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A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judg

ment.

EXERCISE.

Who may escape? From what may the breakers of this commandment escape? From whose punishment may they escape? Who may escape punishment from men? Who will not suffer them to escape? What is the Lord here said to be? (Our God.) Whom will God not suffer to escape? From what will God not suffer them to escape? Whose judgment shall they not escape? What is this judgment here called? (Righteous.) Whose righteous judgment is this?

What may the breakers of this commandment escape? What shall they not escape? Who shall not escape God's righteous judgment?

EXPLANATIONS.

However, Although.

Breakers of, Persons who neglect to obey, or who transgress.

Escape punishment, Not receive the infliction of such penalties as are due to this sin.

Suffer, Allow, or permit.

Escape, Avoid, or to get away unobserved from.
Righteous, Just and equitable.

Judgment, Trial of their conduct, and the sentence and punishment due to it. (Reason annexed, see Q. 52.) PARAPHRASE FORMED.

The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That [although] the [persons who neglect to obey, or who transgress] this commandment, may [not receive the infliction of such penalties as are due to this sin] from men, yet the Lord our God will not [allow, or permit] them to ¡avoid, or to get away unobserved from] his [just and

equitable] [trial of their conduct, and the sentence and punishment due to it.]

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

246. The sin of taking God's name in vain will be specially punished by God. Deut. xxviii. 58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, "THE LORD THY GOD;" then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful.

57.

Q. 57. Which is the fourth commandment? A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.

EXERCISE.

What are we to remember? For what purpose are we to remember the Sabbath? (To keep it holy.) What is to be kept holy? In what manner are we to keep the Sabbath? (Holy.) When are we to labour? How many days are allowed us by God for the purpose of labour? What are we permitted to do during the six week days? (To labour.) What is the seventh day here said to be? Whose Sabbath was the seventh day?

What is the Lord here said to be? (Our God.) What are we not to do on the Sabbath-day? When are we to do no work? Who are to do no work on the Sabbath-day besides ourselves? What are the cattle not to do? (Any work.) What is here said regarding the stranger? (He shall do no work on Sabbath.) What strangers are to do no work on Sabbath? What is required of the stranger that is within our gates ? What did the Lord make? In what space of time did God make all things? Who made the heavens and earth in six days? What did God make in the six days besides the heaven, earth, and sea? (All that are therein.) Who made all that is in the heaven, earth, and sea? What did God do after making all things? (He rested.) When did God rest? On what day did God rest? What had God done on the previous six days? (Made all things.) What did God do to the Sabbath? What did God bless? What did God do to the Sabbath besides blessing it? (He sanctified it.) What did God hallow? Who hallowed and blessed the Sabbath? Why did God hallow and bless the Sabbath? (Because on it he rested.)

How many classes are here forbidden to labour on Sabbath? (Seven.) What is the first class of persons forbidden to work on Sabbath? (Ourselves.) What is the second? (Our sons.) What is the third? (Our daughters.) What is the fourth? (Our man-servants.) What is the fifth? (Our maid-servants.) What is the sixth? (Our cattle.) What is the seventh? (Strangers dwelling with us.) What are we, our children, servants, cattle, and strangers, here forbidden to do? How many things are here enumerated as being made by God? (Four.) What is the first? (The heaven.) What is the second? (The earth.) What is the third? (The sea.) What is the fourth? (Every thing in heaven, earth, and sea.) How many things did God do to the Sabbath? (Two.) What was the first? (He blessed it.) What was the second? (He sanctified it.) Why did God bless and sanctify the Sabbath. (Because on it he rested.)

EXPLANATIONS.

Remember, Keep in mind, do not forget.
Sabbath-day, Day of rest.

Keep it holy, Set it apart from other days for holy and religious purposes.

Labour, Engage in thy ordinary occupation.

Thy stranger, Any person not belonging to thy family. Gates, House.

All that in them is, Every thing that is in the earth and

sea.

Wherefore, For which reason.

Hallowed it, Sanctified, or made it holy.

:

PARAPHRASE FORMED.

The fourth commandment is, [Keep in mind, do not forget] the [day of rest,] to [set it apart from other days for holy and religious purposes.] Six days shalt thou Tengage in thy ordinary occupation,] and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor [any person not belonging to thy family,] that is within thy [house.] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and [every thing that is in the earth and sea,] and rested the seventh day: [for which reason] the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and [sanctified, or made it holy.]

58.

Q. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to himself.

EXERCISE.

What are to be kept holy? What times are to be kept holy? (The set times appointed by God.) What is our duty respecting these set times? To whom are these set times to be kept holy? By whom are these set times appointed? What hath God appointed? In what hath God appointed these set times? In whose word are these set times appointed? What has been appointed in God's word? What portion of time has God expressly appointed? How much of that seventh day does God claim for himself? (The whole day.) For what hath God appointed one whole day in seven? What kind of Sabbath is that seventh day to be? (A holy Sabbath.) Whose Sabbath is this seventh day? Who appointed this seventh day to be set apart as a holy Sabbath? What is this seventh day appointed to be? To whom is the seventh day to be a holy Sabbath?

Set, Particular.

EXPLANATIONS.

Appointed, Fixed, or specified.
Expressly, Especially and plainly.
Whole, Complete.

Sabbath, Day of rest. (For Keeping holy, see Q. 57.)

PARAPHRASE FORMED.

The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such [particular] times as he hath [fixed, or specified] in his word; [especially, and plainly,] one [complete] day in seven, to be a holy [day of rest] to himself.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

247. God, in his word, has appointed set times for his worship.-Lev. xix. 30. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.

248. God requires one day in seven for himself.-Deut. v. 14. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy od.

249. The Sabbath is the day appointed for the worship

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