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…

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 ⟨image 41⟩in greater recommendation then the glory of his name to maintain it thoroughly, and to punish those which do obscure or lessen it, Therefore no man ought to take his name but in great reverence, only to make it serve unto such end that he may be glorified thereby.

After thys, we muste shewe, that to swere is to call God vnto wytnesse: and therefore it behoueth vs herein to shew what reuerēce ⟨image 41⟩we beare vnto his name. Of this it foloweth that a manne shoulde neuer open hys mouth to swere but wyth feare of God, in singuler honour and humilitie. Thus by thys meanes all these formes of blasphes, wher the name of God and of Iesus Christe is contumelioustre taken, shall be ryght well reproued. Moreouer it muste be shewed, by howe manye waies the name of God is takē in vaine and fyrste of al, deteste al periuries and false attestations, as excreable blasphemies: for as muche as the veritye of God, thereby is torned into leasinge: for as much as all hys glorye thereby is ouer throwen, and therby mē woulde as it were compell hym to deny hym selfe. Consequently it muste be shewed what a contemnitie of God it is, to take hys sacret name in daliaūce, as by pleasure, or to decke oure language, or for a superfluouse fyllynge vp of oure speache, or by anger, or by laughter and myrthe: and so muche more sharpelye rebuke thys vyce, as we see it nowe a dayes roted faste in the worlde, & that the custome therof is so commune: on the other syde, wee muste rebuke these superstitions by whyche the name of God is polluted, as when men do indifferentelye take the names of sayntes and myngle them wyth it. After thys sorte, an othe doeth not onely importe, no prophanation of the name of God: but doth greatly make for hys honoure. Now when the ende is suche: who shall dare say that it is a viciouse and a wicked thyng? The sume is that the worlde be warned that God hathe nothynge