A Body of Practical Divinity

2. Vile Swearing, Horrid prodigious Oaths not to be named. Swearers like Mad Dogs, fly in the Face of Heaven, and when they are angered, spue out their blasphemous Venom on Gods Sacred Majesty. Some in Gaming, when things go cross, and the Dice run against them, their Tongues run as fast against God in Oaths and Curses: And tell them of their Sin, go to bring home these Asses from going astray, and it is but pouring Oil on the Flame, they will swear the more. St. Austin saith, They do no less Sin who blaspheme Christ now in Heaven, than the Jews did, who Crucified him upon Earth. Swearers profane Christs Blood, and tear his Name. An Harlot told her Husband, that of her Three Sons, there was but one of them his; the Father dying, desired the Executors to find out which was the true natural Son, and all his Estate he bequeathed to him. The Father being dead, the Executors set up his Corps against a Tree, and delivered to every one of these Three Sons a Bow and Arrows, telling them, that he who could shoot nearest the Fathers Heart should have all the Estate; the Two Bastard Sons shot as near as they could to his Heart, but the Third did feel nature so work in him, that he refused to shoot at his Fathers Heart: Whereupon the Executors judged him to be the true Son, and gave all the Estate to him. Such as are the true Children of God, fear to shoot at him; but such as are Bastards and not Sons, care not, though they shoot at him in Heaven with their Oaths and Curses. And which makes Swearing yet more heinous is, when Men have resolved upon any wicked Action, they bind themselves with an Oath to do it; such were they, Acts 23.12. who bound themselves with an Oath and Curse to kill Paul. To commit Sin is bad enough, but to swear we will commit Sin, is an high Profaning Gods Name, and is as it were to call God to approve our Sin.

2. Vile Swearing, Horrid prodigious Oaths not to be named. Swearers like Mad Dogs, fly in the Face of Heaven, and when they are angred, spue out their blasphemous Venom on Gods Sacred Majesty. Some in Gaming, when things go cross, and the Dice run against them, their Tongues run as fast against God in Oaths and Curses: And tell them of their Sin, go to bring home these Asses from going astray, and it is but pouring Oyl on the Flame, they will swear the more. St. Austin saith, They do no less Sin who blaspheme Christ now in Heaven, than the Jews did, who Crucified him upon Earth. Swearers prophane Christs Blood, and tear his Name. An Harlot told her Husband, that of her Three Sons, there was but one of them his; the Father dying, desired the Executors to find out which was the true natural Son, and all his Estate he bequeathed to him. The Father being dead, the Executors set up his Corps against a Tree, and delivered to every one of these Three Sons a Bow and Arrows, telling them, that he who could shoot nearest the Fathers Heart should have all the Estate; the Two Bastard Sons shot as near as they could to his Heart, but the Third did feel nature so work in him, that he refused to shoot at his Fathers Heart: Whereupon the Executors judged him to be the true Son, and gave all the Estate to him. Such as are the true Children of God, fear to shoot at him; but such as are Bastards and not Sons, care not, though they shoot at him in Heaven with their Oaths and Curses. And which makes Swearing yet more heinous is, when Men have resolved upon any wicked Action, they bind themselves with an Oath to do it; such were they,