Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-10
&eadiua fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM
(Origlnal.1
PROFANE SWEARING.

(ongnal.l
PROFANE SWEARING.
1t is worthy of note, that drunkenness and
profane swearing are not peculiar to any
people. Both Jews and Gentiles get drunk
and take the name of God in vain. Perhaps
it would be difficult to find single individual
who habitually gets drunk, but who also is a
swearer. As rule, the two sins always &C.
company each other. Both are degrading to
humanity and abominable in the sight of God
Both lower man socially and intellectually,
and expose him to the wrath of God, both in
this life and in that which is to come. 1t is
hard to decide which is the more degrading,
in social point of view, or the more sinful in
the sight of God. The creature who wallows
in the dirt is entitled to the respect which is
due to the brute and no more; the being who
has no respect for the name Of the God of the
whole earth, can not be expected to have much
respect for the name of his fellows.
Profane swearing is different from almost
every other sin. 1t not only indicates that
the swearer has no respect for him from whom
he has received, and is daily receiving, 80
many and 80 precious benefits but that he
has for him perfect contempt. This may
not be his theory but what is theory when
it is contradicted by practice? The profane
swearer may say that he has respect for God,
but it is all in vain. He has no correct knowl-
edge of what the word respect means, when
God is the object.
1t may be said, profane swearing is all
habit. This may be true. 1t may be said
that many persons take Gods name in vain
and are not conscious of it. This also, no
doubt is, in many cases, true. Because sin,
however, has become habitual, it does not
cease to be sin and become virtue. There are
scme persons habitual liars; some are habit
ual drunkards; others are habitual pilferers.
Many of the human family seem not to be
conscious of the fact that they are not truth
full. Many are not conscious of the fact that
they ere liars and cheats. What has habit to
de- in the way of lessening their crimes in
these respects? Not one thing. No one ever
thought it was not sin for habitual falsi
Ger to tell falsehood. How, then, can it be
an excuse for the profane swearer to say, 81
am habitual swearer." 1t might be asked,
are not vile habits sinful?
One of the pecuiarities of profane swear
ing is, that it is sin directly against God, for
which Satan promises no reward of any kind
or character whatever. Every other sinner
gets something, or the promise of something,
for his transgressing the law of God; but the
profane swearer insults God and receives neth-
er reward nor comlnendaton. The man who
steals gets the goods he has stolen; the liar
has the pleasure Of knowing that he some
times deceives others; the drunkard enjoys
the taste and exhilsrating effects of the intox.
icating draught; but the profane swearer gets
nothing.
1t is manifest that God regards profane
swearing as the most henous sin in the long
and black catalogue of crimes. In the eyes
of man, it is regarded more disgraceful to
steal than to take Gods name in vain; but
God regards it more sinful to take his name
in vain than to steal The principle seems to
be- this: The man who has no respect for the
greatest of Beings, will have no respect for
any being. He who will not reverence the
name of God, will have no respect for any of
Gods creatures.
To the third commandment there is a
threatening expressed. Such is not the case
with any of the other nine To the fifth
commandment there is an expressed promise
added, and to the third an expressed threaten
ing 1t is positively said that "God will not
hold him guiltless who takes bis name in
vain." This is the threatening. In the fifth
precept of the moral law, we are commanded
to honor our father and mother. The promise
is 'that our days may be long upon the
land" That boy or girl who would habitu-
ally treat with disrespect his or her father or
mother, would he regard as social monster.
God has done more for US all than the most
affectionate mother ever did for her children.
Why, then, should not those who treat the
name of God irreverently, be regarded as
moral monsters? The profane swearer may
suppose that, by triAing with the name of his
maker, he will inspire his fellow creatures
with dread of himself on account of his
bravery. Such conclusion is not justified
By facts. The braggart and profane swearer
may be desperate and dangerous; but the
former is always a vile coward, and the cur.
sing of the latter renders his character for
valor subject of serious doubt. No doubt,
multitudes of brave men swear, but they do
not swear because they are brave; nor would
they cease to be brave were they to cease to
swear. The truth is, profane swearing is an
evidence Of nothing but vile heart and the
want of respect for God. Surely, no one will
claim that profanity is an accomplishment.
If so, then the ignorant and degraded wretch
whose filth excludes him from good society,
has one accomplishment.
THE THREE BOOKS.
An aged servant of God, who lived in
poor and lonely cottage, always showed such
wisdom and sense when any one asked for his
advice about anything, that the people round
about thought he must be a very learned man.
A very great scholar who went one day to
see him, and was astonished at the wise words
he heard from his lips said:-
"How is it, my good friend, that l don see
library or any collection of books at all in
your coteage2 I don't even see the smallest
bookshelf. And yet you have been able to