A52591:287
A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches…
A Declaration of the faith and order owned and practiced in the Congregational churches in England agreed upon and consented unto by their elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy, October 12, 1658.
London: printed by John Field, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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. XXIII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows.
A Lawful Oath is a part of religious Worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.
A Lawful Oath is a part of religious Worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falshood of what he sweareth.
II.
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence: Therefore to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious or dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matters of weight and moment an Oath is warranted by the Word of God under the New Testament, as well as under the Old; so a lawful Oath, being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.