Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-21
THE SANCTUARY.
Rev. +. w. Merrel breaches on
the Third mmandment.
Orutnaii9n Services at Trinity
church ". s;erd ay Mornins. and
confirmation L,st Evening
by Bishop Burgess.

elrst Methodist church by the pastor
Rev. F. W. Merrell. With the efficient
ard of the choir the services are made
both attractive and profitable. The
subject last evening was the Thrill Com.
mandment, Profanity from Exodus
2U:7.
a. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy
900 in vain: for the Lord will not hold him
SuliIiess that taketh his name in vaiu''
The speaker said profane in its derivs.
hon signifies in front of temple or
fame. The interior o. temple or fame
was sacred, but the xterior-the outer
Wor!d-was profane, in the original use
OF the word. A profane person Is there.
fore one whose whole life is unconse
Grated and without reverence for sacred
things. Esau is biblical example
profanity in its derivative meaning is as
broad as the term irreverence But the
most common, as wei as grossest form
of irreverence, is taking G DDS name in
vain. Hence profanity commonly signi-
fies swearing. This commandment is.
however, exceedingly broad. 1t condemns
all irrevere nce-sll forms of profanity, as
we'll as swearing. 1t is said that Jesus
would not so much as utter the name of
Jehovah in conversation or reading, and
substituted another name that they
might not risk violating this command
ment. Taking Gods name in vain orpin-
ally meant for an evil purpose, and hence
for vain and idle purpose
l. This commandment evidently
touches hypocrisy. Gods name cannot
be taken in vain more surely or sipfully
than by using it in false profession. The
speaker believed from his observation
that there are comparatively few DELHI
crate ypOcrites-persons who purposeiy
act part. in the churches. But there
are many who do as the Gypsies did with
the bible when translated into their Lam
| guage-they hung it about their ntcks as
n charm when they went to steal So
there are those who use the worship of
| God and prayer as a kind of charm to
avert the evil cOuseQue aces OF continued
sin. Such are self-de ceved, like Cath
crime of Russia, who caused painted viii
lagos to be erected along the route she
was about to take in traversing over her
| dominions that she might imagine her
realms populous. Such will be greeted
to their Jnsternston at the last great
day with the words, II never knew you :;
| depart from me-"
2 This commandment touches the
| sin of covenant breaking. Gods name
has been taken in vain by numbers who
have made vows unto God and have not
| performed them. Thou shalt not for
swear myself, but shalt perform unto
the Lord thine oaths." Instances were
given of those who had snlemnly prom.
Used dying mother or friend TO NEE |
them in heaven. to lead a christian life,
and yet hsd never redeemed their vows.
Another class were those who have taken
the vows of Gods service upon them in a
public and peculiarly solemn way and yet
have not redeemed their VOWS. Such
truly violates the spirit of this com
mand.
3 Another form of transgressing this
commandment is in using G DDS name
lightly and irreverently, as in observing
forms of worship with the tn o lights far
away. True worship involves the whole
being of man. Vain repetitions" are
forbidden by the Saviour. The mere re-
petition of prayers is not worship, and is
one form of taking Goo s name IN vain
Congregations when in prayer should as
sumo reverertial attitude to which the
whole congregation conforms.
4. This commandment strikes at the
common practice of finding material for
testing in scripture, tuning passages of
Gods word into a joke. pOlnrng pun
with the sacred word of scripture. Some
hymns and passages of scripture are thus
shorn OF power to do good by the unhal-
lowed associations that they call up. I'M
belief comes Oftener from irreyerent as
sOcIstions than from intellectual doubt.
The sneers of infidelity have wrought
more mischief than all the arguments of
unbelief. Intellect without reverence is
the head of man joined toa beast.
Never Jest with scripture more than you
would with the sacred name or fame of
wife or mother. Those are some SUBJ
jecis too sacred for iesting.
5. This commandment. too, condemns
the perjurer-the man who stands before
court of justice and invokes Gods
name in support of deliberate falsehood.
This has Justly been regarded as a great
crime. 1t is punishable in most coun
tries by law, for if perjury is permitted
there can be no security to society.
This commandment condemns the
Invocation of Gods name and authority
for any evil purpose as vas done in the
crusades and il the inquisition. How
fearful to think of what has been done in
Gods name in history!
But passing all these. turn to that par
,icular sin which is especially prohibited
by this commsndment--the sin of pro-
fanItY-of common swearing. Consider
this sin in a candid name with me to-
night.
Consider its real nature. 1t is di-
rect insult to the name and authority of
Almighty God. He has forbidden it.
Every oath insults God. 1t is sin to
which there is little ten ptstion. Satan
bats some hooks with pleasure and some
with profit, but this is bare hook, as
said Rowland Hill.