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Q. 9. What's the firft Inftruction from the fecond Commandment?

A. That it is an hainous Sin to neglect the Worship of God, in that Manner he hath appointed us to worship him, as in Prayer, Jer. x. 25. Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not on thy Name-Hearing the Word, Prov, xxviii. 9. He that turneth away his Ear from bearing the Law, even his Prayer shall be Abomination.

Q. 10. What's the fecond Inftruction from the second Commandment?

A. That thofe that fuffer for endeavouring to preferve the Purity of God's Ordinances, and Non-conformity to the contrary Injunctions of Men, have a good Warrant to bear them out in all fuch Sufferings, Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you, &c.

Q. 11. What's the third Instruction from the fecond Commandment ?

A. That it is highly finful and dangerous to innovate and prefcribe by humane Authority, fuch fymbolical Rites in the Worship of God, as he never appointed or allowed in his Word, Matt. xv. 9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men.

Q. 12. What's the fourth Inftruction hence?

A. Hence we learn how much Parents and Children are obliged to worship God conftantly, fpiritually, and agreeably to his Will revealed in his Word, otherwife the Jealoufy of God will visit them both in the Way of Judgment. For as Obedience entails a Bleffing, fo Difobedience entails a Curfe on Pofterity, Exod. xxxiv. 14. For thou shalt worship no other God; for the Lord, whofe Name is jealous, is a jealous God.

Of the third Commandment.

Queft. 53. W

HICH is the third Commandment? A. the third Commandment is, [Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for

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the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.]

Queft. 54. What is required in the third Commandment? A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend Use of God's Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinances, Word and Works.

Queft. 55. What is forbidden in the third Command

ment ?

A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abufing of any Thing, whereby God maketh himself known, Queft. 56. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment?

A. The Reafon annexed to the third Commandment is, that however the Breakers of this Commandment may efcape Punishment from Men, yet the Lord our God will not fuffer them to escape his righteous Judgment.

Q. 1. How doth this Commandment differ from the first and fecond?

A. The firft hath refpect to the Object of Worship, forbidding us to worship any other but God. The second refpects the Means of Worship, forbidding us to worship God by any other Means than what he hath prefcribed. But the third refpects the Manner of his Worship, forbidding all careless or profane Ufe of his Name, and commanding an holy Reverence from us in all our folemn Addreffes to him,. or ordinary mention of his Name, Mal. i. 6. A Son honoureth his Father, and a Servant his Mafter: If I then be a Father, where is mine Honour ? and if I be a Mafter, where is my Fear? faith the Lord of Hofts unto you, O Priefts, that defpife my Name: And ye fay, wherein have we defpifed thy Name? Q. 2. What is the firft Thing especially required in the third Commandment?

A. It requires the most aweful and reverential Frame of our Hearts in all our Approaches to God, Pfal. 89. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the Affembly of the Saints; and to be had in Reverence of all them that are about bim, And in his Worship, Joh. iv. 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

Q3. What's the fecond Thing required in this Commandment?

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A. It requires Truth in our Witness-bearing, as knowing God feeth our Hearts, and is witness to all that we think or fpeak, Zech. v. 4. I will bring it forth, faith the Lord of Hofts, and it fhall enter into the Houfe of the Thief, and into the Houfe of him that fweareth falfly by my Name, &c.

Q4. What's the third Thing required in this Command

ment?

A. That in all our Appeals to God in fecret or doubtful Matters, we be fure that the Appeal be neceffary, aweful and true, Jer. xvii. 16. As for me, I have not haftened from being a Paftor to follow thee, neither have I defired the woful Day, thou knoweft: That which came out of my Lips was right before thee, Pfal. cxxxix. 23, 24. Search me, O God, and know my Heart: Try me, and know my Thoughts. And fee if there be any wicked Way in me; and lead me in the Way everlasting.

Q5. What doth this Commandment efpecially forbid ? A. It forbids and condemns all profane Oaths as most injurious to the Name of God, Matt. v. 34, 37.-Swear not at all, neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne, &c. but let your Communication be yea, yea, nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than thefe, cometh of Evil.

Q. 6. What is the Danger of profane or falfe fwearing? A. Such are reckoned Enemies to Gcd, Pfal. cxxxix. 20.Thine Enemies take thy Name in vain. The Curfe of God enters into fuch Families, Zech. v. 4. I will bring it forth, faith the Lord of Hofts, and it shall enter into the Houfe of the Thief, and into the Houfe of him that fweareth falfly by my Name, &c. And the Lord will not hold them guiltless.

