Nevada County picayune., 1889-12-04

must be supreme authority some where-an authority generally, if not universally acknowledged, and from which there can be no appeal. It is unnecessary to prove the existence of a supreme being that is almost an automatic. or scf-eyident truth. The universe around us affords abundant proof of this proposition. If then there be God. the cOnclu- sion inevitably follows that all other beings are subject to his authority and government, for in the very na- ture of things there can he but one God. and hence all other beings owe their existence to Him, and are amenablc to Him for their con duet.
 The essence of the first command ment is supreme love to Coda love which admits of no rivalry. This commandment is based upon the in- finite perfections of God, and the ab- solute dependence and inferiority of all other beings. Anything. there fore. which detracts from our reyer- ence for God. or weakens our sense of dependence on Hum, must be mor- ally wrong, as well as subyersive of our best interests and happiness. Perhaps no other sin contributes more to the destruction of proper feeling of reverence for our Creator than that of profanity, and hence we find that it is specially forbidden in the Decaloguc.
 Profanity consists in the improper or irreyerent use of the name of God, and varies from the tlippant and yenal use of the divine name to the most shocking blasphemy and sacri- lepe. There are various names by which the Deity is known. all of which are equally entitled to our rev l erence. While there is no excuse 1 for any sin, there is less excuse for profanity than any other sin. All languages have q plentiful supply of words to express our ideas without resorting to the use of vain and ir- reverent explosives. The customs and refnements of good society con- | demn and lenounce it as violation of good manners, and it is univer- sally regarded as a violation of good taste to insert profane language in printed speech or in our current lit- erature,
 We recently heard public speaker use the name of God in valn in a speech before a jury, as though It added force and emphasis to what he said. The reverse of this. however, was the case, for it really marred what was otherwise good and elo- ouent speech. Pure thoughts come from pure hearts. In order, there fore. to eliminate impure or profane l lanpuape from our mouths, we must 1 first have our hearts purified from the polutions of sin. This sin, like all others, has it's origin in corrupt and impure heart. The heart is the fountain from which flows all manner of evil thoughts and desires; to get rid of evil habits, therefore, the heart must be renewed by divine grace. The frequent failures Co reform from drink and other bad habits is tracea- be to fatal mistake at this point corrupt, unregenerate men vainly try to bring pure out of an impure thing. First make the tree good, and then will the fruit be good.
 Thoughtlcssness and unrestrained passion are probably the usual causes of profanity, though it many cases It must be confessed that the example of wicked men often leads young 1 children into the vile and abominable | habit. Boys foolshly imagine that it is manly and brave to use profane language, and that it gives force and emphasis to their assertions. The teachings of Scripture cfiectually dis pcls this illusion. Let your commit ncations be yea, yea, nay. nay, for whatsoever is more than this cOmeth of eyIl." The simple unvarnished utterance of the truth is always the best. Truth needs no adventitious aids to recommend her. Her own na- tive simplicity and modesty are her best recommendations.
 The man who attempts to fortify or bolster up his statements by pro- fane language exposes his own weak ness, and awakens suspicion of his veracitv. Profanity is q direct and palpable violation of the divine law, 1 and is an insult to the author of our