A true testimony concerning oaths & swearing &c. as also an answer to the subject matter contained in twelve arguments or reasons laid down in a sermon preached at Carlisle, Aug. 17, 1664 by Allan Smallwood ... to prove that our savior did not forbid all swearing : wherein is fully cleared the command of Christ and his apostle James swear not at all ... / by Ger. Benson.
         Benson, Gervase, d. 1679.
      
       
         
           1669
        
      
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             A true testimony concerning oaths & swearing &c. as also an answer to the subject matter contained in twelve arguments or reasons laid down in a sermon preached at Carlisle, Aug. 17, 1664 by Allan Smallwood ... to prove that our savior did not forbid all swearing : wherein is fully cleared the command of Christ and his apostle James swear not at all ... / by Ger. Benson.
             Benson, Gervase, d. 1679.
          
           47 p.
           
             [s.n.],
             London :
             1669.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Smallwood, Allan, 1608-1686. -- Sermon preached at Carlisle, Aug. 17, 1664.
           Oaths -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           TRUE
           TESTIMONY
           CONCERNING
           Oaths
           &
           Swearing
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           AS
           ALSO
           ,
           An
           Answer
           to
           the
           subject
           matter
           contained
           in
           
             Twelve
             Arguments
          
           or
           Reasons
           (
           laid
           down
           in
           a
           Sermon
           preached
           at
           Carliste
           ,
           Aug.
           17.
           1664.
           by
           
             Allan
             Smalwood
          
           ,
           D.D.
           as
           he
           stiles
           himself
           )
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           our
           Saviour
           did
           not
           forbad
           all
           Swearing
           .
        
         
           
             Wherein
             is
             fully
             cleared
          
           ,
           The
           Command
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostle
           
             Iames
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ,
          
           Matth.
           5.34
           .
           &
           Iam.
           5.12
           .
           from
           the
           corrupt
           glosses
           ,
           limited
           sence
           and
           meanings
           of
           the
           said
           
             A.
             S.
          
           in
           his
           said
           Sermon
           ;
           and
           in
           his
           Reply
           to
           F.H.
           his
           Book
           ,
           called
           ,
           
             Oaths
             no
             Gospel
             Ordinance
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           
             And
             also
          
           ,
           The
           unsatisfactoriness
           and
           unsoundness
           of
           the
           aforesaid
           Arguments
           ,
           fully
           discovered
           ;
           and
           the
           Command
           of
           Christ
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           manifested
           ,
           to
           be
           an
           universal
           prohibition
           of
           all
           Oaths
           and
           Swearing
           whatsoever
           ,
           to
           his
           Disciples
           .
        
         
           Written
           in
           the
           year
           1668.
           
           By
           
             Ger.
             Benson
          
           .
        
         
           
             Psal.
             89.49
             ,
             50.
             
          
           
             Remember
             (
             O
             Lord
             )
             the
             rebuke
             thy
             servants
             have
             ,
             wherewith
             thine
             enemies
             have
             blasphemed
             thee
             ,
             and
             slandered
             the
             footsteps
             of
             thi●●
             Anointed
             .
          
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           ,
           1669.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           READER
           .
        
         
           
             READER
             ,
          
        
         
           VVHat
           I
           have
           written
           in
           this
           little
           Treatise
           (
           not
           being
           after
           man
           ,
           neither
           by
           me
           received
           of
           man
           nor
           from
           man
           )
           I
           have
           therefore
           made
           no
           use
           of
           the
           inticing
           words
           of
           mans
           wisdom
           ,
           neither
           of
           any
           mans
           testimony
           ,
           for
           the
           confirming
           the
           same
           ;
           but
           as
           the
           testimony
           therein
           born
           is
           for
           God
           ,
           &
           the
           truth
           of
           his
           sayings
           ,
           &
           not
           for
           man
           ,
           I
           have
           made
           use
           of
           no
           other
           witness
           than
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           truth
           ,
           which
           proceeded
           from
           the
           spirit
           that
           beareth
           witness
           ,
           because
           the
           spirit
           is
           truth
           ;
           and
           being
           so
           can
           neither
           deceive
           nor
           be
           deceived
           ;
           which
           spirit
           being
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           greater
           than
           man
           ,
           and
           so
           knoweth
           more
           :
           For
           the
           things
           therein
           treated
           of
           ,
           are
           matters
           of
           faith
           ,
           &
           therefore
           
           stands
           not
           in
           the
           wisdom
           of
           words
           or
           of
           men
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           power
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           shuts
           &
           no
           man
           can
           open
           ;
           &
           opens
           &
           no
           man
           can
           shut
           .
           Neither
           indeed
           is
           fallen
           man
           ,
           especially
           a
           swearer
           ,
           a
           competent
           witness
           in
           this
           controversie
           about
           swearing
           ,
           no
           man
           being
           a
           competent
           witness
           in
           his
           own
           cause
           .
           Read
           then
           without
           prejudice
           ,
           own
           with
           understanding
           ,
           or
           answer
           in
           the
           ground
           ,
           without
           contending
           about
           words
           to
           no
           profit
           ;
           For
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           consisteth
           not
           in
           words
           but
           in
           power
           ,
           neither
           in
           meat
           &
           drink
           ,
           but
           righteousness
           and
           peace
           ,
           and
           joy
           in
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           true
           TESTIMONY
           ,
           concerning
           Oathes
           and
           Swearing
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           IN
           the
           day
           that
           Almighty
           God
           created
           Man
           (
           before
           man
           was
           )
           in
           his
           Image
           and
           according
           to
           his
           own
           likeness
           ,
           created
           he
           him
           ,
           male
           and
           female
           created
           he
           them
           ;
           and
           having
           finished
           the
           works
           of
           Creation
           ,
           he
           looked
           upon
           all
           that
           he
           had
           made
           ,
           and
           lo
           it
           was
           very
           good
           :
           And
           having
           also
           made
           the
           Man
           of
           the
           Dust
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           He
           planted
           a
           Garden
           Eastward
           in
           Eden
           ,
           where
           he
           put
           the
           Man
           whom
           he
           had
           made
           :
           And
           that
           Man
           might
           learn
           Obedience
           ,
           the
           Lord
           commanded
           him
           ,
           saying
           ;
           
             Thou
             shalt
             eat
             freely
             of
             every
             Tree
             of
             the
             Garden
             ;
             but
             of
             the
             Tree
             of
             Knowledge
             of
             Good
             and
             Evil
             ,
             thou
             shalt
             not
             eat
             of
             it
             ;
             for
             in
             the
             day
             thou
             eatest
             thereof
             ,
             thou
             shalt
             die
             the
             death
             .
          
           Now
           in
           that
           day
           ,
           there
           was
           no
           strife
           or
           controversie
           ;
           for
           what
           the
           Lord
           commanded
           ,
           it
           was
           done
           ,
           as
           it
           's
           written
           ,
           Psal.
           33.9
           .
           
             For
             he
             spake
             ,
             and
             it
             was
             done
             ;
             he
             commanded
             ,
             and
             it
             stood
             fast
             .
          
           And
           God
           was
           all
           in
           all
           ,
           and
           over
           all
           ,
           the
           Law-giver
           ,
           Judge
           ,
           and
           King.
           And
           as
           then
           there
           was
           no
           sin
           in
           the
           World
           which
           God
           had
           made
           ;
           so
           neither
           was
           there
           any
           controversie
           or
           strife
           betwixt
           Man
           and
           his
           Maker
           ,
           or
           amongst
           the
           Creatures
           of
           God
           ,
           neither
           was
           there
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           ,
           nor
           any
           other
           outward
           or
           visible
           Sign
           ,
           Shadow
           ,
           Type
           ,
           or
           Figure
           ,
           in
           or
           by
           which
           the
           Lord
           was
           to
           be
           worshipped
           ,
           nor
           any
           need
           thereof
           ;
           for
           the
           Lord
           God
           who
           is
           the
           substance
           of
           all
           ,
           was
           all
           in
           all
           ,
           and
           over
           all
           ,
           God
           blessed
           for
           ever
           ;
           who
           was
           worshipped
           not
           in
           words
           ,
           but
           in
           deeds
           ;
           not
           with
           Oaths
           and
           Swearing
           ,
           neither
           in
           set
           Forms
           ,
           Shadows
           ,
           Signs
           ,
           or
           Figures
           ;
           but
           in
           Spirit
           and
           Truth
           ,
           in
           Love
           and
           true
           Obedience
           ,
           which
           was
           and
           is
           better
           than
           Sacrifice
           ,
           or
           the
           fat
           of
           Rams
           :
           And
           in
           that
           day
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Spirit
           which
           is
           Eternal
           (
           and
           nor
           Moral
           )
           was
           the
           rule
           and
           guide
           of
           Man
           in
           his
           Worship
           and
           Service
           of
           God
           ,
           with
           whom
           Man
           in
           his
           Spirit
           had
           unity
           and
           fellowship
           ,
           in
           the
           Light
           ,
           Life
           and
           Truth
           that
           is
           eternal
           and
           unchangeable
           .
           And
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           even
           so
           it
           is
           and
           shall
           be
           in
           the
           day
           of
           restauration
           of
           all
           things
           by
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           
           who
           is
           ,
           and
           was
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           come
           ,
           the
           Almighty
           ;
           Alpha
           and
           Omega
           ,
           the
           first
           and
           the
           last
           ,
           the
           true
           and
           faithful
           Witness
           ,
           the
           Author
           of
           all
           true
           witness-bearing
           .
           But
           Man
           being
           in
           honour
           ,
           continued
           not
           ;
           for
           the
           Serpent
           being
           more
           subtile
           than
           any
           Beast
           of
           the
           field
           ,
           deceived
           the
           Woman
           with
           his
           limitted
           sence
           and
           meaning
           ,
           which
           he
           then
           gave
           to
           the
           positive
           Word
           and
           Command
           of
           God
           (
           even
           as
           the
           spirit
           that
           now
           ruleth
           in
           all
           the
           Chileren
           of
           disobedience
           ,
           with
           his
           limitted
           sense
           and
           commodious
           interpretations
           (
           as
           they
           are
           called
           )
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           Truth
           ,
           doth
           deceive
           the
           simple
           that
           lends
           an
           ear
           unto
           him
           )
           and
           thereby
           brought
           her
           then
           (
           as
           that
           spirit
           doth
           people
           now
           )
           into
           the
           transgression
           of
           the
           Word
           and
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           unto
           which
           no
           man
           ought
           to
           add
           any
           thing
           ,
           neither
           to
           diminish
           ought
           therefrom
           ,
           Deut.
           4.2
           .
           Rev.
           22.
           18
           ,
           19.
           
           
             And
             the
             Woman
             having
             eaten
             of
             that
             which
          
           in
           its
           self
           
             was
             good
          
           (
           and
           therefore
           
             not
             intrinsically
             evil
          
           ,
           mark
           that
           )
           
             gave
             unto
             her
             Husband
             with
             her
             ,
             and
             he
             did
             eate
          
           ;
           who
           having
           eaten
           contrary
           to
           the
           Word
           and
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           sin
           entered
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           the
           world
           into
           mans
           heart
           ,
           and
           death
           by
           sin
           ,
           the
           first
           ground
           or
           cause
           of
           unbelief
           :
           And
           now
           in
           that
           day
           (
           the
           Candle
           of
           the
           wicked
           being
           put
           out
           )
           Death
           and
           Darkness
           passed
           over
           the
           Life
           and
           Truth
           of
           God
           in
           Man
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           Word
           and
           Truth
           of
           God
           (
           the
           ground
           of
           true
           witness-bearing
           )
           which
           was
           and
           is
           Eternal
           (
           not
           Moral
           )
           was
           hid
           from
           their
           eyes
           who
           had
           sinned
           ;
           And
           now
           Man
           being
           deprived
           of
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           ignorant
           of
           his
           Righteousness
           ,
           went
           after
           his
           own
           Inventions
           ,
           so
           that
           as
           it
           is
           written
           ,
           
             Death
             reigned
             from
          
           Adam
           until
           Moses
           ,
           Rom.
           5.14
           .
           And
           now
           in
           that
           day
           the
           Lord
           had
           a
           Controversie
           with
           Man
           by
           reason
           of
           his
           sin
           :
           and
           Man
           in
           his
           sin
           ,
           was
           in
           unbelief
           of
           the
           Word
           and
           Truth
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           ground
           of
           true
           witness-bearing
           .
           Insomuch
           ,
           as
           that
           in
           process
           of
           time
           ,
           when
           Men
           began
           to
           be
           multiplied
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           the
           wickedness
           of
           Men
           waxed
           great
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           went
           into
           strife
           and
           contention
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           until
           blood
           touched
           blood
           :
           And
           in
           this
           estate
           of
           Man
           ,
           Abimelech
           King
           of
           Gerar
           ,
           who
           was
           in
           the
           unbelief
           of
           the
           Word
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           observing
           that
           God
           was
           with
           Abram
           ,
           he
           was
           afraid
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           written
           ,
           
             The
             workers
             of
             Iniquity
             are
             afraid
             ,
             where
             no
             fear
             or
             cause
             thereof
             is
             ,
          
           Psal.
           53.4
           5.
           and
           having
           a
           controversie
           against
           Abram
           concerning
           Sarah
           ,
           Gen.
           20.9
           .
           said
           unto
           
             Abram
             ,
             Swear
             unto
             me
             
             here
             by
             God
             ,
             That
             thou
             wilt
             not
             hurt
             me
             ,
             nor
             my
             Children
          
           ;
           Then
           Abram
           (
           being
           afraid
           of
           his
           life
           ,
           Gen.
           12.12
           .
           and
           also
           having
           a
           controversie
           at
           that
           time
           with
           Abimelech
           ,
           about
           a
           Well
           of
           water
           ,
           Gen.
           21.22
           ,
           23
           ,
           24
           ,
           25.
           )
           said
           ,
           
             I
             will
             Swear
          
           .
           And
           here
           was
           the
           first
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           that
           is
           recorded
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           Truth
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           original
           ground
           or
           cause
           thereof
           ,
           viz.
           Unbelief
           the
           fruit
           of
           sin
           ;
           and
           this
           was
           in
           time
           before
           the
           Lord
           is
           said
           to
           have
           sworn
           ,
           and
           long
           before
           the
           Law
           was
           given
           :
           under
           which
           an
           Oath
           for
           confirmation
           was
           to
           be
           unto
           them
           (
           that
           were
           under
           that
           Law
           )
           an
           end
           of
           all
           strife
           ,
           Heb.
           6.16
           .
           And
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           was
           also
           in
           long
           time
           after
           Witness-bearing
           ;
           for
           we
           read
           ,
           That
           Eve
           before
           the
           Fall
           ,
           did
           bear
           witness
           concerning
           what
           the
           Lord
           had
           said
           ,
           Gen.
           3.2
           ,
           3.
           
           And
           Sarah
           after
           the
           Fall
           (
           and
           in
           time
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           )
           did
           call
           the
           Lord
           to
           witness
           ,
           or
           judge
           betwixt
           her
           and
           Abram
           ,
           Gen.
           16.5
           .
           without
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           .
           So
           that
           witness-bearing
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           before
           the
           Fall
           ,
           and
           so
           in
           time
           ,
           long
           before
           any
           oath
           or
           swearing
           was
           in
           the
           world
           .
           Afterwards
           the
           Lord
           proved
           Abram
           ,
           who
           obeying
           the
           Word
           or
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           The
           Lord
           made
           a
           Promise
           unto
           
             Abram
             ,
             That
             in
             his
             Seed
             all
             the
             Nations
             of
             the
             Earth
             should
             be
             blessed
          
           ;
           and
           to
           shew
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           his
           seed
           ,
           the
           immutability
           of
           his
           Counsel
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           end
           ,
           that
           he
           and
           they
           might
           have
           strong
           consolation
           ;
           The
           Lord
           by
           way
           of
           condescention
           to
           Man
           in
           his
           weakness
           (
           which
           by
           reason
           of
           transgression
           all
           men
           by
           nature
           were
           involved
           in
           )
           gave
           a
           token
           ,
           as
           he
           had
           done
           to
           Noah
           ,
           Gen.
           9.12
           .
           and
           said
           ,
           
             By
             my Self
             have
             I
             sworn
             ,
             because
             thou
             hast
             not
             spared
             thine
             only
             son
             ;
             therefore
             will
             I
             surely
             bless
             thee
             ,
             and
             multiply
             thy
             Seed
             ,
             and
             in
             thy
             Seed
             shall
             all
             the
             Nations
             of
             the
             Earth
             be
             blessed
          
           :
           And
           so
           the
           Lord
           added
           word
           to
           word
           ,
           thereby
           to
           regain
           ,
           or
           beget
           man
           into
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           his
           Word
           and
           Promise
           ;
           and
           that
           by
           two
           immutable
           things
           ,
           wherein
           it
           was
           impossible
           for
           God
           to
           lye
           ;
           man
           might
           have
           full
           assurance
           ,
           that
           what
           the
           Lord
           had
           promised
           he
           would
           perform●
           yet
           notwithstanding
           ,
           they
           believed
           not
           his
           Word
           ,
           neither
           put
           their
           trust
           in
           his
           help
           (
           whom
           he
           had
           chosen
           out
           of
           the
           Nations
           ,
           to
           place
           his
           Name
           among
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           a
           peculiar
           People
           to
           himself
           )
           therefore
           their
           dayes
           he
           consumed
           in
           vanity
           ,
           and
           their
           years
           in
           trouble
           ,
           yet
           he
           helped
           them
           for
           his
           Name-sake
           ,
           and
           made
           his
           Power
           known
           in
           their
           Deliverance
           out
           of
           Egypt
           ,
           and
           leading
           
           them
           through
           the
           Deep
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           sinned
           still
           against
           him
           ,
           and
           provoked
           the
           Highest
           in
           the
           wilderness
           ,
           and
           tempted
           God
           in
           their
           hearts
           ;
           Wherefore
           the
           Lord
           ,
           because
           of
           their
           transgression
           ,
           and
           that
           sin
           by
           the
           commandment
           might
           become
           exceeding
           sinful
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           offence
           might
           abound
           ,
           Rom.
           ●
           .
           20
           .
           added
           the
           Law
           ,
           called
           ,
           The
           first
           Covenant
           or
           Testament
           ,
           Gal.
           3.19
           .
           until
           the
           Seed
           should
           come
           ,
           which
           was
           out
           of
           transgression
           (
           mark
           )
           to
           whom
           the
           Promise
           was
           made
           ,
           which
           Seed
           is
           Christ
           ,
           Gal.
           3.16
           .
           who
           being
           come
           ,
           the
           true
           and
           faithful
           Witness
           ,
           the
           Oath
           and
           Promise
           of
           God
           made
           to
           Abraham
           was
           fulfilled
           and
           performed
           in
           him
           ,
           Luke
           1.72
           ,
           73.
           whom
           God
           had
           appointed
           to
           finish
           the
           transgressions
           ,
           and
           to
           seal
           up
           the
           sins
           (
           that
           were
           under
           the
           first
           Covenant
           which
           was
           not
           faultless
           ,
           Heb.
           8.7
           .
           for
           the
           Law
           made
           nothing
           perfect
           ;
           but
           the
           bringing
           in
           of
           a
           better
           hope
           did
           ,
           Heb.
           7.19
           .
           )
           and
           to
           bring
           in
           everlasting
           Righteousness
           ,
           Dan.
           9.24
           .
           that
           they
           which
           are
           called
           ,
           might
           receive
           the
           eternal
           Inheritance
           .
           So
           Christ
           being
           come
           ,
           in
           whom
           all
           the
           Promises
           of
           God
           are
           Yea
           and
           Amen
           for
           ever
           ;
           he
           was
           the
           end
           of
           the
           Law
           (
           which
           was
           added
           because
           of
           transgression
           ,
           until
           he
           came
           that
           was
           out
           of
           transgression
           )
           for
           Righteousness
           to
           all
           that
           believe
           ,
           by
           whose
           obedience
           ,
           many
           were
           ,
           are
           ,
           and
           shall
           be
           made
           Righteous
           through
           Faith.
           But
           the
           Law
           is
           not
           of
           Faith
           ,
           Gal.
           3.12
           .
           neither
           was
           given
           for
           a
           righteous
           man
           (
           mark
           that
           )
           but
           to
           the
           lawless
           and
           disobedient
           ,
           I
           Tim.
           1.9
           ,
           10.
           
           And
           therefore
           what
           the
           Law
           saith
           ,
           it
           faith
           to
           them
           that
           are
           under
           it
           ,
           viz.
           to
           the
           transgressions
           and
           disobedient
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           Christians
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Faith
           of
           him
           ,
           are
           new
           Creatures
           ,
           and
           therefore
           are
           not
           under
           the
           Law
           of
           a
           carnal
           Commandment
           ,
           which
           was
           peculiar
           to
           the
           Iewes
           ,
           but
           under
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           of
           Faith
           ,
           the
           power
           of
           an
           endless
           life
           ,
           Heb.
           7.16
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Law
           was
           not
           given
           for
           a
           righteous
           man
           ,
           so
           neither
           was
           it
           given
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           :
           For
           God
           shewed
           his
           Word
           unto
           Iacob
           ,
           his
           Statutes
           and
           his
           Judgments
           unto
           Israel
           ;
           He
           dealt
           not
           so
           with
           every
           Nation
           ,
           neither
           had
           the
           Heathen
           knowledge
           of
           his
           Laws
           ,
           Psal.
           147.19
           ,
           20.
           
           And
           therefore
           as
           
             Allan
             Smalwood
          
           faith
           of
           the
           Judicial
           Laws
           ,
           as
           he
           calls
           them
           ;
           I
           may
           say
           of
           the
           whole
           Law
           ,
           written
           (
           whether
           by
           Men
           called
           Moral
           ,
           Judicial
           or
           Ceremonial
           )
           that
           it
           was
           never
           obligatory
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           neither
           to
           us
           ,
           who
           by
           nature
           are
           no
           Iewes
           ,
           nor
           ever
           dwelt
           in
           Canaan
           ;
           And
           so
           what
           was
           
           never
           imposed
           ,
           need
           not
           to
           be
           abolished
           as
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           neither
           to
           us
           ;
           but
           Swearing
           was
           never
           commanded
           by
           God
           unto
           the
           Gentiles
           as
           any
           part
           of
           his
           Worship
           and
           Service
           ,
           therefore
           as
           to
           them
           and
           us
           ,
           who
           by
           Nature
           are
           no
           Iewes
           ,
           nor
           ever
           dwelt
           in
           Canaan
           ,
           it
           was
           never
           Obligatory
           .
           So
           that
           A.S.
           and
           all
           that
           plead
           for
           Oaths
           and
           Swearing
           ,
           with
           all
           their
           Arguments
           drawn
           from
           the
           authority
           of
           that
           which
           they
           call
           the
           Moral
           Law
           ,
           are
           overthrown
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           avail
           them
           ,
           to
           prove
           the
           lawfulness
           of
           Swearing
           amongst
           us
           of
           these
           Islands
           ,
           who
           by
           Nature
           have
           descended
           from
           the
           Gentiles
           and
           not
           from
           the
           Iewes
           :
           And
           therefore
           
             A.
             S.
          
           is
           worthy
           of
           blame
           ,
           in
           going
           about
           to
           lay
           a
           yoke
           (
           which
           neither
           the
           Fathers
           nor
           we
           were
           able
           to
           bear
           )
           upon
           them
           ,
           which
           from
           among
           the
           Gentiles
           are
           turned
           unto
           God
           ,
           and
           are
           become
           Christians
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           which
           the
           Lord
           never
           required
           nor
           laid
           upon
           them
           ,
           Acts
           15.10
           .
           For
           what
           the
           Lord
           required
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           was
           manifest
           in
           them
           ,
           for
           God
           himself
           shewed
           it
           unto
           them
           ,
           Rom.
           1.19
           .
           So
           that
           they
           also
           who
           amongst
           the
           Gentiles
           were
           unfaithful
           to
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           which
           they
           knew
           of
           God
           ,
           were
           likewise
           left
           without
           excuse
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           written
           ,
           
             As
             many
             as
             have
             sinned
             without
             the
             Law
             ,
             shall
             perish
             without
             the
             Law
             ;
             and
             as
             many
             as
             have
             sinned
             in
             the
             Law
             shall
             be
             judged
             by
             the
             Law
             ,
          
           Rom.
           2.12
           .
           And
           as
           to
           the
           Iewes
           ,
           to
           whom
           the
           Law
           was
           peculiarly
           given
           ,
           and
           so
           were
           under
           it
           ,
           and
           therefore
           what
           the
           Law
           said
           ,
           it
           was
           to
           them
           that
           were
           under
           it
           ;
           
             When
             the
             fulness
             of
             time
             was
             come
             ,
             God
             sent
             forth
             his
             Son
             ,
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
             ,
             made
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             redeem
             them
             that
             were
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             receive
             the
             adoption
             of
             sons
             ,
          
           Gal.
           4.4
           .
           That
           so
           both
           Iewes
           and
           Gentiles
           ,
           without
           respect
           of
           persons
           ,
           might
           receive
           in
           Christ
           the
           blessing
           promised
           to
           Abram
           (
           when
           he
           was
           in
           uncircumcision
           )
           through
           the
           righteousness
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           not
           through
           the
           Law
           which
           is
           not
           of
           Faith
           ,
           Gal.
           3.12
           .
           And
           so
           as
           it
           s
           written
           ,
           
             The
             Promise
             is
             sure
             to
             all
             the
             seed
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             that
             only
             which
             is
             of
             the
             Law
             ;
             but
             also
             to
             that
             which
             is
             of
             the
             Faith
             of
          
           Abraham
           ,
           Rom.
           4.16
           .
           although
           they
           were
           never
           under
           the
           Law
           of
           any
           carnal
           commandment
           ,
           nor
           never
           dwelt
           in
           Canaan
           :
           For
           all
           who
           are
           of
           Christ
           ,
           they
           are
           Abrahams
           seed
           ,
           and
           heirs
           according
           to
           promise
           ,
           Gal.
           3.29
           .
           And
           so
           he
           is
           our
           peace
           ,
           who
           hath
           made
           both
           Jew
           and
           Gentile
           one
           ,
           and
           hath
           broken
           down
           the
           middle
           Wall
           of
           Partition
           betwixt
           them
           ,
           having
           abolished
           in
           his
           flesh
           the
           enmity
           ,
           the
           
           Law
           of
           Commandments
           ,
           contained
           in
           the
           Law
           written
           ,
           That
           so
           both
           Jew
           and
           Gentile
           ,
           through
           him
           ,
           might
           have
           access
           unto
           the
           Father
           by
           one
           Spirit
           (
           and
           not
           by
           Swearing
           ,
           or
           observing
           any
           carnal
           Commandment
           )
           and
           might
           worship
           the
           Father
           who
           is
           a
           Spirit
           ,
           not
           in
           the
           oldness
           of
           the
           letter
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           newness
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           the
           Law
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           endless
           Life
           (
           which
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           with
           God
           ,
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           )
           from
           which
           Word
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           that
           is
           Eternal
           (
           not
           Moral
           )
           Man
           departed
           when
           he
           sinned
           ;
           And
           as
           Christ
           is
           our
           Peace
           ,
           he
           is
           also
           our
           Peace-maker
           ,
           by
           taking
           away
           sin
           ,
           and
           finishing
           transgression
           ,
           the
           ground
           or
           cause
           of
           the
           Controversie
           betwixt
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           and
           one
           man
           with
           another
           ,
           and
           bringing
           into
           the
           Heart
           everlasting
           Righteousness
           ,
           he
           reconcileth
           man
           unto
           God
           ,
           and
           one
           man
           unto
           another
           ,
           turning
           the
           hearts
           of
           the
           Fathers
           to
           the
           Children
           ,
           and
           the
           disobedient
           ,
           to
           the
           wisdom
           of
           the
           Just.
           And
           Christ
           Jesus
           coming
           to
           do
           the
           will
           of
           God
           ,
           he
           fulfilled
           the
           Law
           ,
           which
           could
           not
           in
           any
           wise
           pass
           away
           till
           it
           was
           fulfilled
           ,
           Mat.
           5.18
           .
           and
           having
           fulfilled
           the
           Law
           (
           not
           destroyed
           it
           )
           as
           he
           that
           fulfills
           and
           performs
           his
           Covenant
           in
           every
           particular
           ,
           he
           doth
           not
           destroy
           it
           ;
           although
           the
           Covenant
           once
           fulfilled
           ,
           is
           no
           longer
           obligatory
           to
           him
           that
           hath
           fulfilled
           it
           )
           according
           to
           the
           will
           of
           God
           who
           gave
           the
           Law
           ,
           he
           took
           it
           away
           ,
           or
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           disanulled
           the
           first
           Covenant
           or
           Testament
           written
           in
           Tables
           of
           Stone
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           establish
           the
           second
           ,
           Heb.
           10.9
           .
           called
           the
           new
           Covenant
           ,
           written
           not
           with
           Ink
           ,
           but
           with
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Living
           God
           ;
           not
           in
           Tables
           of
           Stone
           ,
           but
           in
           fleshy
           Tables
           of
           the
           Heart
           ,
           according
           to
           2
           Cor.
           33.
           
           Heb.
           8.10
           .
           &
           10.16
           .
           And
           in
           that
           he
           saith
           a
           new
           Covenant
           ,
           he
           hath
           abrogated
           the
           old
           Covenant
           or
           Testament
           ,
           Heb.
           8.13
           .
           For
           being
           Testaments
           ,
           they
           were
           not
           be
           of
           force
           both
           together
           ,
           the
           latter
           being
           in
           its
           self
           a
           revocation
           of
           the
           former
           ;
           and
           where
           a
           Testament
           is
           revoked
           ,
           there
           every
           Legacy
           or
           Gift
           therein
           contained
           ,
           is
           also
           revoked
           and
           taken
           away
           ,
           and
           not
           some
           particulars
           only
           ,
           but
           the
           whole
           ;
           which
           Testament
           ,
           or
           Covenant
           ,
           is
           established
           upon
           better
           Promises
           ,
           That
           so
           
             what
             was
             impossible
             for
             the
             Law
             or
             first
             Testament
             to
             do
             ,
             in
             that
             it
             was
             weak
             through
             the
             flesh
             ,
             God
             sending
             his
             Son
             in
             the
             likeness
             of
             sinful
             flesh
             and
             for
             sin
             ,
             condemned
             sin
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             that
             the
             righteousness
             of
             the
             Law
             might
             be
             fulfilled
             in
             us
             ,
             who
             walk
             not
             after
             the
             flesh
             but
             after
             the
             Spirit
             ,
          
           
           Rom.
           8.2
           ,
           3.
           
           And
           thus
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           will
           of
           God
           ,
           having
           fulfilled
           the
           Law
           (
           not
           destroyed
           it
           )
           which
           was
           not
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           therefore
           was
           not
           to
           abide
           for
           ever
           :
           And
           the
           end
           of
           God
           in
           giving
           the
           Law
           (
           which
           was
           but
           to
           continue
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           as
           a
           School-master
           to
           bring
           to
           Christ
           )
           being
           accomplished
           in
           Christ
           ,
           he
           took
           away
           the
           Law
           or
           first
           Testament
           (
           that
           made
           nothing
           perfect
           ,
           Heb.
           7.19
           .
           )
           which
           was
           not
           of
           Faith
           ,
           being
           changeable
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           stead
           or
           place
           thereof
           ,
           he
           established
           the
           second
           Testament
           or
           new
           Covenant
           ,
           upon
           better
           promises
           ,
           which
           perfecteth
           for
           ever
           them
           that
           are
           Sanctified
           ,
           according
           to
           Heb.
           10.9
           .
           which
           being
           the
           Law
           of
           Faith
           ,
           is
           unchangeable
           and
           abideth
           for
           ever
           :
           So
           that
           Christ
           Jesus
           the
           Mediator
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           the
           faithful
           dispenser
           of
           the
           manifold
           Graces
           of
           God
           ,
           unto
           all
           that
           believe
           ,
           came
           not
           only
           to
           reform
           the
           abuses
           of
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharisees
           ,
           in
           Swearing
           ,
           in
           the
           Temple
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           Priesthood
           ,
           and
           other
           things
           under
           the
           first
           Covenant
           ;
           but
           also
           to
           take
           away
           the
           things
           that
           were
           changeable
           which
           they
           had
           so
           abused
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           stead
           and
           place
           of
           them
           ,
           to
           establish
           that
           which
           is
           unchangeable
           ,
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           upon
           better
           promises
           ,
           Heb.
           8.6
           .
           And
           in
           that
           he
           faith
           a
           New
           Testament
           ,
           he
           hath
           abrogated
           the
           Old
           ,
           Heb.
           8.13
           .
           And
           therefore
           when
           Christ
           Jesus
           (
           the
           true
           and
           faithful
           Witness
           was
           come
           ,
           who
           was
           to
           restore
           all
           things
           as
           in
           the
           beginning
           )
           was
           set
           down
           on
           the
           Mountain
           ,
           and
           his
           Disciples
           (
           whom
           he
           had
           chosen
           out
           of
           the
           World
           to
           be
           his
           Witnesses
           )
           came
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           being
           to
           make
           known
           unto
           them
           that
           were
           to
           bear
           witness
           of
           him
           ,
           the
           true
           Witness-bearing
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           ;
           amongst
           other
           his
           gracious
           words
           ,
           he
           said
           unto
           them
           (
           who
           were
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           then
           were
           come
           to
           be
           his
           Disciples
           )
           and
           not
           to
           the
           multitude
           ,
           
             Ye
             are
             the
             Salt
             of
             the
             Earth
             ,
             ye
             are
             the
             Light
             of
             the
             World
             ;
             let
             your
             Light
             so
             shine
             before
             men
             ,
             that
             they
             seeing
             your
             good
             Works
             ,
             may
             glorifie
             your
             heavenly
             Father
             .
          
           And
           that
           they
           being
           Iews
           ,
           might
           not
           be
           offended
           at
           what
           he
           was
           to
           say
           unto
           them
           ;
           He
           told
           them
           ,
           
             He
             was
             not
             come
             to
             destroy
             the
             Law
             or
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             but
             to
             fulfil
             them
             :
          
           And
           
             that
             not
             one
             jot
             or
             tittle
             should
             pass
             from
             the
             Law
             ,
             till
             it
             should
             be
             fulfilled
          
           (
           mark
           that
           .
           )
           In
           which
           words
           is
           plainly
           shewed
           ,
           That
           as
           the
           Law
           was
           fulfilled
           by
           Christ
           ,
           it
           was
           to
           pass
           away
           ,
           being
           only
           given
           by
           God
           ,
           and
           added
           because
           of
           transgression
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           viz.
           till
           the
           Seed
           should
           come
           ,
           that
           
           was
           out
           of
           transgression
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Law
           being
           temporary
           ,
           was
           changeable
           :
           And
           having
           so
           prepared
           their
           minds
           ,
           he
           told
           them
           among
           other
           Precepts
           in
           the
           Law
           ,
           
             That
             it
             had
             been
             said
             of
             old
             time
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             for
             swear
             thy self
             ,
             but
             shalt
             perform
             thine
             Oaths
             to
             the
             Lord
             :
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ;
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             the
             Throne
             of
             God
             ;
             neither
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             but
             let
             your
             yea
             be
             yea
             ;
             nay
             ,
             nay
             ;
             for
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             than
             these
             ,
             cometh
             of
             evil
             ,
          
           Mat.
           5.34
           .
           &c.
           By
           which
           words
           ,
           (
           which
           are
           the
           interpreters
           of
           the
           heart
           )
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           the
           Oaths
           which
           they
           were
           under
           the
           Law
           to
           perform
           unto
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           which
           Christs
           words
           had
           reference
           unto
           ,
           were
           such
           Oaths
           as
           were
           required
           by
           the
           Law
           ;
           and
           those
           Oaths
           the
           Law
           required
           ,
           were
           by
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           the
           Creatures
           ;
           for
           all
           swearing
           by
           the
           Creatures
           was
           by
           the
           Law
           forbidden
           :
           Which
           being
           so
           ,
           then
           the
           words
           following
           ,
           
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
          
           ,
           (
           who
           were
           to
           be
           Lights
           of
           the
           World
           )
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           a
           prohibition
           of
           all
           Swearing
           by
           the
           Lord.
           And
           that
           he
           added
           ,
           
             Neither
             by
             Heaven
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           Christ
           giveth
           a
           reason
           for
           the
           same
           ,
           Mat.
           23.22
           .
           where
           he
           faith
           ,
           
             He
             that
             sweareth
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             he
             sweareth
             by
             the
             Throne
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             by
             Him
             that
             sitteth
             thereon
          
           ;
           who
           is
           the
           Lord
           :
           And
           therefore
           as
           they
           were
           not
           to
           swear
           by
           the
           Lord
           ,
           so
           neither
           might
           they
           swear
           by
           Heaven
           ,
           it
           being
           Gods
           Throne
           ,
           which
           would
           amount
           to
           swearing
           by
           God
           ,
           that
           sitteth
           thereon
           :
           
             Neither
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
             neither
             by
             Jerusalem
             ,
             neither
             by
             the
             Head
          
           ;
           which
           being
           the
           greatest
           of
           the
           Creatures
           ,
           the
           prohibition
           includeth
           also
           the
           lesser
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           it
           is
           evident
           (
           
             none
             of
             Christs
             words
             being
             spoken
             in
             vain
          
           )
           That
           Christ
           Jesus
           did
           not
           onely
           forbid
           all
           swearing
           by
           the
           Creatures
           ,
           but
           also
           by
           the
           true
           God
           :
           For
           if
           there
           had
           been
           any
           exception
           intended
           by
           Christ
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           ,
           he
           doubtless
           would
           have
           mentioned
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           he
           did
           vers
           .
           32.
           where
           it
           's
           said
           ,
           
             Whosoever
             shall
             put
             away
             his
             Wife
             ,
             except
             it
             be
             for
             fornication
             ,
             causeth
             her
             to
             commit
             adultery
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           For
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           not
           being
           in
           the
           beginning
           with
           God
           ,
           nor
           originally
           of
           him
           ,
           (
           as
           true
           witness-bearing
           was
           )
           but
           being
           added
           (
           because
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           was
           transgressed
           )
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           viz.
           until
           Christ
           Jesus
           the
           true
           and
           faithful
           Witness
           ,
           and
           ground
           of
           all
           true
           witness
           bearing
           ,
           was
           made
           manifest
           ,
           to
           restore
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           at
           the
           first
           .
           Now
           Christ
           being
           come
           ,
           and
           having
           chosen
           his
           Disciples
           out
           of
           the
           
           world
           to
           be
           his
           Witnesses
           ,
           and
           to
           place
           and
           restore
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           unto
           and
           amongst
           them
           ,
           whom
           he
           had
           appointed
           to
           be
           Lights
           and
           good
           Examples
           unto
           the
           World
           ;
           he
           therefore
           took
           away
           Swearing
           ,
           which
           was
           not
           of
           Faith
           ,
           but
           was
           added
           because
           of
           transgression
           ,
           as
           before
           is
           said
           ,
           and
           as
           being
           more
           than
           Yea
           and
           Nay
           ;
           that
           he
           might
           restore
           and
           place
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           which
           is
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           therefore
           to
           abide
           in
           the
           House
           ,
           and
           among
           the
           Houshold
           of
           God
           for
           ever
           .
           For
           it
           is
           evident
           from
           the
           words
           of
           Christ
           ,
           (
           where
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             Let
             your
             yea
             ,
             be
             yea
             ;
             and
             your
             nay
             ,
             nay
             ;
             for
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             than
             these
             ,
             cometh
             of
             evil
          
           )
           that
           swearing
           being
           more
           than
           yea
           and
           nay
           ,
           the
           original
           ground
           or
           cause
           thereof
           in
           man
           ,
           came
           of
           the
           evil
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           the
           good
           ,
           in
           man.
           And
           thus
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           having
           forbidden
           all
           swearing
           whatsoever
           ,
           as
           aforesaid
           ,
           and
           taken
           away
           the
           first
           ground
           or
           cause
           thereof
           ,
           in
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           he
           according
           to
           the
           will
           and
           promise
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           the
           place
           and
           stead
           thereof
           ,
           restored
           the
           pure
           Language
           ,
           the
           Word
           of
           Faith
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Word
           of
           Truth
           that
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           ;
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           which
           ,
           every
           one
           that
           believeth
           with
           his
           Heart
           ,
           cometh
           to
           know
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           do
           the
           Truth
           ,
           to
           confess
           and
           speak
           the
           Truth
           from
           his
           Heart
           unto
           his
           Neighbour
           ,
           or
           before
           a
           Magistrate
           in
           witness-bearing
           .
           And
           this
           Witness
           ,
           being
           of
           God
           ,
           will
           not
           lye
           ,
           and
           is
           therefore
           the
           greater
           Witness
           ,
           which
           every
           one
           that
           believeth
           hath
           in
           himself
           ,
           according
           to
           1
           Iob.
           5.9
           ,
           10.
           
           And
           the
           Testimony
           that
           is
           born
           from
           this
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           this
           word
           of
           Truth
           in
           the
           heart
           in
           witness-bearing
           ,
           is
           in
           Truth
           ,
           in
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           in
           Judgement
           ,
           being
           from
           and
           according
           to
           a
           good
           understanding
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Truth
           (
           which
           is
           in
           Christ
           ,
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           )
           in
           mans
           heart
           ,
           is
           believed
           in
           ,
           it
           doth
           purifie
           and
           make
           clean
           the
           heart
           ,
           by
           taking
           away
           sin
           and
           unbelief
           out
           of
           the
           heart
           ,
           and
           so
           reconcileth
           it
           unto
           God
           ,
           and
           one
           man
           unto
           another
           :
           And
           now
           the
           Testimony
           that
           is
           born
           according
           to
           the
           truth
           in
           the
           heart
           ,
           is
           that
           which
           God
           hath
           appointed
           to
           end
           all
           Controversie
           and
           Strife
           amongst
           men
           ;
           for
           now
           it
           is
           the
           Spirit
           that
           beareth
           witness
           ,
           because
           the
           Spirit
           is
           Truth
           ,
           1
           Iohn
           5.6
           .
           And
           it
           is
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Truth
           which
           leads
           into
           all
           Truth
           ,
           and
           so
           from
           all
           Oaths
           ,
           Shadows
           ,
           and
           Swearing
           ,
           in
           witness-bearing
           ;
           which
           having
           but
           a
           shadow
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           substance
           of
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           when
           the
           substance
           was
           come
           ,
           the
           shadows
           were
           to
           pass
           away
           :
           So
           what
           
           Christ
           Jesus
           received
           of
           his
           Father
           ,
           that
           he
           made
           known
           to
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           as
           he
           said
           ,
           Iob.
           17.8
           .
           
             I
             have
             given
             unto
             them
             the
             words
             which
             thou
             gavest
             me
             ,
             and
             they
             have
             received
             them
             ,
             and
             have
             known
             surely
             that
             I
             came
             out
             from
             thee
             ,
             and
             have
             believed
             that
             thou
             hast
             sent
             me
             .
          
           Insomuch
           as
           the
           Apostle
           Iames
           ,
           when
           he
           writ
           his
           Epistle
           to
           the
           Tribes
           which
           were
           scattered
           abroad
           ,
           he
           put
           them
           in
           mind
           ,
           being
           Jews
           ,
           not
           Gentiles
           ,
           of
           that
           Precept
           of
           Christ
           ,
           where
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             Above
             all
             things
             ,
             my
             Brethren
             ,
             swear
             not
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Iam.
           5.12
           .
           Not
           that
           Swearing
           was
           a
           greater
           offence
           than
           Murder
           or
           Adultery
           :
           But
           they
           ,
           being
           Jews
           (
           and
           not
           Gentiles
           )
           by
           nature
           ,
           had
           a
           Command
           from
           God
           under
           the
           Law
           to
           swear
           ,
           &c.
           were
           apt
           to
           think
           they
           might
           as
           well
           swear
           then
           ,
           as
           they
           might
           before
           .
           (
           Not
           at
           that
           time
           being
           so
           fully
           informed
           that
           
             Christ
             Iesus
             was
             the
             end
             of
             the
             Law
             for
             Righteousness
             to
             them
             that
             believe
             in
             him
             ;
             and
             that
             by
             him
             all
             that
             believe
             are
             justified
             from
             all
             things
             from
             which
             they
             could
             not
             be
             justified
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             ,
          
           Act.
           13.39
           .
           )
           For
           many
           among
           the
           Jews
           which
           then
           believed
           ,
           were
           at
           that
           time
           zealous
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Moses
           ;
           insomuch
           as
           there
           were
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           taught
           the
           Brethren
           ,
           
             That
             except
             they
             were
             circumcised
             ,
             and
             kept
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             be
             saved
             ,
          
           Act.
           15.
           
