PRofaneness, is the slighting and neglect­ing of things Holy and Sacred. Who­soever is guilty of this, let his out­ward Demeanor in the World, be as fair, and as plausible as Morality and Hy­pocrisie can adorn it, yet he is a Profane Per­son.

The Spiritual Sacred things, are,

First, God in his Nature and Essence. Whom we Profane when we entertain any Blasphe­mous or Unworthy Thoughts of Him.

Secondly, God in his Name. Which we Profane, when we rashly in our trivial Dis­courses, boult out that great and terrible Name, at which all the Powers of Heaven and Hell tremble. It doth sadly fore-bode the growing Profaneness of the next Age, that Children be Taught or Suffered to call upon God in their Play, before they be taught to call on him in their Prayers.

Thirdly, God in his Attributes. Which we Profane, when our Affections or Actions are opposite or unsuitable. e. g. Our Ʋnholi­ness profaneth his Holiness. Our Despondence profaneth his Omnipotence. Our Hypocrisie profaneth his Omniscience. Our Despair pro­faneth his Mercy. Our Presumption profan­eth his Justice. Our sinful Policy profaneth his Wisdom. Our Security notwithstanding his Threatnings, and our Slothfulness not­withstanding his Promises, do profane his Truth. Every Sin is a kind of Profaneness, a Contempt of the Excellencies of God. How much more that which is sinned for nothing, and defieth his Wrath and Justice without a Temptation?

What should tempt the Impious Buffoon to deride Religion? Travest the Holy Scrip­tures? And turn whatsoever is Sacred and Ve­nerable into Burlesque and Drollery? And,

Fourthly, The Time God hath set apart and Consecrated for his Service. Unto the holy observance whereof God hath condescend­ed to use three cogent Arguments; viz. 1. His own Example in Resting on it. 2. The Liberal portion of Time that He hath allowed us for the Affairs of this present Life. 3. The Dedication of this day unto his im­mediate Service. [ Vid. p. 207.] But we profane it, when we do not Rest from the common works of our ordinary Callings. And do not diligently and conscientiously attend upon all God's Ordinances, appointed to be performed on this day. And that whether in Publick, Private, or Secret.

The Day is not done, when the Church dissolves. The whole of it is Holy to the Lord. Walks and Visits are not to be the Evening Work of the Sabbath; but holy and spiritual Conferences. Those who have Families to look after, be best employed, in seeing them spend the vacant time of the Sabbath in Holy Exercises. Sc. Reading the Scripture, giving an account what Truths they have been taught, joyning with them in Praises and Prayer unto God. In [Page 4]all of these, in their Courses and Order, till Night calls for Repose.

Fifthly, The Ordinances of Jesus Christ. Which we profane, when we Neglect, or are Remiss in our attendance upon them.

Some particular Characters of a Profane Person here follow.

First, He is a Profane Person that thinks and speaks but slightly of Religion. Religion, our chiefest Excellency, the Crown of our Be­ings.

But have we not many, who deride Piety, and make a scoff of Religion? Who take up their Religion by Chance, never examining it. Thinking that any may suffice whatever it be. Secretly despising the holiness and strictness of others; thinking they make more ado to get to Heaven than needs. But indeed, they are not too precise; but these are too Profane, who contemn Religion as unnecessary and superfluous.

Secondly, He is a Profane Person who neg­lects the Publick Worship of God, when he hath opportunity and ability to attend it. Gods spe­cial Presence is in two places, Heaven and the Church.

Thirdly, He is a Profane Person who neg­lects the performance of Religious Duties in pri­vate. [Page 5]Every House ought to be a Temple, Dedicated to God. And every Master ought to be a Priest, to offer to God the daily Sacrifice of Prayers and Praises. Such Profane Families as those which are without them, God ranks with Infidels and Heathens, and devotes them to the same common Destru­ction.

In the Morning, Prayer is the Key that opens to us the Treasury of Gods Mercies and Blessings. In the Evening, it is the Key that shuts us up safe under his Protection and Safe­guard.

Excuses are vain, and cannot take off your Obligation.

Are you Ignorant? Many are the helps that God hath provided you. Are you in­cumbred with your Worldly Affairs? The weightier they are, the more need you have to ask Counsel and Direction of God. Are you Bashful and Modest? Alas, Be ashamed to Sin, be ashamed to Talk Loosly, be a­shamed to Neglect thy Duty before thy Family; but be not ashamed to Pray, and do thy Duty. Our Saviour hath told us, Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful Gene­ration, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Fa­ther, with the Holy Angels., Mark 8.38. [Page 6]What will become of them who are a­shamed of their Duty.

Fourthly, He is a Profane Person that per­forms Holy Duties slightly and superficially. Our whole Hearts must go into our Holy Duties. And the strength and vigor of our Spirits must diffuse themselves into every part of them, to animate and quicken them.

Sacrifices of old, were commanded to be offered up with Fire. And no other Fire could sanctifie them but that which shot it self down from Heaven. The which was ever after to be kept burning for that use. Our Christian Sacrifices of Praise and Pray­er must be offered with Fire; and that Fire must be darted down from Heaven. The Celestial Flame of Zeal and Love, which comes from Heaven, and hath a natural Tendency to carry up our Hearts and Souls thither.

