EPISTLES TO STUDENTS. 15 



precepts of the deculogue, and binding upon your conscience the sol- 

 emn duly of obedience to it. God hath spoken and said in a code of 

 perpetual obligation — " Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy 

 God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, who taketh his 

 name in vain. " The founder of Christianity in his sermon on the 

 Monnt, teaches us not to swear at all by any oath whatever " not how- 

 ever, as generally understood, rejecting that oath for confirmation, which 

 is the end of all strife." Profanity prohibited by God and by the stat- 

 ute law of your college, consists in using the name, the title, the attrib- 

 utes of God lightly, irreverently, and without any necessity. Appeals 

 to him for the truth of what we utter, when undemanded by any com- 

 petent tribunal of our country, imprecations of his judgments upon our 

 fellow men, who have offended us, are frequent forms of this offence — 

 an offence against the law of God and the decencies of social life. An 

 exposition of the law of God on this subject, however profitable it 

 might be, is not consistent with the plan of our letters. We omit any 

 further explanation of what is implied in this promise, and confine our- 

 selves to the propriety and obligation of that promise. It is certainly 

 proper, in a Christian institution, that that great Being whom we wor- 

 ship as our Creator, before whom we are all soon to appear in judgment 

 should be feared by us and that we should abstain from all unbecoming 

 language in regard to him. If, in the presence of a wise man, we would 

 regard it as proper to avoid disrespectful language and any such use of 

 that by which he was distinguished, or appertained to him, much more 

 should we towards God. The obligation is of the strongest and most 

 imperative character and the idea never can be indulged with any reason 

 that duties burdensome and oppressive are imposed upon us, when it is 

 required at our hands that we should not be profane. 



In no way can this vice contribute to an advantage. It has no im- 

 mediate, it has no prospective benefits. It gratifies no passion, it sub- 

 serves no interest. It is utterly inexcusable. Abhorred by the good, 

 its language is repelled from the vocabulary of the polite. Particularly 

 guarded should the young be against this most gratuitous offence. Ea- 

 sily acquired, it is vvith difl^iculty abandoned when it is formed into a 

 habit. It appears without effort and displays itself without being ob- 

 served by its victim. It has the weakest inducements, but the deepest 

 guilt. It prepares for bitter remorse, and is subjected to severe punish- 

 ment. Sometimes in this life the anger of God strikes down the pro- 

 fane, always in eternity the unreclaimed swearer is exposed to the terri- 

 ble strokes of vindictive justice. Avoid it then, young gentlemen, for 

 it is of evil portent. Avoid it, for it is diffusive and contaminating, ft 