           &
           21.20
           .
           So
           that
           although
           Adultery
           and
           Murder
           were
           as
           great
           sins
           as
           Swearing
           ,
           yet
           the
           Law
           (
           which
           they
           were
           zealous
           of
           )
           having
           forbidden
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           required
           the
           other
           ,
           it
           was
           more
           difficult
           to
           bring
           them
           off
           from
           Swearing
           ,
           than
           from
           Murder
           or
           Adultery
           .
           And
           therefore
           as
           it
           's
           usual
           amongst
           men
           ,
           to
           exhort
           those
           they
           are
           to
           watch
           over
           ,
           above
           all
           things
           to
           take
           heed
           of
           those
           evils
           they
           have
           been
           most
           addicted
           to
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           things
           they
           have
           been
           trained
           up
           in
           ;
           even
           so
           the
           Apostle
           exhorted
           them
           ,
           being
           Jews
           ,
           to
           remember
           the
           Command
           of
           Christ
           in
           whom
           they
           believed
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           although
           it
           be
           now
           concluded
           that
           Christ
           Jesus
           did
           intend
           by
           those
           words
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           an
           absolute
           ,
           universal
           ,
           and
           unlimited
           prohibition
           of
           all
           manner
           of
           Swearing
           whatsoever
           ,
           (
           as
           indeed
           it
           must
           be
           either
           all
           Swearing
           that
           was
           formerly
           commanded
           ,
           or
           else
           Christ
           in
           that
           Command
           forbid
           nothing
           which
           was
           not
           forbidden
           before
           ;
           nay
           ,
           by
           those
           words
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           he
           made
           the
           case
           about
           Swearing
           more
           questionable
           ,
           dark
           ,
           and
           doubtful
           ,
           than
           it
           was
           before
           ;
           which
           for
           any
           to
           affirm
           ,
           were
           a
           great
           injury
           to
           Christ
           ,
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           of
           God.
           And
           yet
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           in
           forbidding
           all
           manner
           
           of
           Swearing
           whatsoever
           ,
           did
           nothing
           but
           according
           to
           the
           will
           of
           his
           heavenly
           Father
           :
           Nor
           did
           the
           Apostle
           Iames
           ,
           in
           putting
           the
           Jews
           in
           mind
           of
           his
           Masters
           Command
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           any
           thing
           in
           opposition
           ,
           but
           in
           obedience
           to
           the
           requiring
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           And
           now
           of
           the
           things
           before
           written
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           sum
           ,
           That
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           was
           not
           in
           the
           beginning
           with
           God
           ,
           neither
           was
           the
           original
           ground
           or
           cause
           of
           an
           Oath
           &
           Swearing
           ,
           of
           God.
           And
           therefore
           neither
           was
           nor
           is
           an
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           ,
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Law
           eternal
           ,
           nor
           of
           the
           essence
           of
           the
           worship
           and
           service
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           Spirit
           and
           Truth
           .
           But
           the
           original
           ground
           or
           cause
           of
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           amongst
           men
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           was
           the
           Unbelief
           of
           Man
           ,
           (
           in
           God
           ,
           his
           Word
           ,
           and
           Truth
           )
           of
           which
           ,
           Transgression
           was
           the
           first
           ground
           or
           cause
           ,
           which
           not
           being
           any
           fruit
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           (
           as
           true
           witness-bearing
           is
           )
           entred
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           World
           into
           Mans
           heart
           ,
           by
           sin
           and
           death
           .
           And
           therefore
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           is
           not
           any
           part
           of
           the
           worship
           and
           service
           of
           God
           now
           ,
           under
           the
           Spirits
           immediate
           Administration
           .
           And
           the
           Law
           ,
           having
           but
           a
           shadow
           of
           good
           things
           then
           to
           come
           ,
           therefore
           could
           never
           make
           the
           Comers
           thereunto
           perfect
           ,
           as
           the
           bringing
           in
           of
           a
           better
           Hope
           doth
           :
           And
           so
           Christ
           Jesus
           the
           true
           and
           faithful
           Witness
           ,
           that
           ends
           the
           Controversie
           between
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           being
           the
           End
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           (
           under
           which
           the
           Oath
           for
           confirmation
           was
           to
           be
           unto
           them
           that
           were
           under
           it
           ,
           an
           end
           of
           all
           controversie
           and
           strife
           amongst
           men
           )
           for
           Righteousness
           ,
           to
           all
           that
           believe
           ;
           which
           Law
           ,
           not
           being
           of
           Faith
           ,
           was
           to
           be
           taken
           away
           ,
           or
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           when
           Faith
           was
           come
           ;
           which
           was
           before
           the
           Law
           (
           which
           is
           not
           of
           faith
           )
           was
           given
           ,
           or
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           .
           For
           as
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           to
           Israel
           appeared
           ,
           in
           giving
           them
           his
           Laws
           and
           Statutes
           ,
           notwithstanding
           they
           could
           not
           accomplish
           their
           eternal
           Peace
           and
           Happiness
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           weakness
           of
           the
           flesh
           ;
           neither
           could
           be
           taken
           away
           ,
           nor
           they
           freed
           therefrom
           ,
           until
           they
           were
           fulfilled
           ,
           and
           the
           end
           accomplished
           for
           which
           they
           were
           given
           ;
           Even
           so
           the
           Riches
           of
           the
           Love
           of
           God
           appeared
           in
           sending
           forth
           his
           Son
           (
           to
           effect
           that
           which
           the
           Law
           could
           not
           do
           for
           man
           ,
           neither
           could
           man
           free
           himself
           from
           )
           who
           being
           manifested
           in
           the
           flesh
           ,
           the
           Oath
           and
           Covenant
           of
           God
           was
           fulfilled
           in
           him
           :
           And
           to
           as
           many
           as
           received
           ,
           and
           do
           receive
           him
           ,
           by
           believing
           in
           his
           Word
           ,
           which
           is
           night
           in
           
           the
           heart
           ,
           to
           do
           thereafter
           ,
           the
           heart
           cometh
           to
           be
           purified
           ,
           and
           made
           clean
           ,
           and
           being
           prepared
           by
           the
           Lord
           ,
           cometh
           to
           witness
           and
           feel
           the
           Love
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           quicken
           it
           ,
           and
           enable
           it
           to
           every
           good
           work
           :
           So
           that
           
             a
             good
             man
             out
             of
             the
             good
             treasure
             of
             his
             heart
             bringeth
             forth
             good
             things
             ,
          
           Mat.
           12.35
           .
           Speaking
           the
           Truth
           to
           ,
           and
           witnessing
           the
           Truth
           for
           his
           Neighbour
           ,
           according
           to
           and
           from
           a
           good
           understanding
           .
           And
           thus
           the
           righteousness
           of
           the
           Law
           cometh
           to
           be
           fulfilled
           by
           Christ
           in
           us
           ,
           who
           walk
           not
           according
           to
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           but
           according
           to
           the
           Spirit
           ;
           and
           the
           end
           of
           God
           in
           giving
           the
           Law
           accomplished
           ;
           according
           as
           it
           's
           written
           ,
           1
           Tim.
           1.5
           .
           
             The
             end
             of
             the
             Law
             is
             love
             out
             of
             a
             pure
             heart
             ,
             and
             of
             a
             good
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             of
             Faith
             unsained
          
           :
           So
           that
           the
           Law
           which
           required
           an
           Oath
           in
           witness-bearing
           ,
           nor
           any
           other
           part
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           by
           Christ
           ,
           or
           any
           that
           are
           of
           him
           ,
           is
           not
           frustrated
           ,
           neither
           destroyed
           ,
           but
           the
           righteousness
           of
           the
           Law
           by
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           is
           fulfilled
           :
           And
           being
           fulfilled
           ,
           was
           by
           Christ
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           will
           of
           God
           ,
           disanulled
           ,
           abrogated
           ,
           abolished
           ,
           and
           taken
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           with
           all
           Oaths
           ,
           Swearing
           ,
           and
           Signs
           ,
           that
           were
           required
           by
           it
           :
           And
           in
           the
           stead
           and
           place
           thereof
           ,
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Spirit
           and
           of
           Faith
           ,
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           ,
           established
           by
           Christ
           in
           the
           House
           of
           God
           for
           ever
           .
           By
           which
           Law
           of
           Faith
           ,
           the
           Victory
           over
           the
           World
           ,
           Sin
           ,
           and
           Unbelief
           ,
           cometh
           to
           be
           witnessed
           ,
           the
           first
           ground
           or
           cause
           of
           Swearing
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           now
           the
           Righteousness
           of
           God
           (
           without
           the
           Law
           written
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           of
           Faith
           )
           is
           manifested
           (
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           Christ
           that
           shineth
           in
           mans
           heart
           ,
           for
           to
           give
           unto
           man
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           things
           that
           are
           immediate
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           therefore
           are
           spiritual
           ,
           
             not
             moral
          
           )
           being
           witnessed
           by
           the
           Law
           and
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           according
           to
           Rom.
           3.21
           .
           And
           is
           not
           now
           called
           the
           Works
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           but
           the
           Fruits
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ;
           which
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           faith
           ,
           Ephes.
           5.9
           .
           is
           in
           all
           Goodness
           ,
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           Truth
           :
           And
           Gal.
           5.22
           ,
           23.
           is
           
             Love
             ,
             Ioy
             ,
             Peace
             ,
             Long
             suffering
             ,
             Gentleness
             ,
             Goodness
             ,
             Faith
             ,
             Meekness
             ,
             Temperance
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           And
           so
           the
           Cause
           being
           removed
           ,
           the
           Effect
           ceaseth
           .
           From
           all
           which
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           That
           true
           Witness-bearing
           was
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           :
           And
           the
           Law
           that
           is
           Perfect
           and
           Eternal
           ,
           was
           (
           though
           hid
           from
           their
           Eyes
           whose
           Minds
           were
           alienated
           from
           the
           Life
           and
           Light
           of
           God
           ,
           because
           of
           the
           hardness
           of
           their
           
           Hearts
           )
           before
           the
           Law
           in
           the
           Tables
           of
           Stone
           ,
           was
           written
           :
           And
           the
           Lord
           was
           worshipped
           in
           Spirit
           and
           Truth
           ,
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           :
           And
           therefore
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           neither
           is
           ,
           nor
           ever
           was
           ,
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Law
           eternal
           ,
           nor
           of
           Faith
           ,
           neither
           any
           essential
           part
           of
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           in
           Spirit
           and
           Truth
           ,
           which
           is
           unchangeable
           and
           spiritual
           :
           So
           that
           the
           laying
           aside
           ,
           or
           taking
           away
           of
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           in
           witness-bearing
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           destroy
           witness-bearing
           ,
           but
           the
           reducing
           it
           to
           its
           Original
           Verity
           and
           Purity
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           from
           all
           Oaths
           and
           Swearing
           ;
           which
           was
           added
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           till
           the
           true
           Witness
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           was
           made
           manifest
           and
           restored
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Prophesies
           that
           were
           written
           of
           and
           concerning
           Christ
           :
           And
           as
           true
           witness-bearing
           ,
           was
           in
           time
           ,
           before
           any
           Oath
           or
           Swearing
           was
           ,
           (
           and
           therefore
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           was
           not
           ,
           neither
           is
           ,
           of
           the
           essence
           and
           substance
           of
           true
           witness-bearing
           )
           even
           so
           the
           Truth
           was
           before
           any
           Lye
           ;
           although
           the
           Lyar
           is
           more
           ancient
           than
           the
           Swearer
           .
        
         
           Now
           these
           things
           being
           so
           ,
           why
           should
           men
           professing
           God
           and
           Godliness
           ,
           and
           Christianity
           ,
           go
           about
           to
           continue
           an
           Oath
           and
           Swearing
           in
           witness-bearing
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           which
           is
           everlasting
           ,
           and
           was
           preached
           to
           Abraham
           before
           the
           Law
           of
           Oaths
           was
           ,
           or
           any
           Swearing
           was
           commanded
           or
           required
           by
           God
           ,
           Gal.
           3.8
           .
           which
           had
           its
           beginning
           and
           ending
           in
           time
           ,
           not
           being
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Faith
           ,
           that
           abideth
           for
           ever
           ;
           and
           therefore
           was
           and
           is
           changable
           ,
           being
           of
           those
           things
           that
           might
           be
           shaken
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           be
           removed
           :
           That
           true
           witness-bearing
           (
           which
           being
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           therefore
           cannot
           be
           shaken
           )
           may
           remain
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           ,
           O
           ye
           called
           Christians
           ,
           let
           it
           not
           seem
           to
           you
           a
           thing
           so
           grievous
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           Bondwoman
           (
           Unbelief
           )
           and
           her
           Son
           (
           Swearing
           )
           cast
           out
           ;
           for
           assuredly
           it
           must
           not
           inherit
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           with
           the
           Son
           of
           the
           Freewoman
           ,
           (
           
             True
             Witness-bearing
          
           .
           )
        
         
           And
           now
           these
           things
           thus
           premised
           ,
           being
           a
           true
           Testimony
           concerning
           Oaths
           and
           Swearing
           ,
           &c.
           
           I
           proceed
           to
           answer
           the
           subject
           matter
           contained
           and
           laid
           down
           in
           Twelve
           Arguments
           or
           Reasons
           ,
           whereby
           
             Allan
             Smallwood
          
           hath
           endeavoured
           to
           prove
           (
           but
           in
           vain
           )
           that
           our
           Saviour
           did
           not
           forbid
           all
           Swearing
           ,
           when
           he
           said
           unto
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           Mat.
           5.34
           .
        
         
           
           
             Arg.
             1.
             
          
           
             The
             first
             Argument
             (
             as
             it
             is
             stated
             by
             
               A.
               S.
            
             in
             his
             Reply
             to
             
               F.
               H.
            
             his
             Book
             intituled
             ,
             
               Oaths
               no
               Gospel
               .
               Ordinance
            
             ,
             &c.
             )
             is
             ,
             
               
                 That
                 the
                 Father
                 and
                 the
                 Son
                 are
                 one
                 and
                 the
                 same
                 God
                 immutable
                 in
                 Nature
                 and
                 Will
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 mutability
                 would
                 argue
                 imperfection
                 )
                 and
                 consequently
                 cannot
                 issue
                 forth
                 contrary
                 Commands
                 ,
                 for
                 that
                 would
                 evidence
                 a
                 contrariety
                 or
                 mutability
                 in
                 their
                 Will
                 :
                 And
                 the
                 Father
                 having
                 commanded
                 Swearing
                 ,
                 the
                 Son
                 surely
                 hath
                 not
                 forbidden
                 it
                 .
              
            
          
           
             The
             Argument
             runs
             thus
             :
             
               
                 Whatever
                 the
                 Father
                 hath
                 commanded
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Son
                 hath
                 not
                 forbidden
                 :
              
               
                 But
                 the
                 Father
                 hath
                 commanded
                 Swearing
                 ,
                 
                   Deut.
                   6.13
                   .
                
              
               
                 Therefore
                 the
                 Son
                 hath
                 not
                 forbidden
                 it
                 .
              
            
          
           
             Answer
             .
          
           
             And
             in
             the
             first
             place
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             the
             Argument
             in
             this
             Case
             is
             not
             fairly
             stated
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             there
             is
             a
             difference
             between
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             which
             was
             and
             is
             eternal
             ,
             and
             so
             unchangeable
             ,
             as
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             in
             itself
             is
             ;
             and
             the
             Commands
             of
             God
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             which
             was
             given
             to
             the
             People
             of
             Israel
             for
             a
             time
             onely
             ,
             and
             so
             were
             temporary
             ,
             to
             wit
             ,
             till
             the
             Seed
             came
             to
             whom
             the
             promise
             was
             made
             ,
             Gal.
             3
             19.
             to
             be
             a
             Schoolmaster
             to
             bring
             them
             to
             Christ
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             be
             justified
             by
             faith
             ,
             Gal.
             3.24
             .
             But
             after
             the
             saith
             was
             come
             ,
             they
             were
             no
             longer
             (
             by
             Gods
             ordination
             )
             to
             be
             under
             the
             Schoolmaster
             ,
             vers
             .
             25.
             
             So
             that
             when
             Christ
             the
             Seed
             ,
             to
             whom
             the
             promise
             was
             made
             ,
             was
             come
             ,
             &c
             had
             fulfilled
             all
             that
             was
             written
             concerning
             him
             in
             the
             Law
             ,
             in
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Psalms
             ,
             the
             Law
             of
             Commandments
             that
             was
             not
             of
             faith
             ,
             Gal.
             3.12
             .
             was
             to
             be
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             the
             end
             for
             which
             it
             was
             given
             being
             accomplished
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             will
             of
             God.
             So
             that
             although
             God
             the
             Father
             commanded
             Swearing
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             till
             Christ
             the
             true
             and
             faithful
             Witness
             was
             made
             manifest
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             and
             restored
             the
             true
             Witness-bearing
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             in
             the
             beginning
             before
             Swearing
             was
             ,
             unto
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             whom
             he
             had
             chosen
             out
             of
             the
             World
             to
             be
             his
             Witnesses
             ;
             and
             that
             Christ
             Jesus
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             
             in
             that
             Precept
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             did
             forbid
             all
             Swearing
             to
             his
             Disciples
             ;
             yet
             there
             neither
             was
             ,
             nor
             is
             any
             mutability
             or
             change
             in
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             nor
             contrariety
             in
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Son
             ,
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             his
             Father
             ;
             for
             what
             the
             Son
             did
             command
             ,
             it
             was
             according
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             ,
             and
             what
             he
             received
             of
             his
             Father
             :
             Now
             that
             Swearing
             was
             commanded
             by
             the
             Law
             
               A.
               S.
            
             confesseth
             ;
             And
             that
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             was
             to
             pass
             away
             ,
             or
             to
             be
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             when
             the
             true
             Witness
             and
             Witness-bearing
             (
             was
             made
             manifest
             )
             which
             was
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             ,
             is
             before
             fully
             manifested
             :
             So
             that
             the
             Argument
             in
             this
             case
             truly
             stated
             ,
             runs
             thus
             ;
             
               That
               what
               God
               the
               Father
               did
               command
               to
               his
               People
               Israel
               only
               for
               a
               time
               ,
               and
               for
               such
               an
               end
               ;
               the
               time
               being
               fully
               come
               ,
               and
               the
               end
               accomplished
               ,
               the
               Command
               so
               given
               ,
               is
               no
               longer
               of
               force
               ,
               nor
               obligatory
               .
            
             And
             therefore
             ,
             there
             is
             in
             this
             case
             ,
             no
             contrariety
             or
             mutability
             in
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             nor
             contrariety
             in
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             his
             Father
             ,
             in
             that
             Command
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             :
             That
             Command
             of
             God
             the
             Father
             ,
             Deut.
             6.13
             .
             which
             was
             temporary
             ,
             being
             according
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             first
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             That
             the
             Command
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             might
             be
             established
             for
             ever
             ,
             according
             to
             Heb.
             10.9
             .
             
               He
               taketh
               away
               the
               first
               ,
               that
               he
               might
               establish
               the
               second
               .
            
             And
             the
             Prophesie
             ,
             Psal.
             108.
             
             Judah
             
               is
               my
               Law-giver
            
             .
             That
             so
             the
             servant
             ,
             who
             was
             not
             by
             God's
             appointment
             to
             abide
             in
             the
             house
             for
             ever
             ,
             might
             give
             place
             to
             the
             Son
             ,
             who
             is
             to
             abide
             in
             the
             house
             for
             ever
             :
             And
             that
             God
             the
             Father
             did
             give
             several
             Commands
             only
             to
             be
             observed
             and
             to
             continue
             for
             a
             time
             without
             any
             mutability
             in
             his
             Will
             ,
             is
             evident
             from
             the
             testimony
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             ;
             As
             Gen.
             22.2
             .
             where
             the
             Lord
             commanded
             Abram
             to
             take
             his
             only
             son
             Isaac
             and
             offer
             him
             for
             a
             burnt
             offering
             ,
             &c.
             
             And
             in
             vers
             .
             12.
             the
             Lord
             commanded
             him
             not
             to
             lay
             his
             hand
             upon
             the
             Child
             ,
             neither
             do
             any
             thing
             unto
             him
             :
             And
             Mat.
             2.13
             .
             
               Ioseph
               was
            
             commanded
             ,
             
               to
               take
               the
               Babe
               ,
               and
               his
               Mother
               ,
               and
               flee
               into
               Egypt
               ,
               and
               be
               there
               till
            
             (
             mark
             )
             
               I
               bring
               thee
               word
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             And
             in
             vers
             .
             19.
             
             When
             Herod
             
               was
               dead
            
             ,
             he
             was
             commanded
             
               to
               take
               the
               Babe
               and
               his
               Mother
               ,
               and
               go
               into
               the
               Land
               of
            
             Israel
             :
             And
             yet
             there
             was
             no
             change
             or
             contrariety
             in
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             although
             there
             was
             several
             and
             contrary
             Commands
             ,
             the
             one
             ,
             
               To
               flee
               into
               Egypt
            
             ;
             and
             
             the
             other
             ,
             
               To
               return
               into
               the
               Land
               of
               Israel
               :
            
             So
             likewise
             ,
             Gal.
             4.1
             ,
             2
             ,
             &c.
             it
             's
             said
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Heir
               ,
               as
               long
               as
               he
               is
               a
               Child
               ,
               differeth
               nothing
               from
               a
               Servant
               ,
               though
               he
               be
               Lord
               of
               all
               ;
               but
               is
               under
               Tutors
               and
               Governors
               ,
               until
               the
               time
               appointed
               of
               the
               Father
               .
            
