The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-23
PIOUs PROFANITY.


In large religious meeting, where high
degree of spiritual life was apparent, reVl'
vel meeting, it might be called-so warm,
earnest and impassioned were the appeals and
xhortations-there were some speakers who,
having bad a large experience in Sunday
School work and young mems meetings, were
very fluent and eloquent, rousing the feelings
of the assemblies by their glowing addresses.
With them the only name by which the Sa-
viour of sinners was spoken of, was Jesus;
aud this would not be the occasion of any
criticism, if they had not employed it with
such familiarity and frequency, and with the
prefix Of such terms of endearment, as to
take from the name that association of rev.
erence and respectful affection with which it
is always invested in my mind, and that of
many who have expressed to me their senti-
nents on this subject. It is not in good taste
for husband and wife, or parents and chill
dren, or brothers and sisters, to lavish with
great profusion, very strong terms of endear-
ment upon one another, in the presence of
company. The practice suggests to the nearer
the possibility that such warm expressions
are for the purpose of misleading those who
hear, and that it is within the realms OF be-
lief that those who seem to be 80 extrava
gantly affectionate in public, may be just a
little less 30 in the seclusion of domestic life.
And when these burning and affective
speakers were, in nearly every sentence,
speaking of dear Jesus, sweet Jesus, precious
Jesus, the dear little Jesus, darling Jesus,
friend Jesus, brother Jesus, and still more
frequently Jesus, as if He were no more than
one of their own number, one to be spoken
to and spoken of as child, companion and
everyday person, was asking, "Do they
love Him so much more than others e 1t
hurt me, as if one dearer to me than life was
being lightly handledin the face of the world
I remembered that q writer, whom the
Spirit of God had taught, declared Of this
Saviour that God had "highly exhalted him
and "given him q name that is above every
name" that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow in heaven, earth, and under the
earth. Such triumphant prophecy, for the
fulfllment of which the martyrs and prophets
and faithful men and women have looked,
and have and will yet anticipate with long
ings that no words can clothe. | would not
construe into a precept to forbid the use Of
that great name, except with an outward sign
of reverence. Such genuAexions are often
superstitious, and never necessary to testify
respect. But the reverence in which that
name is held, and every name by which God
maketh Himself known, by all who have q
becoming sense of the infinite exaltation Of
Him above US, forbids that His name should
be spoken Familiarity, or with such frequency
and leyity as to make US forget that we are
unworthy to take it upon our lips.
Especially is this familiar style of speak
ing to be regretted when it is INDUCED, as
it is more than elsewhere, in the presence Of
very young persons. 1t abOunds in Sunday
School eloquence 1t is the staple of thou
sands of speeches to children. 1t is not IN
known when the little hearers are expected
to laugh at the funny anecdotes of the enter
tanning speaker. 1t does not bring the Sa
vour nearer to them it does tend to dimin
ish their reverence for him, and thus to weak
en- the hold upon them of his commands.
Poetry, passion, exalted sentiment viii
Justify the use of terms, occasionally, thai
cease to be allowed in the ordinary duties
and epjoyments of religious service. The
poetical language of some portions.of Holy
Scripture may never be properly used, exccp
in it's connections, that the true import may
be understood. Hymns in praise of Jesus
are among the most precious Of human writ
ings. They are dear to every Christian hear
that delights in sacred song. And the hymnl
of the church are more abundant in praise Of
Jesus than on any other theme.
But it is the language of poetry, or highly
wrought imagination, taking the wings Of
music, and soaring into the spiritual unseen
and eternal. 1t is susceptible of abuse anc
it is not strange that they who do not know
what it means to be in union with Christ
should wrest it, as they do many other words
| 70 q use which it was not made to answer
And the name of Jesus, and all the names by
which the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
and the attributesr of God, and Offices which
He executes, are made known to men, should
be used with reverence on all occasions.
Profane speaking is not unheard in the
pulpit. The platform has more of it. The
Sunday School hears the most of it. Oh,
that we might hear the last of i'll Observer.
eff any man will corae after me let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily ana follow me-
LUKE tx: %.
Is it my great desire to be like Christ,
and to follow Him? Do | cherish the spirit