Imatges de pàgina
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firmed with truth, that more than the one half of the Christian world are ignorant that such a fact exists;* such is the indifference and the apathy with which many religionists view the wonderful works of God.

It was chiefly owing to such criminal inattention to the displays of the Divine Character in the works of creation, that the inhabitants of the Pagan world plunged themselves into all the absurdities and abominations of idolatry. "For the invisible things of God, even his eternal power and godhead, are clearly seen in the things that are made," if men would but open their eyes, and exercise their powers of intelligence. "The heavens declare the glory of Jehovah ;” ;" they declare it to all the inhabitants of the earth. "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice ;
For ever singing, as they shine,

"The hand that made us is divine."

But the Heathen world did not listen to the instructions thus conveyed, nor did they apply their understandings, as they ought to have done, to trace the invisible things of God, from the visible displays of his character and perfections, in the universe around them. "They became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened; and professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." While "the harp and the viol, the tabret, the pipe, and the wine were in their feasts, they regarded not the works of the Lord, nor considered the operations of his hands." "Wherefore they were given up by God to indulge" in vile affections, and "to worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." And, even under the Christian dispensation, we have too

Here I refer simply to the apparent motion of the heavens-leav ing every one to form his own opinion as to the other alternative-the motion of the earth. In either case the mind is overpowered with ideas of grandeur and of Almighty power. See this topic more particularly illustrated in "Christ. Philosopher," Third Edit. p. 67, 280,

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much reason to fear, that effects somewhat analogous to these have been produced, and a species of mental idolatry practised by thousands who have professed the religion of Jesus; owing to their inattention to the visible operations of Jehovah, and to their not connecting them with the displays of his character and agency as exhibited in the revelations of his word.

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

The name of any person is that which distinguishes him from other individuals. Whatever word is employed to distinguish any object, whether animate, or inanimate, is its name. In like manner, the Name of God is that by which he is distinguished from all other beings. It includes those terms which express his nature and character, as Jehovah-those titles by which his relation to his creatures is designated, as "The Creator of the ends of the earth,-The Father of mercies,-The God of Salvation," &c.-the attributes of which he is possessed, as his Eternity, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Holiness, Justice, &c.the works which he has exhibited in heaven and on earth -the movements of his Providence, and the Revelations of his word. By every one of these, the character of God is distinguished from that of all other beings in the universe. In relation to this name or character of the Divine Being, it is solemnly commanded, that, "we are not to take it in vain,❞—that is, we are not to use any of the titles or designations of the Divine Majesty, for trifling, vain, or evil purposes; nor are we to treat any displays of his character with levity, profaneness, or irreverence.

We violate this command, when we use the name of God, in common discourse, in a light and irreverent manner, when we interlard our conversation with unnecessary oaths and asseverations in which this name is introduced; when we swear to what we know to be false, or when we multiply oaths in reference to vain and trifling concerns; when we imprecate curses and damnation on our fellow

creatures; when we approach God in prayer, without those feelings of reverence and awe, which his perfections demand; when we swear by any object in heaven or in earth, or by the false deities of the heathen world; when we treat his wonderful works with indifference or contempt; when we endeavour to caricature, and misrepresent them, or attempt to throw a veil over their glory; when we insinuate that his most glorious and magnificent works were made for no end, or for no end worthy of that infinite wisdom and intelligence by which they were contrived; when we overlook or deny the Divine Agency, which is displayed in the operations of nature; when we murmur and repine at his moral dispensations, or treat the mighty movements of his Providence, whether in ancient or in modern times, with a spirit of levity, with ridicule, or with contempt; when we treat the revelations of the Bible with indifference or with scorn; when we make the declarations of that book, which unfolds to us the sublime and adorable character of Jehovah, the subject of merriment and jest; when we endeavour to throw upon them contempt and ridicule, with the view of undermining their divine authority; and when we sneer at the public and private worship of God, and at the ordinances which he hath appointed. In all these and many other ways, the name of God is profaned, his character reproached, and that reverence of the Divine Being, which is the foundation of all religion and moral order, undermined and subverted.

