vii. 19. our neighbour satisfied, and controverfy ended, Heb. vi. 16. our own innocency cleared, Exod. xxii. 11. c. 3.) That we mind well and firmly refolve to perform it.

(2.) In lots God's name is holily and reverently used, when,

[1] They are used in a matter of weight; for the end of them is the fame with that of an oath, Prov. xviii. 18. And the nature of them is not unlike, being an appeal to God's decifion, Prov. xvi. 33. And fo we find they are weighty cafes in fcripture wherein they are used, as in the cafes of Jonah and Matthias.

[2.] When they are neceffary, and the matter cannot otherwise be decided without great inconveniencies, as in the above cafes. And reafon teaches, that this being God's decifion, men ought not without great neceffity to go off the ordinary road.

[3] When men eye God in the lot, look to him for the decifion, with calling on his name, Jonah i. Acts i.

[4] When the matter is fingly given up to God, and no fraud or trick is used to caft the matter to one fide rather than another; for that is to put the decifion first in God's hand, and then to take it out a gain, which is a mocking of God.

[5] Lafly, When with due reverence that is re ceived which falls by the lot, as coming from the de termination of God.

Were thefe things duly confidered, I think men would not make fuch ufe of lotting, by cafting cavels, drawing cuts, &c, but would fatisfy themselves otherwife many times,

4thly, We must holily and reverently use the word, thinking of, fpeaking, and hearing it with godly fear, as the word of God, and that we may obey it.

5thly, and lastly, We must holily and reverently use his works, thinking of, fpeaking of, and ufing them to the honour of God, our own and others welfare,

adoring the Author, and giving him the praife of all. To fhut up all, we do thus ufe the name of God, by having a converfation fuitable to that great and glorious name we profefs to honour, Phil. i. 27. For we take his name in vain when our practice thwarts our profeffion; for that makes the name of God to be blafphemed, Rom. ii. 24.

II. I proceed to fhew what is forbidden in the third commandment. It" forbids all profaning or abufing of any thing whereby God makes himfelf known." This command is broken two ways,

1. By not using the name of God as is required, Mal. ii. 2. So as many duties as are required, fo many fins there are in omitting thefe duties. Hence this command is broken by our not hallowing and glorifying God's name, by not taking up the name of God into our minds, lips, and lives. We contract guilt against this command by not thinking and meditating on God titles, attributes, &c.; not speaking of them for the glory of God, our own and the good of others; not writing of it when men are gifted for it, and have a real call to do it. So alfo by not making a profeffion of religion; a real profeffion at all times; a verbal profeffion when men are by providence called thereto. Not ufing God's ordinances. Particularly it is a fin againft this command, to refuse an oath touching what is good and juft, when duly called thereunto. For in all thefe cafes there is a neglect of the duty of glorifying God's name enjoined in this command.

2. By profaning or abufing of the name of God; that is, any thing whereby God makes himself known, This is the great fin forbidden in this command; a bitter root that fpreads itself out with many branches, In fpeaking to it, I fhall fhew,

1. The inore plain and palpable profanations of that holy name forbidden in this command.

2. Other ways how the Lord's name is abused and taken in vain.

First, I am to fhew the more plain and papable profanations of that holy name forbidden in this.command. The name of God is plainly and palpably abufed,

1. When it is used ignorantly, as it was by the Athenians, whom the apostle Paul charges with worshipping God ignorantly, Acts xviii. 23. And of this all thofe that are ignorant of God, Chrift, and the way of falvation, cannot but be guilty, when they do at all use that holy name: for as no man can work right in the dark, fo the darknefs of ignorance on the foul utterly units it to glorify the name of God. And in what meafure foever that culpable ignorance lies on us, fa far are we guilty in that cafe. How is the name of God abused by ignorant perfons, while they mention the name of they know not whom, and fpeak of him they know not what? They will call God their God, who know not the nature of that God, the covenant of grace, or the way how he becomes ours. They will call Chrift their fweet Saviour, while they know not who he is, nor are acquainted with his falvation, They will call his Spirit their Sanctifier, who know nothing of his fanctifying operations and influences.

