Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-11
For the Lancaster Gazette.

l~SAAAoy ~ IAAC VI oil OAIds LuhCu
at civil tribunal. 1t is direct and DELHI
crate appeal to Omniscience. Its close is
truly awful: $50 help me GODm which is
saying in other words, 81 relinquish the
hope of divine favour no longer ask or
expect the help of Jehovah, if designedly
speak more or less than know, relative to
the cause now in hearing"
Gifts Importance it is enough to say, it is
the last appeal under Heaven. In the lam
guage of scripture cit is the end of strife"
All are sensible that on the integrity and
fidelity of witnesses, not only property, cha
racter, and usefulness, or influence on soci-
ETY., but even life itself, is otter suspended.
But who will hesitate to acknowledge the
same testimony, on the lips of different men,
bears, and ought to bear, with unequal, very
unequal weight, on the minds of court,
| jury, or arbitrator A witness no sooner
lifts his hand than his character is considered
by all present who know the man; and stran-
SOlo lCpOoC llOIC VI lCoS COuuuSuCG Ill Ills
testimony according to his appearance on
the stand. One satisfies the whole audience
that he deeply feels and reveres an oath !;
another is heard with some doubt-suspicion
of his fidelity is general in the assembly.
How lamentable, how deeply deplorable,
that testimony in court of justice, which
cannot be invalidated, should be justly sus-
pected, heard with caution, and degree of
distrust How chilling, how depressing,
how gloomy the thought, that even such tes-
timony may destroy an innocent man, pros
trate his reputation in the dust, take his life,
and fix unjust and lasting reproach upon his
offspring!
Among the various circumstances which
render testimony suspicious, we cannot hest
tate to name hdbituaL profanity. The indi-
vidual who trifes wantonly with the sacred
name of God, using it as Familiarity and as
lightly as that of his nearest neighbour, can
not possibly feel that reverence andrespect
for an oath which he would naturally real
lie, did that dread name never pass his lips
but with solemnity. What does he feel, how
or why is he solemnized, what impression
is made on his heart, lhy -ireesrines s. so help
yo.. Old % That such a man may give cor
rect and faithful testimony, is admitted; and
it is admitted, also, that a vengeful, mali
cious man may shew kindness, and noto-
rious swindler may deal honestly; but can
either be justly and confidently expected?
Whatever mans standing in society, if
allowedly and habitually profane, in the com
mon acceptation of the word, we may as
properly, with as much correctness, call him
pious and devout man, as speak of him as
man strictly conscientious. He certainly
is neither, and this habit ought, in justice, to
be placed in the scales when his oath is
weighed. To say the very least, it is a
damper upon his testimony.
Let me now ask what feelings, what self
reproach, what trembling, what stings of
conscience ought those parents to indulge
who exemplify this low and sordid vice be-
fore rising family? When they hear those
little initiative beings already using lam
guage Familiarity at which both parents and
children ought to shudder, what are their
reflections? What their prospects, At a
retired hour the state Of their household
seems to force upon them such sober inqui-
ries as the following =" From rising ia
mily so evidently destitute, not only OF early
religious impressions, but Of moral principles
too, as ours, and thus early initiated, by our
neglect and example, into vicious course,
what can be expected in their ripper years ?
Growing up without moral habits, and in the
practice of vice, what rank will they sustain
in the community? What will their test'-
mony weigh? Should we live to be aged
and infrm, shall we safely trust unprincipled
children? If cast on their care, what will
secure us from injury and abuse :? AS to
ETERNITY, what are our prospects, for our
selves or for our children ?"
SENEX.
/ GpATJTuDr The most de; estahle beino