Quest 49, 50, 51, 52 Of the second commandment, 53
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
11. What is the fourth inference from hence ?
A. That the fupreme love, fear, and truſt of the foul, is God's peculiar right and due.
Whosoever places them on any other beſidesGod, is guilty of a very heinous and great fin against him ; 1 John ii. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Compared with Job xxxi.
24,-28 . If I have made gold my hope, or have faid tothe fine gold, thou art my confidence ; this alſo were an iniquity to be puniſhedby the judge ; for I ſnould have denied theGod that is above.
Q.12. What is the fifth inference from hence ?
A. ThatGod's eye diſcovers the cloſeſt idolatry in the world, whether itbe in ſecret actions ; Ezek. viii. 12. Haſt thou ſeen what the ancients of thehouſe of Ifraeldo in the dark ? Every man inthe chambers of his imagery ? for they fay, the Lord ſeeth us not, the Lord hath forſaken the earth.
Or inward affections ; Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſs, inordinate affection, evil concupifcence, and covetouſneſs, which is idolatry.
Q. 13. What is the fixth inference from hence ?
A. That an high and full conditionintheworld, is adangerous condition, and lies moſt expoſed to the danger of heartidolatry; Prov. xxx. 9. Leſt I befull, anddenythee, andſay, who is the Lord ? Mark x. 24. How hard is it for them that truſt in riches toenter into the kingdom of heaven ?
14. What is the laſt inference ?
A. That in covenanting with God, and avouching him for our God, we must wholly renounce all others, and takeGod alone for our portion, and object of our love and dependance ;
Hofea iii. 3. Thou shalt not be for another man ; fo will I alſo be for thee.
Luke xiv. 33. So likewife, whosoeverhe be of you that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my diſciple.
Of the Second Commandment .
☑Hich is the ſecond commandment ?
WA. Thesecondcommandment is, [Thoushalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, orthat is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth ; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, norfervethem : For Ithe Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the chilQueſt.49. dren, unto the thirdandfourthgeneration of them that hateme,
An Exposition ofthe Affembly's Catechism. andshewing mercyunto thousands of them that love me, andkeep my commandments ] Queſt. 50. What is required inthe ſecondcommandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth, the receiving, obſerving, and keeping pure and entire all fuch religious worship and ordinances, asGod hath appointed in his word.
Queſt. 51. What is forbiddenin the ſecond commandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of Godby images, oranyotherway notappointedinhis word.
Queſt. 52. What are the reasons annexedto the ſecondcommandment ?
A. The reasons annexedto thesecondcommandment are, God's fovereignty overus, his propriety in us, and the zealhe hathto his own worship.
Q1. What is the fin eſpecially forbidden inthe ſecondcommandment ?
A. The fin here forbidden, is the corruption of God's worſhip, by making any fimilitude of anyperſon intheGodhead, and performing divine worthip before it, or to it ; Exod. xxxii.
8. They have turned aſide quickly out of the way which I commandedthem: They have made them a molten calf, and have worſhipped it, and have facrificed thereunto, and faid, theſebe thy gods, O Ifrael, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye therefore goodheed untoyourſelves (for he ſaw no manner of fimilitude on theday that the Lord ſpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midſt of the fire) left ye corrupt yourſelves andmake you agravenimage, the fimilitude of any figure, the likeneſs of male or female.
Q.2 . What is the ſecond ſin forbidden in this commandment ?
A. The ſecond ſin against this commandment is will-worſhip, confifting inthe addition of man's inventions to the worſhip of God, as a part thereof, Matth. xv. 9. But in vain theydo worſhip me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Col. ii. 20, 21, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye be dead with Chriſt from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living inthe world, are ye ſubject to ordinances, (Touch not, taſte not, handle not, which all are to perish with the uſing) after the commandments and doctrines of men ? Which things have indeed a ſhew of wisdom in will-worſhip and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour tothe fatisfying ofthe fleſh.
2.3. But if thoſe additions be for the moredecent worſhip
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
pingofGod, is it not allowed by 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let allthings bedone decently, and in order ?
A. No ; that ſcripture commands that God's inſtitutions be regularly and decently performed, but not that we invent ceremonies that are ſymbolical, to make them more decent than
Chriſt left them.
Q. 4. Whyis theſecondcommandment left out in allthe public offices of the popiſh church ?
A. Becauſe it expreſsly condemns their idolatrous images, kneeling at the facrament, prayers to faints, and all their fuperſtitious croſſes, ſurplices, and chriſme, as finful .
Q.5. Do they not clear themselves from idolatry, by telling us theyonlyworſhip God before, or by them, but not the images themſelves ?
