Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

I will here allege and rehearse the usual and accustomed answer, which notwithstanding, is very true, and grounded upon examples of holy Scriptures, as that that squareth not from the truth the narrow breadth of one small hair. The answer therefore is this: if any man shall swear against the faith and charity, so that the keeping of his oath may t••d to the worse, then it is better for him to change his oath, then to fulfil it. Whereupon Saint Ambrose saith, It is sometime contrary to a mans ¹duty to perform the oath, that he hath promised, as Herod did. Isidore also saith, In evil promises break thine oath, in a naughty vow change thy purpose. The thing thou haste unadvisedly vowed, do not perform. The promise is wicked that is finished with mischief. And again, That oath must not be kept, whereby any evil is unwarily promised. As if for example, one should give his faith to an adulteress, to abide in naughtiness with her for ever: undoubtedly, it is more tolerable, not to keep promise, then to remain in whoredom still. Bede moreover saith: If it shall happen that we at unawares shall with an oath promise any thing, and that the keeping of that oath shall be the cause of further evil, then let us think it best upon better advice to change our oath without hurt to our conscience: and that it is better upon such a necessity for us to be forsworn, then for avoiding of perjury, to fall into another sin ten times worse then that. David sware by God, that he would kill the foolish fellow Naball, but at the first intercession that his wife Abigail wiser then him self did make, he ceased to threaten him, he sheathed his sword again, and did not find him self any whit grieved for breaking his hasty oath.

I will here alledge and rehearse the vsuall and accustomed aunswere, which notwithstanding, is very true, and grounded vpon examples of holy S•riptures, as that that squareth not from the truth the narrowe breadth of one small haire. The aunswere therefore is this: if any man shall sweare against the faith and charitie, so that the kéeping of his othe maye t••d to the worse, then it is better for him to chaunge his othe, then to fulfill it. Whervpon Saint Ambrose saith, It is somtime cōtrarie to a mans ¹duetie to performe the othe, that he hath promised, as Herod did. Isidore also saith, In euill promises breake thine othe, in a naughtie vow change thy purpose. The thing thou haste vnaduisedly vowed, do not performe. The promise is wicked that is finished with mischiefe. And againe, That othe muste not be kept, whereby any euill is vnwarely promised. As if for example, one shoulde giue his fayth to an adultresse, to abide in naughtinesse with her for euer: vndoubtedly, it is more tolerable, not to keepe promise, then to remaine in whordome stil. Beda moreouer saith: If it shal happen that we at vnawares shal with an othe promise any thing, and that the keping of that othe shall be the cause of further euill, then let vs thinke it best vpon better aduice to chaunge our othe without hurt to our conscience: and that it is better vpon such a necessitie for vs to be forsworne, then for auoyding of periurie, to fall into another sinne tenne times worse then that. Dauid sware by God, that he woulde kyll the foolishe fellowe Naball, but at the firste intercession that his wyfe Abigail wiser then him selfe did make, hee ceassed to threaten him, hee sheathed his sworde agayne, and did not finde him selfe any whit grieued for breaking his hastie othe.