The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-06-19
any object worthy of the efforts
of a rational being secured by it.

Its properly, the supert1uity of naugh
tiness, and can only be considered as ;
sort of pepper-cOIn rent in acknowlede
ment of the devils right Of supremacy
If we attempt to analyze. it and reduce
it to its real motive, we find ourselve!
at a total loss to discover any other than
irreligious ostentation, desire of con
-yincing the world that its perpetratorl
are not under the restraint of religious
fear. .,. ..... .i. .t.;.
But, as this motive is most impious
and detestable, so the practice arising
from it is not at all requisite for thaI
purpose, since those who persist in i
may safely leave it to other parts of theil
character to exonerate them from the
suspicion of their being fearers of God
Then again, 1t is the most seRs8tess 0Rt
absurd use Of language. ...
Young men, may, perhaps, pride them
selves upon their conversational powers
their education, their taste, their refine.
ment or their understanding the use o1
their mother tongue. But the pr0fane
young man deserves to wear a fools caI
and a leather medal, for his perfectly
irrational and absurd use of the forms
of speech which he frequently utters.
|. hope and trust, that this audience
will not think me irreyerent or undigni.
fed il give an example, simply to Illus
trate my meaning on this point. -
How common is it to hear the adjeet,
i've !" damned" used in: connection Will
a word of an entirely opposite signif'
catiOn.af .rr ..:,-...,
For instance, in passing along the
street,lI heard young man say, at il
a damned fine day." .- ..- -.i5ai,
Now, the young man wished doubtless
to express his pleasurable emotions, OF
his sense of the delightful character OF
the weather. r. ss..a4 -,
Now, you can see with what impro-
priety he expresses himself. ID
The word damned" as you are fully
aware, means & condemned, lost, miser7
able, in state OF hopelessness or des-
pair.n 5a. ...-. ,..n ~,
Use any of these words in the place OF
the profane adjective which they des-
cribe, and what sheer nonsense it makes.
Almost every day we hear men speaking
of something as "Hdevilish good.n Now,
everything pertaining to. the devil is
usually considered as being Of the worst
possible character. .rm.
."As ugly as Satan,H GAS malicious as
the devil" are common forms of COM
parison. But it the, Synonymous term
were used, or the meaning of the word
correctly given, no man, who pretends
to common sense would ever, think OF
using such expressions. Why, were it
not so awful a sin against God, it would
provoke q smile to listen to such absurd
tiles Of speech from men who think that
they know how to use language with
and who, perhaps, pride them
selves on their conversational powers.
!, Then, again.. the habit of profanity is an
and .culgar habit.
1t is an accomplishment in which per-
fectiOn only is reached in the most de-
graded walks Of life.
It is never tolerated among people of
refined tastes and real gentility and one
Of the best evidences of its vulgarity is,
that it is considered as utterly inconsist-
ant with the presence of ladies. A man
who will indulge in profanity in the So
eiety of respectable females is, by COM
mon consents and even by his. fellow.
sWeaEers branded asno gentleman. And
Why,tI ask, is q different standard of de-
oency and propFiety to be provided for.
gentlemen in theirintercourse with each
1ther !? {, .sfs oE 1r s..F fas
Why should not that breach Of deco
'um which would expel a man from the
presence of ladies, equally unfit him for
ihe company of refined and well bred
men! tfan9sa6 #fs.s=.3 zygtf Us So 4tss9t.
Profanity is essentially vulgar, and is
he favorite dialect OF the blackleg and
lebanchee; and no man who iaspires to
jhe character of true gentleman, should
ever sully his conversation with phrases
from sources like these.
Profanity is also "a sin ag0inst God.
1od is the greatest, and the Wlsest, and
oveliest Being in the Universe. V
His exaltation is that of power and
virtue He only is great. He only is
good. His character, His word, His i'm
'titutions are in the highest degree
sacred. -. 4st .4
The more the human mind knows of
Tod, the more it feels its own ittleness
md vanity W.
{, The greatest minds have bowed in
everenee and humility, exelaiming in
I'VE and alteration: Who, by search
ng, can find out God ~ s..tse al 5e
Before Him angels bow, and archang-
lis veil their faces; and the blessed spir-
ts. of heaven rejoice to do Inn reverence,
md give him the deepest homage of
heir holy hearts. Il And shall man, poor
eeble MAI, whose habi6ation is in the
lust, and who is crushed before the
moth who by one word of the Almighty
vas called into existence. wholiVes daily
lpOn his bounty, aud who. can cut the
lrittle thread of life asunder in a mo-
nent, and call him into His presence
hall he cast contempt upon the name,
and word of God his Maker,
with that dread name, in speak
ng which, angels tremble; with all
hat is vile, polluted, or contemplate,
nd not be held guilty in His sight ~.
Ii is the most Want0n and direct insult
which can be offered to the Almighty,
nd twill surely bring upon the man,
Who daPes thus to- defy his Maker, the
power of an anathema from
eaven. The language of God, spoken
mid thunders and Iightnings of Sinai
!: Z Thou shalt not take the name of
he Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord
ill not hold him guiltless that. taketh
is name in Vain.1
But lastly, a remark ;--That profanity
lsures the eternal ruin of the soul a
God hath said that no swearer shall
nter into the Kingdom of heaven.
Hence, swearing sears the conscience,
ardens the heart, faniliarizes the mind
18th sin: establesh ellowship with the
lie and abandoned, and removes from
he soul the only safeguards and res
aims reverence and fear of God. with
ut holiness no man shall see the Lord
u q must be born again., or We cannot
se the Kingdom of God. 2 None are ad-
lifted there, but blowers of the Lamb
Not there, where nothing enters that
efileth, or Worketh 5abomination or