the next place, as they who under severe affliction implore the assistance of God, so they, who invoke not his aid, deny him due honour; and these David rebukes when he says: " They have not called upon the Lord, they trembled for fear where there was no fear." [1] Still more enormous is the guilt of those who, with impure and impious lips, dare to curse or blaspheme the holy name of God, that name which is to be blessed and praised above measure by all his creatures, or even the names of the Saints who reign with him in glory. Shuddering, as it were, at its very mention, the Sacred Scriptures sometimes express the crime of which they are guilty, by the word " benediction." [2]
As, however, the dread of punishment has often a powerful effect in checking the licentiousness of crime, the pastor, in order the more effectually to excite, and the more easily to induce to an observance of this commandment, will diligently explain the remaining words, which are, as it were, its appendix, and which run thus; " FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT SHALL TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD HIS GOD IN VAIN." [3]
In the first place the pastor will teach, that in the annexation of threats to the violation of this commandment reason discovers the wisest ends: it demonstrates at once the grievousness of sin and the goodness displayed in our regard by a beneficent God, who, far from desiring the death of the sinner, deters by these salutary threats from incurring his severity, doubtless in order that we may experience his kindness rather than his anger. The pastor will urge this consideration, a consideration to be dwelt on with indefatigable earnestness, in order that the faithful may be made sensible of the grievousness of the crime, may detest it still more, and may employ increased care and caution to avoid its commission.
He will also observe how prone Christians are to this sin, since God has not only issued a command for its prevention, but has also enforced this command by so severe a sanction. The advantages to be derived from this consideration are indeed incredible: as nothing is more injurious than a listless security, so the knowledge of our own weakness is attended with the most salutary consequences. He will next observe that the punishment, which awaits the violation of this commandment, is not fixed and determinate; the threat is general: it declares that he who is guilty of the violation shall not escape unpunished. The chastisements, therefore, with which we are every day visited, should impress upon our minds the enormity of this crime. They admonish us, in language the most intelligible, that the violation of this commandment cannot pass with impunity; that the heaviest punishments will overtake him who profanes the name of God; a consideration which it is hoped must excite to future vigilance.
