Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-02-16
Sermon by Robt. II. Oury.

TeKG Deuteronomy. 8: II Thou
shaltn take the name OF the Lord, thy
God in vain, For the Lord will not
hold him guiltless that taketh his name
in vain.
/ am sure that il the devil ever set an
empty hook to catch mems souls, this is
the one. Nowhere. no time, no place,
and under no circumstances did [ ever
hear profanity used, that thought it
made men look smart or that 1t was OF
necessity. It is not unfrequently that
we hear from the mouths Of protesting
Christians, idle and profane words, aud
yet these protessed christians will rise
up in meeting and give you an expert.
ence which is as long as the moral law,
and at the same time excusing them
selves for all the meauness they have
been guilty of.
| was in the county clerks Office in
McMinn county few days ago, and
while there, some fellow who had come
in previous TO me, was talking to the
clerk remember the words he used
He was cursing his tooth, and ! think
would be safe in saying that every third
word be used was wicked vile oath.
You could read profanity almost in his
face. l thought that II God would
damn that mans tooth in a way that he
would be conscious that it was a Judge
ment from God, what lesson 1t would
have been to that man and his associ-
ates Many times have heard profos-
sors OF religion say "it is my awful
temper: [ can't help but swear" Butt
tell you, when God said II will not
bold him guiltless that takes my name
in vain" ne meant what be said, and
don't believe any one can be true
child of God, who takes the name of
God in vain. What's the grace of God
for, il it is not togive me control Of my
temper so that ! shall not lose my con
trol and bring down the curse OF God on
myself. When man is born Of
God, God takes the swear" out Of him.
Make the fountain good and the stream
will be good Let the heart be right
and then tue language will be right,
the whole life will be right. But no
man can serve God aud keep his law,
until be is born Of God, and there we
see the necessity Of the new birth We
are told that the Jews held the name Of
God sacred, that the covenant name Of
Hod was never mentioned among them
except once a year by the high priest
on the day of atonement when he went
into the holy of holies. What con-
trast that is to the familiar use Chris
tiahs make of it in public and private
worship. We are apt to rush into
Gods presence and rush out again, with
out any real sense Of the reverence and
awe that is due him. We forget we are
on holy ground. Do you know how Of
ten the word reverend occurs in b BIZ
ble2 Only once. And what is it used
in connection witbP Gods name.
Psalm 11lth and 9th verse; "Holy and
reverend is His Name" So important
did the Jewish Rabbis consider this
commandment that they said the whole
world trembled when 10 was first pro-
claimed on Sinai. But here in onr day
amidst all the light Of civilization aud
chtistianization men will take UPON
their lips the holy name of God and
spit it out as they would filthy chew
Of tobacco. believe there ought TO be
a law passed to fine every person $40. 90
who profanes the name Of God aud then
execu ted
Men will give of their substance to
the preacher to the poor, and will sym
pathize with some unfortunate who hal
been murdered by the cruel hand of the
assassin, but the Immaculate Lamb ot
God they will ignore, and curse his ho
ly name. 1t is not an uncommon thini
on the streets of a town or city 70 SCI
profane idlers spewing out Of thet
mouths, vile, vulger, filthy oaths, no
caring for society, God, nor anyone else
except to bring disgrace aud dishono
upon themselves, and reproaCh upoT
upon those who cared for them frou
their infancy. / have often heard me-
sav that men have not been half raise
who do such things. This is also wron
and we ought never to throw blaue o
parents in this way unless we are sur
we know these things to be true. ! bi
Iieve that il any man ever had fathe
aud mother that did all they could
set 3 right example before him, aud
train him in the way he should go,
was myself yet / strayed from th
teachings and examples Of a gOdly fat
or and mother, hence, we ought not
charge the parent with the bad conda
of bis child until we are sure we a
! right Butin great many cases q
= parent is to blame, possibly in the N
iority, but not all Il seems that so1
4 men are evilly inclined, and will wa
l. in evil paths in spite Of all that can
o done for them, by parents or friends.
n Young man, il you swear, quit Il, a
= make up your mind that you will be
nan at all hasards, suffer your rig
hand 70 be cut Of before you will be
i. further into this low, disgraceiul me