Question 55

How are Gods Names, Titles and Attributes profaned and abused?

Gods Name, Titles, and Attributes are profaned and abused; 1. When persons do think slightly, and irreverently of them, without any sutable affections to them, especially when their hearts are filled with despising, hatred, and aversation towards the Name of God, If I then be a Father, where is mine Honor? If I be a Master, where is my Fear, saith the Lord of Hosts unto you that despise my Name?^a 2. When persons speak irreverently concerning God, making mention of any of his Names, Titles, or Attributes in ordinary discourse, crying, O Lord, O God, God forgive me, God save me, and the like, without minding what they say, or having any Awe of God upon them, whilst they are speaking of him, Thine Enemies take thy Name in vain.^b 3. When persons do Swear by the Name of God, and that either vainly, and wickedly, mingling their ordinary Speech with hideous Oaths, priding themselves in their Invention of New Oaths, and emphatically pronouncing of them; or when persons being called to Swear lawfully before a Magistrate, or the like, they do Swear falsly, But I say unto you Swear not at all, but let your Communication be yea, yea; nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of Evil.^c It shall enter into the House of him that sweareth falsly by my Name.^d 4. When persons do curse either themselves, or others, in the Name of the Lord, either jestingly, rashly, or maliciously, And the Philistine cursed David by his Gods.^e Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.^f 5. When persons Blaspheme the Name of the Lord, by speaking against any of those Names, Titles, or Attributes, whereby he hath made himself known, or by ascribing any thing unto him which is unworthy him, Whom hast thou reproached, and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lift up thine eyes on high, even against the holy one of Israel^g Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.^h 6. When persons use the Name of the Lord in any Charms, Then certain of the vagabond Jews exorcists, took upon them, to call over them which had Evil Spirits, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, &c. And the man in whom the Evil Spirit was leapt upon them, and overcame them, so they fled out of the house naked and wounded.ⁱ

How are Gods Ordinances profaned & abused?

Gods Ordinances are profaned and abused; 1. When persons are irreverent in their attendance upon them, in regard of the outward gesture of their bodies, laughing, talking, sleeping, any other way undecently behaving themselves in the time of Prayer, preaching, singing, receiving the Sacrament, or any other part of Gods Worship, Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.^j Let all things be done decently and in order.^k 2. When Persons under Ordinances are slight and formal, as to the inward frame of their minds, when their minds are roving and wandring, and their hearts are dead, and dull, very unbeseeming the Majesty of God, whom in his Ordinances they wait upon, who being a Spirit, doth chiefly look to the Spiritual part of his service. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.^l 3. And chiefly Persons profane, and abuse Gods Ordinances, when they make a profession of Religion; and attend upon Ordinances only that they may be accounted Religious by men, without any sincere Endeavours to approve the heart unto God; making use of Religion only as a Cloak for Covetousness, or maliciousness, or Voluptuousness, Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof.^m Woe unto you Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites, for ye devour Widows houses, and for a pretence, make long prayers, therefore ye shall receive the greater Damnation.ⁿ

How is Gods word profaned and abused?

Gods Word is profaned and abused; 1. When Persons think, or speak slightingly, especially when they pervert the Word of God, or any part thereof unto profane jests, And when this People, or Prophet shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord: Thou shalt say, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord. And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more, for ye have perverted the words of the living God.^o 2. When Persons wrest the Word of God unto false Doctrine; perversly disputing against the sound and wholsome Doctrine therein contained, In which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned, and unstable, wrest as they do also the other Scripture unto their own destruction,^p If any man Teach otherwise, and consent not to wholsome Words, the words of our Lord Jesus, and the Doctrine which is according to godliness. He is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strifs of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth.^q 3. When Persons mis-apply the Word of God; the Threatnings unto the Righteous to make them sad; the promises to the wicked, to encourage them in their wicked ways, With Lies ye have made the heart of the Righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him Life.^r

How are Gods works profaned and abused?

Gods Works are profaned and abused; 1. When Persons pamper their flesh, gratifie their Lusts, and are intemperate in their use of Gods Creatures, Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in Rioting and Drunkenness; not in Chambering & Wantonness; not in Strife and Envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof.^s 2. When in prosperity, Persons are forgetful of God, unthankful for Mercies, and indulge themselves the more to sin, because of Gods patience & bounty, They were filled, and their hearts were exalted, therefore they have forgotten me.^t Or dispisest thou the Riches of his goodness, and forbearance; but after thy hardness, and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thy self wrath; &c.^u 3. When in Adversity, Persons murmur, are impatient, when they are incorrigible, and grow more hardned in their sins, Neither murmur ye as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the Destroyer.^v Thou hast striken them but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive Correction; they have made their Faces harder than a Rock, they have refused to return.^w