An exposition of the morall lavv, or Ten Commandements of almightie God set dovvne by vvay of exercitations, wherein is contained an explanation of diverse questions and positions for the right understanding thereof, together with an explication of these scriptures which depend upon, or belong unto every one of the commandements, all which are cleared out of the originall languages, the customes of the Iewes, and the distinctions of the schoolemen / by Iohn Weemse ...

EXERCITAT. VI. Of blasphemy. Commandement III.

1. King. 21.10. And she set two sonnes of Belial before him to beare witnesse against him, saying, thou didst blas∣pheme God and the King.

IN blasphemie let us consider these things. First, wherfore it is called blasphemie. Secondly, where∣fore the Iewes condemned Christ as a blasphemer. Thirdly, what ceremonies they used when they heard one blaspheme. Fourthly, the judgements which have be fallen those who have blasphemed.

First, wherefore is it called blasphemie, it commeth from the Greeke word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ladere famam.* 1.1

Sundry people doe expresse one and the selfesame thing diversely. Example, 1. King. 2.10.* 1.2 Hee blasphe∣med God and the King. The Greekes commonly expresse this phrase this wayes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Ioh. 19.12. Who∣soever maketh himselfe a king, speaketh against Caesar. But the Hebrewes when they expresse this phrase, they say,* 1.3 hee hath blessed the king; and the Seventy, following the Hebrewes say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hee hath blessed the king,* 1.4 and the Atticks amongst the Hebrewes expresse it otherwayes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hee hath spoken well of the king; that is, hee hath cursed the king, and this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signified 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to blaspheme,* 1.5 which word is appropriated now to God, when his holy name is blas∣phemed, and this is done sundry wayes.* 1.6

First when men give to God that which no wayes be∣fitteth him, as when they called Christ a drinker of wine. Mat. 11.19.

* 1.7Secondly the name of the Lord is blasphemed, when they malitiously and in disdain speake against the Lord, as Pharoah said; Who is the Lord that I should know him? Exod. 5.2. such was the blasphemie of the sonne of the Israelitish woman. Levit. 24.11. He blasphemed the name of the Lord, in the originall it is, he pierced the name of the Lord; such was the blasphemie of the Iewes who said,* 1.8 that Christ did cast out devils through Belzebub the chiefe of the devils. Luc. 11.15. This blasphemie is pro∣perly called the sinne against the holy Ghost; and they sinne toti, in tote, & totaliter. Toti, that is, having their mindes enlightned, and their affections malitiously set, they reject the whole knowne truth; In toto, that is, they sinne against the whole law, and cast the law be∣hinde them: And totaliter, they fall away finally from the truth; To blaspheme this wayes is a most terrible sinne, for it pierceth the side of God: And as the stroakes which are given to the vitall parts are deadly; so to blas∣pheme God, of whom we hold out life, that is a most fearefull sinne.

* 1.9Secondly, why they condemned Christ as a blasphe∣mer. Iob. 19.7. Wee have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himselfe the son of God. The law is set down; Exod. 22. Lev. 19. Deut. 18. that the blasphe∣mer shall die the death; and the practise of it, Lev. 24. But the Iewes did mis-interpret this law, for first, they generally hold that the sonne of the Israelitish woman was put to death, because when he cursed, he expressed the name Iehova,* 1.10 and so Onkelos the Paraphrast para∣phraseth it, Parash eth shema, he expressed the name Ie∣hova; the Seventy 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hee named the name Iehova. In this sense they said not, that Christ blasphe∣med, but they say, hee shall die because he made himselfe the sonne of God. But the law faith, he that blasphemeth the name of God, shall die the death: Now to apply this to

him who was the sonne of God and gave the law, was the wresting of the law, therfore they say, We have a law; it was their law, but not the law of God.

Thirdly,* 1.11 consider the ceremonies which they used when they heard any blaspheme; they were two espe∣cially: first, they put their fingers in their cares that they might not heare the blasphemie; Act. 7.57. and second∣ly, they rent their cloathes.

How could they rent their cloathes, [Quest.] seeing the Lord biddeth them rent the heart and not the clothes. Ioel 2.13.

Hee doth not forbid them simply to rent their cloaths, but rather to rent their heart than their cloaths. [Answ.] So Thou shalt be called Israel and not Iacob. Gen. 22.38. that is, thou shalt be called rather Israel than Iacob. So buy wisdome and not gold. Prov. 8.10. that is, rather, wisdome than gold. When ye make a great feast, bid not your bre∣thren, but the poore. Luc. 14.12, 13. that is, rather the poore than your brethren. So, he sent me not to baptize, but to preach. 1. Cor. 1.17. that is, rather to preach than to baptize.

They rent their cloathes when the king died,* 1.12 as David and his men rent their cloathes for the death of Saul and Ionathan. 2. Sam. 1.11, 12. and for burning of the booke of the law. Ier. 36.23, 24. and when the temple was destroyed, Ier. 41.5. and so when they heard the name of God blasphemed. 2. King. 19.1.

They rent not their cloathes but when they heard an Israelite blaspheme, and therefore they gather that Rabsakeh was an apostate Iew, because they rent their cloathes when they heard him blaspheme. 2. King. 19.1.

They rent their cloathes when one died who was neare unto them in bloud. Gen. 37.34. Le. 13.45. and 21.10. the Priest is forbidden to rent his cloathes; there∣fore they gather that others might rent their cloathes for the death of their friends or kinsmen, they rent

the forepart of their cloathes,* 1.13 but not behinde, or the sides, or beneath, save the high Priest, hee rent his cloathes beneath; and the measure of the renting was an hand bredth, and this was onely the upper garment.

[Quest.] What is the reason that men rent not their cloathes now for griefe, seeing it was commanded to the Iewes.

[Answ.] * 1.14Some things were commanded to them as nationall, and some things as types, and some things as morall; these things which were nationall doe not bind us now, as to put dust upon the head in the day of humiliation, to goe in sackcloth, to anoynt the face and such; those which are typicall doe not binde us; but onely morall precepts doe binde us, as to rent the heart, &c.

* 1.15Fourthly, see the judgements of God that have come upon blaspemers; as upon Iulian the Apostate, who dy∣ed casting up his bloud against the heaven. Vpon Ar∣rius, who died scouring out his guts; upon Olympus an Arrian Bishop, who denying the trinitie, was stricken with three thunderbolts from the heaven, and killed in a bath.

* 1.16Ecclus. 23.12. There is a word that is cloathed about with death, God grant that it be not found in the heritage of Iacob; here the blasphemer is brought in, as carried to the place of execution in his mourning apparell; blasphemie is cloathed with death; therefore all Christians as they would shunne eternall death and be cloathed in white, let them shunne this blasphemie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Sundry people expresse one phrase diversely.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  It is blasphemie to give God names which befit him not.
• * 1.7

  They blaspheme when they speake disdainfully of God.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Perforavit nomen.
• * 1.9

  How they condemned Christ as a blasphemer.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.11

  The ceremonies which they used when they heard blasphemie.
• * 1.12

  When, and for whom they rent their cloathes.
• * 1.13

  How they rent their cloathes.
• * 1.14

  Something nationall, ceremoniall, and morall commanded to the Iewes.
• * 1.15

  The judgement of God upon blasphemers.
• * 1.16

  Conclusion.