A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

Now whereas the scripture doth sometimes use other forms of swearing; that doth not cross this doctrine. For the faithful do not swear by the heaven or by the earth, as if they did attribute any divinity unto them, but by such indirect oaths, they have respect to God only. For there are divers kinds of oaths. §1The first and the chiefest is this, when we call God for judge; and do directly make our appeal unto his judgment seat. §2The second is, when we name the things that we love greatly, as our life, our head, or some such other like thing. §3The third, when we take the creatures to witness in Gods presence. But in all these to speak properly, we swear by none other than by God. Wherefore they who contend that it is lawful to join the Saints that are dead as companions with God, and that the right of punishing should be attributed unto them, such do no less show their malice than their beastliness. Besides, this ⟨p. 129⟩this place as hath been said, teacheth, ¹that there is a lawful use of an oath among Christians: the which we are to note well against those giddy spirits, who would willingly bring out of use that holy rule of an oath which God hath given in his law. For out of question the Apostle here speaks of the manner of an oath, as of an holy thing allowed and approved of God. And it is also to be noted that he doth not only say that it was thus in use in old time, but also testifies that it lasteth even yet to this day. Let us then take an oath for an help to maintain the truth, when we want other proofs.

Now whereas the scripture doth sometimes vse other formes of swearing; that doth not crosse this doctrine. For the faithfull doe not sweare by the heauen or by the earth, as if they did attribute any diuinitie vnto them, but by such indirect oathes, they haue respect to God onely. For there are diuers kinds of oathes. §1The first and the cheifest is this, when we call God for iudge; and doe directly make our appeale vnto his iudgment seat. §2