By lawful oaths, which Kings, Princes, Judges, and Magistrates do swear, common laws are kept inviolate, Justice is indifferently ministered, innocent persons, orphans, widows, and poor men, are defended, from murderers, oppressors, and thieves, that they suffer no wrong, nor take any harm. By lawful oaths, mutual society, amity, ⟨image 46⟩and good order, is kept continually in all commonalties, as boroughs, cities, towns, and villages. And by lawful oaths, malefactors are searched out, wrong doers are punished, and they which sustain wrong, are restored to their right. Therefore, lawful swearing cannot be evil, which bringeth unto us, so many Godly, good, and necessary commodities.1 Wherefore, when Christ so earnestly forbade swearing, it may not so be understanded, as though he did forbid all manner of oaths: but he forbiddeth all vain swearing, and forswearing, both by god, and by his creatures, as the common use of swearing, in buying, selling, and in our daily communication, to the intent every Christian mans word, should be aswell regarded in such matters, as if he should confirm his communication with an oath. For every Christian mans word (sayeth saint Hierome) should be so true, that it should be regarded as an oath. And Chrysostom witnessing the same, sayeth: It is not convenient to swear, for what needeth us to swear, when it is not lawful for one of us,2 to make a lye unto another. Peradventure some will say: I am compelled to swear, for else men that do common with me, or do bye and sell with me,3 will not believe me. To this answereth. S Chrysostom, that he that thus sayeth, showeth himself to be an unjust, and a deceitful person: for if he were a trusty man, and his deeds taken to agree with his words, he should not need to swear at all. For he that useth truth and plainness in his bargaining and communication, he shall have no need by such vain swearing, to bring himself in credence ⟨image 46⟩with his neighbours, nor his neighbours will not mistrust his sayings. And if his credence be so much lost in deed, that he thinketh no man will believe him, without he swear, then he may well think, his credence is clean gone, For truth it is (as Theophilactus writeth) that no man is less trusted, then he, that useth much to swear. And almighty God, by the wise man sayeth:4
By lawfull othes, which Kynges, Princes, Iudges, and Magistrates doo sweare, common lawes are kept inuiolate, Iustice is indifferently ministered, innocent persones, orphanes, widdowes, and poore men, are defended, from murtherers, oppressors, and thiefes, that thei suffre no wrong, nor take any harme. By lawfull othes, mutuall societie, amitie, ⟨image 46⟩and good ordre, is kepte continually in all commonalties, as boroughes, citees, tounes, and villages. And by lawful othes, malefactors are searched out, wrong doers are punished, and thei whiche sustein wrong, are restored to their righte. Therefore, lawfull swearyng cannot be euill, whiche bryngeth vnto vs, so many Godly, good, and necessarie commodities.1 Wherfore, when Christe so earnestly forbad swearyng, it maie not so bee vnderstanded, as though he did forbid all maner of othes: but he forbiddeth all vain swearyng, and forswearyng, bothe by god, and by his creatures, as the common vse of swearyng, in biyng, sellyng, and in our daily communicacion, to the intent euery Christian mannes worde, should be aswell regarded in suche matters, as if he should confirme his communicacion with an othe. For euery Christian mannes worde (saieth sainct Hierome) should be so true, that it should bee regarded as an othe. And Chrisostome witnessyng thesame, saieth: It is not conuenient to sweare, for what nedeth vs to sweare, when it is not lawfull for one of vs,2 to make a lye vnto another. Peraduenture some will saie: I am compelled to sweare, for els men that do common with me, or do bye and sell with me,3 wil not beleue me. To this aunswereth. S Chrisostome, that he that thus saieth, sheweth hymself to be an vniust, and a deceiptfull persone: for if he wer a trustie man, and his deedes taken to agree with his wordes, he should not nede to sweare at al. For he that vseth truthe and plainnesse in his bargainyng and communicacion, he shal haue no nede by such vain swearyng, to bryng hymself in credēce ⟨image 46⟩with his neighbours, nor his neighbours will not mistruste his saiynges. And if his credence bee so muche loste in deede, that he thynketh no man will beleue hym, without he sweare, then he maie well thynke, his credence is cleane gone, For truthe it is (as Theophilactus writeth) that no manne is lesse trusted, then he, that vseth muche to sweare. And almightie God, by the wiseman saieth:4
- 1Vain swearing is forbidden.Uain swearyng is forbidden.
- 2An objection.An obieccion.
- 3An answer.An answere.
- 4Eccle. xxxiii.
