A20760:23
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. II. That it is lawful to take an oath, contrary to the doctrine of the Manichees and Anabaptists.
CHAP. II. That it is lawfull to take an oath, contrarie to the doctrine of the Manichees and Anabaptists.
Nevertheless,1 howsoever a lawful oath is the ordinance of God, and a part of his glory, and to the furthering of our own and our neighbours good, yet the Manichees of old, and the Anabaptists of latter days, have simply condemned all manner of swearing both public and private, as evil and unlawful. But that this their opinion is false, heretical and wicked, it may evidently appear by these reasons: First, because a lawful oath is a part of Gods worship and service, which is expressly commanded in his word. For whereas in the third Commandment he forbiddeth to take his name in vain by usual or false swearing, there in the affirmative part he enjoineth that we should use the holy name of God in a lawful oath, for the setting forth of his glory: and thus this commandment is expounded by Moses and the Prophets. So Deut. 6.13.2 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. And Deut. 10.20. Esa. 65.16. He that shall bless in the earth, shall bless himself in the true God, and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the true God.