2. When it is used vainly and irreverently, that is, lightly and rafhly. There is fo little of God in the hearts of many, that his name, that dreadful name, is much in their mouths without any neceffity or re verence in their common talk, The Jews had fo great thoughts of the name Jehovah, that they would not mention it. They permit not their children to mention the name of God till they be feven years old, If the Mahometans find a piece of paper in the way, they put it in fome hole of a wall or fo, because the name of God is or may be in it. But alas! among Chriftians it is much ufed in vain and irreverently. The name of God is thus profaned, vainly and irreverently used,

ift, By exclamations in a way of foolish wonder. It is fad to think how that holy name is profaned by. men, when being furprifed to fee or hear fomething they wonder at, they cry, O God! O Lord! God bless us, fave us, guide us, have a care of us! That it is lawful to pray for thefe things, none doubt. But fuch as are in earneft for his bleffing, guidance, &c. will fee them to be matters of fo great moment, that when they are to feek them, they will compofe them, felves to a praying frame, and lift up their hands with their hearts to the heavens for them, with fingleness, fear, and faith in the blood of Chrift. But to ufe this holy name, to give a vent to our foolish paffions, is horrible proftitution of it.

2dly, It is ufed vainly and irreverently in thankfgivings to God and falutations. How formally and lightly will many fay, God be thanked, Bleffed be God, when the very fhew of their countenance declares they have no grateful fenfe of God's goodnefs, nor reverence of him on their fpirits? So God fpeed you, God be with you, are good prayers indeed, but mostly ufed fo formally, that they are but an abusing of that holy name.

3dly, In obfecrations, wherein the name of God is interpofed to befeech a perfon to do or forbear fuch a thing. They are very good when in matters of weight they are gravely and reverently ufed, as Rom. xii. 1. I beseech you by the mercies of God, that ye prefent your bodies a living facrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable fervice. But to ufe them in fmall matters, as many do, entreating for God's fake or God's love to do fo and fo, is but abufing that holy name. Common beggars are very guilty this way.

4thly, In adjurations, wherein the name of God is interpofed to oblige a perfon to do or forbear fomething. This is a very folemn piece of business, 2 Tim. iv. 1. and may very fafely be ufed by thofe who have authority in matters of weight; and people's flight

ing of thofe folemn charges given by minifters or other fuperiors fo, is very finful. But it is a fin, (1.) To use these things in light matters, as to bid one do any thing we are little concerned about in God's name. (2.) And although any perfon may pray to God against devils, that he would bind them up, yet it is a fin for any who have not the gift of cafting out devils, to adjure the devil, or command him in the name of God to go, as the vagabond Jews did, Acts xix. 13. 14.

5thly, In appeals to God. We find the faints using them reverently in matters of weight, as the apostle Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 2.; but to appeal to God in trifles, with a God knows, &c. is abominable. The omnifcience of God is no matter of fport. To appeal to God in trifles, is the way to bring down the judge ment of God on the appellant. The ferious thoughts of God's knowledge may make the best to tremble, and strike all with fo much awe of his Majefty as not to make a by-word of it.

3. When the name of God is ufed fuperftitiously, 1 Sam. iv. 3. 4. 5. So to name the name of God over difeafes, or against the devil, as if the very mentioning of that name without faith in him would do the bufinefs. So is that bowing at the name of Jefus used by thofe of the church of England, a fuperftitious abuse of that holy name.

4. When it is used profanely and wickedly. Under this may be comprehended,

ift, Profane fwearing. Swearing is an holy ordi nance appointed by God, a piece of most folemn worhip, wherein we invocate God as our witness and judge, which makes common fwearing a dreadful fin. It is twofold, both of them abounding in our day.

(1.) Swearing by God and Chrift. How do many glory in their horrid oaths, which inay make one that has any notion of the greatness of that name to tremble! They have a God to fwear by, but not to wor hip and pray to. But indeed it is wounding, that