A03519:92
Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)
Certain sermons, or homilies appointed by the kings Majesty, to be declared and read, by all persons, vicars, or curates, every Sunday in their churches, where they have cure. Anno 1547.Certayne sermons, or homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, to be declared and redde, by all persones, vicars, or curates, euery Sondaye in their churches, where they haue cure. Anno 1547.
London: printed by Richard Grafton printer to his most royal Majesty, 1547London: printed by Rychard Grafton printer to his moste royall Maiestie, 1547
Title page typeset from the transcription.
¶Against swearing and perjury.¶Against swearyng and periury.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶Against swearing and perjury.
¶Against swearyng and periury.
Almighty God to the intent his most holy name should be had in honour, & evermore be magnified of the people, commandeth that no man should take his name vainly in his mouth, threatening punishment unto him that unreverently abuseth it, by swearing, forswearing, and blasphemy. To the intent therefore, that this commandment may be the better known and kept: it shall be declared unto you, both how it is lawful for christian people to swear, and also what peril and danger it is, vainly to swear, or to be forsworn. First, when Judges require oaths of the people,1 for declaration of the truth, or for execution of justice, this manner of swearing is lawful. Also when men make faithful promises with attestation of the name of God, to observe covenants, honest promises, statutes, laws, and good customs: as Christian princes do in their conclusions of peace, for conservation of common wealths: & private persons, promise their fidelity in Matrimony, or one to another in honest and true friendship: and all men, when they do swear to keep common laws, or local statutes and good customs, for due order to be had and continued among men: when subjects do swear to be true and faithful to their King and sovereign Lord: and when Judges, Magistrates, and officers swear, truly to execute their offices: and when a man would affirm the trueth, to the setting forth of Gods glory (for the salvation of the people) in open preaching ⟨image 44⟩of the Gospel, or in giving of good counsel, privately for their souls health. All these manner of swearings, for causes necessary and honest, be lawful. But when men do swear of custom, in reasoning, buying, and selling, or other daily communication (as many be common and great swearers) such kind of swearing is ungodly, unlawful, and prohibited by the commandment of God. For such swearing is nothing else, but taking of Gods holy name in vain. And here is to be noted, that lawful swearing is not forbidden, but commanded of almighty God. For we have examples of Christ, and Godly men in holy scripture, that did swear themselves, and required oaths of other likewise. And Gods commandment is: