A53678:760
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…
A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews viz, on the sixth, seventh, eight, ninth, and tenth chapters : wherein together with the explication of the text and context, the priesthood of Christ ... are declared, explained and confirmed : as also, the pleas of the Jews for the continuance and perpetuity of their legal worship, with the doctrine of the principal writers of the Socinians about these things, are examined and disproved / by J. Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1680
Exegesis of chapter 6 › Exegesis of verses 13, 14, 15, 16: Verse 13, 14, 15, 16.
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.
3. Had an Oath been unlawful under the New Testament God would not have continued the use of it in any kind, lest Christians should thereby be drawn to act against the Rule and his Command. But this he did in that of the Angel, who lifted up his hand unto Heaven and sware by him who liveth for ever and ever, Rev 10. 5, 6. To give a great and an approved example of that which in no case we may imitate, doth not become the Wisdom of God, and his Care towards his Church.
Add unto all these considerations the express Approbation given in this place by our Apostle unto the practice of solemn swearing among men to confirm the truth, and to put an end unto strife, and the lawfulness of an Oath will be found sufficiently confirmed in the New Testament as well as the Old.
There are two places in the New Testament which are usually pleaded in opposition unto this Liberty and Duty. The first is in the words of our Saviour, Matth. 5. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. Ye have heard that it hath been said of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thy self, but thou shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oath. But I say unto you, Swear not at all, neither by Heaven for it is Gods Throne, nor by by Earth for it is his Foot-stool, neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King, neither shalt thou swear by thy Head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black: but let your Communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil. And unto these words of our Saviour the Apostle James hath respect chap. 5. 12. But above all things, my Brethren, swear not, neither by Heaven, neither by Earth, neither by any other Oath, but let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay, lest you fall into Condemnation.