Milton

¶1p. 440 Dicta est religionis veræ pars prior, INVOCATIO; restat altera, NOMINIS DIVINI IN OMNI VITA SANCTIFICATIO.

¶2Sanctificandi nominis divini ardor ac studium, sive indignatio adversus ea quæ ad violationem aut contemptum religionis pertinent, ZELUS dicitur. Psal. lxix. 9, 10. extraneus factus sum—, quia zelus domus tuæ exedit me—. et cxix. 139. conficit me zelus meus, quod obliviscantur verbi tui hostes mei. Rom. xii. 11. studio minime ignavi, spiritu ferventes, Domino servientes.

¶3Exempla hujus virtutis sunt in Loto, 2 Pet. ii. 7, 8. in Mose, Exod. xxxii. 19. in Phinea, Num. xxv. 7. in Elia, 1 Reg. xix. 10. in Jeremia, Jer. xxiii. 9, 10, 11. frangitur cor meum in me—, nam adulteris plena est hæc terra: in Christo, Matt. xii. 30. Joan. ii. 14, &c. in Stephano, Act. vii. 51, &c. in Paulo et Barnaba, cap. xiv. 14. et xvii. 16, 17.

¶4Huic opponitur tepiditas; cujus exemplum est in Eli, 1 Sam. ii. 29. et iii. 13. in primoribus Judæorum, Joan. xii. 43. in Laodicensibus, Apoc. iii. 15, 16.

¶5Et zelus ignarus et imprudens. 2 Sam. xxi. 2, 3. eo quod morte affecit Gibeonitas—, affectus zelo pro filiis Israelis et Judæ. Rom. x. 2. testor de ipsis eos zelum Dei habere, sed non secundum scientiam—.

¶6p. 441 Et præfervidus. Jon. iv. 1, 2, 3. Luc. ix. 54. vis dicamus, ut ignis—.

¶7Et hypocriticus aut jactabundus; in Jehu, 2 Reg. x. 16. vide zelum meum.

¶8Sanctificatur Dei nomen cum verbis tum factis. Verbis, cum non nisi reverentiæ causa Deum nominamus; et verum illius cultum, quoties opus est, aperte profitemur.

¶9Sancta et religiosa Dei nominatio sive mentio docetur Exod. xx. 7. ne assumito nomen Jehovæ Dei tui in vanum.

¶10Huic opponitur impia sive probrosa de Deo locutio; quæ vulgo βλασφημία ex Græco vertitur, ut et גְּדוּפָה cum radice גִּדֵּף, et קְלָלָה cum radice קִלֵּל ex Hebræo. Talis fuit filii illius Israelitidis, de quo Lev. xxiv. 11. &c. execratus est sive expresse nominavit nomen illud (Jehovæ scilicet) et maledixit sive impie locutus est. et v. 14. educite execratorem: et Rabsacis cæterorumque Assyriorum, 2 Reg. xix. 6. propter verba quibus pueri regis Assyriæ maledixerunt mihi: et scribarum, Marc. iii. 22. dicebant, certe habet Beelzebulem—. cum v. 29. quicunque impie locutus erit in Spiritum Sanctum—; dixerant enim scribæ, Patrem in Christo agentem esse Beelzebulem: et quos Paulus, nondum Christianus, vi ad maledicendum Christo adegit, Act. xxvi. 11. et Judæorum Corinthi, cap. xviii. 6. ipsis autem obsistentibus, et maledicentibus, vulgo, blasphemantibus: et olim Paulus, 1 Tim. i. 13. blasphemus et persecutor: et Hymenæus et Alexander, v. 19, 20. ut discant non blasphemare; quippe expulsa bona conscientia, naufragium fidei fecerant: et illi profani, Jacob. ii. 7. nonne maledictis prosequuntur, vulgo, blasphemant bonum illud nomen a quo estis cognominati? et bestia illa, Apoc. xiii. 5, 6. loquens magna et maledicta, vulgo, blasphemias: et sectatores bestiæ, cap. xvi. 11. convitiis incesserunt, vulgo, blasphemarunt Deum cœli præ doloribus suis.

¶11Sed cum omnes scriptores Græci, non solum profani, verum etiam sacri, voce blasphemiæ quodvis in quemlibet maledictum communiter significent, sicuti et illis Hebræis vocibus Hebræi, Isa. xliii. 28. exponam <!-- p.442 --> Israelem maledictis: et li. 7. præ contumeliis eorum ne consternamini: Ezech. v. 15. opprobrium et convitium, in Judæos scilicet: Zeph. ii. 8. convitia Ammonitarum, quibus probris affecerunt populum meum: quibus omnibus locis vox eadem usurpatur quæ blasphemiam significat: et sic Matt. xv. 19. falsa testimonia, maledicta, Græce, blasphemiæ: Marc. vii. 22. idem: 1 Tim. vi. 1. ne nomen Dei et doctrina blasphemetur: Tit. ii. 5. idem: 2 Pet. ii. 10. non verentur dignitates probris afficere, Græce, blasphemantes: v. 11. cum ipsi angeli non ferant adversus eas apud Dominum maledicum, Græce, blasphemum judicium: cum, inquam, scriptores etiam sacri ad maledicentiam quamcunque significandam blasphemiæ vocem Græce adhibeant, incommode fecisse reor atque temere qui exoticam vocem blasphemiam in sermonem Latinum introduxerunt, et significationem communem ad maledicta duntaxat in Deum restrinxerunt, restrictam rursus ita laxarunt, ut dum populus interim quid sit blasphemia non intelligit, ipsi fere omnem de Deo aut divinis de rebus opinionem, diversam modo a sua, protinus blasphemiam esse clamitent: scribarum haud dissimiles, Matt. ix. 3. qui, cum Christus tantummodo dixisset, remissa sunt tibi peccata tua, v. 2. illi statim apud se, iste blasphemat; cum blasphemare Deum, quemadmodum ex superioribus exemplis perspicitur, nihil aliud sit, quam Deo aperte atque elata manu maledicere aut contumeliam inferre, Num. xv. 30. et Matt. xv. 19. ex corde blasphemiæ; certe sive in Deum, sive in homines. Quo in genere non peccant, qui sincero animo et contentionis minime cupido id docent de Deo aut disserunt quod ex scriptura sacra didicisse sibi videntur. Quod si blasphemia ex Hebraica significatione pendenda est, et Latine vertenda, late admodum patebit; quisquis enim obstinate peccat, blasphemiæ reus erit, adeoque, ut nonnulli volunt, capite damnandus. Num. xv. 30. anima illa quæ commiserit elata manu, Jehovam afficit iste probro vel blasphemat; omnino exscindetur anima illa e medio populi sui. Ezech. xx. 27, 28. adhuc hac re probro affecerunt, vulgo, blasphemarunt me patres vestri, prævaricando contra me prævaricatione, quod aspexerunt omnem collem—.

¶12p. 442 2do. Hic opponitur irreverens aut ludicra divini nominis divinarumve rerum facta mentio.

¶13p. 443 Nominis divini mentio maxime solennis est in consecratione rerum omnium, quibus utimur, ad Dei gloriam.

¶14Consecratio rerum quibus utimur docetur 1 Cor. x. 31. sive editis, sive bibitis, sive quid facitis, omnia ad gloriam Dei facite. 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5. nihil rejiciendum est, si cum gratiarum actione sumatur; sanctificatur enim per verbum Dei et preces. Act. xxvii. 35. cum accepisset panem, gratias egit Deo in conspectu omnium. 1 Cor. vii. 14. sanctificatur vir infidelis per uxorem fidelem—.

¶15Huic opponitur consecratio superstitiosa; quæ multa est apud pontificios.

