Ο

F courfe, he that exalteth himself shall be

humbled. Indeed, if this rule were only a precept of worldly prudence, it would be highly useful. He who exalts himself, is fure to lose his end. People like to abase pride and self-sufficiency. When the foldier trumpets his own gallant actions, he may probably meet ridicule, when he expects praise: or when a man boasts of his generofity, he fets his own value upon it, and nobody will be difpofed to bid over him.

But though felf-exaltation in a worldly fense is very disgusting, yet when it appears in religion, it destroys the very effence of all religious duty.

The

The true Chriftian temper confifts in a humble mortified sense of ourselves; and in a full reliance on the grace of God for affiftance, and the merits of Chrift for pardon. Humility is indeed the grand point of Chriftian ethics. On no fubject does our bleffed Saviour dilate more : and indeed his whole life was only one great comment on his instructions. A life humbled to the laft degree on earth preceded his exaltation in heaven. The amazing condefcenfion of the example, certainly fhews the great importance of the precept.

LIV.

THIRD COMMANDMENT-Exod. xx. 7.

THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN: FOR THE LORD

WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS, THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.

HIS awful commandment has a wider extent

THIS

than many people are inclined to give it. Swearing, curfing, blafphemy, and perjury, are out of the question. Nobody can pretend to the name of a Christian, who does not hold in abhorrence these deterring modes of taking God's name in vain.

But many who would wish to be thought good people, allow themselves, without fcruple, to invoke their Maker's name on various trifling occafions. On fome little furprize, they will cry out, Good God! or Gracious God! or, if they make any

little request, they will fupplicate for God's fake; or, if they would fhew reluctance to any trifle, they will cry out, God forbid! or, if they make any affeveration, they will ufher it in by telling you, God knows.

Now any of these modes of exclamation, if uttered on a folemn occafion, may be confidered as an act of devotion. On hearing of the fudden death of a friend, if you cry Good God! you may mean it as a fort of prayer: Thou, O God, art good; and I fubmit, with pious refignation, to all thy appointments. But if you make the fame exclamation, when you meet your friend suddenly, the idea is entirely changed,

Upon all trifling occafions, therefore, it is calling God to be a witnefs of your mirth-your joyor your furprize; -which is furely taking his name in vain. It is treating that facred name with irreverence-it is leffening that respect that is due to it—and it is giving great offence to such ferious people as confider the matter in its true light.

You may, thoughtlessly, suppose these light exclamations of no confequence. But your conceptions of their innocence will not make them innocent. God Almighty has giveu you a rule.

Thou

Thou shalt not take the name of God in vain: and if these light invocations should be tranfgreffions of that rule, (and it will be very difficult for you to range them under any other head) confider what follows-God will not hold you guiltless.-Never, therefore, fuffer these light exclamations to come again out of your mouth. Leave them off-leave them off. They may hereafter appear against you they cannot here answer any end.