\ upon the Epiflle of J A M I S. VJJlS.U. willoccafion fo many notes. I. Becaufe it u A grellt fin to [We4r ob[ervat.l. lightly ttndinco.,ftdtr.tttl];it is fpecially forbidden in theDecaloguc, I will not hold. himguiltle[s,Exod.ao.7. ofall things God is'tender ofhis own name;it is a great 6n inreg.:rdofthe objcll,about which it is converfant;Gods name which ought to be facred,every thought and mention iliould be accompanied with reverence;allfin is againfi God , but this is formally and diretl:ly againfi God ; men are mofi tender of their credit: it IS a great fin in regard ofthe occajion, it is without a temptation,unlefs tt be fuch as arguech higbth ofwickedneife, eicher a wantonnefs in {i11, becaufe it is a fport to do evill; _ other fins have an externali bayt, here is norhing but a glorying in our ownjhame, or an obftinate pride, it is a daring ofGod; they Phi! 3-1.9, wtll fin, becaufe they will fin; it is ufually found in Ruffians that have loft all awe; Oh let us beware of this fin of ralh fwearing, of every tendency that way, any irreverent ufe of the name of God in fuddain outcryes, 0 God, 0 Lord, &c. or any vain jefiing with oaths; thofe that fwear i~ jefi, lhall go to hell in eamefi: the Jews w"re (o te:nde:r of the name ofGod,that they would not pronounce JehovAh in the Law, but read Adonfii, unlefs by the High- Pridl: once every ·yeer; And being given to fwearing, they were loth to ufe their greater oath,"' Chi. Eloab, but fwore by the Creatures: T 1 . h h 1 d h d ow 11c t e The heathens wou d name tbofe but fel omwhom t ey reverence ; Poetalludeth · Aug. (as Suetoniu.r reporteth) I would not have his name objDle- juravfipqe/ fieri, to be Worn thredbAre; the name of Mercurius Trifmegiflu.s Ancbia/am. was not commonly pronounced, becaufe ofgreat reverence:: to him. Martialis. Secondly, another reafon why che Apo!ll~ faith, above all things,is, Obfervat:z. becaufe it was a fin familiar with the Hebrews, as appeareth by. fun~ dry paffages inScripturc;fee thofediffuaGves,Ma. 5·33,34·&c.Mat. 2 3· r6, I 7. it was a fin very common amongfi them, as among fame Nations to this day; as theDutch, French, Scotti/b, though the Eugli[h have too much written after theircoppy; The note is,'That crlmmon&kzwwn fins muft be oppo[ed. with alle<&rneftnes;theApofile faith, Above all things [wear not; fuch points are to be preffed above all other;ufuallyfuch truths as concern the prefent age are difli– ked,whenwe reflect upon the gnilt of the. times mt>n; would have us preach Chrift, and the general doelrines of raith and rt~ntance, which is n<:>t?ing.but avain cavill, masked wir...i the fpeclous pretence o.fReltgt?n;for you lhaU fee when the pre:tching ofChrift was the mam truth mcontroverfie,and theApofiks bended cheir firength Cccc a that
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