A free discourse against customary swearing ; and, A dissuasive from cursing by Robert Boyle ; published by John Williams.
         Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
      
       
         
           1695
        
      
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             A free discourse against customary swearing ; and, A dissuasive from cursing by Robert Boyle ; published by John Williams.
             Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
          
           178 p. in various pagings.
           
             Printed by R.R. for Thomas Cockerill Senr and Junr,
             London :
             1695.
          
           
             "A dissuasive from cursing" (30 p. at end) probably not by Boyle. cf. Brit. mus. Cat. and Fulton, J.F. A bibliography of the Honourable Robert Boyle, p. 135.
             Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Swearing.
           Blessing and cursing.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           FREE
           DISCOURSE
           AGAINST
           Customary
           Swearing
           .
           AND
           A
           DISSUASIVE
           FROM
           CURSING
           .
        
         
           By
           the
           late
           Honourable
           
             ROBERT
             BOYLE
          
           .
        
         
           Published
           by
           
             John
             Williams
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           by
           
             R.
             R.
          
           for
           
             Thomas
             Cockerill
          
           ,
           Sen
           r
           and
           Jun
           r
           ,
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Legs
          
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           ,
           over-against
           Stocks-Market
           .
           MDCXCV
           .
        
         
         
           portrait of Robert Boyle
        
         
         
      
       
         
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           .
        
         
           
             
               April
               13.
               1695.
               
            
          
           
             Guil.
             Lancaster
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           To
           the
           Right
           Honourable
           RICHARD
           Earl
           of
           Burlington
           and
           Cork
           ,
           Lord
           High
           Treasurer
           of
           Ireland
           .
           AND
           The
           HONOURABLE
           Sir
           
             Henry
             Ashhurst
          
           ,
           Baronet
           ;
           Executors
           to
           the
           Honourable
           
             Robert
             Boyle
          
           ,
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           IT
           has
           been
           an
           Injury
           too
           often
           done
           to
           the
           Memory
           of
           Persons
           eminent
           for
           Knowledge
           ,
           
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Virtue
           ,
           to
           have
           after
           their
           Death
           such
           Works
           obtruded
           upon
           the
           World
           for
           theirs
           ,
           as
           have
           been
           deservedly
           suspected
           ;
           or
           if
           theirs
           ,
           yet
           were
           never
           intended
           by
           them
           in
           that
           squalid
           ,
           broken
           ,
           and
           imperfect
           condition
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           published
           .
           But
           as
           for
           this
           Tract
           you
           were
           pleased
           to
           put
           into
           my
           hands
           to
           peruse
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           only
           certain
           that
           it
           was
           Wrote
           by
           the
           Honourable
           Person
           whose
           Name
           it
           bears
           ;
           but
           
           also
           that
           it
           was
           designed
           by
           him
           for
           the
           Press
           ;
           as
           some
           Passages
           in
           it
           do
           apparently
           shew
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           this
           Noble
           and
           Learned
           Author
           thought
           it
           seasonable
           for
           those
           Times
           of
           Uncontroul'd
           Liberty
           and
           Confusion
           in
           which
           it
           was
           wrote
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           seasonable
           ,
           if
           not
           more
           ,
           at
           the
           present
           ;
           when
           that
           Vice
           against
           which
           it
           is
           directed
           ,
           has
           of
           late
           Years
           so
           far
           prevail'd
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           Dishonour
           of
           our
           Nation
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           our
           Religion
           ,
           that
           the
           Patriots
           of
           our
           
           Countrey
           assembled
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           have
           been
           thereby
           justly
           provok'd
           to
           prepare
           that
           late
           Bill
           (
           which
           since
           has
           pass'd
           the
           Royal
           Assent
           )
           for
           the
           better
           and
           more
           effectual
           Punishment
           and
           Suppression
           of
           it
           .
           A
           Design
           becoming
           so
           August
           an
           Assembly
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           which
           your
           Honours
           must
           be
           esteemed
           to
           have
           done
           considerable
           Service
           ,
           especially
           by
           the
           Publication
           of
           this
           Treatise
           ,
           which
           has
           been
           so
           happily
           recovered
           ,
           
           and
           by
           a
           singular
           Providence
           reserved
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           for
           such
           a
           special
           Season
           and
           Service
           .
        
         
           
             I
             am
             ,
             
               Most
               Honoured
            
             ,
             Your
             most
             Humble
             and
             Faithful
             Servant
             ,
             JOHN
             WILLIAMS
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PUBLISHER
           TO
           THE
           READER
           .
        
         
           THESE
           Two
           Tracts
           against
           
             Customary
             Swearing
          
           and
           Cursing
           ,
           lately
           met
           with
           amongst
           the
           Papers
           of
           a
           Person
           of
           Quality
           ,
           and
           an
           intimate
           Acquaintance
           of
           the
           Honourable
           Mr.
           
             Robert
             Boyle
          
           ,
           Transcribed
           by
           his
           own
           Hand
           ;
           were
           found
           upon
           Perusal
           ,
           Perfect
           
           and
           Fitted
           for
           the
           Press
           ;
           except
           the
           Close
           of
           a
           Dedicatory
           Epistle
           to
           his
           Noble
           Sister
           ,
           the
           Countess
           of
           Kildare
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           far
           as
           appears
           by
           the
           Copy
           )
           he
           had
           but
           just
           begun
           .
        
         
           The
           Year
           inserted
           on
           the
           Title
           Page
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           a
           passage
           or
           two
           in
           the
           former
           of
           these
           ,
           shews
           that
           it
           was
           Penned
           toward
           the
           latter
           end
           of
           the
           late
           Vnhappy
           Times
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           about
           Twenty
           Years
           Old
           ;
           by
           which
           time
           (
           if
           I
           am
           not
           mistaken
           )
           this
           was
           the
           Third
           Treatise
           he
           had
           prepared
           for
           the
           Publick
           ;
           
           the
           other
           Two
           being
           that
           of
           
             Seraphick
             Love
          
           ,
           afterwards
           Printed
           ,
           and
           
             An
             Essay
             of
             Mistaken
             Modesty
          
           ,
           referred
           to
           in
           this
           .
        
         
           I
           cannot
           say
           (
           though
           there
           is
           a
           sensible
           Conformity
           between
           the
           Style
           of
           these
           and
           others
           of
           his
           Books
           )
           but
           that
           this
           Honourable
           Author
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           been
           to
           write
           ▪
           upon
           this
           Argument
           in
           his
           Riper
           Years
           ,
           might
           have
           given
           it
           a
           finer
           Turn
           ;
           and
           added
           ,
           out
           of
           his
           vast
           store
           of
           Learning
           and
           Thought
           ,
           much
           to
           the
           weight
           and
           force
           of
           it
           .
           But
           there
           is
           in
           the
           management
           of
           
           it
           ,
           such
           a
           strain
           of
           Modesty
           and
           unaffected
           Piety
           ,
           such
           an
           affectionate
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Honour
           of
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           passionate
           concernment
           for
           the
           Well-doing
           and
           Happiness
           of
           those
           of
           his
           Acquaintance
           ,
           for
           whose
           use
           this
           seems
           more
           especially
           designed
           ;
           and
           in
           fine
           ,
           so
           much
           Truth
           ,
           Reason
           ,
           and
           Observation
           (
           as
           the
           Pleas
           and
           Excuses
           here
           undertaken
           and
           answered
           shew
           )
           that
           must
           above
           all
           recommend
           it
           to
           such
           as
           have
           his
           Name
           in
           Remembrance
           and
           Veneration
           .
        
         
         
           A
           Name
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           better
           than
           that
           of
           Sons
           and
           of
           Daughters
           ,
           than
           that
           of
           Blood
           and
           Descent
           ;
           and
           that
           should
           provoke
           those
           of
           Eminent
           Extraction
           and
           Station
           ,
           to
           an
           Imitation
           of
           so
           Worthy
           and
           Glorious
           an
           Example
           .
        
         
           What
           happy
           Instruments
           might
           they
           then
           be
           of
           Good
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           by
           their
           wise
           Conduct
           and
           their
           exemplary
           Vertues
           !
           What
           a
           restraint
           would
           this
           lay
           ,
           above
           that
           of
           Laws
           ,
           on
           their
           Dependants
           and
           Inferiors
           !
           For
           how
           would
           such
           dare
           to
           offend
           ,
           that
           are
           sure
           to
           find
           no
           Countenance
           or
           Protection
           ?
           
           And
           what
           Protection
           or
           Countenance
           could
           they
           expect
           from
           their
           Superiors
           ,
           whose
           Lives
           would
           be
           a
           continual
           Reproof
           ,
           and
           where
           they
           could
           find
           no
           more
           a
           President
           ,
           than
           they
           do
           a
           Law
           to
           encourage
           them
           in
           their
           wicked
           Oaths
           and
           Blasphemies
           .
           To
           bring
           these
           Vices
           into
           disparagement
           ,
           and
           to
           represent
           the
           Folly
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Sin
           of
           them
           to
           the
           better-bred
           part
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           was
           the
           Generous
           and
           Pious
           Design
           of
           this
           Learned
           Author
           ;
           and
           of
           those
           Honourable
           Persons
           ,
           that
           from
           their
           Relation
           to
           him
           by
           Blood
           or
           Friendship
           ,
           
           have
           been
           concerned
           in
           the
           Publication
           .
        
         
           Toward
           the
           utter
           Extermination
           of
           which
           amongst
           us
           ,
           there
           seems
           to
           be
           ,
           as
           human
           means
           ,
           nothing
           more
           necessary
           than
           the
           Vigilance
           of
           our
           Magistrates
           ,
           who
           are
           now
           as
           well
           and
           fully
           Empowered
           ,
           as
           obliged
           by
           the
           Law
           to
           see
           to
           the
           Punishment
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           for
           the
           due
           Execution
           of
           which
           ,
           they
           will
           most
           certainly
           have
           the
           good
           Wishes
           ,
           Assistance
           ,
           and
           Prayers
           of
           all
           Good
           men
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           more
           than
           all
           ,
           the
           Blessing
           and
           Rewards
           of
           Heaven
           .
        
         
         
           I
           have
           only
           this
           to
           add
           ,
           That
           the
           Second
           Tract
           ,
           or
           Letter
           ,
           seems
           to
           proceed
           from
           the
           same
           Hand
           with
           the
           First
           ,
           being
           agreeable
           to
           it
           in
           the
           Stile
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Design
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           so
           the
           Naming
           Mr.
           Boyle
           in
           it
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           decent
           Cover
           for
           the
           Concealment
           of
           himself
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
             
               A
               DISCOURSE
               Against
               Customary
               SWEARING
               .
            
             
               THOUGH
               I
               doubt
               not
               but
               that
               it
               is
               much
               more
               easy
               to
               make
               most
               Swearers
               Proselytes
               than
               Converts
               ,
               and
               a
               Task
               of
               less
               Difficulty
               to
               convince
               their
               Judgments
               ,
               than
               to
               reform
               their
               Practice
               ;
               yet
               that
               they
               may
               not
               have
               any
               colour
               to
               father
               upon
               Ignorance
               what
               is
               usually
               the
               Child
               of
               some
               much
               guiltier
               Parent
               ,
               
               it
               will
               be
               (
               possibly
               )
               no
               less
               useful
               than
               necessary
               ,
               briefly
               to
               direct
               them
               to
               those
               Texts
               of
               Scripture
               ,
               where
               all
               those
               that
               acknowledge
               God's
               Word
               ,
               may
               find
               the
               Condemnation
               of
               that
               Vice.
               
            
             
               First
               then
               ,
               the
               Third
               Commandment
               flatly
               forbids
               unnecessary
               Oaths
               ,
               in
               terms
               that
               are
               ratified
               by
               these
               words
               of
               our
               Redeemer
               ,
               in
               St.
               Matthew's
               Gospel
               ;
               
                 Ye
                 have
                 heard
                 what
                 hath
                 been
                 said
                 by
              
               
               
                 them
                 of
                 old
                 time
                 ,
                 Thou
                 shalt
                 not
                 forswear
                 thy self
                 ,
                 but
                 shalt
                 perform
                 unto
                 the
                 Lord
                 thy
                 oaths
                 :
                 But
                 I
                 say
                 unto
                 you
                 ,
                 Swear
                 not
                 at
                 all
                 ;
                 neither
                 by
                 heaven
                 ,
                 for
                 it
                 is
                 God's
                 throne
                 ,
                 nor
                 by
                 the
                 earth
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               And
               a
               little
               under
               ,
               But
               
               
                 let
                 your
                 communication
                 be
                 yea
                 ,
                 yea
                 ;
                 nay
                 ,
                 nay
                 ;
                 for
                 whatsoever
                 is
                 more
                 than
                 these
                 cometh
                 of
                 evil
                 .
              
               The
               Sum
               of
               which
               Prohibition
               is
               thus
               repeated
               by
               St.
               James
               ,
               towards
               the
               close
               of
               his
               
               Catholick
               Epistle
               ;
               
                 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
                 you
                 fall
                 into
                 condemnation
                 .
              
               And
               suitable
               to
               these
               clear
               Passages
               of
               both
               Testaments
               ,
               the
               Wiseman
               characters
               a
               Sinner
               by
               him
               that
               sweareth
               ;
               and
               paraphraseth
               
               a
               Righteous
               man
               by
               him
               that
               
                 feareth
                 an
                 oath
              
               .
               So
               in
               Hosea
               ,
               Swearing
               has
               the
               Van
               of
               the
               most
               crying
               and
               provoking
               Sins
               ,
               in
               that
               same
               dismal
               passage
               ;
               
                 By
                 swearing
              
               ,
               
               
                 and
                 lying
                 ,
                 and
                 killing
                 ,
                 and
                 stealing
                 ,
                 and
                 committing
                 adultery
                 ,
                 they
                 break
                 out
                 ,
                 and
                 blood
                 toucheth
                 blood
                 :
                 Therefore
                 shall
                 the
                 land
                 mourn
                 ,
                 and
                 every
                 one
                 that
                 dwelleth
                 therein
                 shall
                 languish
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 beasts
                 of
                 the
                 field
                 ,
                 and
                 with
                 the
                 fowls
                 of
                 heaven
                 ;
                 yea
                 ,
                 the
                 fishes
                 of
                 the
                 sea
                 also
                 shall
                 be
                 taken
                 away
                 .
              
