SERMON VI. THIRD COMMANDMENT. PART II. EXOD. xx. 7. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME I F we undertake to treat of oaths, it is proper, no doubt, impartially to reprefent, both how far, they may be allowed; and in the cafes where they are not allowable, how greatly they ought to be condemned. The former, however, of these two points is not generally fo seasonable, nor fo important as the latter. Scruples are not so common as profaneness, nor by any means fo detrimental: and to almost every congregation of chriftians the best and most useful difcourfe concerning oaths is that, I fear, which brings the best and strongest arguments against them, But indeed, when we maintain that oaths are properly acts of religion towards God, and adapted to promote truth and confidence among men, we are so far from giving encouragement to the practice of common fwearing, that, in all juft eftimation, we plead strongly on the other fide. For this profane abuse of oaths plainly tends to degrade the dignity, and destroy the usefulness of all oaths whatever. There is not a moment's interval between familiarity and contempt. What wonder if, thus proftituted, they meet with little reverence on the most awful occafions? Were Were they not capable of being applied to any useful purpose, it would be but a fingle crime to do hurt with them: whereas now we are answerable, not only for the mischief we occafion, but the want of all the good which we prevent. Out of our own mouths we are condemned: and profane fwearing is more criminal in us, than it would be in one of those perfons, who are perfuaded, that oaths are in all cafes unneceffary, and absolutely and utterly forbidden. Yet the people of that persuasion, to do them justice, in this refpect are very little guilty. It is rarely that you shall find any of that fect, who maintain that even serious oaths are not allowable, falling into profane. Their opinion therefore, however mistaken, yet at least may be borne with; and a practice fo conformable to it, lays claim to our commendation. Whereas we, by a conduct inconfiftent with any principles, and doubly E 4 doubly wrong upon our own, do evil with the means of good, and profane what we pretend to hold facred. Is it not furprifing, that a practice fo contrary to religion, and detrimental to fociety fhould have abounded so much as this hath done, in almost all kingdoms and ages? Though it is indeed still too common among us; we have no reason to complain that it is more so, than in former times, or foreign countries. The Greek and Latin nations were far from being faultlefs in this respect; nor did they confine themselves to any one form of swearing, or one object. They had a multitude of Divinities, adapted each to a different purpose: but every one of them ready to lend his name, as it might be most fuitable to the inclination, of the person disposed to make this bad use of it. Whether Whether the inhabitants of the British Ifland were formerly deficient in this article of vice, or whatever might be the reason, our Norman conquerors, we are told, brought over with them a great stock. And several of the Monarchs of that formidable race made themselves remarkable, as for their other great exploits, fo each of them for a particular mode of common fwearing, of which he was pleased to fet an example, and to become the profeffed protector and patron. Some few of these select forms have had the fortune to furvive even to this day; but meet with no respect now, like other favourites without merit, when their mafters are no more. The ancient Roman Emperors being far greater than ordinary Kings, took upon them proportionably greater state even in this ceremony of oaths. For though they might themselves condefcend, on occafion, to invoke Jupiter, or Her |