A20559:209
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
and again, this ordinary swearing in ones common talk, will at length bring false swearing, it cannot be avoided, but that he which usually swears vainly, shall now and then swear falsely, for the often tossing of Gods holy and sacred name, or any of his creatures in ones mouth frivolously and carelessly, doth beget at length such a base opinion and account of these things, that they care not how they use them. Oh but saith one; I would not swear indeed, but they constrained me, and urged me to it, for they would not trust me else: but if they will not, ⟨p. 52⟩better they not trust you, then God not save; better undergo mans unjust suspicion, then Gods just damnation. And what is the cause that some mens credit is grown so weak and feeble, that it will not stand unless it be underpropped by an oath, because they have so wounded their name, by lying dealing, & by cozenage, as that men take all for falsehood that comes from them, but if one would deal justly and truly, and live an honest life, he should not need to use such sinful shifts to get men to trust him; for there be many of Gods people, that through gods mercy can say, they have dealt so honestly and conscionably with men, and have made such due account of their promise, as now no man that knows them will go about to put them to their oath, their bare word shall end the controversy, so that if they would deal plainly and justly with others, and let them see some truth in their words, they should not need this idle kind of adjuration to the hurt of their souls; so that to swear when no oath is required, or accepted, nor cannot edify but rather hurt, is greatly to be condemned. But if vain swearing be a plant of the devils setting, and will bring forth fruit for his store, viz. damnation; then how much more horrible and odious, is that blasphemous and furious, and outrageous swearing of many men, that if they be never so little offended, and their mind displeased, then they fall to disgorge their filthy stomach upon the name of their creator, and spue out all the venom they can upon his most sacred Majesty, without any fear or reverence; if in their hunting their dogs agree not to their mind, they fall a cursing and swearing, as it were to ease their distempered stomach, by shameless and blasphemous tearing and rending the name of God;
and againe, this ordinary swearing in ones common talke, will at length bring false swearing, it cannot bee auoided, but that hee which vsually sweares vainely, shall now and then sweare falselie, for the often tossing of Gods holy and sacred name, or any of his creatures in ones mouth friuelously and careleslie, doth beget at length such a base opinion and account of these things, that they care not how they vse them. Oh but saith one; I would not sweare indeede, but they constrained mee, and vrged mee to it, for they would not trust mee else: but if they will not,