4. Ye have heard, that it was said to them of old time, _Because of_ swearing _the land mourneth_. But if this might be said of the land of _Canaan_, how much more of _this_ land? In what city or town, in what market or exchange, in what street or place of public resort, is not the holy _name whereby we are called_ taken in vain, day by day? From the noble to the peasant, who fails to call upon God, in this if in no other way? Whether can you turn, where can you go, without hearing some praying to God for damnation, either on his neighbour or himself? Cursing those, without either fear or remorse, whom Christ hath bought to inherit a blessing! Are _you_ one of these stupid, senseless, shameless wretches, that call so earnestly for damnation on your own soul? What if God should take you at your word? Are you _able to dwell with everlasting burnings_? If you are, yet why should you be in haste, to be in the _lake of fire burning with brimstone_? God help you, or you will be there soon enough, and long enough; for that _fire is not quenched_! But the _smoke thereof ascendeth up, day and night, for ever and ever_. And what is that important affair, concerning which you was but now appealing to God? Was you _calling God to record upon your soul_, touching your everlasting salvation? No; but touching the beauty of your horse, the swiftness of your dog, or the goodness of your drink! How is this? What notion have you of God? What do you take him to be? _Idcirco stolidam præbet tibi vellere barbam Jupiter――――?_ What stupidity, what infatuation is this! Thus without either pleasure, or profit, or praise, to set at nought him that hath _all power both in heaven and earth_! Wantonly to _provoke the eyes of his glory_! Are you a man of letters, who are sunk so low? I will not then send you to the inspired writers (so called: perhaps you disdain to receive instruction by them,) but the old, blind Heathen. Could you only fix in your mind the idea he had of God, (though it is not strictly just, unless we refer it to God made man) you would never thus affront him more, Ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ᾽ ὀφρύσι ♦νεῦσε Κρονίων· Ἀμβρόσιαι δ᾽ ἄρα χαῖται ἐπεῤῥώσαντο Ἄνακτος Κρατὸς ἀπ᾽ ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δ᾽ ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον. ♦ “νεῦσε” inserted per Errata Shall not the very Heathen then, _rise up in judgment against this generation, and condemn it_? Yea, and not only the learned Heathens of _Greece_ and _Rome_, but the savages of _America_. For I never remember to have heard a wild _Indian_ name the name of _Sootaleicatee_, (him that sitteth in heaven) without either laying his hand upon his breast, or casting his eyes down to the ground. And you are a _Christian_! O how do you cause the very name of _Christianity_ to be blasphemed among the Heathen!