things; and bear my testimony against the prevalent folly of many professors. There appears an inseparable connection between love and fear—I mean that holy, child-like, filial fear that God has promised to give his children—“I will put my fear in their hearts:”—this fear is of especial service to the saints; and when in exercise they can resist almost any temptation—witness Joseph’s conduct. When it is not in exercise, the believer is in danger of falling into sin, or complying with the first temptation that presents itself. This fear is only the effect of spiritual knowledge, and the love of God, as reconciled and well pleased with us.—While faith apprehends the love of God, our love is led forth to him in sweet return; and is attended with a holy spiritual awe—viewing the majesty of his person, and the glory of his character, although the soul is admitted into the most sweet familiarity with God.—When this is the case the Name of Jesus is precious indeed; and when this is not the state of the soul, there is a love, and a fear of the dear, the dreadful name of the LORD THY GOD!—And surely such souls can never hear or read, with pleasure, the pompous titles given to sinful men, as his Holiness—which is an attribute of Deity—as, the Most, or Right Reverend Father in God, Lord of such a place—or even the common name given to ministers in general, as the Reverend so and so—the term Reverend, belongs to God alone, as God—Holy and Reverend is his Name—and no one beside. I wish great men, and good ministers, to have all the respect paid them becoming their stations, but not at the expence of the Divine honour.—Another part of this folly is evident, from the light and trifling manner in which the Name of God is used in the pulpit—as swearing by his life, which is customary among some good ministers, and their hearers copy after them—so that upon every trifling occasion, we hear the dogmatical and awful oath pronounced, “As God liveth—as the Lord liveth,” it is so and so; and, perhaps, to an assertion that we have only their _ipse dixit_ for.—O ye ministers of the Lord Jesus—do not use this term so frequent; for I do not think any one has a right to swear by God’s life but himself, who, because he could swear by none greater sware by himself in the Covenant, to be the God of his Church.—How prevalent is this profanity among the professors of the day—when upon almost every meeting, parting, and common conversation, they break out in this unguarded and impious language—“Good God!—Good Lord!—Lord Jesus!—God bless you!”—with other expressions of the like kind.—What the excellent Cowper observes, is worthy of remark, as it contains a sharp reproof to worldlings, and profane professors.