Acts xii. 23. Giving undue honours to men. xiv. 11. Sacrificing unto men. 1 Cor. x. 20. Sacrificing to devils. Lev. xvii. 7. Col. iii. 5. Covetousness is idolatry. Phil. iii. 19. Whose god is their belly. : It is called going a whoring. Lev. xvii. 7. Ezek. xvi. 6, 28.-xx.30. -xxiii. 8, 17, 43. And in many other places as may be observed from the scriptures in the foregoing sections. CLXIII. Diviners, instances thereof. Numb. xxii. 7. The elders of Moab departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and came to Balaam. Ezek. xxi. 21. The king of Babylon stood to use divination. Deut. xviii. 4. These nations hearkened to diviners. 1 Sam. vi. 2. Ver. 10. There shall not be found among you one that useth divination. Gen. xliv. 5. 1 Sam. xxviii. 8. Acts. xvi. 16. CLXIV. They are deceivers and false prophets. Jer. xiv. 14. They prophesy unto you a false divination. xxvii. 9. Hearken not to your diviners, your dreamers, your inchanters, your sorcerers. Ver. 10. They prophesy a lie unto you. xxix. 8. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, let not your diviners deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams, which ye cause to be dreamed. Ver. 9. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name, I have not sent them, saith the Lord. Ezek. xii. 24. xxi. 29. Mic. iii. 7, 11. Zech. x. 2.-xxii. 28. CLXV. Threatenings against them. Isa. xliv. 25. The Lord that frustrateth the tokens of liars and maketh diviners mad, that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolishness. Ver. 26. That confirmeth the word of his servant and performeth the counsel of his messengers. Ezek. xiii. 9. Mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and divine lies. Ver. 23. CLXVI. Familiar spirits forbidden with threatenings against them, and those that consult them. Lev. xix. 31.-xx. 6, 27. Isa. viii. 19. They were put away by Saul. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 9. By Josiah. 2 Kings xxiii. 24. They were consulted by Saul. 1 Sam. xxviii. 7, 8. 1 Chron. x. 13. By Manasseh. 2 Kings xxi. 6. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 6. By the Egyptians. Isa. xix. 3. They mutter and peep out of the dust. Isa. xxix. 4. COMMANDMENT THIRD. CLXVII. Profaning the name of God. Exod. xx. 7. 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. Deut. v. 11. Lev. xviii. 21. Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. Ch. xix. 12. xx. 3. xxi. 6. xxii. 2, 32. CLXVIII. Swearing falscly. Lev. xix. 12. Ye shall not swear by my name falsely. Jer. vii. 9. Will ye swear falsely, and come and stand before me in this house. Ver. 15. I will cast you out of my sight. Ver. 23. Because of swearing the land mourneth. Hos. iv. 2. By swearing and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Ver. 3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, yea the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Zech. v. 3. This is the curse that goeth forth, every one that sweareth shall be cut off according to it. Ver. 4. It shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely. And it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume the timber thereof, and the stones thereof. viii. 17. Love no false oath-It is an abomination to the Lord. Mal. iii. 5. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and adulterers, against false 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 had injured. CLXIX. Swearing by the creatures. Matt. v. 33. Swear not at all, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by Jerusalem, nor by thy head. Ver. 34, 35, 36. 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. xxvi. 26. 2 Sam. xi. 11. CLXX. Swearing by other gods. Jos. xxiii. 7. Neither make mention of the name 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 communication be yea, yea, 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. Acts xxiii. 21. Paul'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 shall 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. Ixiii. 11. CLXXV. The nature and duty of an oath. Jer. v. 2. Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness. Heb. vi. 16. An oath for confirmation is an end of all strifes 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. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place? Ver. 4. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his soul to 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. Ver. 12. That thou shouldst enter into the covenant of the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day. Ver. 13, 14. 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. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice. Ver. 15. 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 Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts. xlv. 23. Unto me, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear. See Neh. xiii. 25. Ps. cxix. 106.-cxxxii. 2. Ezek. xvi. 59. Dan. ix. 11. Hab. iii. 9. CLXXVIII. Duty towards men sworn to. Articles of peace ratified by oath. Gen. xxi. 23. Abraham and Abimelech swear both. Ver. 24, 31. xxvi. 31. Abimelech and Isaac sware one to another. xxxi. 53. Jacob sware (to Laban) by the fear of his father Isaac. Jos. ii. 12. The spies sware to Rahab. Ch. vi. 22. ix. 15. Joshua and the princes of the congregation, swear to the Gibeonites. Ver. 19, 20, 2 Sam. xxi. 2. 1 Sam. xix. 6, 24, 21. Saul and David swear to each other. xx. 42. Jonathan and David sware. 2 Sam. xxi. 7. See also Judg. xv. 12. xxx. 15. 2 Sam. xix. 23. 2 Kings xxv. 4. Jer. xxxviii. 16. -xl. 9. CLXXIX. The breach of such oaths punished. 2 Sam. xxi. 1, 9. 2 Chron. xxvi. 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. 29,50, 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. Oaths exacted by kings from the people. See 1 Kings ii. 42. xviii. 10. 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. CLXXXHI. 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. The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham and said, Ver. 16. By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, Ver. 17. 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. The Lord appeared unto Isaac, and said, Ver. 3. 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 swear unto Abraham thy father. Ch. xxii. 16.-1. 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 keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy, which he sware unto thy fathers. Ch. iv. 31. vii. 8. - viii. 18. ix. 5.-xxviii. 9. To continue the seed of David. Ps. lxxxix. 3. I have sworn unto David my servant. Ver. 4. 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 Melchizedeck. Ps. cx. 4. See Isa. xlv. 22, 23. CLXXXVIII. To fuiful 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, 11. Judg. ii. 15. Jer. xlix. 13. li. 14. Amos vi. 8. also Lev. xxvi and Deut. xxviii. referred to in these threatenings. CLXXXIX. Example 2d. Jesus Christ answers upon oath, Matt, xxvi. 63, 64, tendered to him by the high priest. 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. 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God. CXCII. Ancient forms of swearing among men were, by lifting up the hand. Gen. xiv. 22. Abraham said, I have lift up my hand to the Lord. See Deut. xxxii. 40. Rev. x. 5. By putting the hand under the thigh of him that administered the oath. Gen. xxiv. 2, 3, 9. The usual expressions were. 1 Sam. xxv. 34. As the God of Israel liveth. 1 Kings xvii. 1.-xviii. 15. 2 Kings iii. 14. As the Lord of hosts liveth. Ch. v. 16. 2 Kings ii. 2. As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth. Ch. iv. 30. 1 Sam. xx. 3. As thy soul liveth. Ch. xxvi. 26. 2 Sam. xi. 11. CXCIII. Of blasphemy forbidden. Col. iii. 8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications. CXCIV. Occasions of it to be avoided. 2 Sam. xii. 14. Nathan said to David, because by this deed, thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. 2 Sam. xii. 14. The child that is born unto thee, shall surely die. Isa. lii. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 20. Mal. ii. 17. 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, blasphemies. Mark vii. 22. Gen. vi. 5. 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 blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. Ver. 14. The Lord spake unto Moses saying, bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp, and let all the congregation stone him. Ver. 16. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. 2 Kings xviii. 32, 33. and xix. 10. The King of Assyria's blasphemy. 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 naine. 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 works into their bosoins. 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, 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. |