The case of the Quakers concerning oaths defended as evangelical in answer to a book, entituled, The case of the Quakers relating to oaths stated by J.S.
         Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.
      
       
         
           1674
        
      
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             The case of the Quakers concerning oaths defended as evangelical in answer to a book, entituled, The case of the Quakers relating to oaths stated by J.S.
             Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.
          
           51 p.
           
             s.n.],
             [London? :
             1674.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Attributed to George Whitehead. cf. NUC pre-1956.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           J. S. -- Case of the Quakers relating to oaths.
           Society of Friends -- Doctrines.
           Oaths -- Biblical teaching -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           CASE
           OF
           THE
           QUAKERS
           Concerning
           OATHS
           Defended
           as
           Evangelical
           :
           IN
           ANSWER
           To
           a
           Book
           ,
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             Case
             of
             the
          
           Quakers
           
             relating
             to
          
           OATHS
           
             stated
             by
          
           J.
           S.
           
        
         
           Because
           of
           Swearing
           the
           Land
           Mourneth
           ,
           
             Jer.
             23.
             10.
             
          
        
         
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           ,
           1674.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           
             READER
             ,
          
        
         
           IF
           thou
           hast
           perused
           the
           said
           Pamphlet
           against
           the
           People
           called
           Quakers
           ,
           entituled
           
             [
             The
             Case
             of
             the
             Quakers
             ]
          
           we
           desire
           thee
           to
           read
           over
           this
           following
           Answer
           ;
           But
           if
           thou
           art
           not
           pleased
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           thou
           art
           requested
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Rule
           of
           Equity
           )
           not
           to
           entertain
           prejudice
           ,
           nor
           to
           censure
           the
           said
           People
           upon
           the
           meer
           report
           and
           reproaches
           of
           their
           Adversarys
           ,
           it
           being
           unjust
           to
           pass
           a
           Judgment
           upon
           a
           People
           without
           hearing
           them
           ,
           upon
           the
           bare
           Reports
           of
           their
           Enemies
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           this
           Disadvantage
           we
           are
           put
           upon
           in
           the
           Eyes
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           our
           Enemies
           will
           be
           our
           Judges
           ,
           and
           that
           at
           the
           Instigation
           of
           the
           Father
           of
           Lyes
           .
        
         
           Be
           pleased
           to
           take
           notice
           ,
           that
           while
           our
           Adversary
           scoffs
           at
           our
           Plea
           ,
           as
           that
           our
           Conscience
           will
           not
           allow
           us
           to
           Swear
           ,
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             we
             actually
             do
             Swear
          
           ,
           in
           as
           solemn
           and
           August
           a
           Form
           as
           't
           is
           possible
           for
           the
           Tongue
           of
           Man
           to
           express
           ,
           in
           our
           saying
           ,
           
             God
             ,
             who
             is
             the
             Searcher
             of
             Hearts
             knows
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             with
             a
             Holy
             Respect
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           And
           thus
           he
           does
           not
           only
           render
           us
           to
           contradict
           our
           own
           Doctrine
           ,
           but
           also
           in
           like
           manner
           represents
           the
           Apostle
           Paul
           ,
           as
           frequently
           confirming
           his
           Sayings
           with
           an
           Oath
           in
           these
           and
           such
           Expressions
           ,
           
             God
             is
             my
             Witness
             ;
             I
             say
             the
             Truth
             in
             Christ
             ;
             I
             Lye
             not
             ;
             The
             God
             and
             Father
             of
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             knows
             ,
             that
             I
             Lye
             not
             ,
             &c.
          
           which
           were
           in
           his
           Epistles
           to
           the
           Saints
           ,
           and
           not
           formal
           Swearing
           on
           the
           four
           Evangelists
           before
           the
           Magistrates
           .
           Howbeit
           he
           is
           mistaken
           in
           his
           Reckoning
           these
           and
           such
           like
           words
           a
           most
           solemn
           and
           august
           Form
           of
           
             Actual
             Swearing
          
           :
           And
           what
           can
           he
           argue
           from
           hence
           ,
           but
           that
           Paul
           most
           highly
           swore
           in
           his
           Epistles
           upon
           a
           sacred
           Account
           ,
           therefore
           we
           ought
           to
           Swear
           before
           Rulers
           in
           Courts
           ?
           which
           follows
           
           not
           ,
           though
           he
           reckons
           we
           do
           Swear
           in
           saying
           ,
           
             God
             knows
          
           :
           But
           does
           not
           perswade
           the
           Magistrates
           to
           accept
           of
           it
           for
           an
           Oath
           ,
           but
           rather
           vilifies
           us
           .
           However
           ,
           herein
           we
           are
           not
           of
           his
           Mind
           ,
           that
           either
           the
           Apostles
           or
           primitive
           Christians
           did
           swear
           ,
           or
           held
           it
           lawful
           ;
           for
           we
           make
           a
           Difference
           between
           earnest
           Affirmations
           ,
           and
           Swearing
           ;
           and
           they
           did
           really
           speak
           the
           Truth
           in
           Christ
           ,
           unto
           which
           God
           was
           Witness
           ;
           and
           this
           was
           in
           a
           state
           so
           n●arly
           related
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           being
           
             in
             Christ
          
           ,
           wherein
           they
           could
           neither
           speak
           nor
           do
           any
           thing
           against
           the
           Truth
           :
           But
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Jews
           under
           the
           Law
           was
           much
           inferiour
           to
           this
           ,
           wherein
           their
           Swearing
           by
           the
           Lord
           (
           as
           the
           Chief
           Judge
           and
           Revenger
           of
           Falshood
           and
           Injury
           )
           was
           in
           a
           more
           remote
           state
           ,
           when
           they
           formally
           bound
           themselves
           by
           an
           Oath
           ,
           or
           conditional
           Curse
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           Bond
           upon
           their
           Souls
           ,
           when
           they
           feared
           it
           (
           as
           few
           do
           now
           who
           are
           in
           the
           Swearing
           Nature
           )
           But
           there
           is
           no
           need
           for
           the
           true
           Christians
           in
           Christ
           to
           use
           Imprecations
           ,
           or
           to
           pronounce
           any
           conditional
           Curse
           against
           themselves
           to
           bind
           their
           Souls
           ;
           and
           we
           have
           not
           so
           learned
           Christ
           ,
           as
           thus
           to
           Swear
           or
           Curse
           ;
           but
           to
           say
           the
           Truth
           in
           Christ
           ,
           unto
           which
           God
           is
           witness
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           to
           Swear
           the
           Truth
           in
           Christ
           ,
           nor
           to
           bind
           our
           Souls
           with
           an
           Implicite
           Curse
           in
           his
           Name
           (
           knowing
           also
           ,
           that
           the
           Penalty
           from
           God
           of
           all
           Lyars
           is
           the
           Lake
           of
           Misery
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           false
           Swearers
           )
           For
           ,
           where
           did
           the
           Apostle
           Paul
           say
           ,
           
             I
             Swear
          
           the
           Truth
           in
           Christ
           ?
           Howbeit
           ,
           if
           otherwise
           our
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           to
           our
           simple
           Affirmation
           or
           Denyal
           in
           Yea
           or
           Nay
           be
           question'd
           ,
           we
           have
           proposed
           to
           those
           in
           Power
           thus
           ,
           
             That
             we
             desire
             and
             request
             ,
             that
             you
             will
             be
             pleased
             to
             Enact
             and
             Provide
             ,
             that
             in
             stead
             and
             place
             thereof
             ,
             as
             the
             Cases
             may
             require
             ,
             our
             Yea
             and
             Nay
             may
             be
             accepted
             and
             taken
             ;
             and
             if
             we
             break
             our
             Yea
             and
             our
             Nay
             ,
             which
             is
             Christ's
             solemn
             Form
             of
             sound
             words
             ,
             and
             which
             is
             his
             Gospel
             Command
             ,
             which
             we
             stand
             to
             and
             for
             ,
             then
             let
             us
             suffer
             the
             same
             Penalty
             as
             they
             that
             can
             Swear
             ,
             and
             break
             their
             Oaths
             :
          
           This
           we
           have
           left
           to
           the
           serious
           Consideration
           of
           those
           in
           Power
           ;
           and
           not
           to
           the
           Prejudice
           of
           malicious
           men
           ,
           such
           as
           our
           Opposer
           ,
           who
           ,
           like
           a
           Busy
           Body
           ,
           hath
           vainly
           spent
           his
           Labour
           against
           us
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           written
           on
           behalf
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Person
           of
           the
           People
           of
           God
           called
           Quakers
           ,
           and
           their
           Evangelical
           Testimony
           ,
           by
           some
           who
           are
           Lovers
           of
           the
           said
           People
           ,
           and
           the
           Souls
           of
           all
           Men.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           CASE
           of
           the
           QUAKERS
           Concerning
           OATHS
           Defended
           as
           Evangelical
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             Section
             I.
             
          
           
             Of
             the
             Nature
             and
             Extent
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             not
             a
             Property
             of
             True
             Christians
             .
          
           
             LEt
             the
             serious
             Reader
             judge
             ,
             whether
             our
             Opposer
             
               J.
               S.
            
             hath
             taken
             a
             Christian
             Way
             and
             Method
             to
             convince
             us
             of
             Error
             or
             not
             ,
             by
             Vilifying
             and
             Railing
             ,
             calling
             us
             
               Monsters
               of
               men
               ,
               impudent
               ,
               obstinate
               and
               reprobate-minded
               men
               ,
            
             as
             in
             his
             second
             and
             sixth
             pages
             ;
             and
             on
             serious
             Examination
             of
             his
             Matter
             ,
             we
             shall
             find
             it
             as
             ineffectual
             for
             the
             same
             End
             ,
             as
             in
             his
             first
             Argument
             ,
             to
             prove
             the
             Lawfulness
             of
             Swearing
             .
             He
             Instanceth
             
             Paul's
             saying
             ,
             
               God
               is
               my
               Witness
            
             ,
             Rom.
             1.
             9.
             
             
               I
               say
               the
               Truth
               in
               Christ
               ;
               I
               Lye
               not
               ;
               my
               Conscience
               also
               bearing
               me
               witness
               in
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
            
             Rom.
             9.
             1.
             
             Together
             with
             2
             Cor.
             1.
             23.
             chap.
             11.
             37.
             
             Gal.
             1.
             20.
             
             Phil.
             1.
             8.
             1
             
             Thess.
             2.
             10.
             
             
               Ye
               are
               Witnesses
               ,
               and
               God
               also
               .
            
             And
             these
             Forms
             of
             Speech
             he
             saith
             ,
             are
             sacred
             Oaths
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             Definition
             of
             an
             Oath
             in
             the
             common
             Notion
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             
               is
               nothing
               else
               but
               the
               calling
               God
               to
               Witness
               to
               the
               truth
               of
               what
               we
               say
               ,
            
             p.
             2.
             
             It
             appears
             that
             he
             varies
             ,
             and
             is
             confounded
             
             about
             the
             definition
             of
             an
             Oath
             ;
             for
             one
             while
             he
             saith
             ,
             
               It
               is
               the
               Invocation
               of
               God's
               Name
               ,
               a
               most
               solemn
               Invocation
               of
               the
               Divine
               Majesty
            
             ;
             Another
             while
             it
             is
             
               the
               Denouncing
               of
               a
               Curse
            
             ;
             p.
             4.
             
             Another
             while
             
               a
               man's
               calling
               God
               for
               a
               Witness
               against
               his
               Soul
               ,
               daring
               him
               to
               his
               Face
               ,
               challenging
               the
               Divine
               Vengeance
               to
               do
               its
               worst
               in
               case
               he
               swear
               falsly
               ,
            
             p.
             13.
             
             Now
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             be
             pleased
             to
             observe
             ,
             first
             ,
             his
             Variation
             and
             Contradiction
             ,
             between
             his
             saying
             ,
             
               An
               Oath
            
             is
             
               nothing
               else
            
             but
             a
             calling
             God
             to
             witness
             ,
             and
             the
             pronouncing
             
               of
               a
               Curse
               ,
               daring
               God
               to
               his
               Face
               ,
               challenging
               Divine
               Vengeance
               to
               do
               its
               worst
               .
            
             As
             for
             the
             first
             ,
             We
             cannot
             be
             convinced
             that
             it
             makes
             up
             a
             
               formal
               Oath
            
             among
             Christians
             ,
             to
             whose
             Testimony
             God
             is
             Witness
             as
             he
             was
             to
             
             Paul's
             .
             As
             for
             the
             latter
             ,
             It
             is
             more
             then
             an
             Oath
             ,
             and
             savours
             of
             high
             Presumption
             ,
             unbecoming
             a
             Christian-Spirit
             ,
             either
             to
             
               dare
               God
               to
               his
               Face
            
             ,
             or
             
               challenge
               Divine
               Vengeance
            
             .
             Besides
             ,
             if
             those
             very
             words
             of
             Paul
             ,
             
               God
               is
               my
               Witness
            
             ,
             make
             up
             a
             formal
             Oath
             by
             him
             ,
             then
             we
             ask
             ,
             If
             his
             saying
             ,
             My
             Conscience
             bearing
             me
             witness
             ,
             and
             Ye
             are
             Witnesses
             ,
             doth
             not
             (
             by
             the
             same
             Reason
             )
             make
             up
             a
             Formal
             Oath
             ,
             by
             his
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             by
             those
             Saints
             to
             whom
             he
             wrote
             ?
             And
             were
             not
             this
             most
             grosly
             to
             charge
             Paul
             with
             Transgression
             both
             of
             Law
             and
             Gospel
             ?
             Whereas
             in
             a
             Formal
             Oath
             ,
             as
             made
             amongst
             Men
             ,
             there
             is
             ,
             First
             ,
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Great
             God
             intended
             ;
             Secondly
             ,
             An
             Imprecation
             or
             Curse
             contained
             ;
             Thirdly
             ,
             Some
             Ceremony
             or
             Sign
             used
             *
             besides
             the
             bare
             words
             of
             invocating
             or
             calling
             upon
             God
             (
             or
             
               so
               help
               me
               God
            
             )
             For
             that
             the
             same
             Invocation
             may
             as
             well
             be
             used
             without
             an
             Oath
             ,
             even
             in
             our
             praying
             for
             God's
             Help
             and
             Assistance
             .
          
           
             The
             words
             ,
             
               So
               help
               me
               God
            
             ,
             or
             
               I
               call
               God
               to
               witness
            
             ,
             may
             be
             used
             without
             any
             Intent
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             in
             an
             Oath
             ;
             in
             desiring
             his
             Help
             ,
             and
             simply
             as
             owning
             him
             for
             Witness
             to
             the
             Truth
             spoken
             in
             Christ
             ,
             which
             ,
             as
             such
             ,
             is
             not
             an
             Oath
             ;
             but
             when
             thus
             intended
             *
             viz.
             
               So
               let
            
             me
             have
             or
             want
             the
             Help
             of
             God
             according
             as
             I
             speak
             the
             Truth
             ;
             or
             so
             let
             God
             be
             Witness
             ,
             or
             judge
             for
             or
             against
             me
             :
             In
             this
             latter
             Sense
             is
             an
             Oath
             implying
             a
             Curse
             ;
             as
             ,
             
             Let
             God
             be
             Witness
             or
             Judge
             against
             me
             if
             I
             speak
             not
             the
             Truth
             ;
             but
             the
             bare
             words
             ,
             
               so
               God
               help
               me
            
             ,
             or
             God
             is
             my
             Witness
             ,
             or
             
               God
               knows
            
             I
             speak
             the
             Truth
             in
             Christ
             ,
             
               I
               Lye
            
             not
             ,
             cannot
             be
             a
             Swearing
             (
             nor
             a
             Formal
             Oath
             )
             without
             an
             Intention
             thereof
             ,
             or
             of
             an
             Imprecation
             or
             Execration
             implyed
             ,
             
             as
             of
             old
             some
             time
             an
             Oath
             of
             Cursing
             was
             used
             among
             the
             Jews
             ;
             
             and
             there
             are
             several
             Sorts
             of
             Oathes
             ,
             and
             several
             Wayes
             or
             Ceremonies
             expressing
             Formal
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             among
             the
             
               Heathen
               ,
               Laying
               the
               Hands
               upon
               the
               Altar
               ,
            
             and
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Gods
             ;
             *
             
             Abraham's
             Servant
             
               putting
               his
               Hand
               under
               his
               Thigh
            
             ;
             the
             Angel
             
               Lifting
               up
               the
               Hand
               towards
               Heaven
            
             ;
             among
             the
             professed
             
               Christians
               ,
               a
               Laying
               the
               Hand
               upon
               a
               Bible
               ,
               and
               Kissing
               it
               ,
            
             or
             
               Swearing
               upon
               the
               four
               Evangelists
            
             (
             according
             to
             the
             Pope's
             Imposition
             .
             )
             However
             ,
             we
             taking
             the
             last
             ,
             as
             the
             Magistrates
             general
             Sense
             of
             an
             Oath
             ;
             the
             Definition
             thereof
             is
             not
             so
             much
             the
             Matter
             in
             Controversie
             ,
             as
             the
             Lawfulness
             or
             Unlawfulness
             of
             Swearing
             among
             Christians
             .
          
           
             His
             Instance
             ,
             that
             Jacob
             Swore
             by
             the
             Fear
             of
             his
             Father
             Isaac
             ,
             proves
             not
             that
             
             Laban's
             simply
             saying
             
               God
               is
               Witness
            
             ,
             makes
             up
             a
             formal
             Oath
             ;
             seeing
             he
             also
             said
             ,
             This
             Heap
             
               (
               viz.
            
             of
             Stones
             )
             is
             Witness
             between
             me
             and
             thee
             ,
             see
             Gen.
             31.
             
             VVill
             any
             presume
             to
             say
             ,
             That
             he
             Swore
             by
             the
             Heap
             of
             Stones
             ,
             which
             was
             a
             Witness
             or
             a
             Memorial
             ?
             His
             accusing
             St.
             Paul
             ,
             
               notwithstanding
               Christ's
               prohibition
               ,
               that
               he
               did
               frequently
               confirm
               his
               Sayings
               with
               an
               Oath
            
             ;
             is
             both
             a
             gross
             Abuse
             of
             Paul
             ,
             and
             contradicts
             this
             man's
             confessing
             that
             he
             delivered
             the
             Truth
             with
             
               great
               Demonstration
               of
               the
               Spirit
            
             and
             
               of
               Power
            
             ,
             and
             that
             
               by
               Manifestation
            
             of
             the
             Truth
             he
             commended
             himself
             to
             every
             man's
             Conscience
             in
             the
             Sight
             of
             God
             ,
             1
             
               Cor.
               2.
               4
               ,
               13.
               2
               
               Cor.
            
             4.
             2.
             
             Surely
             the
             Demonstration
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             Manifestation
             of
             the
             Truth
             ,
             was
             not
             Swearing
             to
             every
             man's
             Conscience
             ;
             for
             there
             was
             no
             need
             of
             Swearing
             where
             the
             Truth
             was
             so
             manifest
             among
             the
             Saints
             .
             But
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             Paul
             did
             frequently
             confirm
             his
             Sayings
             
               with
               an
               Oath
            
             ,
             renders
             him
             both
             of
             very
             little
             Power
             ,
             Manifestation
             or
             Credit
             ,
             as
             a
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             among
             his
             Saints
             and
             Churches
             (
             none
             of
             them
             excepted
             )
             and
             them
             also
             to
             have
             as
             little
             Knowledge
             and
             Confidence
             of
             Paul
             and
             his
             Testimony
             .
          
           
           
             Further
             ,
             He
             varies
             between
             saying
             ,
             
               God
               is
               Witness
            
             ,
             and
             mens
             calling
             him
             for
             a
             Record
             
               against
               their
               Soul
            
             ;
             where
             he
             brings
             Augustine
             for
             a
             Proof
             that
             Paul
             Swore
             in
             these
             words
             :
             If
             so
             ,
             Augustine
             is
             not
             constant
             to
             himself
             ,
             nor
             with
             other
             Fathers
             ,
             particularly
             Basil.
             on
             Psal.
             14.
             pag.
             155.
             of
             his
             Works
             ,
             impr
             .
             at
             Paris
             1618.
             where
             he
             saith
             ,
             
               
                 There
                 are
                 some
                 Speeches
                 which
                 have
                 the
                 form
                 of
                 an
                 Oath
                 ,
              
               which
               are
               not
               Oathes
               ,
               but
               are
               Remedies
               for
               the
               Hearer
               ;
               as
               the
               Apostle
               to
               the
               Corinthians
               ,
               willing
               to
               shew
               his
               Love
               ,
               said
               ,
               Yea
               ,
               or
               by
               your
               Rejoycing
               ,
               &c.
               for
               he
               was
               not
               disobedient
               to
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               who
               was
               intrusted
               with
               the
               Gospel
               :
               but
               he
               gave
               a
               small
               word
               in
               the
               Form
               of
               an
               Oath
               ;
               that
               their
               Rejoycing
               was
               most
               desirous
               to
               him
               he
               shewed
               by
               such
               a
               manner
               of
               Speech
               .
            
             Thus
             far
             Basil
             ,
             though
             we
             know
             the
             Particle
             
               [
               by
            
             ]
             is
             not
             alwayes
             a
             Note
             of
             Swearing
             .
          
           
             In
             his
             second
             Argument
             he
             grants
             ,
             that
             Justice
             may
             be
             administred
             according
             to
             the
             Rule
             of
             the
             Gospel
             by
             the
             Testimony
             of
             Two
             or
             Three
             Witnesses
             ,
             
               Mat.
               18.
               16.
               but
               not
               of
               one
               without
               an
               Oath
            
             (
             as
             taking
             in
             God
             to
             witness
             with
             him
             )
             where
             there
             is
             but
             one
             Witness
             ,
             as
             in
             the
             Case
             instanced
             ,
             Exed
             .
             22.
             10
             ,
             11.
             
             However
             ,
             that
             Testimony
             of
             Two
             or
             Three
             Witnesses
             may
             decide
             a
             Controversie
             without
             an
             Oath
             ;
             and
             where
             there
             is
             but
             one
             faithful
             Witness
             ,
             God
             is
             Witness
             with
             him
             and
             for
             him
             therein
             ,
             and
             hath
             a
             Witness
             for
             him
             in
             men's
             Consciences
             .
             And
             the
             Law-makers
             (
             to
             whom
             we
             have
             applyed
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             such
             busie
             Opposers
             as
             this
             Agent
             against
             us
             )
             have
             Power
             to
             make
             Provision
             for
             such
             a
             one
             as
             cannot
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             Swear
             ,
             that
             his
             Testimony
             may
             be
             taken
             instead
             of
             an
             Oath
             ,
             especially
             he
             being
             willing
             to
             undergo
             the
             same
             Penalty
             that
             is
             due
             to
             perjured
             Persons
             ,
             if
             he
             be
             found
             false
             in
             his
             Testimony
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             proposed
             ;
             however
             ,
             this
             Opposer
             takes
             little
             notice
             thereof
             .
             And
             many
             in
             Authority
             have
             confessed
             our
             Proposition
             therein
             to
             be
             fair
             and
             sufficient
             ,
             and
             not
             at
             all
             tending
             to
             obstruct
             the
             Administration
             of
             Justice
             ,
             nor
             to
             patronize
             Injustice
             ,
             as
             is
             most
             falsly
             insinuated
             against
             us
             ,
             pag.
             3.
             
          
           
             
               In
               his
               third
               Argument
               he
               asserts
               ,
            
             That
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             Old
             Testament
             Prophets
             did
             commend
             Swearing
             by
             God
             ,
             as
             that
             which
             was
             to
             be
             the
             practice
             of
             his
             Elect
             Servants
             in
             the
             Christian-Church
             ,
             after
             his
             Rejection
             of
             the
             Jews
             and
             chusing
             the
             Gentiles
             .
          
           
           
             Answ.
             We
             deny
             this
             Assumption
             ,
             that
             they
             did
             so
             commend
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             a
             Practice
             to
             continue
             in
             the
             Christian-Church
             among
             Jews
             and
             Gentiles
             ;
             For
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             Prohibition
             of
             Swearing
             
               at
               all
               ,
               either
               by
               Heaven
               or
               Earth
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               Oath
               ,
            
             was
             of
             an
             Universal
             Extent
             to
             both
             Jews
             and
             Gentiles
             that
             come
             to
             be
             of
             the
             Christian-Church
             ,
             both
             forbidding
             such
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             the
             Jews
             of
             old
             time
             used
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             viz.
             by
             the
             Lord
             ;
             and
             the
             Apostate
             Jews
             and
             Gentiles
             Swearing
             by
             Idols
             ,
             or
             the
             Creatures
             ,
             or
             any
             Oath
             whatsoever
             .
          
           
             He
             attempts
             to
             prove
             his
             Assumption
             from
             Isa.
             56.
             15.
             