¶16Hactenus nominis divini sancta et solennis appellatio. Sequitur veri cultus quo Deum colimus aperta, quoties opus est, et constans professio. Ea præcipitur Matt. x. 32, 33. quisquis agnoscet me coram hominibus, agnoscam et ego eum coram Patre meo, qui est in cœlis: quisquis autem abnegaverit me coram hominibus, abnegabo eum et ego coram Patre meo, qui est in cœlis. Psal. cxix. 46. loquar de testimoniis tuis coram regibus, neque erubescam. Luc. ix. 26. quem puduerit mei ac meorum sermonum, ejus pudebit Filium hominis, quando venerit—. Rom. x. 10. corde creditur ad justitiam, fit autem ore professio ad salutem. 2 Cor. iv. 13. scriptum est, credidi, et ideo locutus sum: nos quoque credimus, quamobrem etiam loquimur. 1 Tim. vi. 12, 13, 14. professus præclaram illam professionem in conspectu multorum testium: mando tibi coram Deo qui vivificat omnia, et Jesu Christo, qui testatam fecit coram Pontio Pilato præclaram illam professionem, ut observes hanc præceptionem. et 2 Tim. i. 16. catenam meam non erubuit. et ii. 12. si abnegamus, et ille abnegabit nos. 1 Pet. iii. 15. estote semper parati ad respondendum cuilibet petenti rationem ejus spei quæ in vobis est. Heb. x. 35. ne abjicite liberam illam professionem vestram.

¶17Professio hæc, si mortem, aut vincula, aut cruciatum, aut probrum affert, MARTYRIUM dicitur. Matt. v. 11. beati eritis, cum vos convitiis affecerint, et persecuti fuerint, et mentientes dixerint quidvis mali adversus <!-- p.444 --> vos propter me. Philipp. i. 20. cum omni dicendi libertate, ut semper, ita nunc quoque magnificabitur Christus in corpore meo, seu per vitam, seu per mortem. et v. 29. quia gratis datum est vobis in Christi negotio, non solum in eum credere, sed etiam pro eo pati. Heb. xi. 36, &c. alii rursus ludibria et flagella sunt experti, insuper et vincula et carcerem. 1 Pet. iii. 14. si quid patimini propter justitiam, beati eritis.

¶18Evangelium fere martyrio propagatur. Philipp. i. 14. ut plerique ex fratribus in Domino, freti vinculis meis, amplius audeant sine metu sermonem loqui.

¶19Opponitur huic religionis quam sequimur dissimulatio; qualis erat Nicodemi, Joan. iii. 2. hic venit ad eum nocte—. et xii. 42. multi crediderunt, sed propter Pharisæos non profitebantur, ne synagoga moverentur. Isa. lix. 4. nemo est qui clamet pro justitia, et nemo qui disceptet pro fide.

¶20Et apostasia. 2 Chron. xxviii. 6. interfecit ex Judæis centies vicies mille die uno, eo quod dereliquissent Jehovam Deum majorum suorum. Joan. vi. 66. ex eo tempore multi discipulorum ejus pedem retulerunt, nec amplius cum eo versabantur. 1 Tim. iv. 1, &c. fore ut posterioribus præstitutis temporibus desciscant quidam a fide—. Heb. vi. 4, &c. fieri non potest, ut qui—, si prolabantur, denuo renoventur. et x. 29. quanto, putatis, acerbiore supplicio dignus censebitur, qui Filium Dei—?

¶21Et intempestiva professio. Matt. vii. 6. ne date quod sanctum est canibus—, nequando conversi lacerent vos. et xvi. 20. interdixit discipulis suis ut nemini dicerent se esse Jesum illum Christum.

¶22Sic verbis sanctificatur Dei nomen; factis, cum facta professioni congruunt. Matt. v. 16. ita splendeat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant vestra bona opera—.

¶23Opponitur huic earum actionum intermissio, quæ professioni nostræ respondeant. Sic Moses et Aaron, præter solitum, Deum coram oculis p. 445 populi non sanctificasse dicuntur, Num. xx. 12. Et David, vir alioqui sanctus, adulterii reus, male de Deo sentiendi atque etiam loquendi materiam gentibus præbuit, 2 Sam. xii. 14. Sic Judæi, de quibus Paulus Rom. ii. 24. propter vos nomen Dei infamatur inter gentes, sicut scriptum est; nempe Isa. lii. 5. Ezech. xxxvi. 20, &c. etiam cum venissent in gentes quo venerunt, similiter profanarunt nomen sanctitatis meæ, cum dicerent illæ de iis, populum Jehovæ ipsos esse, et e terra ejus prodiisse—.

¶1p. 593 We have treated of the first part of true religion, the invocation or adoration of the Deity; we proceed to the remaining part, THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE DIVINE NAME UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

¶2An ardent desire of hallowing the name of God, together with an indignation against whatever tends to the violation or contempt of religion, is called ZEAL. Psal. lxix. 8, 9. I am become a stranger unto my brethren……for the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. cxix. 139. my zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Rom. xii. 11. not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

¶3Examples of this virtue are seen in Lot, 2 Pet. ii. 7, 8. in Moses, Exod. xxxii. 19. in Phinehas, Num. xxv. 7. in Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 10. in Jeremiah, Jer. xxiii. 9—11. mine heart within me is broken....for the land is full of adulterers; in Christ, Matt. xii. 30. John ii. 14, &c. in Stephen, Acts vii. 51, &c. in Paul and Barnabas, xiv. 14. and xvii. 16, 17.

¶4Its opposites are, first, lukewarmness, as exemplified in Eli, 1 Sam. ii. 29. and iii. 13. in the chief rulers of the Jews, John xii. 43. in the Laodiceans, Rev. iii. 15, 16.

¶5Secondly, an ignorant and imprudent zeal. 2 Sam. xxi. 1, 3. because he slew the Gibeonites…Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah. Rom. x. 2. I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

¶6p. 594 Thirdly, a too fiery zeal. Jonah iv. 1—3. Luke ix. 54. wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven?

¶7Fourthly, an hypocritical and boastful zeal, as that of Jehu, 2 Kings x. 16. come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah.

¶8The name of God is to be hallowed in word as well as in deed. To hallow it in word, is never to name it but with a religious purpose, and to make an open profession of the true faith, whenever it is necessary.

¶9The holy or reverential mention of God is inculcated Exod. xx. 7. thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain.

¶10To this is opposed an impious or reproachful mention of God, or, as it is commonly called, blasphemy, from the Greek βλασφημία, as in the Hebrew בְּרוּבָה¹ with the root בִּדֵּו,¹ and קְלָלָה with the root קִלֵּל. This was the crime of the Israelitish woman's son, Levit. xxiv. 11. who blasphemed (or expressly named) the name of Jehovah, and cursed (or spake impiously). v. 14. bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp. Such also was that of Rabshakeh and the other Assyrians, 2 Kings xix. 6. be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me; of the scribes, Mark iii. 22. they said, He hath Beelzebub, compared with v. 29. he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost—, for the scribes had said that the deeds of the Father working in Christ were the deeds of Beelzebub; of those whom Paul before his conversion compelled to blaspheme, Acts xxvi. 11. of the Jews at Corinth, xviii. 6. when they opposed themselves and blasphemed—; of Paul himself in his unconverted state, 1 Tim. i. 13. who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor; of Hymenæus and Alexander, v. 19, 20. that they may learn not to blaspheme, inasmuch as having put away a good conscience concerning faith, they had made shipwreck; of those profane persons mentioned in James ii. 7. do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? of the beast, Rev. xiii. 5, 6. there was given <!-- p.595 --> unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; of the followers of the beast, xvi. 11. they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores.

