in it, that mens good Names, Estates, Libert [...]es, yea and Lives should be disposed of by such men? and to what purpose then can they be Sworn? It is then of great moment that the persons be enquired after, their capacity well considered, and the Testimony which they offer throughly examined in order to the Swearing of them, lest otherwise the Name of God be taken in vain.

2. In the making Oath in any case;

An Oath may be distributed into a Promissory and an Asse [...]tory: either an Obligation to do something, or an Affirming something to have been done.

1. A Promissory Oath is made; either to God, and then it is called a [...], or to man, and is a solemn promise with an Appeal unto [Page] God. In both of these he is called in as a Witness to the Since [...]ity of our engaging and real purpose of performing accordingly, and his name is taken in vain in this respect.

1. When it is done rashly and without deliberation; the Wiseman tells us that we should not hastily utter any thing before God, E [...]l. 5.2. i. e. as a Witness. This he applies to a Vow in particular, verse 5. and gives a reason for it; because it is better not to Vow, than having so done, not to pay; and it is a poor excuse to say, it was an error; now all [...] is the probable issue of precipit [...]ncy: [...] do not premeditate, and afterwards they repent [...] the most forward in promising, are not [...] the most backward in performing.

2. When it is in things that are unlawfull. If men have no Physical Power to fullfil it, because they promise that which is not their own, or above their ab [...]lity of procuring; or no mor [...]l power to do it, because it is unlawful, as being forbidden by God; and it would be a sin in them to keep promise: it is th [...]r [...] fore an act of profaneness for men to Swear that they will do such things: of this n [...]ture was Jeptha's Vow, which procured him so much trouble; such also was Herod's promise which he sware to his Daughter-in-law. And to this head we may subjoyn those Oaths that are [...]natory, when men bind themselves to do [Page] some acts of revenge upon others; such was Davids against Nabal and his house; and such was theirs who bandied against Paul, and bound themselves in an Oath and a Curse, not to eat till they had slain him, Act. 23▪ 12.

2. An Assertory Oath is that which is made for the confirmation of the Truth of some matter of fact which we affirm to have been done, and in this respect God's Name is taken in vain▪

1. When the Assertion it self is false: especially if he that affirms and thus confirms it, knows that it is not true: So divers interpret the word, Vain in our Text; viz. falsely: and indeed it is an high affront that is put upon God, to affix his Name to a Ly, and that meerly for the gaining of mens Credit unto it, as if it were true; and must needs be very derogatory to his Truth, which is to him exceeding precious.

2. When he that Swears doth not of himself know the thing to be true, which he testifieth unto, he at least swears [...], and that is a great vanity, but it is pernicious too because his very ignorance of the thing tells him that he cannot Swear to it: here all Knights of the [...]ost are co [...]demned, who will for hire make Affidavit to any thing that is put into their mouths. Such also must needs be guilty, who swear positively to [Page] a thing which they have received only upon report; let the Reporters be never so credible, and our belief never so strong: yet all that we can safely attest, is only to the report, and not to the thing it self; except we were eye, or car-witnesses of it: they also that will testify to the thing it self, upon the presumption of the most convincing circumstances, cannot escape; because it is possible the thing may not be for all.

3. When it is done pa [...]tially. If men swear but one part of the Truth, and suppress another essential part of it, by reason whereof the matter under debate comes to be misrepresented, and injury is thereupon done unto the party concerned; this will fall under the s [...]n before us: such was the Testimony of Do [...]g against the Priests telling what was against them, but not what was f [...]r them, on which account, David brands him for a [...]ing [...], Psal. 52.1. Or if men make additions, and foist in something more than is true, put their own Commentaries into, and make them part of the Text; such was their Testi [...]ny against Christ, M [...]rk 14 58. We heard him say, that he would destroy this Temple that is made with hands. Compare John 2.19.

4. When men do it trivially. An Oath is a solemn thing, and requires a solemn occasion; [Page] for men then to use it in their ordinary Communications, is a great breach of this Command: and to this is that expression of our Saviour to be applied, in Ma [...]. 5.34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all. We are not to suppose that he wholly forbad the use of an Oath, when occasion required it; and Religion had from the beginn [...]ng allowed it; but only that it should not be used at all in common ta [...]k: they then that can hardly speak a word without Swearing, as if it put a grace upon their Speech, must needs li [...]e in the practice of the sin here forbidden?

5. When it is by another name than that of God, this is one thing that God severely threaetens them for, Jer. 5.7. How shall I pardon thee for this? thy Children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no Gods. It is Gods Prerogative which he challengeth to himself, that no other Name be made use of in this Solemnity but his; it is therefore an ascribing of Divine Honour to any person or thing that we thus Invocate; it is a puting of Gods Name upon it, which cannot be less than Sacriledge: hither belong those words which some make use of as words of course, Faith, Troth, Marry, and many of like Import.

