temptuously, Psal. 12: 4. Exod. 5: 2. The attribute of God's providence is abused, either by murmuring thereat in our hearts, Deut. 15: 9. or by speaking grudgingly against it, under the name of fortune or chance, in saying, "What a misfortune was this? what a mischance was that?" and the like, Deut. 1:27. 1 Sam. 6: 1. The attribute of God's justice is profanely abused, either by thinking, or saying, that God likes sin, or sinners, Psalm 50: 21. Mal. 3:15. The attribute of God's mercy is profanely abused, either in presuming to sin, upon hopes that God will be merciful, or by speaking basely and contemptuously thereof, as when we say, speaking of some trifling thing, "It is not worth god-a-mercy. And the attribute of God's patience is profanely abused by thinking or saying upon occasion of his forbearance to punish for a time, that he will neither call us to an account, nor punish us for our sins, Rom. 2: 4.

Neo. Now, sir, I pray you proceed to show how God's name is profanely abused in his ordinances; and first, begin with prayer.

Evan. God's name is profanely abused in prayer, either by praying ignorantly, without the true knowledge of God and his will, Acts 17:23. Matth. 20. 22. or when we pray with the mouth only, and not with the desires of our hearts agreeing with our words, Hos. 3: 14. Psal. 78: 36. When we pray drowsily and heavily, without fervency of spirit, Matth. 24: 41. when we pray with wandering worldly thoughts, Rom. 12: 12. when we pray with any conceit of our own worthiness, Luke 18: 9, 11. and when we pray without faith in the promises of God, James 1: 6.

Neo. And how is God's name profanely abused in hearing or reading his word?

Evan. God's name is hereby abused, when we hear or read it, and do not understand it, Acts 8: 30. when we hear it only with the outward ears of our bodies, and not also with the inward ears of the heart and soul; and this we do, when we read it, or hear it with hearts full of worldly and wandering thoughts, Ezek. 33: 30. and when we read it, or hear it with dull, drowsy, and sleepy spirits; and rather conceive it to be the word of a mortal man that delivers it, than the word of the great God of heaven and earth, 1 Thess. 2: 13. When we do not with our hearts believe every part and

portion of that word which we read or hear, Heb. 4: 2. And humbly and heartily subject ourselves to it, 2 Kings 22:19. Isa. 62: 2.

Neo. And how is the Lord's name profanely abused in receiving the sacrament of the Lord's supper?

Evan. This we do, when we either through ignorance or negligence do not examine ourselves, before we eat of that bread, and drink of that cup, 1 Cor. 11:28. When we, in the act of receiving, do not mind the spiritual signification of the sacrament, but either terminate our thoughts in the ele ments themselves, or else suffer them to run out to some other object, Luke 22: 19. And when after receiving, we do not examine ourselves what communion we have had with Christ in that ordinance, nor what virtue we have found flowing out from Christ, into our own souls, by means of it, 2 Cor. 13: 5.

Neo. And how is the name of the Lord profanely abused in taking an oath?

Evan. This we do, when we call the Lord to be a witness of vain and frivolous things, by our swearing in our common talk, Hos. 4: 2. Jer. 23: 10. When we call God to be a witness of our furious anger, and wicked purpose, as when we swear we will be revenged on such a man, and the like, 1 Sam. 14: 39. and 25: 34. When we call God to be a witness to our swearing falsely, Lev. 19: 12. Zech. 5: 4. And when we swear by the mass, or by our faith, or troth, or by the rood, or by any thing that is not God, Jer. 5: 7. Matth. 5: 34, 35, 36, 37.

Neo. And how is the name of God profanely abused, touching his works?

Evan. When we either take no notice of his works at all, or when we think and speak otherwise of them, than we have warrant from his word, as when we do not speak of the inward works of God's election and reprobation, when called thereunto, or when we murmur and cavil thereat, Rom. 9: 20. And when we either do not mind the works of his creation and administration, or do not take occasion thereby to glorify the name of God, Psal. 19: 1. Rom. 1: 21. Neo. And how is the name of God profanely abused in respect of his religion?

Evan. When our conversation is not agreeable to our

profession, 2 Tim. 3: 5. When in respect of God it is but hypocrisy, or in respect of men we walk offensively; for if we live scandalously in the profession of religion, we cause the name of God to be profaned by them that are without, Rom. 2: 24. And become stumbling blocks to our weak brethren, Rom. 14: 13.

And now neighbor Nomologista, I pray you tell me, whether you think you keep this commandment perfectly or no? Nom. Sir, to tell you the truth, I had not thought that the name of God signified any more than his titles, Lord and God.

*

Evan. Aye, but you are to know that the name of God in scripture, signifies all those things that are affirmed of God, or any thing, whatsoever it is,† whereby the Lord makes himself known.

Nom. Then believe me, sir, I have come far short of keeping this commandment perfectly, and so does every man else, I am persuaded.

Evan. I am of your mind, for where is the man that does so meditate on God's titles, and use them in his speeches and writings, with such reverence, fear and trembling as he ought? Or what man is he that can truly say, he never in all his life thought on them, nor used them in his common talk, either rashly, carelessly, or irreverently. I am sure, for mine own part, I cannot say so, for alas! in the time of mine ignorance, I used many times to say, by way of foolish admiration, "Good Lord, good God, Lord have mercy on us! What a thing is this?" Yea, and I also many times used to say, "I pray God I may never stir, if such a thing be not so."

Yea,

and I have divers times said, "The Lord be with you and speed you; and the Lord's name be praised," after a formal, cursory manner, my thoughts being exercised about something else all the while.

And where is the man that has always thought, conceived, spoken, and written so holily, reverently, and spiritually, of the Lord's power, wisdom, justice, mercy, and patience, as he ought? Nay, what man is he that can truly say, he nev er in all his life called the attribute of the Lord's power into question, nor murmured at any act or passage of God's + Elton on the Coin. page 54.

Ursin. Cat. page 556.

providence, nor presumed to sin, upon hopes, that God would be merciful unto him? I am sure I cannot truly say so.

And where can we find the man that can truly say, he has always read and heard the word of God, after a holy, reverent, and spiritual manner? Nay, where is the man that has not sometimes both heard it, and read it, after a formal, cursory and unprofitable manner? Is there any man that can truly say, he has always perfectly understood, whatsoever he has read and heard? and that has not sometimes heard more with the outward ears of his body, than with the inward ears of his heart and soul? that was never dull and and drowsy, if not sleepy, in the time of hearing and reading? that had never a worldly, nor wandering thought at that time? and that never had the least doubting or questioning the truth of what he read or heard? I am sure, for mine own part, I have been faulty many of these ways.

And is it possible to find a man that can truly say, he has always called upon the name of the Lord after a holy, reverent, and spiritual manner? or not rather many times prayed after a carnal, unholy, or sinful manner? Where is the man that has always had a perfect knowledge of God, and of his will, in prayer? whose heart has always gone along with his word in prayer? that never was drowsy nor heavy, nor had wandering thoughts in prayer? that never had the least conceit that God would grant him any thing for his prayers' sake? and that never had the least doubting or questioning in his heart, whether God would grant him the thing he asked in prayer? I am sure, for mine own part, I can scarce clear myself from any of these.

And can any man truly say, he has always received the sacrament, after a holy, reverent, and spiritual manner? Nay, has not every man rather cause to acknowledge the contrary? Is there a man to be found, that has always seriously and rightly examined himself before hand; and always rightly, with his heart, performed those inward actions; that are signified by the outward: or has not every man and woman rather cause to confess, that either for want of knowledge, or through their own negligence, they have not examined themselves as they ought? nor so actuated their faith, nor minded the spiritual signification of the outward elements, in the time of receiving the sacrament, as they ought?

nor so examined themselves, after receiving, what benefit they have got to their souls thereby? I am sure, I have cause to confess all this.

And where shall we find a man that has always sanctified the name of the Lord in his heart, and with his tongue, by swearing after a holy, religious, and spiritual manner? or rather have not most men when called to take an oath profaned the name of the Lord, either by swearing ignorantly, falsely, maliciously, or for some base and wicked end? I think it is somewhat hard to find a man that never in all his life did swear, either by his faith, or by his troth, by the mass, or by the rood; I am sure I am not the man: and he is a rare man that can truly say, he has always sanctified the name of God in his heart, and with his tongue, by admiring and acknowledging the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, manifested in his works; for it is to be feared, that most men either take no notice of the works of God, or think and speak of them otherwise than the word of God warrants them. I am sure I am one of these most.

And he is a precious man that has always so sanctified the name of the Lord, by a holy and unblameable conver sation, as he ought! for alas! many professors of religion, by their fruitless and offensive walking, do either cause the enemies of God to speak evil of the ways of God, or else cause their weak brother to stumble: it is well if I never did so, and thus have I also endeavored to satisfy your desires concerning the third commandment.

Neo. I beseech you, sir, proceed to speak to the fourth commandment, as you have done of the other three.

COMMANDMENT IV.

Evan. Well then, I pray you consider, that, as the Lord, in the third commandment, prescribes the right manner how he will be worshipped, so he in the fourth commandment, sets down the time when he will be most solemnly worshipped, after the right manner; and in this commandment there is an affirmative part expressed in these words, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," &c. That