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

We read in the forth book of Moses, that when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day.¹ And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron & unto all the congregation, & they put him inward. For it was not declared, what should be done unto him. And the Lord said unto Moses, the man shall dye. Let all the multitude stone him with stones without the host. And all the multitude brought him without the host, & stoned him with stones and he dyed, as the Lord commanded Moses. If the man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day for transgressing that commandment, which notwithstanding was but a ceremonial law serving ⟨p. xxxix⟩but for a time, and a figure of our spiritual quietness and rest, which we ought to have continually in our consciences toward God, which precept also is now abolished, & stand in none effect (so that we are Lords of the Sabbath day, and may appoint what day it shall please the head rulers to cease from labour, y• we may the more conveniently come together unto the temple for to pray, to hear the holy word of God, to see the blessed Sacraments ministered. &c.) If the man that gathered sticks, I say, upon the Sabbath day was stoned unto death by the commandment of God for transgressing that precept, how may these swearers than persuade themselves that they shall escape unpunished, although they swear & abuse God and all his creatures by their unlawful oaths? The other precept ⟨image 41⟩was ceremonial,² & is now of no strength, but this commandment is moral and abideth still in perfect strength, and so shall do so long as the world standeth, shall y• transgression of this than escape unpunished? The other was punished by death, and shall this escape free & without punishment?

We rede in the forth boke of Moses, that whan the chyldren of Israel were in the wyldernes, they foūd a man gatherynge styckes vpon the Sabboth day.¹