             By
             which
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             That
             though
             Israel
             according
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             was
             to
             be
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             which
             was
             not
             of
             Faith
             ,
             for
             a
             time
             as
             a
             servant
             ;
             yet
             it
             was
             never
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             their
             condition
             should
             alwayes
             be
             so
             ,
             but
             only
             until
             the
             time
             appointed
             :
             which
             time
             being
             come
             ,
             they
             were
             to
             be
             freed
             from
             that
             Law
             ,
             
               that
               they
               might
               receive
               the
               adoption
               of
               sons
            
             :
             For
             although
             the
             Lord
             had
             forbidden
             Moses
             ,
             and
             all
             others
             ,
             to
             add
             any
             thing
             to
             ,
             or
             diminish
             any
             thing
             from
             what
             was
             written
             in
             the
             Law
             ;
             yet
             He
             had
             not
             limitted
             himself
             but
             that
             he
             might
             add
             to
             ,
             or
             take
             from
             what
             he
             had
             given
             in
             command
             and
             that
             without
             any
             mutability
             in
             his
             Will
             :
             And
             if
             the
             Father
             at
             sundry
             times
             did
             give
             forth
             several
             Commands
             ,
             and
             that
             contrary
             one
             to
             another
             ,
             without
             any
             mutability
             in
             his
             Will
             (
             in
             that
             sense
             which
             A.S.
             doth
             affirm
             )
             Then
             the
             Son
             ,
             who
             doth
             whatsoever
             he
             seeth
             the
             Father
             do
             ;
             did
             not
             give
             forth
             that
             Command
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             contrary
             to
             ,
             but
             in
             obedience
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             his
             Father
             :
             For
             although
             the
             words
             of
             the
             Commands
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             and
             Deut.
             6.13
             .
             in
             themselves
             are
             contrary
             ,
             yet
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             the
             Son
             ,
             was
             in
             perfect
             unity
             ,
             without
             any
             contrariety
             :
             But
             the
             contrariety
             is
             in
             that
             mind
             that
             is
             Carnal
             ,
             and
             therefore
             neither
             is
             ,
             nor
             can
             be
             subject
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             Rom.
             8.7
             .
             which
             being
             in
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             is
             Spiritual
             and
             Eternal
             ,
             and
             not
             Moral
             .
          
           
             So
             that
             such
             now
             whose
             minds
             are
             alienated
             from
             the
             Light
             and
             Life
             of
             God
             ,
             are
             ignorant
             of
             the
             Righteousness
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             the
             Jews
             formerly
             were
             ,
             who
             had
             Moses
             read
             in
             their
             Synagogues
             every
             Sabbath
             day
             (
             for
             where
             Moses
             is
             read
             ,
             the
             vail
             is
             upon
             the
             heart
             to
             this
             day
             ,
             2
             Cor.
             3.15
             .
             )
             so
             that
             such
             do
             not
             see
             now
             ,
             no
             more
             than
             the
             Jews
             did
             then
             ,
             the
             end
             of
             that
             which
             is
             abolished
             :
             Nevertheless
             now
             as
             then
             ,
             all
             whose
             minds
             are
             turned
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             believe
             in
             his
             Light
             that
             shines
             in
             their
             hearts
             for
             to
             give
             unto
             them
             the
             Knowledge
             of
             God
             in
             the
             face
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Law
             in
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             written
             not
             in
             tables
             of
             stone
             ,
             but
             in
             the
             heart
             ;
             which
             Law
             was
             before
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             
             was
             written
             ,
             or
             any
             vail
             was
             .
             They
             in
             the
             Light
             Eternal
             see
             the
             end
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             which
             was
             not
             of
             Faith
             ;
             and
             the
             Law
             abolished
             ,
             under
             which
             an
             Oath
             for
             confirmation
             was
             to
             be
             unto
             them
             that
             were
             under
             it
             ,
             an
             end
             of
             all
             controversie
             and
             strife
             :
             And
             also
             in
             the
             Light
             that
             was
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             ,
             they
             see
             and
             know
             the
             true
             and
             faithful
             Witness
             ,
             Christ
             Jesus
             in
             them
             ,
             from
             whom
             all
             true
             Witness-bearing
             is
             ;
             and
             so
             the
             true
             Witness-bearing
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             in
             the
             beginning
             ,
             which
             no
             Vail
             ,
             Shadow
             ,
             or
             natural
             Light
             can
             discern
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             2.14
             .
             And
             thus
             all
             who
             do
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             by
             believing
             in
             him
             whom
             God
             hath
             sent
             ,
             they
             come
             to
             know
             Christs
             Doctrine
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             to
             be
             his
             that
             sent
             him
             ,
             
               to
               be
               a
               Light
               to
               the
               Gentiles
               ,
               and
               the
               Glory
               to
               his
               People
               Israel
               .
            
             And
             is
             it
             equal
             ,
             O
             ye
             sons
             of
             men
             ,
             That
             those
             whose
             eyes
             God
             hath
             opened
             ,
             and
             unto
             whom
             God
             hath
             given
             the
             Light
             of
             Eternal
             Life
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             be
             compelled
             to
             walk
             by
             the
             same
             guide
             ,
             the
             blind
             are
             led
             by
             ,
             in
             their
             witness-bearing
             ?
             Would
             it
             not
             be
             a
             thing
             unreasonable
             ,
             for
             to
             require
             him
             who
             hath
             his
             perfect
             sight
             ,
             when
             the
             Sun
             shines
             to
             shew
             him
             his
             way
             ,
             to
             require
             him
             to
             have
             a
             man
             take
             him
             by
             the
             hand
             and
             lead
             him
             on
             his
             way
             ,
             as
             the
             natural
             blind
             are
             led
             ?
             Hath
             not
             the
             Lord
             in
             all
             Ages
             put
             a
             difference
             betwixt
             them
             that
             feared
             his
             Name
             ,
             and
             trembled
             at
             his
             Word
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             feared
             him
             not
             ,
             but
             walked
             after
             the
             stubbornness
             of
             their
             own
             hearts
             ,
             and
             after
             their
             own
             inventions
             ?
             And
             if
             the
             Lord
             hath
             so
             done
             ,
             and
             so
             doth
             ,
             ought
             not
             all
             those
             who
             are
             his
             Ministers
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             to
             do
             the
             like
             ?
          
           
             But
             A.S.
             further
             saith
             ,
             
               That
               Oaths
               are
               commanded
               by
               the
               Moral
               Law
               ,
               and
               that
               the
               Ten
               Commandments
               are
               the
               summary
               of
               it
               :
            
             And
             doth
             grant
             ,
             
               That
               Oaths
               are
               no
               Gospel
               Ordinance
               .
            
             And
             also
             saith
             ,
             
               That
               our
               Saviour
               came
               not
               to
               destroy
               ,
               but
               fulfil
               the
               Moral
               Law
               ;
               And
               therefore
               Swearing
               ,
               being
               enjoyned
               by
               the
               Moral
               Law
               ,
               must
               be
               now
               of
               as
               much
               force
               as
               ever
               it
               was
               .
            
             He
             also
             affirmeth
             ,
             
               That
               Christ
               did
               not
               abolish
               the
               Iudicial
               and
               Ceremonial
               Law
               ,
               once
               commanded
               by
               God
               ;
               because
               the
               one
               was
               peculiarly
               given
               to
               the
               Iews
               ,
               and
               so
               concerns
               us
               not
               at
               all
               :
               And
               the
               other
               was
               temporary
               ,
               expiring
               at
               Christ's
               Death
               ,
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             Answ.
             The
             words
             ,
             
               Law
               ,
               Covenant
            
             ,
             and
             Testament
             ,
             are
             general
             and
             comprehensive
             words
             ;
             every
             of
             them
             including
             or
             comprehending
             
             in
             themselves
             ,
             all
             the
             Words
             ,
             Sentences
             ,
             Gifts
             ,
             Ordinances
             ,
             or
             Precepts
             ,
             that
             was
             required
             ,
             and
             commanded
             the
             People
             of
             Israel
             by
             the
             Lord
             at
             that
             time
             ;
             And
             therefore
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             limited
             by
             man
             ,
             or
             distinguished
             into
             Morals
             ,
             Judicials
             ,
             and
             Ceremonials
             ,
             as
             thereby
             to
             lessen
             the
             Authority
             of
             one
             ,
             to
             set
             up
             another
             above
             it
             ,
             after
             the
             Rudiments
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             not
             after
             Christ
             ;
             who
             saith
             ,
             
               He
               that
               shall
               break
               one
               of
               the
               least
               of
               the
               Commands
               ,
               and
               teach
               men
               so
               ,
               shall
               be
               called
               the
               least
               in
               the
               Kingdom
               of
               Heaven
               ,
            
             Mat.
             5.19
             .
             And
             it
             's
             written
             ,
             Deut.
             27
             ,
             26.
             
             
               Cursed
               is
               every
               one
               that
               continueth
               not
               in
               all
               things
               which
               are
               written
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               the
               Law
               to
               do
               them
               ,
            
             Gal.
             3.10
             .
             
               And
               Christ
               came
               not
               only
               to
               fulfil
               ,
            
             this
             or
             that
             part
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             the
             whole
             Law
             ;
             yea
             ,
             every
             
               iote
               and
               title
            
             ,
             that
             then
             was
             written
             ,
             Mat.
             5.18
             .
             Neither
             is
             he
             said
             to
             be
             the
             end
             of
             this
             or
             that
             part
             (
             whether
             by
             men
             called
             Moral
             ,
             Judicial
             ,
             or
             Ceremonial
             ;
             for
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Lord
             hath
             made
             no
             such
             distinctions
             of
             the
             Law
             )
             but
             of
             the
             Law
             in
             general
             ,
             yea
             all
             that
             was
             written
             in
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             ,
             in
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Psalms
             concerning
             him
             ,
             Luke
             24.44
             .
             And
             as
             the
             Law
             was
             fulfilled
             ,
             it
             was
             to
             pass
             away
             ,
             or
             to
             be
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             the
             end
             being
             accomplished
             for
             which
             it
             was
             given
             :
             And
             being
             abolished
             ,
             Eph.
             2.15
             .
             abrogated
             and
             disanulled
             ,
             Heb.
             8.13
             .
             and
             taken
             away
             ,
             or
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             Heb.
             10.9
             .
             Col.
             2.14
             .
             2
             Cor.
             3.7
             ,
             11.
             
             The
             Law
             or
             Power
             of
             the
             endless
             Life
             ,
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Spirit
             and
             of
             Faith
             ;
             which
             is
             not
             Moral
             ,
             but
             Spiritual
             and
             Eternal
             ,
             the
             new
             Covenant
             or
             Testament
             which
             is
             unchangeable
             ,
             the
             Righteousness
             of
             God
             (
             without
             the
             Law
             in
             the
             letter
             )
             was
             and
             is
             manifested
             in
             the
             heart
             ,
             to
             do
             thereafter
             ,
             being
             witnessed
             by
             the
             Law
             and
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             Rom.
             3.21
             .
             Ier.
             31.33
             .
             Heb.
             8.10
             .
             according
             to
             the
             Promise
             of
             God
             ;
             That
             so
             the
             blessing
             of
             Abram
             might
             come
             on
             the
             Gentiles
             through
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             that
             they
             together
             with
             the
             Jews
             ,
             to
             whom
             the
             Law
             in
             the
             letter
             was
             peculiarly
             given
             ,
             might
             receive
             the
             Promise
             of
             the
             Spirit
             through
             Faith
             ,
             Gal.
             3.14
             .
             Rom.
             4.16
             .
          
           
             And
             whereas
             
               A.
               S.
            
             faith
             ,
             
               That
               Christ
               did
               not
               abolish
               the
               Iudicial
               and
               Ceremonial
               Law
               ,
               once
               commanded
               by
               God
               ,
               because
               the
               one
               was
               peculiarly
               given
               to
               the
               Iews
               ;
               and
               the
               other
               was
               temporary
               ,
               expiring
               at
               Christs
               Death
               .
            
          
           
           
             Answ.
             If
             Christ
             did
             not
             abolish
             the
             Judicial
             nor
             Ceremonial
             Law
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             called
             and
             distinguished
             by
             
               A.
               S.
            
             Then
             it
             must
             needs
             follow
             ,
             and
             be
             granted
             ;
             That
             Christ
             did
             abolish
             ,
             abrogate
             ,
             disanul
             ,
             take
             away
             ,
             or
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             the
             Law
             which
             
               A.
               S.
            
             calls
             Moral
             ;
             or
             else
             Christ
             abolished
             no
             Law
             at
             all
             :
             But
             it
             is
             evident
             from
             the
             plain
             testimony
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             before
             mentioned
             ,
             Eph.
             2.15
             .
             Heb.
             8.13
             .
             &
             10.9
             .
             Col.
             2.14
             .
             2
             Cor.
             3.7
             ,
             11.
             
             That
             Jesus
             Christ
             did
             abolish
             ,
             abrogate
             ,
             disannul
             ,
             take
             away
             ,
             or
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             the
             Law
             of
             Commandments
             contained
             in
             the
             Law
             written
             ,
             the
             old
             or
             first
             Covenant
             or
             Testament
             ,
             the
             hand-writing
             of
             Ordinances
             ,
             the
             Ministration
             of
             Death
             written
             with
             letters
             ,
             and
             engraven
             in
             stones
             ;
             And
             therefore
             ,
             If
             Christ
             (
             as
             
               A.
               S.
            
             hath
             affirmed
             )
             did
             not
             abolish
             the
             Judicial
             and
             Ceremonial
             Laws
             ;
             Then
             ,
             as
             is
             before
             said
             ,
             it
             must
             of
             necessity
             follow
             and
             be
             concluded
             ,
             That
             Christ
             Jesus
             did
             abolish
             ,
             abrogate
             ,
             disannul
             ,
             take
             away
             ,
             or
             out
             of
             the
             way
             that
             Law
             which
             
               A.
               S.
            
             calls
             Moral
             :
             For
             the
             Scriptures
             testimony
             in
             the
             places
             before
             mentioned
             ;
             are
             either
             true
             or
             false
             .
             To
             say
             they
             are
             false
             ,
             is
             blasphemy
             ;
             because
             they
             were
             written
             by
             Divine
             Inspiration
             ,
             and
             the
             infallible
             guidance
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             :
             And
             therefore
             being
             true
             ;
             Then
             that
             Law
             (
             which
             
               A.
               S.
            
             calls
             Moral
             ,
             of
             which
             he
             also
             affirmeth
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             to
             be
             a
             part
             ,
             or
             required
             by
             )
             was
             by
             Christ
             abolished
             ,
             abrogated
             ,
             disannulled
             ,
             taken
             away
             or
             out
             out
             of
             the
             way
             :
             And
             the
             Law
             by
             which
             Swearing
             was
             commanded
             being
             abolished
             ,
             All
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             commanded
             or
             required
             by
             that
             Law
             ,
             must
             of
             necessity
             be
             abolished
             with
             the
             Law.
             Now
             these
             things
             being
             so
             ,
             All
             the
             Arguments
             and
             Distinctions
             ,
             with
             all
             the
             Conclusions
             and
             clouds
             of
             Witnesses
             that
             
               A.
               S.
            
             hath
             laid
             down
             ,
             made
             and
             brought
             in
             ,
             to
             prove
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             some
             Swearing
             now
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             from
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Moral
             Law
             ,
             as
             he
             calls
             it
             ,
             are
             made
             void
             ,
             and
             are
             become
             of
             none
             effect
             .
             And
             therefore
             
               A.
               S.
            
             is
             worthy
             of
             blame
             ,
             in
             affirming
             so
             confidently
             ,
             That
             if
             Swearing
             be
             enjoyned
             by
             the
             Moral
             Law
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             of
             as
             much
             force
             now
             as
             ever
             :
             And
             it
             may
             be
             of
             concern
             to
             
               A.
               S.
            
             before
             he
             begin
             his
             History
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             that
             he
             find
             out
             some
             other
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             than
             that
             he
             call
             Moral
             ,
             to
             ground
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             Oaths
             upon
             ,
             lest
             he
             build
             upon
             a
             sandy
             Foundation
             ;
             
             and
             so
             labour
             in
             vain
             ;
             For
             himself
             acknowledgeth
             (
             in
             pag.
             303.
             of
             his
             Reply
             to
             F.H.
             )
             it
             was
             a
             certain
             truth
             ,
             That
             Christ
             gave
             no
             new
             Command
             in
             matters
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             nor
             in
             any
             other
             ,
             more
             than
             what
             was
             formerly
             enjoyned
             in
             the
             Moral
             Law.
             And
             besides
             ,
             in
             his
             
               Epistle
               to
               the
               Reader
            
             ,
             he
             saith
             ,
             
               That
               no
               Orthodox
               man
               had
               ever
               said
               ,
               That
               Oaths
               were
               ever
               any
               Gospel
               Ordinance
               ,
            
             (
             or
             to
             that
             effect
             )
             but
             on
             the
             contrary
             their
             Tenent
             is
             ,
             That
             they
             are
             commanded
             in
             the
             Moral
             Law
             ;
             which
             Law
             being
             abolished
             (
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             )
             by
             Christ
             ,
             and
             no
             other
             Law
             of
             God
             being
             found
             that
             requires
             Swearing
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             but
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             a
             positive
             Law
             of
             Christ
             given
             to
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               Not
               to
               swear
               at
               all
            
             ;
             It
             cannot
             be
             of
             any
             service
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             or
             his
             People
             ,
             to
             write
             such
             a
             History
             :
             But
             rather
             to
             exhort
             People
             to
             mind
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             to
             have
             a
             regard
             to
             all
             his
             Commands
             ,
             which
             being
             in
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             that
             helps
             the
             infirm
             ,
             are
             not
             grievous
             ;
             and
             to
             walk
             in
             the
             Light
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             they
             may
             have
             no
             occasion
             of
             stumbling
             at
             the
             Command
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             .
             For
             as
             it
             were
             a
             sin
             ,
             to
             deny
             obedience
             to
             any
             Ordinance
             or
             Command
             of
             God
             in
             its
             time
             ;
             even
             so
             it
             is
             a
             sin
             also
             ,
             for
             any
             to
             use
             or
             practise
             any
             Command
             of
             God
             as
             a
             part
             of
             his
             worship
             &
             service
             ,
             for
             any
             other
             end
             ,
             or
             longer
             time
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             given
             for
             ,
             or
             ordained
             by
             God.
             Which
             Errour
             ,
             Christians
             have
             justly
             condemned
             in
             the
             Jews
             ,
             for
             holding
             up
             for
             Ordinances
             and
             Commands
             of
             God
             (
             Circumcision
             ,
             Passeover
             ,
             Temple
             ,
             the
             seventh
             Day
             Sabbath
             ,
             and
             many
             other
             things
             required
             and
             commanded
             by
             God
             in
             the
             Law
             ,
             or
             first
             Testament
             ,
             as
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             was
             under
             the
             first
             Testament
             commanded
             the
             Jews
             )
             after
             that
             Christ
             Jesus
             was
             ascended
             to
             his
             Father
             ,
             and
             had
             sent
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             to
             lead
             his
             Disciples
             into
             all
             Truth
             ;
             which
             Truth
             being
             the
             substance
             of
             all
             Oaths
             ,
             Shadows
             ,
             Types
             ,
             Figures
             ,
             and
             Signs
             ,
             that
             were
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             which
             had
             but
             a
             shadow
             of
             the
             good
             things
             to
             come
             ,
             Heb.
             10.
             1.
             
             Which
             when
             David
             in
             the
             Light
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             had
             manifested
             to
             him
             (
             he
             being
             a
             Prophet
             )
             in
             which
             Light
             he
             saw
             Light
             ,
             even
             the
             Law
             ,
             whereof
             the
             Lord
             had
             said
             unto
             him
             ,
             
               Thou
               art
               my
               Son
               ,
               this
               day
               have
               I
               begotten
               thee
               ,
            
             Psal.
             2.7
             .
             He
             then
             said
             (
             having
             seen
             the
             end
             of
             that
             which
             was
             to
             be
             abolished
             )
             that
             in
             burnt
             Offerings
             and
             Sacrifices
             the
             Lord
             took
             no
             delight
             ,
             neither
             had
             pleasure
             
             therein
             ;
             
               Sacrifice
               and
               Offerings
               ,
               thou
               wouldest
               not
               ,
               but
               a
               body
               hast
               ordained
               me
               ;
               in
               Offerings
               and
               Sin
               Offerings
               thou
               hast
               no
               pleasure
               ,
               Heb.
            
             10.5
             ,
             6.
             
             So
             that
             although
             such
             as
             do
             not
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             do
             not
             see
             the
             end
             of
             that
             which
             is
             abolished
             ,
             neither
             know
             Christs
             Doctrine
             ;
             yet
             all
             who
             do
             believe
             in
             him
             ,
             whom
             God
             hath
             sent
             a
             Light
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             they
             know
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             to
             be
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             according
             to
             godliness
             ,
             Iob.
             7.16
             ,
             17.
             
          
           
             But
             to
             proceed
             to
             
               A.
               S.
            
             his
             second
             Argument
             ,
             which
             runs
             thus
             ;
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             2.
             
          
           
             
               Whatsoever
               at
               all
               times
               ,
               as
               well
               under
               the
               Gospel
               as
               under
               the
               Law
               ,
               tends
               in
               an
               especial
               manner
               to
               the
               glory
               of
               God
               ,
               that
               is
               neither
               Ceremonial
               nor
               forbidden
               by
               Christ.
               
            
             
               But
               some
               Swearing
               at
               all
               times
               as
               well
               under
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               as
               under
               the
               Law
               ,
               tends
               in
               a
               special
               manner
               to
               the
               glory
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               And
               therefore
               all
               Swearing
               ,
               is
               neither
               a
               Ceremonial
               Ordinance
               ,
               nor
               forbidden
               by
               Christ.
               
            
          
           
             Answ.
             God
             is
             not
             now
             ,
             nor
             ever
             was
             glorified
             in
             an
             especial
             manner
             by
             his
             Creatures
             ,
             but
             as
             they
             did
             and
             do
             obey
             his
             Commands
             ,
             and
             so
             do
             the
             thing
             he
             requireth
             of
             them
             :
             As
             it
             's
             written
             ,
             
               Obedience
               is
               better
               than
               Sacrifice
               ,
               and
               to
               do
               the
               will
               of
               God
               is
               better
               than
               the
               fat
               of
               Rams
               .
            
