A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

contrary wise, willing to signify that the service of God should wholly be restored, they say that men shall swear by his

contrarye wyse, wyllynge to signifye that the seruyce of God shoulde whollye be restored, they saye that menne shall sweare by hys

This is then the right way to treat of oaths. First of all, we must show that the use thereof is double, that is, to give testimony of things past and already done, and to bind our selves to do in time to come that which may lawfully be required of us.

Thys is then the ryghte waye to treate of othes. Fyrste of all, we muste shewe that the vse therof is double, that is, to geue testimonye of thynges past and already done, and to bynde oure selues to do in tyme to come that whyche maye lawefullye be required of vs.

After this, we must show, that to swear is to call God unto witness: and therefore it behoveth us herein to show what reverence ⟨image 41⟩we bear unto his name. Of this it followeth that a man should never open his mouth to swear but with fear of God, in singular honour and humility. Thus by this means all these forms of blasphes, where the name of God and of Jesus Christ is contumeliously taken, shall be right well reproved. Moreover it must be showed, by how many ways the name of God is taken in vain and first of all, detest all perjuries and false attestations, as execrable blasphemies: for as much as the verity of God, thereby is turned into leasing: for as much as all his glory thereby is over thrown, and thereby men would as it were compel him to deny him self. Consequently it must be showed what a contemnitie of God it is, to take his sacred name in dalliance, as by pleasure, or to deck our language, or for a superfluous filling up of our speech, or by anger, or by laughter and mirth: and so much more sharply rebuke this vice, as we see it now a days rotted fast in the world, & that the custom thereof is so commune: on the other side, we must rebuke these superstitions by which the name of God is polluted, as when men do indifferently take the names of saints and mingle them with it. After this sort, an oath doeth not only import, no profanation of the name of God: but doth greatly make for his honour. Now when the end is such: who shall dare say that it is a vicious and a wicked thing? The sum is that the world be warned that God hath nothing