Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

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: