An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Thirdly, To swear out of a conceit that this argueth braveness of spirit, a braver spirit than other men have, a spirit of valour and courage, as if according to the fullness of mouthing of Oaths there were a braveness of spirit, this yet is more hideous wickedness; As if that were the courage and excellency of our spirits to fly in the very face of God. Whence it is that many men if any anger them, what do they do? they fall a cursing and swearing, that is, when others displease them they will fly in Gods face, that is the language of it though you will not dare to say so, but that is the language of your practice, others displease and anger me and I to revenge my self will fly in the very face of God. A hideous wickedness there is in this that you do not think of. You that are passionate spirits when you come home and your wives and children or servants anger you, you fall to cursing and swearing, Know you do no other but this, this is the language of your practice, they displease me and to revenge my self I will fly in the very face of God; And whence it is that Gentlemen and Noble-men and those that belong unto them are such great swearers, because they imagine that it is an argument of some braveness of spirit, and that thereby they express a spirit of a higher strain than other men. Oh hideous and abominable wickedness! This is all the valour that many men have that they da•e sin against the glorious God and never be troubled at it; wherea a godly man is described in Scripture, Eccles. 9.2. To be a m•• that feareth in Oath; but for these it is not for them to fear, it is for timorous melancholy poor spirits, but they are m•n of brave spirits, •nd they would have men know that they can swear and not be troubled at it, they have stronger spirits than o her m•n h•ve. Thu• is the bles••• God dishonoured by this sin more than we are aware of.

Thirdly, To swear out of a conceit that this argueth braveness of spirit, a braver spirit than other men have, a spirit of valor and courage, as if according to the fulness of mouthing of Oaths there were a braveness of spirit, this yet is more hideous wickedness; As if that were the courage and excellency of our spirits to fly in the very face of God. Whence it is that many men if any anger them, what do they do? they fall a cursing and swearing, that is, when others displease them they will fly in Gods face, that is the language of it though you will not dare to say so, but that is the language of your practice, others displease and anger me and I to revenge my self will fly in the very face of God. A hiddeous wickedness there is in this that you do not think of. You that are passionate spirits when you come home and your wives and children or servants anger you, you fall to cursing and swearing, Know you do no other but this, this is the language of your practice, they displease me and to revenge my self I will fly in the very face of God; And whence it is that Gentlemen and Noble-men and those that belong unto them are such great swearers, because they imagine that it is an argument of some braveness of spirit, and that thereby they express a spirit of a higher strain than other men. Oh hiddeous and abominable wickedness! This is all the valour that many men have that they dae sin against the glorious God and never be troubled at it; wherea a godly man is described in Scripture,