to which there is no imaginable temptation in nature?

Can any thing further be thought of in it's defence? Is it an honour to fwear? There are indeed fome perfons, if we may judge by the felf-complacency apparent in their air and manner, who are fo far mistaken, as to fancy that this vice is an improvement of difcourse, giving a spirit, a kind of high relish to their fentiments; and accordingly they serve it up to you, on every occasion, and mix it with all their remarks. Indeed it takes upon itself fometimes to be more than a mere ornament in converfation, and becomes the most confiderable part of what people have to offer. You find, if you reflect on what they have faid, that the oath is the whole fubftance of the obfervation.

If it be an accomplishment, it is such a one as the meanest perfon may make himself

himfelf master of; requiring neither rank nor fortune, neither genius nor learning.

But if it be no teft of wit; we must allow perhaps that it wears the appear¬ ance of valour. Alas! what is the appearance of any thing? The little birds perch upon the image of an Eagle.

True Bravery is fedate, and inoffenfive: if it refuse to fubmit to infults, it offers none; begins no difputes, enters into no needlefs quarrels; is above the little, troublesome ambition to be diftinguished every moment: it hears in filence, and replies with modefty; fearing no enemy, and making none; and is as much ashamed of infolence as of cowardice.

Laftly, the vice of common fwearing is prohibited by the laws of God and man.

It is an open violation of your country's laws, enacted by the highest autho

rity in this nation, both wifely and justly, with a view to the publick good: nor can you, fo long as you continue notoriously guilty in this respect, lay claim to the title of a good citizen.

That of a good chriftian perhaps you are not ambitious of obtaining: Or elfe, what further occafion is there for words or arguments? Profane fwearing is dif pleafing to Almighty God; it is forbidden, and will be punished by him. I fay Matth. v. unto you, fwear not at all; neither by hea- 34, 35, 37. ven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: but let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than thefe cometh of evil. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: the threatening follows; the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. There is more intended than expreffed; the meaning is, he will severely punish him. The VOL. II. Lord

F.

Exod.

xxxiv. 7.

Lord will not hold him guiltlefs: He will take this caufe into his own hands; being particularly, and, as it were, perfonally concerned in it.

The penalties appointed by human laws are not always inflicted; and in the cafe before us very rarely. Of a thoufand offenders, is there one brought before the magiftrate? Or he, for one of his offences in a thousand?

But the Divine Lawgiver, and Judge, who has annexed a peculiar threatening to this commandment, is Himself, we fhould confider, a witness too of every violation of it. He bears indeed with our offences; yet he notes them though He be long suffering; He is also true and juft, and will by no means clear the guilty.

and

His fentence is not executed speedily;

and

and may indeed, by timely repentance, be prevented: without this, the stroke, however flow, is inevitable. Delay is no fecurity. On the contrary, the longer the Divine Patience fpares us, fo much the more heinous is our guilt, if we repent not; and the heavier must be our punishment. However free we may be from the dread of any human tribunal; however the Divine vengeance may flumber for a season; it is impoffible for us to escape, fince He who cannot lie hath faid, The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The time will come, when impious mirth will be turned into mourning; the laughter of fcoffers into tears. Their profane oaths they will change into fupplications, and prayers: which now indeed might be heard, but will be then too late. Or rather, fince the day of Grace will be paft, and even repentance