an offence against God and religion, and a sin of all others the most extravagant and unaccountable, as having no benefit or advantage attending it. By the last statute against this crime, 19 Geo. II. which repeals all former ones, every labourer, sailor, or soldier, profanely cursing or swearing, shall forfeit 1s.; every other person under the rank of a gentleman, 2s.; and every gentleman or person of superior rank, 5s. to the poor of the parish; and, on a second conviction, double; and, for every subsequent offence, treble the sum first forfeited, with all charges of conviction: and, in default of payment, shall be sent to the house of correction for 10 days. Any justice of the peace may convict upon his own hearing, or the testimony of one witness; and any constable or peace officer, upon his own hearing, may secure any offender and carry him before a justice, and there convict him. If the justice omits his duty, he forfeits 5l. and the constable 40s. And the act is to be read in all parish churches and public chapels the Sunday after every quarter-day, on pain of 5l. to be levied by warrant from any justice. Besides this punishment for taking God's name in vain in common discourse, it is enacted, by stat. 3 Jac. I. c. 21. that if in any stage-play, interlude, or show, the name of the Holy Trinity, or any of the persons therein, be jeeringly or profanely used, the offender shall forfeit 10l.; one moiety to the king, and the other to the informer.