               And
               in
               another
               Prophet
               we
               find
               this
               Threat
               
               recorded
               ;
               
                 And
                 every
                 one
                 that
                 sweareth
              
               
               
                 shall
                 be
                 cut
                 off
              
               .
               Which
               Passages
               might
               easily
               be
               reinforced
               with
               others
               of
               the
               same
               nature
               ,
               if
               I
               did
               not
               think
               these
               that
               are
               already
               alledged
               ,
               abundantly
               sufficient
               ;
               where
               we
               pay
               not
               our
               Faith
               to
               the
               Number
               of
               the
               Texts
               ,
               but
               to
               the
               Authority
               of
               the
               Inditer
               .
            
             
               But
               alas
               !
               how
               much
               more
               easy
               is
               it
               to
               make
               men
               condemn
               their
               Sins
               ,
               than
               to
               persuade
               them
               to
               forsake
               them
               ?
               Certainly
               our
               Understandings
               are
               (
               usually
               )
               much
               honester
               than
               our
               Wills
               ;
               it
               being
               far
               easier
               to
               reconcile
               mens
               Judgments
               to
               the
               Truth
               ,
               than
               their
               Practice
               to
               their
               Judgment
               .
               Customary
               and
               unnecessary
               Swearing
               (
               for
               that
               's
               the
               sole
               Enemy
               I
               undertake
               )
               is
               so
               confessedly
               unlawful
               ,
               that
               they
               are
               ashamed
               to
               defend
               it
               ,
               that
               blush
               not
               to
               practice
               
               it
               ;
               and
               even
               they
               renounce
               it
               in
               their
               Opinions
               ,
               that
               most
               cherish
               it
               in
               their
               Discourse
               .
               But
               methinks
               this
               knowledge
               of
               the
               ill
               they
               act
               ,
               should
               make
               them
               apprehend
               that
               Menace
               of
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               which
               he
               threatens
               ,
               He
               
               
                 that
                 knoweth
                 his
                 master's
                 will
                 ,
                 and
                 doth
                 it
                 not
                 ,
                 shall
                 be
                 beaten
                 with
                 many
                 stripes
                 :
              
               For
               stumbles
               are
               more
               pardonable
               by
               Night
               than
               by
               day
               ;
               and
               the
               knowledge
               of
               what
               we
               do
               ,
               whilst
               it
               lends
               us
               direction
               ,
               robs
               us
               of
               excuse
               ;
               and
               if
               it
               do
               not
               impede
               ,
               it
               aggravates
               our
               faults
               ;
               since
               he
               that
               does
               what
               he
               condemns
               ,
               condemns
               what
               he
               does
               .
               Upon
               which
               score
               our
               Blessed
               Saviour
               said
               ,
               That
               
                 Tyre
                 and
                 Sidon
              
               
               should
               feel
               a
               milder
               Torment
               at
               
                 the
                 day
                 of
                 judgment
              
               ,
               than
               those
               ungrateful
               Towns
               Chorazin
               and
               Bethsaida
               ,
               where
               the
               light
               of
               his
               Doctrine
               
               had
               shone
               so
               clearly
               ,
               and
               the
               Miracles
               of
               his
               Life
               had
               been
               so
               familiar
               .
               And
               accordingly
               ,
               we
               may
               observe
               ,
               That
               the
               Devils
               that
               had
               no
               Tempter
               to
               their
               Fall
               ,
               have
               found
               no
               Pardon
               for
               it
               ;
               but
               having
               sinn'd
               against
               so
               clear
               a
               light
               ,
               are
               hopelesly
               
                 reserv'd
                 in
                 chains
                 of
                 utter
                 darkness
                 ,
              
               to
               endure
               hideous
               Torments
               unto
               all
               Eternity
               .
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 I.
                 
              
               
                 BUT
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 leave
                 our
                 Swearer
                 as
                 little
                 Pretence
                 as
                 Reason
                 for
                 his
                 Obstinacy
                 ,
                 let
                 us
                 singly
                 and
                 orderly
                 examine
                 his
                 Allegations
                 ,
                 and
                 tear
                 off
                 those
                 Fig-leaves
                 of
                 Evasions
                 and
                 Excuses
                 the
                 Devil
                 teaches
                 him
                 to
                 sow
                 together
                 ,
                 to
                 hide
                 his
                 own
                 Deformity
                 from
                 himself
                 .
              
               
                 
                 
                   PLEA
                   I.
                   
                
                 
                   Amongst
                   these
                   ,
                   the
                   first
                   Allegation
                   we
                   are
                   to
                   remove
                   ,
                   is
                   this
                   ,
                   That
                   Swearing
                   is
                   indeed
                   a
                   Sin
                   ,
                   but
                   that
                   (
                   as
                   Lot
                   said
                   of
                   Zoar
                   )
                   
                   it
                   is
                   but
                   a
                   
                     little
                     one
                  
                   ,
                   for
                   were
                   it
                   of
                   the
                   blacker
                   Dye
                   ,
                   in
                   what
                   a
                   sad
                   condition
                   were
                   mankind
                   ,
                   since
                   the
                   number
                   of
                   Swearers
                   is
                   not
                   inferior
                   to
                   that
                   of
                   Men.
                   
                
                 
                   Answer
                   .
                   But
                   certainly
                   he
                   that
                   seriously
                   considers
                   whom
                   the
                   least
                   sin
                   offends
                   ,
                   and
                   what
                   it
                   merits
                   ;
                   how
                   Infinite
                   a
                   Justice
                   ,
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   and
                   Goodness
                   ,
                   it
                   provokes
                   ,
                   and
                   how
                   intolerable
                   and
                   immortal
                   a
                   Punishment
                   is
                   due
                   unto
                   it
                   ,
                   will
                   easily
                   concede
                   ,
                   That
                   to
                   believe
                   any
                   Sin
                   otherwise
                   than
                   comparatively
                   little
                   ,
                   is
                   in
                   it self
                   an
                   Error
                   absolutely
                   great
                   ;
                   for
                   the
                   most
                   
                   dwarfish
                   are
                   to
                   be
                   called
                   small
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   the
                   sense
                   that
                   the
                   Astronomers
                   call
                   the
                   Earth
                   a
                   Point
                   ;
                   for
                   so
                   indeed
                   it
                   is
                   ,
                   compar'd
                   to
                   the
                   Firmament
                   ;
                   but
                   in
                   it self
                   considered
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   so
                   vast
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   Spots
                   and
                   Shreds
                   of
                   it
                   are
                   both
                   the
                   Stage
                   and
                   the
                   Subjects
                   of
                   the
                   Ambition
                   of
                   Conquerors
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Jars
                   of
                   Monarchs
                   .
                   And
                   truly
                   ,
                   since
                   the
                   least
                   (
                   unpardon'd
                   )
                   Sin
                   is
                   sufficient
                   to
                   damn
                   us
                   ,
                   methinks
                   we
                   should
                   as
                   little
                   slight
                   petty
                   Faults
                   ,
                   because
                   there
                   are
                   fouler
                   Crimes
                   ,
                   as
                   we
                   do
                   Pistols
                   now
                   there
                   are
                   Cannons
                   used
                   .
                   But
                   granting
                   this
                   Assertion
                   to
                   be
                   true
                   in
                   the
                   general
                   ,
                   it
                   will
                   forfeit
                   that
                   Attribute
                   in
                   this
                   Application
                   ;
                   for
                   this
                   Sin
                   is
                   one
                   of
                   those
                   that
                   are
                   expresly
                   and
                   by
                   
                   name
                   forbidden
                   in
                   the
                   Ten
                   Commandments
                   ;
                   where
                   it
                   is
                   not
                   only
                   listed
                   among
                   ,
                   but
                   has
                   the
                   Precedency
                   
                   of
                   Murther
                   ,
                   Theft
                   ,
                   and
                   of
                   Adultery
                   ;
                   being
                   the
                   sole
                   Commandment
                   (
                   save
                   one
                   )
                   that
                   has
                   a
                   Threat
                   annexed
                   to
                   the
                   Law
                   ;
                   which
                   in
                   this
                   passage
                   is
                   ,
                   
                     For
                     the
                     Lord
                     will
                     not
                     hold
                     him
                     guiltless
                     that
                     taketh
                     his
                     name
                     in
                     vain
                     .
                  
                   In
                   which
                   last
                   words
                   ,
                   the
                   great
                   Lawgiver
                   foreseeing
                   men
                   would
                   be
                   very
                   remiss
                   in
                   the
                   prosecution
                   of
                   a
                   Fault
                   ,
                   in
                   which
                   their
                   want
                   of
                   Zealous
                   Piety
                   makes
                   them
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   concern'd
                   ,
                   declares
                   that
                   he
                   himself
                   will
                   take
                   the
                   Vindication
                   of
                   his
                   Honour
                   into
                   his
                   own
                   hands
                   ,
                   and
                   inflict
                   himself
                   the
                   Punishment
                   of
                   a
                   Crime
                   ,
                   that
                   fears
                   it
                   but
                   from
                   Him.
                   And
                   then
                   if
                   those
                   Trespasses
                   be
                   not
                   severely
                   dealt
                   with
                   ,
                   that
                   are
                   alone
                   punishable
                   by
                   the
                   Supreme
                   Magistrate
                   ,
                   let
                   all
                   consider
                   what
                   
                     a
                     fearful
                     thing
                     it
                     is
                     to
                     fall
                  
                   
                   
                     into
                     the
                     hands
                     of
                     the
                     living
                     God.
                  
                   
                   Which
                   brings
                   into
                   my
                   mind
                   a
                   pretty
                   Extravagancy
                   that
                   is
                   reported
                   of
                   the
                   Turkish
                   Laws
                   ;
                   which
                   punish
                   Blasphemy
                   (
                   as
                   they
                   call
                   it
                   )
                   against
                   Mahomet
                   with
                   inevitable
                   Death
                   ,
                   but
                   enact
                   no
                   Penalty
                   upon
                   the
                   like
                   dishonour
                   offer'd
                   to
                   God.
                   Because
                   Mahomet
                   (
                   say
                   they
                   )
                   is
                   not
                   in
                   a
                   condition
                   to
                   vindicate
                   himself
                   ;
                   but
                   God
                   is
                   ever
                   able
                   to
                   revenge
                   his
                   own
                   Affronts
                   ,
                   and
                   therefore
                   they
                   resign
                   that
                   care
                   to
                   Him.
                   Who
                   indeed
                   many
                   times
                   has
                   (
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                   )
                   done
                   it
                   so
                   soundly
                   ,
                   and
                   so
                   much
                   to
                   the
                   purpose
                   ,
                   that
                   those
                   sawcy
                   Wretches
                   have
                   had
                   cause
                   to
                   think
                   it
                   as
                   poor
                   a
                   Privilege
                   to
                   have
                   their
                   Oaths
                   out
                   of
                   the
                   cognizance
                   of
                   the
                   Laws
                   of
                   men
                   ,
                   as
                   thieving
                   Beggars
                   do
                   to
                   be
                   exempted
                   from
                   the
                   danger
                   of
                   the
                   Beadle
                   and
                   the
                   Stocks
                   ,
                   because
                   their
                   Crimes
                   are
                   reserved
                   for
                   the
                   Gallows
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   But
                   to
                   resume
                   our
                   Proofs
                   of
                   the
                   Sinfulness
                   of
                   Swearing
                   :
                   Admit
                   the
                   Guilt
                   of
                   Single
                   Oaths
                   were
                   no
                   less
                   venial
                   than
                   is
                   pretended
                   ;
                   yet
                   certainly
                   ,
                   when
                   in
                   most
                   Swearers
                   the
                   frequency
                   of
                   swearing
                   is
                   so
                   great
                   ,
                   that
                   one
                   day
                   may
                   be
                   guilty
                   of
                   more
                   than
                   a
                   Thousand
                   Oaths
                   ;
                   (
                   these
                   Sins
                   not
                   growing
                   single
                   ,
                   as
                   Apples
                   or
                   Cherries
                   ,
                   but
                   like
                   Grapes
                   by
                   clusters
                   ;
                   the
                   Swearer's
                   Devil
                   having
                   a
                   title
                   to
                   the
                   name
                   of
                   the
                   Gadarene
                   
                   Spirit
                   ,
                   that
                   ,
                   answering
                   our
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   called
                   himself
                   Legion
                   )
                   their
                   Multitude
                   cannot
                   but
                   render
                   them
                   considerable
                   :
                   And
                   he
                   that
                   remembers
                   that
                   a
                   Thousand
                   Holes
                   may
                   as
                   well
                   sink
                   a
                   Ship
                   ,
                   as
                   some
                   great
                   Leaks
                   ,
                   will
                   conclude
                   Oaths
                   to
                   be
                   extremely
                   dangerous
                   ,
                   at
                   least
                   for
                   their
                   Number
                   ,
                   tho
                   they
                   were
                   not
                   so
                   for
                   their
                   Heinousness
                   .
                   Nor
                   
                   are
                   they
                   only
                   ruinous
                   to
                   the
                   Persons
                   that
                   use
                   them
                   ,
                   but
                   have
                   a
                   destructive
                   Influence
                   upon
                   that
                   State
                   that
                   suffers
                   them
                   .
                   For
                   whether
                   or
                   no
                   what
                   the
                   Prophet
                   related
                   once
                   of
                   
                     Judah
                     ,
                     Because
                     of
                     swearing
                     ,
                     the
                     land
                     mourneth
                     ,
                  
                   be
                   not
                   a
                   fulfilled
                   
                   Prophecy
                   of
                   England
                   ,
                   I
                   wish
                   it
                   were
                   rather
                   Charity
                   than
                   Partiality
                   to
                   doubt
                   .
                   For
                   tho
                   the
                   multitude
                   and
                   variety
                   of
                   our
                   Sins
                   be
                   so
                   great
                   ,
                   that
                   't
                   is
                   a
                   puzzling
                   Task
                   to
                   determine
                   to
                   what
                   particular
                   Crimes
                   our
                   Calamities
                   are
                   due
                   ,
                   yet
                   certainly
                   our
                   Oaths
                   are
                   too
                   considerable
                   an
                   accession
                   to
                   our
                   sins
                   ,
                   not
                   to
                   infuse
                   a
                   suitable
                   proportion
                   of
                   Gall
                   and
                   Wormwood
                   into
                   that
                   bitter
                   Cup
                   (
                   of
                   Affliction
                   )
                   these
                   gasping
                   Kingdoms
                   drink
                   so
                   deeply
                   of
                   ;
                   and
                   whatsoever
                   feather'd
                   ,
                   I
                   am
                   confident
                   our
                   Oaths
                   have
                   strangely
                   pointed
                   
                   those
                   fatal
                   Arrows
                   that
                   destroy
                   these
                   Nations
                   .
                
