THIRD
COMMANDMENT

M.—Now for the third commandment.

S.—Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain.

M.—What is the meaning?

S.—He forbids us to abuse the name of God, not only by perjury, but by swearing without necessity.

M.—Can the name of God be lawfully used in making oath?

S.—It may indeed, when used on a fit cause: first, in asserting the truth; and secondly, when the business is of such importance as to make it meet to swear, in maintaining mutual love and concord among men..

M.—But does it not go farther than to restrain oaths, by which the name of God is profaned, or his honor impaired?

S.—The mention of one species admonishes us in general, never to utter the name of God unless with fear and reverence, and for the purpose of honoring it. For while it is thrice holy, we ought to guard, by all means, against seeming to hold it in contempt, or giving others occasion to contemn.

M.—How is this to be done?

S.—By never speaking or thinking of God and his works without honor.

M.—What follows?

S.—A sanction, by which he declares that he shall not be guiltless who taketh his name in vain.

M.—As he, in another place, declares that he will punish the transgressors of his law, what more is contained here?

S.—He hereby meant to intimate how much he values the glory of his name, and to make us more careful of it, when we see that vengeance is ready for any who may profane it.