A20760:136
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.
And thus have I showed that unlawful oaths do not bind the conscience.1 The like may be said of those oaths which contain in them an impossibility of performance, as when we promise that which we have no possible means to do and perform, it being far above our ability and power. Yea but will some say, we promise in baptism by oath,2 that we will perform obedience unto Gods law, the which is impossible for us to perform; and therefore, either that oath is vain, and needless, or else we may lawfully swear unto impossibilities. I answer, that in baptism, which is the Sacrament of the new covenant of grace, we do not promise exact performance of the Law, but Evangelical obedience, that we will heartily desire, and earnestly endeavour with all our power, to yield that obedience which the law requireth; and that in uprightness of our hearts, we will strive and labour to walk in the way of Gods commandments; the which vow and promise every Christian performeth, according to that measure of grace which he hath received. And howsoever it is not at all in our power to yield this Evangelical obedience, yet this impossibility maketh not our oath unlawful, seeing the Lord himself requireth this oath of us, when we make the new covenant of grace, containing a mutual stipulation between God & us; wherein we promise faith, and obedience, and the Lord promiseth his grace and holy spirit, whereby we are enabled to obey his will in some measure; and also the pardon of our sins, and manifold imperfections, whereby we come far short of that exact obedience which his law requireth, if we labouring under the heavy burden of our sins, do strive to shake them off by true ⟨p. 58⟩repentance, and faith in Christ. In which gracious promise of God we resting and trusting, do promise, not rashly and unadvisedly, but in the assurance of faith, that which being impossible unto us, is made possible by Gods promised grace, and the assistance of his holy spirit: and therefore our oath in Baptism maketh nothing for the defence of those, who not required by God, nor having any promise of his assistance to enable them to perform, do rashly and upon their own accord, promise impossibilities, in which number are they, who vow single life.
And thus haue I shewed that vnlawfull oathes doe not bind the conscience.