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"the breakers of this commandment may efcape pu"nifhment from men, yet the Lord our God will not fuffer them to efcape his righteous judgement." Here I will fhew,

1. Whence it is that men think fo lightly of the profaning of the name of God, so that in effect they hold themfelves guiltlefs.

2. Whence it is that the profaners of the name of God efcape punishment from men.

3. How God will not let men efcape with it.

4. What is the great evil of this fin, that it is fo feverely threatened.

First, I will fhew whence it is that men think fo lightly of the profaning the name of God, fo that in effect they hold themfelves guiltlefs. Nothing is plainer, than that little is thought of the taking of God's name in vain, especially by those that are most guilty. They heap up guilt this way, and yet in effect hold themfelves guiltlefs.

1. It proceeds from that wicked and malicious fpirit the devil, Jam. iii. 6. He is the fworn enemy of God, and does what he can to make men d'fhonour him. There is fo little of the world or the flesh in it, that it feems in a special manner to come from the devil.

2. It fprings from the low and mean thoughts they have of God and his dreadful name, Pfal. xxxvi. 1.2. They fee not the glory and majefty of his names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works: hence they treat them as common things. A view of God in his glory would cure this profane difpofition of fpirit. When proud Pharaoh contemns God, and muft needs be a god to himfelf, what wonder he regards not that holy name? Exod. v. 2. Paul unconverted was a great blafphemer; but when he faw the light and heard the voice, he got fuitable thoughts of. Chrift, and fo was cured of that.

3. There are many profanations of the name of God, that untender men will not allow to be such.

They are not and will not be convinced of a fault in them, as in obfecrations, appeals to God, adjurations,

c. But a due fenfe of the majefty of that name would clear people's minds in these things, Matth. v. 37. It is not enough that thefe things are common. It is fo much the worse when the world is in a confpiracy against God to join in it. Though men go in troops to the pit, they fhall not be conquerors, but fufferers. Nor is it enough that people have no ill in their minds, when they fo profane the name of God. If there be no ill, there is as little good. Were the third command in your minds, it would lay bonds on your tongues.

4. There are many profanations of that name which men do not at all obferve, as profaning that holy name in duties, by formality, and want of faith and fervency. If they neglect duty, they will be challenged; but their confciences are ftupid as to the difhonour done to God in them, Zech. vii. 3.-6. But these will be mountains in the fight of God, that are but as molehills in the finner's eyes.

5. It proceeds from the paffion of anger or malice. Anger is a fire in a man's breaft; fwearing and curfing is the smoke of this hellifh fire, breaking out at the mouth. Thofe who are hurried out of themfelves with paffion, do oftimes find nothing readier at hand than an oath, which they fling out againft heaven itfelf, when they cannot be revenged on them that have angered them. What but a hellish leaven of bitternefs and malice wherewith the heart is foured, can bring forth curses?

6. Cuftom in taking the name of God in vain takes away the fenfe of it. The heart being carelefs about God, the tongue gets a liberty; and when it is fet on the run, and has got a confirined cuftom, it turns juft =natural: fo that many fwearers are never aware till they profaned the name of God, and hardly know when they have done it, that it is fo. But God will not VOL. II.

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let wickedness go free, because it is confirmed by cũftom.

7. Swearing proceeds from unwatchfulness. Men let their tongues go at random. Hence oaths fly out ere they be aware,

8. Lastly, In fome it proceeds from a piece of vanity and hellish bravery. They will fwear that others may fee what a fine fort of people they are, who regard not the laws of God, nor their offence of good men.

Secondly, I come to fhew whence it is that profaners of the name of God efcape punishment from men.

1. Because of the little zeal there is for the honour of God's name in the world. These things ftrike not fo much against our neighbour's good name, life, or goods, as directly against the honour of God. If they ftretched their injury that way against men, men would avenge it as their own intereft; but alas! the intereft of God's honour is the intereft of few peo ple.

2. As the laws of men cannot reach many abufes of God's name, so as for those made against common fwearing, they are in effect but a mock, in regard of the little tendernefs that way found among those that fhould execute the laws, who are guilty themselves, or have no zeal to put them in execution. Nay, alas! often we fee men are obliged by authority to profane the name of God, by taking unlawful, unneceffary oaths.

Thirdly, I proceed to fhew how God will not let men efcape with it; that he will by no means hold them guiltlefs. Confider, that the profaning of the name of God is a fin,

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1. That brings wrath upon a land, Hof. iv. 1. 2. Jer. v. 7. 9. Abufers of the name of God are a bur den to his Spirit, and to the spirits of his people, and make the land mourn, Jer. xxiii. 10. And as every one ought to contribute their affiftance to the quenching of a fire that breaks out in a house, fo fhould eve: ry one to reformation in this point, while there are

fo many tongues fet on fire of hell, that threaten to fire the nations with a fire of God's wrath.

2. It brings wrath upon families, Zech. v. 3. 4. It provokes God to root out families from the earth for it brings a curfe that a houfe cannot long stand under. O then, mafters of families, do not ruin your families by this; and take heed to your children and fervants, that are given to this fim, as to those who would pull down your house about your ears. Many times things go wrong, they do not thrive; which is not for want of diligence; they wonder how it comes to pafs; but there is even a fecret curfe from the Lord on families for this and other fins that confumes all, Jer. xxiii. 10.

3. It brings a curfe upon particular perfons. God punishes this fin,

(1.) By ftrokes upon the body, Deut. xxviii. 58. 59. And remarkably has the fin of fome profaners of God's name been written in their punishment, while the fin of profaning that facred name has been as remarkably written on the miferable cafe of their mouths and tongues, as ever the adulterefs's has been on the belly fwelling and thigh rotting. For there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

(2.) By ftrokes on their fouls. It is a heavy word, God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. It imports,

[1] That however men overlook and forget thefe things, God writes them down guilty on every fuch fact. There is a book of remembrance written with God, whereby none of them all fhall be loft. The finner affronts God and his holy name; but though he packs up the affront for the time, he does not forget it.

[2.] God will call the man to a reckoning for them fooner or later, Jude 15. Though they may pafs without a challenge for the time, the time will come that they will get deep challenges for thefe things ei ther in mercy or in wrath. Their words fhall fome

let wickedness go free, because it is ftom.

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ty, If he be not pardoned, the wrath of nell fhall lie upon him, Rom. ii. 5. and it shall of Gore feverely punished there than many other fins. man's fin fhall continue with him through the of eternity, while the violence of his torments all make him blafpheme for ever.

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Fourthly, It may be afked, what is the great evil of this fin, that it is fo feverely punithed?

1. It is a fin that is directly against God, his glorious greatnefs and infinite majefty. That name is dreadful which men profane, Mal. i. ult. The angels adore it, the devils tremble at it; and should vile worms of the earth profane it at every turn? Sins of the second table ftrike directly againft men, but this is one of thofe that go out immediately against the Majefty of heaven. And of this fort is the unpardonable fin, which, as I obferved before, belongs to this command, Pfal. Ixxiii. 9.

2. It is a direct violation of the law of God, Swear not at all; Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy Gd in vain. Have you no refpect to the authority of God? Confider, I pray you, (1.) Who gave you a

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