There is a Legal Oath: [Deut. 6:13, Heb. 5:16] 1. Of Witness. 2. Of Innocence. 3. Of Allegiance, 4. Of Office. The oath taken by our Lord before the high-priest shows that the oath before a magistrate is not forbidden. [Matt. 26:63, 64] When taking a legal oath, we must be careful to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. False swearing or perjury is a great sin. It is punished by the State, and will be punished by God. [Ezek. 17:19] Swearing by anything besides God's name is forbidden also. [Matt. 5:34-37+] CONJURE. [Deut. 18:10-12+] This commandment forbids all magic arts, witchcraft, sorcery, pow-wowing, fortune-telling, and all attempts by signs or formulas to discover what God has kept hidden or to attain what He has withheld. If results are obtained by such means, _e.g._, by pow-wowing, that is no justification for their use. [Matt. 16:26] If we desire to obtain help through the use of God's name, we must pray and not conjure. LIE. The eighth commandment forbids lying in general; this commandment forbids lying by God's name. It is broken by those who teach falsehood and error and yet declare that they are teaching God's Word. [Gal. 1:8] DECEIVE BY HIS NAME. This is done by those who assume Christ's name by calling themselves Christians, and yet are hypocrites, and use religion as a cloak. [II Tim. 3:5+, Matt. 15:8] Sins against this Second Commandment are common, but not small sins. God will not hold him guiltless who commits them. II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. We should CALL UPON HIM. God has given us His name so that we might call upon Him for His help and grace. [Ps. 145:18+] IN EVERY TIME OF NEED. We should call upon God in every time of trouble, danger or distress. [Ps. 50:15+] But if we call upon God only in times of special need, and do not call upon His name at other times also, we are not keeping this commandment. AND WORSHIP HIM [Col. 3:16] in our hearts, in our homes and in church, WITH PRAYER [Matt. 7:7+] for ourselves and for others, [I Tim. 2:1, 2] PRAISE [Ps. 145:1] for His majesty and glory and wonderful works, AND THANKSGIVING for temporal and spiritual blessings. [Ps. 106:1+] QUESTIONS.--1. What is meant by God's name? 2. What does this second commandment forbid and command? 3. How is God's name taken in vain thoughtlessly? 4. How is God's name taken in vain intentionally? 5. Define cursing? 6. Define swearing? 7. What kind of swearing is forbidden? 8. What kind of swearing is permitted? 9. When taking a legal oath, what must we be careful to do? 10. Define conjuring, lying, and deceiving by God's name? 11. What is the right use of God's name? 12. Why should we call upon God? 13. When should we call upon Him? 14. Where shall we worship Him? 15. How shall we worship Him? * * * * * SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Matt. 12:36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.