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From this every one can readily infer when and in how many ways God's
name is misused； although it is impossible to enumerate all its
misuses。 Yet； to tell it in a few words； all misuse of the divine name
occurs； first； in worldly business and in matters which concern money；
possessions； honor； whether it be publicly in court； in the market； or
wherever else men make false oaths in God's name； or pledge their souls
in any matter。 And this is especially prevalent in marriage affairs
where two go and secretly betroth themselves to one another； and
afterward abjure ＇their plighted troth＇。
But。 the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters； which pertain to
the conscience； when false preachers rise up and offer their Lying
vanities as God's Word。 Behold； all this is decking one's self out with
God's name； or making a pretty show； or claiming to be right； whether
it occur in gross； worldly business or in sublime； subtle matters of
faith and doctrine。 And among liars belong also blasphemers； not alone
the very gross； well known to every one； who disgrace God's name
without fear （these are not for us； but for the hangman to discipline）；
but also those who publicly traduce the truth and God's Word and
consign it to the devil。 Of this there is no need now to speak further。
Here； then； let us learn and take to heart the great importance of this
commandment； that with all diligence we may guard against and dread
every misuse of the holy name； as the greatest sin that can be
outwardly committed。 For to lie and deceive is in itself a great sin；
but is greatly aggravated when we attempt to justify it； and seek to
confirm it by invoking the name of God and using it as a cloak for
shame； so that from a single lie a double lie； nay； manifold lies；
result。
For this reason； too； God has added a solemn threat to this
commandment； to wit： For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that
taketh His name in van。 That is： It shall not be condoned to any one
nor pass unpunished。 For as little as He will leave it unavenged if any
one turn his heart from Him； as little will He suffer His name to be
employed for dressing up a lie。 Now alas！ it is a common calamity in
all the word that there are as few who are not using the name of God
for purposes of Lying and all wickedness as there are those who with
their heart trust alone in God。 For by nature we all have within us
this beautiful virtue； to wit； that whoever has committed a wrong would
like to cover up and adorn his disgrace； so that no one may see it or
know it； and no one is so bold as to boast to all the world of the
wickedness he has perpetrated； all wish to act by stealth and without
any one being aware of what thy do。 Then； if any one be arraigned； the
name of God is dragged into the affair and must make the villainy look
like godliness； and the shame like honor。 This is the common course of
the world； which； like a great deluge； has flooded all lands。 Hence we
have also as our reward what we seek and deserve： pestilences wars；
famines； conflagrations； floods； wayward wives； children； servants； and
all sorts of defilement。 Whence else should so much misery come？ It is
still a great mercy that the earth bears and supports us。
Therefore； above all things； our young people should have this
commandment earnestly enforced upon them； and they should be trained to
hold this and the First Commandment in high regard； and whenever they
transgress； we must at once be after them with the rod and hold the
commandment before them； and constantly inculcate it； so as to bring
them up not only with punishment； but also in the reverence and fear of
God。
Thus you now understand what。 it is to take God's name in vain； that is
（to recapitulate briefly）； either simply for purposes of falsehood； and
to allege God's name for something that is not so； or to curse； swear；
conjure； and； in short； to practice whatever wickedness one may。
Besides this you must also know how to use the name ＇of God＇ aright。
For when saying： Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God； in
vain； He gives us to understand at the same time that it is to be used
properly。 For it has been revealed and given to us for the very purpose
that it may be of constant use and profit。 Hence it is a natural
inference； since using the holy name for falsehood or wickedness is
here forbidden； that we are； on the other hand； commanded to employ it
for truth and for all good； as when one swears truly where there is
need and it is demanded。 So also when there is right teaching； and when
the name is invoked in trouble or praised and thanked in prosperity
etc。； all of which is comprehended summarily and commanded in the
passage Ps。 50； 15： Call upon Me in the days of trouble； I will deliver
thee； and thou shalt glorify Me。 For all this is bringing 't into the
service of truth； and using it in a blessed way； and thus His name is
hallowed； as we pray in the Lord's Prayer。
Thus you have the sum of the entire commandment explained。 And with
this understanding the question with which many teachers have troubled
themselves has been easily solved； to wit； why swearing is prohibited
in the Gospel； and yet Christ； St。 Paul； and other saints often swore。
The explanation is briefly this： We are not to swear in support of
evil； that is； of falsehood； and where there is no need or use； but for
the support of good and the advantage of our neighbor we should swear。
For it is a truly good work； by which God is praised； truth and right
are established； falsehood is refuted； peace is made among men；
obedience is rendered； and quarrels are settled。 For in this way God
Himself interposes and separates between right and wrong； good and
evil。 If one part swears falsely； he has his sentence that he shall not
escape punishment； ad though it be deferred a long time； he shall not
succeed； that all that he may gain thereby will slip out of his hands；
and he will never enjoy it； as I have seen in the case of many who
perjured themselves in their marriage…vows； that they have never had a
happy hour or a healthful day； and thus perished miserably in body；
soul； and possessions。
Therefore I advise and exhort as before that by means of warning and
threatening； restraint and punishment； the children be trained betimes
to shun falsehood； and especially to avoid the use of God's name in its
support。 For where they are allowed to do as they please； no good will
result； as is even now evident that the world is worse than it has ever
been and that there is no government； no obedience； no fidelity； no
faith； but only daring； unbridled men； whom no teaching or reproof
helps； all of which is God's wrath and punishment for such wanton
contempt of this commandment。
On the other hand； they should be constantly urged and incited to
honor God's name； and to have it always upon their lips in everything
that may happen to them or come to their notice： For that is the true
honor of His Name； to look to it and implore it for all consolation； so
that （as we have heard above） first the heart by faith gives God the
honor due Him； and afterwards the lips by confession。
This is also a blessed and useful habit and very effectual against the
devil； who is ever about us； and lies in wait to bring us into sin and
shame； calamity and trouble； but who is very loath to hear God's name；
and cannot remain long where it is uttered and called upon from the
heart。 And； indeed； many a terrible and shocking calamity would befall
us if； by our calling upon His name； God did not preserve us。 I have
myself tried it； and learned by experience that often sudden great
calamity was immediately averted and removed during such invocation。 To
vex the devil； I say； we should always have this holy name in our
mouth； so that he may not be able to injure us as he wishes。
For this end it is also of service that we form the habit of daily
commending ourselves to God； with soul and body； wife； children；
servants； and all that we have； against every need that may occur；
whence also the blessing and thanksgiving at meals； and other prayers；
morning and evening； have originated and remain in use。 Likewise the
practices of children to cross themselves when anything monstrous or
terrible is seen or heard； and to exclaim： 〃Lord God； protect us！〃
〃Help； dear Lord Jesus！〃 etc。 Thus； too； if any one meets with
unexpected good fortune； however trivial； that he say： 〃God be praised
and thanked； this God has bestowed on me！〃 etc。； as formerly the
children were accustomed to fast and pray to St。 Nicholas and other
saints。 This would be more pleasing and acceptable to God than all
monasticism and Carthusian sanctity。
Behold； thus we might train our youth in a childlike way and playfully
in the fear and honor of God； so that the First and Second Commandments
might be well observed and in constant practice。 Then some good might
take root； spring up and bear fruit； and men grow up whom an entire
land might relish and enjoy。 Moreover； this would be the true way to
bring Up children well as long as they can become trained with kindness
and delight。 For what must be enforced with rods and blows only will
no