Q.7. What elfe is forbidden in this Commandment?

It forbids and condemns all heedlefs Wandering, and drowfy Performance of God's Worfhip, Ifa. xxix. 13, 14. Wherefore the Lord faid, forafmuch as this People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but havere moved their Heart far from me, and their Fear towards me is taught by the Precept of Men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous Work amongst this People, even a marvellous Work and a Wonder: For the Wisdom of their wife Men fhall perish, and the Understanding of their prudent Men fhall be bid. And 2 Kings x. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of

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the Lord God of Ifrael, with all his Heart: For he departed not from the Sins of Jeroboam, which made Ifrael to fin.

Q. 8. What other Sin is forbidden in this Command ? A. It forbids all light and irreverent Ufe of the Scriptures, especially in our Jefts, or by Way of Scoffing, Jer. xvii. 15. Behold they fay unto me, where is the Word of the Lord? let it come now, Jer. vi. 10.— Behold the Word of the Lord is unto them a Reproach: they have no Delight in it.

Q. 9. By what Argument doth God enforce the third Commandment on Men?

A. That the Breakers of this Command fhall furely be punished by the Lord, either in this Life, Deut. xxviii. 58, 59. If thou wilt not obferve to do all the Words of this Law, that are written in this Book, that thou mayft fear this glorious and fearful Name, The Lord thy God: Then the Lord will make thy Plagues wonderful, and the Plagues of thy Seed, even great Plagues, and of long Continuance, and fore Sickness, and of long Continuance: Or in that to come, Rom. ii. 5. But after thy Hardness and impenitent Heart, treafureft up unto thyself Wrath against the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Fudgment of God: Except they repent and reform.

Q. 10. What's the first Inftruction from the third Commandment?

A. That great and infinite is the Patience of God in forbearing provoking Sinners fo long as he doth, Romans ix. 22. What if God willing to fhew his Wrath, and to make his Power known, endured with much long-fuffering the Veffels of Wrath fitted to Deftruction?

Q. 11. What's the fecond Inftruction from hence?

A. That God is to be juftified in the feverest of his Judgments, by which at any Time he manifefts his Displeasure against the Profanenefs of the World, Hof. iv. 1, 2, 3. Hear the Word of the Lord, ye Children of Ifrael: For the Lord hath a Controversy with the Inhabitants of the Land, because there is no Truth, nor Mercy, nor Knowledge of God in the Land. By Swearing, and Lying, and Killing, and Stealing, and committing Adultery, they break out, and Blood toucheth Blood. Therefore fhall the Land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein fball languif, with the Beafts of the Field, and with the Fowls of Heaven, yea the Fishes of the Sea alfo fhall be taken away.

Q. 12. What's the third Inftruction from hence ?

A. That God takes fpecial Notice of, and greatly delighteth in them that fear and reverence his Name, Ifa. 66. 5. Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his Word: Your Brethren that hated you, that caft you out for my Name's Sake, faid, let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your Joy, and thy fhall be afamd, Mal. iii. 16.-And a Book of Remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name.

Q. 13. What's the laft Inference from hence ?.

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A. That thofe Parents have much to answer for, that by their Examples teach, or by their Negligence encourage their Children to profane God's Name, Jer. v. 7. Shall I pardon thee for this? Thy Children have forfaken me, and fworn by them that are no Gods, &c.

Of the Sabbath.

Queft. 57. WA. The fourth Commandment is, [Re

HICH is the fourth Commandment?

member the Sabbath Day to keep it holy: Six Days italt thou labour, and do all thy Work; but the feventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any Work, thou nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy ManServant, nor thy Maid-Servant, nor thy Cattle, nor thy Stranger which is within thy Gates: For in fix Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is, and rested the feventh Day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-Day, and hallowed it ]

Quest. 58. What is required in the fourth Commandment? A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God, fuch fet Time as he hath appointed in his Word, exprefsly one whole Day in feven, to be an holy Sabbath unto the Lord.

Queft. 59. Which Day of the Seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

A. From the Beginning of the World to the Refurrection of Chrift, God hath appointed the feventh Day of the Week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the firft Day of the Week

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