The Institution of Christian Religion

The Anabaptists not contented with this moderation of swearing,§26 do detest all oaths without exception, because the prohibition of Christ is general:¹ I say unto you, swear not at all, but let your tale be yea yea, and nay nay, what so ever is more than this, is of evil. But by this mean, they do without consideration stumble against Christ: while they make him adversary to his father, and as if he had come down from heaven to repeal his fathers decrees. For the eternal God doth in the law not only permit swearing as a thing lawful,² which were enough: but also in necessity doth command it. But Christ affirmeth that he is all one with his father: that he bringeth no other thing, but that which his father commanded him, that his doctrine is not of himself, &c. What then? will they make God contrary to himself, which shall afterward forbid and condemn the same thing •n mens behaviours, which he hath before allowed by commanding it? But because there is some difficulty in the words of Christ, let us a little weigh them. But herein we shall never attain the truth, unless we bend our eyes unto the intent of Christ, and take heed unto the purpose that he there goeth about. His purpose is not either to release or restrain the law, but to reduce it to the true and natural understanding, which had ben very much depraved by the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees. This •• we hold in mind, we shall not think that Christ did utterly condemn oaths, but only those oaths which do transgress the rule of the law. Thereby it appeareth, that the people at that time did forbear no manner of swearing but perjuries, whereas the law doth not only forbid perjuries, but also all idle and superstitious oaths. The Lord therefore the most sure expositor of the law,³ doth admonish them, that it is not only evil to forswear, but also to swear. But how to swear? in vain. But as for these oaths that are commended in the law, he leaveth them safe and at liberty. They seem to fight somewhat more strongly when they take earnest hold of this word At all, which yet is not referred to the word Swear, but to the forms of swearing that are after rehearsed. For this was also part of their error, that when they did swear by heaven and earth,