The Almost Christian, Text
A Blow at Profaneneſs, taken out of Biſhop Hopkins's Expoſition of the Ten Commandments.
PR…faneneſs, is the ſlighting and neglecting of things Holy and Sacred. Whoſoever is guilty of this, let his outward Demeanor in the World, be as ſair, and as plauſible as Morality and … can adorn it, yet he is a profane Perſon.
The Spirit…al 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 … or Suffered to call upon God in their …, before they be taught to call on him in their ….
…dly, God in his Attributes. Which we pro… when our Affections or Actions are oppoſite or … e.g. Our Ʋni…lineſs proſaneth his Ho…. Our Deſpondence proſaneth his Ommpo…. Our Hypocriſie proſ…neth his Ommſcience. Our Deſpair proſaneth his Mercy. Our Preſumption … his Juſtice. Our ſinſ… Po… proſaneth his …. Our Security notwithſtanding his Threat…, and our S…th…ulneſs notwithſtanding his Pro…es, do proſane … Truth. Every Sin is a kind of …, a Contempt of … Ev…encies of God. … that which is …ed 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 Ded…eation 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, joining with them in Praiſes and Prayer unto God. In 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 ſlighly 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 prafane Perſon who neglects the Publick Worſhip of God, when he hath opportunity and ability to attend it. God's 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. 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 God's 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 … 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. 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 d…rted 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 proſane Perſon that performs Holy D…ties for Worldly Ends and Advantages. For what greater contempt of God can there be than to make his ſervice truckle under baſe Deſigns? A Hypocri…e 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 … upon it. When he that ſpeaks … …, this tempts Men to think that all Religion is but Mockery.
Sixthly, He is a proſane Perſon who makes what God hath ſanctified, common and unhallowed. And have we not many ſuch proſane Perſons? Many that abuſe the Holy and Reverend Name of God about …ous Matters? Who make mention of him in their …dle 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 … 1. God's Glory, and, 2. The Ediſication of our …es and others. God's terrible Name is ſo full of Glo… and Majeſty that it ſhould never be uttered, but where the Diſcourſe is ſerious and weighty. Thoſe who rend it with Oaths and Blaſphemies, ought to be puniſhed by the Judges. And, would to God, Laws … put in ſevere Execution, to cramp the … Wretches.
Others …ill up their fan…har Tattles, with the Name of GOD and LORD, making them to expreſs ſome …, and fill … their Diſcour…s. Theſe. God will not hold guiltleſs▪ He holds … contemned, and will revenge the Diſhonour … they do him by it What! Will you dare to … the great Name of God without conſidering … it a Name to be ſported with? To be toſt to and fro upon every light and vain Tongue? Whenever we …ntion it, we ought to how our hearts in the dee…eſt pr…ſtration before it; to which all the Powers an… Heaven and Earth bow down with moſt humble Veneration. Canſt thou in Duty eaſily compoſe thy ſelf to reverence the holy and dreadful 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 but mention his Name, do it with an holy 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 God's Sabbaths, invade impiouſly the Time that be 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 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 proſane Wretches for their own Dammation, and the Damnation of thoſe that have pleaſure in ſuch horrid Profaneneſs.
Seventhly, He is a profane Perſon, who deſpiſeth Spiritual Privileges and E…ments. Upon this very account, the Scripture ſets a black an… li…le Brand upon Eſau, Left there be any For…or, or profane Perſon; as Eſau, who for one morſel of Meat ſold his Birthright, Heb. 12.16. They are profane, who vilifie the Miniſtry in Themſelves and in Others. Who diſhonour God's Ambaſſadors. 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 Privileges, 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 ſtile belongs as properly to you. And you are proſane 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.
FINIS.
End of the text · Ezekiel Hopkins, The Almost Christian (1693)