RESOLUTION II.

I am resolved by the grace of God, not only to avoid the wickedness of swearing falsely, but likewise the very appearance of swearing at all.

PERJURY is a sin, condemned by the very laws of nature; insomuch that I should wrong my natural faculties should I give way to, or be guilty of it. For the same nature that tells me, the person of God is to be adored, tells me likewise his name is to be reverenced; and what more horrid impiety can possibly be imagined, than to prostitute the most sacred name of the most high God, to confirm the lies of sinful men? I know swearing in a just matter, and right manner, may be as lawful under the New, as under the Old Testament; for thus I find St. Paul saying, ‘As God is true, I call God for a record upon my soul,’¹⁷⁸¹⁷⁸   2 Cor. i. 18, 23. wherein is contained the very nature of an oath, which is the 162calling God for a record and a witness to the truth of what we speak; but when it is to maintain falsehood, which is to an ill purpose, or lightly and vain, which is to no purpose at all, it is a sin of the highest aggravation, that ought, with the greatest detestation and abhorrence, to be shunned and avoided. God saith, by Moses, ‘Thou shalt not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.’¹⁷⁹¹⁷⁹   Lev. xix. 12. And, ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.’¹⁸⁰¹⁸⁰   Exod. xx. 7.; Deut. v. 11. But further, God says, by Christ, ‘Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool,’ &c. So that not only, by God, and by Jesus, are oaths, but swearing by any of God’s creatures, is, in a manner, to swear by God himself: I swear by the heavens; can the heavens hear, or witness what I say? No; it is the glorious Majesty that rules there, that I call upon to witness the truth of the words I speak, and the sinfulness of my heart for swearing to them. Do I swear by my faith? But how is that? Can faith testify what I say? No, it is only he that wrought this faith in my heart, can witness the truth of my words. And if I swear by the gifts of God, I do in effect swear by God himself; otherwise, I ascribe that to the creature, which is only compatible to the glorious Creator, even the knowledge of the thoughts of my heart, how secret soever they be.

But, again, there is more in the third commandment than the devil would persuade the world 163there is: for, when God commands me ‘not to take his name in vain,’ it is more than if he had commanded me only not to swear by it; for, I cannot persuade myself, but that every time I speak of God, when I do not think of him, take his name in vain: and, therefore, I ought to endeavour to avoid even the mentioning of God, as well as swearing by him, unless upon urgent occasions, and with reverence and respect becoming his Majesty; for, questionless, “O Lord,” and “O God,” may be spoken as vainly, as, “By Lord,” and “By God:” and, therefore, I ought never to speak such words, without thinking really in my heart, what I speak openly with my mouth, lest my name be written amongst those that ‘take the name of God in vain.’ But further still, I am resolved not only to avoid downright swearing, but likewise the very appearance of it: so that what doth but look like an oath, shall be as odious to me, as what looks like nothing else.