             And
             ye
             shall
             leave
             your
             Name
             for
             a
             Curse
             to
             my
             Chosen
             ;
             
               that
               is
            
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             
               the
               people
               that
               I
               shall
               chuse
               from
               among
               the
            
             Gentiles
             
               shall
               use
               your
               Name
               in
               Execration
               ,
               when
               they
               have
               a
               mind
               to
               denounce
               a
               Curse
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             And
             this
             he
             brings
             to
             prove
             Swearing
             a
             Practice
             to
             continue
             amongst
             God's
             Elect
             Servants
             in
             the
             Christian-Church
             :
             And
             so
             he
             would
             perswade
             them
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             Swear
             contrary
             to
             Christ's
             Command
             ,
             but
             to
             use
             Execrations
             ,
             and
             to
             denounce
             a
             Curse
             when
             they
             have
             a
             mind
             ,
             as
             he
             supposes
             ;
             which
             is
             contrary
             to
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             Doctrine
             ,
             who
             taught
             the
             Elect
             to
             Bless
             those
             that
             Curse
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             Bless
             ,
             and
             Curse
             not
             ;
             for
             ,
             to
             Bless
             God
             and
             Curse
             man
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             .
          
           
             
               In
               his
               fourth
               Argument
               he
               saith
               ,
            
             The
             Spirit
             of
             Christ
             ,
             which
             was
             in
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             fore-told
             ;
             That
             in
             the
             Time
             of
             the
             Gospel
             the
             Lord's
             people
             should
             Swear
             by
             his
             Name
             ,
             as
             an
             Evidence
             of
             their
             Conversion
             to
             him
             .
          
           
             Answ.
             This
             we
             also
             deny
             ,
             together
             with
             his
             high
             Applause
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             
               as
               an
               Evidence
               of
               man's
               Conversion
            
             in
             the
             Time
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             as
             
               Divine
               Service
            
             and
             Homage
             ,
             and
             as
             
               denoting
               an
               eminent
               Act
               of
               saving
               Confession
               to
               God
               ,
            
             and
             as
             
               a
               part
               of
               Divine
               Worship
            
             ,
             and
             as
             
               a
               Sign
               ,
               Witness
               and
               Argument
               of
            
             Egypt
             
               's
               Conversion
            
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Language
               of
            
             Canaan
             ,
             a
             
               pure
               Language
               ,
               which
               God
               promised
               to
               restore
               to
               all
               Nations
               at
               the
               Coming
               of
               Christ
               ;
               yea
               ,
               the
               Condition
               of
               God's
               accepting
               men
               for
               his
               people
               ,
               the
               Condition
               of
               accepting
               us
               as
               sincere
               Disciples
               ,
               the
               Way
               of
               God's
               People
            
             ;
             as
             may
             be
             seen
             in
             his
             5th
             ,
             6th
             ,
             9th
             ,
             10th
             ,
             11th
             and
             14th
             pages
             .
             All
             these
             high
             Commendations
             he
             attributes
             to
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Lord
             ;
             As
             if
             all
             those
             that
             so
             Swear
             must
             needs
             be
             such
             great
             Converts
             ,
             divine
             Worshippers
             ,
             attained
             to
             the
             pure
             Language
             of
             Cananan
             ,
             highly
             
             accepted
             of
             God
             ,
             sincere
             Disciples
             in
             God's
             Way
             ,
             &c.
             
             Mark
             here
             ,
             
               Swearing
               by
               the
               Lord
            
             is
             this
             man's
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             the
             Condition
             of
             all
             his
             Felicity
             ;
             but
             such
             Ignorance
             and
             silly
             Stuff
             what
             rational
             man
             cannot
             see
             ?
             His
             Proof
             is
             ,
             Isa
             45.
             23.
             and
             Chap.
             19.
             18.
             
             In
             the
             first
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             I
             have
             Sworn
             by
             my self
             ,
             the
             Word
             is
             gone
             out
             of
             my
             Mouth
             in
             Righteousness
             ,
             and
             shall
             not
             return
             ,
             that
             to
             me
             every
             Knee
             shall
             bow
             ,
             every
             Tongue
             shall
             swear
             .
             In
             the
             second
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             In
             that
             day
             shall
             five
             Cities
             in
             the
             Land
             of
             Egypt
             speak
             the
             Language
             of
             Canaan
             ,
             and
             swear
             to
             the
             Lord
             of
             Hosts
             .
             There
             shall
             be
             an
             Altar
             to
             the
             Lord
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             the
             Land
             of
             Egypt
             ,
             &c.
             
             Here
             he
             applies
             Swearing
             to
             Gospel-Times
             ,
             so
             takes
             Swearing
             as
             literally
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             to
             continue
             ,
             as
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             not
             the
             Altar
             ;
             but
             confesseth
             ,
             that
             the
             
               Altar
               here
               specified
               is
               no
               other
               then
               that
               which
            
             St.
             Paul
             mentions
             Heb.
             13.
             10.
             
             
               We
               have
               an
               Altar
               ,
               &c.
            
             that
             is
             ,
             saith
             he
             ,
             
               Christ's
               Stable-Throne
               of
               Grace
            
             ,
             p.
             8.
             
             So
             that
             the
             Altar
             he
             interprets
             figuratively
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             but
             swearing
             literally
             ;
             see
             his
             Confusion
             :
             Whereas
             if
             the
             Altar
             be
             Christ's
             Stable-Throne
             of
             Grace
             ,
             then
             by
             the
             same
             Reason
             he
             should
             have
             said
             ,
             that
             by
             Swearing
             is
             intended
             a
             Gospel-Confession
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Apostle's
             own
             words
             ,
             Rom.
             14.
             11.
             where
             mentioning
             the
             Prophets
             words
             before
             ,
             instead
             of
             Every
             Tongue
             shall
             swear
             ,
             he
             saith
             ,
             Every
             Tongue
             shall
             confess
             to
             God.
             And
             likewise
             Phil.
             2.
             11.
             
             And
             that
             every
             Tongue
             should
             confess
             that
             Jesus
             Christ
             is
             Lord
             ,
             to
             the
             Glory
             of
             God
             the
             Father
             .
             It
             is
             not
             ,
             every
             Tongue
             shall
             swear
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             that
             Jesus
             Christ
             is
             Lord
             ;
             but
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             shall
             confess
             ,
             the
             same
             word
             that
             is
             in
             Rom.
             10.
             10.
             
             And
             with
             the
             Mouth
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             it
             is
             confessed
             ,
             or
             Confession
             is
             made
             to
             Salvation
             ;
             And
             likewise
             in
             John
             4.
             2.
             
             Every
             Spirit
             that
             confesseth
             that
             Jesus
             Christ
             is
             come
             in
             the
             Flesh
             is
             of
             God
             ,
             there
             is
             the
             same
             word
             .
             He
             doth
             not
             make
             swearing
             that
             Jesus
             is
             the
             Christ
             ,
             that
             Proof
             ;
             nor
             commend
             swearing
             to
             God
             in
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             as
             an
             infallible
             Mark
             of
             man's
             Conversion
             ,
             and
             the
             Condition
             of
             God's
             accepting
             them
             as
             sincere
             Disciples
             ,
             as
             our
             Opposer
             doth
             :
             For
             many
             both
             can
             and
             do
             Swear
             by
             God
             ,
             that
             never
             came
             to
             such
             Acceptance
             ,
             nor
             to
             such
             a
             Confession
             of
             Christ
             ,
             as
             is
             to
             God's
             Glory
             ,
             which
             proceeds
             from
             a
             heart
             that
             
               believes
               to
               Salvation
            
             ;
             For
             that
             no
             man
             can
             thus
             confess
             to
             God
             ,
             or
             say
             that
             Jesus
             is
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             1
             Cor.
             12.
             3.
             
             
             But
             many
             can
             and
             do
             Swear
             without
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             therefore
             true
             Confession
             is
             Evangelical
             ,
             and
             not
             Swearing
             .
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             Confession
             from
             a
             believing
             Heart
             is
             an
             Evidence
             of
             Men's
             Conversion
             ,
             and
             not
             making
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             ,
             which
             this
             Man
             seems
             to
             confess
             appertains
             to
             
               common
               humane
               Infirmity
            
             ,
             p.
             1.
             
             And
             what
             was
             that
             Infirmity
             upon
             which
             Swearing
             was
             occasioned
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             man's
             Diffidence
             ,
             Jealousie
             or
             Distrust
             ,
             which
             if
             they
             had
             fulfilled
             the
             Principal
             and
             Royal
             Law
             of
             Love
             both
             to
             God
             and
             one
             another
             ,
             there
             would
             have
             been
             no
             such
             occasion
             of
             Distrust
             ?
             Therefore
             Swearing
             was
             neither
             Moral
             ,
             Perpetual
             nor
             Evangelical
             ,
             as
             some
             suppose
             ;
             nor
             is
             it
             essential
             to
             the
             Divine
             Worship
             of
             God
             (
             as
             this
             man
             vainly
             thinks
             )
             which
             is
             in
             Spirit
             and
             Truth
             ;
             for
             that
             Worship
             was
             both
             before
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             is
             performed
             without
             Swearing
             .
             That
             God
             himself
             swore
             by
             himself
             ,
             who
             could
             
               not
               swear
            
             by
             a
             greater
             ,
             we
             deny
             not
             ;
             But
             if
             this
             must
             be
             made
             an
             Argument
             ,
             that
             therefore
             in
             this
             man
             may
             imitate
             God
             ,
             who
             is
             his
             Maker
             ,
             we
             deny
             the
             Consequence
             ;
             for
             this
             were
             to
             set
             up
             a
             Creature
             in
             the
             Creator's
             place
             :
             Nay
             ,
             as
             good
             an
             Argument
             did
             the
             Serpent
             bring
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             Ye
             shall
             be
             as
             God's
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             To
             J.
             S.
             
               his
               saying
            
             ,
             That
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Lord
             of
             Hosts
             is
             to
             speak
             the
             Language
             of
             Canaan
             ,
             that
             pure
             Lauguage
             which
             God
             promised
             ,
             &c.
             that
             pure
             and
             undefiled
             Religion
             ,
             which
             was
             at
             first
             revealed
             to
             man
             in
             Paradice
             ,
             p.
             10.
             
          
           
             
               Answ.
               First
            
             ,
             That
             God
             promised
             to
             return
             to
             his
             People
             a
             pure
             Language
             ,
             we
             own
             ;
             and
             that
             they
             should
             serve
             him
             with
             one
             Consent
             ;
             therefore
             they
             should
             not
             need
             to
             Swear
             one
             to
             another
             ,
             or
             be
             Swearers
             under
             the
             Gospel
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Nor
             doth
             he
             prove
             by
             Scripture
             ,
             that
             
               to
               swear
               by
               the
               Lord
               of
               Hosts
            
             was
             that
             pure
             and
             undefiled
             Religion
             ,
             which
             was
             at
             first
             revealed
             to
             Man
             in
             Paradice
             ;
             For
             this
             is
             to
             tell
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             God
             taught
             Adam
             and
             Eve
             to
             Swear
             to
             each
             other
             in
             the
             State
             of
             Innocency
             ,
             when
             there
             was
             no
             Occasion
             of
             Swearing
             .
          
           
             
               In
               his
               fifth
               Argument
               to
               prove
            
             Swearing
             in
             Gospel
             Times
             ,
             the
             Condition
             of
             God's
             accepting
             Men
             for
             his
             People
             ,
             such
             a
             Condition
             ,
             as
             upon
             the
             fulfilling
             thereof
             he
             will
             number
             them
             among
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             and
             account
             them
             his
             People
             that
             do
             ,
             viz.
             learn
             to
             Swear
             by
             his
             Name
             ,
             
               p.
               11.
               
               For
               Proof
               of
               this
               erroneous
               Assertion
               he
               cites
            
             Jer.
             12.
             16.
             
             
               And
               it
               shall
               come
               to
               pass
               ,
               that
               if
               they
               will
               diligently
               learn
               the
               Way
               
               of
               my
               People
               ,
               to
            
             Swear
             
               by
               my
               Name
               ▪
               the
               Lord
               liveth
               ,
               as
               they
               taught
               my
               People
               to
            
             Swear
             by
             Baal
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             This
             was
             in
             the
             Prophets
             Time
             ;
             and
             to
             be
             fulfilled
             under
             the
             Law
             ;
             There
             is
             not
             the
             same
             Reason
             for
             Christians
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             Lord
             to
             divert
             them
             from
             Swearing
             by
             false
             Gods
             ,
             as
             there
             was
             in
             those
             former
             dayes
             :
             For
             those
             that
             had
             learned
             to
             swear
             by
             Ball
             ,
             viz.
             As
             Baal
             
               liveth
               ,
               by
               the
               Life
               of
            
             Baal
             ,
             &c.
             p.
             12.
             which
             was
             opposed
             by
             swearing
             ,
             
               As
               the
               Lord
               liveth
            
             ,
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             and
             now
             confessing
             his
             Name
             ,
             and
             making
             Confession
             to
             his
             Glory
             under
             the
             Gospel
             .
             His
             telling
             us
             of
             
               a
               diligent
               Learning
            
             to
             Swear
             by
             God's
             Name
             ,
             and
             a
             learning
             this
             way
             of
             God's
             People
             ,
             &c.
             p.
             12
             ,
             14
             ,
             15.
             is
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             should
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             to
             
               swear
               by
               the
               Name
               of
               the
               Lord
            
             is
             such
             a
             difficult
             and
             hard
             Lesson
             ,
             that
             men
             must
             be
             very
             diligent
             to
             learn
             it
             ,
             and
             therein
             come
             into
             God's
             Way
             and
             Condition
             of
             Acceptance
             ;
             when
             Drunkards
             ,
             Lyars
             ,
             Dissemblers
             ,
             &c.
             can
             easily
             and
             do
             frequently
             tread
             that
             Path
             ,
             and
             walk
             in
             that
             Way
             of
             Swearing
             both
             in
             and
             out
             of
             Courts
             .
          
           
             
               J.
               S.
               saith
            
             ,
             Men
             may
             confess
             God
             in
             Prayer
             and
             Thanksgiving
             ,
             and
             Attendance
             upon
             the
             Word
             and
             Sacraments
             ,
             and
             yet
             not
             glorifie
             him
             sufficiently
             in
             order
             to
             God's
             accepting
             of
             them
             as
             true
             Worshippers
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             his
             reputing
             them
             living
             Stones
             fit
             to
             be
             laid
             in
             the
             Walls
             of
             his
             House
             ,
             the
             Church
             ,
             except
             to
             those
             who
             are
             mentioned
             ;
             and
             all
             other
             wayes
             of
             expressing
             their
             Homage
             they
             add
             this
             of
             Swearing
             by
             his
             Name
             ;
             except
             they
             learn
             diligently
             withal
             to
             acknowledge
             his
             Omnisciency
             ,
             Omnipotency
             ,
             &c.
             by
             Swearing
             by
             his
             Fearful
             Name
             :
             Where
             this
             most
             solemn
             Invocation
             is
             denyed
             him
             he
             esteems
             all
             other
             Acts
             of
             Invocation
             not
             serious
             enough
             to
             obliege
             him
             that
             tenders
             them
             to
             a
             sincere
             Confession
             ,
             pag.
             13.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             Oh
             ,
             what
             lamentable
             Doctrine
             &
             sad
             Work
             is
             this
             !
             What
             is
             this
             but
             to
             tell
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             they
             cannot
             acceptably
             confess
             God
             ,
             nor
             sufficiently
             glorifie
             him
             ,
             either
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             Thanksgiving
             ,
             Attendance
             on
             the
             Word
             ,
             &c.
             unless
             withal
             they
             add
             thereto
             a
             Swearing
             by
             his
             Fearful
             Name
             ?
             which
             is
             to
             teach
             or
             tell
             People
             ,
             
               When
               they
               go
               to
               Prayer
               ,
               to
               Church
               ,
            
             or
             else-where
             ,
             
               they
               must
               go
               there
               to
               Swear
            
             ;
             and
             also
             in
             their
             Attendance
             upon
             the
             
               Word
               ,
               while
               the
               Minister
               is
               preaching
               the
               people
               must
               swear
            
             ;
             and
             from
             thence
             ,
             
               the
               more
               they
               Swear
               ,
               the
               more
               they
               perform
               Divine
               Worship
            
             ;
             which
             
             therefore
             must
             needs
             be
             most
             effectually
             done
             where
             there
             is
             most
             frequent
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             (
             as
             his
             words
             are
             )
             DARING
             GOD
             TO
             HIS
             FACE
             .
             And
             then
             a
             farther
             Abuse
             against
             God
             is
             ,
             That
             
               without
               Swearing
               by
               his
               Name
            
             (
             which
             he
             reckons
             a
             daring
             him
             to
             his
             Face
             )
             
               he
               esteems
               all
               other
               Acts
               of
               Invocation
               and
               Prayer
               not
               serious
               enough
               to
               express
               a
               sincere
               Confession
               :
            
             Oh
             sad
             !
             As
             if
             God
             did
             not
             regard
             a
             sincere
             Soul
             and
             upright
             Heart
             in
             his
             Devotion
             without
             Swearing
             ;
             or
             regarded
             not
             the
             Sighing
             and
             Breathing
             of
             the
             Needy
             ,
             when
             he
             is
             worshipped
             in
             the
             Spirit
             and
             in
             the
             Truth
             .
          
           
             
               Again
               ,
               J.
               S.
               in
               Justification
               of
            
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             saith
             ;
             God
             esteems
             this
             as
             the
             Highest
             and
             most
             August
             Act
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             that
             the
             Creature
             can
             possibly
             exhibit
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             as
             that
             which
             eminently
             contains
             all
             others
             ,
             and
             comprehends
             the
             whole
             Condition
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             all
             the
             wayes
             of
             God's
             People
             confessing
             to
             him
             ;
             and
             that
             Swearing
             by
             God
             implies
             the
             whole
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             p.
             13.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             This
             is
             such
             a
             Commendation
             of
             Swearing
             as
             we
             never
             read
             of
             before
             ;
             and
             such
             a
             Way
             of
             expressing
             the
             whole
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Condition
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             as
             neither
             God
             nor
             Christ
             ever
             taught
             him
             ;
             Nor
             yet
             did
             ever
             God
             say
             ,
             when
             he
             allowed
             Swearing
             ,
             that
             he
             allowed
             it
             as
             the
             
               highest
               and
               most
               august
               Act
               of
               Divine
               Worship
               .
            
          
           
             But
             't
             is
             to
             be
             considered
             yet
             ,
             whether
             this
             highest
             Act
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             that
             eminently
             contains
             all
             others
             ,
             to
             be
             administred
             by
             the
             Laity
             to
             all
             sorts
             of
             People
             without
             Distinction
             ,
             be
             not
             the
             highest
             Degree
             of
             Prophanation
             ;
             or
             otherwise
             ,
             Whether
             the
             Admistration
             thereof
             do
             make
             Clarks
             of
             Courts
             ,
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Gospel
             and
             of
             the
             Clergy
             as
             well
             as
             Parish
             Clarks
             ,
             yea
             ,
             or
             nay
             ?
          
           
             Having
             taken
             notice
             of
             his
             high
             Commendation
             of
             swearing
             by
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             the
             Advantage
             he
             hath
             promised
             thereupon
             ,
             as
             no
             less
             then
             God's
             accepting
             them
             that
             so
             swear
             as
             sincere
             Disciples
             ,
             and
             of
             his
             ingrafting
             them
             into
             his
             Evangelical
             Church
             ;
             Now
             let
             us
             take
             notice
             of
             his
             Threats
             against
             such
             as
             refuse
             to
             swear
             ,
             or
             to
             learn
             this
             Way
             of
             Confessing
             God
             by
             
               swearing
               .
               It
               renders
               man
               obnoxious
               to
               the
               Dint
               of
               his
               Fearful
               Doom
               ;
               I
               will
               utterly
               pluck
               up
               and
               destroy
               that
               Nation
               ;
               And
               that
               God
               doth
               reject
               them
               ;
               And
               that
               he
               will
               not
               let
               them
               escape
               unpunished
               who
               will
               not
               learn
               to
               swear
               by
               
               his
               Name
               in
               Judgment
               ,
               Righteousness
               and
               Truth
               they
               shall
               perish
               ,
               &c.
            
             p.
             14.
             
             But
             they
             that
             abide
             in
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             who
             said
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ,
             they
             will
             not
             fear
             such
             Threats
             ;
             nor
             do
             they
             value
             this
             man's
             vain
             Flourish
             ,
             Boasting
             and
             Reviling
             ,
             nor
             his
             threatning
             
               Familists
               ,
               Anabaptists
               ,
               Catharists
               ,
               Quakers
            
             with
             Destruction
             ,
             if
             they
             will
             not
             learn
             diligently
             to
             swear
             ,
             contrary
             to
             what
             Christ
             learns
             us
             ;
             and
             because
             of
             Oaths
             the
             Land
             mourns
             ;
             and
             God's
             Hand
             and
             Controversie
             is
             against
             such
             Opposers
             of
             Christ's
             Doctrine
             and
             Urgers
             of
             Men
             to
             swear
             :
             Does
             not
             Christ
             say
             ,
             I
             am
             the
             Way
             ,
             the
             Truth
             and
             the
             Life
             ?
             And
             must
             not
             we
             walk
             in
             him
             the
             New
             and
             Living
             Way
             ,
             and
             obey
             his
             Commands
             ?
          
        
         
           
             Sect.
             II.
             
          
           
             The
             End
             of
             Swearing
             and
             Oaths
             proved
             from
             the
             Texts
             commonly
             urged
             by
             us
             .
          
           
             HE
             undertakes
             the
             Explanation
             of
             the
             Texts
             we
             commonly
             urge
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             which
             are
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             34.
             
             But
             I
             say
             to
             you
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ;
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             God's
             Throne
             ;
             neither
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             his
             Footstool
             ;
             neither
             by
             Jerusalem
             ,
             &c.
             
             But
             let
             your
             Communication
             be
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ;
             for
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             then
             these
             cometh
             of
             Evil.
             And
          
           
             Jam.
             5.
             12.
             
             But
             above
             all
             things
             ,
             my
             Brethren
             ,
             Swear
             not
             ,
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             neither
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
             neither
             by
             any
             other
             Oath
             ;
             But
             let
             your
             Yea
             be
             Yea
             ,
             and
             your
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             lest
             ye
             fall
             into
             Condemnation
             .
          
           
             For
             our
             urging
             these
             ,
             he
             most
             grosly
             and
             falsly
             reflects
             upon
             us
             ,
             as
             dealing
             with
             those
             Texts
             
               as
               the
               Devil
               did
               with
               that
               which
               he
               quoted
            
             (
             he
             should
             have
             said
             cited
             )
             to
             Christ
             ,
             Mat.
             4.
             6.
             out
             of
             Psal.
             91.
             11.
             leaving
             out
             
               in
               all
               thy
               Wayes
            
             ;
             so
             these
             Men
             ,
             quoth
             he
             ,
             wrest
             these
             Portions
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             by
             making
             a
             Stop
             at
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
               ,
               leaving
               out
               the
               words
               following
               ,
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
               
            
          
           
           
             Herein
             he
             abuseth
             us
             ;
             for
             first
             ,
             we
             leave
             not
             out
             those
             words
             ,
             as
             both
             ours
             and
             his
             own
             Citation
             proves
             ,
             see
             our
             Case
             ,
             p.
             24.
             and
             his
             own
             Book
             ,
             p.
             15
             ▪
             Secondly
             ,
             We
             make
             no
             other
             Stop
             but
             what
             the
             Greek
             Copies
             and
             Translations
             have
             after
             
               swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ;
             where
             [
             neither
             ]
             a
             Disjunctive
             follows
             ,
             which
             he
             joyns
             in
             the
             same
             Colon
             or
             Member
             of
             Sentence
             ;
             whereas
             in
             the
             Greek
             after
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             there
             is
             a
             middle
             Distinction
             ,
             or
             severing
             of
             the
             Members
             of
             the
             Sentence
             ,
             as
             likewise
             in
             the
             Latine
             after
             omnino
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             English
             after
             
               at
               all
            
             :
             more
             fully
             explained
             by
             James
             ,
             Swear
             not
             ;
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             Earth
             ,
             &c.
             nor
             ANY
             
               other
               Oath
            
             ;
             which
             this
             Opposer
             by
             his
             Meaning
             endeavours
             to
             restrain
             only
             to
             swearing
             by
             those
             or
             any
             Creatures
             ,
             and
             also
             to
             
               irreverential
               and
               common
               Swearing
            
             ,
             p.
             23.
             and
             
               lavish
               Oaths
            
             ,
             p.
             24.
             
               voluntary
               rash
               Oathes
            
             ,
             p.
             31.
             
               and
               to
               swearing
               rashly
               ,
               prophanely
               ,
               irreverentially
               ,
               in
               our
               ordinary
               Communication
               ,
            
             p.
             32.
             
               and
               in
               your
               common
               Talk
            
             ,
             p.
             36.
             as
             if
             only
             these
             were
             forbidden
             in
             the
             Texts
             before
             .
             But
             still
             he
             pleads
             for
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Lord
             reverently
             ,
             besides
             the
             extent
             of
             the
             Prohibition
             before
             ,
             
               neither
               by
               any
               other
               Oath
            
             ;
             As
             if
             this
             man
             should
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             
               Swearing
               by
               the
               Lord
            
             is
             no
             Oath
             :
             Who
             also
             presumes
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             
               Here
               is
               nothing
               forbidden
               but
               what
               was
               forbidden
               in
               the
               Law
               ,
               when
               Swearing
               by
               the
               Lord
               was
               not
               only
               lawful
               but
               expresly
               commanded
               ,
            
             Deut.
             6.
             13.
             