             And
             although
             it
             be
             granted
             that
             some
             Swearing
             under
             the
             Law
             did
             tend
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             done
             in
             obedience
             to
             his
             requiring
             ;
             yet
             it
             doth
             not
             follow
             that
             now
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             any
             swearing
             doth
             tend
             in
             an
             especial
             manner
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ;
             because
             the
             Law
             in
             or
             by
             which
             it
             was
             commanded
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             ,
             is
             abolished
             ;
             and
             swearing
             now
             forbidden
             by
             Christ
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             to
             all
             his
             Disciples
             .
             And
             again
             ,
             as
             hath
             been
             before
             proved
             ,
             Swearing
             was
             never
             any
             essential
             part
             of
             the
             worship
             of
             God
             in
             Spirit
             and
             Truth
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             not
             any
             part
             of
             the
             Law
             Eternal
             ,
             neither
             in
             the
             beginning
             with
             God
             ,
             nor
             originally
             of
             him
             ;
             as
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             was
             .
             And
             therefore
             swearing
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             not
             being
             required
             ,
             but
             forbidden
             by
             Christ
             ,
             without
             whom
             no
             man
             can
             glorifie
             God
             ,
             doth
             not
             tend
             in
             an
             especial
             manner
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             doth
             ;
             so
             that
             this
             Argument
             ,
             and
             the
             conclusion
             thereupon
             made
             ,
             is
             of
             no
             force
             ,
             to
             prove
             any
             swearing
             to
             tend
             in
             an
             especial
             manner
             
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             :
             But
             to
             do
             truth
             ,
             confess
             the
             truth
             ,
             and
             to
             speak
             the
             truth
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             or
             in
             our
             communications
             ,
             doth
             not
             only
             tend
             to
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             the
             benefit
             of
             our
             Neighbour
             ;
             and
             is
             therefore
             acceptable
             unto
             God
             ,
             and
             profitable
             unto
             Men.
             
          
           
             And
             so
             I
             proceed
             to
             the
             third
             Argument
             ,
             which
             is
             this
             ,
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             3.
             
          
           
             
               If
               Christ
               forbad
               Swearing
               ,
               Then
               it
               was
               either
               because
               it
               was
               repugnant
               to
               our
               duty
               to
               God
               ,
               or
               repugnant
               to
               our
               duty
               to
               our
               Neighbour
               .
            
             
               But
               some
               Swearing
               ,
               is
               neither
               repugnant
               to
               our
               duty
               to
               God
               ,
               (
               whose
               glory
               in
               sundry
               particulars
               it
               advanceth
               )
               nor
               repugnant
               to
               our
               duty
               to
               our
               Neighbour
               ,
               to
               whom
               thereby
               much
               advantage
               may
               accrue
               in
               several
               respects
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               Christ
               forbad
               not
               all
               Swearing
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             This
             Argument
             is
             framed
             much
             like
             the
             question
             put
             to
             Christ
             ,
             concerning
             the
             man
             that
             was
             blind
             from
             his
             birth
             ;
             
               Who
               did
               sin
               ,
               this
               man
               or
               his
               Parents
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               born
               blind
               ?
            
             To
             which
             question
             ,
             Jesus
             answered
             ,
             
               Neither
               hath
               this
               man
               sinned
               ,
               nor
               his
               Parents
               ;
               but
               that
               the
               work
               of
               God
               might
               be
               made
               manifest
               .
            
             So
             I
             may
             say
             ,
             What
             if
             Christ
             forbad
             swearing
             ,
             neither
             because
             it
             was
             repugnant
             to
             our
             duty
             to
             God
             ,
             nor
             to
             our
             Neighbour
             ;
             but
             that
             the
             Work
             ,
             Power
             ,
             and
             Will
             of
             God
             might
             be
             made
             manifest
             in
             and
             by
             Christ
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             known
             unto
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               That
               all
               power
               in
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               was
               committed
               unto
               him
               ,
            
             Mat.
             28.18
             .
             And
             that
             as
             he
             had
             power
             to
             take
             away
             ,
             He
             had
             also
             power
             to
             give
             ,
             alter
             ,
             and
             change
             Laws
             ,
             the
             Government
             being
             laid
             upon
             his
             shoulders
             ,
             Isa.
             9.6
             .
             to
             whom
             also
             all
             Judgment
             was
             committed
             .
             But
             for
             further
             Answer
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             whatever
             is
             acted
             by
             man
             as
             an
             essential
             part
             of
             the
             worship
             and
             service
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             the
             Lord
             doth
             not
             require
             ,
             is
             repugnant
             to
             our
             duty
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             so
             hath
             the
             Lord
             testified
             in
             all
             ages
             ,
             as
             appears
             Gen.
             4.5
             .
             Isa.
             58.
             
             Ier.
             14.11
             ,
             12
             ,
             13.
             
             Isa.
             1.10
             ,
             
               &c.
               Mat.
            
             15.8
             ,
             9.
             
             But
             swearing
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             the
             Lord
             hath
             not
             required
             ,
             but
             forbidden
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             :
             Therefore
             it
             is
             repugnant
             to
             our
             duty
             to
             God
             (
             whom
             we
             are
             to
             obey
             ,
             and
             our
             superiours
             in
             him
             ,
             and
             for
             him
             )
             and
             being
             repugnant
             to
             our
             duty
             to
             God
             ,
             it
             cannot
             be
             truly
             advantagious
             to
             our
             Neighbours
             ,
             
             whom
             we
             are
             to
             love
             as
             our selves
             .
             Again
             ,
             there
             is
             nothing
             of
             advantage
             can
             accrue
             to
             our
             Neighbour
             by
             swearing
             ,
             which
             true
             witness-bearing
             doth
             not
             fully
             supply
             where
             it
             is
             received
             :
             Nay
             ,
             there
             is
             much
             more
             surety
             to
             our
             Neighbour
             by
             true
             witness-bearing
             (
             than
             by
             swearing
             )
             because
             a
             true
             witness
             will
             not
             lye
             .
          
           
             The
             fourth
             Argument
             is
             thus
             formed
             :
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             4.
             
          
           
             
               That
               interpretation
               of
               our
               Saviours
               words
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               ,
               which
               renders
               the
               following
               words
               vain
               ,
               and
               impertinent
               ,
               is
               false
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             Answ.
             That
             Christ
             intended
             what
             he
             said
             ,
             I
             hope
             no
             Christian
             will
             deny
             :
             And
             that
             those
             words
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             were
             spoken
             by
             Christ
             ,
             and
             are
             in
             themselves
             a
             prohibition
             of
             all
             swearing
             whatsoever
             ,
             is
             evident
             :
             And
             that
             they
             were
             spoken
             by
             Christ
             (
             not
             by
             way
             of
             compliance
             with
             what
             had
             been
             said
             before
             to
             them
             of
             old
             time
             )
             but
             in
             the
             contrary
             thereof
             ,
             is
             apparent
             by
             the
             words
             ;
             
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               :
            
             Which
             words
             ,
             if
             they
             signifie
             nothing
             but
             what
             was
             before
             said
             ,
             Then
             should
             they
             not
             only
             be
             to
             no
             purpose
             ,
             but
             hurtful
             ,
             by
             making
             the
             case
             of
             swearing
             more
             dark
             and
             questionable
             than
             it
             was
             before
             under
             the
             Law
             :
             which
             for
             any
             man
             to
             affirm
             ,
             were
             a
             great
             injury
             to
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ;
             And
             therefore
             Christ
             having
             spoken
             all
             those
             words
             ,
             
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               ,
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             And
             that
             in
             the
             contrary
             of
             what
             was
             said
             before
             ,
             as
             the
             word
             but
             ,
             (
             and
             the
             words
             )
             
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             do
             import
             :
             It
             is
             manifest
             that
             Christ
             did
             in
             that
             command
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             forbid
             somewhat
             that
             was
             not
             forbidden
             by
             the
             Law
             :
             And
             consequently
             ,
             all
             swearing
             whatsoever
             ,
             whether
             by
             the
             Lord
             ,
             or
             by
             the
             Creatures
             ;
             And
             that
             Christ
             added
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             the
             Earth
             ,
             Jerusalem
             ,
             the
             Head
             ,
             they
             being
             the
             chiefest
             of
             the
             visible
             Creatures
             ,
             all
             the
             other
             creatures
             being
             the
             lesser
             or
             inferiour
             are
             included
             ,
             the
             greater
             comprehending
             the
             less
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             words
             following
             ,
             and
             precedent
             ,
             are
             all
             significant
             and
             useful
             :
             For
             being
             the
             words
             of
             Christ
             ,
             not
             any
             of
             them
             are
             to
             be
             rejected
             ;
             but
             all
             and
             every
             word
             established
             :
             And
             therefore
             it
             were
             more
             beseeming
             Christians
             ,
             to
             give
             all
             diligence
             to
             observe
             the
             Law
             ,
             and
             Command
             of
             Christ
             ;
             then
             to
             invent
             and
             frame
             Arguments
             against
             his
             words
             ,
             which
             are
             in
             themselves
             plain
             ,
             and
             have
             no
             ambiguity
             in
             them
             ;
             and
             being
             so
             according
             to
             the
             
             rule
             ,
             when
             in
             words
             there
             is
             no
             ambiguity
             ,
             there
             no
             Exposition
             is
             to
             be
             made
             against
             the
             words
             expressed
             :
             For
             in
             doubtful
             speech
             we
             utter
             not
             a
             doubtful
             sence
             ,
             but
             only
             that
             which
             we
             mean
             ;
             Therefore
             ,
             he
             which
             speaketh
             one
             thing
             ,
             and
             meaneth
             another
             ,
             neither
             doth
             he
             utter
             that
             which
             the
             word
             signifieth
             ,
             because
             he
             meaneth
             not
             so
             ,
             neither
             that
             which
             he
             meaneth
             ,
             because
             he
             speaketh
             it
             not
             :
             Which
             for
             any
             man
             to
             affirm
             of
             the
             words
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             were
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             said
             ,
             a
             great
             injury
             to
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             ,
             from
             which
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             were
             given
             forth
             .
             All
             which
             words
             of
             Christ
             being
             in
             themselves
             prohibitions
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             no
             exceptions
             (
             as
             the
             words
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             case
             of
             Divorcement
             were
             ,
             where
             it
             's
             said
             ,
             
               Except
               for
               the
               cause
               of
               Fornication
            
             )
             do
             the
             more
             confirm
             and
             illustrate
             the
             extent
             of
             the
             Command
             .
             And
             being
             the
             words
             of
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             they
             are
             neither
             vain
             nor
             impertinent
             ,
             No
             more
             than
             those
             words
             in
             the
             fourth
             Commandment
             ,
             
               In
               it
               thou
               shalt
               do
               no
               manner
               of
               work
               ,
               nor
               thy
               Son
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             All
             which
             were
             included
             in
             those
             general
             words
             before-going
             ,
             
               Remember
               the
               Sabbath
               day
               to
               keep
               it
               holy
               :
            
             Or
             the
             enumerating
             all
             those
             words
             written
             in
             the
             Tables
             of
             Stone
             ,
             which
             were
             all
             briefly
             comprehended
             in
             those
             few
             words
             ,
             
               Thou
               shalt
               love
               the
               Lord
               thy
               God
               with
               all
               thy
               heart
               ;
               '
               And
               thy
               Neighbour
               as
               thy self
               .
            
             And
             yet
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             wiser
             than
             men
             ,
             knowing
             whereof
             we
             ,
             as
             men
             ,
             have
             need
             ,
             spoke
             all
             those
             words
             in
             the
             Law.
             And
             where
             the
             Law-giver
             hath
             made
             no
             exception
             ,
             he
             to
             whom
             the
             Law
             is
             given
             ought
             not
             .
             And
             so
             I
             conclude
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             is
             perfect
             ,
             and
             a
             full
             prohibition
             of
             all
             swearing
             unto
             his
             Disciples
             ;
             and
             being
             perfect
             ,
             no
             man
             ought
             to
             add
             any
             thing
             thereunto
             ,
             or
             diminish
             any
             thing
             from
             it
             .
             And
             so
             I
             proceed
             to
             the
             fifth
             Argument
             .
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             5.
             
          
           
             
               Nothing
               that
               of
               it self
               is
               not
               intrinsically
               evil
               is
               forbidden
               by
               Christ
               (
               and
               that
               is
               proved
               by
               induction
               .
               )
            
             
               But
               Swearing
               is
               not
               of
               it self
               intrinsically
               evil
               ;
            
             
               And
               therefore
               Christ
               did
               not
               forbid
               it
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             The
             thing
             in
             Dispute
             is
             not
             ,
             Whether
             Christ
             did
             ever
             forbid
             any
             thing
             that
             was
             not
             of
             it self
             evil
             ?
             But
             ,
             whether
             Christ
             
             hath
             forbidden
             all
             Swearing
             ?
             Which
             that
             Christ
             hath
             forbidden
             all
             swearing
             ,
             his
             own
             words
             (
             which
             are
             the
             interpreters
             of
             the
             heart
             )
             do
             prove
             .
             And
             one
             single
             testimony
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             ,
             is
             of
             more
             strength
             than
             a
             thousand
             surmises
             ,
             or
             meer
             humane
             witnesses
             .
             And
             therefore
             Swearing
             being
             forbidden
             by
             Christ
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             it
             is
             the
             duty
             of
             Christians
             to
             apply
             themselves
             to
             yield
             obedience
             to
             his
             Command
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             frame
             Arguments
             to
             evade
             the
             same
             ,
             or
             to
             ask
             a
             Reason
             wherefore
             he
             so
             did
             :
             And
             yet
             we
             read
             ,
             That
             God
             commanded
             Circumcision
             and
             Sacrifices
             ,
             which
             in
             themselves
             are
             not
             evil
             ,
             and
             yet
             forbidden
             in
             the
             New
             Covenant
             :
             And
             we
             also
             read
             ,
             That
             God
             forbad
             Adam
             to
             
               eat
               of
               the
               Tree
               of
               Knowledge
               of
               Good
               and
               Evil
            
             ;
             which
             Tree
             and
             its
             Fruit
             of
             themselves
             ,
             were
             not
             intrinsically
             evil
             .
             And
             the
             use
             of
             several
             other
             Creatures
             ,
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             was
             forbidden
             the
             People
             of
             Israel
             .
             And
             what
             God
             the
             Father
             did
             forbid
             ,
             it
             was
             by
             his
             Word
             ;
             And
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Word
             and
             Power
             of
             God
             ,
             he
             forbid
             his
             Disciples
             to
             go
             into
             the
             way
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             enter
             into
             any
             of
             the
             Cities
             of
             the
             Samaritans
             ,
             Mat.
             10.5
             .
             And
             he
             charged
             his
             Disciples
             
               they
               should
               tell
               the
               Vision
               to
               no
               man
               ,
               until
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             Mat.
             17.
             9.
             
             And
             that
             they
             should
             
               call
               no
               man
               Master
               upon
               the
               Earth
               ,
            
             Mat.
             23.
             9.
             
             None
             of
             which
             of
             themselves
             were
             intrinsically
             evil
             .
             But
             that
             which
             concerns
             us
             as
             Christians
             ,
             and
             so
             under
             the
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             is
             not
             so
             much
             to
             enquire
             ,
             whether
             or
             no
             ,
             such
             a
             thing
             be
             good
             in
             or
             of
             it self
             ;
             But
             whether
             or
             no
             it
             be
             good
             for
             us
             to
             practice
             ,
             yea
             or
             nay
             ?
             For
             ,
             as
             said
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             
               What
               is
               not
               of
               Faith
               is
               Sin
               :
            
             And
             therefore
             ,
             that
             is
             good
             for
             Christians
             to
             do
             ,
             which
             the
             Lord
             requires
             of
             them
             .
             But
             to
             proceed
             to
             the
             sixth
             Argument
             ;
             the
             force
             whereof
             is
             this
             :
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             6.
             
          
           
             
               Either
               Christ
               forbad
               not
               the
               taking
               of
               an
               Oath
               upon
               just
               occasion
               :
               or
               else
               St.
               Paul
               (
               though
               assisted
               by
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               )
               understood
               not
               the
               Text.
               
            
             
               Or
               ,
               If
               he
               understood
               it
               ,
               he
               acted
               against
               it
               ,
               and
               that
               not
               rashly
               ,
               but
               upon
               deliberation
               ;
            
             
               Because
               in
               his
               Epistle
               he
               calls
               God
               to
               witness
               ,
               which
               is
               a
               formal
               Oath
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             That
             the
             Apostle
             Paul
             did
             know
             the
             mind
             of
             Christ
             ,
             in
             that
             Precept
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             is
             believed
             :
             But
             that
             he
             acted
             contrary
             
             contrary
             thereto
             ,
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             
               God
               is
               my
               witness
            
             ,
             or
             called
             God
             to
             witness
             ,
             is
             denied
             :
             For
             as
             he
             knew
             Christ
             had
             forbidden
             all
             swearing
             ,
             he
             also
             knew
             that
             Christ
             was
             the
             true
             and
             faithful
             Witness
             ,
             the
             first
             and
             the
             last
             ,
             and
             came
             to
             restore
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             as
             at
             the
             first
             (
             which
             was
             and
             is
             the
             Righteousness
             of
             the
             Law
             of
             Oaths
             :
             )
             And
             the
             Apostle
             being
             an
             able
             Minister
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             not
             of
             the
             Letter
             ,
             he
             was
             come
             to
             see
             the
             End
             of
             that
             which
             was
             abolished
             ,
             and
             preached
             the
             everlasting
             Gospel
             ,
             the
             word
             of
             Faith
             ,
             which
             was
             and
             is
             the
             Word
             of
             Truth
             ,
             the
             Author
             of
             true
             witness-bearing
             ,
             which
             was
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             .
             And
             so
             as
             Christ
             ,
             his
             Lord
             and
             Master
             had
             done
             before
             ,
             when
             he
             said
             unto
             
               Pilate
               ,
               For
               this
               end
               was
               I
               born
               ,
               and
               for
               this
               cause
               came
               I
               into
               the
               world
               ,
               that
               I
               should
               bear
               witness
               unto
               the
               Truth
               ,
            
             Joh.
             18.37
             .
             He
             in
             obedience
             to
             his
             Lord
             and
             Master
             ,
             did
             bear
             witness
             to
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Truth
             :
             And
             in
             witness-bearing
             did
             (
             as
             the
             Servants
             of
             the
             Lord
             do
             )
             call
             God
             to
             witness
             ,
             or
             appeal
             to
             the
             witness
             of
             God
             in
             men
             ,
             concerning
             the
             truth
             of
             what
             he
             declared
             ,
             without
             observing
             any
             set
             forms
             of
             words
             :
             And
             as
             Sarai
             had
             done
             before
             ,
             when
             she
             said
             unto
             
               Abram
               ,
               The
               Lord
               judge
               betwixt
               thee
               and
               me
            
             ;
             yet
             did
             not
             swear
             at
             all
             .
          
           
             But
             
               A.
               S.
            
             saith
             ,
             
               That
               calling
               God
               to
               witness
               ,
               is
               a
               formal
               Oath●
               because
               there
               is
               an
               attestation
               of
               the
               Name
               of
               God.
               
            
          
           
             Answ.
             That
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             was
             used
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             ,
             doth
             appear
             Gen.
             3.3
             .
             where
             Eve
             before
             the
             Fall
             ,
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             used
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             when
             she
             said
             ,
             
               God
               hath
               said
               ,
               Ye
               shall
               not
               eat
               ,
               &c.
            
             yet
             did
             not
             swear
             at
             all
             .
             And
             Sarai
             after
             the
             Fall
             did
             use
             an
             attestation
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             when
             she
             said
             unto
             
               Abram
               ,
               The
               Lord
               judge
               betwixt
               thee
               and
               me
               ,
            
             Gen.
             16.5
             .
             and
             yet
             Sarai
             did
             not
             swear
             at
             all
             in
             so
             doing
             .
             And
             therefore
             the
             calling
             of
             God
             to
             witness
             ,
             or
             saying
             ,
             
               God
               is
               my
               witness
               ,
               &c.
            
             without
             adding
             of
             somewhat
             more
             ,
             is
             neither
             Oath
             nor
             Swearing
             .
             For
             if
             such
             attestations
             ;
             or
             mentioning
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             without
             somewhat
             more
             ,
             were
             swearing
             ,
             then
             it
             would
             follow
             ,
             That
             People
             did
             swear
             oftentimes
             in
             their
             Prayers
             ;
             As
             when
             they
             use
             that
             expression
             ,
             
               Oh
               God
               the
               Father
               of
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
               
               O
               God
               make
               haste
               to
               help
               us
               ,
               Amen
               ,
               Amen
               ,
               &c.
            
             which
             for
             any
             to
             affirm
             ,
             were
             a
             great
             injury
             to
             the
             People
             .
             Again
             ,
             If
             a
             bare
             attestation
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             by
             what
             terms
             soever
             expressed
             ,
             were
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             ,
             without
             adding
             of
             some
             what
             
             more
             ,
             Then
             would
             the
             Magistrates
             in
             Judicial
             proceedings
             in
             cases
             where
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             is
             by
             the
             Law
             required
             ,
             receive
             such
             Attestations
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             without
             denying
             them
             for
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             .
             But
             such
             Attestations
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             ,
             without
             adding
             somewhat
             more
             ,
             is
             denied
             by
             the
             Magistrates
             in
             Judicial
             proceedings
             ,
             &c.
             
             Therefore
             they
             are
             no
             formal
             or
             legal
             Oaths
             without
             addition
             of
             somewhat
             more
             ;
             which
             somewhat
             more
             ,
             being
             more
             than
             yea
             and
             nay
             ,
             cometh
             of
             evil
             .
             For
             it
             must
             be
             confessed
             (
             and
             it
             is
             the
             chiefest
             ground
             ,
             or
             cause
             ,
             that
             is
             alleadged
             for
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             some
             swearing
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             necessary
             for
             the
             ending
             of
             Controversies
             and
             Strife
             in
             Judicial
             proceedings
             ,
             &c.
             )
             That
             if
             an
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             were
             lawful
             in
             any
             case
             whatsoever
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             in
             Judicial
             proceedings
             ,
             &c.
             
