Quest 49, 50, 51, 52 Of the second commandment, 53
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11. What is the fourth inference from hence ?
A. That the supreme love, fear, and trust of the soul, is God's peculiar right and due.
Whosoever places them on any other besides God, 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 said to the fine gold, thou art my confidence ; this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge ; for I snould have denied the God that is above.
Q.12. What is the fifth inference from hence ?
A. That God's eye discovers the closest idolatry in the world, whether it be in secret actions ; Ezek. viii. 12. Hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Ifraeldo in the dark ? Every man in the 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 sixth inference from hence ?
A. That an high and full conditionintheworld, is a dangerous condition, and lies most exposed to the danger of heartidolatry; Prov. xxx. 9. Lest I be full, anddenythee, and say, who is the Lord ? Mark x. 24. How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter 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 take God 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 likewise, whosoever he 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, [Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth ; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, norfervethem : For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the chilQuest.49. dren, unto the thirdandfourthgeneration of them that hate me,
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A. The second commandment requireth, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances, as God hath appointed in his word.
Quest. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, oranyotherway notappointedinhis word.
Quest. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to thesecondcommandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zealhe hath to his own worship.
Q1. What is the fin especially forbidden in the second commandment ?
A. The fin here forbidden, is the corruption of God's worship, by making any fimilitude of any person intheGodhead, and performing divine worthip before it, or to it ; Exod. xxxii.
8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: They have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, these be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye therefore good heed untoyourselves (for he saw no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire) left ye corrupt yourselves and make 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, consisting in the addition of man's inventions to the worship of God, as a part thereof, Matth. xv. 9. But in vain they do 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 in the 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 to the satisfying of the flesh.
2.3. But if those additions be for the more decent worship
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pingofGod, is it not allowed by 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all things be done 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. Why is thesecondcommandment left out in all the public offices of the popish church ?
A. Because it expressly condemns their idolatrous images, kneeling at the sacrament, prayers to saints, and all their superstitious crosses, surplices, and chrisme, as sinful .
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 use of images in God'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 Israel, 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 to God only to institute his own worship, and make it effectual ; and therefore to do that in his worship which 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 son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Q. 7. What is the second reason annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The second reason is God'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
Israel, for joy, as other people ; for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, &c.
Q.8. What is the third reason annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The jealousy of God over his worship and worshippers ; so that this finof corrupting his worship will dreadfully incense his wrath, as it did, Lev. x. 1, 2. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons 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 Assembly's Catechism. commanded them not. Andtherewent out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Q. 9. What is the first instruction from the fecondcommandment ?
A. That it is an heinous 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 hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination .
Q10. What is the second instruction from the second commandment ?
A. That those who suffer for endeavouring to preserve the purity of God's ordinances, and nonconformity to the contrary injunctions of men, have a good warrant to bear them out in all such 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.
11. What is the third instruction from the second commandment?
A. That it is highly sinful and dangerous to innovate and prescribe by human authority such symbolical rites in the worship of God, as he never appointed or allowed in his word ;
Matth. xv. 9. But in vain do 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 of God will visit them both in the way of judgment : For as obedience entails a blessing, so disobedience entails a curse on posterity ;
Exod. xxxiv. 14. For thou shalt worship no other god ; for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Of the third Commandment .
Quest. 53. Which is thethirdcommandment?
A. The third commandment is, [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.]
Quest. 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, words, and works-
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Quest. 55. What is forbidden inthethirdcommandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.
Quest. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment frommen, yet the Lord ourGodwillnotfuffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
2.1. How doth this commandment differ from the first and second?
A. The first hath respect to the object of worship, forbidding us to worship any other but God.
The second respects the means of worship, forbidding us to worship God by any other means than what he hath prescribed.
But the third respects the manner of his worship, forbidding all careless, or profane use of his name, and commanding an holy reverence from us in all our solemn addresses to him, or ordinary mention of his name. Mal. i. 6. A son 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 of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name: And ye say,
Wherein have wedespisedthyname?
Q. 2. What is the first thing especially required in the third commandment ?
It requires the most awful and reverential frame of our hearts in all our approaches to God; Psalm lxxxix. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints; and to be had in reverence 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 this commandment?
A. It requires truth in our witness-bearing, as knowing God seeth our hearts, and is witness to all that we think, or speak ;
Zech. v. 4. I will bring 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 the third thing required in this commandment?
A. That in all our appeals to God in secret, or doubtful matters, we be sure that the appeal be necessary, awful, and true ;
Jer. xvii . 16. As for me, I have not hastened from being a
VOL. VIII,
An Exposition of the Assembly'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. Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24. Search me, OGod, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And tee 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 is God's throne, &c.
But let your communication be, Yea, yea ; Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil.
Q. 6. What is the danger of profane or false swearing ?
4. Such are reckoned enemies to God, Plalm cxxxix. 20.
Thine enemies take thy name in vain. The curse of God enters into such families.
Zech . v. 4. I will bring 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.
And the Lord will not hold them 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 said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men : Therefore, behold I will proceed to do amarvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work, and a wonder ; for the wisdom of their wife men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
And 2 Kings x. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel, with all his heart : for he departed not from the fins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to fin, ९. 8. What other fin is forbidden in this 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 it come now.
Jer, vi . 10. Behold, the word of the Lord is unto them 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 punished by the Lord, either in this life, Deut. xxviii. 58, 59.
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and
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fearful name, the Lord thy God: Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy feed, 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, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God: Except they repent and reform .
Q.10. What is the first instruction from the third commandment?
A. That great and infinite is the patience of God in forbearing and provoking sinners so long as he doth ; Rom. ix. 22 .
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ?
Q. 11. What is the second instruction from hence ?
A. That God is to be justified in the severest of his judgments, by which at any time he manifests his displeasure against the profaneness of the world; Hosea iv. 1, 2, 3. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: 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 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.
Q. 12. What is the third instruction from hence ?
A. That God 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 out for my name's fake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appeartoyourjoy, and they shall be ashained.
Mal. iii. 16.--And a book of remembrance waswrittenbeforehim, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
Q.13. What is the last inference from hence?
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 sworn by them that are no gods, &c.
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