A20760:129
Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common…Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common…
Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common sins; namely, the abuses of swearing, drunkenness, whoredom, and bribery. Wherein the greatness and odiousness of these vices is discovered; and the means and remedies, which may either preserve, or wean men from them, are propounded. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of anger. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods word.Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common sinnes; namely, the abuses of swearing, drunkennesse, whoredome, and briberie. Wherein the greatnes and odiousnesse of these vices is discouered; and the meanes and remedies, which may either preserue, or weane men from them, are propounded. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of anger. By Iohn Dovvname Batcheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for William Welby, 1609
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.
CHAP. X. Questions about perjury resolved.
CHAP. X. Questions about periurie resolued.
And thus have I showed what perjury is,1 and the divers kinds thereof. In the next place I will propound, and resolve certain questions about the performance of our oath; which being explained and understood, will make us better discern what we are to esteem perjury, that we may avoid it. And first, it may be demanded, whether we are bound in conscience to perform all our oaths, and if we do not,2 whether we commit this sin of perjury. I answer, that our oath always binds us to performance, if the things which we swear be absolutely, and in respect of us who take the oath, lawful, so that with a good conscience, enlightened by Gods word, we may do them; and withal, if that they be possible, and in our power, so that we can do them; and if we do not perform such an oath we are perjured,3 and fearfully transgress the commandment of God. For as the Lord requireth that we swear when occasion serveth in truth, justice, and judgement;4 so also that having sworn, we perform our oath. So Num. 30.3. Whosoever sweareth an oath to bind himself by a bond, he shall not break his promise, 5but shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. And our Saviour Christ reckoneth this fidelity in performing our oaths, among the weighty matters of the law, yea even the Scribes and Pharisees, though otherwise very corrupt in their doctrine, yet taught this truth out of Gods law: Thou shalt not forswear thy self,