                 
                   As
                   for
                   the
                   supposal
                   this
                   Mistake
                   is
                   built
                   on
                   (
                   the
                   Involvedness
                   of
                   all
                   men
                   in
                   the
                   Guilt
                   of
                   Swearing
                   )
                   it
                   is
                   as
                   weak
                   as
                   't
                   is
                   uncharitable
                   ;
                   for
                   (
                   besides
                   that
                   to
                   allow
                   no
                   body
                   an
                   Innocence
                   from
                   swearing
                   ,
                   is
                   as
                   much
                   a
                   Slander
                   to
                   mankind
                   in
                   its
                   present
                   condition
                   ,
                   as
                   it
                   would
                   be
                   its
                   Crime
                   if
                   the
                   accusation
                   were
                   true
                   )
                   our
                   Saviour
                   gives
                   us
                   the
                   World's
                   Example
                   rather
                   for
                   a
                   Caution
                   ,
                   than
                   for
                   Imitation
                   :
                   Where
                   he
                   tells
                   us
                   ,
                   That
                   the
                   Way
                   to
                   Hell
                   is
                   a
                   Road
                   ,
                   and
                   throng'd
                   
                   with
                   Numerous
                   Travellers
                   ;
                   but
                   Heaven's
                   Path
                   is
                   narrow
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   Gate
                   that
                   inlets
                   to
                   those
                   Mansions
                   of
                   Bliss
                   ,
                   as
                   unfrequented
                   as
                   't
                   is
                   strait
                   .
                   Even
                   Mahomet
                   himself
                   (
                   in
                   his
                   discourse
                   with
                   the
                   Jew
                   Adia
                   )
                   having
                   at
                   the
                   Last
                   Day
                   divided
                   
                   Mankind
                   into
                   Threescore
                   Troops
                   ,
                   makes
                   but
                   Three
                   of
                   them
                   Believers
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   the
                   rest
                   Reprobates
                   .
                   But
                   certainly
                   he
                   whose
                   Command
                   this
                   is
                   ,
                   
                     Thou
                     shalt
                     not
                     follow
                     a
                     multitude
                  
                   
                   
                     to
                     do
                     evil
                  
                   ,
                   will
                   hardly
                   take
                   the
                   Practice
                   of
                   that
                   Multitude
                   for
                   a
                   just
                   dispensation
                   of
                   the
                   Law
                   of
                   that
                   God
                   ,
                   who
                   having
                   commanded
                   us
                   to
                   live
                   by
                   Good
                   Precepts
                   ,
                   will
                   scarce
                   accept
                   it
                   for
                   an
                   Excuse
                   ,
                   that
                   we
                   have
                   err'd
                   by
                   Bad
                   Examples
                   .
                   'T
                   would
                   be
                   a
                   strange
                   absurdity
                   in
                   Physick
                   ,
                   because
                   a
                   Pestilence
                   is
                   more
                   dispers'd
                   and
                   epidemical
                   ,
                   to
                   think
                   it
                   therefore
                   the
                   less
                   dangerous
                   ;
                   or
                   to
                   believe
                   that
                   the
                   Multitude
                   of
                   stinking
                   Carkasses
                   can
                   lessen
                   the
                   Noisomness
                   of
                   the
                   Stench
                   .
                   But
                   as
                   in
                   Pious
                   Duties
                   the
                   general
                   Concurrence
                   contributes
                   to
                   the
                   acceptation
                   ;
                   so
                   in
                   Sins
                   ,
                   the
                   like
                   Consent
                   but
                   hastens
                   
                   on
                   Revenge
                   :
                   It
                   being
                   with
                   the
                   guilty
                   Kingdoms
                   as
                   with
                   leaking
                   Boats
                   ,
                   where
                   the
                   Number
                   of
                   the
                   Passengers
                   but
                   makes
                   them
                   sink
                   more
                   nimbly
                   .
                   And
                   accordingly
                   we
                   read
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   Universality
                   of
                   the
                   Sodomites
                   Beastliness
                   was
                   so
                   far
                   
                   from
                   justifying
                   each
                   single
                   sinner
                   ,
                   that
                   they
                   were
                   all
                   consum'd
                   with
                   Fire
                   from
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   for
                   the
                   sole
                   want
                   of
                   Ten
                   Righteous
                   Persons
                   .
                   'T
                   is
                   for
                   them
                   only
                   that
                   think
                   it
                   no
                   misery
                   to
                   burn
                   in
                   Hell
                   with
                   others
                   ,
                   to
                   fancy
                   it
                   no
                   sin
                   to
                   swear
                   with
                   Company
                   :
                   But
                   for
                   the
                   rest
                   of
                   men
                   ,
                   let
                   them
                   take
                   this
                   from
                   me
                   ,
                   that
                   Sins
                   whose
                   seeming
                   Pettiness
                   makes
                   them
                   less
                   formidable
                   ,
                   do
                   oftentimes
                   prove
                   the
                   most
                   dangerous
                   ;
                   and
                   he
                   that
                   dares
                   esteem
                   any
                   Sin
                   small
                   ,
                   may
                   soon
                   be
                   brought
                   to
                   think
                   none
                   great
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                 
                   PLEA
                   II.
                   
                
                 
                   Well
                   ,
                   but
                   objects
                   the
                   Swearer
                   ,
                   I
                   do
                   not
                   swear
                   so
                   often
                   ,
                   and
                   my
                   Conscience
                   by
                   seldom
                   accusing
                   me
                   of
                   that
                   Sin
                   ,
                   assures
                   me
                   that
                   I
                   do
                   but
                   unfrequently
                   commit
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   But
                   sure
                   in
                   Vice
                   ,
                   whose
                   Essence
                   consists
                   in
                   a
                   repugnance
                   to
                   Mediocrity
                   ,
                   every
                   little
                   is
                   too
                   much
                   ;
                   and
                   he
                   that
                   swears
                   fewest
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   swears
                   yet
                   too
                   many
                   by
                   the
                   whole
                   number
                   that
                   he
                   swears
                   .
                   One
                   Oath
                   is
                   too
                   many
                   by
                   one
                   ,
                   when
                   one
                   is
                   enough
                   to
                   damn
                   .
                   And
                   who
                   would
                   swallow
                   Poyson
                   ,
                   because
                   obliged
                   seldom
                   to
                   repeat
                   his
                   draught
                   ?
                   To
                   pass
                   over
                   this
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   same
                   Considerations
                   that
                   contract
                   the
                   Number
                   of
                   your
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   do
                   aggravate
                   their
                   Guilt
                   ,
                   by
                   arguing
                   both
                   a
                   clearer
                   knowledge
                   
                   of
                   the
                   ill
                   you
                   act
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   more
                   bridling
                   power
                   to
                   restrain
                   it
                   .
                   But
                   alas
                   !
                   how
                   seldom
                   does
                   the
                   silence
                   of
                   his
                   Conscience
                   make
                   for
                   the
                   Swearer
                   ?
                   We
                   know
                   that
                   Insensibility
                   of
                   Pain
                   may
                   as
                   well
                   proceed
                   from
                   the
                   deadness
                   and
                   stupifi'dness
                   of
                   the
                   part
                   ,
                   as
                   from
                   a
                   perfect
                   and
                   unmolested
                   Health
                   .
                   In
                   fighting
                   ,
                   that
                   is
                   held
                   a
                   heavier
                   blow
                   ,
                   that
                   (
                   stunning
                   )
                   takes
                   away
                   the
                   sense
                   of
                   Pain
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   which
                   pains
                   the
                   Sense
                   .
                   Beware
                   your
                   Tranquility
                   resemble
                   you
                   not
                   to
                   the
                   Toad
                   ,
                   that
                   feels
                   not
                   Poyson
                   ,
                   because
                   he
                   is
                   all
                   Poyson
                   ;
                   and
                   resents
                   no
                   alteration
                   from
                   it
                   ,
                   because
                   't
                   is
                   natural
                   to
                   him
                   .
                   There
                   are
                   Legions
                   of
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   in
                   whose
                   mouths
                   Custom
                   swears
                   undiscernedly
                   ;
                   and
                   who
                   being
                   tax'd
                   with
                   it
                   ,
                   (
                   and
                   believe
                   what
                   they
                   speak
                   too
                   )
                   swear
                   that
                   
                   they
                   are
                   no
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   and
                   thus
                   commit
                   the
                   fault
                   they
                   would
                   wipe
                   off
                   the
                   imputation
                   of
                   .
                   But
                   wise
                   Physicians
                   hold
                   it
                   a
                   fatal
                   Symptom
                   when
                   Excrements
                   are
                   voided
                   without
                   the
                   Patient's
                   knowledge
                   ;
                   and
                   't
                   is
                   a
                   sign
                   that
                   the
                   Thief
                   has
                   haunted
                   long
                   ,
                   when
                   the
                   Mastiff
                   forbears
                   to
                   bark
                   at
                   him
                   .
                   In
                   such
                   cases
                   ,
                   Conscience
                   ,
                   like
                   oppress'd
                   Subjects
                   under
                   an
                   arm'd
                   Tyrant
                   ,
                   forbears
                   Expostulations
                   ,
                   not
                   out
                   of
                   want
                   of
                   the
                   causes
                   of
                   complaint
                   ,
                   but
                   out
                   of
                   use
                   of
                   sufferings
                   .
                   But
                   certainly
                   this
                   Lethargy
                   of
                   Security
                   is
                   much
                   more
                   dangerous
                   than
                   the
                   Feaver
                   of
                   a
                   restless
                   Conscience
                   ;
                   since
                   in
                   the
                   one
                   ,
                   the
                   smart
                   soon
                   drives
                   us
                   to
                   the
                   search
                   of
                   Physick
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   other
                   is
                   so
                   far
                   from
                   addressing
                   us
                   to
                   Remedies
                   ,
                   that
                   it
                   never
                   lets
                   us
                   know
                   we
                   need
                   them
                   .
                   In
                   such
                   still
                   Consciences
                   ,
                   
                   as
                   in
                   the
                   Sea
                   ,
                   the
                   smoothest
                   Seas
                   ,
                   the
                   smoothest
                   Calms
                   fore-run
                   the
                   rudest
                   .
                   Tempests
                   :
                   For
                   Conscience
                   ,
                   when
                   long
                   forc'd
                   to
                   play
                   the
                   Mute
                   ,
                   turns
                   to
                   a
                   Scold
                   at
                   last
                   ;
                   being
                   like
                   o'erladen
                   Muskets
                   ,
                   which
                   whilst
                   no
                   Fire
                   comes
                   near
                   them
                   ,
                   can
                   scarce
                   be
                   known
                   from
                   them
                   that
                   are
                   not
                   charg'd
                   ;
                   but
                   at
                   the
                   least
                   Spark
                   (
                   of
                   serious
                   terror
                   )
                   that
                   falls
                   into
                   the
                   Touch-hole
                   ,
                   they
                   will
                   be
                   sure
                   to
                   fly
                   about
                   our
                   ears
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   III.
                   
                
                 
                   True
                   ;
                   but
                   (
                   may
                   you
                   answer
                   )
                   there
                   are
                   others
                   that
                   swear
                   as
                   much
                   as
                   I
                   ,
                   and
                   oftner
                   ;
                   why
                   then
                   are
                   not
                   they
                   more
                   reprehended
                   for
                   more
                   frequent
                   Faults
                   ?
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   To
                   this
                   I
                   may
                   reply
                   in
                   the
                   terms
                   of
                   the
                   Apostle
                   ,
                   
                     Am
                     I
                  
                   
                   
                     therefore
                     your
                     enemy
                     because
                     I
                     tell
                     you
                  
                   
                   
                     the
                     truth
                  
                   ?
                   And
                   add
                   out
                   of
                   
                     Solomon
                     ,
                     That
                     reproofs
                     of
                     instruction
                     are
                     the
                     way
                  
                   
                   
                     of
                     life
                     .
                     That
                     poverty
                     and
                     shame
                     shall
                     be
                     to
                     the
                     man
                     that
                     refuseth
                     instruction
                     ,
                     but
                     he
                     that
                     regardeth
                     reproof
                     shall
                     be
                     honoured
                     .
                  
                   And
                   lastly
                   ,
                   
                     That
                     he
                     that
                     being
                     often
                     reproved
                     ,
                     hardneth
                     his
                     neck
                     ,
                     shall
                     suddenly
                     be
                     destroyed
                     ,
                     and
                     that
                     without
                     remedy
                     ,
                  
                   I
                   know
                   there
                   are
                   many
                   Sauls
                   ,
                   whose
                   Choler
                   flames
                   against
                   those
                   Davids
                   that
                   endeavour
                   their
                   dispossession
                   ,
                   tho
                   they
                   attempt
                   the
                   Cure
                   even
                   with
                   Musick
                   ,
                   I
                   mean
                   ,
                   the
                   mildest
                   and
                   the
                   gentlest
                   way
                   .
                   But
                   I
                   must
                   beg
                   my
                   Swearer
                   to
                   consider
                   ,
                   That
                   't
                   is
                   an
                   Inspired
                   Writer
                   that
                   assures
                   me
                   ,
                   
                     There
                     is
                     a
                     generation
                     that
                     are
                     pure
                     in
                  
                   
                   
                     their
                     own
                     eyes
                     ,
                     and
                     yet
                     is
                     not
                     washed
                     from
                     their
                     filthiness
                     .
                  
                   Your
                   Excuse
                   is
                   just
                   as
                   if
                   in
                   an
                   Hospital
                   a
                   desperate
                   Patient
                   should
                   say
                   to
                   his
                   Physician
                   ,
                   
                   Why
                   I
                   can
                   need
                   no
                   Physick
                   ,
                   for
                   there
                   are
                   others
                   here
                   as
                   sick
                   ,
                   and
                   many
                   more
                   diseased
                   than
                   I.
                   