2. What Discovery there may be made of the grea [...]ness, or fearfulness of this Sin?

A. There hath bin enough said to detest [Page] this, in the very display which hath bin made of the several particulars wherein men become Guilty of taking Gods name into their mouths, in vain, but for the farther clearing of it up, give me leave to subjoin these few Conclusions.

1. The Name of God is a great and a fearful Name, it must therefore be a very great Sin to offer any Affronts or Indignities unto it: we have these Epithets put upon it▪ Deut. 28.58. this glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD.

The greater and more eminent any person is, the more Criminal it is accoun [...]ed by all men to be, to speak any thing that is Indecent of him, that Derogates from his Honour and Credit: now there is none so gr [...]t as God is, and for that reason, his Name is above all Honour and Praise. It is therefore said to be fearful, because the world o [...]ght to stand in [...]w of it, and be afraid to say or do any thing unworthy of it.

2 This sin argues men to be without the Fear of God; for men to fall at any time into it, saith, that they did for the present lay it too much aside; but if men live in the frequent practice of it, it gives a notorious character of a profane Spirit: All Religion [...] in Scripture frequently called, The [...] [...]f God, because without a deep impression of it [Page] upon the hearts of men, they cannot be Religious; wicked men are upon this account often called, such as fear not God: and [...]he sins which they allow themselves in, is a witness of it in the Consciences of those that observe them: hence that, Psal. 3 [...].1. The Transgression of the Wicked, [...]ith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. Men most of necessity put away this Reverential Fear from [...]hem, before they can dare to allow themselves in this sin; for if they were under the aw of his Glorious Majesty, it would make them to reverence [...]is Name, and tremble at the very thoughts of Taking it in Vain.

3. This sin carries in it a grievous contempt of God, men must of necessity first undervalue his Being, before they can profane his Name. There cannot possibly be a more manifest discovery made, that men have low and mean thoughts of God, than when they can pl [...]y with and abuse his Name▪ if men did entertain the [...] opinion of him, Psal. 111.9. H [...]ly and [...]everend i [...] his N [...]me; they could not thus do. And can it be supposed [...], to despise him, whose Honour and Glory is Great above all our conceptions.

4 It Scand [...]i [...]zeth the World. The very Light of Nature in the Consciences of meer [Page] Heathen, teacheth men highly to venerate him▪ unto whom they give the acknowledgement of a Deity: the very Confessing of him to be God, carries in it the yeilding and beleiving him to deserve all Honour and Fear, and the want of it to be the Root of Atheism: God therefore pleads with his people about this, from Natural Principles, Mal. 3.6. The Son Honoreth his Father, &c. q d. There is as much Convincing Reason that the Notion of a God should stir up Holy Fear in men as the notion of a Father should challenge Honour from a Child, and what will Atheistical Men say, when they see us live without it? what a God will they think men pretend to Worship, whom they can dare to offer such indignity unto? whose Name they can play withall▪ and trample upon at their pleasure? The Name of God will unavoidably be evil spoken of among profane men, for the sake of such as call themselves the People of God, and yet do allow themselves thus to do

5. God stands particularly engaged to vindicate his Name upon such: If we think of the threatning with which this Command is guarded, it will certifie us how exceedingly provoking this sin is to God: when God saith that he is resolved that such as so do shall not escape unpunished, it tells us that he cannot [Page] bear it; he stands upon the Honour of his Name, and his Holines [...], whereby he is bound for his Glory, will not part with any of it, Isa. 42.8 and therefore we have th [...] f [...]ar [...]ul Commination, against [...]hose that lye under the Guilt of this Sin, Mal. 2.2. and that S [...]n cannot be little, against which the Threatnings of the Word of God are so great.

Vse 1. For Humilia [...]ion; the Consideration of these things may well ca [...]l us all into the Dust, and lay us exceeding Low bfore God; great Sins call for deep Abasements; and there are two respects in which the present consideration offers us occasion for being humbled.

1. Have not the b [...]st of Gods People cause to abase themselves bef [...]re God, for their self-neglect upon this account? Godliness indeed will [...]each those i [...] whom it is Implant [...] ▪ not to drive a trade of committing this sin, that cannot be the spot of Gods Children; but good men are in danger of being overtaken with it, and oftentimes they are overtaken with it, for want of looking to themselves lest they offend with their tongues, and therefore good men have been branded with them in Scripture; and that it may lay us low, let us Consider,

1. That our Inadvertency herein will greatly wound our Profession, it will do it both in the thoughts of good men, and of bad men▪ those indeed will be grieved at [...], whereas these will insu [...] over us; but to both it will render us justly suspected[Page]for want of Sincerity; it will give men just occasion to make a doubt, whether we do really stand in those Relations to God, which not only require, but will also enforce our honouring and fearing of him, and if our Names suffer upon the account, & men look up [...]n us as no better than profane ones, let us thank our s [...]lves, and remember, that we fi [...]st made Gods Name to s [...]ffer by our irreverend taking it into our mouths.

