A Golden Chain

And therefore lamentable and fearful is the practise every where. For it is a common thing with men to begin their speech, and to place titles of Gods most high Majesty in the fore-front almost of every sentence, by saying, O Lord! O God! O good God! O merciful God! O Jesus! O Christ, &c. If a man be to say any thing, he will not say, Yea, or Nay: but, O Lord yea: or, O Lord nay. If a man be to reprove his inferior, he will presently say, O Lord have mercy on us, what a slowbacke art thou, what a lie is this, &c. An earthly Prince, if he ⟨p. 715⟩should have his name so tossed in our mouths at every word, would never bear it, and how shall the everliving God suffer it? nay how can he suffer it? I say no more, but thou with thy self think how: for in the third commandment the punishment is set down, That he will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. And the Angels in reverence to Gods Majesty cover their faces, Isai. 6.2.

And therefore lamentable and fearefull is the practise euerie where. For it is a common thing with men to beginne their speech, and to place titles of Gods most high Maiestie in the fore-front almost of euery sentence, by saying, O Lord! O God! O good God! O mercifull God! O Iesu! O Christ, &c. If a mā be to say any thing, he will not say, Yea, or Nay: but, O Lord yea: or, O Lord nay. If a man be to reprooue his inferiour, he will presently say, O Lord haue mercy on vs, what a slowbacke art thou, what a lie is this, &c. An earthly Prince, if hee ⟨p. 715⟩should haue his name so tossed in our mouthes at euery worde, would neuer beare it, and how shall the euerliuing God suffer it? nay how can hee suffer it? I say no more, but thou with thy selfe thinke how: for in the third commandement the punishment is set down, That he will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine. And the Angels in reuerence to Gods Maiestie couer their faces, Isai. 6.2.