                
                 
                   To
                   complain
                   of
                   being
                   reprehended
                   for
                   Vice
                   ,
                   is
                   to
                   complain
                   that
                   one
                   is
                   car'd
                   for
                   ;
                   like
                   the
                   favourite
                   Child
                   ,
                   that
                   cries
                   for
                   having
                   the
                   Knife
                   taken
                   away
                   from
                   him
                   ,
                   when
                   it
                   is
                   not
                   from
                   others
                   ,
                   for
                   whom
                   we
                   care
                   not
                   whether
                   they
                   cut
                   themselves
                   or
                   no
                   :
                   Which
                   is
                   as
                   if
                   our
                   Eyes
                   had
                   right
                   to
                   quarrel
                   with
                   us
                   ,
                   for
                   not
                   enduring
                   that
                   dust
                   there
                   ,
                   we
                   suffer
                   in
                   our
                   Shoes
                   .
                   Certainly
                   as
                   we
                   deserve
                   not
                   Praise
                   for
                   other
                   mens
                   Vertues
                   ,
                   so
                   can
                   we
                   not
                   decline
                   Censure
                   by
                   the
                   allegation
                   of
                   their
                   faults
                   .
                   Take
                   heed
                   there
                   be
                   not
                   places
                   hot
                   enough
                   in
                   Hell
                   ,
                   tho
                   others
                   fry
                   in
                   more
                   tormenting
                   Flames
                   ;
                   and
                   remember
                   ,
                   that
                   as
                   it
                   is
                   not
                   Health
                   to
                   be
                   not
                   
                   altogether
                   as
                   sick
                   as
                   gasping
                   people
                   ,
                   so
                   it
                   is
                   but
                   a
                   very
                   sorry
                   goodness
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   as
                   bad
                   as
                   the
                   worst
                   .
                   How
                   strangely
                   are
                   our
                   Affections
                   misplac'd
                   !
                   In
                   transitory
                   Goods
                   ,
                   which
                   he
                   rates
                   justliest
                   that
                   prizes
                   least
                   ,
                   we
                   think
                   we
                   never
                   have
                   enough
                   ,
                   if
                   any
                   body
                   else
                   has
                   more
                   ;
                   but
                   in
                   the
                   Goods
                   of
                   the
                   Mind
                   ,
                   which
                   cannot
                   be
                   overvalued
                   ,
                   we
                   think
                   our selves
                   sufficiently
                   stor'd
                   ,
                   if
                   others
                   enjoy
                   less
                   .
                   We
                   are
                   discontented
                   at
                   another's
                   Wealth
                   ,
                   and
                   proud
                   of
                   his
                   Vices
                   ;
                   and
                   whereas
                   his
                   greater
                   Poverty
                   should
                   exalt
                   our
                   Gratitude
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   greater
                   Piety
                   create
                   our
                   Emulation
                   ,
                   his
                   Riches
                   make
                   us
                   envious
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   Sinfulness
                   secure
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   IV.
                   
                
                 
                   Well
                   ,
                   (
                   may
                   you
                   reply
                   )
                   but
                   I
                   scorn
                   to
                   swear
                   falsly
                   ;
                   and
                   what
                   
                   know
                   to
                   be
                   true
                   ,
                   why
                   may
                   I
                   not
                   safely
                   swear
                   ?
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   This
                   weak
                   Objection
                   satisfies
                   many
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   (
                   so
                   easily
                   men
                   believe
                   what
                   they
                   desire
                   )
                   but
                   with
                   as
                   little
                   Reason
                   as
                   they
                   swear
                   with
                   need
                   :
                   For
                   that
                   not
                   False
                   alone
                   ,
                   but
                   Rash
                   and
                   Unnecessary
                   Oaths
                   are
                   forbidden
                   ,
                   appears
                   evidently
                   by
                   the
                   expression
                   made
                   use
                   of
                   in
                   the
                   Third
                   Commandment
                   ;
                   where
                   Perjury
                   is
                   not
                   alone
                   condemn'd
                   ,
                   but
                   it
                   is
                   flatly
                   written
                   ,
                   
                     Thou
                     shalt
                     not
                     take
                     the
                     name
                     of
                     the
                     Lord
                     thy
                     God
                     in
                     vain
                     .
                  
                   Which
                   if
                   needless
                   and
                   customary
                   Swearing
                   do
                   not
                   ,
                   't
                   will
                   be
                   a
                   strange
                   Riddle
                   to
                   me
                   what
                   the
                   Commandment
                   means
                   to
                   prohibit
                   .
                   But
                   that
                   this
                   is
                   the
                   genuine
                   Sense
                   and
                   Design
                   of
                   those
                   words
                   ,
                   is
                   clear'd
                   by
                   these
                   express
                   ones
                   of
                   
                   our
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   (
                   cited
                   before
                   in
                   St.
                   Matthew's
                   Gospel
                   )
                   
                     Ye
                     have
                  
                   
                   
                     heard
                     that
                     it
                     hath
                     been
                     said
                     of
                     old
                     time
                     ,
                     thou
                     shalt
                     not
                     forswear
                     thy self
                     ,
                     but
                     shalt
                     perform
                     unto
                     the
                     Lord
                     thine
                     oaths
                     .
                     But
                     I
                     say
                     unto
                     you
                     ,
                     Swear
                     not
                     at
                     all
                     ,
                     neither
                     by
                     heaven
                     ,
                     for
                     it
                     is
                     God's
                     throne
                     ,
                     nor
                     by
                     the
                     earth
                     ,
                  
                   &c.
                   
                   And
                   to
                   this
                   sense
                   the
                   annex'd
                   affirmative
                   Precept
                   expounds
                   the
                   negative
                   Law
                   ;
                   the
                   word
                   Communication
                   in
                   the
                   former
                   shewing
                   the
                   Interdict
                   to
                   be
                   chiefly
                   meant
                   of
                   Oaths
                   employ'd
                   in
                   common
                   Discourse
                   and
                   Conversation
                   .
                   Nay
                   ,
                   God
                   himself
                   seems
                   manifestly
                   to
                   determine
                   all
                   the
                   Controversy
                   ,
                   by
                   that
                   clear
                   distinction
                   express'd
                   in
                   a
                   passage
                   of
                   Leviticus
                   ,
                   whose
                   words
                   run
                   thus
                   ,
                   
                     And
                     ye
                     shall
                     not
                     swear
                     by
                     my
                     name
                  
                   
                   
                     falsly
                     ;
                     neither
                     shalt
                     thou
                     prophane
                     the
                     name
                     of
                     thy
                     God
                     :
                     I
                     am
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   And
                   certainly
                   if
                   we
                   must
                   answer
                   
                   at
                   the
                   Last
                   Day
                   ,
                   for
                   every
                   
                     Idle
                     Word
                  
                   ,
                   how
                   much
                   more
                   will
                   that
                   Account
                   be
                   exacted
                   of
                   us
                   for
                   every
                   Idle
                   Oath
                   ?
                
                 
                   The
                   Jews
                   at
                   this
                   day
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   I
                   learn'd
                   whilst
                   I
                   lately
                   convers'd
                   with
                   them
                   at
                   Amsterdam
                   )
                   have
                   so
                   profound
                   a
                   Reverence
                   for
                   that
                   great
                   Name
                   of
                   Jehovah
                   (
                   commonly
                   called
                   
                     Nomen
                     Tetragrammaton
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   Ineffable
                   ,
                   so
                   frequently
                   recorded
                   in
                   the
                   Scriptures
                   )
                   that
                   they
                   hold
                   it
                   unlawful
                   for
                   Mortal
                   Lips
                   so
                   much
                   as
                   to
                   pronounce
                   it
                   :
                   But
                   tho
                   I
                   esteem
                   this
                   fancy
                   suitable
                   enough
                   to
                   the
                   rest
                   of
                   the
                   Extravagancies
                   of
                   their
                   Modern
                   Tenents
                   ,
                   yet
                   certainly
                   their
                   Superstition
                   will
                   condemn
                   our
                   Irreverence
                   .
                   I
                   remember
                   an
                   Expositor
                   observes
                   upon
                   the
                   6th
                   .
                   of
                   Deuteronomy
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   13th
                   .
                   verse
                   ,
                   That
                   the
                   word
                   there
                   which
                   signifies
                   
                   Swear
                   ,
                   is
                   put
                   in
                   the
                   Hebrew
                   in
                   the
                   Passive
                   Sense
                   ,
                   to
                   imply
                   that
                   our
                   swearing
                   ought
                   to
                   be
                   a
                   kind
                   of
                   necessitated
                   act
                   .
                   And
                   a
                   Father
                   tells
                   us
                   of
                   one
                   Clinias
                   a
                   Pythagorean
                   ,
                   who
                   being
                   fin'd
                   in
                   a
                   great
                   Sum
                   of
                   Money
                   which
                   he
                   might
                   have
                   escaped
                   with
                   an
                   Oath
                   ,
                   chose
                   rather
                   to
                   pay
                   the
                   Penalty
                   impos'd
                   ,
                   than
                   not
                   to
                   pay
                   unto
                   God
                   the
                   Reverence
                   that
                   he
                   thought
                   due
                   unto
                   his
                   Name
                   .
                   Besides
                   ,
                   he
                   that
                   makes
                   no
                   Conscience
                   of
                   swearing
                   vainly
                   ,
                   will
                   soon
                   make
                   but
                   little
                   of
                   swearing
                   falsly
                   :
                   For
                   he
                   that
                   in
                   a
                   lower
                   degree
                   so
                   voluntarily
                   breaks
                   God's
                   Commandment
                   for
                   nothing
                   ,
                   may
                   soon
                   be
                   drawn
                   to
                   break
                   it
                   in
                   a
                   little
                   higher
                   degree
                   for
                   his
                   Profit
                   .
                
                 
                   And
                   tho
                   many
                   of
                   our
                   Gallants
                   (
                   doubtless
                   in
                   a
                   pure
                   Complement
                   to
                   the
                   Devil
                   )
                   are
                   pleased
                   to
                   condemn
                   
                   the
                   breach
                   of
                   this
                   Commandment
                   ,
                   only
                   when
                   the
                   sinner
                   wants
                   the
                   excuse
                   of
                   an
                   advantage
                   by
                   it
                   ;
                   yet
                   certainly
                   he
                   that
                   uses
                   to
                   toss
                   God's
                   Sacred
                   Name
                   in
                   his
                   mouth
                   without
                   any
                   Reverence
                   ,
                   and
                   employs
                   it
                   about
                   every
                   trifle
                   ,
                   will
                   easily
                   be
                   tempted
                   not
                   to
                   care
                   much
                   what
                   he
                   does
                   with
                   it
                   ,
                   nor
                   to
                   what
                   use
                   he
                   puts
                   it
                   .
                   And
                   therefore
                   holy
                   David
                   makes
                   it
                   a
                   symptom
                   of
                   Hatred
                   against
                   God
                   ,
                   when
                   in
                   a
                   Psalm
                   he
                   says
                   ,
                   Thine
                   
                   
                     enemies
                     take
                     thy
                     name
                     in
                     vain
                     .
                  
                   These
                   Considerations
                   may
                   clearly
                   teach
                   us
                   what
                   to
                   think
                   of
                   those
                   usual
                   forms
                   of
                   speech
                   ,
                   such
                   as
                   are
                   ,
                   
                     God
                     forgive
                     me
                     ,
                     God
                     help
                     you
                  
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   like
                   of
                   those
                   customary
                   Exclamations
                   ,
                   such
                   as
                   are
                   ,
                   
                     O
                     God!
                     O
                     Jesus
                  
                   !
                   and
                   those
                   others
                   that
                   are
                   usually
                   employ'd
                   to
                   proclaim
                   our
                   wonders
                   ,
                   or
                   supply
                   the
                   want
                   of
                   a
                   
                   Complement
                   ,
                   with
                   an
                   excess
                   of
                   Irreverence
                   :
                   For
                   tho
                   these
                   unregarded
                   Trespasses
                   be
                   in
                   most
                   persons
                   faults
                   venial
                   enough
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   effects
                   rather
                   of
                   Ignorance
                   and
                   Heedlesness
                   ,
                   than
                   of
                   Design
                   ;
                   yet
                   are
                   they
                   fashions
                   of
                   speaking
                   ,
                   which
                   besides
                   that
                   they
                   are
                   always
                   needless
                   ,
                   and
                   often
                   scandalous
                   ,
                   do
                   but
                   inure
                   our
                   mouths
                   to
                   a
                   very
                   sawcy
                   slighting
                   of
                   that
                   Awful
                   Name
                   ,
                   which
                   eternally
                   to
                   praise
                   ,
                   shall
                   be
                   in
                   Heaven
                   both
                   our
                   Employment
                   and
                   our
                   Happiness
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   V.
                   
                
                 
                   Nor
                   will
                   it
                   avail
                   the
                   Oathmonger
                   to
                   reply
                   ,
                   But
                   I
                   do
                   not
                   take
                   God's
                   Name
                   in
                   vain
                   ;
                   for
                   I
                   swear
                   not
                   by
                   God
                   ,
                   or
                   by
                   Christ
                   ,
                   or
                   other
                   Oaths
                   of
                   the
                   like
                   nature
                   ,
                   but
                   only
                   by
                   the
                   Creatures
                   ,
                   as
                   by
                   this
                   Light
                   ,
                   by
                   this
                   Bread
                   ,
                   by
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   
                   and
                   the
                   like
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   Creatures
                   name
                   I
                   hope
                   it
                   is
                   no
                   sin
                   to
                   take
                   in
                   vain
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   For
                   sure
                   if
                   we
                   will
                   allow
                   our
                   Saviour
                   to
                   be
                   the
                   best
                   Interpreter
                   of
                   his
                   Father's
                   Commandments
                   ,
                   he
                   will
                   teach
                   us
                   a
                   very
                   differing
                   Lesson
                   ,
                   in
                   those
                   (
                   already
                   
                   twice
                   alledged
                   )
                   words
                   of
                   St.
                   Matthew
                   ;
                   for
                   doubtless
                   he
                   that
                   forbids
                   to
                   swear
                   by
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   the
                   noblest
                   ,
                   or
                   by
                   Earth
                   ,
                   the
                   meanest
                   Ingredients
                   of
                   this
                   vast
                   Fabrick
                   of
                   the
                   World
                   ,
                   intended
                   that
                   Prohibition
                   should
                   reach
                   all
                   other
                   Creatures
                   ;
                   which
                   is
                   as
                   clear
                   as
                   light
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   ensuing
                   words
                   of
                   the
                   37th
                   .
                   verse
                   of
                   the
                   same
                   Chapter
                   ;
                   where
                   Christ's
                   express
                   Injunction
                   is
                   ,
                   
                     But
                     let
                     your
                     communication
                     be
                     yea
                     ,
                     yea
                     ;
                     nay
                     ,
                     nay
                     ;
                     for
                     whatsoever
                     is
                     more
                     than
                     these
                     ,
                     cometh
                     of
                     evil
                     .
                  
