I. Perjury, when a man performeth not that, which he on his own accord sware to do. Math. 5. 33. Thou shalt not forswear thy self, but perform thine oath to the Lord.
Perjury containeth in it four capital sins. 1. Lying. 2. False invocation on Gods name, because a forswearer calleth on God to confirm a lye. 3. Con tempt of Gods threatenings, that he will most grievously punish perjury. 4. A lye in his covenant with God, for the forswearer bindeth himself to God, and lieth unto God.
⟨p. 55⟩II. To swear that which is false. This is to make god and the devil both alike. Joh. 8.44. Ye are of your father the devil, &c. when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of himself, because he is a liar, and the father of lies. Zach. 5.4. It shall enter into the house of him, that sweareth falsely by my name.
III. To swear in common talk. Matth. 5.37. Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay: for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil.
IV. To swear by that which is no God. Matth. 5. 34, 35. But I say unto you, swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is Gods throne: neither by the earth, for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. 1. King. 19.2. Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, Thus do the gods, and so let them deal with me, if I by to morrow this time, make not thy life, as is the life of every one of them. Jere. 12.16. They taught my people to swear by Baal. Jere. 5.7. Thy sons forsake me, and swear by them which are no gods.
This place condemneth that usual swearing by the mass, faith, and such like. Matth. 23.22. He that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by Gods throne, and him that sitteth thereon.
But for a man to swear by Christs death, wounds, blood, & other parts of his, is most horrible: & is as much, as to crucify Christ again with the Jews, or account Christs members, as God himself.
V. Blasphemy, which is a reproach against God; and the least speech, that savoureth of contempt to his majesty. Levit. 24.15, 16. Whosoever curseth his God, shall bear his sins. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. 2. King. 19.10. So shall ye say to the king of Judah: let not thy God deceive thee, in whom thou trustest, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the King of Ashur.
I. Periurie, when a man performeth not that, which he on his own accord sware to doe. Math. 5. 33. Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe, but performe thine oath to the Lord.
Periurie containeth in it foure capitall sinnes. 1. Lying. 2. False inuocation on Gods name, because a forswearer calleth on God to confirme a lye. 3. Cō tempt of Gods threatnings, that he will most grieuously punish periurie. 4. A lye in his couenant with God, for the forswearer bindeth himselfe to God, and lieth vnto God.
⟨p. 55⟩II. To sweare that which is false. This is to make god and the diuell both alike. Ioh. 8.44. Ye are of your father the diuel, &c. when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of himselfe, because he is a lyer, and the father of lies. Zach. 5.4. It shall enter into the house of him, that sweareth falsely by my name.
III. To sweare in common talke. Matth. 5.37. Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay: for whatsoeuer is more then these commeth of euill.
IV. To sweare by that which is no God. Matth. 5. 34, 35. But I say vnto you, sweare not at all, neither by heauen, for it is Gods throne: neither by the earth, for it is his footstoole: neither by Hierusalem, for it is the citie of the great king. 1. King. 19.2. Iesabel sent a messenger to Elias, saying, Thus doe the gods, and so let them deale with me, if I by to morrow this time, make not thy life, as is the life of euery one of them. Iere. 12.16. They taught my people to sweare by Baal. Iere. 5.7. Thy sonnes forsake me, and sweare by them which are no gods.
This place condemneth that vsuall swearing by the masse, faith, and such like. Matth. 23.22. He that sweareth by heauen, sweareth by Gods throne, and him that sitteth thereon.
But for a man to sweare by Christs death, wounds, blood, & other parts of his, is most horrible: & is as much, as to crucifie Christ againe with the Iewes, or account Christs members, as God himselfe.
V. Blasphemie, which is a reproch against God; and the least speech, that sauoureth of contempt to his maiestie.
