The Institution of Christian Religion

The name of the Lord is made vile and common, when it is used in superfluous oaths, although they be true. For in such case it is also taken in vain. Wherefore it shall not be sufficient to abstain from […] caring falsely, unless we do also remember, that swearing was suffered and ordained not for lust or pleasure, but for necessities sake: and therefore they go beyond the lawful use thereof, that apply it to things not necessary. And there can no other necessity be pretended, but where it is to serve either religion or charity, wherein at this day men do to much licentiously offend, and so much the more intolerably, for that by very custom it hath ceased to be reckoned for any offence at all, which yet before the judgement sea•e of God is not slenderly weighed. For every where without regard, the ⟨p. 54⟩name of God is defiled in trifling talks, and it is not thought that they do evil, because by long suffered and unpunished boldness, they are come to rest as it were in possession of so great wickedness. But the commandment of the Lord remaineth in •orce, the penalty abideth in strength, and shall one day have his effect, whereby there is a certain special revenge proclaimed against them that use his name in vain. This commandment is also transgressed in an other point, that in our oaths we put the holy servants of God in the place of God, with manifest ungodliness, for so we transfer the glory of his godhead to them.¹ Neither is it without cause, that the Lord hath given special commandment to swear by his name, and by special prohibition forbidden, that we should not be heard swear by any strange gods. And the Apostle evidently testifieth the same, when he writeth, that men in swearing do call upon a higher than themselves, and that God which had none greater than his own glory to swear by, did swear by himself.

The name of the Lorde is made vile and common, when it is vsed in superfluous othes, although they bee true. For in suche case it is also taken in vayne. Wherefore it shall not be sufficient to absteyne from 〈…〉 caring falsly, vnlesse we do also remember, that swearing was suffred and ordeined not for luste or pleasure, but for necessities sake: and therfore they goe beyond the lawfull vse thereof, that applye it to thinges not necessarie. And there can no other necessitie be pretended, but where it is to serue eyther religion or charitie, wherein at this daye menne doe to muche licentiously offende, and so muche the more intolerably, for that by very custome it hath cessed to be reckened for any offense af all, whiche yet before the iudgement seae of God is not slenderly weyed. For euery where wythout regarde, the