                
                 
                 
                   Besides
                   ,
                   either
                   by
                   the
                   thing
                   you
                   swear
                   by
                   ,
                   you
                   mean
                   God
                   ,
                   or
                   no
                   ;
                   if
                   the
                   former
                   ,
                   your
                   Guilt
                   is
                   evident
                   in
                   the
                   Breach
                   of
                   God's
                   Commandment
                   ;
                   and
                   if
                   the
                   latter
                   ,
                   remember
                   what
                   the
                   Spirit
                   says
                   in
                   
                     Jeremy
                     ,
                     How
                     shall
                     I
                     pardon
                     thee
                     for
                  
                   
                   
                     this
                     ?
                     Thy
                     children
                     have
                     forsaken
                     me
                     ,
                     and
                     sworn
                     by
                     them
                     that
                     are
                     no
                     gods
                     .
                  
                   And
                   in
                   effect
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   questionable
                   in
                   Divinity
                   ,
                   whether
                   be
                   the
                   greater
                   Sin
                   ,
                   to
                   swear
                   falsly
                   by
                   the
                   Creator
                   ,
                   or
                   with
                   truth
                   by
                   the
                   Creatures
                   ;
                   for
                   as
                   the
                   former
                   is
                   an
                   act
                   of
                   high
                   Impiety
                   ,
                   so
                   is
                   the
                   latter
                   of
                   Idolatry
                   :
                   Because
                   swearing
                   by
                   any
                   thing
                   being
                   a
                   part
                   of
                   Divine
                   
                   Worship
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   the
                   Passages
                   the
                   Margin
                   leads
                   to
                   ,
                   will
                   evidence
                   )
                   implies
                   in
                   us
                   an
                   acknowledgment
                   of
                   some
                   Divinity
                   in
                   the
                   thing
                   we
                   swear
                   by
                   ;
                   which
                   without
                   Omniscience
                   ,
                   is
                   uncapable
                   to
                   discern
                   
                   the
                   inward
                   Truth
                   or
                   Falshood
                   of
                   our
                   Oaths
                   ;
                   and
                   without
                   Omnipotence
                   ,
                   unable
                   to
                   reward
                   the
                   one
                   ,
                   or
                   punish
                   the
                   other
                   .
                   A
                   consideration
                   so
                   prevalent
                   with
                   many
                   of
                   the
                   Primitive
                   Martyrs
                   ,
                   that
                   they
                   chose
                   rather
                   to
                   expire
                   in
                   Torments
                   ,
                   than
                   swear
                   by
                   the
                   Genius
                   of
                   the
                   Emperor
                   .
                   Nor
                   is
                   an
                   Oath
                   only
                   an
                   Act
                   or
                   Species
                   of
                   Divine
                   Worship
                   ,
                   Isa
                   .
                   48.
                   1.
                   and
                   45.
                   23.
                   but
                   by
                   a
                   Synechdoche
                   is
                   taken
                   for
                   the
                   whole
                   Worship
                   that
                   men
                   pay
                   their
                   Maker
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   
                     63d
                     .
                     Psalm
                     ,
                     and
                     the
                     last
                     ,
                  
                   and
                   in
                   Jer.
                   4.
                   2.
                   
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   VI.
                   
                
                 
                   Ally'd
                   to
                   this
                   Plea
                   ,
                   is
                   theirs
                   that
                   will
                   not
                   flatly
                   swear
                   by
                   God
                   ,
                   but
                   by
                   certain
                   fictitious
                   terms
                   and
                   abbreviatures
                   ,
                   as
                   by
                   Dod
                   ,
                   &c.
                   and
                   by
                   the
                   like
                   disguizing
                   of
                   them
                   believe
                   to
                   justify
                   their
                   Oaths
                   ;
                   as
                   
                   if
                   they
                   cared
                   not
                   ,
                   so
                   (
                   like
                   Saul
                   to
                   
                   the
                   Witch
                   of
                   Endor
                   )
                   they
                   may
                   go
                   mask'd
                   to
                   Satan
                   .
                
                 
                   Ans
                   .
                   To
                   these
                   I
                   shall
                   only
                   answer
                   with
                   the
                   Apostle
                   ,
                   
                     Be
                     not
                     deceived
                  
                   ,
                   
                   
                     God
                     is
                     not
                     mocked
                  
                   ;
                   since
                   (
                   as
                   the
                   same
                   Apostle
                   elsewhere
                   says
                   )
                   He
                   
                   
                     taketh
                     the
                     wise
                     in
                     their
                     own
                     craftiness
                     .
                  
                   Well
                   may
                   this
                   childish
                   Evasion
                   cheat
                   our
                   own
                   Souls
                   ,
                   but
                   never
                   him
                   ,
                   who
                   judgeth
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   he
                   discerns
                   Intents
                   ;
                   and
                   regards
                   not
                   so
                   much
                   the
                   precise
                   signification
                   of
                   your
                   words
                   ,
                   as
                   what
                   they
                   are
                   meant
                   and
                   understood
                   for
                   ;
                   which
                   (
                   in
                   such
                   cases
                   )
                   is
                   usually
                   an
                   Oath
                   ,
                   since
                   the
                   same
                   credit
                   is
                   both
                   given
                   and
                   expected
                   upon
                   these
                   mongrel
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   that
                   is
                   paid
                   to
                   those
                   they
                   mean
                   ,
                   but
                   would
                   not
                   seem
                   .
                   These
                   people
                   bring
                   into
                   my
                   mind
                   the
                   Bloody
                   Persecutors
                   of
                   our
                   first
                   
                   Christians
                   ,
                   who
                   cloathed
                   them
                   in
                   the
                   skins
                   of
                   savage
                   beasts
                   ,
                   that
                   it
                   might
                   seem
                   no
                   crime
                   to
                   worry
                   them
                   ;
                   for
                   so
                   these
                   Hypocrites
                   disguise
                   God's
                   Name
                   ,
                   to
                   give
                   themselves
                   the
                   license
                   to
                   dishonour
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   'T
                   is
                   a
                   very
                   pretty
                   slight
                   of
                   these
                   Gentlemen
                   ,
                   to
                   cozen
                   the
                   Devil
                   to
                   their
                   own
                   advantage
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   find
                   out
                   By-ways
                   to
                   Damnation
                   ,
                   and
                   descend
                   to
                   Hell
                   by
                   a
                   pair
                   of
                   back-stairs
                   ;
                   and
                   methinks
                   argues
                   a
                   Cunning
                   much
                   about
                   the
                   size
                   of
                   his
                   ,
                   that
                   pleaded
                   he
                   was
                   innocent
                   of
                   falsifying
                   the
                   King's
                   Coin
                   ,
                   because
                   he
                   had
                   displac'd
                   some
                   Letters
                   in
                   the
                   Motto
                   .
                   But
                   to
                   Hell
                   ,
                   as
                   to
                   Towns
                   ,
                   these
                   singular
                   By-paths
                   (
                   tho
                   less
                   frequented
                   )
                   may
                   lead
                   directlier
                   than
                   the
                   broad
                   High-ways
                   :
                   And
                   to
                   these
                   Gentlemen
                   ,
                   and
                   those
                   that
                   rely
                   upon
                   the
                   last
                   
                   answer'd
                   Objection
                   ,
                   I
                   shall
                   at
                   present
                   only
                   recommend
                   the
                   serious
                   pondering
                   of
                   that
                   passage
                   of
                   the
                   Wise-man
                   in
                   the
                   
                     Proverbs
                     :
                     All
                     the
                  
                   
                   
                     ways
                     of
                     a
                     man
                     are
                     clean
                     in
                     his
                     own
                     eyes
                     ,
                     but
                     the
                     Lord
                     weigheth
                     the
                     spirits
                     .
                  
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   VII
                   .
                
                 
                   It
                   is
                   a
                   usual
                   Excuse
                   of
                   some
                   sort
                   of
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   That
                   they
                   swear
                   only
                   some
                   peculiar
                   Oath
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   one
                   kind
                   of
                   Oath
                   cannot
                   amount
                   to
                   such
                   a
                   Crime
                   as
                   the
                   more
                   scrupulous
                   pretend
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   An
                   Apology
                   equally
                   excusing
                   with
                   the
                   Thief
                   's
                   that
                   should
                   alledg
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   commits
                   all
                   his
                   Robberies
                   upon
                   the
                   same
                   Horse
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   Drunkard
                   ,
                   that
                   should
                   offer
                   to
                   justify
                   his
                   beastliness
                   ,
                   by
                   affirming
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   never
                   foxes
                   himself
                   ,
                   but
                   with
                   one
                   sort
                   of
                   
                   Wine
                   ,
                   or
                   in
                   such
                   a
                   peculiar
                   unalter'd
                   Bowl
                   .
                   Remember
                   what
                   an
                   Apostle
                   somewhere
                   says
                   of
                   sinning
                   ,
                   
                     Whosoever
                     shall
                     keep
                     the
                     whole
                  
                   
                   
                     law
                     ,
                     and
                     yet
                     offend
                     in
                     one
                     point
                     ,
                     he
                     is
                     guilty
                     of
                     all
                     .
                  
                   Just
                   as
                   a
                   man
                   that
                   wounds
                   a
                   Buck
                   in
                   the
                   Vitals
                   ,
                   is
                   truly
                   and
                   properly
                   said
                   to
                   have
                   kill'd
                   the
                   Deer
                   ,
                   altho
                   the
                   Shaft
                   reach'd
                   but
                   the
                   Head
                   or
                   Heart
                   ,
                   leaving
                   the
                   Legs
                   and
                   other
                   parts
                   untouch'd
                   .
                   Thus
                   in
                   a
                   Globe
                   ,
                   tho
                   there
                   be
                   numerous
                   parts
                   ,
                   yet
                   he
                   is
                   guilty
                   of
                   breaking
                   the
                   whole
                   Globe
                   ,
                   that
                   breaks
                   it
                   but
                   within
                   the
                   Arctick
                   Circle
                   ,
                   tho
                   near
                   the
                   Equator
                   it
                   have
                   escap'd
                   that
                   violence
                   ;
                   for
                   wheresoe'er
                   you
                   break
                   it
                   ,
                   you
                   break
                   the
                   Globe
                   ;
                   its
                   Essence
                   consisting
                   in
                   the
                   entireness
                   that
                   is
                   ruined
                   by
                   the
                   fraction
                   of
                   any
                   part
                   .
                   Sin
                   ,
                   because
                   natural
                   to
                   us
                   ,
                   is
                   so
                   readily
                   learnt
                   by
                   us
                   ,
                   
                   that
                   as
                   in
                   shooting
                   ,
                   by
                   practising
                   to
                   hit
                   Wrens
                   and
                   silly
                   Sparrows
                   ,
                   we
                   learn
                   the
                   art
                   of
                   killing
                   
                     Feldifares
                     ,
                     Thrushes
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   other
                   sort
                   of
                   Birds
                   we
                   never
                   aimed
                   at
                   ;
                   so
                   by
                   committing
                   some
                   small
                   sin
                   ,
                   we
                   learn
                   ,
                   tho
                   insensibly
                   (
                   and
                   perhaps
                   undesignedly
                   )
                   to
                   commit
                   other
                   and
                   grosser
                   kinds
                   of
                   sins
                   .
                
                 
                   One
                   act
                   may
                   make
                   us
                   do
                   dispositively
                   ,
                   what
                   Moses
                   is
                   recorded
                   to
                   have
                   done
                   literally
                   (
                   at
                   the
                   foot
                   of
                   
