Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-09
For the Spectator.
PROFANITY.

In the use of words our thoughts to convey
To ourselves, to our eghbour, or friend,
We should choose such as some meaning convey
And that answer some rational end.
This rule so well founded in scripture and TRUTH
As fully appears to us all,
Must have been followed in age and in youth
But for the ruin and sins of the fall.
Depraved and corrupted in mind and in heart
At enmity with God and His name
Man seems, while acting his accountable part,
Regardless of sense and OF shame.
Engaging in life's busy scenes and affairs,
And aroused by some person or thing,
He pours out his curses instead of his prayers,
AS if justice and judgment 'twould bring
Needless alike of all mercy and grace
He would consign his fellow to hell,
For tramplng his toes look at his face
Forever in torments to dwell! f.!
e. en- the dumb BRUTE if he stumbles scares,
Must submit to the curse and the rod,
The rider strikes while he dares
To invoke the wrath of his God
But having neither reason nor soul
The poor beast escapes with blow.
AS he never be put on the roll
For the regions of remediless woe.
When tempted to reach some coveted point,
By means not very honest or clear,
He II swear almost his toes out of joint
To make the right quite appear.
So, toO when he has some tale to relate
And wishes to adorn it with w.t.
He II draw largely without sense or debate
From the sloughs of the bottomless pit.
n OF content to damn Whate' er crosses his path,
With heavens high mandate in view,
He'll call down on himself Gods terrible wrath
If what he says is not true.
ASIDE from the sin of this dreadful appeal,
Enough to stop e en- the sun IN his course,
It's folly to attempt the lie to conceal
With words that have no meaning or force.
Such words as involve the loss of the soul,
While everlasting ages endure,
Can ne er be believed in part or IN whole
And cannot their object secure.
Profanity, then, in all its bearing and scope
Shows nothing to cover its shame,
AS it never attains either purpose or hope
With It's nakedness and nonsense the same.
Since nought within the whole compass OF mind
Can be gained by means thus abused,
But sin, and shame, and folly, combined
Why should they ever be used?
Poor worm of the dust and sinner undone,
Dying while living, each hour
Unable to stand the glare of the sun,
Would assume divine judgment and power
From the depths of hell, where sin and despair,
Hold their dread power and reign,
Wells up this stream of profanity rare
That fills all nature with pain;
And as it arises blight on the earth,
To pursue its serpentine way
1t appears in places akin to its birth
With nothing but sin for its stay.
Amidst the haunts of crime and of shame,
Where Satan rules-uncontrolled-
Where debauchery plays so high-handed game,
That modesty breads to behold.
There Gods holy name is always profaned
By every age, condition and sex,
And it's no less true than easy explained,
But considering its awful import and ken,
Together with its connexions and cast,
1t is amazing to hear respectable men
Belch out their oaths thick and FAST
As if twere the very elixir of speech
All redolent with music and sense,
While indeed it smarts as the sting of leech,
And brings with it recompense.
That ever an oath so unmeaning and wrong
Should have found an ecno earth,
Proves the truth, both convincing and strong,
That helfs the place of It's birth.
But far beyond its nature and aim,
As it relates to human affairs,
Looms up its infinite guilt and its shame
Which the bible so fully declares.
In it. we learn the heavens display
Gods wisdom, and glory, and power,
While all below without stint delay,
Should render homage and praise every hour.
Extending the theme with its inspiring light,
To the uttermOst ends of creati on,
The divine nature shines more and more bright,
Till it reaches the verge Of salvation
There the Sun of Righteousness ever will shine,
Eclipsing all thought, conception and story,
As it moves on in its course to combine
The Universe with its blessings and glory.
Under such contemplations-so impressive and
vast
AS to fill eternity with wonder and praise
Mems hearts with Satans own image o ercast,
Are led into the blasphemers damnable ways.
As far as science or reason replies,
The strains of profanity never were heard,
Till suggested and urged by the father of lies,
Who first denied the truth of Gods word.
His moral descendants, like the angels who fell,
Reflect the spirit of their master the same,
When using language so peculiar to hell,
And wrecklessly defame Gods holy name.
Will any father son. brother or friend,
Who basks in the sunlight of nature or grace,
Dare or desire by his practice commend
What mainly in hell finds favor or place?
Let the swearer-btten by this serpent of sin
Look now to the cross and be healed
Ere his endless and deserved torments begin,
With Gods awful judgments revealed
Then whate' er betde ON earth's dark way,
Life will have its pilgrimage bright,
The darkness of night will be followed by day
And faith will be lost in heavens own lightl
UNUs PoPULoRUM.
Healing Springs.