             &
             10.
             20.
             
             All
             which
             is
             answered
             by
             Christ
             himself
             ,
             where
             he
             recites
             what
             was
             said
             in
             old
             time
             in
             this
             Case
             of
             Swearing
             ;
             as
             namely
             ,
             It
             hath
             been
             said
             by
             them
             of
             old
             time
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             Forswear
             thy self
             ,
             but
             shalt
             perform
             to
             the
             Lord
             thy
             Oathes
             :
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ;
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             &c.
             
             But
             let
             your
             Communication
             be
             
               Yea
               ,
               Yea
               ,
               Nay
               ,
               Nay
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             Which
             makes
             it
             very
             plain
             ,
             that
             here
             was
             more
             forbidden
             by
             Christ
             then
             what
             was
             by
             the
             Law
             ,
             his
             words
             in
             this
             holding
             parallel
             with
             his
             very
             next
             words
             ;
             Ye
             have
             heard
             that
             it
             hath
             been
             saith
             ,
             An
             Eye
             for
             an
             Eye
             ,
             and
             a
             Tooth
             for
             a
             Tooth
             ;
             but
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             That
             ye
             resist
             not
             Evil
             ;
             but
             whosoever
             shall
             smite
             thee
             on
             thy
             right
             Cheek
             ,
             turn
             to
             him
             the
             other
             also
             ,
             vers
             .
             38
             ,
             39.
             
             Did
             not
             Christ
             himself
             hereby
             forbid
             his
             Disciples
             that
             kind
             of
             severe
             Retaliation
             which
             was
             allowed
             under
             the
             Law
             ▪
             as
             he
             allowed
             divers
             and
             other
             things
             in
             Condescension
             to
             the
             People's
             Weakness
             ,
             
               Deut.
               24.
               1.
               
               Matth.
               5.
               31
               ,
               32.
               
               Luke
            
             16.
             18.
             
          
           
           
             And
             in
             this
             Case
             of
             God's
             allowing
             the
             Jews
             to
             swear
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             where
             he
             said
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             fear
             the
             Lord
             thy
             God
             ,
             
             and
             serve
             him
             ,
             and
             shalt
             Swear
             by
             his
             Name
             ,
             
             Deut.
             6.
             13.
             
             This
             appears
             plainly
             to
             be
             a
             Condescension
             to
             their
             Weakness
             ,
             
             and
             an
             Obligation
             to
             prevent
             them
             from
             going
             after
             other
             Gods
             ,
             as
             is
             evident
             by
             the
             very
             next
             words
             ;
             
               Ye
               shall
               not
               go
               after
               other
               Gods
               ,
               of
               the
               Gods
               of
               the
               people
               that
               are
               round
               about
               you
               ,
            
             vers
             .
             14.
             
             This
             State
             was
             much
             below
             the
             Evangelical
             State
             of
             the
             true
             Christians
             ,
             who
             in
             the
             Love
             they
             bear
             to
             the
             Lord
             are
             engaged
             to
             speak
             the
             Truth
             in
             Yea
             and
             Nay
             without
             an
             Oath
             ,
             as
             Christ
             &
             his
             Apostles
             have
             taught
             .
             So
             the
             Difference
             lies
             here
             ,
             the
             Jews
             when
             bound
             by
             an
             Oath
             ,
             they
             feared
             the
             Oath
             ,
             or
             the
             Curse
             contained
             or
             implyed
             in
             it
             (
             they
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Great
             God
             ,
             as
             chiefly
             to
             be
             feared
             them
             ,
             with
             regard
             to
             his
             Power
             to
             judge
             and
             avenge
             ,
             &c.
             )
             and
             this
             was
             for
             a
             time
             some
             tye
             upon
             them
             ,
             to
             prevent
             them
             from
             going
             after
             other
             Gods.
             The
             True
             Christians
             are
             bound
             in
             their
             Consciences
             by
             the
             Royal
             and
             Evangelical
             Law
             of
             Love
             (
             which
             was
             before
             Swearing
             was
             ,
             and
             takes
             away
             the
             Occasion
             of
             Oaths
             )
             to
             serve
             God
             ,
             and
             speak
             the
             Truth
             every
             man
             to
             his
             Neighbour
             without
             Swearing
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Disparity
             between
             the
             State
             under
             the
             Law
             and
             that
             under
             the
             Gospel
             lies
             here
             ;
             Under
             the
             Law
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             fear
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             Swear
             by
             his
             Name
             :
             Under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             so
             Love
             the
             Lord
             as
             to
             speak
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             confirm
             it
             in
             Yea
             and
             Nay
             ,
             without
             being
             bound
             by
             an
             Oath
             .
             Now
             judge
             ,
             serious
             Reader
             ,
             which
             of
             these
             do
             express
             more
             Love
             ,
             Respect
             and
             Honour
             to
             God
             ;
             whether
             he
             that
             's
             bound
             by
             an
             Oath
             not
             to
             go
             after
             other
             Gods
             ,
             and
             to
             speak
             the
             Truth
             as
             fearing
             an
             Oath
             and
             the
             Curse
             (
             which
             was
             the
             better
             use
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             which
             now
             few
             that
             use
             them
             regard
             )
             or
             he
             that
             is
             bound
             in
             Conscience
             to
             speak
             and
             do
             Truth
             without
             an
             Oath
             ,
             whose
             word
             Yea
             and
             Nay
             is
             more
             binding
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             of
             more
             Value
             and
             Credit
             then
             men's
             Swearing
             ,
             Imprecations
             and
             Curses
             ?
             And
             likewise
             between
             man
             and
             man
             and
             Neighbours
             ,
             which
             do
             express
             most
             Love
             one
             to
             another
             and
             Confidence
             in
             each
             other
             ,
             they
             that
             will
             not
             believe
             one
             another
             without
             Oathes
             and
             Curses
             ,
             or
             they
             that
             will
             (
             like
             Christians
             )
             speak
             the
             Truth
             ,
             and
             believe
             one
             another's
             plain
             and
             simple
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             
             and
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             as
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostle
             has
             commanded
             ?
             Such
             are
             the
             true
             Christians
             and
             People
             of
             God
             ,
             as
             are
             come
             to
             the
             fulfilling
             of
             the
             Evangelical
             Prophesie
             ;
             Surely
             they
             are
             my
             People
             ,
             Children
             that
             will
             not
             Lye
             ,
             and
             so
             was
             he
             their
             Saviour
             ,
             Isa.
             63.
             8.
             
             And
             the
             Remnant
             of
             Israel
             shall
             not
             speak
             Lyes
             ,
             neither
             shall
             a
             Deceitful
             Tongue
             be
             found
             in
             their
             Mouth
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             return
             to
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             express
             Prohibition
             :
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ;
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             &c.
             nor
             by
             ANY
             OTHER
             Oath
             .
             Hereby
             Christians
             are
             so
             plainly
             forbidden
             Swearing
             in
             any
             Case
             ,
             as
             Christ
             forbids
             an
             Eye
             for
             an
             Eye
             ,
             and
             a
             Tooth
             for
             a
             Tooth
             ,
             or
             hating
             thine
             Enemy
             ,
             see
             Mat.
             5.
             39
             ,
             44.
             
             Or
             else
             ,
             what
             Coherence
             is
             there
             in
             his
             Words
             ,
             and
             what
             Difference
             is
             there
             between
             the
             Dispensation
             of
             the
             Law
             and
             that
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             if
             (
             as
             this
             man
             sayes
             )
             Christ
             here
             forbids
             nothing
             but
             what
             was
             forbid
             in
             the
             Law
             ?
             By
             which
             he
             renders
             Christ
             as
             thus
             speaking
             ,
             It
             hath
             been
             said
             by
             them
             of
             old
             time
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             not
             Forswear
             thy self
             ,
             but
             shalt
             perform
             to
             the
             Lord
             thine
             Oaths
             ;
             
               And
               I
               say
               the
               same
            
             ,
             Instead
             of
             ,
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             .
             And
             likewsie
             ye
             have
             heard
             that
             it
             hath
             been
             said
             ,
             An
             Eye
             for
             an
             Eye
             ,
             and
             a
             Tooth
             for
             a
             Tooth
             ;
             
               And
               I
               say
               the
               same
               to
               you
               ,
            
             instead
             of
             ,
             But
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             Resist
             not
             Evil
             ,
             &c.
             
             And
             so
             this
             would
             make
             Christ
             still
             leave
             his
             Followers
             in
             the
             Fighting
             Revengful
             Nature
             ;
             as
             this
             man's
             limiting
             his
             words
             for
             Swearing
             as
             the
             Jews
             did
             ,
             renders
             Christ
             as
             leaving
             his
             Followers
             but
             still
             in
             the
             same
             
               common
               Humane
               Infirmity
            
             (
             as
             his
             words
             are
             )
             and
             weak
             Distrusting
             and
             unsteady
             Condition
             ,
             as
             the
             Jews
             under
             the
             Works
             of
             the
             Law
             were
             in
             ,
             who
             were
             allowed
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Lord
             ,
             as
             a
             Prevention
             from
             running
             after
             other
             Gods
             ,
             and
             to
             remove
             Jealousie
             or
             Hard
             Thoughts
             out
             of
             the
             Minds
             one
             of
             another
             ,
             as
             about
             the
             Case
             mentioned
             Exod.
             22.
             10
             ,
             11.
             
          
           
             Upon
             the
             words
             ,
             
               Neither
               by
               any
               other
               Oath
            
             ,
             J.
             S.
             adds
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ,
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             Earth
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             of
             
               those
               Forms
               of
               Swearing
               by
               the
               Creature
               ,
            
             that
             Christ
             forbad
             the
             use
             of
             ,
             p.
             17.
             whereas
             the
             words
             of
             the
             Apostle
             ,
             who
             well
             knew
             the
             Mind
             of
             Christ
             ,
             extend
             farther
             ,
             as
             not
             only
             a
             forbidding
             a
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Earth
             ,
             but
             also
             by
             ANY
             OTHER
             OATH
             .
             But
             mark
             ,
             how
             presently
             after
             this
             Oath-Vindicator
             hath
             opposed
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             Earth
             or
             the
             Creature
             ,
             he
             contradicts
             himself
             in
             the
             same
             
             page
             where
             he
             saith
             ,
             He
             that
             swears
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             swears
             
               by
               him
            
             whose
             Throne
             it
             is
             ;
             He
             that
             swears
             by
             Earth
             ,
             swears
             
               by
               him
            
             whose
             Foot-Stool
             it
             is
             ;
             
               because
               though
               God's
               Name
               be
               not
               expresly
               mentioned
               in
               such
               Forms
               of
               Oaths
               ,
               yet
               it
               is
               implyed
               ;
               and
               therefore
               we
               are
               not
               to
               use
               such
               Forms
               in
               our
               common
               Speech
               any
               more
               then
               the
               Name
               of
               God
               himself
               ,
               but
               in
               Reverence
               ,
               and
               in
               extreme
               Necessity
               ,
            
             p.
             17.
             
             So
             that
             by
             this
             he
             allows
             of
             such
             a
             Form
             as
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Earth
             ,
             that
             thereby
             they
             may
             Swear
             
               by
               God
            
             that
             dwells
             therein
             ;
             when
             before
             they
             are
             not
             at
             all
             to
             Swear
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             Earth
             or
             
               any
               other
            
             of
             
               th●se
               Forms
            
             :
             See
             what
             an
             eminent
             Antagonist
             this
             is
             that
             undertakes
             to
             confute
             the
             Quakers
             ,
             and
             yet
             contradicts
             himself
             in
             one
             and
             the
             same
             page
             ;
             As
             much
             as
             to
             say
             ,
             We
             may
             not
             Swear
             by
             any
             of
             those
             Forms
             ,
             as
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Earth
             ,
             yet
             we
             must
             
               swear
               by
               such
               Forms
               of
               Oaths
               ,
            
             as
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Earth
             ,
             that
             we
             may
             
               Swear
               by
               him
            
             that
             made
             them
             and
             dwells
             therein
             ,
             being
             his
             Throne
             and
             Footstool
             ;
             whereas
             it
             is
             confessed
             on
             all
             hands
             ,
             that
             to
             
               Swear
               by
               Heaven
               or
               Earth
               ,
               or
               any
               other
               Creature
               ,
            
             is
             absolutely
             forbidden
             ;
             but
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Lord
             on
             a
             Book
             or
             otherwise
             ,
             is
             the
             Matter
             in
             Controversie
             .
             But
             this
             man
             further
             in
             his
             own
             Contradiction
             saith
             ;
             
               As
               to
               the
               Forms
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               whether
               God's
               Name
               be
               expresly
               mentioned
               in
               them
               ,
               or
               only
               implyed
               by
               mentioning
               some
               of
               his
               Creatures
               with
               respect
               to
               him
               ;
               as
               when
               we
               call
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               to
               bear
               witness
               to
               what
               we
               say
               ,
               I
               do
               not
               find
               any
               Difference
               between
               them
               ,
               either
               in
               Point
               of
               Lawfulness
               or
               Obligation
               ,
               by
               the
               People
               of
               God
               or
               God
               himself
               in
               any
               Age
               ,
            
             p.
             19.
             
          
           
             He
             finds
             little
             to
             purpose
             then
             ,
             but
             what
             is
             to
             his
             own
             Contradiction
             and
             Confusion
             ,
             that
             one
             while
             confesses
             it
             unlawful
             to
             swear
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             Earth
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Creature
             ;
             and
             another
             while
             finds
             no
             difference
             between
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Earth
             without
             mentioning
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             Swearing
             by
             God
             himself
             :
             And
             yet
             in
             his
             second
             page
             ,
             his
             Definition
             of
             
               an
               Oath
               is
               nothing
               else
            
             but
             a
             calling
             God
             to
             Witness
             ;
             but
             here
             he
             hath
             found
             something
             else
             ;
             for
             an
             Oath
             in
             his
             19th
             page
             is
             ,
             
               calling
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               to
               Witness
               .
            
             Oh
             ,
             what
             a
             Labyrinth
             of
             Confusion
             is
             this
             man
             in
             !
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             Christ
             reproved
             the
             Scribes
             &
             Pharisees
             Folly
             and
             Blindness
             in
             saying
             ,
             Whosoever
             Sweareth
             by
             the
             Temple
             ,
             it
             is
             nothing
             ;
             but
             whosoever
             shall
             Swear
             by
             the
             Gold
             of
             the
             Temple
             ,
             he
             is
             a
             Debtor
             :
             See
             his
             Reproof
             upon
             them
             Mat.
             23.
             16
             ,
             &c.
             
             He
             also
             
             addeth
             ver
             .
             22.
             
             
               He
               that
               sweareth
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               sweareth
               by
               the
               Throne
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               him
               that
               sitteth
               thereon
               .
            
          
           
             Now
             this
             man
             in
             allowing
             such
             Forms
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             as
             a
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             &c.
             because
             therein
             ,
             it
             is
             both
             a
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Throne
             of
             God
             and
             him
             that
             sitteth
             thereon
             ,
             he
             represents
             Christ
             as
             contradicting
             himself
             ,
             who
             said
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
               at
               all
            
             ;
             
             
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               nor
               by
               Earth
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             So
             that
             he
             forbids
             both
             Swearing
             in
             general
             ,
             and
             using
             such
             Forms
             of
             Oaths
             as
             this
             man
             allows
             of
             ,
             as
             a
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Throne
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             by
             him
             that
             sitteth
             thereon
             .
             And
             we
             do
             not
             find
             that
             Christ
             allows
             the
             Scribes
             &
             Pharisees
             to
             use
             any
             such
             Form
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             as
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             therein
             by
             God
             ,
             any
             more
             then
             he
             allowed
             them
             to
             swear
             either
             by
             the
             Temple
             ,
             or
             by
             the
             Gold
             of
             the
             Temple
             ;
             either
             by
             the
             Altar
             ,
             or
             by
             the
             Gift
             that
             is
             upon
             it
             ;
             But
             rather
             reproves
             them
             with
             ,
             
               Ye
               Fools
               and
               Blind
               ;
               Wo
               to
               you
            
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             ,
             
               Hypocrites
               ,
               &c.
            
             
             He
             is
             so
             far
             from
             telling
             them
             ,
             that
             to
             swear
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             so
             by
             God
             ,
             was
             the
             
               most
               August
               Act
               of
               Divine
               Worship
               ,
            
             as
             this
             man
             hath
             affirmed
             ;
             and
             yet
             saith
             ,
             We
             are
             not
             to
             use
             such
             Forms
             
               but
               in
               extream
               Necessity
            
             ;
             which
             in
             his
             sense
             is
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             
               We
               are
               not
               to
               perform
               the
               Worship
               of
               God
               ,
               or
               the
               most
               August
               Act
               thereof
               ,
               but
               in
               extream
               Necessity
               :
            
             For
             he
             sayes
             ,
             That
             Swearing
             implies
             the
             whole
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             p.
             13.
             
             And
             that
             he
             is
             not
             Glorified
             sufficiently
             in
             order
             to
             God's
             Accepting
             us
             either
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             Thanksgiving
             or
             Attending
             upon
             his
             Word
             ,
             
               unless
               we
               add
               Swearing
               by
               his
               Name
               :
            
             But
             who
             besides
             himself
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             will
             believe
             such
             Doctrine
             ?
             By
             the
             same
             Reason
             that
             God
             interprets
             it
             ,
             as
             an
             Affront
             offered
             to
             him
             when
             Perjury
             is
             committed
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             an
             Idol
             ,
             this
             man's
             idolizing
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             implying
             the
             
               whole
               Worship
               of
               God
            
             ,
             and
             as
             being
             the
             
               most
               August
               Act
            
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             God
             may
             justly
             interpret
             as
             an
             Affront
             offered
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             a
             Depraving
             his
             Worship
             ,
             who
             was
             and
             is
             truly
             loved
             and
             worshipped
             in
             the
             Spirit
             and
             in
             the
             Truth
             ,
             before
             mens
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             were
             ,
             and
             when
             they
             are
             ended
             .
          
           
             J.
             S.
             alledgeth
             1
             Cor.
             15.
             31.
             saying
             ,
             
               I
               Protest
               by
               your
               Rejoycing
            
             ,
             or
             more
             properly
             ,
             
               I
               Swear
            
             ;
             for
             ,
             saith
             he
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             in
             that
             Tongue
             is
             a
             Note
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             therefore
             makes
             the
             Apostle
             say
             ,
             
               I
               Swear
               by
               your
               Rejoycing
            
             .
          
           
           
             To
             which
             we
             say
             ,
             First
             ,
             Let
             it
             be
             considered
             ,
             whether
             their
             Rejoycing
             was
             God
             their
             Maker
             ;
             if
             not
             ,
             as
             we
             know
             none
             holds
             ,
             then
             whether
             this
             man
             hath
             not
             rendered
             Paul
             highly
             a
             Transgressor
             according
             to
             his
             own
             Opinion
             ,
             in
             making
             him
             Swear
             by
             something
             that
             is
             not
             God
             ,
             as
             also
             by
             the
             Rejoycing
             of
             others
             ;
             for
             their
             Rejoycing
             simply
             could
             but
             be
             an
             Effect
             of
             Grace
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             Spirit
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Though
             the
             Adverb
             〈◊〉
             was
             sometimes
             used
             as
             a
             Note
             of
             Swearing
             among
             the
             Greeks
             ,
             yet
             not
             always
             ;
             for
             it
             is
             simply
             an
             Affirmation
             ,
             as
             coming
             of
             
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               yea
            
             or
             truly
             ,
             and
             is
             used
             when
             we
             are
             about
             to
             affirm
             somewhat
             ;
             see
             the
             Lexicons
             .
             
             And
             some
             read
             the
             Apostles
             words
             thus
             ,
             
               Verily
               I
               dye
               daily
               for
               your
               Rejoycing
               ,
               or
               our
               Rejoycing
               ,
               which
               I
               have
               in
               Christ
               Jesus
               .
            
             
               And
               likewise
               
                 J.
                 S.
              
               represents
               the
               primitive
               Christians
               ,
               who
               sufferd
               under
               the
               Pagan
               Persecutions
               the
               most
               exquisite
               Torments
               rather
               then
               to
               Swear
               by
               the
               Heathen
               Gods
               or
               the
               Genij
               of
               the
               Emperors
               ;
               yet
               
                 by
                 the
                 Health
              
               *
               
                 of
                 the
                 Emperors
                 ,
                 Tertullian
              
               assureth
               us
               they
               did
               ;
               and
               as
               saying
               ,
               We
               Christians
               
                 Swear
                 by
                 the
                 Health
                 of
                 the
                 Emperor
                 ,
              
               which
               is
               more
               worth
               then
               all
               the
               Genij
               ;
               and
               by
               the
               Majesty
               of
               the
               Emperor
               :
               And
               also
               addeth
               ,
               That
               the
               Form
               of
               the
               Military
               Oath
               ,
               which
               the
               Christian
               Soldiers
               took
               in
               
               Constantine's
               time
               is
               thus
               laid
               down
               ,
               
                 By
                 the
                 Majesty
                 of
                 the
                 Emperor
                 ,
                 &c.
                 
              
               And
               saith
               ,
               That
               in
               such
               Forms
               of
               
                 Swearing
                 ,
                 though
                 we
                 name
                 some
                 Creatures
                 ,
                 yet
                 we
                 Swear
                 not
                 ultimately
                 by
                 that
                 Creature
                 ,
              
            
             pag.
             20.
             
          
           
             First
             ,
             However
             Tertullian
             represents
             these
             Martyrs
             as
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             those
             afterwards
             by
             the
             Majesty
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ;
             The
             Truth
             of
             the
             first
             is
             a
             Matter
             in
             Question
             ,
             especially
             since
             Swearing
             by
             a
             Creature
             hath
             been
             accounted
             unlawful
             both
             among
             Jews
             and
             Christians
             ;
             neither
             can
             such
             an
             Example
             (
             if
             true
             )
             be
             Warrant
             to
             any
             to
             take
             such
             a
             Form
             of
             Oath
             ,
             as
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             a
             Man
             or
             Creature
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             Neither
             is
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             any
             more
             warrantable
             ;
             And
             did
             not
             both
             these
             Oaths
             savour
             of
             Heathenism
             ?
             which
             if
             any
             esteemed
             Christians
             ,
             came
             under
             and
             took
             ,
             it
             was
             more
             a
             Condescension
             for
             Fear
             then
             any
             Example
             to
             be
             followed
             .
          
           
             And
             his
             saying
             ,
             
               That
               though
               we
               name
               some
               Creature
               ,
               yet
               we
               swear
               
               not
               ultimately
               by
               that
               Creature
            
             ;
             yet
             however
             ,
             it
             implies
             a
             Swearing
             in
             part
             by
             that
             Creature
             :
             And
             how
             well
             this
             agrees
             with
             his
             accounting
             a
             Lawful
             Oath
             but
             a
             calling
             God
             to
             witness
             ,
             or
             a
             Swearing
             only
             by
             his
             Name
             ,
             let
             the
             ingenuous
             Reader
             judge
             ;
             or
             with
             Tertullian
             his
             Sense
             of
             the
             said
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             viz.
             
               Per
               salutem
               Imperatoris
               ,
               salvum
               esse
               volumus
               quod
               Deus
               voluit
               ;
               et
               hoc
               nobis
               pro
               magno
               juramento
               est
               :
            
             We
             acknowledge
             that
             Emperors
             are
             set
             over
             the
             Nations
             by
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             what
             is
             by
             the
             Will
             of
             God
             we
             will
             or
             wish
             that
             God
             may
             save
             ;
             and
             this
             to
             us
             is
             for
             or
             instead
             of
             a
             great
             Oath
             .
             And
             the
             same
             WE
             also
             will
             or
             desire
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             the
             Well-fare
             of
             Caesar
             or
             the
             King
             ,
             as
             acknowledging
             God's
             Power
             or
             Hand
             in
             setting
             him
             up
             ;
             For
             that
             
               Promotion
               comes
               not
               from
               the
               East
               ,
               nor
               from
               the
               West
               ,
               &c.
            
             but
             from
             the
             Lord
             ,
             who
             putteth
             down
             one
             and
             setteth
             up
             another
             as
             he
             pleaseth
             .
          
           
             
               His
               accusing
               the
            
             Quakers
             for
             wresting
             
               those
               Passages
               aforesaid
               ,
               we
               pass
               by
               among
               the
               rest
               of
               his
               Slanders
               .
               But
               his
               confessing
               ,
               That
            
             no
             People
             upon
             the
             Earth
             were
             more
             scrupulously
             tender
             of
             taking
             solemn
             promissory
             Oaths
             then
             the
             Jews
             were
             at
             that
             time
             when
             our
             Saviour
             gave
             them
             this
             Prohibition
             ,
             
               pag.
               24.
               from
            
             Joeseph
             Antiq.
             
               l.
               18.
               cap.
            
