therefore not to acknowledge, by prayer, your dependence upon him,
would manifest the greatest ingratitude and insensibility.
Consider, likewise, the encouragement you have to pray. Though you
are by nature sinners, and by practice enemies and rebels, he gives you
free and sure promises, that whoever is disposed to return to him, and
seek him by earnest prayer, shall not seek him in vain. Oh! my
brethren, that there was less cursing and swearing, and more prayer
among you!

After these positive directions what you ought TO DO, I proceed to some
necessary cautions, against what you ought to avoid.


I. Profane swearing is one thing against which I am especially bound to
warn you, because it is an evil which so much abounds amongst you.

God has said, 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.
Our Saviour likewise has said, Swear not at all [Exod. xx. 7.;
Matt. v. 34.]. But how can you reconcile these prohibitions to
your conduct; or your consciences? When instead of not swearing
at all, many of you seldom open your lips, but the first and last
words which you utter, are blasphemous oaths, and horrid imprecations?
Is this acting like rational or accountable creatures? Who gave you the
powers of reason and speech? Was it not God? And can you think that
he gave them to you, that you may blaspheme his holy name, and to use
the most profane, obscene, and desperately wicked language your hearts
can invent; a language only fit for incarnate devils, and shocking
to the ears of the ignorant heathens? This is a dreadful evil which
you may be assured, will not pass unpunished. This sin has often