                   Mount
                   Sinai
                   )
                   break
                   all
                   the
                   Ten
                   Commandments
                   at
                   once
                   ;
                   for
                   single
                   disobediences
                   ,
                   if
                   presumptuous
                   ,
                   may
                   have
                   the
                   power
                   to
                   exile
                   that
                   Fear
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   whose
                   expulsion
                   comprises
                   in
                   it
                   the
                   whole
                   trade
                   of
                   sin
                   ,
                   which
                   (
                   Conscience
                   once
                   despised
                   )
                   is
                   known
                   without
                   being
                   learnt
                   .
                   If
                   a
                   reverence
                   to
                   the
                   Commandment
                   were
                   that
                   which
                   did
                   place
                   limits
                   to
                   the
                   variety
                   of
                   
                   your
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   it
                   would
                   not
                   permit
                   you
                   the
                   use
                   of
                   any
                   one
                   ,
                   but
                   lay
                   an
                   equal
                   restraint
                   in
                   relation
                   to
                   them
                   all
                   ;
                   since
                   the
                   sinfulness
                   of
                   swearing
                   does
                   consist
                   ,
                   not
                   in
                   the
                   diversity
                   of
                   our
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   their
                   forbiddenness
                   .
                   But
                   this
                   Excuse
                   it self
                   is
                   often
                   wanting
                   to
                   many
                   of
                   our
                   Gallants
                   ,
                   who
                   not
                   content
                   with
                   the
                   received
                   forms
                   of
                   dishonouring
                   their
                   Maker's
                   name
                   ,
                   do
                   as
                   much
                   affect
                   Novelty
                   in
                   their
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   as
                   in
                   the
                   Fashion
                   ;
                   and
                   if
                   they
                   have
                   a
                   gift
                   of
                   singularity
                   in
                   swearing
                   ,
                   are
                   as
                   proud
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   as
                   of
                   their
                   Mistress's
                   favour
                   :
                   Such
                   people
                   are
                   as
                   Nice
                   as
                   Impious
                   in
                   their
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   they
                   will
                   never
                   use
                   any
                   till
                   it
                   be
                   stale
                   and
                   threadbare
                   ,
                   but
                   (
                   ever
                   like
                   their
                   Cloaths
                   )
                   leave
                   them
                   off
                   before
                   they
                   have
                   been
                   worn
                   long
                   enough
                   to
                   grow
                   old
                   .
                   But
                   whilst
                   they
                   are
                   thus
                   industrious
                   
                   in
                   the
                   discovery
                   of
                   new
                   ways
                   of
                   provoking
                   their
                   Creator
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   much
                   to
                   be
                   feared
                   ,
                   that
                   they
                   do
                   but
                   (
                   if
                   I
                   may
                   so
                   speak
                   )
                   find
                   out
                   for
                   themselves
                   a
                   Northwest
                   Passage
                   to
                   Damnation
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   VIII
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   ,
                   continues
                   the
                   Swearer
                   ,
                   if
                   I
                   swear
                   not
                   ,
                   I
                   shall
                   not
                   be
                   believed
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   But
                   (
                   't
                   is
                   replied
                   again
                   )
                   Belief
                   is
                   better
                   wanted
                   ,
                   than
                   purchased
                   at
                   so
                   dear
                   a
                   rate
                   as
                   sin
                   ;
                   since
                   he
                   that
                   parts
                   with
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   makes
                   over
                   a
                   bad
                   bargain
                   ,
                   tho
                   
                   the
                   whole
                   world
                   were
                   the
                   accepted
                   Price
                   .
                   But
                   alas
                   !
                   unless
                   men
                   will
                   construe
                   their
                   disobediences
                   for
                   arguments
                   of
                   your
                   obsequiousness
                   ,
                   how
                   unlikely
                   is
                   it
                   ,
                   that
                   (
                   by
                   believing
                   you
                   speak
                   truth
                   ,
                   because
                   
                   you
                   use
                   to
                   swear
                   you
                   do
                   not
                   lye
                   )
                   they
                   should
                   take
                   your
                   readiness
                   to
                   transgress
                   one
                   of
                   God's
                   Commands
                   ,
                   for
                   a
                   proof
                   that
                   you
                   dare
                   not
                   break
                   another
                   .
                
                 
                   How
                   ridiculous
                   would
                   men
                   esteem
                   that
                   Merchant
                   ,
                   that
                   should
                   be
                   confident
                   to
                   gain
                   Credit
                   amongst
                   Lenders
                   ,
                   by
                   giving
                   Bond
                   for
                   every
                   trivial
                   Sum
                   ,
                   for
                   which
                   others
                   are
                   trusted
                   upon
                   their
                   bare
                   word
                   ?
                   For
                   in
                   Oaths
                   (
                   as
                   in
                   most
                   other
                   things
                   )
                   too
                   constant
                   a
                   frequency
                   depreciates
                   that
                   authority
                   which
                   their
                   rareness
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   nature
                   gives
                   them
                   :
                   That
                   not
                   being
                   held
                   a
                   sufficient
                   Security
                   for
                   the
                   belief
                   of
                   a
                   doubted
                   or
                   important
                   truth
                   ,
                   that
                   is
                   lavish'd
                   to
                   authorise
                   every
                   trivial
                   and
                   impertinent
                   assertion
                   ;
                   nor
                   thought
                   a
                   convincing
                   attestation
                   of
                   a
                   questioned
                   truth
                   ,
                   that
                   flows
                   rather
                   from
                   a
                   custom
                   of
                   
                   sinning
                   ,
                   than
                   design
                   of
                   confirming
                   .
                   No
                   ,
                   no
                   ;
                   he
                   needs
                   not
                   many
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   that
                   uses
                   few
                   ;
                   for
                   to
                   be
                   known
                   to
                   make
                   a
                   Conscience
                   of
                   an
                   Oath
                   ,
                   will
                   gain
                   your
                   words
                   more
                   credit
                   than
                   the
                   swearing
                   of
                   a
                   thousand
                   ;
                   it
                   being
                   a
                   visible
                   and
                   remarkable
                   Judgment
                   of
                   the
                   offended
                   .
                   Deity
                   upon
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   that
                   their
                   Number
                   discredits
                   that
                   Truth
                   it self
                   would
                   persuade
                   .
                
                 
                   Since
                   then
                   't
                   is
                   your
                   habitude
                   of
                   swearing
                   needlesly
                   ,
                   that
                   alone
                   engages
                   you
                   to
                   a
                   necessity
                   (
                   as
                   you
                   call
                   it
                   )
                   of
                   swearing
                   to
                   be
                   believed
                   ,
                   let
                   your
                   discontinuance
                   remove
                   that
                   obligation
                   Custom
                   only
                   has
                   contracted
                   ;
                   and
                   believe
                   me
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   most
                   persuading
                   asseveration
                   of
                   all
                   ,
                   is
                   so
                   to
                   live
                   as
                   not
                   to
                   need
                   to
                   swear
                   .
                   That
                   sociableness
                   which
                   you
                   alledge
                   to
                   extenuate
                   your
                   fault
                   ,
                   but
                   aggravates
                   
                   the
                   heinousness
                   of
                   the
                   crime
                   ;
                   by
                   confessing
                   Customary
                   Oaths
                   to
                   be
                   like
                   jealous
                   Tyrants
                   ,
                   whom
                   we
                   cannot
                   entertain
                   ,
                   without
                   giving
                   admittance
                   to
                   their
                   Retinue
                   and
                   their
                   Guard
                   ,
                   since
                   in
                   this
                   Vice
                   you
                   acknowledge
                   the
                   act
                   an
                   engagement
                   to
                   a
                   repetition
                   ;
                   and
                   
                   that
                   Oaths
                   which
                   are
                   the
                   ultimate
                   and
                   highest
                   Confirmations
                   of
                   Truth
                   in
                   their
                   nature
                   ,
                   must
                   yet
                   (
                   by
                   this
                   fine
                   Policy
                   )
                   themselves
                   derive
                   an
                   Authority
                   from
                   their
                   Multitude
                   ;
                   which
                   is
                   very
                   unnecessary
                   where
                   the
                   Assertor
                   is
                   believed
                   ,
                   and
                   usually
                   does
                   but
                   create
                   distrusts
                   where
                   the
                   Veracity
                   is
                   not
                   credited
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   IX
                   .
                
                 
                   Of
                   kin
                   to
                   this
                   is
                   their
                   Apology
                   who
                   plead
                   ,
                   That
                   if
                   they
                   do
                   not
                   swear
                   ,
                   their
                   words
                   shall
                   neither
                   
                   be
                   fear'd
                   nor
                   obey'd
                   by
                   their
                   very
                   Servants
                   ;
                   mens
                   ears
                   being
                   of
                   late
                   so
                   accustomed
                   unto
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   that
                   they
                   are
                   necessary
                   to
                   make
                   them
                   think
                   we
                   are
                   in
                   earnest
                   .
                   This
                   is
                   the
                   usual
                   Objection
                   of
                   the
                   French
                   ,
                   amongst
                   whom
                   this
                   Vice
                   is
                   grown
                   so
                   Epidemical
                   (
                   as
                   of
                   Blackness
                   amongst
                   the
                   Ethiopians
                   )
                   its
                   commonness
                   has
                   removed
                   all
                   the
                   deformities
                   they
                   would
                   otherwise
                   find
                   in
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   But
                   sure
                   there
                   are
                   ways
                   enough
                   to
                   make
                   your
                   servants
                   obey
                   your
                   Commands
                   ,
                   without
                   your
                   breaking
                   God's
                   .
                   Gravity
                   and
                   Severity
                   ,
                   not
                   using
                   them
                   to
                   hear
                   you
                   swear
                   ,
                   are
                   courses
                   likelier
                   far
                   than
                   Oaths
                   to
                   reach
                   that
                   end
                   :
                   Which
                   if
                   they
                   yet
                   should
                   fail
                   of
                   ,
                   they
                   would
                   turn
                   this
                   fancied
                   inconvenience
                   into
                   an
                   advantage
                   
                   of
                   necessitating
                   you
                   to
                   the
                   election
                   of
                   Religious
                   Servants
                   .
                   Certainly
                   ,
                   since
                   the
                   sole
                   universality
                   of
                   Vice
                   has
                   drawn
                   upon
                   us
                   this
                   suppos'd
                   necessity
                   ,
                   a
                   general
                   and
                   unanimous
                   desertion
                   of
                   it
                   must
                   needs
                   be
                   the
                   properest
                   expedient
                   for
                   its
                   removal
                   .
                   And
                   ,
                   believe
                   me
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   but
                   an
                   extravagant
                   way
                   of
                   teaching
                   our
                   Inferiors
                   to
                   pay
                   us
                   their
                   duties
                   ,
                   to
                   teach
                   them
                   to
                   disobey
                   the
                   Commands
                   of
                   their
                   Superiors
                   by
                   our
                   own
                   example
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   lead
                   them
                   the
                   way
                   to
                   despise
                   the
                   Injunctions
                   of
                   the
                   most
                   Ador'd
                   Powers
                   ,
                   to
                   whom
                   we
                   confess
                   to
                   owe
                   an
                   exquisite
                   Obedience
                   ,
                   upon
                   the
                   highest
                   Considerations
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   admitting
                   (
                   as
                   the
                   dispersedness
                   of
                   this
                   Vice
                   too
                   often
                   forces
                   us
                   )
                   the
                   supposal
                   of
                   this
                   Plea
                   to
                   be
                   true
                   ,
                   yet
                   will
                   the
                   Inference
                   
                   prove
                   consequent
                   ?
                   For
                   by
                   the
                   same
                   reason
                   the
                   Thief
                   might
                   justify
                   the
                   unreclaimedness
                   in
                   his
                   Robberies
                   ,
                   by
                   alledging
                   if
                   he
                   forsake
                   that
                   Trade
                   ,
                   his
                   Purse
                   must
                   soon
                   grow
                   empty
                   :
                   Or
                   the
                   
                     Buona
                     Roba
                  
                   excuse
                   her
                   Prostitutions
                   ,
                   by
                   saying
                   ,
                   That
                   unless
                   she
                   continue
                   her
                   former
                   Profession
                   of
                   Wantonness
                   ,
                   she
                   shall
                   no
                   more
                   be
                   presented
                   with
                   New
                   Gowns
                   ,
                   and
                   Linnen
                   richly
                   lac'd
                   ,
                   nor
                   be
                   able
                   any
                   longer
                   to
                   maintain
                   her
                   wonted
                   Riots
                   ;
                   her
                   Conversion
                   (
                   by
                   forbidding
                   her
                   to
                   be
                   the
                   Cherisher
                   of
                   her
                   Gallants
                   loose
                   Excesses
                   )
                   depriving
                   her
                   of
                   the
                   only
                   fewel
                   of
                   her
                   Bravery
                   .
                   Upon
                   how
                   few
                   could
                   we
                   with
                   justice
                   press
                   Religious
                   Duties
                   ,
                   if
                   such
                   petty
                   Inconveniences
                   attending
                   their
                   performance
                   ,
                   were
                   a
                   warrantable
                   dispensation
                   or
                   disengagement
                   from
                   it
                   ?
                   Surely
                   he
                   
                   that
                   requires
                   that
                   we
                   should
                   pull
                   
                   
                     out
                     our
                     right
                     eyes
                     ,
                     and
                     cut
                     off
                     our
                     right
                     hands
                     ,
                  
                   if
                   they
                   oppose
                   our
                   entrance
                   in
                   at
                   the
                   streight
                   Gate
                   ,
                   will
                   scarce
                   give
                   them
                   admittance
                   ,
                   that
                   will
                   not
                   purchase
                   it
                   by
                   the
                   parting
                   with
                   such
                   trivial
                   Conveniences
                   .
                   It
                   is
                   much
                   less
                   unreasonable
                   that
                   you
                   should
                   be
                   neither
                   believed
                   nor
                   obeyed
                   with
                   readiness
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   God
                   should
                   either
                   not
                   be
                   believed
                   when
                   he
                   speaks
                   ,
                   or
                   not
                   obeyed
                   when
                   he
                   commands
                   .
                   For
                   take
                   this
                   for
                   a
                   Truth
                   ,
                   to
                   which
                   Oracles
                   are
                   Fables
                   ,
                   That
                   never
                   any
                   man
                   commits
                   a
                   sin
                   to
                   shun
                   an
                   inconvenience
                   ,
                   but
                   one
                   way
                   or
                   other
                   ,
                   soon
                   or
                   late
                   ,
                   he
                   plunges
                   himself
                   by
                   that
                   act
                   into
                   a
                   far
                   worse
                   inconveniency
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   he
                   would
                   decline
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                 
                   PLEA
                   X.
                   
                
                 
                   Others
                   there
                   are
                   that
                   use
                   to
                   represent
                   ,
                   That
                   they
                   swear
                   not
                   but
                   when
                   they
                   are
                   angry
                   ;
                   and
                   then
                   (
                   for
                   all
                   our
                   Clamours
                   and
                   Exaggerations
                   )
                   they
                   mean
                   no
                   harm
                   at
                   all
                   .
                
                 
                   A.
                   But
                   would
                   you
                   take
                   it
                   for
                   a
                   justification
                   of
                   your
                   Wife's
                   Adulteries
                   ,
                   if
                   she
                   should
                   tell
                   you
                   ,
                   That
                   she
                   never
                   prostitutes
                   her self
                   ,
                   but
                   when
                   her
                   Fits
                   of
                   Lust
                   tempt
                   her
                   to
                   give
                   that
                   satisfaction
                   to
                   her
                   appetite
                   ?
                   Besides
                   ,
                   this
                   is
                   but
                   to
                   excuse
                   one
                   fault
                   with
                   another
                   ;
                   and
                   with
                   no
                   greater
                   justice
                   ,
                   than
                   his
                   that
                   should
                   defend
                   a
                   Bastard's
                   Crimes
                   ,
                   by
                   alledging
                   that
                   his
                   Mother
                   was
                   a
                   Whore
                   ;
                   since
                   the
                   Nature
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   the
                   Duty
                   of
                   Virtue
                   being
                   the
                   Moderation
                   of
                   our
                   Passions
                   ,
                   
                   it
                   is
                   evident
                   that
                   their
                   excesses
                   degenerate
                   into
                   sins
                   ;
                   and
                   therefore
                   how
                   that
                   can
                   be
                   a
                   good
                   excuse
                   that
                   needs
                   one
                   ,
                   and
                   how
                   that
                   anger
                   which
                   in
                   it self
                   is
                   sinful
                   ,
                   can
                   impart
                   an
                   innocence
                   to
                   productions
                   in
                   their
                   own
                   nature
                   culpable
                   ,
                   let
                   those
                   that
                   are
                   concerned
                   determine
                   .
                