             5.
             
          
           
             This
             makes
             for
             us
             ;
             for
             were
             not
             promissory
             Oaths
             as
             well
             as
             assertory
             allowed
             under
             the
             Law
             ?
             And
             if
             they
             were
             tender
             of
             taking
             promissory
             Oaths
             ,
             they
             were
             more
             fitted
             for
             Christ's
             universal
             Prohibition
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             in
             some
             measure
             prepared
             for
             Christ
             by
             John's
             Baptism
             .
          
           
             He
             tells
             us
             ,
             That
             the
             
               Jews
               could
               swallow
               such
               Camel-Oaths
               as
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               &c.
            
             pag.
             24.
             
             And
             is
             not
             he
             himself
             guilty
             of
             the
             same
             ?
             Could
             not
             he
             
               swallow
               such
               Camel-Oaths
            
             where
             he
             allows
             the
             use
             of
             such
             Forms
             ,
             as
             Swearing
             by
             Heaven
             ;
             &c.
             because
             Gods
             Name
             is
             implyed
             ?
             And
             he
             that
             sweareth
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             sweareth
             by
             him
             whose
             Throne
             it
             is
             ,
             which
             he
             accounts
             lawful
             ,
             pag.
             17
             ,
             19.
             
             But
             in
             pag.
             24.
             
             To
             Swear
             by
             Heaven
             or
             Jerusalem
             are
             Camel-Oaths
             :
             What
             Credit
             can
             this
             man's
             Work
             against
             us
             be
             of
             ?
             He
             reckons
             that
             Christ's
             words
             may
             be
             applyed
             to
             their
             
               Stipulations
               by
               Oath
               in
               their
               private
               Contracts
               and
               mutual
               Trading
            
             ;
             whenas
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             ,
             as
             explained
             by
             the
             Apostle
             James
             ,
             is
             general
             ;
             But
             
             his
             applying
             it
             to
             an
             Oath
             in
             private
             Contracts
             ,
             seems
             to
             grant
             ,
             That
             Christ
             did
             forbid
             something
             of
             this
             kind
             that
             was
             used
             under
             the
             Law
             as
             well
             as
             in
             a
             publick
             manner
             :
             And
             there
             seems
             no
             Reason
             why
             Christ's
             words
             should
             be
             only
             thus
             applyed
             ,
             unless
             men
             were
             more
             clear
             of
             Corruption
             and
             Fraud
             in
             private
             Contracts
             then
             in
             publick
             Testimonies
             ;
             or
             why
             Christ's
             general
             words
             [
             For
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             then
             these
             cometh
             of
             Evil
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             Evil
             One
             ]
             should
             extend
             only
             to
             the
             private
             and
             not
             to
             the
             publick
             ,
             appears
             not
             to
             us
             :
             However
             ,
             they
             whom
             the
             Evil
             One
             leads
             to
             Lye
             for
             any
             Self-Interest
             ,
             what
             Credit
             is
             to
             be
             given
             to
             their
             Swearing
             ?
             And
             is
             it
             not
             evident
             ,
             how
             little
             the
             Custom
             thereof
             sweyes
             with
             their
             Consciences
             by
             the
             Injury
             and
             Injustice
             many
             suffer
             ,
             and
             the
             long
             Continuance
             of
             Contests
             ,
             Law-Suits
             and
             Quarrels
             ?
             And
             a
             man
             would
             think
             ,
             that
             there
             should
             be
             less
             need
             of
             Swearing
             in
             the
             Magistrates
             Presence
             then
             in
             private
             Covenants
             and
             Contracts
             ;
             because
             it
             is
             the
             Magistrates
             Wisdom
             to
             search
             and
             find
             out
             the
             Matter
             ,
             and
             in
             his
             Power
             to
             punish
             the
             False
             Witness
             ,
             and
             be
             a
             Terror
             to
             him
             ;
             but
             in
             Private
             only
             the
             Fear
             and
             Terror
             of
             God
             in
             men's
             Consciences
             can
             restrain
             them
             from
             Evil
             :
             
             However
             ,
             what
             's
             more
             evident
             ,
             then
             that
             private
             Oaths
             and
             Covenants
             thereby
             between
             man
             and
             man
             were
             in
             use
             both
             before
             and
             under
             the
             Law
             ;
             
             So
             that
             this
             man's
             deeming
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             to
             extend
             to
             an
             Oath
             in
             private
             Contracts
             between
             man
             and
             man
             ,
             and
             yet
             reckoning
             ,
             that
             he
             forbids
             nothing
             but
             what
             was
             forbidden
             in
             the
             Law
             ,
             we
             cannot
             but
             wonder
             at
             such
             wonderful
             and
             frequent
             Contradiction
             .
          
           
             
               J.
               S.
               saith
            
             .
             Applying
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             to
             solemn
             Oaths
             ,
             either
             Promissory
             or
             Assertory
             ,
             or
             to
             any
             but
             common-Discourse-Oaths
             ,
             makes
             Christ
             a
             Transgressor
             of
             the
             Law.
             I
             Tremble
             at
             the
             Thought
             of
             this
             Consequence
             ,
             which
             as
             naturally
             flows
             from
             the
             Quakers
             Hypothesis
             as
             Light
             from
             the
             Sun
             ,
             pag.
             25.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             He
             hath
             cause
             rather
             to
             Tremble
             because
             of
             his
             own
             Igrance
             and
             perverse
             Talk
             ,
             thus
             to
             tye
             up
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             so
             fully
             explain'd
             ,
             in
             Opposition
             to
             former
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             under
             the
             Law
             (
             even
             those
             to
             the
             Lord
             ,
             which
             surely
             were
             solemn
             and
             serious
             ,
             
             
               Neh.
               10.
               29.
               
            
             )
             as
             also
             to
             the
             
               Heathenish
               Swearing
            
             by
             Creatures
             ,
             where
             he
             forbids
             his
             to
             
               swear
               at
               all
            
             ;
             adding
             ,
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             nor
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
             further
             explain'd
             by
             his
             Apostle
             
               James
               ,
               Nor
               by
               any
               other
               Oath
            
             ;
             And
             yet
             Christ
             was
             so
             far
             from
             being
             a
             Transgressor
             of
             the
             Law
             it
             .
             self
             ,
             or
             from
             causing
             an
             Obstruction
             to
             all
             Legal
             Proceeding
             ,
             or
             proclaiming
             an
             Indemnity
             to
             Thieves
             ,
             Murderers
             ,
             Blasphemers
             ,
             and
             all
             sorts
             of
             injurious
             Persons
             ,
             or
             turning
             of
             Hell
             loose
             in
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             (
             as
             this
             man
             blasphemously
             words
             it
             )
             That
             Christ
             came
             not
             to
             destroy
             the
             Law
             ,
             but
             to
             fulfil
             it
             ,
             in
             answering
             the
             End
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             in
             this
             Particular
             ;
             where
             Swearing
             under
             the
             Law
             was
             a
             kind
             of
             Bond
             upon
             their
             Soul
             to
             speak
             or
             do
             that
             which
             was
             Right
             and
             Just
             in
             the
             Sight
             of
             God
             and
             Men
             ,
             the
             greater
             Weight
             still
             was
             upon
             this
             then
             upon
             those
             words
             and
             Ceremonies
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             which
             though
             Christ
             ended
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             the
             Law
             thereof
             ,
             with
             many
             other
             Circumstances
             ,
             Ceremonies
             and
             Shadows
             ;
             yet
             he
             did
             not
             come
             either
             to
             stop
             Justice
             or
             to
             indulge
             Malefactors
             ,
             he
             being
             the
             End
             of
             the
             Law
             for
             Righteousness
             ;
             and
             yet
             unto
             his
             own
             forbids
             some
             things
             the
             Law
             allowed
             ,
             as
             that
             ,
             
               An
               Eye
               for
               an
               Eye
               ,
               and
               a
               Tooth
               for
               a
               Tooth
            
             ;
             though
             he
             was
             for
             overcoming
             of
             Evil
             with
             that
             which
             was
             Good.
             
          
           
             
               J.
               S.
            
             pag.
             26.
             alledgeth
             St.
             Paul
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             called
             Witnesses
             
               to
               swear
            
             concerning
             him
             ,
             in
             saying
             ,
             All
             which
             the
             High
             Priest
             and
             all
             the
             State
             of
             the
             Elders
             can
             bear
             me
             Witness
             :
             And
             in
             his
             Apology
             before
             Felix
             he
             challengeth
             his
             Accusers
             to
             prove
             the
             Matter
             of
             Fact
             they
             accused
             him
             with
             ,
             Acts
             24.
             
             Neither
             can
             they
             prove
             the
             things
             whereof
             they
             now
             accuse
             me
             :
             And
             that
             in
             his
             Answer
             before
             Agrippa
             ,
             he
             appeals
             to
             the
             Testimony
             of
             those
             that
             knew
             him
             from
             his
             Youth
             ,
             Acts
             26.
             5.
             
             To
             which
             he
             adds
             ,
             That
             if
             he
             had
             thought
             
               solemn
               swearing
            
             to
             be
             unlawful
             by
             this
             Prohibition
             of
             Christ
             ,
             he
             would
             rather
             have
             undergone
             a
             Thousand
             Deaths
             then
             tempt
             so
             many
             to
             make
             Ship-wrack
             of
             their
             Immortal
             Souls
             ,
             by
             calling
             them
             to
             that
             unlawful
             Act
             ,
             pag.
             27.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             This
             is
             a
             far
             fetcht
             Consequence
             ,
             and
             as
             far
             from
             proving
             the
             thing
             intended
             :
             For
             ,
             first
             ,
             it
             is
             an
             unlikely
             thing
             Paul
             should
             call
             the
             High
             Priest
             and
             all
             the
             State
             of
             the
             Elders
             
               to
               Swear
            
             that
             he
             had
             been
             a
             Persecutor
             ;
             for
             then
             he
             must
             call
             many
             to
             be
             Swearers
             :
             And
             it
             was
             sufficiently
             known
             abroad
             among
             the
             Jews
             
             what
             manner
             of
             Person
             he
             had
             been
             .
             
               Secondly
               ,
               Neither
               can
               they
               prove
            
             the
             things
             whereof
             they
             now
             accuse
             me
             ,
             was
             far
             enough
             from
             calling
             them
             to
             swear
             against
             him
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             His
             admitting
             a
             bearing
             him
             witness
             ,
             or
             the
             Jews
             testifying
             concerning
             him
             ,
             who
             knew
             his
             former
             manner
             of
             Life
             ,
             Acts
             26.
             4
             ,
             5.
             
             Did
             he
             therein
             call
             them
             to
             swear
             ,
             in
             saying
             ,
             
               If
               they
               would
               testifie
            
             ?
             The
             most
             Paul
             allowed
             of
             was
             a
             bearing
             Witness
             :
             If
             they
             would
             have
             sworn
             ,
             it
             had
             been
             the
             Rulers
             and
             their
             own
             Act
             ,
             who
             did
             not
             think
             it
             an
             Evil
             ,
             and
             therefore
             not
             so
             great
             to
             them
             ,
             as
             to
             those
             that
             believe
             it
             is
             so
             .
          
           
             J.
             S.
             
               undertakes
               further
               to
               expound
            
             James
             
               's
               words
            
             ,
             But
             above
             all
             things
             ,
             my
             Brethren
             ,
             Swear
             not
             :
             
               He
               saith
            
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             
               is
               no-where
               else
               rendred
               in
               Scripture
            
             above
             ,
             but
             before
             ,
             
               and
               it
               should
               be
               so
               here
               ,
               pag.
               29.
               
               And
               then
               he
               thus
               paraphases
               ,
            
             Let
             not
             an
             Oath
             lie
             uppermost
             upon
             your
             Heart
             ,
             and
             come
             first
             of
             all
             ,
             before
             all
             things
             out
             of
             your
             Mouth
             ,
             pag.
             30.
             
          
           
             This
             is
             a
             kind
             of
             an
             easie
             Meaning
             ,
             but
             a
             plain
             Perversion
             of
             the
             Apostle's
             Testimony
             ,
             which
             does
             not
             allow
             of
             any
             such
             Liberty
             at
             all
             for
             swearing
             as
             this
             doth
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             only
             forbad
             Swearing
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             our
             Discourses
             ;
             whe●as
             the
             Prohibition
             is
             plain
             and
             positive
             ,
             Above
             all
             things
             Swear
             not
             ,
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             neither
             by
             the
             Earth
             ,
             neither
             by
             
               any
               other
               Oath
            
             ;
             but
             this
             man
             will
             still
             have
             
               some
               other
               Oath
            
             :
             So
             whether
             must
             we
             believe
             him
             or
             the
             Apostle
             James
             ,
             judge
             Reader
             .
             And
             though
             we
             do
             not
             look
             on
             Swearing
             as
             worse
             then
             Adultery
             or
             Man-slaughter
             ,
             as
             is
             queried
             upon
             the
             words
             ,
             
               Above
               all
               things
               Swear
               not
            
             ;
             yet
             doubtless
             the
             Apostle
             saw
             the
             Consequence
             of
             it
             might
             be
             bad
             ,
             and
             sad
             enough
             ,
             or
             else
             he
             would
             not
             so
             strictly
             have
             Forbidden
             it
             to
             the
             Twelve
             Tribes
             .
          
           
             
               J.
               S.
            
             makes
             these
             the
             Consequences
             of
             our
             sticking
             to
             the
             express
             Command
             of
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostle
             ,
             viz.
             That
             
             Paul's
             calling
             God
             to
             witness
             
               came
               from
               an
               Evil
               spirit
            
             .
             That
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             as
             often
             as
             he
             said
             Amen
             ,
             Amen
             ,
             had
             those
             words
             put
             into
             his
             Mouth
             
               by
               the
               Evil
               One
            
             ,
             pag.
             31.
             
          
           
             To
             the
             first
             we
             say
             ,
             No
             ;
             it
             was
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             spoak
             in
             Paul
             ,
             whose
             Witness
             God
             is
             ;
             and
             the
             Son
             's
             simply
             owning
             the
             Father
             for
             his
             Witness
             we
             do
             not
             look
             upon
             as
             making
             up
             a
             Formal
             Oath
             .
          
           
           
             To
             the
             second
             ;
             Neither
             can
             we
             own
             that
             our
             Saviour
             swore
             as
             often
             as
             he
             said
             Amen
             ,
             or
             Verily
             ,
             Verily
             ,
             which
             was
             but
             a
             Note
             of
             Affirmation
             ,
             and
             not
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             more
             then
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             He
             infers
             ,
             That
             the
             Elect
             Angel
             which
             Christ
             sent
             from
             Heaven
             to
             communicate
             the
             Knowledge
             of
             future
             things
             to
             St.
             
               John
               was
               inspired
               by
               the
               Devil
            
             when
             he
             swore
             by
             him
             that
             liveth
             forever
             .
          
           
             Answ.
             No
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             not
             ;
             for
             he
             spoak
             as
             God's
             Representative
             or
             Ambassadour
             ,
             having
             a
             peculiar
             Commission
             ,
             Power
             and
             Dispensation
             therein
             ,
             which
             men
             may
             not
             imitate
             ,
             which
             extended
             through
             the
             Law
             and
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             in
             which
             the
             Swearing
             was
             ;
             and
             wherein
             the
             Angels
             were
             sent
             as
             God's
             Messengers
             and
             Representatives
             ,
             Ministring
             Spirits
             and
             Servants
             to
             the
             whole
             Seed
             of
             Abraham
             ,
             and
             Heirs
             of
             Salvation
             ,
             to
             whom
             God's
             Promise
             was
             confirmed
             by
             an
             Oath
             :
             And
             this
             was
             a
             Vision
             represented
             in
             Figures
             .
          
           
             His
             telling
             us
             ,
             That
             Christ
             prohibits
             the
             use
             of
             [
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             ]
             
               to
               be
               intrinsecally
               Evil
            
             ,
             pag.
             31.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             Though
             Oaths
             when
             lawful
             ,
             could
             not
             be
             accounted
             intrinsecally
             Evil
             ;
             yet
             there
             was
             an
             Evil
             that
             was
             an
             Occasion
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             before
             permitted
             among
             the
             Jews
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             Diffidence
             ,
             Jealousie
             ,
             Instability
             ,
             Liableness
             to
             run
             after
             other
             Gods
             ,
             and
             to
             do
             Injustice
             ,
             Distrust
             one
             of
             another
             ,
             &c.
             and
             as
             this
             man
             confesseth
             ,
             
               common
               humane
               Infirmity
               ,
               Ambiguity
            
             ,
             pag.
             1.
             and
             pag.
             17.
             
             How
             plain
             is
             it
             ,
             it
             was
             Weakness
             ,
             Distrust
             and
             Fear
             in
             Abimel●ch
             ,
             which
             was
             the
             cause
             of
             his
             requiring
             Abraham
             to
             Swear
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             not
             deal
             falsly
             with
             him
             ;
             and
             a
             Covenant
             with
             Isaac
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             do
             them
             no
             Hurt
             ?
             Gen.
             21.
             23.
             and
             chap.
             26.
             28.
             
             Therefore
             Christ's
             words
             are
             plain
             ,
             
               Let
               your
               Communication
               be
               Yea
               ,
               Yea
               ,
               Nay
               ,
               Nay
               ;
               for
               whatsoever
               is
               more
               then
               these
            
             (
             that
             is
             ,
             in
             Affirming
             and
             Denying
             )
             
               cometh
               of
               Evil
            
             ,
             or
             
               of
               the
               Evil
               One.
            
             And
             many
             Things
             ,
             Ceremonies
             ,
             Circumstances
             and
             Shadows
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             that
             in
             themselves
             were
             not
             intrinsecally
             evil
             ,
             did
             wax
             old
             ,
             and
             grew
             out
             of
             use
             ,
             and
             vanished
             ,
             as
             the
             old
             Covenant
             it self
             did
             ,
             being
             accounted
             Weak
             ,
             Insufficient
             and
             of
             a
             Decaying
             Nature
             ,
             when
             a
             higher
             and
             more
             eminent
             Dispensation
             was
             brought
             in
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             the
             New
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             therefore
             
             to
             oppose
             (
             with
             any
             of
             those
             inferiour
             things
             before
             lawful
             )
             cometh
             now
             of
             the
             Evil
             One.
             
          
           
             And
             J.
             S.
             
               his
               Consequence
               and
               Doctrine
               appears
               both
               Gross
               ,
               Impious
               and
               Antichristian
               ,
               where
               he
               saith
            
             ;
             That
             if
             the
             
             Christian-Churches
             do
             not
             perform
             Homage
             to
             the
             God
             of
             Truth
             by
             Swearing
             as
             well
             as
             Blessing
             in
             his
             Name
             ,
             if
             their
             Tongues
             do
             not
             as
             well
             Swear
             as
             their
             Knees
             bow
             to
             him
             ,
             then
             the
             
             Christian-People
             are
             not
             the
             People
             of
             the
             Messiah
             ;
             and
             the
             Messiah
             is
             not
             yet
             come
             ,
             but
             st●ll
             to
             be
             expected
             ;
             Then
             the
             Blessed
             Jesus
             is
             not
             the
             Christ
             
               of
               whom
               the
               Prophet
               speaketh
               ;
               but
               as
               the
            
             Jews
             
               at
               his
               Arraignment
               and
               their
               Posterity
               Blasphemously
               stile
               him
               ,
               a
            
             Deceiver
             
               and
               a
            
             Counterfeit
             ,
             pag.
             34.
             
          
           
             Answ.
             Oh
             Monstrous
             and
             Blasphemous
             Stuff
             !
             First
             ,
             Thus
             insolently
             to
             attempt
             the
             engaging
             of
             the
             Christian
             Church
             to
             Swearing
             as
             well
             as
             Blessing
             ;
             yea
             ,
             to
             Cursing
             ,
             and
             daring
             God
             to
             his
             Face
             ,
             challenging
             the
             Divine
             Vengeance
             to
             do
             its
             worst
             (
             as
             before
             he
             hath
             defined
             an
             Oath
             )
             as
             well
             as
             Blessing
             in
             his
             Name
             ,
             bowing
             the
             Knee
             ,
             or
             performing
             Worship
             to
             him
             ▪
             What
             people
             of
             a
             
             Christian-Spirit
             can
             believe
             this
             Doctrine
             ?
             Second●y
             ,
             His
             rendering
             Swearing
             such
             an
             eminent
             Proof
             of
             Demonstration
             of
             the
             
             Messiah's
             Coming
             ,
             against
             the
             Jews
             Opinion
             of
             him
             ,
             and
             as
             reasonable
             as
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             the
             effectual
             Means
             to
             convince
             the
             Jews
             that
             Jesus
             is
             the
             Christ
             ,
             is
             
               to
               swear
            
             that
             he
             is
             so
             ,
             instead
             of
             the
             Apostle's
             plain
             Confession
             of
             him
             ,
             that
             Jesus
             is
             the
             Christ
             ,
             who
             preferred
             Confession
             instead
             of
             Swearing
             .
          
           
             
               Again
               ,
               His
               scornful
               Talk
               of
               the
            
             Reign
             of
             the
             Quakers
             Christ
             ,
             
               and
               saying
            
             ,
             That
             the
             Quakers
             Gloss
             defrauds
             God
             of
             his
             due
             Homag
             ,
             robs
             the
             King
             of
             Saints
             of
             one
             of
             the
             Prime
             Jewels
             of
             his
             Crown
             ,
             presents
             the
             Ever-blessed
             Jesus
             in
             the
             Form
             of
             an
             Impostor
             ▪
             and
             False
             Christ
             ,
             leads
             directly
             to
             the
             Gulf
             of
             Gross
             Infidelity
             and
             Denyal
             of
             Christ
             ,
             pag.
             35.
             
          
           
             This
             is
             as
             Wicked
             and
             Blasphemous
             as
             his
             Consequence
             before
             ,
             and
             shews
             this
             man
             to
             be
             a
             most
             gross
             Idolater
             in
             thus
             unscripturally
             applauding
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             
               the
               Prime
               Jewel
               of
               the
               King
               of
               Saints
               his
               Crown
            
             ;
             whereas
             the
             King
             of
             Saints
             and
             his
             Servant
             have
             plainly
             forbidden
             Swearing
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             to
             make
             the
             Gospel
             contradict
             the
             Holy
             Prophets
             ,
             as
             to
             their
             spiritual
             Intent
             and
             End
             (
             which
             was
             to
             confess
             to
             God
             and
             to
             Christ
             )
             as
             is
             falsly
             inferred
             .
             And
             as
             
             falsly
             he
             represents
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             as
             saying
             ,
             
               Christ
               should
               teach
               his
               Disciples
               to
               Swear
               ,
               The
               Lord
               liveth
               :
            
             but
             where
             the
             Prophets
             so
             say
             we
             are
             all
             to
             seek
             ;
             but
             not
             where
             they
             testifie
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             see
             
               Jer.
               23.
               10.
               
               Hosea
            
             4.
             15.
             chap.
             2.
             3.
             
             
               Zach.
               5.
               
               ●
               .
               Zeph.
               1.
               5.
               
               Eccles.
            
             9.
             2.
             
             But
             if
             Swearing
             were
             that
             Divine
             Homage
             ,
             or
             included
             the
             whole
             Worship
             of
             God
             that
             is
             to
             be
             among
             Christians
             ,
             why
             is
             Christ
             so
             silent
             in
             it
             and
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             as
             not
             expresly
             to
             command
             it
             ,
             but
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             expresly
             forbid
             it
             ?
             Or
             if
             Swearing
             were
             the
             most
             August
             Act
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             surely
             the
             Apostle
             James
             instead
             of
             saying
             ,
             Above
             all
             things
             my
             Brethren
             
               swear
               not
            
             ,
             should
             have
             said
             ,
             Above
             all
             things
             my
             Brethren
             
               swear
               ye
            
             .
             There
             was
             a
             time
             when
             the
             
             Iews
             ●eared
             an
             Oath
             ;
             but
             through
             the
             Custom
             of
             Swearing
             they
             run
             into
             
               False
               Swearing
            
             :
             And
             though
             they
             said
             ,
             The
             Lord
             liveth
             ,
             yet
             surely
             they
             
               swore
               falsly
            
             ;
             And
             because
             of
             Oaths
             the
             Land
             mourned
             ,
             and
             this
             Land
             mourneth
             .
             And
             therefore
             even
             in
             the
             Prophets
             time
             Oaths
             &
             Swearing
             were
             testified
             against
             ;
             as
             ,
             Though
             thou
             Israel
             play
             the
             Harlot
             ,
             yet
             let
             not
             Iudah
             sin
             ;
             Come
             not
             ye
             unto
             Gi●gal
             ,
             neither
             go
             ye
             up
             to
             B●thaven
             ,
             not
             swear
             The
             Lord
             liveth
             ,
             Hos.
             4.
             15.
             