A. No, they do not ; for the useof images inGod's worſhip is expreſsly condemned in this commandment ; and if this would excuſe the papiſts, it had alſo excuſed the Ifraelites in worſhipping the calf, Exod. xxxii. 4.
And they ſaid, Theſe be thy gods, O Ifrael, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
6. What is the firſt reaſon annexed to the ſecond commandment ?
A. The firſt reaſon annexed is God's ſovereignty, I the Lord; which ſhews that it belongs toGod only to inſtitute his own worſhip, and make it effectual ; and therefore to do that in his worſhipwhich he never commanded, is ſinful and dangerous ;
Jer. vii. 31. And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the fon of Hinnom, to burn their fons andtheirdaughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Q. 7. What is the ſecondreaſon annexed to the ſecond commandment ?
A. The ſecond reaſon isGod's propriety in us : He is our God, and we belong to him; and therefore to corrupt his worſhip, greatly aggravates our fins ; Hoſea ix. 1. Rejoice not, O
Ifrael, for joy, as other people ; for thou hast gone awhoring from thy God, &c.
Q.8. What is the third reaſon annexed to the ſecond commandment ?
A. The jealousy ofGod over his worſhip and worſhippers ; ſothatthis finof corruptinghis worship will dreadfully incenſe his wrath, as it did, Lev. x. 1, 2. And Nadab and Abihu, the fons of Aaron, took either of them his cenſer, and put fire thereon, and offered ſtrange fire before the Lord, which he
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism. commandedthem not. Andtherewent out fire from the Lord, anddevoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Q. 9. What is the firſt inſtructionfrom the fecondcommandment ?
A. That it is anheinous ſin toneglect the worſhip of God, in that manner he hath appointed us toworship him, as in prayer; Jer. x. 25. Pour outthy 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 hearing the law, even his prayer ſhallbe abomination .
Q10. What is the ſecond inſtruction from the fecond commandment ?
A. That those who fuffer for endeavouring topreferve the purity of God's ordinances, and nonconformity to the contrary injunctions of men, have a good warrant to bear them out in all fuch ſufferings ; Deut. iv. 2. Ye shallnot addunto theword which I commandyou, neither ſhall you diminiſh ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments ofthe Lord yourGod, which I command you.
11. What is the third inſtruction from the fecond commandment?
A. That it is highly finful anddangerous to innovate and preſcribe by human authority ſuch ſymbolical rites in the worſhip ofGod, as he never appointed or allowed in his word ;
Matth. xv. 9. But invaindo they worſhip me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Q. 12. What is the fourth inſtruction hence?
A. Hence we learn how much parents and children are obliged to worshipGodconſtantly, ſpiritually, and agreeably to his will revealed in his word; otherwise the jealousy ofGodwill viſit them both in the way ofjudgment : For as obedience entails a bleffing, ſo disobedience entails a curſe on pofterity ;
Exod. xxxiv. 14. For thou shaltworship no other god ; for the Lordwhoſe name is Jealous, is a jealousGod.
Of the thirdCommandment .
Quest. 53. Which is thethirdcommandment?
A. The third commandment is, [Thou shalt not take thename of the Lord thyGod'in vain: for the Lord will not holdhim guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.]
Queſt. 54. Whatis required in the third commandment ?
A. Thethird commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works-
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
Queſt. 55. What is forbidden inthethirdcommandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning orabusing of any thing wherebyGod maketh himself known.
Queſt. 56. What is the reaſon annexed tothe thirdcommandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that howeverthe breakers of this commandment may escape punishment frommen, yet the Lord ourGodwillnotfuffer them to escapehis righteous judgment.
2.1. Howdoth this commandment differ from the firſt and ſecond?
A. The firſt hath reſpect tothe object of worship, forbiddingus to worſhip any other butGod.
The ſecond reſpects the means of worship, forbidding us to worſhip God by any other means thanwhat he hath preſcribed.
But the third reſpects the manner of his worship, forbidding all carelefs, or profaneuſe of his name, and commanding an holy reverence from us in all our folemn addreſſes to him, or ordinarymention of his name. Mal. i. 6. A fon honoureth his father, and a fervanthis maſter : If then I be a father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a maſter, where is my fear ? faith the Lord ofhofts unto you, O priests, that deſpiſe my name: And ye ſay,
Wherein have wedeſpiſedthyname?
Q. 2. What is the firſt thing eſpecially requiredin the third commandment ?
It requires the moſt awful and reverential frame of our hearts inallour approaches toGod; Pfalm lxxxix. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the aſſembly of the faints; and to be hadinreverence of all them that are about him. And in his
worship; John iv. 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worthip him, muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth.