                 
                   For
                   my
                   part
                   ,
                   when
                   I
                   consider
                   the
                   Apostle's
                   Command
                   ,
                   
                     Be
                     ye
                  
                   
                   
                     angry
                     ,
                     and
                     sin
                     not
                  
                   ;
                   I
                   cannot
                   but
                   apprehend
                   ,
                   that
                   when
                   our
                   Passions
                   swell
                   into
                   excess
                   ,
                   they
                   are
                   indeed
                   contaminated
                   by
                   the
                   Guiltiness
                   of
                   their
                   Productions
                   ,
                   but
                   confer
                   not
                   upon
                   them
                   a
                   meritoriousness
                   which
                   themselves
                   want
                   .
                   But
                   why
                   ,
                   I
                   pray
                   ,
                   in
                   every
                   passionate
                   mood
                   ,
                   must
                   you
                   be
                   transported
                   to
                   commit
                   Sins
                   that
                   are
                   as
                   unprofitable
                   as
                   impious
                   ;
                   and
                   to
                   deserve
                   your
                   Crosses
                   ,
                   by
                   a
                   sawcy
                   Provocation
                   
                   of
                   your
                   God
                   ,
                   whom
                   you
                   then
                   endeavour
                   to
                   make
                   your
                   Enemy
                   ,
                   when
                   you
                   most
                   need
                   his
                   favour
                   to
                   protect
                   you
                   from
                   disquiets
                   ?
                   Why
                   must
                   your
                   Tongue
                   fly
                   in
                   your
                   Maker's
                   face
                   ,
                   and
                   vilify
                   his
                   Sacred
                   Name
                   ,
                   because
                   your
                   Dice
                   turn
                   up
                   Size-ace
                   rather
                   than
                   Quatre-trey
                   ?
                   For
                   either
                   he
                   is
                   the
                   Guider
                   of
                   those
                   seeming
                   Chances
                   ,
                   or
                   meddles
                   not
                   with
                   their
                   disposal
                   :
                   In
                   ,
                   this
                   last
                   case
                   you
                   are
                   palpably
                   injurious
                   ,
                   to
                   make
                   God
                   the
                   Object
                   of
                   your
                   Choler
                   ,
                   when
                   he
                   is
                   not
                   the
                   Cause
                   of
                   it
                   ;
                   and
                   in
                   the
                   former
                   case
                   your
                   folly
                   is
                   not
                   inferior
                   ,
                   instead
                   of
                   propitiating
                   ,
                   to
                   incense
                   that
                   Deity
                   ,
                   who
                   is
                   the
                   sole
                   Disposer
                   of
                   those
                   Fortunes
                   we
                   either
                   wish
                   or
                   fear
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   take
                   heed
                   he
                   give
                   you
                   not
                   too
                   much
                   pretence
                   to
                   be
                   so
                   ,
                   by
                   displeasing
                   you
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   discreet
                   Mothers
                   
                   whip
                   their
                   froward
                   Children
                   that
                   cry
                   without
                   cause
                   )
                   and
                   punish
                   in
                   his
                   anger
                   these
                   rash
                   and
                   culpable
                   expressions
                   of
                   yours
                   .
                   As
                   for
                   the
                   other
                   branch
                   of
                   the
                   excuse
                   ,
                   I
                   mean
                   the
                   harmlessness
                   of
                   your
                   intent
                   ;
                   to
                   that
                   I
                   must
                   reply
                   ,
                   That
                   our
                   Actions
                   may
                   as
                   well
                   offend
                   as
                   our
                   Intents
                   ,
                   if
                   they
                   be
                   subsequent
                   to
                   our
                   knowledge
                   of
                   God's
                   aversion
                   to
                   what
                   we
                   do
                   .
                   And
                   usually
                   men
                   take
                   it
                   for
                   a
                   sufficient
                   offence
                   ,
                   to
                   do
                   what
                   we
                   are
                   sure
                   will
                   disoblige
                   them
                   ,
                   tho
                   with
                   a
                   differing
                   design
                   .
                   Nor
                   do
                   we
                   think
                   our selves
                   less
                   injured
                   by
                   Robbers
                   when
                   they
                   strip
                   us
                   ,
                   because
                   they
                   offer
                   us
                   that
                   violence
                   ,
                   not
                   with
                   intent
                   to
                   anger
                   us
                   ,
                   but
                   only
                   to
                   make
                   a
                   Booty
                   of
                   our
                   Purses
                   .
                   'T
                   is
                   a
                   received
                   Maxim
                   in
                   Divinity
                   which
                   Moralists
                   prop
                   with
                   their
                   full
                   concurrence
                   ,
                   That
                   no
                   Goodness
                   
                   (
                   much
                   less
                   bare
                   Innocence
                   )
                   of
                   the
                   Intent
                   can
                   justify
                   a
                   formal
                   sinful
                   evil
                   .
                   If
                   then
                   the
                   committing
                   of
                   this
                   sin
                   against
                   the
                   knowledge
                   of
                   the
                   ill
                   you
                   act
                   ,
                   be
                   not
                   crime
                   enough
                   to
                   condemn
                   you
                   ,
                   you
                   must
                   not
                   be
                   deny'd
                   my
                   Absolution
                   .
                   But
                   withal
                   ,
                   I
                   must
                   acquit
                   most
                   sinners
                   in
                   the
                   world
                   upon
                   the
                   self-same
                   score
                   ;
                   and
                   believe
                   the
                   threatned
                   Flames
                   of
                   Hell
                   as
                   uninhabited
                   as
                   insupportable
                   ;
                   since
                   certainly
                   such
                   sinners
                   (
                   if
                   any
                   such
                   there
                   be
                   )
                   must
                   be
                   prodigious
                   no
                   less
                   for
                   their
                   unequal'd
                   rarity
                   ,
                   than
                   devilish
                   perverseness
                   ,
                   that
                   are
                   such
                   Monsters
                   as
                   to
                   offend
                   their
                   Maker
                   ,
                   merely
                   to
                   offend
                   him
                   .
                   For
                   in
                   Philosophy
                   our
                   Masters
                   teach
                   us
                   ,
                   That
                   Ill
                   under
                   that
                   notion
                   cannot
                   be
                   the
                   object
                   of
                   our
                   choice
                   ;
                   (
                   that
                   being
                   ever
                   a
                   real
                   ,
                   or
                   at
                   least
                   a
                   seeming
                   good
                   )
                   ;
                   
                   and
                   tho
                   in
                   our
                   misguided
                   elections
                   we
                   oftentimes
                   embrace
                   it
                   ,
                   yet
                   that
                   is
                   ever
                   under
                   a
                   contrary
                   notion
                   ,
                   and
                   rather
                   by
                   mistake
                   than
                   by
                   design
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   oh
                   !
                   how
                   industrious
                   are
                   sinners
                   to
                   deceive
                   themselves
                   ;
                   and
                   how
                   strangely
                   does
                   the
                   Devil
                   fascinate
                   and
                   blind
                   deluded
                   Mortals
                   ,
                   when
                   (
                   by
                   such
                   silly
                   and
                   impertinent
                   Excuses
                   )
                   he
                   persuades
                   them
                   rather
                   to
                   expose
                   their
                   judgments
                   to
                   a
                   certain
                   discredit
                   ,
                   than
                   let
                   their
                   Souls
                   be
                   ransom'd
                   from
                   an
                   Ignoble
                   Slavery
                   ,
                   into
                   a
                   Glorious
                   Freedom
                   ;
                   and
                   rather
                   suffer
                   their
                   Abilities
                   to
                   be
                   believed
                   weak
                   ,
                   than
                   permit
                   their
                   Lives
                   to
                   be
                   made
                   virtuous
                   .
                   Certainly
                   ,
                   such
                   people
                   would
                   make
                   me
                   as
                   much
                   astonish'd
                   as
                   themselves
                   are
                   faulty
                   ,
                   if
                   I
                   did
                   not
                   consider
                   this
                   gallant
                   property
                   ,
                   of
                   rather
                   making
                   
                   bad
                   Apologies
                   to
                   defend
                   their
                   Sins
                   ,
                   than
                   good
                   Resolutions
                   to
                   forsake
                   them
                   ,
                   as
                   intail'd
                   upon
                   them
                   by
                   a
                   kind
                   of
                   traduction
                   from
                   our
                   first
                   Parents
                   ,
                   who
                   hoped
                   with
                   Fig-leave
                   Aprons
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   faint
                   Shade
                   of
                   Trees
                   ,
                   to
                   hide
                   both
                   their
                   Nakedness
                   and
                   their
                   Disobedience
                   from
                   the
                   Omniscient
                   Eye
                   of
                   God
                   himself
                   .
                
                 
                   I
                   will
                   not
                   waste
                   Ink
                   upon
                   their
                   successless
                   and
                   impudent
                   defence
                   ,
                   that
                   make
                   their
                   Drunkenness
                   an
                   Apology
                   for
                   their
                   Swearing
                   ,
                   and
                   make
                   that
                   an
                   excuse
                   for
                   their
                   sin
                   ,
                   which
                   is
                   it self
                   a
                   sin
                   above
                   excuse
                   ;
                   but
                   with
                   as
                   little
                   justice
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   Keeper
                   of
                   the
                   Lions
                   in
                   the
                   Tower
                   could
                   excuse
                   any
                   particular
                   Tragedy
                   they
                   had
                   acted
                   ,
                   by
                   alledging
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   voluntarily
                   let
                   them
                   loose
                   .
                   But
                   since
                   the
                   Tempers
                   that
                   most
                   dispose
                   men
                   to
                   a
                   
                   flux
                   of
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   are
                   Drunkenness
                   and
                   Choler
                   ,
                   give
                   me
                   leave
                   by
                   the
                   by
                   ,
                   to
                   take
                   notice
                   of
                   the
                   chief
                   Midwives
                   that
                   are
                   usually
                   assistant
                   to
                   the
                   birth
                   of
                   Oaths
                   ;
                   and
                   to
                   observe
                   ,
                   That
                   as
                   the
                   Thunder
                   falls
                   not
                   ,
                   but
                   when
                   Heaven
                   is
                   over-cast
                   ,
                   so
                   we
                   are
                   pronest
                   to
                   swear
                   ,
                   when
                   the
                   Beastliness
                   of
                   our
                   Passions
                   hath
                   either
                   blinded
                   or
                   deposed
                   our
                   Reason
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   XI
                   .
                
                 
                   'T
                   is
                   confest
                   ,
                   you
                   may
                   alledge
                   ,
                   that
                   Swearing
                   is
                   a
                   most
                   heinous
                   Sin
                   ,
                   but
                   I
                   do
                   never
                   swear
                   my self
                   ,
                   but
                   only
                   to
                   repeat
                   those
                   Oaths
                   of
                   another
                   (
                   which
                   are
                   therefore
                   his
                   Sins
                   not
                   mine
                   )
                   whose
                   omission
                   would
                   spoil
                   the
                   Jest
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   This
                   brings
                   into
                   my
                   mind
                   the
                   known
                   Story
                   of
                   that
                   
                   merry
                   Gentleman
                   ,
                   who
                   to
                   shew
                   the
                   sullen
                   Justice
                   how
                   the
                   Mastiff
                   he
                   had
                   kill'd
                   ,
                   had
                   first
                   assaulted
                   him
                   and
                   overthrown
                   him
                   ,
                   runs
                   full
                   butt
                   at
                   the
                   formal
                   Sir's
                   breast
                   ,
                   and
                   sends
                   both
                   him
                   and
                   his
                   Chair
                   to
                   salute
                   the
                   ground
                   :
                   For
                   when
                   a
                   Sin
                   cannot
                   be
                   imitated
                   ,
                   without
                   being
                   committed
                   ,
                   then
                   that
                   you
                   but
                   repeat
                   it
                   only
                   ,
                   is
                   as
                   sorry
                   an
                   excuse
                   ,
                   as
                   his
                   must
                   be
                   ,
                   who
                   to
                   illustrate
                   the
                   relation
                   of
                   a
                   Murder
                   ,
                   should
                   Pistol
                   the
                   first
                   man
                   he
                   meets
                   withal
                   .
                   Besides
                   ,
                   when
                   did
                   Transgression
                   by
                   President
                   turn
                   Innocence
                   ?
                   and
                   what
                   was
                   unlawful
                   in
                   the
                   Act
                   ,
                   become
                   legitimate
                   in
                   the
                   Repetition
                   ?
                   It
                   is
                   acknowledged
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   relating
                   of
                   another's
                   Oaths
                   may
                   sometimes
                   be
                   not
                   only
                   lawful
                   but
                   necessary
                   ;
                   but
                   then
                   it
                   must
                   be
                   either
                   to
                   discover
                   or
                   convert
                   the
                   Swearer
                   ;
                   or
                   else
                   
                   when
                   the
                   Oath
                   is
                   some
                   material
                   Circumstance
                   of
                   a
                   serious
                   Narrative
                   .
                   But
                   here
                   the
                   very
                   End
                   adds
                   guiltiness
                   to
                   the
                   Action
                   ,
                   it
                   being
                   only
                   to
                   make
                   another's
                   Vice
                   applauded
                   ,
                   and
                   render
                   his
                   Sin
                   both
                   infectious
                   and
                   immortal
                   .
                   But
                   how
                   will
                   you
                   justify
                   this
                   introducing
                   of
                   God's
                   Name
                   only
                   (
                   like
                   a
                   Fool
                   in
                   a
                   Play
                   )
                   to
                   make
                   the
                   Company
                   laugh
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   bring
                   it
                   into
                   contempt
                   ,
                   from
                   the
                   disobedience
                   to
                   the
                   Prohibition
                   of
                   taking
                   God's
                   Name
                   in
                   vain
                   ?
                   Unless
                   (
                   perhaps
                   )
                   the
                   consequents
                   of
                   your
                   sin
                   teach
                   you
                   a
                   construction
                   that
                   may
                   resolve
                   this
                   difficulty
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   Judgments
                   your
                   swearing
                   will
                   provoke
                   ,
                   shew
                   you
                   in
                   what
                   sense
                   you
                   have
                   taken
                   your
                   Maker's
                   Name
                   
                     in
                     vain
                  
                   .
                   Remember
                   how
                   sad
                   a
                   Reckoning
                   was
                   presented
                   to
                   Belshazzar
                   
                   by
                   the
                   Hand-writing
                   upon
                   
                   the
                   Wall
                   ,
                   for
                   having
                   turn'd
                   the
                   Vessels
                   of
                   the
                   Temple
                   into
                   Implements
                   and
                   Furtherers
                   of
                   Mirth
                   ,
                   at
                   his
                   sumptuous
                   Entertainment
                   ;
                   and
                   consider
                   betimes
                   ,
                   that
                   God
                   may
                   possibly
                   less
                   resent
                   the
                   making
                   merry
                   in
                   his
                   Holy
                   Cups
                   ,
                   than
                   the
                   making
                   merry
                   with
                   his
                   most
                   Holy
                   Name
                   .
                
