A20559:230
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.
Now in him that takes an oath, this is requisite, without which an oath cannot be lawful, that he require it and be willing to accept it, for if the party unto whom one swears, do not desire nor will not receive an oath, then the oath is a wicked oath, and therefore many men are to be reproved, that in common buying and selling, are so ready to swear, as that though no man be willing, they should swear, yea, rather is grieved and troubled at it, yet every thing of never so light moment, must have the confirmation of an oath joined unto it. But what get they that will make a trade of swearing? surely this, that they grow to be suspected of unfaithfulness, and when they be so lavish of Gods name, both their own harts grow less to reverence it, and others will not believe them, but the more suspect them, the more they think to remove all suspicion; for a godly man and one that hath any true fidelity in him, sets more by the name of God, then to pawn it upon every small occasion, and therefore those may be justly thought most deceitful towards men, that be most profane to God, and he that cares not to dishonour God, will never make any great bones of cozening his neighbour.
Now in him that takes an oath, this is requisite, without which an oath cannot be lawfull, that he require it and be willing to accept it, for if the partie vnto whome one sweares, doe not desire nor will not receiue an oath, then the oath is a wicked oath, and therefore many men are to be reproued, that in common buying and selling, are so readie to sweare, as that though no man be willing, they should sweare, ye, rather is grieued and troubled at it, yet euerie thing of neuer so light moment, must haue the confirmation of an oath joyned vnto it. But what get they that will make a trade of swearing? surely this, that they grow to be suspected of vnfaithfulnesse, and when they be so lauish of Gods name, both their owne harts grow lesse to reuerence it, and others will not beleeue them, but the more suspect them, the more they think to remoue all suspicion; for a godly man and one that hath any true fidelitie in him, sets more by the name of God, then to pawne it vpon euerie smal occasion, and therfore those may be justly thought most deceitfull towards men, that be most prophane to God, and he that cares not to dishonour God, will neuer make any great bones of cousening his neighbour.