The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-17

chapter xii Men should no; swear or be
guilty OF any sort OF profa lily for mfhy
reasons.
|. God forbids It. To the servant the
Masters word Is the end OF controversy
Men belong to God. They are His crea-
cures; they are His servants. Wren the
Omnipotent speaks men must keep silent.
When He commands men must obey or
suffer tho penalty.
Is II not true that II men really be-
lieved what God says 10 be true they
would moi swear or profsne His name?
This being granted we reach the inevi-
table conclusion that the profsne man
In fact. gives God me lie every time he
uses His name IN vain, not tearing the
punishment threatened
2. Profanity has terrible reflex intiu-
snce. Christ says "out of the abundance
Of the heart the mouth speaks Az swear
ing is an evidence Of On evil heart II also
tends TO more corrupt the heart from
which It comes.
The young man has lost a vast deal
OF eelf-respect and realizes Il alter hls
mouth has been fouled with an oath
man 6 real value TO society depends entire
ly on the estimate nut upon his own char
aoter II he feels that he can't afford 10
do mean thing the world may safely
count on that man as making his impress
for good Men can not afford 10 use pro-
fame language; because this lowers them
in the estimation Of the respectable peo-
pie of their acquaintance While men
should not be vain of praise, yet every
man owes it TO himself and to his fellows
to maintain a lofty character in the eyes
Of the wisest and best of this world
Men can not afford to swear, because the
refined portion OF mankind agrees with
Lord Chesterfield when he says, Gentle
men never swear" No matter what else
a man may have in the line OF noble-
ness Of character and refinement, II he
swears you fee ntuitiyey that he is not
a true gentleman,
Do you say this rule strictly applied
leaves but few gentlemen Alas too true.
| II were called on to define the present
| age ] would without hesitation write II
down as "the age OF profanity" People
swear everywhere The ignorant African
| swears at his team in the street. the arti-
san swesrs al his anvil or bench, the
clerk swears over the counter. the pro-
! prietor swears at his clerks, the police
man swears on his beat the lawyer swesrs
at his client the doctor at his patient, the
| Judge at the jury, and governors Of
| states even swear. forgetting the dignity
of their office. The sewing girl swears
! at her machine, the cook at her stove, the
mistress at her servant.
How indignant the God Of purity must
! feel as His ear hears His name profaned
by millions Of His subjects, His creatures,
His children. hourly!
| Profanity is on the increase, especially
In our cities. 1t once was that men were
! arrested and punished for swearing on
our highways, or in hearing of families,
but now, although We have a severe stat
ute against profanity, our women and
children are compelled TO hear the fsulest
oaths every day OF their lives. and even
on our chief streets at that, and in our
uptown hotels and places of business"
Indeed, II may we'll be said that ION
account of swearing the land mourns."
This Increase OF profanity shows beyond
question that the common morals OF our
people are declining. II as citizens we
would rise up and demand that our laws
be respected II would be done. 1t is said
that every community. as such, is as
moral as II wants to be. This is evidently
true.
The people are sovereign, as to morals
as well as other things II we had the
> respect we should for our wives and
D daughters we would not allow them in
suited on every street corner and in every
! shop and store by the beastly swearer,
; Finally. men should not swear, because
J God will punish them for 1t. This is
, putting mans obligation to be a gentle
man on the lowest possible basis. 1t is
: an appeal to his animal nature, which
$ breads punishment, pain. Friend, this
punishment begins in this life and contin-
ues during the eternity to come.
ta) The swearer has hardness OF heart
He loses his moral sensibiity He be-
comes incapable of responding to feeling
> OF highest nobleness.
Id The swearer Is punished in losing
, the respect of his fellow associates. II is
, impossible for the truly refined male and
female to respect profane person.
, lcl The swearer. hands down as an in
herltanee profane habit to his offspring
/ Truly the fathers eat sour grapes and
, their children's teeth are set on edge"
: id The swearer Is not implicitly trust
ed by his friends. There Is well worn
proverb that says Those who swear will
lie" | am unable to say how far this
statement is TO be accepted. but for my
self can say that when a man swears &c
: me that he is telling the truth find myself
feeling that the man discounts his owr
trustworthiness
te) God will not hold the swearer guilt
less John, in his apocalyptic vision. tell:
us OF a beautiful heaven into which all
the good and pure shall finally be gath
cred. but he leaves the profane man on
the outside, with the liars and whore
mongers and abomInable of every kind.
II 1t is true that men continue during
all eternity as they leave this world what
CHASTITY sight the devils hell must pre-.
sent Think OF all tho foul oaths, of ali
the profane. of all climes, OF all ages a;
the voice OF many waters going up, into
the ear OF God forever,
Let us here draw the curtain, II Is toe
terrible TO contemplate. Brother, do mo-
swear. for God will not hold him suiltesl
, who takes His name in vain,
RnGEI FTEfIE