Another provoking sin which is widespread among us, is using the most holy Name of the majestic God in vain. This is a sin less excusable than debauchery, because I do not know any sense which is gratified with it. Though it is less bestial, yet is it more diabolical! O the horrid blasphemies which are daily belched out by the black-mouthed sons of Belial! A person is so likely to hear the name of God blasphemed, that he cannot walk the streets of the city without stopping his ears. The life, the blood, the wounds of our dear and precious Lord, are tossed to and fro by the mouths of wretched swearers. Truly, their tongues are set on fire by Hell! We wonder that they do not set our whole nation on flame!
The polluted breath of these wretches, have infected the very air we breathe! When men shall set themselves purposely to swear, and devise new blasphemies, what possible excuse do they have for this? They are not ashamed to own themselves as the devil's vassals, and they dance in his chains while others hear their damnable cackling. What other design can these swaggering sinners have in such vile behavior but audaciously to affront the great Majesty of Heaven and earth, in the vilest manner they are capable of!
Ah, besotted wretches, could your mind find no other way to vent your malice on any other object? Do you have no other or cheaper way to eternally condemn yourselves? Are you afraid that you would miss entering Hell? What did you mean by your blasphemies to dare God to His face? Would you force Him to give you a convincing evidence of His wrath? If so, I hope you are satisfied by this time but if not, you shall be shortly.
Were you resolved to see how far His patience would extend? Did you fear that He is so merciful, that you would never feel His wrath? Or were you in such haste to be with your everlasting companions, the devils and the damned that you thought your judgment lingered, and damnation slumbered, and would therefore do your best to hasten it? Or were you so fully bent on the satisfaction of your lusts that you were resolved to pursue them, even to the burning Lake of Fire?
Are you resolute to do all that you can before-hand, to outrage that God, who will treat you so severely in Hell? Or were you now getting used to the language of Hell, that you might not have to learn it when you are thrown there? Shall we wonder when such rebels have risen up against the Lord if He grows jealous for His great Name and rises, and vindicates His glory and power from the contemptuous affronts of insolent mortals!
Yes, how many roaring swearers have we got, who, as if they were already entered into familiarity with devils, make nothing of it to curse themselves to the pit of Hell in their common discourse! They can scarcely speak a sentence without their abominable blasphemies. Were their tongues plucked out by the roots it would be a small punishment in no way suited to the heinousness of their crimes!
Let them stay a while longer in their contempt of God and His threatenings. They shall too soon find to their sorrow that all their accursed curses are accomplished! The devil, whom they have so often wished to fetch them, shall very shortly have that commission which he eagerly waits for! Then let them say whether the dreadful God is to be jested with and blasphemed!
[Matthew Mead]
Exodus 20:7 … Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
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