Vindiciæ legis

Insomuch that kingdoms are more the kingdoms of the world then of Christ, and the laws and practises of Commonwealths are such as suit more with humane states, then with the laws of Christ. But I come to the particulars.

Insomuch that kingdomes are more the kingdomes of the world then of Christ, and the lawes and practises of Commonwealths are such as sute more with humane states, then with the lawes of Christ. But I come to the particulars.

And first, whereas it's granted to be lawful by the Law of ¹Moses to swear, now (say some) under the Gospel it's made absolutely unlawful, under any pretence whatsoever, and (say they) here our Saviour forbids it absolutely, Swear not at all; and James, following this of our Saviour, doth the like. Hence their opinion is, that it is not only unlawful to swear falsely and vainly, but at all in any respect. And this (say they) is a perfection required of Christians above those of the Law. Nor is it any wonder that men of late have doubted of this, seeing the Learned show, that some of the Fathers of old have thought it absolutely unlawful for a Christian to swear. In Eusebius one Basilides, a Christian, being commanded to swear, replied, It was not lawful for him, because he was a Christian: And Hierome saith, that to swear was permitted to the Jews, or infants, as to offer sacrifices unto God; yet I cannot see, but that they did swear also, although sometimes they speak as if they thought there were an absolute prohibition of it. Yet Athanasius made a solemn oath, to purge himself, when accused to the Emperor: and Tertullian saith, though the Christians refused to swear per genium Principis, because that they conceived it a devil, yet they did swear per salutem principis.

And first, whereas it's granted to be lawfull by the Law of ¹Moses to swear, now (say some) under the Gospel it's made absolutely unlawfull, under any pretence whatsoever, and (say they) here our Saviour forbids it absolutely, Swear not at all; and James, following this of our Saviour, doth the like. Hence their opinion is, that it is not only unlawfull to swear falsely and vainly, but at all in any respect. And this (say they) is a perfection required of Christians above those of the Law. Nor is it any wonder that men of late have doubted of this, seeing the Learned shew, that some of the Fathers of old have thought it absolutely unlawfull for a Christian to sweare. In Eusebius one Basilides, a Christian, being commanded to swear, replyed, It was not lawfull for him, because he was a Christian: And Hierome saith, that to sweare was permitted to the Jewes, or infants, as to offer sacrifices unto God; yet I cannot see, but that they did swear also, although sometimes they speake as if they thought there were an absolute prohibition of it. Yet Athanasius made a solemne oath, to purge himselfe, when accused to the Emperour: and Tertullian saith, though the Christians refused to swear per genium Principis, because that they conceived it a devill, yet they did swear per salutem principis.