             If
             it
             be
             said
             ,
             that
             this
             forbidding
             to
             Swear
             was
             because
             of
             their
             Wickedness
             and
             Prophanation
             ;
             we
             say
             ,
             by
             the
             same
             Reason
             we
             may
             now
             testifie
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             cannot
             uphold
             the
             Custom
             thereof
             ,
             nor
             submit
             to
             the
             Imposition
             thereof
             ,
             though
             this
             man
             is
             not
             ashamed
             for
             all
             this
             Abuse
             and
             Prophanation
             ,
             to
             urge
             and
             applaud
             it
             as
             the
             highest
             Act
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             and
             the
             Condition
             of
             God's
             receiving
             people
             ;
             which
             ,
             if
             it
             could
             be
             granted
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             not
             ,
             it
             only
             signifies
             thus
             much
             ,
             That
             only
             the
             Righteous
             ,
             and
             such
             as
             are
             converted
             to
             God
             ,
             must
             swear
             ,
             and
             that
             upon
             a
             very
             sacred
             Account
             ,
             to
             God
             himself
             .
          
           
             Now
             judge
             ,
             serious
             Reader
             ,
             what
             the
             Tenor
             of
             this
             man's
             Work
             amounts
             to
             ;
             it
             is
             that
             Righteous
             Men
             must
             obliege
             themselves
             to
             God
             and
             adore
             him
             by
             Swearing
             :
             What
             is
             this
             to
             swearing
             to
             men
             in
             litigious
             Courts
             ?
             And
             what
             is
             this
             to
             the
             Imposition
             of
             Oaths
             we
             desired
             the
             Parliament
             to
             remove
             ?
          
           
             Under
             the
             Law
             Oaths
             were
             used
             in
             two
             respects
             ,
             namely
             ,
             First
             ,
             To
             prevent
             and
             end
             Strife
             among
             men
             (
             and
             these
             both
             in
             private
             and
             pub●ick
             )
             2dly
             ,
             ●o
             God
             himself
             ,
             or
             between
             man
             and
             man
             ,
             And
             man
             and
             God
             ;
             or
             Swearing
             to
             man
             ,
             and
             Vowing
             to
             God
             :
             See
             
             Gen.
             24.
             9.
             
             &
             31.
             53.
             
             &
             21.
             23.
             
             &
             26.
             28.
             
             &
             47.
             31.
             
             
               Num.
               30.
               23.
               1
               
               Sam.
            
             20.
             3.
             
             &
             chap.
             14.
             26.
             1
             
             
               King.
               8.
               31.
               
               Neh.
            
             10.
             29.
             chap.
             5.
             12.
             
             Now
             this
             man's
             Work
             renders
             
               Swearing
               by
               God
            
             in
             general
             to
             be
             the
             highest
             Act
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             which
             only
             they
             that
             are
             converted
             to
             God
             can
             perform
             in
             his
             Sense
             ;
             and
             such
             none
             of
             the
             Wicked
             or
             Unconverted
             are
             capable
             to
             perform
             .
             Judge
             whether
             this
             Distinction
             be
             made
             in
             the
             usual
             Practice
             of
             Swearing
             ;
             or
             ,
             Hath
             this
             man
             taken
             so
             much
             Pains
             with
             the
             Magistrates
             as
             to
             instruct
             and
             warn
             them
             ,
             not
             to
             impose
             Oaths
             upon
             the
             Unconverted
             ,
             nor
             especially
             upon
             those
             Excommunicated
             by
             the
             Bishops
             ?
             For
             it
             needs
             must
             be
             granted
             on
             all
             hands
             ,
             That
             they
             that
             are
             Wicked
             and
             Unchristian
             ,
             prophane
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Lord
             if
             they
             swear
             by
             him
             ;
             and
             they
             must
             needs
             partake
             of
             their
             Sin
             who
             force
             them
             to
             it
             :
             And
             as
             for
             the
             Converted
             and
             Righteous
             ,
             they
             are
             of
             Credit
             ;
             and
             there
             is
             no
             need
             to
             force
             them
             to
             Swear
             ,
             being
             under
             a
             greater
             Bond
             and
             Covenant
             with
             God
             then
             that
             of
             Oaths
             imposed
             by
             man
             ,
             Christ
             being
             to
             them
             their
             Covenant
             and
             Bond
             ,
             the
             End
             of
             Oaths
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             and
             the
             Substance
             of
             God's
             Oath
             to
             the
             Heirs
             of
             Promise
             .
             So
             we
             leave
             this
             man's
             Doctrine
             for
             all
             serious
             Readers
             to
             judge
             of
             concerning
             Oaths
             and
             Swearing
             .
          
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     As
                     what
                     an
                     OATH
                     is
                     ,
                     and
                     concerning
                     SWEARING
                     ,
                     these
                     are
                     his
                     Affirmations
                     .
                  
                   
                     1.
                     
                     It
                     is
                     an
                     Invocation
                     of
                     God's
                     Name
                     .
                  
                   
                     2.
                     
                     Nothing
                     else
                     but
                     a
                     calling
                     God
                     to
                     Witness
                     to
                     the
                     Truth
                     of
                     what
                     we
                     say
                     .
                  
                   
                     3.
                     
                     A
                     calling
                     God
                     for
                     a
                     Record
                     against
                     their
                     Soul.
                     
                  
                   
                     4.
                     
                     An
                     Execration
                     or
                     Denouncing
                     a
                     Curse
                     .
                  
                   
                     5.
                     
                     An
                     Evidence
                     of
                     Conversion
                     to
                     the
                     Lord.
                     
                  
                   
                     6.
                     
                     Divine
                     Service
                     and
                     Homage
                     .
                  
                   
                     7.
                     
                     An
                     eminent
                     Act
                     of
                     Saving
                     Confession
                     .
                  
                   
                     8.
                     
                     One
                     part
                     of
                     Divine
                     Worship
                     .
                  
                   
                     9.
                     
                     A
                     Sign
                     ,
                     Witness
                     and
                     Argument
                     of
                     
                     Egypt's
                     Conversion
                     to
                     the
                     Lord
                     of
                     Hosts
                     .
                  
                   
                   
                     10.
                     
                     The
                     Language
                     of
                     Canaan
                     ,
                     that
                     pure
                     Language
                     ,
                     which
                     God
                     promised
                     to
                     restore
                     to
                     all
                     Nations
                     at
                     the
                     Coming
                     of
                     Christ.
                     
                  
                   
                     11.
                     
                     That
                     Pure
                     and
                     Vndefiled
                     Religion
                     ,
                     which
                     was
                     at
                     first
                     revealed
                     to
                     man
                     in
                     Parad
                     se.
                     
                  
                   
                     12.
                     
                     Such
                     a
                     Condition
                     ,
                     as
                     upon
                     the
                     fulfilling
                     thereof
                     God
                     will
                     number
                     men
                     among
                     his
                     Disciples
                     .
                  
                   
                     13.
                     
                     That
                     Confession
                     of
                     God
                     ,
                     without
                     which
                     they
                     do
                     not
                     sufficiently
                     glorifie
                     him
                     ,
                     either
                     by
                     Prayer
                     ,
                     Thanksgiving
                     ,
                     Attendance
                     on
                     the
                     Word
                     and
                     Sacraments
                     .
                  
                   
                     14.
                     
                     A
                     Daring
                     God
                     to
                     his
                     Face
                     ,
                     challenging
                     the
                     Divine
                     Vengeance
                     to
                     do
                     its
                     worst
                     in
                     case
                     he
                     swear
                     falsly
                     .
                  
                   
                     15.
                     
                     That
                     God
                     esteems
                     this
                     Swearing
                     as
                     the
                     Highest
                     &
                     most
                     August
                     Act
                     of
                     Divine
                     Worship
                     that
                     the
                     Creature
                     can
                     possibly
                     exhibit
                     to
                     him
                     .
                  
                   
                     16.
                     
                     That
                     which
                     comprehends
                     the
                     whole
                     Condition
                     of
                     the
                     Gospel
                     ,
                     all
                     the
                     Wayes
                     of
                     God's
                     People
                     confessing
                     to
                     him
                     .
                  
                   
                     17.
                     
                     That
                     Swearing
                     by
                     God
                     implies
                     the
                     whole
                     Worship
                     of
                     God.
                     
                  
                   
                     18.
                     
                     That
                     Men
                     ought
                     to
                     learn
                     diligently
                     to
                     Swear
                     by
                     the
                     Name
                     of
                     God
                     ,
                     to
                     learn
                     this
                     as
                     the
                     Way
                     of
                     God's
                     People
                     .
                  
                   
                     19.
                     
                     To
                     Swear
                     Religiously
                     by
                     his
                     Name
                     (
                     yet
                     but
                     in
                     extream
                     Necessity
                     .
                     )
                  
                   
                     20.
                     
                     That
                     in
                     the
                     Forms
                     of
                     Oaths
                     we
                     are
                     to
                     Swear
                     by
                     Heaven
                     ,
                     Earth
                     ,
                     &c.
                     and
                     call
                     them
                     to
                     Witness
                     lawfully
                     ,
                     because
                     he
                     that
                     swears
                     by
                     Heaven
                     swears
                     by
                     him
                     whose
                     Throne
                     it
                     is
                     .
                  
                   
                     21.
                     
                     We
                     must
                     subscribe
                     to
                     this
                     ,
                     that
                     in
                     such
                     Forms
                     of
                     Swearing
                     we
                     name
                     some
                     Creature
                     .
                  
                   
                     22.
                     
                     That
                     to
                     Swear
                     by
                     Heaven
                     ,
                     by
                     
                       Jerusalem
                       ,
                       &c.
                    
                     are
                     Camel-Oaths
                     .
                  
                   
                     23.
                     
                     That
                     strong
                     Asseveration
                     by
                     Oath
                     ,
                     as
                     a
                     solemn
                     Invocation
                     of
                     God's
                     Name
                     ,
                     is
                     the
                     Celebration
                     of
                     the
                     most
                     august
                     Act
                     of
                     Divine
                     Worship
                     and
                     Adoration
                     that
                     can
                     possibly
                     be
                     tendered
                     to
                     Divine
                     Majesty
                     .
                  
                   
                     24.
                     
                     That
                     
                     Christian-Churches
                     ought
                     to
                     perform
                     Worship
                     to
                     God
                     by
                     Swearing
                     as
                     well
                     as
                     Blessing
                     ;
                     their
                     Tongues
                     must
                     swear
                     as
                     well
                     as
                     their
                     Knees
                     bow
                     .
                  
                   
                     25.
                     
                     That
                     Swearing
                     is
                     one
                     of
                     the
                     Church's
                     strongest
                     Bull-Works
                     ,
                     one
                     of
                     those
                     Demonstrations
                     of
                     the
                     Spirit
                     whereby
                     the
                     Champions
                     of
                     the
                     
                     Christian-Faith
                     have
                     irrefragably
                     proved
                     that
                     Jesus
                     is
                     the
                     Prophets
                     
                     Christ
                     ;
                     viz.
                     Because
                     since
                     the
                     calling
                     of
                     us
                     Gentiles
                     ,
                     we
                     have
                     worshipped
                     the
                     True
                     God
                     in
                     Swearing
                     by
                     his
                     Name
                     .
                  
                   
                     26.
                     
                     That
                     this
                     Swearing
                     is
                     one
                     of
                     the
                     Prime
                     Jewels
                     of
                     the
                     King
                     of
                     Saints
                     his
                     Crown
                     .
                  
                   
                     27.
                     
                     That
                     the
                     Prophets
                     say
                     ,
                     That
                     he
                     (
                     Christ
                     )
                     should
                     teach
                     his
                     Disciples
                     to
                     learn
                     to
                     Swear
                     ,
                     The
                     Lord
                     liveth
                     .
                  
                   
                     28.
                     
                     That
                     it
                     is
                     ,
                     and
                     alwayes
                     was
                     the
                     will
                     of
                     God
                     ,
                     that
                     Oaths
                     should
                     be
                     reserved
                     and
                     sequesterd
                     to
                     the
                     Service
                     of
                     God.
                     
                  
                
              
            
          
           
             Thus
             having
             summ'd
             up
             this
             man's
             Fruitless
             Work
             for
             Swearing
             ,
             to
             make
             it
             conspicuous
             ,
             we
             proceed
             to
             his
             Accusations
             and
             Aspersions
             in
             his
             Third
             Section
             .
          
        
         
           
             Sect.
             III.
             
          
           
             The
             Anthorities
             and
             Testimonies
             Rescued
             .
          
           
             THat
             some
             of
             the
             most
             eminent
             primitive
             Christians
             ,
             Martyrs
             and
             Fathers
             were
             of
             the
             same
             Mind
             with
             us
             in
             their
             Conscientiously
             refusing
             to
             swear
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             the
             Heathen
             Gods
             ,
             but
             also
             more
             generally
             in
             Obedience
             to
             and
             Pursuance
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostle
             James
             ,
             before
             urged
             against
             swearing
             at
             all
             ;
             and
             that
             we
             have
             alledged
             Examples
             pertinent
             for
             Tender
             Conscience
             ,
             not
             only
             against
             swearing
             in
             particular
             Cases
             ,
             but
             swearing
             in
             general
             ;
             and
             have
             neither
             bewrayed
             the
             Want
             of
             Ingenuity
             or
             Honesty
             therein
             ,
             as
             most
             falsly
             and
             malitiously
             our
             Antagonist
             hath
             asperst
             us
             :
             But
             that
             he
             himself
             hath
             bewrayed
             his
             own
             Want
             of
             both
             Ingenuity
             and
             Honesty
             will
             appear
             ,
             though
             those
             Examples
             that
             we
             have
             alledged
             in
             this
             Case
             are
             but
             a
             very
             few
             to
             those
             we
             could
             alledge
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             About
             Polycarpus
             ,
             
               that
               eminent
               Martyr
               ,
               who
               was
               said
               to
               be
               the
               Disciple
               of
               St.
            
             Iohn
             
               the
               Evangelist
               ,
               and
               who
               suffered
               under
            
             Verus
             
               the
               Emperor
               ,
               Ann.
            
             170.
             
             Eus.
             
               l.
               4.
               c.
            
             14
             ,
             15.
             
             E●e
             .
             Chro.
             567.
             
             
               To
               our
               saying
               that
               he
               was
               demanded
               to
            
             swear
             
               by
               the
               Emperor
               's
               Good
               Fortune
               ,
               or
            
             Caesar
             
               's
               Prosperity
               ,
               he
               absolutely
               denyed
               ,
               and
               
               said
               ,
               He
               was
               a
            
             Christian
             ;
             
               J.
               S.
               answers
            
             ,
             They
             interpret
             
               [
               GOOD
               FORTUNE
            
             ]
             by
             Prosperity
             ,
             or
             as
             if
             this
             Martyr
             could
             not
             swear
             by
             the
             Emperor
             's
             Good
             Fortune
             ,
             but
             by
             his
             Prosperity
             ;
             
               But
               for
               that
               he
               hath
               left
               us
               to
               seek
               for
               a
               Proof
               .
               He
               adds
               ,
            
             Eusebius
             in
             the
             place
             quoted
             hath
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             
               which
               the
               Translation
               renders
            
             ,
             Jurare
             per
             Caesaris
             genium
             ,
             Swear
             by
             the
             Genius
             ,
             the
             good
             Daemon
             or
             good
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             ,
             which
             Form
             of
             Oath
             Polycarpus
             and
             the
             whole
             Army
             of
             Martyrs
             refused
             to
             take
             ;
             because
             that
             which
             the
             Gentiles
             stil●d
             Genij
             the
             Christians
             know
             to
             be
             Devils
             .
             A
             Daughty
             Argument
             ;
             Polycarpus
             would
             not
             swear
             by
             an
             Heathenish
             Goddess
             ,
             or
             their
             Gods
             who
             were
             Devils
             ,
             therefore
             Christians
             must
             not
             Swear
             by
             the
             True
             God.
             
          
           
             Reply
             ,
             This
             he
             calls
             a
             Daughty
             Argument
             is
             none
             of
             ours
             ,
             but
             his
             own
             Consequence
             unjustly
             deduced
             against
             us
             ;
             for
             ours
             is
             ,
             That
             Polycarpus
             refused
             to
             swear
             as
             the
             Heathen
             required
             ,
             because
             he
             was
             a
             Christian
             ,
             for
             Conrcience
             sake
             ;
             but
             
               J.
               S.
            
             thinks
             this
             not
             enough
             to
             prove
             that
             he
             refused
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             True
             God
             :
             And
             as
             he
             hath
             not
             proved
             this
             ,
             so
             we
             do
             not
             think
             that
             he
             hath
             proved
             or
             can
             prove
             that
             Polycarpus
             either
             could
             swear
             ,
             or
             profered
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             true
             God
             ;
             for
             that
             was
             not
             required
             of
             him
             :
             Therefore
             it
             was
             enough
             for
             him
             to
             refuse
             all
             the
             swearing
             that
             they
             required
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             tell
             them
             he
             could
             not
             swear
             by
             the
             True
             God
             ;
             for
             that
             was
             not
             the
             Matter
             he
             was
             called
             upon
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             Polycarpus
             and
             those
             
             Christian-Martyrs
             ,
             refused
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Good
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             ,
             which
             is
             as
             we
             cited
             before
             .
             2.
             
             But
             why
             makes
             this
             man
             such
             a
             Difference
             between
             the
             Good
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             ,
             or
             
             Caesar's
             Prosperity
             ?
          
           
             He
             tells
             us
             ,
             p.
             20.
             
             That
             Tertullian
             assureth
             us
             ,
             That
             the
             primitive
             Christians
             ,
             who
             suffered
             under
             the
             Pagan
             Persecutions
             ,
             who
             would
             not
             swear
             by
             the
             Genij
             of
             the
             Emperors
             ,
             have
             sworn
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperors
             ,
             
               Tertull.
               Apolog.
            
             c.
             32.
             
             Whatever
             Tertullian
             saith
             of
             those
             Christians
             ,
             it
             doth
             not
             invalidate
             our
             particular
             Instance
             of
             Polycarpus
             ,
             who
             was
             a
             more
             eminent
             Martyr
             ,
             and
             clear
             in
             his
             Testimony
             then
             many
             others
             ;
             For
             what
             is
             more
             plain
             in
             Ecclesiastical
             History
             ,
             then
             that
             some
             Christian-Martyrs
             exceeded
             many
             of
             the
             more
             weak
             Christians
             ,
             both
             in
             their
             Courage
             ,
             Valour
             ,
             Patience
             ,
             Nobility
             and
             Clearness
             in
             bearing
             their
             Testimony
             ?
             And
             we
             did
             not
             say
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             former
             Christians
             ,
             Martyrs
             
             and
             Fathers
             since
             the
             Apostles
             dayes
             refused
             to
             swear
             ,
             as
             we
             do
             ,
             but
             many
             did
             ;
             and
             therefore
             said
             ,
             we
             have
             of
             many
             more
             given
             some
             Instances
             and
             Testimonies
             of
             such
             Primitive
             
             Christian-Martyrs
             and
             Fathers
             ,
             &c.
             the
             Case
             ,
             p.
             9.
             
             And
             also
             it
             s
             confessed
             ,
             that
             the
             Christians
             prayed
             for
             the
             Emperor's
             Health
             ,
             and
             wished
             
             Caesar's
             Prosperity
             ,
             which
             to
             them
             was
             instead
             of
             a
             great
             Oath
             ,
             
               Tertull.
               ibid.
            
             
          
           
             And
             though
             
               J.
               S.
            
             would
             insinuate
             ,
             That
             Polycarpus
             
               did
               not
               refuse
               to
               Swear
               upon
               the
               Account
               of
               Christ's
               Inhibition
               ,
               but
               the
               Impiety
               of
               the
               Form
               of
               the
               Oath
            
             ;
             saying
             ,
             
               That
               the
               true
               Criterion
               was
               this
               ,
               That
               the
            
             Gentiles
             
               would
               have
               had
               the
               Martyrs
               swear
               by
               the
               Idols
               ,
               but
               the
               Martyrs
               would
               not
               swear
               but
               by
               the
               God
               of
               Truth
               ,
            
             pag.
             38.
             
             See
             the
             Man's
             Contradiction
             to
             himself
             ,
             and
             to
             what
             he
             saith
             Tertullian
             assures
             us
             ,
             viz.
             
               That
               without
               the
               least
               scruple
               of
               Conscience
               they
               have
               sworn
               by
               the
               Health
               of
               the
               Emperor
               .
            
             Oh
             strange
             !
             and
             yet
             would
             not
             swear
             but
             by
             the
             God
             of
             Truth
             :
             Was
             there
             no
             Difference
             between
             the
             Health
             of
             a
             Wicked
             Persecuting
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             the
             God
             of
             Truth
             ?
             If
             Polycarpus
             had
             then
             profered
             ,
             according
             to
             
               J.
               S.
            
             his
             Account
             of
             those
             Martyrs
             ,
             viz.
             By
             the
             Eternal
             God
             I
             wish
             or
             pray
             for
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ;
             or
             else
             ,
             if
             this
             would
             not
             have
             pleased
             his
             Persecutors
             ,
             when
             they
             urged
             him
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             ,
             he
             had
             then
             answered
             ,
             Well
             ,
             I
             will
             swear
             by
             the
             Prosperity
             or
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             probably
             he
             might
             have
             come
             off
             at
             a
             more
             easie
             rate
             then
             he
             did
             ;
             as
             many
             Temporizers
             have
             evaded
             Suffering
             in
             our
             dayes
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             proceed
             with
             Polycarpus
             ;
             
               The
               Proconsul
               urged
               him
               divers
               times
               to
               swear
               by
               the
               Fortune
               of
               Caesar
               :
               To
               whom
               Polycarpus
               answered
               ,
               If
               thou
               requirest
               this
               Vain-Glory
               ,
               that
               I
               protest
               the
               Fortune
               of
               Caesar
               ,
               as
               thou
               sayest
               ,
               seigning
               thou
               knowest
               me
               not
               who
               I
               am
               ,
               hear
               freely
               ,
               I
               am
               a
               Christian
               ;
               and
               if
               thou
               desirest
               to
               know
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               appoint
               the
               day
               and
               thou
               shalt
               hear
               it
               .
               The
               Proconsul
               commanded
               the
               Beadle
               thrice
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               the
               Theatre
               :
               Polycarpus
               confesseth
               himself
               a
               Christian
               :
               The
               Multitude
               both
               of
               Jews
               and
               Gentiles
               inhabiting
               Smyrna
               cryed
               with
               one
               Voice
               ,
               That
               Polycarpus
               
                 must
                 be
                 Burnt
                 quick
              
               ;
               upon
               which
               the
               Multitude
               forth-with
               carried
               Logs
               ,
               and
               Wood
               ,
               and
               Sticks
               out
               of
               their
               Shops
               and
               Bootks
               ,
               but
               especially
               
               the
               Iews
               served
               promptly
               (
               after
               their
               wonted
               manner
               )
               for
               that
               purpose
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             See
             the
             Account
             at
             large
             ,
             Euseb.
             l.
             4.
             chap.
             15.
             
          
           
             So
             it
             appears
             that
             both
             the
             out-ragious
             Gentiles
             ,
             who
             were
             for
             swearing
             by
             their
             Heathen
             Gods
             ,
             and
             those
             hypocritical
             Iews
             ,
             who
             were
             commanded
             to
             swear
             only
             by
             the
             True
             God
             ,
             both
             joyned
             together
             to
             murder
             this
             Eminent
             and
             Valiant
             Christian-Martyr
             ,
             who
             would
             have
             taught
             the
             Proconsul
             the
             Christian
             Doctrine
             ,
             which
             contains
             an
             express
             Prohibition
             of
             Swearing
             ;
             and
             whose
             Refusing
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             Good
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             appears
             to
             be
             (
             as
             he
             was
             a
             Christian
             ,
             from
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             )
             with
             respect
             to
             him
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             upon
             the
             Account
             of
             the
             Impiety
             of
             the
             Form
             of
             the
             Oath
             it self
             ,
             though
             those
             furious
             Heathens
             and
             envious
             Iews
             were
             not
             fit
             to
             hear
             all
             his
             Reason
             on
             that
             Account
             .
             Consider
             that
             Irenaeus
             reporteth
             
               (
               Lib.
               3.
               against
               Heres
               .
               )
            
             That
             Polycarpus
             was
             not
             only
             instructed
             by
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             conversant
             with
             many
             who
             saw
             Christ
             ;
             but
             also
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ordained
             Bishop
             of
             Smyrna
             —
             who
             lived
             long
             ,
             
             and
             was
             very
             old
             ,
             and
             at
             length
             finished
             this
             Life
             with
             most
             Glorious
             and
             most
             renowned
             Martyrdom
             ,
             when
             he
             had
             continually
             taught
             that
             which
             he
             learned
             of
             the
             Apostles
             :
             And
             that
             he
             converted
             many
             of
             the
             Hereticks
             unto
             the
             Church
             of
             God
             ,
             preaching
             the
             one
             and
             only
             Truth
             received
             of
             the
             Apostles
             .
             To
             which
             we
             add
             ,
             It
             is
             not
             then
             probable
             that
             he
             should
             teach
             the
             Iews
             Doctrine
             ,
             for
             swearing
             by
             the
             Lord
             either
             to
             God
             or
             men
             ;
             much
             less
             that
             he
             taught
             men
             to
             swear
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             Caesar
             :
             But
             rather
             that
             he
             taught
             them
             as
             Christ
             and
             his
             Servant
             Iames
             did
             ,
             Not
             to
             swear
             at
             all
             ,
             by
             Heaven
             .
             Earth
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Oath
             ;
             seeing
             he
             continually
             taught
             that
             which
             he
             had
             learnt
             of
             the
             Apostles
             .
             2.
             
