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A. The Reasons annexed to the fecond Commandment are, God's Sovereignty over us, his Propriety in us, and his Zeal he hath to his own Worship?

Q. What is the Sin cfpecially forbidden in the second Commandment?

A. The Sin here forbidden is the Corruption of God's Worship, by making any Similitude of any Perfon in the Godhead, and performing Divine Worship before it, or to it, Exod. xxxii. 8. They have turned afide quickly out of the Way which I commanded them: They have made them a molten Calf, and have worshipped, and have facrificed thereunto, and Jaid, theje be thy Gods, O Ifrael, which have brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt, Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye

fore good heed unto yourselves, (for ye faw no Manner of Similitude 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 a graven Image, the Similitude of any Figure, the Likeness of Male or Female.

Q. 2. What is the fecond Sin forbidden in this Com, mandment?

A. The second Sin against this Commandment is Willworship, confifting in the Addition of Man's Inventions to the Worship of God as à Part thereof, Matt. xv. 9. But in Vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men, Col. ii. 20, 21, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye be dead with Chrift from the Rudiments of the World; why, as though living in the World, are ye fubject to Ordinances,. (Touch not, tafle not, handle not: Which all are to perish with the fing) 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 fatisfying of the Flesh.

Q3. But if thofe Additions be for the more decent wor fhipping of God, is it not allowed by, 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all Things be dong decently and in Order?

A, No; That Scripture commands that God's Inftitu tions be regularly and decently performed, but not that we invent Ceremonies that are fymbolical, to make them more decent than Chrift left them.

Q. 4. Why is the fecond Commandment left out in all the publick Offices of the Popish Church?

A. Because it exprefsly condemns their idolatrous Images, kneeling at the Sacrament, Prayers to Saints, and all their fuperftitious Croffes, Surplices, Chrisme, as finful.

Q. 5. Do they not clear themfelves from Idolatry, by telling us they only worship God before, or by them, but not the Images themfelves?

A. No, they do not; for the Ufe of Images in God's Worship is exprefsly condemned in this Commandment; and if this would excufe the Papifts, it had also excused the Ifraelites in worshipping the Calf, Exod. xxxii. 4.-And they Jaid, thefe be thy Gods, O Ifrael, that brought thee up oat of the Land of Egypt.

Q. 6. What's the firft Reafon annexed to the second Commandment?

A. The firft Reason annexed is God's Sovereignty, I the Lord; which fhews that it belongs to God only to inftitute his own Worship, and make it effectual; and therefore to do that in his Worship which he never commanded, is finful and dangerous, Jer. vii. 31. And they have built the high Places of Topbet, 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's the fecond Reason annexed to the fecond Commandment?

A. The fecond Reafon is God's Propriety in us; he is our God, and we belong to him; and therefore to corrupt his Worship. greatly aggravates our Sin, Hof. ix. 1. Rejoice not, O Ifrael, for Foy as other People; for thau haft gone a Whoring from thy God, &c.

Q. 8. What's the third Reafon annexed to the fecond. Commandment?

A. The Jealoufy of God over his Worship and Worshippers; fo that this Sin of corrupting his Worship, will dreadfully incenfe his Wrath, as it did, Levit, x. 1, 2. And Nadab and Abibu the Sons of Aaron, took either of them his Cenfer, and put Fire thereon, and offered ftrange Fire before the Lord, which be commanded them not. And there went out Fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

Q. 9. What's the first 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 hearing the Law, even his Prayer shall be Abomination.

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

A. That thofe that fuffer for endeavouring to preserve 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 aught from it, that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord jour 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 prescribe 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 Jealousy of God will vifit them both in the Way of Judgment. For as Obedience entails a Bleffing, fo Difobedience entails à 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. WHICH is the third Commandment?

A. the third Commandment is, [Thou halt 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 Ufe 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, Quest. 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 Worfhip, for bidding us to worship any other but God. The fecond 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 carelefs 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 bonoureth 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 Priests, that defpife my Name: And ye Jay, wherein have we defpifed thy Name? Q. 2. What is the firft Thing efpecially 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?

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

Q. 4. 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 especially 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.

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Q6. What is the Danger of profane or false swearing? A. Such are reckoned Enemies to God, 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 House of the Thief, and into the House of him that fweareth falfly by my Name, &c. And the Lord will not hold them guiltless.

Q7. What elfe is forbidden in this Commandment?

It forbids and condemns all heedlefs Wandering, and drowfy Performance of God's Worship, 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 shall perish, and the Understanding of their prudent Men fhall be bid. And 2 Kings x. 31. But Jebu took no heed to walk in the Law of

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