CHAPTER XXXVII.
OTHER SINS TO BE AVOIDED.
SECTION I.
On taking the Name of God in Vain.
BESIDES the seven capital sins of which we have been treating there are others which a good Christian should avoid with equal diligence.
The first is taking God's name in vain. This sin directly attacks the majesty of God and is more grievous than any of which we could be guilty against our neighbor. And this is true not only when we swear by God's holy name, but when we swear by the cross, by the Saints, or by our own salvation. Any of these oaths, if taken falsely, is a mortal sin. Holy Scripture frequently speaks of the heinousness of such offences against God. It is true that if one swear inadvertently to what is false the offence is not a mortal sin, which requires the full knowledge of the intellect and the full assent of the will. But this restriction does not apply to those who have a habit of confirming their statements by careless oaths without making any effort to correct themselves. Those who swear in this way, without weighing the import of their words, are culpable for this very negligence. Nor will it avail them to urge that the intention of swearing to what is false was farthest from their thoughts. They persevere in a bad
