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

What will these blasphemers of Gods most holy name say to this golden mouthed Doctor, which con pareth all swearers to thieves,¹ and saith that they are like unto a these that is condemned unto death, and weareth his halter ready to be hanged? Are not these swearers come now unto a fair promotion? They be like thieves condemned to dye, saith the holy Doctor Chrysostom. The Judge hath given sentence. They be condemned. So that although they be yet free from y• plays of God's vengeance, as the these is before ⟨image 34⟩he cometh unto the gallows, yet they may be as sure not to escape them, as though they were now already in their necks. And the longer their punishment is differed, the more grievous shall it be, when it cometh. Many, I grant, in this world are not punished for their great abominable swearing, yet have there not wanted examples in our time, which have abundantly declared, how greatly the sin of swearing displeaseth God.² There live at this day, which have known certain men to be great swear•rs of whom some many years before they dyed, were grievously punished with strange and innumerable diseases, some by y• strong hand of God had their houses, as y• Prophet Zechariah saith, consumed with fire, some lost their speech before they dyed, another sort certain days before they ⟨p. xxxiii⟩dyed,³ had such an heat and burning in their mouths that by no means they could suffer to have them speared. Their tongue & all that ever was within their mouth, was so black as a cool. Were not all these manifest tokens of Gods wrath and vengeance for taking his holy name in vain? Would God they y• were thus punished, might be an example unto us for to leave the wicked and ungodly custom of swearing. If we will not cease, but still provoke god unto anger, surely we shall prove & feel those same plagues, and much more grievous. And would god our pains might cease in this world, that we might be free from everlasting damnation. We all profess Christ,