- #GC151 Why does He make mention of His might? To indicate that He has power to maintain His glory.
- #GC152 What is meant by jealousy? That He cannot allow an associate. For as He has given Himself to us out of His infinite goodness, so He would have us to be entirely His. And this is the chastity of our souls, to be consecrated and...
- #GC153 How is this to be understood, that He punishes the sin of the fathers on their children? To give us a greater fear of Him. He says not only that He will inflict punishment on those who offend Him, but that their offspring also will be cursed after them.
- #GC154 But is it not contrary to the justice of God to punish someone for others? If we consider the condition of the human race, the question is answered. For by nature we are all cursed, and we cannot complain of God when He leaves us in this condition. Moreover as He manifests H...
- #GC155 What more does He say? To incite us by gentleness, He says that He will have mercy on all who love Him and observe His commandments, to a thousand generations.
- #GC156 Does He mean that the obedience of a faithful man will save the whole of his race, even if they are still wicked? No, but that He will extend His goodness toward the faithful to such an extent, that in love for them He will make Himself know to their children, not only to prosper them according to the flesh, but...
- #GC157 But this is not always so? No. For as the Lord reserves for Himself the freedom to show mercy to the children of the ungodly, so on the other hand He retains the power to elect or reject in the generation of the faithful as it...
- #GC158 Why does He mention here a thousand generations, and in regard to punishment, mention only three or four? To signify that it is His nature to exercise kindness and gentleness much more than strictness or severity, as He testifies, when He says that He is ready to show mercy, but slow to anger (Exo 34:6-7;...
- #GC159 Let us come to the third commandment? Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- #GC160 What does this mean? He forbids us to abuse the name of God, not only in perjury, but also in superfluous and idle swearing.
- #GC161 Can the name of God we used lawfully in oaths? Yes, when they are necessary, i.e., in order to uphold the truth, when it requires it, and in maintaining love and concord among us.
- #GC162 Does He reprove no other oaths, then those which are a dishonour to God? In this one case He gives us a general instruction never to utter the name of God except with fear and humility in order to glorify it. For since it is holy and honourable, we ought to guard against t...
- #GC163 How is this to be done? By never thinking or speaking of God and His works without honour and reverence.
- #GC164 What follows? A warning, that He will not hold him guiltless, who takes His name in vain.
- #GC165 Since elsewhere He gives a general warning that He will punish all transgressors, what is the advantage of this warning? He wants to declare how highly He regards the glory of His name, explicitly mentioning that He will not suffer anyone to despise it, so that we may be all the more careful to hold it in reverence.
- #GC166 Let us come to the fourth commandment? Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Sis days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor...
- #GC167 Does He order us to labour six days a week that may rest on the seventh? Not precisely, but in allowing us to labour for six days, He excepts the seventh, on which it is not right to be engaged in work.
- #GC168 Does He thus forbid us all work one day a week? This commandment has a particular reason, for the observance of rest is part of the ceremonies of the ancient Law, which was abolished at the coming of Jesus Christ.
- #GC169 Do you mean that this commandment properly belongs to the Jews, and that it was given for the time of the Old Testament? I do, in so far as it is ceremonial.
- #GC170 How is that Is there anything else in it besides the ceremony? It was given for three reasons.
- #GC171 What are they? To represent spiritual rest, in aid of ecclesiastical polity, and for the relief of servants.
- #GC172 What is this spiritual rest? It is to cease from our own works, that the Lord may work in us.
- #GC173 How is that done? By mortifying our flesh, that is, renouncing our own nature, so that God may govern us by His Spirit.
- #GC174 Is this to be done only one day a week? This is to be done continually. After we have once begun, we must continue all our life.
- #GC175 Why, then, is a certain day appointed to represent this? It is not required that the representation should be altogether identical with the truth, but it is sufficient that there should be some resemblance.
- #GC176 But why is the seventh day appointed rather than any other day? The number seven implies perfection in Scripture. Thus it is suited to denote perpetuity. It reminds us also that our spiritual rest is only begun in this life, and will not be perfect until we depart...
- #GC177 But what is meant when our Lord asserts that we must rest as He did? After having created all His works in six days, He dedicated the seventh to the contemplation of His works. And in order better to induce us to do this, He set before us His own example. For nothing i...
- #GC178 Must we meditate continually on the works of God, or is it sufficient on one day out of seven? We must do it every hour, but because of our weakness, one day is specially appointed. And this is the polity of which I spoke.
- #GC179 What order, then, is to be observed on that day? That the people meet to hear the doctrine of God, to engage in common prayer, and bear witness to their faith and religion.
- #GC180 What do you mean by saying that this commandment is also given to provide for the relief of servants? To give some relaxation to those who are under the power of others. And likewise, this tends to maintain a common polity. For everyone accustoms himself to labour for the rest of the time, when there...
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