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Profane Swearing, is another vice that may subject us to judgments, "Because of swearing the land mourneth." It has no temptations to plead in its behalf, and it is committed just because it is a sin. The man who can deliberately violate this command, proclaims to all around, that he has no emotions of reverence and affection towards that Almighty Being whose power upholds heaven and earth. Were this crime universal, all reverance for Jehovah would of course be banished from the earth; no temples would be erected to his honour; no forms of worship appointed. Universal reverence, for the name and character of Jehovah, would lead to all the duties of piety and morality. His mighty movements among the nations would be regarded with reverance: and his holy word would be perused by all Classes of men with affection and delight, as the oracle which proclaims the glories of his nature and the excellence of his laws.
Sabbath Profanation, is often mentioned in the catalogue of Israel's sins, for which they received the severest judgments. It prevails in all grades of society in our country, and may subject us to similar calamities. Many pay little attention to it externally; fewer make it regulate their conversation, and fewer still make its spiritual ty bear upon the thoughts of the inner man. God forsaw that the avarice and cruelty of man would deprive his creatures of their due rest, so he appointed a day for his public worship; where the rich and the poor meet on the same level; here pride is abased; here decency and cleanliness is seen, and human nature appears in all its physical and moral grandeur. If the physical strength of the labouring class would permit them to work eighteen hours a-day instead of twelve, it would soon be demanded, by their employers, for the price of twelve, especially where a sufficient number of labourers can be easily obtained; so were the Sabbath to be used as a day of labour, the wages of seven days would soon be reduced to what is now given for six. The knowledge of the true God, which the institution of the Sabbath, more than any other means, has tended to perpetuate, would be lost; and religion hurried in the dust, and the glories of redemption would he overlooked, and the pursuit of the objects of time and sense, would absorb every faculty of the soul.
Licentiousness may be counted another national sin, from its awful prevalence, and from its being tolerated in an organized form especially in our large towns. There is a lightness of speech on this subject which prevails among 'many who wish to be respectable. They conceive that no great harm is, done to society by a few insolated actions of the kind, if they are concealed from observation; but let such remember, that if it were right to violate this or any other laws of the Creator in one instance, it would be right for all mankind to do so continually. Marriage would be disregarded; the endearing relations of father and mother, of brother and sister, and all the ramifications of kindred, would be unknown. The training up of the youthful mind to knowledge and virtue would be neglected, diffusing misery over the whole mass of human beings, and at length empty the world of its inhabitants. The foundation of all regular government would be undermined, for if is chiefly in those habits of submission