The Mena weekly star., 1910-09-15

of the following sermon on what is . very common habit.l
 There are no little sins. Every sir is infinite--infinite because it is vio lation of infinite law. It is an insult to God and God is infinite. It in wolves infinite issues and leads to in. finite destiny. For instance, swear ing. or profanity, the most common sin of sinful mankind, is supposed by many to be a small sin. It is not Let us see. What is the effect O swearing on our character-his atti tude toward divine law--his relation to the divine person?
 Our words always have reflex in. fiuence on our character. That which man speaks earnestly and seriousl, about he will come inevitably to think earnestly about and hold in highest reverence, and vice versa. That which man speaks lightly of he vii think lightly of and that which a mar thinks Highly of he will hold in light es- teem. One can lie till he comes tc believe his lie truth, and lying tC him becomes thing of indifference He can use the word he'll in ordi. nary conversation till it becomes ar empty, meaningless word to him. Many men have talked hell out o1 their creed and conviction, meanwhile unconscious of the awful process The boy who with smiting conscience just spoke of his father as dad" ol the "old man." later feels no fila reverence for either the name or fol father (habitually.)
 So it is with the one who takes the name of God in vain. God to such 6 person inevitably becomes meaning. less. When one ceases to feel rever- ence for God, of course any respect fol His laws is for him out of the question,
 The man who takes Gods name in vain is not christian. A christian is one who keeps the law of God. Swear ing is violation of the law of God Therefore, the man who swears is not christian.
 The man who takes Gods name in vain is not a good citizen. A good citizen is one who obeys the laws oi his country. Swearing is a violation of the law of his country. Therefore, the man who swears is not a good citizen.
 The man who takes Gods name in vain is not a gentleman. A gentle man is one who obeys the laws of so- ciety. Swearing is a violation of the laws of society. Therefore a man who swears is not gentleman.
 The habitual swearer is either the meanest man in the world or the big eest liar in the world. If he is sincere when he swears--if he means what he says-he is worse than a murderer The murderer only kills the body, the murderer may go to heaven, but the swearer--if he means what he says, would have God damn both soul and body in eternal hell.
 On the other hand, if he is insin- cere-if he don't mean what he says, every time he swears he lies, hence the habitual swearer is habitual liar or the biggest liar in the world. It is obvious that the habitual swearer is the meanest man or the biggest liar in the world.
 The man who will take Gods name in vain will do anything, so far as God is concerned. He will lie, he will steal, he viii murder, he viii do any, thing so far as God is concerned-so far as his respect for the divine law or his reverence for the divine person is concerned. He knows swearing to be a violation of the divine law, and an insult to the divine person. Hence in the very act of swearing he shows that he has no respect for Gods will. If he has no respect for God in one thing he will not in any other.
 There are great many things that the swearer will not do, because of self-respect, or respect for his family, or society or law of his country. But so far as his respect for Gods will is concerned he will do anything.
 Profanity is the one sin which a man can commit against God alone, all other sins, while sins against God, are also sins against others. This is true of theft, adultery, murder and all through the entire catalog of sins, ex- cept profanity. But profanity is di- rect, personal blow struck in the face of God.
 A mans language is an index to his character and esDeciaIIv his involun-