             And
             I
             do
             not
             find
             in
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             ,
             That
             any
             Oath
             was
             lawful
             ,
             but
             in
             such
             proceedings
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             emergent
             occasions
             :
             All
             vain
             ,
             and
             prosane
             Oaths
             being
             forbidden
             by
             the
             Law
             :
             And
             as
             the
             lawful
             use
             of
             Oaths
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             was
             in
             legal
             or
             judicial
             proceedings
             ;
             so
             the
             definition
             or
             determination
             of
             what
             was
             a
             legal
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             what
             was
             neither
             Oath
             nor
             Swearing
             ,
             was
             by
             the
             Law
             ,
             and
             the
             Ministers
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             not
             by
             private
             or
             particular
             men
             :
             For
             at
             this
             day
             ,
             there
             are
             several
             kinds
             or
             forms
             of
             Oaths
             required
             by
             the
             National
             Laws
             ;
             And
             yet
             the
             bare
             Attestation
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             without
             addition
             of
             somewhat
             more
             ,
             is
             not
             answerable
             to
             any
             of
             them
             ,
             neither
             doth
             fully
             answer
             the
             requiring
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             as
             the
             daily
             practise
             of
             the
             Law
             in
             the
             Courts
             of
             Judicature
             doth
             manifest
             ,
             which
             practice
             doth
             declare
             what
             a
             legal
             Oath
             is
             in
             the
             judgment
             of
             the
             National
             Laws
             :
             And
             for
             illegal
             Oaths
             ,
             
               A.
               S.
            
             I
             hope
             will
             not
             contend
             .
             By
             which
             Laws
             also
             it
             doth
             appear
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             doth
             put
             a
             difference
             betwixt
             an
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             Witness-bearing
             ;
             and
             doth
             not
             confound
             them
             together
             ,
             as
             many
             men
             do
             .
             As
             for
             instance
             in
             one
             particular
             ,
             When
             a
             Party
             ,
             or
             a
             Witness
             doth
             appear
             to
             answer
             a
             Libel
             ,
             or
             to
             give
             Evidence
             in
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Courts
             ;
             upon
             his
             Appearance
             in
             the
             Court
             ,
             he
             is
             required
             to
             take
             his
             Oath
             ;
             and
             then
             the
             Book
             being
             held
             ,
             the
             Party
             having
             laid
             his
             hand
             thereupon
             ;
             some
             words
             being
             spoken
             to
             him
             by
             the
             Judge
             of
             the
             Court
             ,
             and
             after
             the
             Party
             having
             kissed
             the
             Book
             ,
             then
             is
             the
             Party
             said
             to
             be
             Sworn
             ,
             or
             to
             have
             taken
             his
             Oath
             .
             And
             being
             so
             Sworn
             ,
             he
             
             is
             admonished
             to
             give
             in
             his
             Answer
             ,
             or
             his
             Evidence
             ,
             as
             the
             Case
             is
             ,
             at
             or
             before
             such
             a
             time
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             Evidence
             after
             given
             into
             the
             Court
             ,
             is
             the
             Witness-bearing
             (
             and
             not
             the
             Oath
             )
             :
             which
             Evidence
             ,
             or
             Answer
             (
             as
             the
             Case
             requires
             )
             if
             he
             neglect
             or
             refuse
             to
             give
             ,
             he
             is
             proceeded
             against
             for
             refusing
             to
             give
             his
             Evidence
             ,
             or
             Answer
             :
             And
             not
             as
             one
             that
             refuseth
             to
             Swear
             or
             take
             an
             Oath
             ,
             he
             having
             Sworn
             or
             taken
             his
             Oath
             before
             ;
             which
             Evidence
             ,
             if
             given
             ,
             is
             the
             Witness-bearing
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Oath
             .
             For
             if
             he
             refuse
             to
             swear
             ,
             he
             is
             proceeded
             against
             for
             refusing
             to
             swear
             ,
             although
             he
             offer
             to
             give
             his
             Evidence
             without
             swearing
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Evidence
             is
             the
             witness-bearing
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Oath
             ;
             By
             which
             it
             doth
             appear
             ,
             That
             an
             Oath
             is
             in
             ,
             and
             of
             it self
             ,
             a
             distinct
             thing
             from
             Witness-bearing
             (
             which
             was
             before
             any
             Oaths
             was
             )
             and
             is
             but
             a
             Bond
             or
             Tye
             for
             true
             Witness-bearing
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             substance
             :
             For
             when
             the
             Evidence
             is
             given
             ,
             if
             what
             is
             Evidenced
             be
             false
             ,
             the
             Oath
             taken
             before
             or
             after
             ,
             doth
             not
             make
             it
             true
             ;
             And
             if
             it
             be
             truth
             that
             is
             Evidenced
             ,
             the
             refusing
             to
             take
             or
             add
             an
             Oath
             ,
             or
             give
             a
             Token
             ,
             Sign
             ,
             or
             Pledge
             ,
             doth
             not
             detract
             any
             thing
             from
             it
             .
             By
             which
             it
             may
             appear
             to
             the
             unprejudiced
             in
             mind
             ,
             That
             the
             laying
             aside
             of
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             (
             which
             was
             added
             for
             a
             time
             under
             the
             Law
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             because
             men
             had
             transgressed
             or
             gone
             from
             the
             Truth
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             was
             in
             the
             beginning
             ,
             before
             any
             Oath
             was
             )
             in
             witness-bearing
             ,
             is
             not
             to
             destroy
             true
             witness-bearing
             ,
             but
             the
             reducing
             it
             to
             its
             primitive
             purity
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             in
             the
             beginning
             .
             So
             that
             the
             true
             Witness
             ,
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             being
             made
             manifest
             ,
             all
             that
             believe
             in
             him
             and
             receive
             him
             ,
             to
             them
             he
             gives
             power
             to
             become
             the
             Sons
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             by
             his
             Spirit
             (
             which
             is
             Truth
             ,
             and
             leads
             into
             all
             Truth
             )
             he
             enableth
             them
             ,
             to
             do
             the
             Truth
             ,
             confess
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             speak
             the
             Truth
             from
             the
             heart
             unto
             their
             Neighbour
             ,
             or
             before
             a
             Magistrate
             in
             witness-bearing
             ;
             as
             it
             's
             written
             ,
             
               A
               good
               man
               ,
               out
               of
               the
               good
               treasure
               in
               his
               heart
               ,
               he
               bringeth
               forth
               good
               things
               .
            
             So
             that
             our
             Neighbour
             ,
             if
             he
             receive
             our
             Testimony
             ,
             being
             Truth
             ,
             he
             is
             not
             damnified
             by
             us
             ;
             although
             we
             may
             not
             Swear
             at
             all
             ,
             or
             give
             him
             any
             outward
             sign
             ,
             or
             pledge
             ,
             which
             cannot
             add
             any
             thing
             in
             Truth
             to
             the
             Truth
             which
             we
             are
             willing
             and
             free
             to
             bear
             Witness
             of
             ,
             and
             unto
             ,
             upon
             any
             just
             occasion
             ;
             Neither
             can
             the
             Magistrate
             be
             more
             assured
             of
             the
             Truth
             of
             what
             is
             Evidenced
             ,
             by
             an
             Oath
             ,
             than
             by
             a
             
             bare
             Affirmation
             :
             For
             as
             the
             one
             ,
             so
             the
             other
             may
             be
             true
             or
             false
             :
             Again
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             That
             not
             only
             our
             Neighbour
             is
             not
             prejudiced
             by
             us
             (
             because
             we
             may
             not
             add
             any
             sign
             ,
             token
             ,
             or
             pledge
             ,
             to
             the
             Truth
             which
             we
             bear
             witness
             of
             and
             to
             )
             but
             he
             is
             by
             true
             witness-bearing
             more
             advantaged
             ,
             than
             he
             is
             or
             can
             be
             by
             Swearing
             (
             when
             the
             Evidence
             born
             is
             not
             true
             )
             which
             neither
             is
             ,
             nor
             ever
             was
             of
             the
             essence
             of
             true
             witness-bearing
             ;
             Because
             true
             witness-bearing
             was
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             :
             For
             there
             may
             be
             and
             hath
             been
             many
             times
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             in
             Judicial
             Proceedings
             ,
             when
             the
             Evidence
             given
             upon
             such
             Oaths
             have
             not
             been
             true
             ,
             but
             false
             ;
             and
             so
             men
             thereby
             have
             and
             do
             suffer
             prejudice
             .
             But
             when
             and
             where
             true
             witness
             is
             born
             and
             received
             ,
             although
             an
             Oath
             be
             denied
             ,
             or
             not
             given
             ;
             yet
             hereby
             men
             are
             advantaged
             and
             receive
             benefit
             ,
             and
             no
             prejudice
             at
             all
             ;
             for
             where
             a
             true
             Testimony
             is
             born
             ,
             there
             none
             ever
             did
             or
             can
             thereby
             receive
             loss
             .
             Again
             ,
             Christ
             Jesus
             being
             come
             to
             restore
             and
             establish
             everlasting
             Righteousness
             in
             the
             new
             Covenant
             that
             is
             faultless
             ,
             and
             so
             unchangable
             ;
             And
             Oaths
             and
             Searing
             not
             being
             faultless
             ,
             and
             so
             changeable
             ;
             not
             being
             from
             everlasting
             ,
             but
             added
             for
             a
             time
             ,
             because
             of
             transgression
             ,
             as
             is
             before
             said
             :
             It
             was
             expedient
             that
             all
             Swearing
             ,
             with
             those
             things
             under
             the
             first
             Covenant
             ,
             should
             be
             taken
             away
             ,
             that
             were
             things
             in
             themselves
             changable
             ,
             and
             might
             be
             shaken
             ;
             to
             the
             end
             ,
             that
             true
             witness-bearing
             which
             could
             not
             be
             shaken
             ,
             might
             be
             established
             in
             the
             House
             of
             God
             for
             ever
             .
             So
             that
             although
             ,
             where
             Moses
             or
             the
             Old
             Testament
             is
             read
             ,
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             a
             Vail
             ,
             remains
             to
             this
             day
             undone
             away
             ;
             yet
             nevertheless
             ,
             all
             whose
             hearts
             and
             minds
             are
             turned
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             in
             the
             Light
             that
             was
             before
             any
             Avail
             or
             Oath
             was
             ,
             they
             see
             and
             witness
             the
             End
             of
             that
             which
             is
             abolished
             :
             for
             ,
             where
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Lord
             is
             ,
             there
             is
             freedom
             ,
             2
             Cor.
             3.
             
             And
             therefore
             the
             Apostle
             Paul
             (
             having
             seen
             and
             witnessed
             the
             removing
             of
             those
             things
             which
             might
             be
             shaken
             ,
             and
             knowing
             that
             when
             that
             which
             was
             perfect
             was
             come
             ,
             that
             which
             was
             but
             in
             part
             was
             to
             be
             done
             away
             )
             he
             in
             witness-bearing
             said
             ,
             
               God
               is
               my
               witness
               ,
               I
               speak
               the
               Truth
               in
               Christ
               ,
               I
               lye
               not
               ,
               &c.
            
             without
             adding
             any
             outward
             token
             ,
             sign
             ,
             or
             pledge
             ;
             or
             observing
             any
             form
             of
             words
             at
             all
             :
             So
             that
             as
             he
             himself
             said
             ,
             
               He
               became
               as
               without
               
               Law
               ,
               to
               them
               that
               were
               without
               Law
               ,
            
             1
             Cor.
             9.21
             .
             yet
             was
             he
             subject
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             did
             not
             
               Swear
               at
               all
            
             .
             And
             as
             he
             did
             not
             himself
             swear
             ,
             so
             neither
             did
             he
             teach
             swearing
             to
             be
             lawful
             by
             way
             of
             Doctrine
             to
             the
             Hebrews
             ,
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             That
             an
             Oath
             is
             among
             them
             for
             an
             end
             of
             all
             strife
             and
             controversie
             ,
             Heb.
             6.18
             .
             which
             words
             he
             spoke
             ,
             not
             by
             way
             of
             Doctrine
             ,
             as
             a
             thing
             to
             be
             practised
             by
             them
             as
             Christians
             ;
             but
             by
             way
             of
             repeating
             ,
             what
             formerly
             had
             been
             used
             amongst
             the
             Jews
             ,
             under
             the
             first
             Covenant
             ,
             and
             so
             that
             he
             might
             shew
             unto
             them
             being
             Jews
             ,
             how
             that
             by
             Christ
             ,
             the
             first
             Testament
             was
             taken
             away
             ,
             or
             out
             of
             the
             way
             :
             and
             the
             second
             established
             upon
             better
             promises
             :
             For
             as
             he
             said
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             he
             also
             said
             of
             the
             Priesthood
             ,
             That
             
               every
               High
               Priest
               is
            
             (
             not
             was
             )
             
               ordained
               to
               offer
               ,
               &c.
            
             Heb.
             8
             3.
             
             
               And
               that
               after
               the
               second
               Vail
               ,
               was
               the
               Tabernacle
               ,
               which
               is
            
             (
             not
             was
             )
             
               called
               the
               Holiest
               of
               all
            
             ,
             Heb.
             9.3
             .
             
               And
               when
               Moses
               had
               spoken
               every
               Precept
               to
               the
               People
               according
               to
               the
               Law
               ,
               he
               took
               the
               blood
               of
               Calves
               ,
               saying
               ,
               This
               is
            
             (
             not
             was
             )
             
               the
               blood
               of
               the
               Testament
               which
               God
               hath
               appointed
               to
               you
               ,
            
             Heb.
             9.19
             ,
             20.
             
             All
             which
             his
             sayings
             do
             plainly
             shew
             ,
             That
             what
             he
             had
             in
             those
             particulars
             mentioned
             ,
             was
             by
             way
             of
             repeating
             what
             had
             been
             in
             use
             under
             the
             first
             Covenant
             ;
             and
             not
             by
             way
             of
             Doctrine
             ,
             what
             they
             were
             to
             practise
             then
             as
             Christians
             .
             But
             I
             proceed
             to
             the
             seventh
             Argument
             ,
             which
             as
             
               A.
               S.
            
             saith
             in
             brief
             runs
             thus
             ;
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             7.
             
          
           
             
               Some
               Swearing
               is
               enjoyned
               ,
               in
               the
               third
               Commandment
               ,
               every
               Precept
               prohibitive
               of
               vice
               ,
               being
               necessarily
               so
               to
               be
               expounded
               ,
               as
               implying
               the
               contrary
               duty
               ;
               or
               else
               it
               is
               impossible
               to
               free
               the
               Decalogue
               from
               imperfection
               .
            
             
               And
               consequently
               ,
               
                 Thou
                 shalt
                 not
                 take
                 the
                 Name
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 vain
                 ,
              
               implies
               ,
               Thou
               shalt
               take
               the
               Name
               of
               God
               
                 (
                 that
                 is
              
               )
               Thou
               shalt
               Swear
               when
               there
               is
               a
               just
               occasion
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               Christ
               who
               came
               not
               to
               destroy
               the
               Law
               ,
               did
               not
               forbid
               all
               Swearing
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             What
             is
             impossible
             with
             man
             ,
             is
             possible
             with
             God
             ;
             and
             that
             Christ
             did
             fulfil
             (
             not
             destroy
             )
             the
             Law
             ,
             is
             confessed
             :
             And
             having
             fulfilled
             the
             Law
             ,
             the
             end
             for
             which
             it
             was
             for
             a
             time
             
             given
             ,
             was
             accomplished
             ;
             which
             being
             accomplished
             according
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             was
             abolished
             ,
             abrogated
             ,
             disannulled
             ,
             and
             taken
             away
             by
             Christ
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             fully
             proved
             .
             Now
             ,
             as
             said
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             Rom.
             7.3
             ,
             4.
             
             
               The
               Woman
               which
               is
               in
               subjection
               to
               her
               Husband
               ,
               is
               bound
               by
               his
               Law
               to
               him
               as
               long
               as
               he
               liveth
               ;
               but
               if
               her
               Husband
               be
               dead
               ,
               she
               is
               delivered
               from
               his
               Law
               :
               So
               then
               ,
               if
               while
               the
               man
               liveth
               she
               take
               another
               Husband
               ,
               she
               shall
               be
               called
               an
               Adultress
               ;
               but
               if
               the
               man
               be
               dead
               ,
               she
               is
               free
               from
               the
               Law
               ,
               so
               that
               she
               is
               no
               Adultress
               though
               she
               take
               another
               Husband
               .
               Wherefore
               ,
               my
               Brethren
               ,
               ye
               also
               are
               become
               dead
               by
               the
               Body
               of
               Christ
               ,
               that
               ye
               should
               be
               married
               to
               another
               ,
               even
               to
               him
               who
               is
               raised
               from
               the
               dead
               ,
               that
               we
               should
               bring
               forth
               fruit
               to
               God.
            
             What
             words
             more
             plain
             to
             prove
             ,
             That
             Christians
             in
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             are
             freed
             from
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             carnal
             Commandment
             ,
             that
             they
             may
             serve
             God
             in
             newness
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             the
             oldness
             of
             the
             letter
             ,
             Heb.
             7.10
             .
             Rom.
             7.6
             .
             And
             though
             it
             be
             true
             that
             Christ
             came
             not
             to
             destroy
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             to
             fulfil
             it
             ;
             yet
             that
             doth
             no
             more
             prove
             A.
             S's
             Conclusion
             inferred
             thereupon
             ,
             
               viz.
               Therefore
               Christ
               did
               not
               forbid
               all
               swearing
               ,
               because
               some
               swearing
               was
               commanded
               in
               the
               Law
            
             ;
             Then
             it
             doth
             ,
             where
             a
             man
             is
             ingaged
             by
             his
             Bond
             to
             pay
             so
             much
             money
             upon
             such
             a
             day
             ;
             and
             the
             man
             upon
             that
             day
             doth
             make
             payment
             of
             the
             money
             according
             to
             his
             Bond
             ;
             That
             the
             man
             in
             so
             doing
             doth
             destroy
             his
             Boud
             ,
             or
             that
             it
             is
             after
             Obligatory
             to
             him
             ,
             when
             he
             hath
             fulfilled
             it
             .
             For
             although
             the
             People
             of
             Israel
             ,
             to
             whom
             the
             Law
             was
             given
             by
             God
             ,
             could
             not
             be
             freed
             therefrom
             until
             it
             was
             fulfilled
             ;
             yet
             notwithstanding
             when
             it
             was
             fulfilled
             ,
             it
             was
             by
             the
             Ordination
             of
             God
             to
             pass
             away
             ,
             and
             the
             People
             freed
             from
             it
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             .
             So
             that
             when
             Christ
             Jesus
             had
             fulfilled
             the
             Law
             (
             not
             for
             himself
             )
             but
             for
             them
             that
             were
             under
             it
             ,
             
               He
               Redeemed
               them
               that
               were
               under
               the
               Law
               ,
               and
               so
               delivered
               them
               from
               the
               Law
               ,
            
             Rom.
             7.6
             .
             Gal.
             4.5
             .
             
               that
               they
            
             ,
             together
             with
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             that
             never
             were
             under
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             first
             Covenant
             ,
             
               might
               receive
            
             in
             Christ
             
               the
               adoption
               of
               sons
            
             .
             Again
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             was
             perfect
             (
             although
             it
             were
             denied
             that
             any
             swearing
             was
             enjoyn'd
             in
             the
             third
             Commandment
             )
             is
             witnessed
             ,
             yea
             every
             word
             of
             God
             is
             perfect
             ;
             because
             in
             the
             Law
             was
             fully
             contained
             so
             much
             of
             the
             Will
             and
             mind
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             he
             was
             pleased
             to
             make
             known
             at
             that
             time
             unto
             
             his
             People
             Israel
             ,
             and
             as
             he
             did
             require
             obedience
             unto
             ,
             from
             them
             ▪
             (
             secret
             things
             belongs
             unto
             God
             ,
             and
             things
             revealed
             to
             us
             and
             our
             Children
             )
             no
             man
             being
             capable
             of
             knowing
             the
             whole
             Will
             and
             Mind
             of
             God.
             And
             yet
             ,
             what
             man
             doth
             know
             of
             the
             Mind
             of
             God
             ,
             by
             the
             manifestation
             of
             his
             Spirit
             ,
             is
             perfect
             ;
             because
             every
             measure
             of
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             every
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             perfect
             :
             And
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             being
             perfect
             ,
             therefore
             nothing
             is
             by
             man
             to
             be
             added
             thereto
             ,
             or
             taken
             therefrom
             .
             Insomuch
             ,
             as
             when
             
               the
               Israelitish
               Womans
               Son
               blasphemed
               the
               Name
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               cursed
            
             ;
             and
             there
             being
             at
             that
             time
             no
             positive
             punishment
             appointed
             by
             God
             in
             that
             case
             ;
             he
             was
             put
             in
             hold
             ,
             until
             the
             Lord
             himself
             shewed
             unto
             Moses
             what
             punishment
             was
             to
             be
             inflicted
             upon
             him
             ,
             Levit.
             24.11
             ,
             12
             ,
             13.
             
             So
             that
             Moses
             ,
             who
             was
             a
             Prophet
             ,
             did
             not
             take
             upon
             him
             to
             give
             any
             extensive
             interpretation
             to
             the
             Law
             (
             which
             being
             Penal
             to
             the
             transgressors
             ,
             was
             not
             to
             be
             supplied
             by
             man
             ,
             by
             way
             of
             implication
             or
             intendment
             )
             neither
             to
             say
             of
             it
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             before
             given
             by
             God
             was
             imperfect
             ,
             because
             the
             whole
             Mind
             of
             God
             was
             not
             therein
             revealed
             ,
             concerning
             all
             things
             that
             after
             might
             fall
             out
             by
             reason
             of
             Man's
             wickedness
             :
             Neither
             had
             the
             Lord
             ,
             as
             
               A.
               S.
            
             would
             infer
             ,
             limited
             himself
             to
             what
             before
             was
             written
             ,
             but
             that
             he
             might
             and
             did
             ,
             as
             he
             himself
             thought
             good
             ,
             further
             add
             to
             what
             before
             was
             written
             ,
             or
             take
             away
             from
             the
             same
             (
             and
             that
             without
             any
             mutability
             in
             his
             Will
             )
             although
             he
             had
             forbidden
             Moses
             so
             to
             do
             .
             And
             besides
             ,
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             was
             ,
             and
             may
             be
             used
             with
             reverence
             and
             godly
             fear
             ,
             many
             other
             wayes
             than
             by
             Swearing
             ;
             And
             therefore
             this
             Argument
             fails
             in
             proof
             with
             the
             other
             .
             But
             to
             proceed
             to
             the
             eight
             Argument
             ,
             viz.
             