2. It will also wound our Consciences, however we may for the p [...]esent s [...]i [...]le them, and keep them under Insensibleness of it, yet the wound is▪ given to them, every time we daye thus to do; and▪ the [...] will be a time, sooner or later, when God will so [...] our Consciences as to Awaken them, and make them [...]rely to reflect upon us, and then the wound will [...] and put us to grief, and if the Name of God be indeed precious unto us, it will be a very bitter thought, and c [...]st us many sorrowful [...] and tears.

3. If we have been overtaken with this sin, and be not deeply humbled for it, we cannot excuse our selves from having an hand in procuring of the Judgments that are upon us this is one of the sins that brings them upon a people as soon as any: a sin tha [...] God is not wont usually to let go unpunished in this world: and when Gods Hand is out upon a people, all that have this guilt on them, have reason to s [...]te u [...]on their own breasts, and confess themselves involved in the Indictment, & it should [Page] be a very humbling thought upon the hearts of such, who ought to have stood in the Gap, and kept off the [...]dgments of God, to think that instead of so doing, they have helpt to open the gap wider, & make the wa [...] larg [...]r for the breaking in of the Judgments of God.

2. Let it humble us for, & set us on mourning by reason of this sin in others And alass! Is there not a tremendous deal of it to be observed? is there not enough in open view, to make us to wish with the Prophet, Jer. 9.1. Oh that my h [...]d were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears. And to engage us herein let us consider;

1. Doth not the Land mourn for this? is it not one, and not a little part neither of Gods Controversy, which he is at this day managing wi [...]h us, and for which he hath brought us under so many terrible effects of his Displeasure. I am sure God pointed his people of old, in a calamitous time, unto this, Jer 23.10. Bec [...]se of Swearing h [...] [...]and mo [...]neth. Is it not a provoking thing to him, who is [...] for his great Name, to see that even in N. E. in a Land of Vprigh [...]ess, a place of so eminent a Profession, his Name should be so lightly set by, and so wofully abused, that it should [...]e so pierced and shot through every day, with the Curses and Oaths of ungodly men, and that it should be so litle regarded by a great many that make [Page] [...]ore of a Profession; if these things are so, we need not to be at a loss in our enquiring what is the meaning of this his so great anger, the impressi [...]ns whereof are upon us in so many terrible Providences? & when it is so, is it not high time for us to mourn over it bitterly?

2. Except we thus do, we shall also be found to be guilty of their [...]: God is pleased gracio [...]ly [...] accept of the [...]ears and sorrows of [...] do no more for the prevention of [...], who [...] lament & bitterly bewa [...]l it before [...] this will not be accounted to [...]e enough in [...] [...]ho have the opportunity [...] do more, & neglect it▪ but if we do not do [...] much we shall then be found, and decla [...] guilty of having fellowship with the [...] of Darkness, and be fellow-sufferers with them, at least in the outward Judgments of God, which he brings as a Testimony of his D [...]spleasure at these things. If then we do not mourn how shall we expect to have the distinguishing mark upon us, which God appointed to be put upon those in Jerusalem, who sighed and mourned for all the abominations which were committed in the midst of it? Ezek. 9.3.

Use. 2. For Exhortation: it calls upon us all to set our selves strenuously against this Sin, if it be so grievous and p [...]ovoking to God, and if there be so much of it to be found in the midst of us, it then concerns every one to use our [Page] best Endeavours tha [...] it may be Reformed an [...] prevented▪ th [...] [...]o the Anger of God be not yet more [...] against us, and his Judgements not only continue, but encrease amongst us: and [...] our Direction;

1. Let every one reform it in himself, by a careful avoiding of all manner of such Communication ▪ as will be to the Prophanation of Gods Holy Name If we have been heretofore too forgetful of our selves in this regard, let it lay us low before God, and drive us to hearty Repentance, and Renewing our Peace; but for the time forward our business is to be more watchful over our selves than ever; and that we ma [...] do it to purpose, take these three Rules for he [...]p.