Q. 3. What is the second thing required in thiscommandment?
A. It requires truth in ourwitneſs-bearing, as knowingGod ſeeth our hearts, and is witneſs to all that we think, or ſpeak ;
Zech. v. 4. I willbring it forth, faith the Lord of hoſts, and it ſhall enter into the houſe of the thief, and into the house of him that ſweareth falſely by my name, c.
4. What is thethird thing required in this commandment?
A. That in all our appeals toGod in ſecret, ordoubtful matters, webe ſure that the appeal be neceſſary, awful, and true ;
Jer. xvii . 16. As for me, I have not haſtenedfrom being a
VOL. VIII,
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism. paſtor to follow thee, neither have I desired the woeful day, thou knoweſt : that which came out of my lips was right before thee. Pfalm cxxxix. 23, 24. Search me, OGod, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. Andtee if there be anywickedway in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.:
Q5. What doth this commandment eſpecially forbid ?
A. It forbids and condemns all profane oaths, as moſt injurious to the name of God, Matth.v. 34, 37-Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it isGod's throne, &c.
But let your communicationbe, Yea, yea ; Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than theſe, cometh of evil.
Q. 6. What is thedanger of profane or falſe ſwearing ?
4. Such are reckoned enemies to God, Plalm cxxxix. 20.
Thine enemies take thy name in vain. The curſe ofGod enters into ſuch families.
Zech . v. 4. I will bring it forth, faith the Lord of hofts, andit ſhall enter into the houſe of the thief, and into the houſeof him that ſweareth falſelyby my name, &c.
And the Lordwill not holdthem guiltleſs.
Q. 7. What elſe is forbidden in this commandment ?
It forbids and condemns all heedleſs, wandering, and drowzy performance of God's worship; Ifa. xxix. 13, 14.
Wherefore the Lord faid, Foraſmuch as this people draw near mewith their mouths, andwith their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taughtby the precept of men : Therefore, behold I will proceedto do amarvellous work among this people, evena marvellous work, and a wonder ; for the wisdom oftheir wife men ſhall periſh, and the underſtanding of their prudent men ſhall behid.
And 2 Kings x. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk inthe law of the LordGod of Ifrael, with all his heart : for hedeparted not from the fins of Jeroboam, which made Ifrael to fin, ९. 8. What other fin is forbiddeninthis command ?
A. It forbids all light and irreverent use of the ſcriptures, eſpecially in our jeſfts, or by way of ſcoffing; Jer. xvii. 15. Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the Lord? Let itcome now.
Jer, vi . 10. Behold, the word of the Lord is untothem a reproach : they have no delight in it.
9. By what argument doth God enforce the third commandment on men ?
A. That the breakers of this commandment ſhall ſurely be punishedby the Lord, either in this life, Deut. xxviii. 58, 59.
If thou wilt not obſerve to do all the words of this law, that arewritten in this book, that thou mayeſt fear this glorious and
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
fearful name, the Lord thy God: Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and theplagues of thy feed, evengreat plagues, and of long continuance, and fore fickness, and of longcontinuance: Or in that to come, Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up unto thyfelf wrath against thedayof wrath, andrevelation of the righteous judgment of God: Except they repent andreform .
Q.10. What is the firſt inſtruction from the third commandment?
A. That great and infinite is the patience ofGod in forbearing and provoking finners ſo long as he doth ; Rom. ix. 22 .
What if God, willing to ſhew his wrath, and tomake his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deſtruction ?
Q. 11. What isthe ſecondinſtruction fromhence ?
A. ThatGod is tobe juſtified in the feverest of his judgments, bywhich at any timehe manifeſts his diſpleaſure against the profaneneſs of the world; Hoſea iv. 1, 2, 3. Hear theword of the Lord, ye children of Ifrael: For the Lord hath a controversywith the inhabitantsof the land, becauſe there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge ofGod in the land. By ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
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 fea alſo ſhall be takenaway.
Q. 12. What is the third inſtruction from hence ?
A. ThatGod takes ſpecial notice of, and greatly delighteth in them that fear and reverence his name ; Iſa. lxvi. 5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word : Your brethren that hated you, that caſt you outfor myname's fake, faid, Let the Lord be glorified; buthe ſhall appeartoyourjoy, and they ſhallbe aſhained.
Mal. iii. 16.--And abook of remembrance waswrittenbeforehim, for them that fearedthe Lord, andthat thought upon his name.
Q.13. What isthe laſt inference fromhence?
A. That thoſe parents have much to anſwer for, that by their examples teach, or by their negligence encourage their childrentoprofaneGod's name ; Jer. v. 7. How ſhall I pardon thee for this ?
Thy children have forſaken me, and ſwornby them that are no gods, &c.
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