¶11Considering, however, that all the Greek writers, sacred as well as profane, use the word blasphemy in a general sense, as implying any kind of reproach against any person whatever, which is also the received usage of the corresponding word in Hebrew, Isai. xliii. 28. I have given Israel to reproaches. li. 7. neither be ye afraid of their revilings; Ezek. v. 15. so it shall be a reproach and a taunt, that is, to the Jews; Zeph. ii. 8. the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people; in all which passages the same word is used, being that which we translate blasphemy: so also Matt. xv. 19. false witness, blasphemies. (Compare Mark vii. 22.) 1 Tim. vi. 1. that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. (Compare Tit. ii. 5.) 2 Pet. ii. 10. they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities (βλασφημοῦντες Gr.); v. 11. whereas angels……bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord (βλάσφημον κρίσιν Gr.): considering, I say, that such is the meaning invariably attached to the Greek word even by the sacred writers, I am of opinion that those who introduced this foreign term into the Latin language, did wrong in restricting it to the single sense of speaking evil of God; especially since, at the same time that they narrowed its meaning in one direction, they expanded it in another to an almost indefinite vagueness; insomuch that, presuming on the general ignorance as to the true signification of the word, they have not scrupled to brand as blasphemy every opinion differing from their own on the subject of God or religion.⁶ This is to resemble the scribes, p. 596Matt. ix. 3. who when Christ had simply said, v. 2. thy sins be forgiven thee, immediately said within themselves, This man blasphemeth; whereas blasphemy, as is evident from the foregoing examples, consists solely in uttering reproaches against God openly, and with a high hand, Numb. xv. 30. Matt. xv. 19. out of the heart proceed blasphemies, and that whether against God or men. This sin therefore is not to be imputed to those, who in sincerity of heart, and with no contentious purpose, promulgate or defend their conscientious persuasions respecting God, founded, as appears to them, on the Scriptures. If on the other hand blasphemy is interpreted according to the Hebrew sense, it will comprehend too much; for in this sense every obstinate sinner will be a blasphemer, and as such, according to those who regard the law of Moses on this subject as still in force, punishable with death.⁷ Numb. xv. 30. the soul that doeth ought presumptuously.....the same reproacheth (or blasphemeth) Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Ezek. xx. 27, 28. yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me; for when I had brought them into the land……then they saw every high hill, &c.

¶12p. 596 A second opposite is irreverent or jesting mention of the name of God, or of religious subjects.

¶13–14The most solemn mention of the name of God consists in dedicating to his glory whatever is intended for the use of man. 1 Cor. x. 31. whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5. nothing is to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Acts xxvii. 35. he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all. 1 Cor. vii. 14. the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife.

¶15p. 597 Opposed to this are superstitious consecrations, such as are common among the Papists.

¶16Thus far of the solemn and reverential mention of the name of God. We are next to consider the duty of making a consistent, and, when necessary, an open profession of his true worship. This is enjoined Matt. x. 32, 33. whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Psal. cxix. 46. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. Luke ix. 26. whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come—. Rom. x. 10. with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 2 Cor. iv. 13. it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. 1 Tim. vi. 12—14. thou hast professed a good profession before many witnesses; I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that thou keep this commandment. 2 Tim. i. 16. he was not ashamed of my chain. ii. 12. if we deny him, he also will deny us. 1 Pet. iii. 15. be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. Heb. x. 35. cast not away therefore your confidence.

¶17This profession, when it leads to death, or imprisonment, or torments, or disgrace, is called MARTYRDOM. Matt. v. 11. blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Philipp. i. 20. with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. v. 29. for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Heb. xi. 36, &c. others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment—. 1 Pet. iii. 14. but and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye.

¶18p. 598 It is generally through the means of martyrdom that the spread of the gospel is effected. Philipp. i. 14. many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¶19Opposed to this is, first, the concealment of our religion. This was the fault of Nicodemus, John iii. 2. the same came to Jesus by night. xii. 42. nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Isai. lix. 4. none calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth.

¶20Secondly, apostasy. 2 Chron. xxviii. 6. he slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men, because they had forsaken Jehovah God of their fathers. John vi. 66. from that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 1 Tim. iv. 1, &c. in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, &c. Heb. vi. 4, &c. it is impossible for those who were once enlightened……if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance. x. 29. of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God.

¶21Thirdly, an unseasonable profession. Matt. vii. 6. give not that which is holy unto the dogs……lest they turn again and rend you. xvi. 20. then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

¶22Such are the means by which the name of God is hallowed in word. It is hallowed in deed, when our actions correspond with our religious profession. Matt. v. 16. let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

¶23Opposed to this, is a neglect to act conformably to our profession. Thus Moses and Aaron are said, contrary to their usual custom, p. 599 not to have sanctified God in the eyes of the people, Numb. xx. 12. and David, a man otherwise holy, gave occasion to the Gentiles to think and speak ill of God, by reason of his adultery, 2 Sam. xii. 14. So also the Jews, of whom St. Paul writes, Rom. ii. 24. the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written; alluding to Isai. lii. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 20. when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of Jehovah, and are gone forth out of his land.