A Golden Chain

Seeing a lawful oath must bind conscience, though a man be deceived & great losses follow, it shows in how great reverence we should have Gods name, and with what care and consideration take an oath. And by this we ⟨p. 861⟩must be advertised to take heed of customable swearing in our common talk, whether our oaths be great or small. We must think of an oath as a part of Gods worship: nay the holy Ghost often puts it for the whole worship of God. Esa. 19.18. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and shall swear by the Lord of hosts, that is, acknowledge and worship him. Jerem. 12.16. If they will learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth, then shall they be built in the middest of my people. This serves to show unto us, that such as give themselves to swearing, want religion and good conscience: and that those families in which there is rifeness of oaths, abandon all care of religion, and banish God out of their houses. And indeed it is a very hard thing for the common swearer to avoid common perjury. If we see a man hold up his hand at the bar of an earthly judge, we pity him and are sorry for him: oh then why do we not pity blasphemers and common swearers. For with God they are no better then rebels, that hold up their hands at the bar of his judgement seat as guilty malefactors. Exod. 20.7. Augustine saith well, They that worship stocks & stones fear to swear falsely by stones, ¹and doest thou not fear God that is present, God that liveth, God that knoweth, God that taketh revenge of contemners? but of bad custom when thou art believed, thou swearest: when none requires it, thou swearest: and when men cannot abide it, thou swearest.

Seeing a lawfull oath must bind conscience, though a man be deceiued & great losses follow, it shewes in how great reuerence we should haue Gods name, and with what care and consideration take an oath. And by this we ⟨p. 861⟩