Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-05-08
v A R I E 7 Y
Swearing,

" Stcedr not at all, neither by Hearen for Il IS
Gods throne, nor By the Earth for is has
footstool."
This precept is couched in general
terms; and comprises profane language
and formal oaths. That it has parlicula,
reference 10 oa.hs on ordinary occasions,
not in legal proceedings, is evident from
other passages of holy writ, which allow
of oaths in confrmalion of truth when
called for by lawful authority.
The evils attending the frequent use of
oaths on ordinary occasions deserve par
tlcular attention. Il is for the interest Of
mankind that there should be some high
and awful test Of truth, which men will
not dare TO violate. An oath has been
fixed upon as this test by mankind in gen.
eral. This, when administered in due
form by lawful authority is considered as
the highest test of truth in all the most
Interesting concerns Of life. To excite
and retain in the minds OF men sense OF
the solemnity and obligation of an oath, it
is necessary that they should be used on
" on important occasions, and when re-
CURED by lawful authority. The frequent
use Of them on trivial subjects lessons the
fear which they oughtlc excite, and weak
ems the obligations which they impose
1t therefore removes the grand barrier
of truth, and opens the fiood>gates OF
ftisehood and iniquity.
Another evil of frequently using oaths
is that it brings into contempt the name
of HIM, who should ever Be thought and
spoken of with reverence and fear. A
:houghtless, inconsiderate, and irreverent
use of the name and attributes Of God,
is sin of no small magnitude. "Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy
rod in vain, for the Lord will not hold
him guillless that taketh his name in vain"
By this practice the bonds of society
are weakened, vice and impiety rendered
habitual, and the divine displeasure in
Cured. Perhaps no vice communicates
the mind so quickly as profane language.
As it destroys the foundation of all mo-
rality, the fear of God, it is natural to ex-
pect that it will lay open tie mind to ev>
cry iniquity.
As the safety and happiness of society
greatly depends on mems cherishing a
deep sense of the solemnity and obliga-
ton of an oath, would it not serve to i'm
press the mind more deeply, if in our
courts Of justice more attention we've paid
10 the manner of administering it p? have
often thought, that there was a manifest
Improperly in the clerks giving an oath
TO witness, while they were the only
persons in the house attending to the SOL
emn transaction. If silence were COM
manded and attention requested, and if
the court were requested TO rise, while an
oath is administering, would it not more
deeply impress the mind with the solem.
nifty and obligation of the act, and prevent
many perjuries | submit these hints to
the consideration of the wise.
As many evils attend, and no possible
good can be acquired by the practice of
profane swearing and formal oaths, lie,
us guard against this prevalent vice.
Josephus relates of the Essences, a set
of Jews, that whatsoever they say is
irmer than an oath; but swearing is
avoided by them, and they esteem it worse
than perjury; for they say, that he who
cannot be believed without swearing BY
God is already condemned" A.