-14 Chapter 14. Of the manner of Divine worship.

2-14 Chapter 14. Of the manner of Divine worship.

THIRD COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN

1. The adjuncts of worship to be especially observed are two: The Manner contained in the Third Commandment, and the Time which is commanded in the Fourth Commandment.
2. But these two are such adjuncts of religious worship, that in a certain secondary respect, they take on the definition and nature of it; because by observing them, not only is that honour of God furthered, which consists in the natural and instituted worship of God, but also a certain special honour is yielded to God as far as they are joined together, both by his command and by a direct and immediate respect to each other
3. The MANNER of worship in general is the lawful use of all those things which pertain to God.
4. But their LAWFUL use consists in this: that all things which pertain to worship are to be so handled, that they are agreeable to the Majesty of God.
5. It is forbidden in the Third Commandment to, take the name of God in vain. By “the Name of God” is understood all those things whereby God is made known to us, or reveals himself. Just as men are typically known one to another by their names, so the Name of God contains all those things which pertain to the worship of God, whether natural or instituted. Acts 9:15, That he may bear my name among the Gentiles. Deuteronomy 12:5, The place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there. Micah 4:5, We will walk in the Name of the Lord our God. Malachi 1:11, My name shall be great among the Gentiles.
6. But seeing that taking this Name in vain is either to take it rashly — that is, either without any end expressed, or without a just and fitting end — or to take it in vain — that is, not in that manner which is required to a just end; namely, to the honour of God — it is commanded with this, that we sanctify the Name of God: that is, that we use all holy things in that manner which is suitable to their holiness and dignity, Isaiah 1:13.989
7. That suitable manner is when those circumstances are used which the nature of religious things requires.
8. We define this manner by Circumstances, because with virtues and acts of religion, their essential manner is contained in the virtues and acts themselves. And the manner is directly commanded in the same precepts with them. But that accidental manner which exists in circumstances is commanded in this Third Commandment in a special way, seeing that it is somewhat separable from the acts of Religion, and yet it is necessarily required for them, so they may be acceptable to God.
9. These CIRCUMSTANCES are either inward or outward.
10. INWARD circumstances are either antecedent (going before), concomitant (accompanying with), or consequent (following after).
11. The circumstances going BEFORE, are a desire and a stirring up of the mind, or preparation in a due meditation about the things which pertain to that holy thing which is to be handled. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2. Take heed to your feet when you enter into the House of God: do not be swift with your mouth, and do not let your mind hasten to utter a thing before God.
12. But this preparation most properly pertains to those acts of religion which are more solemn. For meditation itself, whereby the mind is stirred up, is an act of Religion; but it does not require another preparation before as well, for then we would proceed without end. But those acts which are less perfect by nature, ought to make way for more perfect and more solemn acts.
13. Hence, before public and solemn Hearing of the Word and Prayer, private prayer is required; and before private prayer, if it is solemn, there is also required some meditation about those things which pertain to our prayers, whether in respect to God whom we pray to; or in respect to ourselves who are about to pray; or in respect to the things themselves which are to be asked.
14. The circumstances that are CONCOMITANT or that accompany Divine worship, are Reverence and Devotion.
15. A certain GENERAL REVERENCE of God is necessary for all obedience which respects the authority of God that commands us; but THIS REVERENCE is proper to the acts of Religion which respect the holiness of those things about which we are exercised.
16. This Reverence contains two things: 1. A due estimation of the excellency of such things. 2. A fear of too much familiarity, by which such things might be unworthily handled by us.
17. DEVOTION also contains two things. 1. A certain singular readiness to perform all those things which pertain to the worship of God. Psalms 108:1-2, O God, I will sing with a fixed heart. I will awake right early. 2. A suitable delight in performing those things. Isaiah 58:13, If you shall call the Sabbath a delight.
18. Hence also, a greater care and a care of another kind must be had in Hearing the Word of God, than in receiving the Edicts of Princes; and greater care in calling upon the Name of God, than in supplications we make to men, whomever they are.
19. The circumstances that FOLLOW these are two. 1. To retain the force and, as it were, the taste of that worship in our minds. 2. To obtain with all our endeavour, the end and use of it.
20. OUTWARD circumstances are those which pertain to order and decency. 1 Corinthians 14:40. Let all things be done decently and in order.
21. But the general rule of these is that they be ordered in that manner which makes most for edification, 1 Corinthians 14:26.990