When the name or the titles by which a fellow-mortal is distinguished, are made the subject of banter and ridicule in every company, when they are brought forward for the purpose of giving an edge to a sarcastic sneer; and when his employments and the works he has constructed, are contemned, and associated with every thing that is mean and degrading; it is an evidence of the low estimation in which he is held by the individual who does so, and has a tendency to debase his character in the eyes of others. On the same principle, the profanation of the name of God, has an evident tendency to lessen our admiration of the Majesty of Heaven, and to banish from the mind every sentiment of veneration and reverence. The man who can deliberately violate this com

mand, from day to day,-thus offering a continual insult to his Maker-proclaims to all around, that he has no emotions of reverence and affection towards that Almighty Being, whose power upholds the fabric of heaven and earth, and who dispenses life and death to whomsoever he pleases. "He stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty." He proclaims to every reflecting mind, that pride, enmity, rebellion, and irreverence, are deeply seated in his heart, and that "the fear of God," and the solemnities of a future judgment "are not before his eyes."

Were the violation of this law to become universal among men the name of God, among all ranks, ages, and conditions of life, would be associated, not only with every trifling discourse and altercation, but with every species of ribaldry and obscenity. The lisping babe would be taught to insult that Mighty Being, from whom it so lately derived its existence; and the man of hoary hairs, even in the agonies of death, would pass into the eternal state, imprecating the vengeance of his Maker. All reverence for Jehovah, would, of course, be banished from society; no temples would be erected to his honour; no silent adorations of the heart would ascend to his throne; no vows would be paid; no forms of worship appointed; no tribute of thanksgiving and gratitude would be offered to his name, but the voice of profanity and of execration, among high and low, rich and poor, the young and the old, in every social intercourse, and in every transaction, would resound throughout all lands. No motives to excite to moral action, would be derived from the authority and the omnipresence of God, and from a consideration of his future retributions; for his character would be reproached, and his authority trampled under foot by all people. "They would set their mouths against the heavens, in their blasphemous talk," and they would say, "How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High ?" "What is the Almighty that we should serve him, and what profit shall we have, if we pray unto him?" "The Lord doth not see, neither doth the God of Jacob regard us. ." His wonderful works would either be overlooked, or treated with contempt, or ascribed to the blind operation of chance or of fate. They

would be represented as accomplishing no end, as displaying no wisdom, and as controlled by no intelligent agency. Their apparent irregularities and defects would be magnified, and expatiated upon with diabolical delight; while the glorious evidences they exhibit of infinite wisdom and beneficence, would be thrown completely into the shade. The dispensations of his providence would be viewed as an inextricable maze, without order or design, directed by chance, and by the ever-varying caprice of human beings. His venerable word would universally become the subject of merriment and laughter, a topic for the exercise of ribaldry and ridicule, and a theme for enlivening the unhallowed song of the drunkard. The most solemn scenes which it displays, and its most joyful and alarming declarations, would be equally treated with levity and contempt. Such are some of the impious practices, and horrible effects which would follow, if the name of Jehovah were universally profaned. The very name of religion would be blotted out from the earth, its forms abolished, its sanctions disregarded, its laws violated, virtue and piety annihilated, the flood-gates of every evil burst open, and moral order entirely subverted.

On the other hand, universal reverence of the name and character of God would lead to the practice of all the duties of piety and morality. The Most High would be recognised with sentiments of veneration at all times; and the silent adorations of the heart would flow out towards him in all places; in the house, and in the street, in the bosom of the forest, and in the fertile plain, in the city, and in the wilderness, under the shades of night, and amidst the splendours of day. In every place, temples would be erected for his worship, hallelujahs of praise would ascend, and "incense and a pure offering" be presented to his name. With reverence and godly fear, with expansive views of his magnificence and glory, with emotions of affection, and of awe, would his worshippers approach him in prayer, in praise, in contemplation, and in all the services of his sanctuary. The whole earth would be consecrated as one grand temple, from which a grateful homage would ascend from the hearts and from the lips of millions of devout worshippers, in all places, from the rising to the setting sun. In the domestic circle, in the

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