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             8.
             
          
           
             
               That
               Christ
               never
               did
               any
               thing
               without
               reason
               .
            
             
               But
               there
               was
               no
               reason
               why
               he
               should
               absolutely
               forbid
               swearing
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               he
               did
               not
               so
               forbid
               it
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             That
             man
             should
             require
             a
             reason
             wherefore
             the
             Lord
             doth
             forbid
             or
             command
             him
             to
             do
             ,
             or
             not
             to
             do
             such
             a
             thing
             :
             or
             that
             God
             should
             give
             unto
             man
             a
             reason
             for
             what
             he
             doth
             ,
             Iob.
             9.
             12.
             
             Rom.
             9.20
             .
             is
             more
             than
             right
             reason
             doth
             require
             :
             But
             that
             man
             should
             obey
             what
             God
             commandeth
             him
             without
             asking
             a
             reason
             wherefore
             ,
             is
             reasonable
             and
             according
             to
             right
             reason
             .
             It
             
             being
             the
             Lord
             hath
             made
             us
             ,
             and
             not
             we
             our selves
             .
             And
             it
             being
             asserted
             by
             
               A.
               S.
               That
               Christ
               never
               did
               any
               thing
               without
               reason
               .
            
             And
             proved
             ,
             that
             Christ
             did
             say
             unto
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             .
             Therefore
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             granted
             ,
             That
             Christ
             in
             forbidding
             all
             Swearing
             ,
             did
             it
             not
             without
             reason
             :
             For
             if
             Christ
             Jesus
             in
             that
             Command
             did
             not
             forbid
             all
             Swearing
             whatsoever
             ,
             Then
             it
             would
             follow
             ,
             That
             men
             under
             the
             Gospel
             might
             have
             liberty
             not
             only
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             Creatures
             ;
             but
             also
             if
             they
             should
             swear
             by
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             not
             perform
             ,
             they
             should
             go
             unpunished
             ;
             because
             
               where
               there
               is
               no
               Law
               ,
               there
               is
               no
               transgression
               .
            
             For
             the
             Law
             in
             which
             an
             Oath
             in
             some
             cases
             was
             commanded
             ;
             and
             forswearing
             ,
             vain
             and
             prophane
             swearing
             by
             God
             and
             the
             Creatures
             ,
             forbidden
             ;
             being
             abolished
             and
             taken
             away
             by
             Christ
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             :
             Unless
             Christ
             Jesus
             had
             forbidden
             all
             swearing
             whatsoever
             ,
             by
             a
             Command
             that
             changeth
             not
             ,
             men
             would
             have
             thought
             themselves
             at
             liberty
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             true
             God
             ,
             and
             not
             perform
             ;
             but
             also
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Creatures
             ,
             and
             that
             without
             any
             sin
             .
             And
             indeed
             it
             may
             justly
             be
             feared
             ,
             That
             such
             pleading
             as
             hath
             of
             late
             been
             by
             some
             ,
             for
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             some
             swearing
             ,
             and
             such
             interpretations
             of
             Christs
             words
             as
             have
             been
             made
             ,
             thereby
             to
             prove
             some
             swearing
             lawful
             ,
             and
             that
             from
             those
             words
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             ,
             &c.
             hath
             encouraged
             some
             men
             in
             these
             dayes
             to
             such
             a
             height
             of
             swearing
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             now
             come
             :
             And
             therefore
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             in
             giving
             forth
             that
             Command
             as
             a
             prohibition
             of
             all
             swearing
             ,
             did
             it
             not
             without
             reason
             :
             And
             what
             is
             before
             said
             ,
             may
             be
             a
             good
             reason
             wherefore
             Christ
             added
             those
             words
             ,
             
               Neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
            
             after
             he
             had
             said
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             .
             And
             so
             the
             words
             following
             ,
             are
             neither
             vain
             nor
             impertinent
             .
             For
             under
             the
             Law
             they
             were
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             not
             by
             the
             Creatures
             :
             And
             by
             the
             Law
             they
             were
             required
             to
             perform
             their
             Oaths
             unto
             the
             Lord
             ,
             which
             they
             swore
             by
             his
             Name
             ,
             lest
             they
             should
             forswear
             themselves
             ;
             which
             Christ
             having
             before
             repeated
             in
             substance
             ,
             By
             way
             of
             opposition
             of
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             compliance
             with
             ,
             said
             ,
             
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               ;
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             So
             that
             the
             words
             truly
             considered
             ,
             are
             thus
             in
             effect
             ;
             
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               by
               the
               Name
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               as
               heretofore
               
               under
               the
               Law
               you
               were
               commanded
               ;
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
            
             according
             to
             the
             erronious
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             .
             For
             if
             Christ
             had
             not
             intended
             absolutely
             to
             forbid
             all
             manner
             of
             Swearing
             ;
             Then
             he
             by
             that
             Command
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             had
             made
             the
             case
             of
             Swearing
             more
             doubtful
             and
             questionable
             than
             it
             was
             before
             ;
             which
             to
             affirm
             ,
             were
             a
             great
             injury
             to
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             ,
             whom
             God
             sent
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             to
             give
             sight
             to
             the
             blind
             ,
             and
             to
             guide
             their
             feet
             into
             the
             way
             of
             peace
             .
             Again
             ,
             Christ
             Jesus
             being
             the
             Mediator
             of
             the
             new
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             perfecteth
             for
             ever
             those
             that
             are
             sanctified
             ,
             (
             which
             being
             given
             upon
             better
             promises
             than
             the
             first
             Covenant
             which
             made
             nothing
             perfect
             )
             was
             unchangable
             .
             It
             was
             therefore
             according
             to
             right
             reason
             ,
             That
             the
             first
             Covenant
             ,
             with
             all
             those
             things
             under
             it
             ,
             that
             were
             changable
             and
             so
             might
             be
             shaken
             (
             as
             being
             things
             that
             were
             not
             in
             the
             beginning
             with
             God
             ,
             as
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             was
             not
             in
             the
             beginning
             with
             God
             ,
             neither
             originally
             of
             him
             ,
             and
             therefore
             might
             be
             shaken
             )
             should
             be
             abolished
             and
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ;
             To
             the
             end
             ,
             that
             nothing
             that
             was
             changable
             ,
             or
             in
             which
             there
             was
             a
             remembrance
             again
             of
             sin
             ,
             might
             remain
             in
             the
             new
             Covenant
             which
             is
             unchangable
             .
             And
             so
             when
             that
             which
             was
             perfect
             was
             come
             ;
             then
             that
             which
             was
             in
             part
             was
             abolished
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             13.10
             .
             For
             Christ
             being
             come
             ,
             the
             true
             and
             faithful
             Witness
             ,
             the
             first
             and
             the
             last
             ,
             Rev.
             1.
             he
             restored
             ,
             or
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             was
             restored
             in
             him
             ,
             to
             all
             that
             believe
             ,
             which
             is
             perfect
             ;
             which
             being
             so
             ,
             it
             was
             according
             to
             right
             reason
             ,
             that
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             ,
             which
             was
             but
             in
             part
             ,
             should
             be
             done
             away
             ;
             fo●
             true
             witness-bearing
             ,
             though
             without
             an
             Oath
             ,
             never
             did
             prejudice
             to
             any
             ,
             as
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             have
             done
             ,
             when
             the
             witness
             born
             before
             or
             after
             ,
             hath
             been
             false
             ,
             as
             daily
             experience
             doth
             testifie
             .
             And
             what
             if
             some
             now
             ,
             as
             heretofore
             ,
             believe
             not
             the
             Command
             of
             Christ
             ,
             shall
             their
             unbelief
             make
             the
             Faith
             of
             God
             of
             none
             effect
             ?
             God
             forbid
             .
             For
             seeing
             that
             true
             saying
             is
             asmuch
             or
             more
             than
             swearing
             ;
             and
             that
             Christ
             hath
             said
             ,
             
               That
               for
               every
               idle
               word
               men
               shall
               give
               an
               account
               in
               the
               day
               of
               Iudgment
               :
            
             And
             
               that
               the
               Lyar
               ,
               as
               well
               as
               the
               false
               Swearer
               ,
               shall
               he
               shut
               out
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               of
               God
               :
            
             Therefore
             every
             one
             that
             feareth
             the
             Lord
             (
             for
             thereafter
             as
             a
             man
             feareth
             ,
             is
             Gods
             displeasure
             )
             is
             as
             much
             bound
             
             by
             his
             Word
             ,
             as
             by
             an
             Oath
             :
             and
             there
             being
             no
             more
             security
             to
             the
             Magistrate
             by
             an
             Oath
             ,
             than
             by
             true
             saying
             ,
             or
             witness-bearing
             ,
             neither
             benefit
             to
             our
             Neighbour
             :
             Therefore
             ,
             if
             the
             same
             outward
             punishment
             were
             inflicted
             upon
             the
             Liar
             ,
             as
             false
             Swearer
             ,
             the
             difference
             in
             a
             short
             time
             would
             not
             be
             great
             ;
             because
             experience
             doth
             evidence
             ,
             That
             he
             that
             makes
             no
             conscience
             of
             his
             words
             ,
             will
             not
             matter
             to
             Swear
             falsly
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             to
             God.
             And
             it
             may
             be
             believed
             ,
             That
             one
             reason
             why
             strife
             doth
             so
             much
             in
             these
             dayes
             abound
             amongst
             men
             (
             notwithstanding
             that
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             abound
             )
             is
             ,
             because
             that
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             before
             swearing
             was
             ,
             is
             not
             received
             in
             Judicial
             proceedings
             for
             want
             of
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             .
             Again
             ,
             To
             say
             That
             Christ
             did
             forbid
             all
             Swearing
             ,
             because
             his
             Father
             would
             have
             it
             so
             ;
             is
             a
             better
             reason
             than
             any
             
               A.
               S.
            
             hath
             produced
             to
             the
             contrary
             .
             But
             to
             proceed
             to
             
               A.
               S.
            
             his
             ninth
             Argument
             ,
             viz.
             
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             9.
             
          
           
             
               That
               our
               Saviour
               gave
               no
               new
               Moral
               Command
               :
               And
               consequently
               did
               not
               prohibit
               that
               Swearing
               ,
               which
               long
               before
               had
               been
               Commanded
               by
               God.
               
            
          
           
             Answ.
             The
             question
             in
             dispute
             is
             not
             ,
             Whether
             Christ
             the
             Mediator
             of
             the
             new
             Covenant
             ,
             did
             give
             any
             new
             Moral
             Command
             ;
             But
             ,
             Whether
             he
             forbad
             all
             Swearing
             to
             his
             Disciples
             ?
             which
             that
             he
             did
             ,
             his
             own
             words
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ,
             do
             prove
             .
             As
             for
             the
             word
             Moral
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             word
             of
             Art
             ,
             invented
             by
             the
             wisdom
             which
             is
             from
             below
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             subject
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             :
             For
             it
             's
             evident
             ,
             That
             the
             Penmen
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             did
             never
             make
             use
             of
             that
             word
             Moral
             ,
             when
             they
             writ
             and
             declared
             the
             Testimony
             of
             God.
             And
             therefore
             the
             Apostles
             Caveat
             in
             such
             things
             is
             useful
             ,
             Col.
             2.8
             .
             
               Beware
               lest
               any
               man
               spoil
               you
               through
               Philosophy
               and
               vain
               deceit
               ,
               after
               the
               traditions
               of
               man
               ,
               after
               the
               rudiments
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               and
               not
               after
               Christ.
            
             For
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             new
             Covenant
             in
             Christ
             Jesus
             is
             Spiritual
             and
             Eternal
             (
             not
             Moral
             )
             and
             according
             to
             the
             Promise
             of
             God
             ,
             Ier.
             31.33
             .
             Heb.
             8.10
             .
             the
             commands
             thereof
             are
             by
             the
             Lord
             according
             to
             his
             Promise
             ,
             put
             into
             the
             mind
             ,
             and
             written
             in
             the
             heart
             of
             man
             ;
             
               written
               not
               with
               Ink
               ,
               but
               with
               the
               Spirit
               of
               the
               Living
               God
               ;
               not
               in
               tables
               of
               stone
               ,
               
               but
               in
               fleshy
               tables
               of
               the
               heart
               ,
            
             2
             Cor.
             3.3
             .
             And
             therefore
             is
             called
             ,
             
               the
               Law
               of
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Life
               in
               Christ
               Iesus
               ,
            
             Rom.
             8.2
             .
             and
             
               the
               Law
               of
               Faith
            
             ,
             Rom.
             3.27
             .
             (
             and
             not
             Moral
             )
             by
             way
             of
             excellency
             above
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             letter
             ,
             as
             the
             Scriptures
             do
             declare
             ,
             2
             Cor.
             3.
             
             And
             Christ
             said
             unto
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               If
               ye
               love
               me
               ,
               keep
               my
               Commandments
               ,
            
             Joh.
             14.15
             .
             And
             when
             he
             commanded
             them
             to
             
               go
               and
               teach
               all
               Nations
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             They
             were
             to
             
               teach
               them
               to
               observe
            
             (
             not
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             )
             but
             
               all
               things
               whatsoever
            
             he
             had
             
               Commanded
               them
               ,
               Mat.
            
             28.19
             ,
             20.
             
             And
             in
             Iob.
             14.26
             .
             He
             told
             them
             ,
             The
             
               Comforter
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
               whom
               the
               Father
               would
               send
               in
               his
               Name
               ,
               he
               should
               teach
               them
               all
               things
               ,
               and
               bring
               all
               things
               to
               their
               remembrance
               ,
               whatsoever
               he
               had
               said
               unto
               them
               .
            
             And
             Ioh.
             16.12
             ,
             13.
             
             Christ
             told
             them
             ,
             
               He
               had
               yet
               many
               things
               to
               say
               unto
               them
               ,
               but
               they
               could
               not
               then
               bear
               them
               :
               Howbeit
               ,
               when
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Truth
               is
               come
               ,
               he
               will
               guide
               you
               into
               all
               Truth
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             So
             that
             Christ
             did
             not
             send
             them
             to
             the
             Law
             called
             Moral
             (
             for
             to
             be
             their
             guide
             )
             written
             in
             tables
             of
             stone
             ;
             but
             promised
             
               to
               send
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Truth
               to
               guide
               them
               into
               all
               Truth
               ,
               and
               to
               shew
               them
               things
               to
               come
               .
            
             So
             that
             although
             Christians
             do
             ,
             and
             are
             to
             practise
             and
             observe
             many
             of
             those
             things
             which
             were
             commanded
             in
             the
             Law
             ,
             as
             being
             originally
             of
             God
             ,
             of
             which
             the
             Law
             had
             a
             shadow
             ,
             but
             not
             the
             substance
             ,
             Heb.
             10.1
             .
             yet
             they
             do
             not
             observe
             them
             ,
             because
             they
             find
             them
             to
             have
             been
             Commanded
             in
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             ,
             but
             as
             they
             are
             Commands
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             new
             Covenant
             ,
             written
             in
             the
             heart
             ,
             and
             put
             into
             the
             mind
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             that
             quickneth
             and
             giveth
             Life
             and
             power
             to
             do
             thereafter
             ,
             Heb.
             8.10
             ,
             Rom.
             10.8
             .
             For
             
               now
               the
               Righteousness
               of
               God
               without
               the
               Law
               is
               manifested
               ,
               being
               witnessed
               both
               by
               the
               Law
               and
               the
               Prophets
               ;
               Even
               the
               Righteousness
               of
               God
               ,
               which
               is
               by
               the
               Faith
               of
               Iesus
               Christ
               ,
               unto
               all
               and
               upon
               all
               that
               believe
               ,
               Rom.
            
             3.21
             ,
             22.
             
             But
             the
             Law
             is
             not
             of
             Faith
             ,
             neither
             ever
             was
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             of
             the
             Law
             of
             Faith
             ,
             as
             true
             witness-bearing
             was
             and
             is
             :
             So
             that
             by
             the
             works
             of
             the
             Law
             which
             is
             not
             of
             Faith
             ,
             no
             man
             is
             or
             can
             be
             Justified
             ;
             but
             by
             Faith
             without
             the
             deeds
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             a
             man
             is
             Justified
             according
             to
             Rom.
             3.28
             &
             3.20
             .
             And
             now
             those
             things
             which
             were
             commanded
             in
             the
             Law
             ,
             which
             were
             Eternal
             ,
             as
             the
             Love
             of
             God
             ,
             &c.
             was
             Eternal
             (
             not
             Moral
             )
             of
             which
             the
             Law
             engraven
             in
             stone
             had
             a
             shadow
             ,
             although
             they
             
             continue
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             yet
             as
             was
             said
             ,
             They
             are
             not
             the
             works
             of
             the
             Law
             which
             made
             nothing
             perfect
             ;
             but
             the
             fruits
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             Gal.
             5.22
             ,
             23.
             and
             therefore
             are
             perfect
             ;
             as
             Love
             ,
             Joy
             ,
             Peace
             ,
             long-Suffering
             ,
             Gentleness
             ,
             Goodness
             ,
             Faith
             ,
             Meekness
             ,
             Temperance
             ;
             against
             such
             there
             is
             no
             Law
             :
             But
             against
             Swearing
             there
             is
             a
             Law
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             proved
             .
             So
             that
             which
             was
             impossible
             to
             the
             Law
             ,
             in
             regard
             of
             the
             weakness
             of
             the
             flesh
             to
             do
             ,
             God
             sending
             his
             Son
             for
             sin
             ,
             condemned
             sin
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Righteousness
               of
               the
               Law
               might
               be
               fulfilled
               in
               us
               ,
               who
               walk
               not
               after
               the
               Flesh
               but
               after
               the
               Spirit
               ,
               the
               law
               and
               power
               of
               an
               endless
               life
               .
            
             For
             ,
             as
             before
             is
             said
             ,
             Swearing
             was
             never
             any
             part
             of
             the
             Law
             Eternal
             or
             of
             Faith
             ,
             therefore
             the
             taking
             of
             it
             away
             was
             no
             addition
             to
             ,
             or
             substraction
             from
             the
             Law
             Eternal
             ,
             or
             of
             Faith.
             And
             although
             the
             Lord
             had
             limitted
             Moses
             ,
             and
             in
             him
             all
             others
             from
             adding
             unto
             ,
             and
             taking
             from
             what
             was
             then
             written
             in
             the
             Law
             ;
             yet
             he
             had
             not
             limited
             himself
             to
             what
             he
             had
             then
             given
             in
             command
             to
             Israel
             (
             not
             to
             the
             Gentiles
             )
             and
             but
             for
             a
             time
             ,
             
               until
               the
               Seed
               should
               come
            
             ,
             Gal.
             3.19
             .
             and
             so
             was
             temporary
             .
             And
             it
             being
             acknowledged
             by
             A.S.
             that
             Oaths
             are
             no
             Gospel
             Ordinance
             ;
             and
             before
             proved
             that
             Christ
             did
             abolish
             ,
             abrogate
             ,
             disannul
             ,
             and
             take
             away
             the
             Law
             ;
             yea
             ,
             that
             Law
             which
             A.S.
             calls
             Moral
             ,
             in
             which
             ,
             ●s
             he
             saith
             ,
             Oaths
             are
             commanded
             .
             Therefore
             
               A.
               S.
            
             is
             blame-worthy
             in
             asserting
             Swearing
             as
             an
             everlasting
             Statute
             to
             be
             observed
             by
             all
             that
             obey
             the
             Lord
             and
             his
             Christ
             ;
             and
             in
             so
             doing
             he
             is
             found
             in
             the
             steps
             of
             those
             in
             the
             Apostles
             dayes
             ,
             who
             taught
             ,
             That
             it
             was
             needful
             to
             Circumcise
             such
             as
             believed
             in
             Christ
             ,
             and
             to
             command
             them
             to
             keep
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             ;
             insomuch
             as
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Elders
             came
             together
             to
             confides
             of
             the
             matter
             ;
             and
             after
             consideration
             had
             ,
             declared
             ,
             That
             it
             seemed
             good
             to
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ,
             and
             to
             them
             ,
             to
             lay
             upon
             them
             ,
             which
             from
             among
             the
             Gentiles
             were
             turned
             to
             God
             ,
             no
             greater
             burden
             than
             those
             necessary
             things
             ,
             
               viz.
               That
               they
               should
               abstain
               from
               meats
               offered
               to
               Idols
               ,
               and
               from
               blood
               ,
               from
               things
               strangled
               ,
               and
               from
               Fornication
               .
            
             But
             I
             proceed
             to
             
               A.
               S.
            
             his
             tenth
             Argument
             ,
             or
             Reason
             ,
             as
             he
             calls
             it
             ;
             which
             was
             ,
          
        
         
           
           
             Arg
             10.
             
          
           
             
               That
               the
               High
               Priest
               charged
               Christ
               our
               Saviour
               to
               swear
               ,
               and
               be
               accordingly
               Answered
               upon
               Oath
               ;
               and
               that
               some
               years
               after
               he
               had
               said
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               .
            
