The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

counseling, (1317) commanding, (1318) using, (1319) and any wise approving any religious
worship not instituted by God himself; (1320) the making any representation of God, of all, or of
any of the three Persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or
likeness of any creature whatsoever; (1321) all worshiping of it, (1322) or God in it or by
it; (1323) the making of any representation of feigned deities, (1324) and all worship of them, or
service belonging to them; (1325) all superstitious devices, (1326) corrupting the worship of
God, (1327) adding to it, or taking from it, (1328) whether invented and taken up of
ourselves, (1329) or received by tradition from others, (1330) though under the title of
antiquity, (1331) custom, (1332) devotion, (1333) good intent, or any other pretense
whatsoever; (1334) simony, (1335) sacrilege; (1336) all neglect, (1337)
contempt, (1338) hindering, (1339) and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath
appointed. (1340)
Q. 110. What are the reasons annexed to the Second Commandment, the
more to enforce it?
A. The reasons annexed to the Second Commandment, the more to enforce it,
contained in these words, "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing
mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments;" (1341) are, besides
God's sovereignty over us, and propriety in us, his revengeful indignation against all false
worship, (1342) as being a spiritual whoredom; (1343) accounting the breakers of this
Commandment such as hate him, and threatening to punish them unto divers generations, (1344)
and esteeming the observers of it such as love him and keep his commandments, and promising
mercy to them unto many generations. (1345)
Q. 111. What is the Third Commandment?
A. The Third Commandment is, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (1346)
Q. 112. What is required in the Third Commandment?
A. The Third Commandment requires, that the name of God, his titles,
attributes, (1347) ordinances, (1348) the word, (1349) sacraments, (1350) prayer, (1351)
oaths, (1352) vows, (1353) lots, (1354) his works, (1355) and whatsoever else there is
whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, (1356)
meditation, (1357) word, (1358) and writing; (1359) by an holy profession, (1360) and
answerable conversation, (1361) to the glory of God, (1362) and the good of
ourselves (1363) and others. (1364)
Q. 113. What are the sins forbidden in the Third Commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the Third Commandment are: the not using of God's name as
is required; (1365) and the abuse of it in an ignorant, (1366) vain, (1367) irreverent,
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)