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Show SECOND COMMANDMENT The First Commandment Points Out God's c Claim to Man's Homage Of This Just and Reasonable Claim There Can Be no . Question The Second Commandment Proclaims the Sanctity of God's Name, Which Should Not Be Invoked in Vain. (Written for the Intermountain Catholic.) Holiness is the attribute which gives excellence to all the works of God. For this reason David calls upon created things to praise him. But to man alone does the Psalmist appeal when there is question of singing the praises of that name whose Holiness is the unending song of angels in heaven and lifelong meditation of saints on earth. As man recedes from, or draws near to, God so will he respect his name, and the respect he entertains towards that name is the measure of his sense of religion. The holiness of God's name is the holiness of God Himself. Hence irreverence to His name is the most direct dishonor to Himself. Holiness is . his essential attribute. Through it all others are manifested. Creation and its harmony show God's omnipotence and wisdom, but it was his holiness that gave creation its beauty, and saw that it was good. His name so great and holy is nothing distinct from God. It is word by which is made known t mankind the Incomprehensible, the Absolute and Eternal Beiug who reigns supreme in heaven and sustains this universe that came into existence at his bidding. It is man's idoa of that Omnipotence, Holiness and Wisdom expressed in a word, and that word is God. There is nothing holy in heaven, powerful on earth that this name does not contain. con-tain. There no knowledge that the intellect can desire, no good that the will can wish, no beauty that the heart can love which this name does not express. In it there is strength to give confidence, mercy to inpire hope, justice to execute fear, power pow-er to elicit awe and holiness that demands reverence. rever-ence. That name brings before man his Creator and in Him all that is or can be. Not only does it suggesjr his power, and greatness, but it contains and his glory, and as such i' is called by Himself. Him-self. "I am Jehovah, this is my name, and I will not give my gbry to another." His name is his i glory, for it expresses that power, wisdom and holiness holi-ness which belong to the deity alone, for in this "the Lord is magnified, because there is none like Him." ' . It was in order that this name, so dear to Him, being his glory, might be honored that He selected and reserved one people to magnify it, and one tribe from that people to minister unto it: and to this people his commandment was that "They should not take his name in vain," holdirg all, who should do so, responsible for their guilt. To honor that name he selected Solomon to build a Temple, and for that name's sake He blessed that Temple by His presence. None but the high priests entering enter-ing the Holy of Holies were allowed to mention that iMime which meant holiness. In worship alone should it be invoked, and for blessings called upon, for homage is its due. and to give blessings is its nature. Angels tremble whilst they mention it, and casting down their golden song, that unending song: 'Holy, holy, holy, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." What should be man's feelings when he invokes that name? It implies love and mercy. For its manifestation Christ came on earth, and after having raised men's minds to see in God a Father, then he taught, through the Lord's prayer, to bless his name. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name." If that name was always and everywhere blessed by men, then would the "will of God be clone on j earth as it is in heaven," and His Kingdom estab- I lished here below, and earth made like heaven. That I name is man's salvation. "Save me, O God. by thy j name," cried out holy David, because it is the name of Him from whom comes all power and mercy, and who loves to exert his power and mercy in goodness towards all who honor Ilim. For his name's sake .favors are asked and-always have been implored by all his servants, and when they express their gratitude grat-itude for his gifts, it is done by singing the praisea of his name. Since time began no name, no being has been so well known or so popular as God. The father oi? the family returning from his day's labor lifts h? eyes heavenward and speaks his name to the glad- ! some children. In sickness relief is asked in that name, and in death it is the great source of consolation consola-tion because it is a guarantee of immortality. At no time and nowhere were people found who did not invoke that name with reverence and awe. That name, which should never be called in vain, is frequently fre-quently desecrated by the perverse. In anger man invokes it only to blaspheme. The perjurer calls God as a witness to lie. He swears by that name which never should be called in vain, by the name which people have always adored, and invoked ! blessings, and that to conceal a secret known per- haps only to God Himself. F. D. f |
