C

SERMON V.

MATT. 5. 34.

Swear not at all.

:

OT at all in False, not at all in Ordinary Matters. For that this Prohibition, as universal as it seems to be, extends no farther, I shall endeavour to evince,

1. From the Nature of an Oath.

2. From the Holy Scriptures.

3. From the Practice of the Primitive Christians, And,

4. From the Custom of the Jews, which occafioned it.

1. From the Nature of an Oath. Now (not to insist upon the Neceffity of an Oath; that, considering the General Corruption of Mankind, Kingdoms and Bodies Politick cannot poffibly fubfift without it ; and that the Blesfed Jesus came not to infringe, but to secure the Interests of Princes) an Oath is an act of Religious Worship, a giving Glory to God, an open and solemn Acknowledgment of his most Glorious Attributes. Thereby we declare our Belief of his Omnipresence : That He is in the Heavens and in the Earth, and in the Sea, and in all deep Places. We confess his Omniscience; that all things, even the Secrets of our Hearts, are naked and open unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to do. We acknowledge his Omnipotence: That he can avenge Himself of them, that Swear falfly, and punish the Wrong-doer. And we glorify his Justice, that will by no means hold him guiltless, that taketh his Name in Vain. All this, I say, we do in the taking of an Oath. We extol and magnify the Perfections of our Maker, and proclaim his Goodness and Greatness to all the World. Hence it is, that that he so severely commands the Jews not to Swear by any other Name. Thon halt fear the Lord thy God, (a) says he, (a) Deut. him shalt thou Serve, and to him shalt 10.20. thou cleave, and swear by his Name. And (b) again, Come not among these Nations, (b) Josh. these that remain amongst you, neither 23. 78. make mention of the name of their Gods, nor cause to swear by them, - But cleave unto the Lord your God. And again, most vehemently by his Prophet (c) I(c) Chap. Saiah, I have sworn by my self, the word 45. v.23. is gone out of my Mouth in Righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. He would not have his Glory imparted to any Other; would not suffer them to communicate any part of his Worship to them, that were no Gods. And therefore when (notwithstanding all these Prohibitions) that disobedient and Gain saying People went a Whoring after other Gods, and Sware by their Names, he most passionately resented the Affront, and resolved to punish it with more than ordinary Severity. I will cut off, (d) says he, them that worShip the Host of Heaven upon the house-tops, (d)Zeph... and them that worship, and that swear by the 4, 5. Lord, and that swear by Malchom. And

Jer

Jer. 5.7. How Shall I pardon thee for this? Thy Children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no Gods. And again, Amos 8. 14. They that swear by the Sin of Samaria, and say, Thy God, Ó Dan, liveth, and the manner of Beersheba liveth ; even they shall fall, and never rise up again. But now if to Swear by any other Name but that of God himself, was look'd upon by him as no less than Idolatry, then certainly to Swear by his own Name must be so far from being an Impiety, that 'tis (as I have faid) an Act of Religious Worship, an Act well-pleasing and acceptable in his Sight, Honourable to himself, as well as Beneficial to Men, and consequently in fome Cafes not only Allowable, but highly commendable too. Which I shall attempt to manifest.

2. From the Holy Scriptures. They (e) Pfal.63. that swear by him shall be commended, (e) says the Pfalmist. And accordingly good Men have done it upon just Occafions, in all Ages of the World. Abra(f) Gen, ham caus'd his Servant to Swear to him. Gen.26. Swear, (f) says he, by the Lord, the God of Heaven, and the God of the Earth. (b) Gcn. (g) Ifaac and Abimelech (b) Jacob and

Laban entred into Covenants by Oath. Under the (i) Law God frequently re- (i) Exod. quired it of the Jews. And as for the Deut.6.13. State of the Gospel, every Man, (as (k) c. 10.20. St. Austin well observes against the Pela-) Ep.89. gians) who understands any thing of Tom. 2. the Nature of an Oath, must acknowledge, that we have (1) St. Paul for (1) an Example. The God and Father of Rom. 8. our Lord Jesus Christ, says he, who is 2 Cor.1.23. blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lye Gal. 1. 20. not. And, God is my Witness. And, I call God for a record upon my Soul. And again, Behold before God I lye not. Nay, Our Bleffed Lord himself is known to have done the same thing: That Obligation, which the High Priest at his Arraignment laid upon him to confefs, whether he was the Christ, or not, and to which, after Silence to all other Queftions, he immediately answer'd, being an usual and customary (m) Oath a(m) Vid. mong the Jews. In short, God him-Grot. & self and his Elect Angels have practis'd Hammond it. I heard the man cloathed in Linen, 26. v. 63. says the Prophet (n) Daniel, which was upon the waters of the River, when he v. 7. held up his right hand and his left hand unto Heaven, and sware by him, that liveth for ever. And (o) St. John, The (0) Rev.10. Angel, 5, 6.