A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

(2) Our Saviour expressly limiteth his Precept unto our Communication, Let your Communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, ver. 37. There was then amongst men, and that countenanced by the Pharisees, a cursed way of mixing Oaths with mens ordinary Communication. This blasphemous wickedness, as it was a direct violation of the Third Commandment, so it was frequently rebuked by the Prophets. But as other public sins, it grew and increased among the people until their corrupt leaders in compliance with them, began to distinguish what Oaths in common Communication were lawful, and what were unlawful, what were obligatory and what were not. To eradicate this cursed practice our Saviour gives this general Prohibition unto all that would be his Disciples, Swear not at all, that is, in Communication, which is the first design of the Third Commandment. And as there is nothing ⟨p. 152⟩which more openly proclaims a Contempt of Christ and his Authority among many who would be esteemed Christians than their ordinary customary swearing and Cursing by the Name of God, and other Hellish Imprecations which they have invented in their daily Communication; so possibly the observation of the greatness of that evil, its extent and incurableness, hath cast some on the other extreme. But it is no property of a wise man by avoiding one extreme, to run into another.

(2) Our Saviour expresly limiteth his Precept unto our Communication, Let your Communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, ver. 37. There was then amongst men, and that countenanced by the Pharisees, a cursed way of mixing Oaths with mens ordinary Communication. This blasphemous wickedness, as it was a direct violation of the Third Commandment, so it was frequently rebuked by the Prophets. But as other publick sins, it grew and increased among the people until their corrupt leaders in compliance with them, began to distinguish what Oaths in common Communication were lawful, and what were unlawful, what were obligatory and what were not. To eradicate this cursed practice our Saviour gives this general Prohibition unto all that would be his Disciples, Swear not at all, that is, in Communication, which is the first design of the Third Commandment. And as there is nothing ⟨p. 152⟩which more openly proclaims a Contempt of Christ and his Authority among many who would be esteemed Christians than their ordinary customary swearing and Cursing by the Name of God, and other Hellish Imprecations which they have invented in their daily Communication; so possibly the observation of the greatness of that evil, its extent and incurableness, hath cast some on the other extream. But it is no property of a wise man by avoiding one extream, to run into another.