M. 1. The case is of exceeding weight: If I should publicly declare that no man is thus bound by a Vow, and I should prove mistaken. 1. Then I become guilty of all these mens sin by justifying it as no sin. 2. And I am guilty of cruelty to their Souls in open telling them that they need not perform their Vows, nor repent of non-performance. 3. And Perjury is one of the heinousest sins on Earth. 4. And the Perjury of Millions or Nations is yet one of the grievousest degrees of guilt. 5. And I do my worst to make God destroy or forsake such a Land. And what yet can I do worse? I say, if in justifying them I should be ⟨p. 129⟩mistaken, what a guilt should I incur? And doth Nature or Scripture bind me to run so great a hazard for so many thousand others.
Besides, he that will be a Casuist must know all the case: there are hundreds and thousands put upon these decisions, that being then Children, knew not who made the Covenant; nor how it was imposed or taken, and many that know not what it is, and never saw it.
And there are thousands, if not millions, that took it, whose Faces I never saw, and know not what moved them, nor in what sense they took it; and Casuists say, that if a man mistake the Imposers sense, he is bound to keep it in the sense that he understood it when he took it, if a lawful one; especially if the Imposers had no Authority, or their sense was doubtful.
And it is not uncharitable for me to think •hat none of the Kings Compounding Lords or Clergy that after took it, did take it in a sense which they thought found? And must I tell them all that none of them is bound to keep it in that sound sense?
I will not run the danger of having thousands in judgment to suffer for Perjury, and saying, This man declared that it was no sin. If they are all Innocent, what need they my justification, when they stand or fall by the judgment of God. If they prove guilty, my declaring it no sin, will not acquit them, but condemn my own Soul by tempting them to impenitence. I do not say that they are obliged by this Vow herein, nor I will not say they are not. There are many matters first to be known, if we agree in point of Doctrine; and I know that it's an easy thing for confident men to multiply words to prove all lawful in this Oath, and to Swear that it is rebellious Hearts that cause our doubtings:
M. 1. The case is of exceeding weight: If I should publickly declare that no man is thus bound by a Vow, and I should prove mistaken. 1. Then I become guilty of all these mens sin by justifying it as no sin. 2. And I am guilty of cruelty to their Souls in open telling them that they need not perform their Vows, nor repent of non-performance. 3. And Perjury is one of the heinousest sins on Earth. 4. And the Perjury of Millions or Nations is yet one of the grievousest degrees of guilt. 5. And I do my worst to make God destroy or forsake such a Land. And what yet can I do worse? I say, if in justifying them I should be ⟨p. 129⟩mistaken, what a guilt should I incur? And doth Nature or Scripture bind me to run so great a hazard for so many thousand others.
Besides, he that will be a Casuist must know all the case: there are hundreds and thousands put upon these decisions, that being then Children, knew not who made the Covenant; nor how it was imposed or taken, and many that know not what it is, and never saw it.
And there are thousands, if not millions, that took it, whose Faces I never saw, and know not what moved them, nor in what sence they took it; and Casuists say, that if a man mistake the Imposers sence, he is bound to keep it in the sence that he understood it when he took it, if a lawful one; especially if the Imposers had no Authority, or their sence was doubtful.
And it is not uncharitable for me to think •hat none of the Kings Compounding Lords or Clergy that after took it, did take it in a sence which they thought found? And must I tell them all that none of them is bound to keep it in that sound sence?
I will not run the danger of having thousands in judgment to suffer for Perjury, and saying, This man declared that it was no sin. If they are all Innocent, what need they my justification, when they stand or fall by the judgment of God. If they prove guilty, my declaring it no sin, will not acquit them, but condemn my own Soul by tempting them to impenitence. I do not say that they are obliged by this Vow herein, nor I will not say they are not. There are many matters first to be known, if we agree in point of Doctrine; and I know that it's an easie thing for confident men to multiply words to prove all lawful in this Oath, and to Swear that it is rebellious Hearts that cause our doubtings:
