Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-06-02
&eadiug fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.

[origina
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
Between the three first precepts Of the
moral law, there is beautiful connection
which is not always attended to. The first
commandment forbids the worship of false
gods, and enjoins the worship Of the living
and true God. The second forbids the wor.
Shipping of God by idols, or in any way not
appointed in the word of God. The third
forbids the irreverent use of any of the names
or titles, or anything by which God makes
himself known. Nothing can be more prop
er than that every intelligent creature should
be forbidden to take the name Of God in
vain !; and it is scarcely to be supposed that
the sovereign Of the universe would hold him
guiltless, who dares to use his name or titles
in vain and irreverent manner.
1t is common to regard the third command.
ment as forbidding profane swearing. This is
true; but it is not correct to restrict it in its
application to this almost universal vice.
There are many ways, besides profane swear
ing, by which the name of God may be taken
in vain. The third commandment is violated
when we mention the name of God, or any Of
his attributes as we mention the name or
titles of a fellow beisg. The very name of
God and all his titles are holy, and in order
that we may not violate the third command
ment, we must speak and even think of God
reverently. The frequent use in conversation,
or even in our devotional exercises, partakes
of the nature ofirreverence, and is violation
of the third commandment. The use that is
frequently made of the names and titles Of
God, in sermons and in public and private
prayers, is often uncalled for, and sometimes
disrespectful and sinful. Every man who has
been properly trained, and who has correct
knowledge of the respect which is due by one
gentleman to another, rarely mentions the
name of those whom he addresses, and when
he does it is with Difference. This is especial
ly the case when he addresses one high in
authority. No lawyer dare use the name Of
a presiding judge, as the majority of the
human family use the name of the Judge of
all the earth. . ,...-. ....,.... ~.
The third commandment is violated by
taking and administering foolish and uncalled
for oaths There are some persons who seem
to think that nothing is true except what is
sworn to. They call God to witness foolish
assertions made in common conversation.
These persons seem to labor under the absurd
notion that it is no harm to lie, provided they
do not swear to it. They seem also to think
they will not be believed, unless they profane
the name of God. There is mode of ad-
ministering an oath practiced in our courts,
which, if not a violation of the third COM
mandment, certainly has 10 warrant in the
law of God. Reference is had to kissing the
Bible. 1t is very difficult to understand how
such custom could be originated and per.
petuated among any but a people grossly su.
perstitious. 1t is foolish to ask man, who
cannot read, to kiss the Bible, and tell him
that is swearing. The material which he
kisses is the same that is contained in any
other book, and but forthe superstition which
is attached to the operation, he might as we'll
kiss bundle of brown paper. Aside from
this, it is most nasty practice. 1t is enough
to produce vomiting to see crowd of men Of
all kinds and characters, smacking an old
musty book that has been smacked by hun
dreds before 1t is absolutely revolving to
cleanly man to have to put his lips upon the
place occupied by some dirty mouthed crea-
ture. ....
This is surely bad enough; but the custom
wants divine authority, and is calculated to
mislead and deceive. The danger is that the
individual administering the oath, and the
individual taking the oath, come to the con.
clusion that the Bible is God. 1t would sure
ly be regarded as foolish, not to say wicked,
to ask ap individual taking an oath to kiss
church or anything used about church.
1t is hard to see how the name of God would
not be taken in vain when used in any such a
connection. Why not kiss the church-the
house in which God is worshiped-as we'll
as the Bible?
1t need not be mentioned that the third
commandment is violated by using what are
usually denominated profane oaths. There is
no vice more universal than that of profan.
ty. The human family learn to swear pro.
fanely at very early period. Children, un-
able to talk plainly, are able to repeat, with
emphasis, bitter cursings, and boys too stupid
to learn to repeat the Lords prayer, learn,
with ease, long oaths. This teaches that the
human heart is full-brimful- iniquity.
1t is strange that men who regard profit as
the handspring of all action, would swear
use profane oaths Men usually do not toll
year after year for nothing. The devil al
ways promises his servants much, and gener-
ally gives them something. The profane
swearer is a notable exception. The slave to
his appetites gets something. The thief gets