A20760:40
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. III. Of the object of lawful oaths: where is showed that it is only lawful to swear by the name of God alone.
CHAP. III. Of the obiect of lawfull oathes: where is shewed that it is only lawfull to sweare by the name of God alone.
And thus have I showed that a man may in some cases take a lawful oath.1 In the next place we are to show what oaths are lawful, and what unlawful; unto a lawful oath divers things are required, whereof some respect the object of our oaths, some the end, and some the manner.2 In respect of the object it is required that we swear only by the name of God, as may appear by these reasons; first, because the Lord hath as straitly commanded us to swear by him alone, as to worship and serve him alone. So Deut. 6.13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, 3and shalt swear by his name. Esa. 45.23. I have sworn by my self, &c. that every knee shall bow unto me, and every tongue shall swear by me. And 65.16. He that 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. And contrariwise the Lord hath as strictly forbidden us to swear by any other besides himself,4 as appeareth,