Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For surely, unless our Christian Magistrates do become more sharp and severe against blaspheming villains, I do not see but that they must needs be a great deal worse then the wicked knave Caiaphas. Undoubtedly, the Lord is true (as every one of you must severally think within your selves) and he verily will punish in all men the defiling of his name, but much more the malicious blaspheming of the same.

For surely, vnlesse our Christian Magistrates doe become more sharpe and seuere against blaspheming villaines, I doe not sée but that they must néedes be a great deale worse then the wicked knaue Caiphas. Vndoubtedly, the Lord is true (as euery one of you must seuerally thinke within your selues) and he verily will punish in all men the defiling of his name, but much more the malicious blaspheming of the same.

This very matter and place do now require, that I also speak ¹somewhat here of taking an oath, or swearing, which is done by calling and taking to witness of Gods name. Now in the handling of this matter, many things are to be thought of and considered. For first of all I see that some there are, which doubt whether it be be lawful to take an oath or no: because ²in Matthew, the Lord hath said: Ye have heard what was said of old, Thou shalt not forswear thee self, but shalt perform thine oaths unto the Lord, but I say unto you, swear not at all. &c. But the Lords mind in Matthew, was not to take clean away the true and ancient law, but to interpret it, and to bring it to a sander sense, because it was before corrupted and marred by divers forged ⟨p. 131⟩& counterfeit glosses of the Pharisees. For the people being taught by them, had evermore an eye to keep their mouths from perjury, but touching superfluous, unprofitable and needless oaths, they had no care at all, not thinking that it was amiss, to swear by Heaven and by Earth: wherefore the Lord expounding his fathers law, saith: That all oaths generally are forbidden, to wit, those wherein the name of the Lord is taken in vain, and whereby we swear when there is no need at all. In the mean while, he neither condemned nor yet took clean away the solemn and lawful oath. Now there is great difference betwixt a solemn oath, and our daily oaths, which are nothing else but deep swearings, not only needless, but also hurtful. But a solemn oath is both profitable & needful. The law of God and words of Christ, do not forbid things profitable and needful, and therefore they condemn not a solemn and lawful oath. Yea in the law too, is permitted a solemn oath, where there is forbidden alone, the unprofitable using of the Lords name. And Christ our lord came not to break the law, but to fulfil the law. And therefore he in Saint Matthew did not condemn an oath: unless a man should go about to prove, that the Son taught a doctrine clean contrary to the doctrine of his heavenly father, which is a blasphemy against the father and the Son, not to be suffered. Moreover, God him self also sweareth, which undoubtedly he would not do, if an oath could not be taken without any sin. For after a long exposition of the law, he saith: