An Oath is a solemn Appeal, made by a Reasonable Creature unto God, for the Confirmation of the Truth and Credit of his Testimony. The use of an Oath is Civil, it being designed for the upholding of Truth and Credit in Humane concerns, or matters wherein one man hath to do with another, which must be, whiles man is naturally and necessarily a Sociable Creature. Sinful men are too much addicted to Falsehood; for, every man is a Liar, as to the inclination of his Natural Corruption: but an Oath carries awe in it, and hath a Moral Obligation in the very Nature of it, to bind men to the Truth, in that ⟨p. 10⟩which they Swear unto, Men are also apt to be Jealous one of another, in point of Veracity, and have manifold occasions to excite this Jealously; whereas common Charity bids us to hope, that men have so much of the Dread of an Oath upon them, as will make them afraid of adding it for the Confirmation of a Lye. And hence, an Oath is Ever an Appendix to a Testimony, for that is the matter about which it is concerned: And it is for the better satisfaction of men, in the maintaining of Communion one with another, of which Truth is the main pillar and supporter. An Oath therefore is Attributed to God, not Properly, but Analogically, or speaking after the manner of men, when He ratifies. His Promises or Threatenings, by such expressions as are suited to our Conceptions. But, though an Oath be Civil in its use, yet it is Sacred in its nature, it being an Act of Worship; and is usually referred to the Third Commandment, having God immediately for its Object, and requiring great Reverence of Him in the using of it; for, it is an appeal unto God, who knows all things, and as He is acknowledged so to do, to be a witness of the Truth & Sincerity of the thing which we attest unto, and of our Hearts in it. It therefore always, Implicitly at least, if not Explicitly, contains in it an Hypothetical Imprecation, viz. ⟨p. 11⟩that the God of Truth would make us Examples of His righteous Displeasure, if we Lye: thus much, and nothing less is included in every Oath. And this is the greatest security that men can give to others of their Veracity; and doth morally leave the greatest awe upon the Consciences of men.
An Oath is a solemn Appeal, made by a Reasonable Creature unto God, for the Confirmation of the Truth and Credit of his Testimony. The use of an Oath is Civil, it being designed for the upholding of Truth and Credit in Humane concerns, or matters wherein one man hath to do with another, which must be, whiles man is naturally and necessarily a Sociable Creature. Sinful men are too much addicted to Falshood; for, every man is a Liar, as to the inclination of his Natural Corruption: but an Oath carries awe in it, and hath a Moral Obligation in the very Nature of it, to bind men to the Truth, in that ⟨p. 10⟩which they Swear unto, Men are also apt to be Jealous one of another, in point of Veracity, and have manifold occasions to excite this Jealously; whereas common Charity bids us to hope, that men have so much of the Dread of an Oath upon them, as will make them afraid of adding it for the Confirmation of a Lye. And hence, an Oath is Ever an Appendix to a Testimony, for that is the matter about which it is concerned: And it is for the better satisfaction of men, in the maintaining of Communion one with another, of which Truth is the main pillar and supporter. An Oath therefore is Attributed to God, not Properly, but Analogically, or speaking after the manner of men, when He ratifies. His Promises or Threatnings, by such expressions as are suited to our Conceptions. But, though an Oath be Civil in its use, yet it is Sacred in its nature, it being an Act of Worship; and is usually referred to the Third Commandment, having God immediately for its Object, and requiring great Reverence of Him in the using of it; for, it is an appeal unto God, who knows all things, and as He is acknowledged so to do, to be a witness of the Truth & Sincerity of the thing which we attest unto, and of our Hearts in it. It therefore always, Implicitly at least, if not Explicitly, contains in it an Hypothetical Imprecation, viz. ⟨p. 11⟩that the God of Truth would make us Examples of His righteous Displeasure, if we Lye: thus much, and nothing less is included in every Oath. And this is the greatest security that men can give to others of their Veracity; and doth morally leave the greatest awe upon the Consciences of men.
