An invective against the most wicked [and] detestable vice of swearing, newly co[m]piledAn inuectyue agenst the moost wicked [and] detestable vyce of swearing, newly co[m]piled

This threat of god is not to be laughed at. For if there be a God, as I am certainly persuaded there is, I am sure that these abominable Swearers shall not escape unpunished, let them esteem their sin as light & as little as they list, yea I am sure, the vengeance of God hangeth over their heads, where so ever they be. And although God take the not vengeance on them straight ways, yet am I ⟨image 29⟩sure that they shall not escape, if in this world, yet not in the world to come,¹ so righteous a Judge is God, so faithful is he in all his words. Howe can it otherwise be? We see by daily experience that if any man blasphemeth an earthly Prince,² or speak• evil of his name, he dyeth y• death straightways without mercy. If such honour and reverence be given unto a worldly Prince, which is earth, & unto earth shall return again, what is than to be thought of them which blaspheme y• name of the most high & celestial king, which is king of all kings. and Lord of all Lords? The blasphemy done to a mortal man is punished with sword, and shall the blasphemy done to god escape, think you, with a fillip in the forehead, or with the knock of a little wooden beetle: as it began in certain monnes houses to be punished ⟨p. xxviii⟩now of late? Na verily. It is no fillip matter, except ye will admit such a fillip, as shall fillip them down into the bottom of hell fire. God is no puppet nor no babe. It is not a fillip, that can wipe away y• blasphemy of his most blessed name before his high throne & glorious majesty. Woe be to them y• sin, and keep not my commandments, saith the Lord, for I will not surely spare them.³ In the old law God gave this commandment for the blasphemers of his name. Who so ever curseth his god,⁴