seeking rest; and not finding it, he says, I will return into my house whence I came out; and coming, he finds it swept and garnished: then goeth he and taketh seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first.' By these words is described the profanation of truth. By the unclean spirit going forth is meant the acknowledgment and belief of truth; and by the house swept, is meant a life contrary to truth; by his return with seven other spirits, is meant a state of profanation. That such a state with man cannot be healed, is signified by the words that follow this Commandment, 'For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.'"[1]
This, my brethren, is a solemn warning to us to be careful to live according to the truths which we believe. To make a true member of the Church—to constitute an angel of heaven—belief and life must be conjoined: the understanding and the will must be made one. And this is effected in proportion as we do the Divine Commandments: "If ye know these things," said the Lord, "happy are ye if ye do them." This is, indeed, a trite truth; but, trite as it is, it must become a reality with us, or we shall never see heaven. It must be our earnest endeavor, as far as we learn what is right, to strive to do it, and bring it into life. And this the Lord will give us power to do, if we look to Him in daily prayer, and ask for it.
- ↑ A. C, n. 8882.