1. Keep up the Fear and Reverence of God in your hearts, be sure that it be there planted by or in a [...]rue work of Conversion, & then take care to keep it up in a vigorous disposit [...]; [...]f we do indeed maintain this inward respect to him which is his due, it will be of great efficacy to curb in the exo [...]bi [...]ancy of our tongues; our Saviour Christ hath taught us, [...] out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh, so that if we can keep irreverence from our hearts, our tongues will not be in danger of being influenced from thence▪ the best cure and preventive of this sin is prescribed to us in the Prophet, Isa. 8▪13. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your[Page]fear, and your dread; and for this end, be frequently thinking what a God he is: meditate much, how great, how mighty, how holy, how just, how Omniscient he is, and argue from thence how fearful a thing it must be to fall into his [...]evenging hand, which all they must expect to do, who presume to pollute his Name with their defiled Lips.

2. Endeavour to express this Reverence in all your Communication, let it influence every word you speak; remember, your Lips are your glory, your tongues were given you to honour God withal; & that is done by pure & undefiled language: if we did more accustome our selves to clean expressions, this would be so pleasant, and so comfortable, to what the other foul and dirty converse is, that it would make that hateful to us, and by that means break us off from it.

3. Beware of [...] [...]assions: the Tongue in man is a most ready and apt Instrument for the affections to discover themselves by; and hence these are the times when men are wont to allow themselves the grea [...]est Liberty, when these are transported: when the passions have gotten the Re [...]ns in their Necks, and the Curb loosened, they hu [...]ry men into strange Exorbitancies; and now th [...]i [...] [...]ongues are their own, and who shall rule over them? now neither God nor man are regarded; but whatsoever an enraged affection suggests; all shall come out [Page] that lies next. When did that man blasphe [...] the Name of God, and curse, but when he [...] engaged in a quarrel? Lev. 24.10, 11. When was it that [...] fell to cursing, but when he was afraid of suffering for Christ, & thought himself exposed? Mark 14. [...]1. when was it that David imprecated, but when he was enraged at Nabal; 1 Sam. 25.21, 22. if we could always keep our selves in a quiet and composed frame, we should be the less exposed to the danger of this sin.

2. Let us reform it as much as we can in others. This is a duty which we ow to all our Neighbours, even all mankind, as there is occasion; by bearing some due testimony against it, whenever we hear it: either by reproving of it, or, if that will not obtain, by making complaint of such to those who have power to punish it; they therefore are charged with sin, who hear the voice of Swearing, and do not utter it, Lev. 5.1. we ought also to set before all men a contrary example, and let them see in all our demeanour, what an high respect we bear to Gods precious Name: But it is also one special thing, which all Superiours ought to be exceeding careful [...], in respect of those that are under their Charge: It highly concerns Magistrates in their place, to suppress it; Ministers in their places to give in their solemn Testimony frequently against it; Churches not to tollerate it in those that are [Page] in their Communion, and there is a very great duty in this respect lying on Parents, and Governours of Families: and let in a little Expostulate with such: what, I pray, is the Reason, why there is hardly any passing the streets, wh [...]re many young ones are gotten together, but we may hear Children that cannot speak plain, who have learnt to Lisp and Stammer out Prophaness, and take Gods Name in vain, by Irreverend Exclamations, possibly, yea too often, by Oaths and Cursings? it is to be feared of too many, that they have learnt it of their Parents; and of others that they are at least suffered in it, without a due Testimony born against it; yea do not some make a sport of it; as if it were pretty and becoming to have a Child st [...]mmer at Prophaneness? well! let all such Parents know, that if they do not take more care to suppress this Sin, and use a greater inspection over, and severity against them for it; God will neither let Parents nor Children stand Guiltless, but will make them Examples of his furious Re [...]nges; let us then take this Warning, and [...] at his Word, that so we may not feel the Weight of his Hand.

FINIS.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

The Danger of Taking God's Name IN VAIN. As it was Delivered in a SERMON

By Samuel Willard, Teacher of a Church in BOSTON.

Mal. 1.14.

I am a great King, saith the Lord of Hosts, and my Name is Dreadful among the Heathen.

Levit. 19.12.

Ye shall not swear by my Name falsly, neither shalt thou Prophane the Name of thy God, I am the LORD.

BOSTON, Printed by Benjamin Harris, and John Allen, at the London Coffee-House. 1691.

Information about this book

Title statement

The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a sermon / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]

Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2005-12.

ID [DLPS]

N00459

ID [TCP]

N00459

ID [STC]

Evans 582

ID [STC]

Wing W2273

ID [NOTIS]

APZ0221

ID [IMAGE-SET]

582

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99037837

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 582.

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(Evans-TCP ; no. N00459)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 582)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 582)

Source

— The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a sermon / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts], Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707..

Extent

[2], 30 p. ; 15 cm. (8vo)

Printed by Benjamin Harris, and John Allen, at the London-Coffee-House.,. Boston, :: 1691..

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