             It
             is
             not
             probable
             he
             should
             so
             plainly
             contradict
             the
             Apostle
             Iames
             his
             Doctrine
             ,
             My
             Brethren
             ,
             Swear
             not
             ,
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             nor
             by
             Earth
             ,
             nor
             by
             any
             other
             Oath
             ;
             as
             to
             say
             ,
             My
             Brethren
             ,
             Ye
             may
             either
             Swear
             by
             God
             that
             you
             wish
             
             Caesar's
             Prosperity
             ;
             or
             otherwise
             ,
             You
             may
             Swear
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             Caesar
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             though
             not
             by
             his
             Good
             Fortune
             .
             For
             if
             he
             had
             thus
             taught
             ,
             as
             this
             man
             implies
             of
             the
             primitive
             Christians
             ,
             he
             had
             taught
             quite
             contrary
             to
             the
             said
             Apostle
             .
          
           
             And
             it
             s
             also
             said
             by
             Irenaeus
             ,
             
             There
             is
             extant
             an
             Epistle
             of
             Polycarpus
             unto
             the
             Philippians
             ,
             very
             
             profitable
             for
             such
             as
             are
             careful
             of
             their
             Salvation
             ,
             where
             they
             may
             know
             the
             true
             Character
             of
             Faith
             and
             Rule
             of
             Doctrine
             .
             And
             't
             is
             said
             ,
             Polycarpus
             maketh
             mention
             hereof
             ,
             (
             viz.
             of
             Ignatius
             ,
             
             the
             Martyr
             his
             Epistle
             to
             the
             Church
             at
             Smyrna
             )
             in
             the
             Epistle
             under
             his
             Name
             unto
             the
             Philippians
             ,
             writing
             thus
             ,
             
               I
               bereech
               you
               all
               that
               you
               be
               Obedient
               ,
               and
               exercise
               Patience
               ,
               which
               you
               have
               throughly
               seen
               ,
               not
               only
               in
               blessed
               
                 Ignatius
                 ,
                 Rufus
              
               and
               Zosimus
               ,
               but
               in
               divers
               of
               your selves
               ,
               in
               divers
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               and
               in
               Paul
               ,
               with
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Apostles
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             Now
             it
             is
             not
             likely
             that
             Polycarpus
             ,
             exhorting
             them
             so
             to
             Obedience
             as
             to
             follow
             the
             Apostle's
             Doctrine
             and
             Example
             ,
             should
             yet
             hold
             it
             lawful
             to
             Swear
             either
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             or
             by
             God
             ,
             both
             contrary
             to
             the
             Law
             and
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             express
             Doctrine
             and
             earnest
             Admonition
             of
             the
             Apostle
             
               James
               ,
               Jam
            
             5.
             12.
             
             It
             is
             also
             said
             ,
             
               (
               Euseb.
            
             lib.
             5.
             chap.
             23.
             )
             That
             Polycarpus
             being
             at
             Rome
             in
             the
             time
             of
             Ani●etus
             ,
             they
             both
             varyed
             among
             themselves
             ,
             yet
             were
             they
             soon
             reconciled
             ,
             neither
             was
             A●ic●tus
             able
             to
             perswade
             Polycarpus
             that
             he
             should
             not
             retain
             that
             which
             he
             had
             alwayes
             observed
             with
             John
             the
             Disciple
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             with
             whom
             he
             had
             been
             conversant
             .
             It
             is
             not
             probable
             then
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             be
             perswaded
             not
             to
             retain
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             Doctrine
             ,
             Swear
             not
             at
             all
             ,
             neither
             by
             Heaven
             ,
             &c.
             nor
             by
             any
             other
             Oath
             ,
             to
             teach
             the
             Christians
             that
             they
             might
             Swear
             by
             the
             Health
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             J.
             S's
             accusing
             the
             Quakers
             with
             comparing
             the
             Oath
             which
             the
             Proconsul
             tendered
             to
             Polycarpus
             ,
             to
             that
             Form
             of
             Oath
             which
             is
             in
             use
             in
             this
             Kingdom
             ,
             and
             therewith
             aspersing
             the
             King
             and
             both
             Houses
             of
             Parliament
             with
             the
             Crime
             of
             Heathenish
             Idolatry
             .
             These
             are
             both
             very
             Malicious
             &
             False
             ,
             for
             no
             such
             Comparison
             was
             intended
             by
             us
             :
             There
             was
             no
             mention
             of
             that
             Form
             of
             Oath
             which
             is
             in
             use
             in
             this
             Kingdom
             ,
             but
             of
             that
             which
             was
             required
             of
             Polycarpus
             by
             the
             Fortune
             of
             Caesar
             (
             which
             was
             then
             their
             National
             Oath
             )
             which
             he
             could
             not
             swear
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             ,
             because
             he
             was
             a
             Christian
             ;
             no
             more
             then
             we
             now
             can
             for
             Conscience
             sake
             ,
             because
             we
             are
             Christians
             ,
             and
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostle
             have
             commanded
             us
             expresly
             not
             to
             Swear
             at
             all
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Comparison
             lies
             between
             his
             being
             oblieged
             in
             Conscience
             as
             a
             Christian
             ,
             not
             to
             take
             that
             Oath
             ;
             and
             our
             being
             oblieged
             in
             Conscience
             to
             Christ
             ,
             
             and
             in
             Obedience
             to
             his
             Doctrine
             ,
             not
             to
             Swear
             at
             all
             ,
             or
             take
             these
             Oaths
             ,
             because
             of
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             ,
             there
             being
             yet
             a
             Difference
             in
             the
             Objects
             sworn
             by
             .
          
           
             2ly
             ,
             That
             Ponticus
             and
             Blandina
             ,
             who
             were
             Martyrs
             ,
             and
             cruelly
             tormented
             to
             Death
             by
             the
             Heathens
             in
             France
             ,
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             
               Antoninus
               Verus
            
             ,
             Ann.
             179.
             refused
             to
             Swear
             ,
             being
             often
             urged
             ,
             is
             plain
             ,
             Euseb.
             l.
             5.
             cap.
             1.
             
             And
             that
             they
             contemning
             the
             Heathen
             Idols
             refused
             to
             Swear
             by
             them
             ,
             is
             not
             denyed
             :
             But
             that
             they
             were
             bound
             in
             Conscience
             to
             this
             Refusal
             ,
             only
             because
             of
             the
             Impiety
             of
             the
             Form
             of
             the
             Oath
             ,
             and
             not
             also
             upon
             the
             Account
             of
             Christ's
             Prohibition
             ,
             is
             deny'd
             by
             us
             ,
             and
             not
             proved
             by
             
               J.
               S.
            
             For
             't
             is
             probable
             enough
             it
             was
             on
             the
             Account
             of
             both
             ,
             they
             suffering
             both
             as
             Christians
             who
             respected
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             Doctrine
             ,
             and
             so
             near
             the
             Apostles
             dayes
             .
             Besides
             ,
             it
             was
             most
             necessary
             for
             the
             Martyrs
             in
             those
             dayes
             openly
             to
             contemn
             and
             testifie
             against
             the
             Heathen
             Idols
             ,
             in
             refusing
             to
             Swear
             by
             them
             ,
             being
             not
             called
             to
             Swear
             by
             the
             True
             God
             ;
             without
             declaring
             ,
             that
             Basilides
             ,
             who
             of
             a
             Persecutor
             was
             made
             a
             Martyr
             ,
             who
             was
             a
             Souldier
             ,
             and
             of
             Authority
             in
             the
             Roman
             Host
             ,
             being
             required
             to
             give
             an
             Oath
             in
             a
             Matter
             concerning
             his
             Fellow-Souldiers
             ,
             deny'd
             to
             do
             it
             ,
             plainly
             affirming
             ,
             
               He
               was
               a
               Christian
            
             ,
             and
             therefore
             suffered
             Death
             about
             
               Ann.
               Christi
            
             205.
             
             For
             this
             see
             Euseb.
             lib.
             6.
             chap.
             4.
             and
             
               Acts
               &
               Mon.
            
             1
             Vol.
             p.
             71.
             
             The
             Matter
             here
             ,
             so
             far
             as
             't
             is
             cited
             
               J.
               S.
            
             cannot
             deny
             ,
             and
             yet
             saith
             ,
             
               I
               must
               make
               bold
               to
               set
               down
               the
               Book
               which
               they
               have
               omitted
               ,
            
             Fox
             Vol.
             1.
             fol.
             71.
             which
             is
             not
             true
             ;
             the
             Book
             is
             set
             down
             before
             his
             Eyes
             ,
             but
             not
             all
             J.
             Fox's
             words
             cited
             where
             he
             addeth
             ,
             
               Their
               Oath
               then
               was
               wont
               to
               be
               by
               the
               Idols
               and
               the
               Emperor
            
             ;
             this
             is
             Jo.
             Fox's
             Addition
             :
             Whereas
             Eusebius
             hath
             it
             more
             positive
             ,
             thus
             ,
             Basilides
             being
             required
             of
             his
             Fellow-Souldiers
             to
             Swear
             for
             some
             Occasion
             or
             other
             ,
             affirmed
             plainly
             ,
             It
             was
             not
             Lawful
             for
             him
             to
             Swear
             ;
             for
             he
             said
             ,
             He
             was
             a
             Christian
             ;
             and
             he
             would
             in
             very
             deed
             Protest
             or
             witness
             the
             same
             ,
             see
             Euseb.
             l.
             6.
             c.
             4.
             
             The
             Truth
             of
             it
             is
             ,
             We
             cannot
             see
             how
             to
             reconcile
             J.
             S's
             Work
             ,
             or
             to
             make
             it
             consistent
             with
             it self
             ,
             or
             in
             History
             ,
             That
             these
             primitive
             Christians
             and
             Martyrs
             could
             without
             Scruple
             of
             Conscience
             Swear
             by
             the
             Health
             or
             Prosperity
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             yet
             refuse
             to
             Swear
             by
             his
             
               Good
               Fortune
            
             ,
             or
             that
             they
             could
             take
             such
             a
             Military
             
             Oath
             ,
             even
             in
             
             Constantine's
             time
             ,
             as
             by
             the
             Majesty
             of
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             yet
             refuse
             to
             Swear
             but
             by
             the
             God
             of
             Truth
             ,
             as
             he
             confesseth
             .
          
           
             His
             Charge
             of
             wickedly
             Falsifying
             Authorities
             we
             return
             back
             upon
             him
             ,
             as
             a
             Slander
             ;
             and
             we
             doubt
             not
             to
             make
             it
             further
             obvious
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             the
             man
             guilty
             .
          
           
             
               4ly
               ,
               Our
               Example
               out
               of
               the
               Plow-man's
               Complaint
               against
               the
               Pope's
               Breaking
               Christ's
               Commandment
               ,
            
             
             
               in
               making
               a
               Law
               to
               compel
               men
               to
               Swear
               ;
               This
            
             J.
             S.
             confesseth
             comes
             home
             to
             the
             Point
             ,
             if
             the
             Allegation
             be
             faithful
             ;
             but
             if
             this
             Plow-man
             be
             
               Chaucer
               Jack
               upland
            
             ,
             as
             by
             his
             stile
             he
             seems
             to
             be
             ,
             I
             never
             read
             ,
             
               saith
               he
            
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             canonized
             a
             Martyr
             ,
             or
             dubbed
             a
             Father
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             though
             he
             be
             Dad
             of
             English
             Poets
             :
             Nor
             do
             I
             think
             his
             Romance
             will
             pass
             among
             Rational
             Men
             for
             Good
             Authority
             .
          
           
             Repl.
             Here
             this
             Opposer
             savours
             more
             of
             one
             affected
             to
             Popery
             ,
             then
             with
             the
             Plow-man's
             Complaint
             against
             the
             Pope
             .
             As
             for
             his
             guessing
             who
             penn'd
             that
             Complaint
             ,
             it
             is
             of
             little
             value
             ,
             while
             he
             sleights
             and
             scoffs
             at
             the
             thing
             it self
             ,
             more
             like
             one
             Popishly
             affected
             then
             a
             real
             Protestant
             ;
             However
             ,
             whether
             the
             Plow-man's
             Complaint
             was
             penn'd
             by
             any
             Martyr
             or
             Father
             of
             the
             Church
             or
             no
             ,
             it
             was
             owned
             by
             the
             Sufferers
             ,
             as
             their
             Sense
             in
             those
             days
             ,
             and
             recorded
             among
             the
             Martyrs
             Testimonies
             for
             Christ
             ,
             &
             against
             
             the
             Pope
             :
             And
             however
             he
             sleights
             or
             jeers
             Chaucer
             ,
             hath
             he
             not
             been
             owned
             as
             a
             witty
             Wickliffian
             ,
             and
             a
             Witness
             in
             his
             Method
             against
             the
             usurping
             Clergy
             in
             his
             time
             ?
          
           
             5ly
             .
             He
             sleightly
             shuffles
             off
             the
             Instances
             of
             
               John
               Wickliff
               ,
               William
               Swinderby
            
             ,
             and
             the
             poor
             Christians
             in
             those
             dayes
             ,
             their
             Testimonies
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             against
             the
             Pope
             and
             Prelates
             compelling
             Men
             to
             Swear
             ,
             &c.
             as
             if
             they
             were
             only
             applicable
             to
             Oaths
             in
             Contracts
             ,
             or
             by
             any
             Creature
             ,
             or
             idly
             ,
             &c.
             
             But
             he
             hath
             nothing
             against
             our
             Citations
             ,
             whereas
             what
             we
             have
             cited
             of
             
               William
               Swinderby
            
             extends
             farther
             then
             this
             man's
             Limitation
             ;
             As
             the
             14th
             Article
             against
             him
             was
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             say
             ,
             That
             no
             man
             ought
             to
             Swear
             for
             any
             thing
             ,
             but
             simply
             without
             an
             Oath
             to
             Affirm
             or
             Deny
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             Swears
             he
             sins
             ,
             
               Act.
               Mon.
            
             1
             vol.
             fol.
             614.
             
             It
             s
             true
             ,
             he
             answered
             to
             this
             .
             That
             men
             should
             not
             Swear
             by
             any
             Creature
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ;
             
             but
             he
             further
             declares
             his
             Mind
             and
             Sense
             in
             his
             Appeal
             from
             the
             Bishop's
             Sentence
             to
             King
             Richard
             2.
             and
             his
             Council
             ,
             in
             these
             words
             ,
             Whereas
             
             Christ's
             Law
             forbids
             Swearing
             ,
             the
             
             Pope's
             Law
             justifies
             Swearing
             ,
             and
             compels
             men
             thereto
             ,
             
               Act.
               &
               Mon.
            
             1
             vol.
             fol
             618.
             [
             note
             that
             in
             the
             former
             he
             speaks
             with
             reference
             to
             
               God's
               Law
            
             ,
             in
             the
             latter
             to
             
               Christ's
               Law
            
             ]
             which
             no
             doubt
             was
             the
             Opinion
             of
             many
             more
             ,
             as
             appears
             by
             the
             Plow-man's
             Complaint
             ,
             which
             otherwise
             had
             not
             so
             been
             preserved
             and
             propagated
             as
             it
             was
             .
             And
             it
             appears
             from
             that
             Doctrine
             received
             among
             the
             poor
             Christians
             in
             this
             Nation
             ,
             that
             neither
             the
             Pope
             ,
             nor
             the
             Prelate
             ,
             neither
             any
             other
             Ordinary
             can
             compel
             any
             man
             to
             Swear
             by
             any
             Creature
             of
             God
             ,
             or
             by
             the
             Bible-Book
             ,
             
               Act.
               Mon.
            
             1
             vol.
             fol
             687.
             which
             Opinion
             among
             others
             their
             Persecutors
             sought
             to
             make
             them
             renounce
             and
             abjure
             .
             By
             this
             it
             appears
             they
             opposed
             the
             Popes
             compelling
             men
             to
             swear
             upon
             the
             Bible
             Book
             ,
             wherein
             they
             also
             swear
             by
             the
             Lord.
             
          
           
             
               By
               his
               saying
            
             ,
             Those
             Martyrs
             that
             held
             that
             all
             Oaths
             that
             be
             made
             for
             any
             Contract
             or
             Bargain
             were
             Vnlawful
             .
          
           
             However
             ,
             it
             was
             matter
             of
             Conscience
             to
             them
             that
             so
             held
             ,
             &c.
             
             It
             appears
             then
             ,
             that
             they
             held
             something
             unlawful
             that
             was
             used
             of
             old
             time
             ,
             both
             before
             and
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             contrary
             to
             
               J.
               S.
            
             p.
             15.
             
             For
             both
             before
             and
             under
             the
             Law
             there
             were
             private
             Oaths
             and
             
             Swearing
             in
             some
             Contracts
             and
             Covenants
             between
             man
             and
             man
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             publick
             before
             Judges
             ;
             And
             if
             the
             Martyrs
             Testimony
             against
             the
             Pope's
             Compulsion
             reacht
             only
             private
             Oaths
             ,
             we
             ask
             ,
             Where
             did
             ever
             the
             Pope's
             Law
             compel
             Men
             to
             Swear
             in
             their
             private
             Bargains
             between
             man
             and
             man
             ?
             and
             why
             are
             men
             put
             upon
             Swearing
             in
             their
             Account
             for
             their
             Tyths
             ,
             more
             then
             in
             their
             private
             Contracts
             about
             them
             ?
          
           
             
               J.
               S.
            
             would
             seem
             cordially
             to
             concur
             with
             William
             Thorpe's
             Testimony
             ,
             as
             being
             only
             against
             Swearing
             by
             the
             Book
             ,
             by
             any
             Creature
             ,
             &c.
             
             Whereas
             when
             
               William
               Thorpe
            
             was
             demanded
             to
             kneel
             down
             ,
             and
             touch
             the
             holy
             Gospel-Book
             ,
             and
             kiss
             it
             ,
             saying
             ,
             So
             help
             me
             God
             ,
             and
             this
             holy
             Doom
             ;
             he
             argues
             largely
             against
             it
             ,
             concluding
             thus
             ,
             Therefore
             to
             Swear
             upon
             a
             Book
             is
             to
             Swear
             by
             Creatures
             ,
             and
             this
             Swearing
             is
             ever
             unlawful
             ;
             adding
             further
             ,
             This
             Sentence
             witnesses
             Chrysostom
             plainly
             ,
             blaming
             them
             greatly
             that
             bring
             forth
             a
             Book
             to
             Swear
             upon
             ;
             charging
             Clarks
             ,
             that
             in
             no
             wise
             they
             constrain
             any
             Body
             to
             Swear
             ,
             whether
             they
             think
             a
             man
             to
             Swear
             True
             or
             False
             ,
             
               Act.
               Mon.
            
             1
             vol.
             fol.
             701.
             
             See
             how
             plain
             it
             is
             that
             William
             Thorpe's
             words
             were
             against
             Swearing
             upon
             a
             Book
             ,
             by
             God
             ,
             (
             or
             
               as
               help
               me
               God
            
             )
             and
             against
             forceing
             any
             Body
             to
             Swear
             True
             or
             False
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             said
             
               William
               Thorpe
            
             did
             not
             only
             condemn
             the
             Papists
             common
             Swearing
             by
             our
             Lady
             and
             other
             Saints
             ,
             but
             also
             their
             Swearing
             upon
             a
             Book
             in
             this
             Form
             ,
             
               So
               help
               me
               God
               and
               this
               holy
               Doom
               ,
            
             see
             
               Act.
               Mon.
            
             fol.
             701
             ,
             702.
             
             Now
             what
             Chrysostom
             ,
             whom
             he
             alledgeth
             ,
             witnesseth
             in
             this
             Case
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             is
             very
             plain
             and
             positive
             from
             the
             Greek
             Copy
             unquestioned
             ,
             
               Tom.
               1.
               
               Hom.
            
             17.
             p.
             217.
             (
             passing
             that
             in
             his
             other
             ,
             
               Tom.
               Homil.
            
             12.
             if
             questioned
             )
             where
             he
             saith
             ,
             
               What
               therefore
               if
               some
               require
               an
               Oath
               ,
               and
               impose
               a
               Necessity
               of
               Swearing
               ;
               let
               the
               Fear
               of
               God
               be
               more
               powerful
               then
               all
               Necessity
               :
               For
               if
               thou
               wilt
               alwayes
               object
               such
               Occasions
               ,
               thou
               wilt
               keep
               nothing
               of
               those
               things
               that
               are
               commanded
               —
               What
               is
               more
               then
               Yea
               and
               Nay
               ?
               To
               Swear
               ,
               not
               to
               Forswear
               ,
               seeing
               none
               need
               to
               be
               taught
               that
               that
               is
               of
               Evil
               ,
               and
               not
               so
               much
               superfluous
               as
               contrary
               ;
               for
               that
               is
               superfluous
               which
               is
               added
               needlesly
               ,
               which
               certainly
               is
               an
               Oath
               ;
               if
               Evil
               ,
               how
               then
               was
               it
               commanded
               in
               the
               Law
               ?
               —
               That
               is
               now
               Adultery
               ,
               
               which
               was
               then
               allowed
               —
               Weakness
               required
               then
               —
               for
               unless
               those
               things
               had
               gone
               before
               ,
               the
               other
               had
               not
               so
               easily
               been
               received
               —
               Their
               Vertue
               is
               now
               shown
               —
               Swearing
               was
               permitted
               heretofore
               by
               the
               Law
               ,
               lest
               men
               should
               worship
               Idols
               ,
               or
               swear
               by
               Idols
               ;
               it
               brought
               them
               to
               solid
               Meat
               .
               What
               Evil
               then
               is
               it
               to
               swear
               ?
               much
               without
               doubt
               —
               but
               now
               after
               so
               many
               Arguments
               of
               Power
               ,
               but
               not
               then
               —
               We
               must
               study
               to
               do
               above
               the
               old
               Commandment
               —
               Unless
               your
               Righteousness
               exceed
               ,
               &c.
               
               Some
               come
               so
               far
               short
               of
               it
               ,
               that
               they
               refuse
               not
               only
               to
               Swear
               ,
               but
               even
               do
               Forswear
               —
               If
               to
               Swear
               be
               Evil
               ,
               Perjury
               is
               great
               Evil.
               
            
             With
             much
             more
             to
             the
             same
             purpose
             ,
             his
             Assertions
             and
             Reasons
             being
             general
             ,
             extending
             to
             all
             swearing
             ;
             and
             goes
             on
             to
             exhort
             and
             deter
             men
             from
             sleighting
             the
             Command
             of
             Christ.
             Read
             the
             place
             at
             large
             .
          
           
             Concerning
             
               Elizabeth
               Young
            
             ,
             who
             was
             brought
             to
             Examination
             in
             the
             Marian
             dayes
             before
             the
             Catholick
             Inquisitors
             of
             Heretical
             Pravity
             ,
             as
             they
             stiled
             themselves
             ;
             her
             refusing
             to
             Swear
             
               J.
               S.
            
             confines
             to
             these
             Reasons
             ,
             First
             ,
             
               Because
               she
               would
               not
               betray
               her
               Christian-Friends
               .
            
             2dly
             ,
             
               Because
               of
               the
               Needlesness
               to
               Swear
               whether
               she
               was
               a
               Man
               or
               a
               Woman
               ,
            
             she
             affirming
             her self
             to
             be
             a
             Woman
             ,
             that
             being
             determinable
             without
             an
             Oath
             by
             Search
             :
             Whereas
             her
             Reason
             is
             more
             general
             then
             either
             of
             these
             two
             hinted
             ;
             For
             when
             Dr.
             Martin
             said
             to
             her
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             be
             Racked
             Inch-meal
             ,
             thou
             Traitorly
             Whore
             and
             Heretick
             ;
             but
             thou
             shalt
             Swear
             before
             a
             Judge
             before
             thou
             go
             .
             To
             this
             
               Eliz.
               Young
            
             answered
             ,
             Sr.
             I
             understand
             not
             what
             an
             Oath
             is
             ,
             and
             therefore
             I
             will
             take
             no
             such
             Oath
             upon
             me
             .
             Dr.
             Martin
             said
             ,
             She
             refuseth
             to
             Swear
             upon
             the
             four
             Evangelists
             before
             a
             Judge
             ;
             for
             I
             my self
             and
             Mr.
             Hussey
             have
             had
             her
             before
             us
             four
             times
             ,
             but
             we
             cannot
             bring
             her
             to
             Swear
             .
             Then
             said
             the
             Bishop
             ,
             Why
             wilt
             thou
             not
             Swear
             before
             a
             Judge
             ,
             &
             c
             ?
             Eliz.
             My
             Lord
             ,
             I
             will
             
               not
               Swear
               that
               this
               Hand
               is
               mine
               .
            