             
               Whence
               it
               follows
               ;
               That
               the
               lawful
               Magistrate
               may
               impose
               Oaths
               ,
               and
               the
               People
               upon
               whom
               they
               are
               imposed
               ,
               may
               and
               ought
               by
               Christs
               Example
               ,
               to
               Answer
               upon
               Oath
               ,
               notwithstanding
               the
               seeming
               prohibition
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             That
             it
             was
             some
             years
             after
             that
             Christ
             said
             to
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             :
             That
             the
             High
             Priest
             did
             use
             that
             expression
             ,
             unto
             Christ
             ,
             
               I
               adjure
               thee
               ,
               &c.
            
             is
             believed
             :
             But
             that
             Christ
             Jesus
             (
             the
             true
             and
             faithful
             witness
             ,
             who
             came
             into
             the
             World
             to
             bear
             witness
             of
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             to
             establish
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             before
             swearing
             was
             )
             when
             he
             said
             unto
             the
             High
             Priest
             ,
             
               Thou
               hast
               said
            
             ;
             did
             in
             so
             saying
             Swear
             or
             Answer
             upon
             Oath
             ,
             is
             denied
             :
             Neither
             hath
             A.S.
             proved
             that
             Christ
             did
             swear
             ,
             otherwise
             then
             by
             his
             ,
             and
             other
             mens
             conjectures
             and
             conceivings
             :
             All
             of
             which
             being
             Swearers
             ,
             are
             not
             in
             this
             case
             competent
             Witnesses
             .
             And
             that
             he
             saith
             ,
             That
             the
             High
             Priest
             adjured
             Christ
             ,
             and
             Christ
             answering
             ,
             
               Thou
               hast
               said
            
             (
             without
             more
             saying
             )
             
               did
               Swear
               by
               the
               Living
               God
               ,
               not
               expressed
               indeed
               by
               him
               ,
               but
               by
               the
               High
               Priest.
               Answ.
            
             But
             how
             doth
             
               A.
               S.
            
             know
             that
             Christ
             before
             his
             Answer
             to
             the
             High
             Priest
             ,
             did
             not
             deny
             swearing
             or
             to
             swear
             ,
             (
             for
             it
             s
             written
             Ioh.
             21.25
             .
             
               That
               there
               were
               many
               things
               which
               Iesus
               did
               ,
               which
               if
               they
               should
               be
               written
               every
               one
               ,
               &c.
            
             )
             And
             therefore
             to
             conclude
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             not
             mentioned
             by
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             that
             Christ
             did
             not
             deny
             to
             swear
             ,
             therefore
             Christ
             did
             swear
             :
             This
             is
             to
             ●esk
             a
             surmise
             to
             warrant
             swearing
             ,
             when
             Christ
             had
             before
             commanded
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               Not
               to
               swear
               at
               all
            
             .
             For
             ,
             if
             to
             answer
             by
             way
             of
             affirming
             or
             denying
             that
             which
             is
             asked
             by
             a
             Magistrate
             ,
             were
             an
             Oath
             and
             Swearing
             ,
             because
             the
             Magistrate
             doth
             require
             the
             Party
             to
             Swear
             ,
             without
             addition
             of
             somewhat
             more
             :
             Than
             surely
             many
             have
             suffered
             in
             these
             late
             years
             ,
             as
             refusers
             to
             take
             an
             Oath
             and
             to
             Swear
             ,
             when
             they
             did
             Swear
             .
             But
             my
             belief
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Magistrates
             by
             whom
             such
             have
             been
             f●oned
             
             and
             imprisoned
             ,
             or
             otherwise
             censured
             for
             refusing
             to
             Swear
             or
             take
             an
             Oath
             ;
             and
             better
             know
             what
             a
             legal
             Oath
             is
             than
             
               A.
               S.
            
             doth
             in
             this
             particular
             ,
             are
             of
             another
             judgment
             or
             opinion
             than
             
               A.
               S.
            
             is
             ;
             or
             else
             it
             may
             be
             hoped
             ,
             that
             none
             hereafter
             shall
             suffer
             upon
             that
             account
             of
             refusing
             to
             Swear
             ,
             when
             they
             are
             willing
             to
             Answer
             ,
             and
             do
             Answer
             to
             such
             questions
             as
             they
             shall
             be
             asked
             or
             examined
             of
             by
             the
             Court
             ,
             or
             particular
             Magistrate
             .
             And
             therefore
             A.
             S.'s
             Conclosion
             is
             denied
             ,
             failing
             in
             the
             proof
             of
             his
             premisses
             .
             But
             to
             proceed
             to
             his
             eleventh
             Arguments
             or
             Reason
             ,
             viz.
             
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             11.
             
          
           
             
               That
               no
               Exposition
               of
               this
               Text
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               ,
               was
               to
               be
               admitted
               that
               put
               an
               inconsistence
               betwixt
               the
               Old
               Testament
               and
               the
               New.
               
            
             
               But
               that
               Exposition
               ;
               
                 Swear
                 not
                 all
              
               ,
               that
               renders
               it
               a
               total
               prohibition
               of
               all
               Swearing
               ,
               does
               so
               ;
               for
               it
               makes
               it
               contradict
               several
               Texts
               in
               the
               Old
               Testament
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               is
               not
               to
               be
               admitted
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             The
             Law
             of
             Christ
             is
             Penal
             to
             the
             transgressors
             of
             it
             ,
             Heb.
             1.2
             ,
             3.
             
             &
             12.25
             .
             and
             therefore
             doth
             not
             admit
             of
             any
             supply
             to
             be
             made
             by
             man
             ,
             who
             is
             and
             ought
             to
             observe
             the
             Command
             without
             exception
             of
             persons
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             frame
             Arguments
             against
             it
             ;
             and
             the
             Lord
             hath
             forbidden
             man
             to
             add
             any
             thing
             ,
             or
             diminish
             from
             what
             is
             written
             .
             For
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             of
             Christ
             ,
             being
             perfect
             ;
             therefore
             nothing
             ought
             to
             be
             added
             to
             it
             .
             Therefore
             to
             admit
             of
             any
             Exposition
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             whereby
             to
             make
             them
             contradictory
             one
             to
             another
             ,
             or
             any
             Text
             of
             Scripture
             contradictory
             in
             it self
             ,
             were
             a
             great
             evil
             :
             And
             therefore
             all
             commodious
             Interpretations
             (
             as
             they
             are
             called
             )
             of
             that
             Text
             ,
             Mat.
             5.34
             .
             
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               ;
               &c.
            
             inducing
             the
             lawfulness
             of
             Swearing
             in
             some
             cases
             ,
             is
             denied
             ,
             as
             being
             contradictory
             to
             what
             is
             written
             :
             For
             if
             such
             Expositions
             were
             received
             for
             Truths
             ,
             Then
             would
             an
             able
             Oratour
             with
             his
             School-Distinctions
             ,
             and
             Syllogisms
             ,
             make
             the
             same
             thing
             seem
             either
             likely
             ,
             or
             unlikely
             ,
             according
             to
             his
             fancy
             .
             And
             in
             the
             end
             ,
             do
             as
             the
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             did
             ,
             make
             void
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             with
             their
             Traditions
             and
             subtil
             Distinctions
             :
             but
             we
             have
             not
             so
             learned
             
             of
             Christ
             ,
             who
             are
             taught
             of
             him
             ,
             the
             Truth
             as
             it
             is
             in
             him
             ,
             unto
             which
             nothing
             is
             to
             be
             added
             ,
             nor
             any
             thing
             taken
             therefrom
             .
             And
             where
             it
             is
             said
             by
             
               A.S.
               That
               that
               Exposition
               of
               that
               Scripture
               ,
            
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ,
             
               that
               renders
               it
               a
               total
               prohibition
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               does
               put
               an
               inconsistency
               betwixt
               the
               Old
               Testament
               and
               the
               New.
            
             I
             Answer
             and
             do
             say
             ,
             It
             doth
             no
             more
             so
             ,
             than
             those
             Texts
             which
             A.S.
             and
             others
             of
             his
             judgment
             do
             own
             ,
             for
             the
             change
             of
             the
             Seventh-day
             Sabbath
             ,
             unto
             the
             First
             day
             of
             the
             Week
             ;
             nor
             thus
             the
             Apostle
             did
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             7.19
             .
             where
             he
             said
             ,
             
               Circumcision
               is
               nothing
            
             :
             and
             Gal.
             5.2
             .
             
               If
               any
               man
               be
               circumcised
               ,
               Christ
               Iesus
               shall
               profit
               him
               nothing
               :
            
             nor
             then
             Christ
             Jesus
             himself
             did
             ,
             Mat.
             5-43
             ,
             44.
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             
               It
               hath
               been
               said
               of
               old
               time
               ,
               thou
               shalt
               love
               thy
               Neighbour
               ,
               and
               hate
               thine
               Enemy
               :
               But
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               Love
               your
               Enemies
               ,
               bless
               them
               that
               curse
               you
               .
            
             Besides
             several
             other
             Texts
             of
             Scriptures
             that
             might
             be
             mentioned
             in
             the
             New
             Testament
             to
             that
             purpose
             :
             So
             that
             although
             there
             hath
             been
             diversities
             of
             Dispensations
             ,
             and
             diversities
             of
             Administrations
             and
             Commands
             ,
             as
             there
             are
             diversities
             of
             Gifts
             and
             Operations
             ,
             yet
             the
             same
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             the
             same
             Lord
             ,
             Law-giver
             ,
             Judge
             ,
             and
             King
             ;
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             i●
             divers
             manners
             ,
             spoke
             in
             the
             old
             time
             to
             our
             Fathers
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             and
             hath
             spoken
             to
             us
             in
             these
             last
             dayes
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             a●
             Commanded
             that
             all
             should
             hear
             him
             ,
             and
             honour
             him
             ,
             to
             whom
             he
             hath
             committed
             all
             Judgment
             ,
             who
             saith
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             :
             ●
             that
             ,
             if
             Times
             and
             Dispensations
             were
             rightly
             discerned
             and
             distinguished
             ,
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             the
             Old
             and
             New
             Testament
             do
             agree
             ,
             for
             there
             is
             no
             contrariety
             in
             the
             Spirit
             that
             gave
             them
             forth
             ;
             but
             the
             contrariety
             is
             in
             that
             mind
             that
             is
             carnal
             ,
             and
             therefore
             is
             not
             subject
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             Christ
             ,
             according
             to
             Rom.
             8
             ,
             7.
             
             But
             all
             who
             mind
             the
             things
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             they
             do
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             so
             knows
             Christs
             Doctrine
             to
             be
             his
             that
             sent
             him
             ,
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             .
             And
             that
             there
             was
             a
             time
             when
             God
             was
             purely
             worshipped
             ,
             and
             truly
             served
             ,
             before
             any
             Oath
             was
             ;
             And
             that
             there
             was
             a
             time
             when
             Israel
             was
             commanded
             
               to
               fear
               the
               Lord
               ,
               and
               serve
               him
               ,
               and
               swear
               by
               his
               Name
            
             ;
             by
             which
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             That
             swearing
             was
             no
             essential
             part
             of
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             in
             Spirit
             and
             Truth
             ,
             and
             therefore
             was
             but
             temporary
             :
             And
             that
             there
             was
             a
             time
             when
             Israel
             was
             to
             seek
             the
             place
             which
             the
             Lord
             should
             chase
             ,
             to
             put
             his
             Name
             there
             ,
             
               viz.
               Ierusalem
            
             ;
             and
             
             thither
             they
             were
             to
             come
             ,
             and
             bring
             their
             burnt
             Offerings
             ,
             Deut.
             12.5
             ,
             6
             ,
             7.
             
             Ioh.
             4.20
             .
             And
             there
             was
             and
             is
             a
             time
             ,
             
               that
               neither
               in
               the
               Mountain
               ,
               nor
               yet
               at
               Ierusalem
               ,
               they
               should
               worship
               the
               Father
               ,
               Ioh.
            
             4.21
             .
             And
             there
             was
             a
             time
             ,
             that
             the
             condition
             
               of
               the
               Heir
               should
               not
               differ
               from
               a
               Servant
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             And
             there
             was
             an
             appointed
             time
             when
             
               he
               should
               be
               Lord
               of
               all
               ,
               and
               receive
               the
               adoption
               of
               a
               Son
               ,
               Gal.
            
             4.1
             .
             to
             6.
             
             But
             the
             Well
             is
             deep
             ,
             and
             whilst
             People
             have
             or
             at
             the
             least
             make
             use
             of
             nothing
             to
             draw
             the
             Water
             with
             ,
             but
             what
             they
             have
             and
             receive
             from
             man
             ,
             by
             man
             ,
             and
             of
             man
             ,
             they
             will
             receive
             little
             refreshment
             or
             satisfaction
             in
             these
             things
             before-mentioned
             .
             Nevertheless
             ,
             
               when
               they
               in
               their
               hearts
               shall
               turn
               to
               the
               Lord
               ,
               the
               Vail
               shall
               be
               done
               away
               ;
               for
               where
               the
               Spirit
               of
               the
               Lord
               is
               ,
               there
               is
               Light
               ,
               and
               it
               is
               the
               Light
               that
               God
               hath
               commanded
               to
               shine
               in
               mens
               hearts
               ,
               for
               to
               give
               unto
               them
               the
               knowledge
               of
               the
               things
               that
               are
               of
               his
               Spirit
               ,
               which
               the
               Natural
               man
               understands
               not
               ,
               nor
               can
               the
               Wisdom
               which
               is
               from
               below
               find
               out
               .
            
             And
             now
             I
             come
             to
             A.S.
             his
             twelfth
             Argument
             ,
             or
             last
             Reason
             ,
             which
             was
             and
             is
             ;
          
        
         
           
             Arg.
             12.
             
          
           
             
               The
               general
               practise
               of
               Christendom
               who
               could
               not
               all
               be
               so
               ignorant
               as
               to
               misunderstand
               the
               meaning
               of
               these
               words
               ,
               
                 Swear
                 not
                 at
                 all
              
               ;
               Or
               so
               wicked
               as
               not
               only
               rashly
               but
               advisedly
               to
               act
               against
               them
               .
            
          
           
             Answ.
             It
             is
             written
             ,
             
               Thou
               shalt
               not
               follow
               a
               Multitude
               to
               do
               evil
               .
            
             And
             also
             ,
             
               That
               when
               King
               Herod
               heard
               that
               the
               Holy
               Child
               Iesus
               was
               born
               ,
               he
               was
               troubled
               and
               all
               Ierusalem
               with
               him
               ;
               and
               gathering
               together
               all
               the
               Chief
               Priests
               and
               Scribes
               of
               the
               People
               ,
               he
               asked
               of
               them
               ,
               Where
               Christ
               should
               be
               born
               ?
               And
               they
               said
               at
               Bethlem
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             Mat.
             2.1
             ,
             &c.
             And
             yet
             the
             Chief
             Priests
             and
             Elders
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             were
             so
             wicked
             ,
             that
             they
             assembled
             together
             ,
             and
             consulted
             how
             they
             
               might
               take
               Iesus
               by
               subtilty
               and
               kill
               him
               ,
            
             Mat.
             26.3
             ,
             4.
             concerning
             whom
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             Acts
             3.17
             .
             bore
             witness
             ,
             
               That
               they
               did
               what
               they
               did
               unto
               him
               ignorantly
               ,
               because
               they
               knew
               him
               not
            
             ;
             and
             therefore
             exhorted
             them
             to
             repentance
             .
             So
             that
             it
             may
             be
             possible
             ,
             That
             all
             those
             in
             Christendom
             ,
             mentioned
             by
             
               A.
               S.
            
             to
             own
             swearing
             ,
             as
             men
             might
             in
             this
             case
             of
             swearing
             be
             ignorant
             (
             the
             time
             of
             ignorance
             being
             winked
             at
             )
             And
             therefore
             this
             Reason
             given
             by
             A.S.
             to
             prove
             that
             Christ
             did
             not
             forbid
             all
             swearing
             ,
             when
             he
             had
             said
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ;
             is
             neither
             sound
             nor
             satisfactory
             ,
             especially
             the
             
             Scriptures
             following
             well
             considered
             ,
             Ioh.
             5.34
             ,
             36.
             
             &
             8.43
             .
             Mat.
             11.25
             .
             to
             which
             many
             others
             might
             be
             added
             :
             And
             yet
             my
             belief
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Lord
             in
             no
             Age
             hath
             left
             himself
             without
             witness
             concerning
             the
             truth
             and
             extent
             of
             the
             Command
             of
             Christ
             aforesaid
             ,
             although
             born
             by
             Babes
             and
             poor
             Fishermen
             ,
             or
             other
             persons
             unlearned
             in
             the
             many
             languages
             ;
             and
             therefore
             little
             esteemed
             of
             the
             world
             (
             though
             highly
             esteemed
             of
             God
             )
             but
             by
             the
             world
             hated
             ,
             and
             their
             testimony
             rejected
             as
             erronious
             :
             And
             yet
             greater
             was
             he
             that
             was
             in
             them
             ,
             than
             he
             that
             was
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             so
             they
             had
             the
             greater
             witness
             :
             for
             if
             the
             witness
             of
             men
             be
             great
             ,
             the
             witness
             of
             God
             is
             greater
             ,
             which
             every
             one
             that
             believeth
             hath
             in
             himself
             ,
             1
             Ioh.
             5.9
             ,
             10.
             
             And
             he
             that
             keepeth
             the
             commands
             of
             Christ
             ,
             he
             dwelleth
             in
             Christ
             and
             Christ
             in
             him
             ,
             according
             to
             1
             Ioh.
             3.23
             ,
             24.
             
             And
             I
             also
             believe
             concerning
             many
             of
             them
             who
             have
             affirmed
             as
             their
             judgment
             ,
             
               the
               lawfulness
               of
               some
               swearing
               under
               the
               Gospel
               ,
            
             That
             if
             they
             had
             lived
             in
             these
             our
             dayes
             ,
             wherein
             the
             Lord
             God
             out
             of
             the
             riches
             of
             his
             Love
             ,
             and
             the
             abundance
             of
             his
             Light
             ,
             which
             he
             hath
             commanded
             to
             shine
             out
             of
             darkness
             (
             after
             the
             long
             night
             of
             Apostacy
             )
             in
             the
             hearts
             of
             the
             heirs
             of
             his
             Righteousness
             ,
             for
             to
             give
             unto
             them
             the
             knowledge
             of
             his
             Glory
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             true
             witness-bearing
             in
             the
             face
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             before
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             was
             ;
             that
             they
             would
             have
             come
             to
             have
             seen
             ,
             and
             also
             to
             have
             acknowledged
             (
             as
             many
             in
             these
             dayes
             (
             blessed
             be
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Lord
             for
             his
             unspeakable
             gift
             )
             have
             done
             their
             mistakes
             in
             the
             case
             of
             swearing
             ,
             and
             by
             confessing
             their
             sins
             ,
             and
             acknowledging
             their
             mistakes
             ,
             have
             given
             glory
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             conformed
             their
             judgments
             &
             practises
             to
             the
             command
             of
             Christ
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             :
             And
             with
             Solomon
             have
             born
             their
             testimony
             ,
             That
             in
             making
             many
             Books
             there
             is
             no
             end
             ;
             and
             in
             reading
             of
             them
             ,
             much
             wearisomness
             to
             the
             flesh
             ;
             And
             that
             the
             end
             of
             all
             ,
             is
             to
             learn
             
               to
               fear
               the
               Lord
               and
               keep
               his
               Commandments
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               whole
               duty
               of
               man
               ,
            
             Eccles.
             12.12
             ,
             13.
             
             And
             now
             having
             born
             my
             testimony
             for
             the
             Lord
             concerning
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             ,
             according
             to
             that
             in
             my
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             Truth
             ;
             and
             that
             not
             in
             a
             way
             of
             opposing
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             against
             his
             Father
             ,
             nor
             the
             Scriptures
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             against
             the
             Old
             ,
             nor
             by
             making
             any
             Text
             of
             Scripture
             contradictory
             in
             it self
             :
             But
             in
             and
             by
             such
             a
             way
             as
             they
             are
             established
             in
             unity
             one
             with
             another
             ;
             Neither
             
             with
             a
             contending
             or
             opposing
             spirit
             ,
             against
             any
             Law
             or
             Ordinance
             of
             man
             ,
             that
             ought
             to
             be
             submitted
             unto
             for
             the
             Lords
             sake
             ;
             But
             in
             the
             spirit
             of
             love
             and
             meekness
             ,
             for
             the
             clearing
             my
             Conscience
             ,
             before
             the
             Lord
             and
             his
             People
             ,
             in
             yielding
             a
             Reason
             wherefore
             I
             ,
             and
             some
             others
             may
             not
             take
             any
             Oath
             or
             Swear
             at
             all
             ;
             although
             we
             should
             be
             required
             thereunto
             by
             a
             lawful
             Magistrate
             ,
             I
             have
             peace
             ;
             causing
             rather
             in
             this
             case
             to
             fall
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             men
             ,
             and
             by
             submission
             unto
             their
             punishment
             (
             which
             hitherto
             ,
             blessed
             be
             God
             ,
             I
             and
             some
             others
             have
             found
             ,
             not
             according
             to
             the
             rigour
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             with
             some
             moderation
             )
             thereby
             testifying
             my
             practice
             to
             be
             according
             to
             my
             judgment
             ,
             against
             all
             resistance
             of
             the
             powers
             which
             God
             hath
             set
             over
             me
             ;
             and
             that
             not
             for
             fear
             of
             wrath
             ,
             but
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             to
             God
             ,
             who
             is
             able
             not
             only
             to
             destroy
             my
             body
             ,
             but
             to
             cast
             both
             soul
             and
             body
             into
             Hell
             fire
             :
             Assuredly
             beleeving
             ,
             that
             whilest
             I
             have
             a
             respect
             unto
             all
             the
             Commands
             of
             Christ
             Jesus
             ,
             I
             shall
             never
             be
             ashamed
             .
             And
             if
             in
             this
             matter
             concerning
             Swearing
             ,
             any
             should
             yet
             remain
             otherwise
             minded
             ,
             and
             seem
             to
             be
             contentious
             about
             words
             and
             forms
             ;
             I
             say
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             such
             custome
             in
             the
             Churches
             of
             Christ.
             For
             ,
             where
             glory
             is
             given
             to
             God
             on
             high
             ,
             there
             is
             peace
             on
             Earth
             ,
             and
             good
             will
             to
             all
             men
             on
             Earth
             below
             ;
             And
             all
             who
             wait
             in
             the
             Light
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             it
             shineth
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
             〈◊〉
             in
             due
             time
             shall
             have
             the
             same
             Truth
             revealed
             unto
             them
             ,
             〈◊〉
             which
             I
             have
             herein
             born
             my
             Testimony
             ;
             And
             I
             ,
             and
             others
             ,
             〈…〉
             o
             walk
             in
             that
             whereunto
             we
             ,
             through
             the
             Grace
             of
             God
             are
             come
             ,
             That
             so
             we
             may
             not
             be
             ashamed
             of
             our
             Testimony
             for
             the
             Lord
             ,
             though
             born
             through
             much
             suffering
             .
          
           
             THE
             END
             .