Ag••ne, in six cases an oath binds not conscience at all. I. If it be made of a thing that is flat against the word of God For all the power of binding which it hath is by the word of god: & therefore when it is against Gods will, it hath no power to constrain. And it is an old received rule, that an oath must not be a bond of iniquity. Hereupon David when he had made a rash oath to kill Nabal & […] his household, rejoiced when he had an occasion offered by Abigail to break the same, 1. Sam. 25. 32. And though he sware to Shemi, that he would save his life, 2. Sam. 19. 23. yet afterward upon better consideration (as it may seem) he commanded his son Solomon to put him to death, as one that had long ago deserved the same. 1. King. 2. 9. And Herod was far deceived, that thought he was bound by his oath to give to the damsel John Baptists head in a platter. Mat. 14. 7. II. Is it be against the good and wholesome laws of any kingdom or country, whereof a man is a member it binds not at all: ⟨p. 76⟩because on the contrary Gods commandment binds us to keep the good laws of men. III. If it be made by such persons as want sufficient reason and discretion, as young children, fools, mad men. For the conscience can not indeed be bound, where the understanding can not discern what is done. IIII. If it be made of such as have no power to bind themselves, it binds not: because it is made against the law of nature, which is, that *he which is ot in his own power can not bind himself. Hence it follows, that papists err grossly when they teach, that a child may enter into any rule or order of religion, yea bind himself thereto by oath, and the oath to be good, flat against his parents consent. Num. 30. 4. If a woman vow unto the Lord, & bind her self by a bond, being in her fathers house in the time of her youth, &c. 6. If her father disallow her the same day that he heareth all her vows and bonds, they shall not be of value. And an ancient council decreed that all children that upon pretence of Gods worship should depart from their parents, and not do 2them d•e reverence, should be accursed. Secondly they err in that they teach that the promise made privately by a child in way of marriage without and against consent of wise and careful parents, binds them: whereas indeed if this ⟨p. 77⟩promise were further bound by an oath, it could not stand:
Ag••ne, in six cases an oth binds not conscience at all. I. If it be made of a thing that is flat against the word of God For all the power of binding which it hath is by the word of god: & therfore whē it is against Gods will, it hath no power to constraine. And it is an old receiued rule, that an oth must not be a bonde of iniquity. Hereupon Dauid when he had made a rash oth to kill Nabal & 〈…〉 his houshold, reioyced when he had an occasion offered by Abigail to break the same, 1. Sam. 25. 32. And though he sware to Shemi, that he would saue his life, 2. Sam. 19. 23. yet afterward upon better consideration (as it may seem) he commanded his son Salomon to put him to death, as one that had long agoe deserued the same. 1. King. 2. 9. And Herod was far deceiued, that thought he was bound by his oth to giue to the dāsell Iohn Baptists head in a platter. Mat. 14. 7. II. Is it be against the good and wholesome lawes of any kingdome or countrey, whereof a man is a member it bindes not at all: ⟨p. 76⟩because on the contrary Gods commandement bindes vs to keepe the good lawes of men. III. If it be made by such persons as want sufficient reason and discretion, as young children, fooles, madde men. For the conscience can not indeed be bounde, where the understanding can not discerne what is done. IIII. If it be made of such as haue no power to bind themselues, it bindes not: because it is made against the lawe of nature, which is, that *he which is ot in his owne power can not binde himselfe. Hence it followes, that papists erre grossely when they teach, that a childe may enter into any rule or order of religion, yea binde himselfe thereto by oath, and the oath to be good, flatt against his parents consent. Num. 30. 4. If a woman vow vnto the Lord, & bind her selfe by a bond, being in her fathers house in the time of her youth, &c. 6. If her father disallow her the same day that he heareth all her vowes and bondes, they shall not be of value. And an ancient councill decreed that all children that vpon pretence of Gods worship should depart from their parents, and not doe 2
- *Qui sui i•ri• non est obligar• se non potest. a Bellarm. li. 2. de […]. cap. 36.Qui sui i•ri• non est obligar• se non potest. a Bellarm. li. 2. de 〈…〉. cap. 36.
- 2C•••il. G••g. cap. 16.