             No
             ,
             said
             the
             Bishop
             ,
             and
             why
             ?
             Eliz.
             Christ
             saith
             ,
             that
             
               whatsoever
               is
               more
               th●n
               Yea
               ,
               Yea
               ,
               and
               Nay
               ,
               Nay
               ,
               it
               cometh
               of
               Evil
            
             see
             the
             Relation
             more
             at
             large
             where
             it
             is
             quoted
             .
             Observe
             that
             the
             Reason
             of
             her
             refusing
             to
             swear
             was
             more
             general
             then
             
               J.
               S.
            
             relates
             :
             It
             was
             not
             only
             because
             she
             would
             not
             betray
             her
             Friends
             ,
             or
             because
             of
             the
             Unnecessariness
             of
             the
             Oath
             ;
             But
             because
             ,
             first
             ,
             She
             scrupled
             an
             Oath
             it self
             ,
             saying
             ,
             I
             understand
             
             not
             what
             an
             Oath
             is
             .
             2dly
             ,
             Because
             of
             Christ's
             saying
             ,
             Whatsoever
             is
             more
             then
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             and
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             it
             cometh
             of
             Evil.
             And
             3dly
             ,
             It
             is
             plain
             she
             refused
             to
             Swear
             upon
             the
             four
             Evangelists
             and
             before
             a
             Judge
             to
             a
             thing
             that
             was
             True.
             Therefore
             
               J.
               S.
            
             hath
             greatly
             abused
             this
             sincere
             Woman
             and
             Martyr
             ,
             in
             Restraining
             her
             Testimony
             against
             Swearing
             from
             its
             general
             Tendence
             .
          
           
             To
             our
             Example
             of
             the
             Waldenses
             professing
             it
             to
             be
             
               no
               way
               Lawful
            
             for
             a
             
               Christian
               to
               Swear
            
             ,
             whose
             Defence
             Bishop
             Vsher
             undertakes
             in
             his
             Book
             
               De
               Successione
               Eccl.
            
             c.
             5.
             
             and
             of
             the
             Christian-Protestants
             in
             the
             Valley
             of
             Pi●dmount
             ,
             
             who
             were
             cruelly
             Tortured
             to
             Death
             by
             the
             Papists
             about
             Anno
             1655.
             
             One
             Article
             alledged
             against
             them
             was
             ,
             
               That
               they
               believed
               it
               not
               lawful
               to
               Swear
               any
               thing
               ,
               be
               it
               True
               or
               False
               .
            
             To
             these
             
               J.
               S.
            
             answers
             thus
             ,
             viz.
             I
             joyn
             these
             because
             these
             of
             Pi●dmount
             are
             the
             Relicks
             of
             the
             old
             Waldenses
             ,
             against
             whom
             this
             was
             wont
             to
             be
             charged
             by
             the
             Papists
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             wholy
             against
             all
             Swearing
             ;
             in
             which
             point
             the
             Arch-Bishop
             of
             Armaugh
             undertakes
             to
             vindicate
             them
             ;
             but
             how
             ?
             
               not
               by
               maintaining
               the
               Opinion
               ,
               but
               by
               proving
               it
               to
               be
               a
               Calumny
               cast
               upon
               them
               by
               their
               Adversaries
               .
            
             How
             true
             this
             Account
             is
             ,
             whether
             or
             no
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Armaugh
             did
             prove
             it
             a
             Calumny
             cast
             upon
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             that
             
               they
               profest
               it
               to
               be
               no
               way
               Lawful
               for
               a
            
             Christian
             
               to
               Swear
            
             ;
             will
             appear
             by
             and
             by
             .
          
           
             In
             Answer
             to
             
               J.
               S's
            
             Allegation
             ,
             where
             he
             addeth
             ,
             That
             
               Frier
               Ni●
               .
               Eymericus
            
             reckons
             this
             to
             be
             the
             
               third
               Heresie
               of
               the
            
             Waldenses
             ,
             
               That
               to
               Swear
               ,
               whether
               it
               be
               before
               a
               Judge
               ,
               or
               extrajudicially
               in
               any
               Case
               ,
               is
               Vnlawful
               ,
               and
               a
               mortal
               Sin
               :
            
             And
             their
             fourth
             Heresie
             ,
             
               That
               to
               Swear
               Falsly
               about
               confessing
               Truth
               ,
               or
               revealing
               their
               Complices
               ,
               is
               not
               Vnlawful
               or
               a
               Sin
               ,
               but
               Lawful
               and
               Sacred
               .
            
             This
             ,
             saith
             he
             ,
             Bishop
             Vsher
             in
             the
             place
             forequoted
             ,
             p.
             162.
             on
             purpose
             to
             evince
             the
             slanderous
             Pens
             of
             Roman
             Scribes
             from
             the
             Incoherence
             of
             their
             Calumnies
             ,
             and
             from
             the
             extream
             
               Vnlikelihood
               that
               they
               who
               h●ld
               it
               Lawful
               in
               some
               Cases
               to
               Forswear
               ,
               should
               hold
               it
               Vnlawful
               in
               any
               Case
               to
               Swear
               .
            
             Observe
             here
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             he
             vindicates
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             as
             not
             being
             of
             the
             Opinion
             ,
             
               that
               it
               was
               no
               way
               Lawful
               for
               a
            
             Christian
             
               to
               Swear
            
             ,
             from
             the
             Papists
             Accusation
             ,
             
             that
             they
             held
             it
             lawful
             to
             Forswear
             .
             So
             that
             this
             man
             still
             (
             most
             dishonestly
             )
             leaves
             that
             honourable
             People
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             under
             that
             Blemish
             of
             Forswearing
             ;
             whereas
             if
             he
             had
             dealt
             h●nestly
             by
             them
             and
             Bishop
             Vsher
             ,
             he
             should
             otherwise
             have
             cleared
             them
             from
             holding
             it
             lawful
             to
             forswear
             ,
             for
             that
             they
             hold
             it
             unlawful
             in
             any
             Case
             to
             Swear
             ;
             as
             may
             be
             plainly
             seen
             by
             Bishop
             Vshers
             own
             Account
             ,
             
               De
               Success
            
             .
             c.
             6.
             pag.
             161
             ,
             162.
             where
             he
             saith
             ,
             The
             old
             German
             Author
             ,
             who
             wrote
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Behaviours
             of
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             saith
             ,
             That
             the
             Occasion
             of
             this
             Error
             (
             viz.
             
               Refusing
               to
               Swear
            
             )
             was
             ,
             the
             frequent
             Use
             of
             Swearing
             for
             light
             Causes
             ,
             and
             because
             Men
             fall
             into
             Perjuries
             ;
             and
             addeth
             a
             quaint
             similitude
             ,
             saying
             ,
             That
             the
             Hereticks
             who
             never
             swear
             ,
             are
             like
             the
             Devil
             ,
             whom
             we
             never
             read
             to
             have
             Sworn
             .
             But
             (
             saith
             Vsher
             )
             They
             who
             have
             learned
             of
             Christ
             ,
             let
             your
             Speech
             be
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ;
             for
             whatsoever
             is
             more
             is
             of
             that
             Evil
             One
             ,
             Mat.
             5.
             37.
             will
             judge
             the
             Papists
             (
             with
             whom
             the
             frequent
             Custom
             of
             Swearing
             for
             light
             Causes
             is
             grown
             in
             use
             )
             much
             liker
             this
             Evil
             Devil
             then
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             who
             (
             as
             is
             evident
             from
             the
             Relation
             of
             the
             
               Popish
               Inquisitor
            
             )
             used
             only
             to
             say
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             Yea
             ,
             Nay
             ,
             Nay
             ;
             avoiding
             a
             Lye
             and
             an
             Oath
             .
             And
             in
             the
             following
             page
             he
             sayes
             ,
             But
             that
             these
             
               (
               viz.
            
             the
             Waldenses
             )
             are
             as
             far
             from
             Lyes
             and
             Perjuries
             ,
             as
             those
             false
             Friers
             are
             from
             Truth
             and
             Modesty
             ,
             I
             bring
             those
             two
             Inquisitors
             cited
             in
             the
             said
             Article
             for
             Witnesses
             ;
             The
             one
             whereof
             writes
             thus
             of
             the
             Leonists
             or
             Waldenses
             ,
             They
             are
             aware
             of
             Detraction
             ,
             and
             of
             Scurrilousness
             ,
             and
             of
             a
             Lye
             ,
             and
             of
             an
             Oath
             :
             The
             other
             thus
             ,
             In
             Words
             they
             are
             Cautious
             ;
             Lyes
             ,
             Oaths
             ,
             and
             all
             things
             that
             are
             Naturally
             Dishonest
             they
             avoid
             .
             To
             which
             may
             be
             added
             also
             a
             third
             ,
             namely
             ,
             that
             German
             which
             published
             a
             Writing
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Behaviours
             of
             the
             Waldenses
             ;
             They
             teach
             to
             avoid
             a
             Lye
             ,
             Detraction
             and
             an
             Oath
             .
             And
             so
             Vsher
             argues
             thus
             ,
             Because
             their
             Adversaries
             confess
             they
             avoid
             Oaths
             ,
             therefore
             to
             charge
             them
             with
             Forswearing
             is
             an
             Absurdity
             without
             Truth
             or
             Modesty
             .
          
           
             So
             that
             denying
             to
             swear
             is
             thus
             far
             commended
             ,
             as
             that
             it
             clears
             them
             from
             the
             possibility
             of
             Forswearing
             and
             Customary-Swearing
             ;
             wherein
             (
             he
             sayes
             )
             the
             Papist
             ,
             their
             Adversaries
             ,
             are
             more
             like
             the
             Devil
             :
             And
             so
             is
             ours
             in
             Lying
             ;
             for
             he
             perverts
             it
             thus
             in
             
             Vsher's
             Name
             .
             From
             their
             Forswearing
             he
             argues
             
             their
             Swearing
             ;
             whereas
             Vsher
             defends
             them
             from
             Forswearing
             by
             their
             
               not
               Swearing
            
             at
             all
             .
          
           
             Now
             whereas
             
               J.
               S.
            
             hath
             so
             plainly
             perverted
             Bishop
             Vsher
             ,
             and
             abused
             the
             poor
             Waldenses
             ,
             and
             greatly
             vilified
             and
             upbraided
             us
             ,
             saying
             ,
             
               Where
               are
               your
               Eyes
               ?
               Where
               is
               your
               Conscience
               ,
               who
               belye
               so
               many
               ,
               &
               c
               ?
            
             We
             may
             ask
             this
             ,
             
               J.
               S.
            
             Where
             are
             thy
             Eyes
             ?
             Where
             is
             thy
             Conscience
             ,
             who
             hast
             not
             only
             most
             grosly
             belyed
             and
             abused
             us
             ,
             but
             shamefully
             mis-represented
             the
             Waldenses
             ,
             and
             perverted
             Bishop
             Vsher
             ?
             And
             where
             must
             be
             our
             Wit
             (
             or
             any
             Bodies
             else
             )
             if
             we
             believe
             
               J.
               S.
            
             upon
             his
             bare
             word
             ,
             perverting
             such
             an
             eminent
             Author
             ,
             so
             plain
             and
             obvious
             ,
             which
             we
             desire
             the
             ingenuous
             Reader
             seriously
             to
             look
             into
             and
             compare
             with
             both
             our
             Account
             and
             his
             .
             We
             appeal
             to
             the
             ●ruth
             in
             all
             .
          
           
             Whereas
             for
             Example
             12.
             
             
               J.
               S.
            
             only
             sets
             down
             
               Erasmus
               ,
               Plato
               ,
               Maeander
               ,
               Antonius
               ,
               Hesiod
               ,
               Theognis
            
             ;
             and
             then
             answers
             ,
             or
             rather
             quib●es
             ,
             
               This
               ranking
            
             Erasmus
             with
             Heathen
             
               smells
               rank
               of
               the
            
             Jesuits
             spirit
             :
             Whereas
             he
             himself
             hath
             thus
             ranked
             Erasmus
             with
             the
             Heathen
             ,
             rather
             then
             we
             ;
             For
             we
             have
             given
             a
             particular
             Account
             of
             
             Erasmus's
             Testimony
             ,
             only
             added
             the
             other
             afterwards
             ,
             not
             at
             all
             either
             to
             undervalue
             Erasmus
             ,
             or
             to
             point
             him
             
               hanging
               between
               Heaven
               and
               Hell
            
             ,
             as
             he
             saith
             ,
             it
             is
             the
             Jesuits
             Device
             :
             But
             to
             let
             that
             pass
             .
             However
             
               J.
               S.
            
             seems
             to
             have
             no
             mean
             Esteem
             for
             Erasmus
             ;
             but
             whether
             he
             be
             real
             therein
             or
             not
             ,
             will
             further
             appear
             ,
             where
             he
             confidently
             saith
             of
             him
             ,
             
               His
               Judgment
               was
               far
               enough
               from
               the
               Opinion
               of
               the
            
             Quakers
             ;
             
               for
               where
               he
               speaks
               thus
               of
               the
               Vnlawfulness
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               the
               Vselesness
               of
               Oaths
               ,
               he
               speaks
               of
               Swearing
               in
               our
               ordinary
               Communication
               ,
               as
               is
               manifest
               from
               that
               Clause
               [
               in
               your
               Bargains
               ]
               ye
               need
               no
               Oath
               ,
               ye
               need
               no
               Execration
               .
            
          
           
             Observe
             here
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             he
             restrains
             Erasmus
             here
             to
             oppose
             Swearing
             only
             in
             ordinary
             Communication
             ,
             and
             the
             like
             ,
             and
             as
             before
             ,
             far
             enough
             from
             our
             Opinion
             ;
             and
             then
             addeth
             another
             Untruth
             ,
             That
             the
             
             Quaker-Apologist
             either
             ignorantly
             or
             maliciously
             omits
             that
             Clause
             [
             in
             your
             Bargains
             ]
             both
             which
             are
             false
             ;
             for
             it
             was
             neither
             ignorantly
             nor
             maliciously
             ,
             but
             because
             we
             had
             enough
             beside
             in
             general
             Assertions
             and
             Reasons
             ,
             we
             cited
             against
             all
             manner
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             besides
             this
             Particular
             he
             mentions
             .
          
           
           
             See
             further
             Erasmus
             in
             his
             Paraphrase
             on
             Mat.
             5.
             34.
             
             Having
             cited
             the
             ●ext
             he
             saith
             ,
             
               Among
               the
               Jews
               only
               Perjury
               is
               punishable
               —
               but
               the
               Law
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               that
               ye
               should
               be
               more
               sure
               from
               Perjury
               ,
               doth
               utterly
               condemn
               all
               manner
               of
               Oaths
               ;
               that
               is
               not
               lawful
               to
               Swear
               ,
               neither
               by
               God
               ,
               nor
               by
               those
               things
               which
               seem
               to
               the
               common
               sort
               to
               be
               of
               less
               Religion
               .
            
             Here
             both
             the
             Assertions
             and
             the
             Reasons
             are
             general
             ,
             with
             several
             other
             Clauses
             ,
             some
             more
             particular
             ,
             and
             others
             general
             ,
             before
             he
             comes
             to
             the
             particular
             Instance
             
               [
               
                 in
                 your
                 Bargains
                 ]
                 ye
                 need
                 no
                 Oath
                 ,
                 ye
                 need
                 no
                 Execration
                 or
                 Cursing
              
               ;
            
             which
             Particular
             cannot
             make
             void
             his
             general
             Position
             and
             Reason
             ,
             both
             before
             and
             after
             ;
             to
             which
             we
             refer
             the
             Reader
             to
             view
             at
             large
             .
          
           
             And
             likewise
             on
             his
             Paraphrase
             on
             Jam.
             5.
             12.
             he
             is
             as
             general
             and
             positive
             in
             asserting
             and
             arguing
             the
             Case
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             
             thus
             ,
             
               But
               especially
               ,
               my
               Brethren
               ,
               Swear
               not
               ,
               lest
               by
               little
               and
               little
               you
               accustom
               your selves
               to
               Forswear
               .
               Among
               the
               Jews
               and
               Heathens
               for
               Fidelity's
               sake
               there
               is
               an
               Oath
               put
               between
               ;
               But
               among
               Christians
               ,
               which
               ought
               neither
               to
               distrust
               any
               man
               ,
               neither
               be
               in
               will
               to
               deceive
               ;
               it
               is
               a
               vain
               thing
               :
               Whosoever
               is
               accustomed
               to
               swear
               ,
               is
               cousin
               german
               to
               the
               Peril
               of
               Forswearing
               ;
               Be
               ye
               afraid
               not
               only
               to
               swear
               by
               God
               in
               humane
               Affairs
               and
               in
               light
               Matters
               ,
               but
               also
               abstain
               from
               all
               kind
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               that
               you
               Swear
               neither
               by
               Heaven
               ,
               neither
               by
               Earth
               ,
               nor
               any
               other
               thing
               that
               the
               common
               people
               esteem
               holy
               and
               religious
               .
               Whosoever
               dare
               be
               bold
               to
               Lye
               without
               Swearing
               ,
               he
               dare
               do
               the
               same
               also
               when
               he
               Sweareth
               ,
               if
               he
               list
               .
               He
               that
               is
               a
               good
               man
               will
               believe
               a
               man
               without
               Swearing
               ;
               and
               that
               nought
               is
               will
               not
               trust
               a
               man
               if
               he
               
               Swear
               :
               But
               among
               you
               that
               are
               furnished
               with
               Gospel-like
               Plaineness
               ,
               there
               is
               neither
               place
               of
               Distrusting
               ,
               nor
               to
               imagine
               Deceit
               ;
               but
               let
               your
               plain
               Communication
               be
               regarded
               for
               no
               less
               true
               and
               stedfast
               then
               any
               manner
               of
               Oath
               of
               the
               Jews
               or
               Pagans
               ,
               how
               holy
               soever
               it
               be
               ,
               &c.
               
            
          
           
             
               To
               our
               Instance
               of
            
             Augustin
             on
             Psal.
             88.
             &
             de
             mendacio
             ,
             
               J.
               S.
               answers
            
             ;
             The
             very
             words
             here
             alledged
             evince
             ,
             that
             St.
             Augustine
             speaks
             of
             common
             Swearing
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             must
             be
             beside
             his
             Text
             ,
             if
             from
             the
             Old
             Testament
             he
             infer
             the
             Unlawfulness
             of
             all
             kinds
             of
             Swearing
             .
          
           
             Reply
             .
             Augustine's
             words
             are
             plain
             and
             general
             ,
             that
             we
             cited
             ;
             however
             he
             kept
             to
             the
             New
             Testament
             Text
             and
             to
             himself
             in
             other
             places
             we
             shall
             not
             at
             present
             examine
             (
             if
             he
             did
             not
             ,
             it
             should
             have
             been
             retracted
             by
             him
             )
             but
             recite
             
             Augustine's
             words
             more
             fairly
             then
             
               J.
               S.
            
             hath
             done
             .
          
           
             
               It
               is
               well
               that
               God
               hath
               forbidden
               man
               to
               Swear
               ,
               lest
               by
               Custom
               of
               Swearing
               (
               inasmuch
               as
               we
               are
               apt
               to
               mistake
               )
               we
               commit
               Perjury
               :
               
               There
               is
               none
               but
               God
               can
               safely
               swear
               ,
               because
               there
               's
               no
               other
               but
               may
               be
               deceived
               .
            
             
               I
               say
               unto
               you
               ,
               
                 Swear
                 not
                 at
                 all
              
               ,
               lest
               by
               Swearing
               ye
               come
               to
               a
               Facility
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               from
               a
               Facility
               to
               a
               Custom
               ,
               
               and
               from
               a
               Custom
               ye
               fall
               into
               Perjury
               .
            
          
           
             Observe
             here
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             that
             both
             his
             Positions
             and
             Reasons
             are
             general
             ,
             and
             his
             Inference
             deduced
             from
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             own
             words
             against
             Swearing
             ,
             as
             
             Erasmus's
             are
             .
          
           
             And
             we
             now
             must
             further
             cite
             Augustine
             in
             the
             Case
             ;
             see
             Augustin
             Serm.
             3.
             
             
               Ad
               competentes
            
             :
             
               Let
               them
               not
               only
               abstain
               from
               Perjury
               ,
               but
               also
               from
               an
               Oath
               ;
               
               Because
               he
               doth
               not
               Lye
               who
               saith
               ,
               A
               man
               Swearing
               much
               shall
               not
               depart
               from
               Iniquity
               ,
               and
               the
               Plague
               shall
               not
               depart
               from
               his
               House
               ,
            
             Eccles.
             23.
             
          
           
             
               Augustin
               .
               de
               serm
               .
               dom
               .
               in
               monte
               ,
            
             on
             the
             place
             in
             Mat.
             5.
             thus
             ;
             
               The
               Righteousness
               of
               the
               Pharisees
               is
               ,
               not
               to
               Forswear
               ;
               This
               he
               confirmeth
               who
               forbiddeth
               to
               Swear
               ,
               which
               belongeth
               to
               the
               Righteousness
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               of
               Heaven
               :
               For
               ,
               as
               he
               who
               doth
               not
               speak
               ,
               cannot
               speak
               a
               Lye
               ,
               so
               he
               cannot
               Forswear
               who
               doth
               not
               Swear
            
             (
             so
             he
             goes
             on
             to
             excuse
             Paul
             for
             saying
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             &c.
             and
             calling
             God
             to
             Witness
             ,
             &c.
             )
             saying
             ,
             
               That
               an
               Oath
               is
               not
               of
               good
               things
               ,
               or
               among
               good
               things
               ;
               but
               of
               evil
               things
               ,
               or
               to
               be
               reckoned
               among
               evil
               things
               .
            
             And
             sayes
             ,
             
               Let
               a
               man
               refrain
               to
               use
               it
               ,
               but
               upon
               Necessity
               ,
               for
               the
               Infirmity
               of
               others
               ,
               which
               is
               Evil
               ;
               from
               which
               we
               pray
               ,
               that
               we
               should
               daily
               be
               delivered
               .
            
          
           
             Augustin
             .
             on
             
               Jam.
               5.
               de
               verbis
               Apostol
               .
               serm
               .
            
             30.
             
             
               Perhaps
               it
               is
               only
               for
               God
               to
               Swear
               ,
            
             who
             cannot
             Forswear
             .
             And
             so
             he
             goes
             on
             to
             shew
             how
             hard
             it
             is
             for
             men
             to
             avoid
             Perjury
             .
          
           
             
               Augustin
               .
               de
               mendacio
               Retract
            
             .
             lib.
             1.
             c.
             ult
             .
             He
             says
             ,
             is
             obscure
             and
             intricate
             .
          
           
             To
             our
             Instance
             of
             the
             Albines
             in
             France
             ,
             
             and
             
               Mich.
               Sadler
            
             ,
             an
             eminent
             Martyr
             in
             Germany
             ,
             that
             they
             
               held
               it
               was
               unlawful
               to
               Swear
            
             ;
             and
             that
             one
             Article
             alledg'd
             against
             him
             was
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             said
             [
             That
             men
             should
             not
             Swear
             to
             ,
             or
             before
             the
             Magistrate
             .
             ]
             To
             these
             J.
             S.
             answers
             ,
             
               Your
               Authors
               say
               only
               ,
               that
               That
               Charge
               was
               alledged
               against
               them
               ;
               but
               not
               ,
               that
               it
               was
               proved
               .
            
          
           
             Repl.
             Neither
             do
             we
             read
             that
             the
             Authors
             say
             ,
             That
             that
             Charge
             was
             denyed
             by
             them
             ;
             and
             then
             ,
             what
             need
             was
             there
             of
             proving
             it
             before
             it
             was
             denyed
             ?
          
           
             
               To
               our
               alledging
            
             Jerome
             ,
             Chrysostome
             ,
             Justine
             Martyr
             
             
               against
               Swearing
               ,
               our
               Adversary
               answers
               ,
               viz.
            
             When
             you
             name
             the
             Texts
             of
             these
             three
             Fathers
             we
             shall
             examine
             whether
             you
             faithfully
             report
             them
             .
          
           
             We
             Reply
             ,
             Let
             him
             examine
             then
             the
             Report
             and
             Citation
             already
             given
             of
             Chrysostome
             :
             And
             now
             of
             the
             other
             Two
             (
             we
             hope
             ,
             more
             faithfully
             then
             he
             hath
             done
             of
             B.
             Usher
             and
             divers
             others
             .
             )
          
           
             See
             
             Jerome's
             Commentary
             on
             Mat.
             5.
             on
             the
             place
             ,
             
               Swear
               not
            
             ;
             thus
             ,
             
               This
               was
               granted
               as
               to
               little
               ones
               by
               the
               Law
               ,
               that
               as
               they
               did
               offer
               Sacrifices
               to
               God
               ,
               lest
               they
               should
               offer
               them
               to
               Idols
               ;
               So
               they
               were
               suffered
               to
               swear
               by
               God
               ,
               not
               that
               they
               did
               this
               rightly
               ,
               but
               that
               it
               was
               better
               so
               to
               give
               it
               to
               God
               then
               to
               Devils
               :
               But
               the
               Truth
               of
               the
               Gospel
               doth
               not
               receive
               an
               Oath
               ,
               seeing
               every
               faithful
               Speech
               (
               or
               every
               Speech
               of
               a
               faithful
               Man
               or
               Believer
               )
               is
               for
               (
               or
               instead
               of
               )
               an
               oath
               .
            