22. Of this nature are the circumstances of place, time, and the like, which are common adjuncts of religious and civil acts.
23. Therefore, though some may call such circumstances rites, and religious or Ecclesiastical ceremonies, yet they have nothing in their nature which is proper to religion, and therefore religious worship does not so properly consist in these things. However, the holiness of religious worship is in some way violated by the neglect and contempt of them, because that common respect of order and decency — which applies equally to religious and civil actions — cannot be severed from religious worship without its dignity and majesty being diminished in some way.
24. Therefore, similar circumstances which are civil or common in nature, are not specifically commanded in the Scriptures. This is partly because they come into men’s common understanding. And it is partly because it would not stand with the dignity and majesty of the Law of God, if such things were severally prescribed in it. For otherwise many ridiculous things would have been provided for by a special Law: for example, that in the Church assembly, one should not rest on another’s chest, spit in another’s face, or make mouths in holy actions.991 And yet they are to be considered as commanded from God, 1. Because they are commanded in general under the Law of order, decency, and edification, and 2. Because most of them necessarily follow from those things that are expressly appointed by God. For when God appointed that the faithful of all sorts should meet together to celebrate his name and worship, he consequently ordained that they should have a fit and convenient place in which to meet, and an hour assigned at which they may be present together; or when there is a Minister appointed by God to teach others publicly, it is also appointed that he have a seat, and that his body be appropriately situated for such an action.
25. Those things therefore which pertain to order and decency, are not left to men’s will, such that under that name, men may impose what they please on the Churches. Rather, they are partly determined by the general precepts of God, partly by the nature of the things themselves, and partly by those circumstances which offer themselves on occasion.
26. For various circumstances of order and decency are such that, even though there is no public institution of them, yet they should be observed by everyone; nor can men forbid them without sin.
27. But those constitutions by which many circumstances of this kind are usually determined — about place, time, and the like — are rightly said by the best Divines to be partly Divine, and partly human: because they are partly grounded on the Will of God in respect to the chief and primary reasons for them; and because they partly depend on the prudence of men, in respect to the particular observation of those things which are agreeable to the Will of God. So if there is no human error in making that determination, that constitution is to be held as plainly Divine. For it is the Will of God that the Church meet at that hour of the day which (all circumstances considered) is most convenient. Therefore, if there is no error in observing the circumstances, that hour which by their due consideration is assigned for meeting, must be acknowledged as if it were appointed by God.
28. The special manner of the worship of God must be specially determined, as the special nature of every religious action requires.
29. To this special manner of worship pertain the right manner of hearing the Word of God, calling upon his name, receiving the Sacraments, exercising Ecclesiastical Discipline, and performing those several things which pertain either to the natural or instituted worship of God: Ezekiel 33:31; Matthew 13:19; 1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Isaiah 66:4-5.992
30. But because in Oaths, the manner of swearing is usually what is chiefly respected, therefore (not without reason) it is usually referred by many to this place in the Third Commandment; though of its own nature, it pertains to the first: Leviticus 19:12; Matthew 5:34; 2 Chronicles 36:13.993
31. Contrary to this due manner in general is, 1. That vice which is called by some Acedia, LOATHING, whereby one loathes Divine or spiritual things, 2 Timothy 4:3.994 This is opposed to that desire whereby we ought to have an appetite for spiritual things. 1 Peter 2:2.995
32. 2. That SLOTHFULNESS whereby one shuns that cheerfulness and labour which are required for Divine things, Romans 12:11.996 This is opposed to that stirring up and heat of mind, whereby Divine things are to be prosecuted. Romans 12:11. Psalms 57:8-9.997
33. 3. NEGLECT and contempt of holy things, and the abuse of them for filthy sporting, and light matters, all of which are opposed to that reverence due to holy things, Luke 19:46.
34. 4. DULLNESS and wandering of the mind in exercises of worship, Hebrews 5:11; Ezekiel 33:31.998 And it is opposed to that sort of devotion which was in Cornelius, Acts 10:2.999
35. 5. RASHNESS or lightness in using either the name or the titles of God, or those things which have some special respect to God. Jeremiah 32:34; Luke 13:1.1000 And it is opposed to that prosecuting of a just end, which ought to be present with reverence in the use of such things. 1 Corinthians 11:27.1001
36. 6. FORGETFULNESS, James 1:23-25.1002 Which is opposed to the receiving of fruit, and the abiding of virtue, which ought to follow the acts of religion.1003
37. 7. CONFUSION, which is opposed to order and decency. 1 Corinthians 14:33.1004