GOD'S NAME.


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.

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie or
deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and
worship Him with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

* * * * *

THE NAME OF GOD. [Ps. 111:9, Mal. 2:2, Rev. 15:4] A name is that by
which we know a person. God's name means all by which He is known to us;
hence not only the words God, Lord, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, the Almighty,
the Eternal, the Omniscient One, etc., but the Word of God and the
Sacraments, and all holy things.

This Commandment _forbids_ the wrong use, and _commands_ the right use
of God's holy name.

I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN.

TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN:

1. _Thoughtlessly_. God's name is taken in vain thoughtlessly by using
it as an exclamation in our conversation, by reading or hearing God's