          
           
             
               Justin-Martyr
               .
               Apolog.
               for
               Christians
            
             ,
             pag.
             63.
             printed
             at
             Paris
             ,
             1615.
             summing
             up
             the
             Doctrines
             of
             Christ
             to
             the
             Heathen
             Emperor
             ,
             sayes
             ,
             
               He
               commanded
               us
               ,
               not
               to
               
                 Swear
                 at
                 all
                 ,
                 but
                 alwayes
                 to
                 speak
                 Truth
                 ;
                 Swear
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 ,
                 but
                 let
                 your
                 Yea
                 be
                 Yea
                 ,
                 and
                 Nay
                 ,
                 Nay
                 ;
                 for
                 whatsoever
                 is
                 more
                 comes
                 of
                 Evil.
                 
              
            
          
           
             
               As
               for
            
             Walter
             Brute
             
               in
               his
               Testimony
               against
            
             Swearing
             ,
             
               is
               as
               plain
               ,
               positive
               and
               rational
               as
               any
               of
               them
               ;
               see
            
             Act.
             Mon.
             1
             
               vol.
               fol.
               653.
               
               J.
               S.
               saith
               ,
            
             As
             to
             
               Walter
               Brute
            
             ,
             it
             is
             true
             ,
             he
             affirmed
             what
             is
             alledged
             ,
             but
             with
             Protestation
             ,
             That
             he
             would
             retract
             that
             Opinion
             if
             he
             were
             convict
             of
             the
             Error
             of
             it
             ;
             and
             accordingly
             did
             ,
             upon
             Conference
             with
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Hereford
             ,
             submit
             himself
             to
             the
             Determination
             of
             the
             Church
             ▪
             as
             appear●
             from
             your
             own
             Author
             ,
             Fox
             v.
             1.
             p.
             653.
             
          
           
             Reply
             ,
             This
             is
             just
             the
             manner
             of
             the
             Papists
             undervaluing
             the
             Martyrs
             Testimonies
             ,
             by
             endeavouring
             to
             fasten
             Retractations
             and
             Recantations
             upon
             them
             ;
             and
             because
             
             this
             man
             has
             thus
             darkly
             and
             unfairly
             represented
             
               Walter
               Brute
            
             as
             so
             doubtful
             in
             that
             Particular
             Opinion
             against
             Oaths
             ,
             and
             so
             ready
             to
             retract
             it
             ,
             be
             pleased
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             to
             hear
             Walter
             Brute's
             own
             words
             in
             the
             page
             before
             cited
             ,
             &
             how
             far
             he
             submitted
             in
             saying
             ,
             I
             Walter
             Brute
             
               submit
               my self
               principally
               to
               the
               Evangely
               of
               Jesus
               Christ
               ,
               and
               to
               the
               Determination
               of
               holy
               Kirk
               ,
               and
               to
               the
               Sentence
               and
               Determination
               of
               the
               four
               Doctors
               ,
               viz.
            
             Augustine
             ,
             Ambrose
             ,
             Jerome
             and
             Gregory
             .
             Judge
             ,
             we
             pray
             ,
             what
             Retractation
             is
             this
             :
             And
             should
             not
             our
             Opposer
             have
             shewed
             us
             ,
             where
             he
             retracted
             that
             Opinion
             aforesaid
             against
             Oaths
             ,
             if
             he
             could
             ?
             or
             where
             ever
             he
             acknowledg'd
             himself
             convinc'd
             that
             this
             was
             
               an
               Error
            
             ?
             His
             Submission
             was
             principally
             to
             the
             Evangely
             (
             or
             
               Gospel
               )
               of
               Jesus
               Christ
            
             ,
             which
             
               J.
               S.
            
             leaves
             out
             ,
             as
             he
             doth
             
               [
               holy
            
             ]
             before
             
               [
               Church
            
             ]
             we
             hope
             he
             will
             not
             charge
             
               W.
               Brute
            
             ,
             that
             he
             design'd
             a
             Submission
             contrary
             to
             the
             
               Gospel
               of
               Jesus
               Christ
            
             ,
             being
             that
             principal
             thing
             without
             which
             the
             other
             could
             not
             determine
             .
             But
             we
             do
             not
             find
             that
             
               W.
               Brute
            
             retracted
             any
             more
             in
             the
             words
             above
             ,
             then
             he
             did
             sometime
             before
             ,
             
             when
             he
             told
             the
             Bishop
             thus
             ,
             
               If
               any
               man
               will
               shew
               me
               that
               I
               Err
               in
               my
               Writing
               or
               Sayings
               by
               the
               Authority
               of
               sacred
               Scripture
               ,
               or
               by
               Authority
               of
               Reason
               grounded
               thereon
               ,
               I
               will
               humbly
               and
               glady
               receive
               his
               Determination
               ;
               But
               as
               for
               the
               bare
               words
               of
               any
               Teacher
               ,
               Christ
               only
               excepted
               ,
               I
               will
               not
               simply
               believe
               ,
               except
               he
               be
               able
               to
               establish
               them
               by
               the
               Truth
               of
               Experience
               ,
               or
               of
               the
               Scripture
               .
            
             Now
             consider
             ,
             Reader
             ,
             that
             this
             was
             but
             a
             Submission
             conditionally
             proposed
             ,
             any
             more
             then
             the
             other
             ;
             
             and
             that
             some
             time
             after
             this
             he
             positively
             wrote
             against
             Oaths
             ,
             for
             which
             we
             refer
             thee
             to
             the
             Quotations
             :
             And
             this
             conditional
             Submission
             seems
             rather
             to
             argue
             his
             Belief
             ,
             that
             they
             could
             not
             convince
             him
             of
             Error
             herein
             ,
             no
             more
             then
             the
             Bishop
             of
             
             Hereford
             did
             ,
             when
             he
             could
             not
             confute
             Walter
             Brute's
             Exhibits
             on
             his
             own
             Defence
             .
             
             And
             has
             it
             not
             been
             a
             common
             thing
             with
             many
             established
             in
             the
             Truth
             ,
             to
             propose
             such
             conditional
             Submissions
             to
             be
             convinced
             ,
             and
             receive
             Information
             by
             or
             according
             to
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
             ?
             For
             our
             parts
             ,
             we
             do
             not
             find
             this
             man's
             Representation
             of
             
               Walt●r
               Brute
            
             to
             have
             so
             much
             as
             a
             face
             of
             Truth
             in
             it
             ,
             or
             that
             he
             was
             either
             doubtful
             of
             ,
             or
             did
             recant
             of
             that
             Opinion
             charged
             against
             him
             by
             the
             publick
             Notary
             ,
             viz.
             
               That
               he
               held
               that
               it
               is
               not
               lawful
               for
            
             Christians
             
               for
               any
               Cause
               in
               any
               Case
               ,
               to
               swear
               by
               the
               Creator
               ,
               neither
               by
               the
               Creature
            
             ;
             But
             rather
             that
             he
             was
             positive
             in
             this
             amongst
             his
             last
             Testimonies
             against
             the
             Pope
             and
             Church
             of
             Rome
             ;
             see
             
               Act.
               Mon.
            
             vol.
             ●
             .
             fol.
             653.
             
          
           
             As
             for
             J.
             S.
             his
             Conclusion
             ,
             pag.
             43.
             it
             savours
             both
             of
             Scorn
             ,
             and
             Envy
             ,
             and
             a
             Persecuting
             Spirit
             ,
             that
             would
             instigate
             the
             King
             and
             Parliament
             to
             afflict
             us
             ,
             as
             if
             
               we
               were
               not
               Conscientious
               in
               what
               we
               profess
               ,
            
             but
             we
             knowing
             the
             contrary
             in
             our
             Consciences
             ,
             as
             being
             therein
             oblieged
             to
             Christ
             and
             his
             Command
             ,
             we
             sleight
             our
             Enemies
             Flouts
             and
             Revilings
             .
          
           
             
               To
               his
               saying
            
             ,
             The
             Order
             of
             Middleburgh
             is
             no
             ways
             applicable
             to
             the
             Quakers
             Case
             ,
             who
             have
             refus'd
             to
             pay
             Church
             duties
             .
          
           
             The
             man
             seems
             herein
             wilfully
             to
             shut
             his
             Eyes
             ;
             for
             the
             said
             Order
             is
             very
             plain
             for
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             Freedom
             from
             the
             Imposition
             of
             Oaths
             ,
             unto
             those
             Inhabitants
             who
             refus'd
             the
             taking
             the
             accustom●d
             Oaths
             ,
             and
             who
             instead
             thereof
             ,
             proffered
             as
             the
             Quakers
             do
             
               That
               their
               Yea
               should
               stand
               instead
               of
               an
               Oath
               ,
               and
               the
               Transgressors
               thereof
               be
               punished
               as
               perjured
               Persons
            
             ;
             which
             with
             the
             Advice
             of
             the
             Governour
             and
             Council
             of
             Zealand
             was
             accordingly
             ordained
             and
             confirmed
             ,
             
               That
               this
               Peoples
               Yea
               aforesaid
               should
               stand
               instead
               of
               an
               Oath
               before
               the
               Magistrates
               of
               the
               said
               City
            
             [
             A
             Noble
             President
             to
             our
             Purpose
             ]
          
           
           
             Obj.
             But
             the
             Quakers
             have
             refused
             to
             pay
             Church-Duties
             ,
             and
             thereby
             Rob
             the
             Royal
             Exchequer
             ,
             which
             is
             partly
             supplyed
             out
             of
             Tenths
             and
             First
             Fruits
             .
          
           
             To
             the
             first
             ,
             of
             refusing
             to
             pay
             Church-Duties
             ;
             it
             seems
             he
             means
             
               Tythes
               to
               the
               Priests
            
             :
             And
             must
             we
             therefore
             not
             be
             allowed
             the
             Liberty
             of
             our
             Consciences
             ,
             but
             be
             exposed
             to
             Ruin
             ,
             Loss
             of
             Estates
             and
             Livelihoods
             ,
             because
             we
             cannot
             pay
             Tenths
             to
             the
             Priests
             ?
             Oh
             hard
             Man
             and
             unjust
             Judge
             !
             that
             respects
             more
             the
             Pope's
             Yoak
             and
             Antichristian
             Imposition
             ,
             then
             the
             Lives
             or
             Liberties
             of
             Protestant
             Subjects
             and
             True
             Christians
             :
             And
             his
             implying
             an
             Indulgence
             for
             us
             ,
             if
             we
             did
             not
             refuse
             to
             pay
             the
             Priests
             Tythe
             ,
             is
             like
             as
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             
               We
               may
               have
               the
               Liberty
               of
               our
               Consciences
               if
               we
               will
               be
               Conformable
               :
            
             Oh
             generous
             Indulgence
             to
             such
             as
             need
             it
             not
             !
             Could
             our
             Consciences
             serve
             us
             to
             
               Conform
               ,
               Pay
               Tythes
               ,
               Uphold
               Priests
               ,
               &c.
            
             what
             needed
             we
             make
             Address
             for
             Liberty
             ?
             His
             charge
             of
             
               Robbing
               the
               Royal
               Exchequer
            
             is
             envious
             and
             false
             ,
             shewing
             a
             Persecuting
             Spirit
             :
             The
             Priests
             ●yth-Barns
             are
             not
             the
             
               Royal
               Exchequer
            
             ;
             we
             cannot
             help
             to
             fill
             them
             :
             They
             demand
             Tyths
             of
             us
             ,
             not
             only
             of
             our
             Lands
             ,
             but
             of
             the
             Fruits
             and
             Encrease
             of
             our
             Labours
             and
             Industry
             (
             a
             manifest
             Extortion
             )
             and
             their
             Demand
             of
             them
             is
             as
             
               Ministers
               of
               Christ
            
             ,
             and
             on
             a
             
               Religious
               Account
            
             ,
             as
             claiming
             a
             
               Divine
               Right
            
             ,
             in
             neither
             of
             which
             are
             we
             sati●fied
             ,
             nor
             can
             we
             own
             either
             ;
             and
             we
             have
             reason
             to
             think
             ,
             that
             the
             King
             is
             more
             Merciful
             to
             them
             about
             the
             First
             Fruits
             ,
             then
             they
             are
             to
             us
             ,
             and
             doth
             not
             so
             severely
             prosecute
             or
             strictly
             look
             after
             them
             as
             they
             do
             to
             us
             ,
             having
             caused
             many
             deeply
             to
             suffer
             both
             in
             Persons
             and
             Estates
             ,
             and
             made
             grievous
             Havock
             by
             taking
             away
             and
             spoiling
             mens
             Goods
             ,
             driving
             away
             their
             Cows
             ,
             Oxen
             ,
             &c.
             many
             times
             more
             then
             the
             value
             of
             the
             Tvthe
             ,
             besides
             the
             sweeping
             away
             House-hold
             Goods
             ,
             and
             exposing
             many
             poor
             industrious
             Families
             
             to
             Ruin
             ;
             as
             also
             the
             many
             long
             &
             tedious
             Imprisonments
             ,
             which
             they
             have
             caused
             many
             to
             suffer
             in
             till
             Death
             .
             But
             when
             have
             we
             refused
             to
             pay
             our
             Civil-Duties
             or
             Taxes
             ,
             being
             in
             a
             Capacity
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             out
             of
             Bonds
             and
             Sufferings
             ,
             which
             have
             disabled
             many
             ?
             And
             if
             the
             King
             and
             Great
             Council
             of
             the
             Nation
             were
             pleased
             to
             repeal
             those
             old
             Laws
             inforcing
             the
             Payment
             of
             Tythes
             ,
             and
             to
             convert
             them
             into
             some
             
               necessary
               civil
               Use
            
             ,
             as
             for
             the
             Poor
             ,
             or
             some
             
               National
               Service
            
             and
             Benefit
             ,
             it
             would
             appear
             whether
             we
             should
             not
             pay
             our
             parts
             ,
             and
             whether
             the
             Royal
             Exchequer
             would
             not
             be
             conveniently
             supplyed
             without
             the
             Tenths
             from
             the
             Priests
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             our
             Desire
             of
             being
             exempted
             from
             taking
             an
             Oath
             ,
             because
             our
             Consciences
             will
             not
             allow
             us
             to
             swear
             ,
             to
             this
             our
             Adversary
             adds
             ,
             viz.
             
               When
               you
               actually
               do
               Swear
               in
               as
               solemn
               &
               august
               a
               Form
               ,
               as
               its
               possible
               for
               the
               Tongue
               of
               man
               to
               express
               ,
               even
               then
               when
               you
               say
               ,
               You
               dare
               not
               Swear
               ;
               God
               ,
               who
               is
               the
               Searcher
               of
               Hearts
               ,
               knows
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               with
               a
               Holy
               Respect
               to
               the
               Reputation
               of
            
             Christianity
             ,
             
               the
               Evangelical
               Dispensation
               and
               to
               Christ's
               express
               Prohibition
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             This
             Person
             has
             given
             us
             various
             Definitions
             of
             an
             Oath
             ;
             of
             which
             he
             reckons
             that
             to
             say
             ,
             
               God
               who
               is
               the
               Searcher
               of
               Hearts
               knows
               ,
            
             is
             a
             most
             solemn
             &
             august
             Form
             of
             Swearing
             :
             But
             surely
             he
             egregiously
             misseth
             in
             this
             ;
             for
             at
             this
             rate
             of
             defining
             a
             solemn
             form
             of
             an
             Oath
             ,
             we
             shall
             scarce
             know
             how
             to
             mention
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             in
             any
             serious
             or
             
               solemn
               Way
            
             ,
             either
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             Thanksgiving
             ,
             Appeal
             to
             him
             either
             as
             witness
             for
             us
             ,
             or
             singly
             as
             desiring
             that
             the
             Truth
             may
             be
             discovered
             in
             any
             case
             ;
             but
             this
             must
             all
             be
             lookt
             upon
             as
             a
             most
             solemn
             and
             august
             Form
             of
             Swearing
             ,
             if
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             be
             but
             mention'd
             ,
             when
             no
             Swearing
             is
             intended
             ,
             nor
             any
             Imprecation
             or
             Ceremony
             of
             an
             Oath
             used
             :
             But
             how
             manifestly
             doth
             this
             contradict
             his
             granting
             ,
             there
             may
             be
             a
             confessing
             the
             true
             God
             in
             Prayer
             ,
             in
             Thanksgiving
             ,
             &c.
             
             without
             Swearing
             ,
             in
             his
             counting
             such
             Confession
             of
             God
             
               not
               sufficient
               or
               acceptable
               ,
               except
               they
               add
               Swearing
               by
               his
               Name
            
             ;
             so
             that
             however
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             may
             be
             solemnly
             confessed
             without
             Swearing
             :
             And
             if
             on
             some
             weighty
             Occasion
             a
             Christian
             be
             moved
             to
             say
             ,
             
               God
               knows
               I
               Lye
               not
               ,
               God
               is
               my
               Witness
               :
            
             How
             can
             this
             be
             a
             solemn
             Oath
             or
             Swearing
             ,
             when
             he
             neither
             intends
             it
             nor
             useth
             the
             Ceremony
             of
             an
             Oath
             ,
             nor
             any
             Imprecation
             or
             Curse
             ?
          
           
             For
             there
             is
             a
             plain
             Difference
             between
             a
             man
             's
             earnestly
             appealing
             to
             God
             by
             way
             of
             Imprecation
             ,
             
               as
               the
               great
               Judge
               of
               Heaven
               and
               Earth
               ,
               Avenger
               of
               Injury
               and
               Falshood
            
             ;
             And
             tenderly
             committing
             or
             resigning
             his
             Cause
             unto
             God
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             discover
             the
             Truth
             
               (
               being
               Witness
               thereof
            
             )
             to
             others
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             or
             may
             be
             doubted
             or
             question'd
             :
             As
             in
             a
             Case
             of
             moment
             ,
             wherein
             I
             know
             &
             am
             sure
             the
             Truth
             is
             on
             my
             side
             ,
             while
             others
             may
             doubt
             or
             question
             me
             ,
             if
             I
             appeal
             ,
             commit
             or
             resign
             my
             Cause
             to
             God
             ▪
             (
             as
             knowing
             him
             to
             be
             my
             Witness
             therein
             )
             it
             is
             singly
             with
             a
             Desire
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             enlighten
             their
             Understandings
             ,
             &
             bring
             them
             to
             know
             the
             Truth
             of
             my
             Cause
             ;
             and
             for
             that
             End
             I
             both
             trust
             him
             ,
             and
             leave
             it
             with
             him
             ;
             and
             not
             at
             all
             with
             any
             Ceremony
             of
             an
             Oath
             ,
             nor
             any
             
               Imprecation
               ,
               Invocating
               of
               God
               for
               Witness
               (
               or
               Judge
               )
               against
               my
               Soul
            
             ;
             for
             what
             need
             of
             that
             when
             I
             know
             I
             am
             clear
             ?
             What
             need
             I
             be
             under
             any
             such
             Bond
             ,
             as
             the
             Fear
             of
             a
             Curse
             to
             bind
             me
             to
             speak
             the
             Truth
             ,
             
               whenas
               I
               am
               both
               ascertained
               of
               and
               engaged
               in
               the
               Truth
               ,
               and
               my
               Christian-Reputation
               and
               Soul's
               Peace
               is
               naturally
               concerned
               in
               it
               ?
            
             And
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             if
             any
             should
             wilfully
             or
             knowingly
             utter
             false
             Things
             without
             binding
             their
             Souls
             with
             an
             Oath
             or
             conditional
             Curse
             ,
             
               that
               will
               not
               hinder
               the
               Curse
               ,
               Judgment
               or
               Reward
               of
               false
               Swearers
               from
               coming
               upon
               them
               ,
               nor
               secure
               the
               Guilty
               .
            
          
           
             THE
             END
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A65844-e430
           
             *
             See
             Gen.
             24.
             9.
             and
             47.
             29
             ,
             31.
             
             But
             our
             Opposer
             hath
             brought
             us
             no
             Scripture
             for
             Kissing
             and
             Laying
             the
             Hand
             on
             a
             Book
             .
          
           
             *
             Iuramentum
             aliquod
             mente
             juratur
             .
          
           
             Num.
             5.
             24.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             14.
             28.
             
          
           
             *
             
               Jurare
               aras
            
             .
             Hor.
             Gen.
             24.
             2.
             
             &
             47.
             29.
             
          
           
             Chrysost.
             Tom.
             1.
             
          
           
             Hom.
             17.
             on
             Mat.
             5.
             
          
           
             Oecumen
             .
             on
             Jam.
             5.
             pag.
             136.
             
          
           
             Hilary
             comment
             .
             on
             Mat.
             Canon
             4.
             on
             Mat.
             5.
             34.
             
          
           
             See
             the
             various
             Readings
             in
             Walton
             and
             the
             Cr●ticks
             .
          
           
             *
             All
             of
             them
             did
             not
             so
             Swear
             .
          
           
             See
             Gen.
             24.
             9.
             
             &
             31.
             53.
             
             &
             21.
             23.
             
             &
             26.
             28.
             
             &
             47.
             31.
             
          
           
             Num.
             30.
             2
             ,
             3.
             1
             
             Sam.
             20.
             3
             ,
             17.
             1
             
             King.
             8.
             31.
             
             &
             14.
             26.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             l.
             4.
             c.
             14.
             
          
           
             Eus.
             l.
             4.
             c.
             14.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             32.
             
          
           
             
               Is
               there
               any
               Probability
               or
               Appearance
               of
               Likelihood
               ,
               that
               if
               the
               Denyal
               of
               Swearing
               had
               not
               been
               a
               received
               Doctrine
               from
               the
               Primitive
               Christians
               ,
               but
               the
               Martyrs
               for
               the
               first
               Three
               Hundred
               Years
               had
               sworn
               all
               along
               ?
               That
               the
               Famous
               Fathers
               in
               the
               succeeding
               Ages
               of
               the
               Greek
               Church
               (
               which
               was
               the
               less
               degenerated
               )
               as
               ,
               
                 Chry●ostu●m
                 ,
                 Basil
                 ,
                 Hilary
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               should
               bring
               it
               in
               as
               a
               reviv'd
               Doctrine
               against
               that
               which
               had
               been
               practised
               several
               Ages
               ;
               without
               mention
               of
               the
               Maintainers
               or
               Abettors
               of
               the
               contr●ry
               ?
            
             
               And
               
                 Origen
                 .
                 Iustin
                 Martyr
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               even
               in
               those
               Times
               of
               Persecution
               ,
               testified
               against
               Swearing
               ,
               which
               Testimony
               was
               continued
               among
               the
               VValdenses
               ,
               who
               ,
               as
               their
               Adversaries
               say
               ,
               continu'd
               from
               the
               primitive
               times
               .
            
             
               And
               Vsserius
               de
               successione
               ,
               cap
               10.
               
               §.
               2.
               ex
               
                 Botono
                 Parmensi
              
               ,
               ci
               eth
               ,
               
                 Humilia●i
                 in
                 nullo
                 errabant
                 ,
                 nisi
                 quia
                 condemnabant
                 jurantes
                 .
              
               Of
               these
               he
               saye
               ;
               their
               Original
               were
               in
               Millan
               ;
               They
               were
               rejected
               of
               Pope
               Innocent
               3.
               and
               Pope
               Lucius
               .
            
             
               Chap.
               8.
               
               §.
               22.
               
               Anno
               1052.
               
               
                 Agennenses
                 ,
                 Manichae●s
                 ,
                 Radul
                 .
                 Ardens
                 ita
                 insectatur
                 .
                 Tales
                 sunt
                 hodie
                 haeret●●i
                 Manichai
                 ,
                 quia
                 s●●a
                 haeresi
                 patriam
              
               Agennensem
               
                 ma●ula●erunt
                 ,
                 qui
                 mentiuntur
                 se
                 vitem
                 Apostolorum
                 tenere
                 :
                 Dicentes
                 ,
                 se
                 non
                 mentiri
                 ,
                 nec
                 omnino
                 jurare
                 .
              
            
          
           
             K.
             Rich.
             2.
             
             Anno
             1391.
             
          
           
             They
             were
             about
             Ann.
             1200.
             
          
           
             Morl.
             Hist.
             pag.
             217
             ,
             218.
             
          
           
             Erasm.
             para
             .
             on
             Jam.
             5.
             12.
             
          
           
             August
             .
             on
             Psal.
             88.
             
          
           
             August
             .
             De
             mendacio
             .
          
           
             An.
             1176.
             
          
           
             Act.
             Mon.
             I●V
             .
             f.
             623.
             
          
           
             Fol.
             653.
             
          
           
             Fol.
             625.