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…

☞ For confirmation of my saying, I will allege the commandment of God, in which I will abide. That is where he ordained and commanded, that men should swear by his name: when any lawful cause were. Out of this I conclude, that to swear, is not a thing simple, and of it self evil. For it cannot be, that the thing which is evil should at any time please God.

☞ For confirmation of my saying, I wyll alledge the cōmanndement of God, in which I wyl abide. That is wher he ordeyned and commaundid, that men shoulde swere by his name: whan anye lawful cause were. Out of thys I conclud, that to swer, is not a thinge simple, and of it selfe euyll. For it cannot be, that the thinge which is euil shoulde at anye tyme please God.

Moreover, seeing it is a kind of homage which the faithful do give unto God, as it is often time showed in the Prophets it is to manifest a resistance unto the truth, to say that it is a vice and sin. The probation is easy which is, that it is expedient many times that the verity, which other wise is doubtful, be confirmed: and there is none other means but by oath. That which the Anabaptists do allege touching the correction of this commandment is a manifest blasphemy. For so should it follow that Jesus Christ should retract that, which was once established by God his father. Which, as we have showed, can be by no means tolerable. And in dead, the Apostle speaking of an oath, though he speak there of incidentally treating an other matter, doeth not say that the use thereof is abrogate: but calleth it the end and decision of all controversies between men. I pray you when the Apostle speaking to Christen men doeth pronounce that an oath is to make an end of all controversies, doeth he not sufficiently signify that it is an order approved of God, the which hath place in the Christen church? What foolish boldness is it than to be against it, and to reject this remedy which is given us, as though it were a damnable vice?

Moreouer, seynge it is a kynde of homage whiche the fayethfull do geue vnto God, as it is often tyme shewed in the Prophetes it is to manifest a resistaunce vnto the truth, to saye that it is a vyce and synne. The probation is easye whyche is, that it is expedient manitymes that the veritie, which other wyse is doubtfull, be confirmed: and ther is none other meanes but by othe. That which the Anabaptestes do alledge touchynge the correction of thys commaundement is a manifeste blasphemye. For so shoulde it follow that Iesus Christe shoulde retracte that, whiche was once established by God hys father. Whyche, as we haue shewed, can be by no meanes tollerable. And in dead, the Apostle speakyng of an oth, thoughe he speake there of incidentlye treatynge an other matter, doeth not say that the vse therof is abrogate: but calleth it the ende and decision of al controuersies betwene men. I praye you whan the Apostel spekynge to Christen men doeth pronounce that an othe is to make an ende of al controuersies, doeth he not sufficiently signifie that it is an order approued of God, the whiche hath place in the Christen churche? What folishe boldnes is it than to be agaynste it, and to reiecte thys remedye which is geuen vs, as thoughe it were a damnable vyce?