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 excuse will we make? I fear ⟨image 37⟩unless we shall be ready of our own free will, to run headlong into hell fire, before the terrible sentence of damnation be given, our conscience shall so condemn us. Lord hold thy holy hand over us, & give us grace to amend.

what excuse wyll we make? I feare ⟨image 37⟩vnlesse we shall be redy of oure owne free wyll, to runne hedlong into hell syre, before the terrible sentence of damnacion be giuen, our conscience shall so condēne vs. Lorde holde thy holy hande ouer vs, & gyue vs grace to amende.

Saint Pauls saith,¹ let your speech be well favoured and powdered with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man. What place hath this commandment of the apostle among them, which so powder their words, ye there come nothing out of their mouths, but vain oaths & wicked blasphemies? The communication of these men savour little of salt, whereby is understand the wisdom of Gods word,² it is so fresh & unsavoury. Yea would God these abominable blasphemers of Gods most holy name, were not extreme enemies to gods word, choosing ⟨p. xxxvi⟩rather to remain dastards still in the foolishness of the world,³ than to become wise and prudent in the wisdom of gods word. All swearers therefore are enemies both to god and his word. A Christen man may not acquaint himself with such manners, nor so wickedly abuse his tongue. For our tongue is given us, not that we should swear, lye, blaspheme, jest, rail, scoff, mock, & use ungodly talk, but y• we should only speak those things, which may both turn unto the glory of god, & the health of our neighbour. And this is it that S. Paul saith let your speech be well favoured and powdered with salt.