The Second Commandment Expounded.
Q. WHAT is the second commandment?
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord by God in vain.
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord by God in vain.
Q. What is forbidden by this precept.
A. All false, rash, and unnecessary oaths.
A. All false, rash, and unnecessary oaths.
Q. What kind of sins are false and rash oaths?
A. Mortal sins, if they be voluntary and deliberate, because by such oaths, we call God to witness a lie; or at least to that which is uncertain.
A. Mortal sins, if they be voluntary and deliberate, because by such oaths, we call God to witness a lie; or at least to that which is uncertain.
Q. What are the necessary conditions of a lawful oath?
A. Truth, that we hurt not God's honour; justice that we wrong not our neighbour; and judgment, that we swear not vainly.
A. Truth, that we hurt not God's honour; justice that we wrong not our neighbour; and judgment, that we swear not vainly.
Q. What is the just cause of an oath?
A. God's honour, our own, or our neighbour's good and defence.
A. God's honour, our own, or our neighbour's good and defence.
Q. If a man swears to do that which is evil, is he bound to keep his oath?
A. No, he is not bound to keep it; for an oath is no bond of iniquity.
A. No, he is not bound to keep it; for an oath is no bond of iniquity.
Q. How prove you a vain or jesting oath to be a sin?
A. Out of Matt. v. 33. "It was said of old (saith our Lord) Thou shalt not commit perjury; but I say unto you, not to swear at all," that is without just cause.
A. Out of Matt. v. 33. "It was said of old (saith our Lord) Thou shalt not commit perjury; but I say unto you, not to swear at all," that is without just cause.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Out of James v. 12. "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be: Yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment."
A. Out of James v. 12. "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be: Yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment."
Q. What else is prohibited by this precept?
A. All cursing and blaspheming.
A. All cursing and blaspheming.
Q. How else do men sin against this precept?
A. By breaking lawful vows, and by making or keeping unlawful ones.
A. By breaking lawful vows, and by making or keeping unlawful ones.
Q. What is a lawful vow?
A. It is a deliberate and voluntary promise made to God, of some better good.
A. It is a deliberate and voluntary promise made to God, of some better good.
Q. How do you prove it lawful to make vows?
A. Out of Isa. xix. 21. "They shall make vows unto the Lord, and shall pay them."
A. Out of Isa. xix. 21. "They shall make vows unto the Lord, and shall pay them."
Q. What is commanded by this precept?
A. To speak always with reverence of God, and his saints.
A. To speak always with reverence of God, and his saints.
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