But indeed commonly our Duties are ei­ther offered up with strange, unhallowed Fire; some unruly Passion of Hatred, Self-love, and Pride: Or else they are very Cold and Heartless. Our Prayers are dull and yawn­ing, and drop over our Lips without any Spirit or Life in them.

Fifthly, He is a Profane Person that per­forms Holy Duties for Worldly Ends and Ad­vantages. [Page 7]For what greater contempt of God can there be than to make his service truckle under base Designs? A Hypocrite is the most profane Wretch that Lives. He entitles the Holy God unto the Wickedness he commits, and makes God the Patron of his Sin. And the Wound that Religion re­ceives from Hypocrites, is far more dange­rous than that which open Sinners inflict upon it.

When he that speaks Scripture, lives De­vilism, this tempts Men to think that all Religion is but Mockery.

Sixthly, He is a Profane Person who makes what God hath Sanctified, Common and Ʋn­hallowed. And have we not many such pro­fane Persons! Many that abuse the Holy and Reverend Name of God about frivo­lous matters? Who make mention of him in their idle Chat, but are Mute and Dumb when any thing should be spoke to his Praise?

There are but two Ends that can warrant and justifie the use of any of God's Names, Titles, and Attributes. And they are, 1, Gods Glory, and, 2. The Edification of our selves and others. Gods terrible Name is so full of Glory and Majesty that it should never be uttered, but where the Discourse is Serious and Weighty. Those who rend it [Page 8]with Oaths and Blasphemies, ought to be punished by the Judges. And, would to God, Law were put in severe Execution, to cramp the Black Tongues of all such Profane Wretches.

Others fill up their Familiar Tattles with the Name of GOD and LORD making them to express some small Wonder­ment, and fill up a gap in their Discourses These, God will not hold Guiltless. He holds himself contemned, and will re­venge the Dishonour that they do him by it.

What! Will you dare to bolt out the great Name of God without considering it? Is it a Name to be sported with? To be tost to and fro upon every light and vain Tongue? Whenever we mention it, we ought to bow our Hearts in the deepest prostra­tion before it; to which all the Powers in Heaven and Earth bow down with most humble Veneration.

Canst thou in Duty easily compose thy self to Reverence the holy and dreadfu [...] Name. When thou hast accustomed thy self to Name him without any Respect in thy common Discourses?

Let me beseech you, O Christians, as you tender his Glory, of which He is jealous whensoever you speak of God, or bu [...] mention his Name. Do it with an Ho­ly [Page 9]Awe and Dread of his Divine Ma­jesty.

And you, who are Masters of Families, and have Children, beware that you stop in them the growing Sin of profaning God's Name!

To attest any thing by their Faith, or by their Truth, is a wicked Oath. More Im­pious in effect, than Louder ones. The By-word Marry, is no less than Swearing by the Virgin Mary. It is a notable De­vice of the Devil to bring foolish masked words into common use. 1. That they may Swear who use them, though they know it not. And, 2. That by using un­known Oaths, they may be brought in time to take up known ones.

Vehement Asseverations, be also dangerous beginnings of Oaths. By the Customary use of them, we shall insensibly be tripping upon an Oath. [This, and more, see p. 163. and up and down on the third Commandment.] To return,

Many Profane Gods Sabbaths, invade im­piously the Time that he hath set apart for himself, his own Worship and Service. Many make the Bible their Jest-Book; prosti­tuting those Expressions which God hath sanctified to convey to us the knowledge of Himself, and of Eternal Life, unto the [Page 10]Laughter and Mirth of their loose Compa­nions.

Those very words which the Holy Ghost inspired for the Edification of the Church, the Devil inspires into these profane Wretches for their own Damnation, and the Damnation of those that have pleasure in such horrid Profaneness.

Seventhly, He is a Profane Person, who despiseth Spiritual Priviledges and Enjoyments. Upon this very account, the Scripture sets a black and indelible Brand upon Esau Lest there be any Fornicator, or Profane Per­son, as Esau, who for one morsel of Meat sol [...] his Birthright, Heb. 12.16. They are Pro­fane, who vilify the Ministry in Them­selves and in Others. Who dishonour God's Embassadors. And who despise his Children, whom God so highly honours as to adopt them into his Family. He who despiseth him that is Begotten, despiseth him likewise that Begetteth. Contempt of Chil­dren and Servants, argues secret contempt of the Master and Father.

Now lay these things to your own Hearts and bring them home to your own Con­sciences, and see whether you are in none of these particulars guilty of Profane­ness!

Do none of you think slightly of Religion, accounting it a Politick Design, or a Need­less Preciseness?

Are none of you Negligent in the Publick Worship of God? Nor in Private and Family Duties?

Or, if you perform them, is it not very carelesly and perfunctorily?

Or, if you seem Zealous in them, is not your Zeal excited by some Temporal Advan­tages and Worldly Designs?

Do you not make that Common and Ʋn­holy, which God hath made Holy? Either, by Abusing his Name, Polluting his Sab­baths, or Vilifying his Word in your ordina­ry Raillery?

Lastly, Do none of you Despise Spiritual Priviledges, and the Persons who are invested with them?

If you do, how fair soever your Lives and Actions may be; although you may think the rude debauched Sinner at a vast distance from your selves, and account him the only Profane Person; yet certainly this black [Page 12]stile belongs as properly to you. And you are profane Violaters of the First Command­ment. Which requires you to take the Lord for your God, and accordingly to Ho­nour and Reverence Him, and whatsoever appertains unto Him.