Constitutional Whig

Of all crimes that ever disgraced Society, that of swearing admits of the least palliation. Nothing can be offered to justify an impious oath: and yet it is the most common thing. Visit what class of people you may, from the votaries of the midnight stew to the most elevated walk in life, you hear imprecations that would astound the ears of a stoic and wound the feelings of the least reflecting mind. No possible benefit can arise from profanity; nothing is held forth as a temptation to commit the act; nothing but the perverseness and depravity of human nature would have ever suggested such a thing as this crime; yet such is its prevalence, that by many it is mistaken for a fashionable acquirement, and considered as indicative of energy and decision of character. Fatal delusion!-- Reflect young man! Has not the same imposing mandate, which says, "Thou shalt not kill," said in terms as strong, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain?" Pause then, before you suffer the dire oath again to pollute your lips, or before you have uttered the imprecation, an avenging God may call you to complete the sentence in another world.