The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-03-25
From the New York Evangelist.
PROFANE SWEARING.

We care fast becoming nation Of swearers
One can hardly walk through the by-streets
or about the wharves, of this city, withou
hearing oaths and blasphemy enough to chill
his blood with horror And not only men
but boys, abound in this foul and disgusting
language. Around the corners hang groups
OF young vagabonds, who salute the ears o.
every passer by with horrid imprecations, il
which the names Of God and Christ are re-
peated at every sentence. The same is true
In other places. Follow the great routes OF
travel, and you hear it everywhere. All q.
long our railroads. and our lakes and riyers
the voice of cursing comes upon the wind
Foreigners who visit this country are appalled,
at this general habit of speech. 1t strikes
them as national characteristic, and they
ask if this is one of the fruits of our boasted
liberty, that our nation has utterly cast of
the fear of Godi
Nor is this vice confined to cities and large
town. In quiet and secluded villages, which
are held up as models of peacefulness and
purity, the poison has spread. Even pious
New England is blighted by it. The days
when profane swearer was tied to whip
ping post, or locked in the pilory, or driven
from the town by the magistrate, are gone
by. These are days of liberty. and now in
those peaceful villages there is hardly bov
who does not think it an accomplishment to
take Gods name in vain! Could the Pilgrim
fathers arise from the dust, where their bod
les rest in hope, and walk through the streets
on'a day of town meeting, or even listen to
the troops of boys returning from school,
would they not be shocked at the impiety of
their descendants.
In truth, this evil habit has become so
common that it threatens us with general
deluge of irreligion. AN the restraints of
reverence and decency are broken down. No
mans child is safe. In spite of all his vgi-
lance, the pious father may hear his son rise
up and curse him to his face Under such
influences what is to become of the next gen.
erationl
That to take the name of God in vain is
no light offence, is plain from the fact that it
is forbidden in the same catalogue with theft
and murder. The foundation of all authori-
ty is laid in the respect paid to God and to
parents, and hence our Creator enjoins that
reverence and obedience, before he lays down
But profane swearing has one pre-eminence
over all other sins, in that it is committed
without temptation. Other vices attract men
by the prospect Of sensual pleasure. A man
Is led to intoxication by powerful appetite.
But what appetite is gratifed by cursing and
swearing9 To take Gods name in vain does
not quicken the blood. 1t does not mpart
even a momentary thrill of intoxication to
the nerves. 1t is an unimpassioned, cold
blooded ebullition of impiety. Robert Hall
called it 'a pepper-corn rent to the devil"
that is, voluntary gift from the serf to his
master, in token of allegiance!
We are often puzzled to know what can be
The motive of this gratuitous wickenness, for
men do not commit sin without some motive
So we find at last that there is secret mo-
i've for alfthis shocking impiety, but it is the
owest and most contemplate that ever allur-
ID man into sin. Only to mention it is
enough to make every profane swearer hang
lown his head for shame, il he is not wholly |
lead to such a feeling.
Who would believe itG The common mo-
ives which lead men to swear are, vanity. a |
wish to magnify their Importance desire to
how their bravery in throwing off religious
estraint, or mere emptiness Of mind Any
'ody can see this by noting who are the per-
ons that swear most. First are big, impu-
lent and ungoverned boys. They. wish to
ppear men, and they take for their models
he noisy, staggering and swearing rowdies
hat they see loupging about public places
1t first they are timid, and only dare to
wear in small way, using such words as
euce and deva But soon they bring in the
anne Of God, and become fully accomplished
n the art. Then they wish everybody to
now how big they can talk. They hang
round depots and taverns, to showshow
ravely they can swear How often have we
card boys on the ball ground raise their voic-
S as carriage rolled by, and bring out an
ath to let strangers know who they were.
Poor boys! would that they knew how
hose strangers regard them. They think
ney appear manly. But really, others look
pom them as silly, conceited fools. If there
beautiful sight ON earth, it is that of a
right, intelligent, manly boy, with frank
pen countenance and modest behavior. But
iese brazen, filthy children we loath. AL
lost the lowest specimen of humanity is one
these juvenile men, sauntcring along the
ak, swinging his cane, putting his cigar,
nd venting his oathsl 80
In older persons, profaneness is often
Tompted by wish not to appear religious.
young man of serious disposition is thrown
nong bad companions in store or factory.
hey laugh at him for his sober face. Now,
he has not the frmness to withstand q