i11g oft.his sort will not l,o vain, shallow, fogitive thinking, seeing that, it. spri,ws rnit, ,,f apprehended, personal necessities, has au immutable basis of fact, a rewarclinCY""etem~nt, of hope, and is continually freshened by a feeling of gratitude towards one.,, who has conferred on us unspeakable benefits. Surely it is a dre11rlful sin to think little, tQ think seldom, and to think wrongly of that profoundly compassionate God, who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, to save it from perishing hy thA gift of eternal life. No thoughts of ours indeed can measure the fulness of that snblime love, and we shall even fall short of what the holiest and rlevoutest of men can reach; but there is all the more need why we should labour in constant meditation on the saving ways of God, according to our abilities. Put the word "God" on a sheet 0f paper, a.nd then try to write underneath all that the name suggests, particularly all tha.t it suggests in the way of individual benefit. Perhaps the writing may come to •m end very soon, and even what is written be so vague and valueless as to make you feel that this commandment of God here is not a va.m one so far as concerns you. II. THEN WE MUST NOT TAKE THE NAME OF Goo IN VAIN, IN OUR INTERCOURSE WITH OUR FELLOW-MEN. God, our God, with all hie claims and all his benefits, r,annot be spoken a.bout too much in the circles of men, if only he is spoken a.bout in a. right way: but that right way-how hard it is to attain. Much speaking concerning him, even by those who do it officially, is very dishonouring to his name and hindering to his rule in the hearts of men. Preachers of the word of life and duty, the word con- cerning divine gifts and requirements, need to take great heed in this respect, for whenever they speak without proper impressions a.s to the solemnity of their messa:ge, they are assuredly taking God's name in vain. There has also to be a consideration 01 tile audience. 'l'he words of God's truth and salvation must be a.s far as possible words in season, not wasted, a.s pearls before swine. It needs that we should strive and watch incessantly to have all attainable fitness as the witnesses of God. Jesus would not haYe the testimony of demons to his Messia.hsbip, but chose, prepared, and sanctified such men as he saw to be suitable; and then when he had found nt witnesses, even thcugh few, he sent them forth to bear their testimony, sure that it would be sufficient for all who had the right mind to receive it. It is awful, when one only considers it, in how many instances God's name is taken in vain, by the use of it to sanctify unholy ends, justify unrighteousness, and give to error what dignity and force can be gained from an appeal to divine authority. When the Scriptures were quoted to justify slavery, what was this but taking the name of God in vain? How much of it there must have b,·en in theological controversy, where disputants have got so embittered by partisan spirit that they would twist Scripture in any way so as to get God on their side, instead of labouring as honest men to be on the side of God. Look a.t the glutton sitting down to pamper his stomach from the loaded ta.hie; but first of all he must go through the cnstoma.ry grace and make a. show of eating and drinking to the glory of God in heaven, when in truth the god he really worships is his greedy, insatiable belly. We may do many things in the name of the Lord, but that does not make them the Lord's things. " Lord, Lord" may ever be on our lips, we may even get a very general reputation for our devotedness to God and goodness; but a.11 this may not prevent us from hearing at the last, "Depa.rt from me, ye that work iniquity." III. Most particularly we must guard against profanity IN OUR APPROACHES TO Goo. If we a.re hi,5 a.t all, there must be constant approaches to him, and his name therefore must be constantly on our lips. 1. We must gu.u-d aga.inst/ormality. We must not take a name on our lips that expresses no felt reality. To confess sins and needs and supplicate pardon and supply when the heart is far a.way from the throne of grace, is certaillly ta.king God's name in vain. 2. We must guard against coming in other than the appointed way. A very elaborate and comprehensive prayer may be constructed to the God of nature and providence, but even though it may seem to be of use for a while, it will show its emptiness in the end if God's own appointment of mediation through Christ Jesus be neglected. Do not let us deceive ourselves with words and aspiration~ that a.re only dissipated into the air. For a suppliant to know of Christ and y1it ignore his mecJation, is assuredly to take God's name in vain, -however honest the ignoring may be. 3. 'l'hen surely there is an empty use of God's name in prayer, if we ask in other than the appointed order. The order of thought in all right approach to God i,,.such as our Great Teacher has himself presented to us. Is it the sinner who is coming, wretd1c'<i L 2 148 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. '.'<X. 8-1 l.
11nci hunlcncd? Jesus approvllll the prayer, "God be merciful to me II sinner." Sinners ue,·er take the name of God in vain, if they come to him with two feelings blended in one irrepres~ible cry, the feeling of l,od's anger with all sin and the feeling of his uufailing compassion for the sinner. Or if it be the disciple and servant who is coming t•.> God, then the order of thought for his approach Jesus hllB also given. We must ever think of him as our Father in heaven, and first of all of such things as will sauctify his uarne, advance his kingdom Bnd procure the perfect doing of his will on earth. We mu~t make all our approaches to God with our hearts entirely submitted to him, other- wi~e we shall only find that we a.re taking his name in vain.-Y.