                 
                   To
                   this
                   may
                   well
                   be
                   added
                   ,
                   That
                   in
                   this
                   sinning
                   at
                   the
                   second
                   hand
                   ,
                   the
                   Copied
                   Sin
                   is
                   held
                   more
                   criminal
                   in
                   the
                   Transcript
                   than
                   in
                   the
                   Original
                   ;
                   for
                   besides
                   that
                   this
                   Swearer
                   by
                   Imitation
                   acknowledges
                   himself
                   so
                   delighted
                   with
                   the
                   other's
                   sin
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   becomes
                   the
                   Devil's
                   Mountebank
                   (
                   or
                   his
                   Zany
                   )
                   to
                   have
                   it
                   admired
                   by
                   all
                   that
                   hear
                   him
                   (
                   and
                   we
                   know
                   that
                   Approbation
                   is
                   but
                   an
                   after-Consent
                   )
                   ;
                   besides
                   this
                   ,
                   I
                   say
                   ,
                   the
                   Leading
                   Swearer
                   has
                   the
                   excuse
                   of
                   an
                   immediate
                   Applause
                   ;
                   whereas
                   the
                   
                   Apish
                   Repeater
                   wrongs
                   and
                   discredits
                   his
                   own
                   Piety
                   ,
                   only
                   to
                   celebrate
                   and
                   proclaim
                   another's
                   Wit
                   ;
                   if
                   that
                   be
                   not
                   too
                   partially
                   term'd
                   Wit
                   ,
                   that
                   appears
                   such
                   only
                   to
                   our
                   Corruptions
                   :
                   Since
                   when
                   the
                   Oath
                   must
                   make
                   the
                   Jest
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   only
                   the
                   Devil
                   in
                   us
                   that
                   is
                   pleas'd
                   with
                   it
                   .
                   Handsome
                   Replies
                   are
                   good
                   without
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   and
                   dull
                   ones
                   will
                   not
                   be
                   made
                   good
                   by
                   them
                   :
                   To
                   the
                   one
                   they
                   are
                   needless
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   other
                   they
                   are
                   useless
                   ;
                   that
                   being
                   justly
                   enough
                   appliable
                   to
                   Oaths
                   in
                   Apothegms
                   ,
                   which
                   is
                   usually
                   believ'd
                   in
                   painting
                   of
                   Faces
                   ,
                   That
                   Beauties
                   need
                   it
                   not
                   ,
                   and
                   deformed
                   Women
                   look
                   but
                   ridiculously
                   for
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   Fools
                   (
                   says
                   the
                   Wise-man
                   )
                   
                     make
                     a
                     mock
                     of
                     sin
                  
                   ;
                   they
                   can
                   take
                   
                   pleasure
                   to
                   hear
                   him
                   affronted
                   ,
                   in
                   whose
                   Communion
                   consists
                   happiness
                   ;
                   
                   and
                   make
                   that
                   the
                   fewel
                   of
                   their
                   jollity
                   ,
                   that
                   should
                   be
                   the
                   object
                   of
                   their
                   detestation
                   .
                   For
                   my
                   part
                   I
                   do
                   not
                   like
                   this
                   doing
                   in
                   jest
                   ,
                   what
                   a
                   man
                   may
                   be
                   damn'd
                   for
                   in
                   earnest
                   ;
                   and
                   I
                   much
                   wonder
                   that
                   we
                   frail
                   Mortals
                   ,
                   whose
                   faults
                   are
                   more
                   numerous
                   than
                   the
                   very
                   minutes
                   we
                   have
                   liv'd
                   ,
                   should
                   think
                   our
                   own
                   sins
                   too
                   few
                   to
                   condemn
                   us
                   ,
                   without
                   adopting
                   those
                   of
                   others
                   too
                   !
                   and
                   to
                   our
                   crimes
                   (
                   too
                   numerous
                   already
                   )
                   adding
                   these
                   sins
                   of
                   Supererogation
                   !
                   But
                   to
                   resume
                   our
                   Theme
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   XII
                   .
                
                 
                   There
                   remains
                   yet
                   a
                   prejudice
                   to
                   remove
                   ,
                   which
                   though
                   very
                   rarely
                   the
                   pretence
                   of
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   is
                   very
                   often
                   a
                   prevalent
                   motive
                   to
                   swearing
                   ,
                   and
                   is
                   an
                   evil
                   by
                   so
                   much
                   the
                   more
                   obstructive
                   to
                   these
                   
                   sinners
                   reclaiming
                   ,
                   by
                   how
                   much
                   the
                   more
                   silently
                   it
                   opposes
                   it
                   .
                   This
                   is
                   a
                   foolish
                   fancy
                   that
                   many
                   Swearers
                   cherish
                   ,
                   that
                   their
                   Oaths
                   make
                   them
                   look'd
                   upon
                   with
                   a
                   kind
                   of
                   admiration
                   ,
                   as
                   Gentleman-like
                   sins
                   ;
                   and
                   witness
                   in
                   them
                   so
                   bold
                   and
                   daring
                   a
                   courage
                   ,
                   that
                   it
                   extends
                   to
                   a
                   fearlessness
                   of
                   God
                   himself
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   But
                   though
                   their
                   blushing
                   to
                   own
                   so
                   childish
                   a
                   pretence
                   ,
                   be
                   a
                   sufficient
                   disproval
                   of
                   it
                   ;
                   yet
                   since
                   ,
                   as
                   in
                   War
                   ,
                   so
                   in
                   disputes
                   ,
                   we
                   consider
                   not
                   so
                   much
                   the
                   personal
                   strength
                   of
                   the
                   adversary
                   we
                   attempt
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   rank
                   he
                   holds
                   among
                   those
                   that
                   employ
                   him
                   ;
                   't
                   will
                   not
                   be
                   amiss
                   to
                   remove
                   an
                   obstacle
                   ,
                   made
                   considerable
                   by
                   being
                   so
                   great
                   a
                   Vice's
                   motive
                   ,
                   and
                   so
                   great
                   a
                   motive
                   to
                   that
                   Vice
                   :
                   
                   Though
                   of
                   this
                   sort
                   of
                   Swearers
                   (
                   as
                   of
                   some
                   Savages
                   that
                   lurk
                   in
                   Rocks
                   and
                   Woods
                   )
                   it
                   be
                   much
                   more
                   difficult
                   to
                   obtain
                   a
                   Battel
                   ,
                   than
                   to
                   get
                   a
                   Victory
                   ;
                   and
                   to
                   draw
                   them
                   to
                   the
                   Field
                   ,
                   than
                   to
                   give
                   them
                   a
                   Defeat
                   .
                
                 
                   Doubtless
                   these
                   needy
                   Gentlemen
                   will
                   never
                   tempt
                   the
                   admiration
                   of
                   Wise
                   men
                   upon
                   any
                   other
                   score
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   of
                   the
                   greatness
                   of
                   their
                   folly
                   .
                   They
                   must
                   be
                   thought
                   strangely
                   necessitous
                   of
                   meriting
                   qualities
                   that
                   do
                   so
                   meanly
                   by
                   their
                   bad
                   ones
                   implore
                   and
                   court
                   men's
                   good
                   opinion
                   :
                   And
                   I
                   know
                   not
                   whether
                   be
                   the
                   greater
                   ,
                   their
                   impudence
                   to
                   expect
                   it
                   for
                   the
                   recompence
                   of
                   vice
                   ,
                   or
                   their
                   profuseness
                   that
                   should
                   squander
                   it
                   away
                   on
                   those
                   who
                   have
                   no
                   juster
                   title
                   to
                   our
                   esteem
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   by
                   which
                   the
                   miserablest
                   of
                   Beggars
                   pretend
                   
                   to
                   our
                   Charity
                   ,
                   the
                   multitude
                   of
                   their
                   imperfections
                   and
                   wants
                   .
                   Wise
                   men
                   will
                   make
                   these
                   poor
                   and
                   empty
                   projects
                   ,
                   the
                   objects
                   solely
                   of
                   their
                   scorn
                   and
                   laughter
                   ;
                   and
                   only
                   those
                   that
                   want
                   esteem
                   for
                   themselves
                   ,
                   will
                   reward
                   you
                   with
                   it
                   ;
                   and
                   for
                   such
                   peoples
                   praises
                   ,
                   they
                   will
                   but
                   discommend
                   you
                   :
                   So
                   that
                   that
                   empty
                   applause
                   you
                   are
                   ambitious
                   of
                   ,
                   will
                   either
                   be
                   impossible
                   to
                   be
                   purchas'd
                   ,
                   or
                   not
                   deserve
                   to
                   be
                   pursued
                   .
                   But
                   what
                   ,
                   your
                   Oaths
                   will
                   make
                   men
                   take
                   you
                   for
                   a
                   Gentleman
                   !
                   you
                   are
                   deceived
                   ,
                   there
                   is
                   too
                   little
                   Epicurism
                   and
                   Chargeableness
                   in
                   your
                   vice
                   ,
                   to
                   be
                   affected
                   to
                   that
                   Quality
                   .
                   'T
                   was
                   still
                   so
                   cheap
                   ,
                   and
                   now
                   grown
                   so
                   common
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   wonder
                   our
                   Grandees
                   ,
                   though
                   they
                   desist
                   not
                   for
                   the
                   sins
                   sake
                   ,
                   renounce
                   it
                   not
                   ,
                   at
                   least
                   ,
                   for
                   
                   the
                   Company
                   's
                   .
                   Must
                   then
                   Vices
                   be
                   arguments
                   of
                   the
                   possession
                   of
                   that
                   dignity
                   ,
                   that
                   Vertue
                   is
                   the
                   sole
                   true
                   means
                   to
                   purchase
                   ?
                   I
                   'm
                   sure
                   it
                   should
                   not
                   be
                   so
                   ;
                   but
                   grant
                   it
                   were
                   ,
                   Will
                   you
                   pretend
                   to
                   Nobility
                   ,
                   by
                   that
                   alone
                   which
                   is
                   not
                   the
                   property
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   vice
                   of
                   Gentlemen
                   ?
                   and
                   entitle
                   your self
                   to
                   that
                   illustrious
                   Quality
                   ,
                   by
                   that
                   which
                   ,
                   in
                   God's
                   Eye
                   ,
                   makes
                   them
                   unworthy
                   (
                   if
                   not
                   divests
                   them
                   )
                   of
                   it
                   ?
                   At
                   that
                   rate
                   your
                   pretensions
                   would
                   parallel
                   his
                   mirth
                   ,
                   who
                   boasted
                   a
                   descent
                   from
                   the
                   first
                   Caesars
                   ,
                   barely
                   upon
                   his
                   being
                   (
                   like
                   most
                   of
                   them
                   )
                   almost
                   deformedly
                   Hawk
                   Nos'd
                   ;
                   deriving
                   his
                   interest
                   in
                   their
                   blood
                   ,
                   only
                   from
                   his
                   sympathy
                   with
                   their
                   defects
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   For
                   my
                   part
                   ,
                   I
                   must
                   confess
                   ,
                   I
                   am
                   not
                   ambitious
                   of
                   those
                   badges
                   of
                   Gentility
                   ,
                   that
                   Christianity
                   delivers
                   for
                   the
                   symptoms
                   of
                   Reprobation
                   :
                   Nor
                   do
                   I
                   find
                   men
                   desirous
                   of
                   the
                   Gout
                   ,
                   though
                   the
                   Proverb
                   have
                   appropriated
                   that
                   disease
                   to
                   Rich
                   men
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   then
                   (
                   you
                   think
                   )
                   your
                   courage
                   will
                   be
                   unquestionable
                   :
                   And
                   indeed
                   it
                   may
                   seem
                   that
                   you
                   want
                   not
                   probability
                   to
                   prop
                   up
                   your
                   hopes
                   ,
                   since
                   you
                   desperately
                   hazard
                   the
                   incurring
                   of
                   Immortal
                   Torments
                   ,
                   for
                   that
                   ,
                   for
                   which
                   no
                   Wise
                   man
                   would
                   venture
                   the
                   stretching
                   of
                   his
                   little
                   Finger
                   .
                   But
                   since
                   the
                   kindred
                   betwixt
                   vertues
                   is
                   not
                   so
                   remote
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   want
                   of
                   any
                   one
                   should
                   conclude
                   the
                   possession
                   of
                   any
                   other
                   ,
                   and
                   your
                   impiety
                   convince
                   us
                   of
                   your
                   courage
                   ;
                   Experience
                   teaches
                   us
                   ,
                   That
                   
                   no
                   men
                   more
                   fear
                   what
                   they
                   should
                   contemn
                   ,
                   than
                   those
                   that
                   contemn
                   most
                   what
                   they
                   should
                   fear
                   .
                   And
                   Martyrs
                   have
                   embrac'd
                   those
                   Flames
                   with
                   joy
                   ,
                   that
                   impious
                   persons
                   durst
                   not
                   so
                   much
                   as
                   think
                   of
                   without
                   horror
                   .
                
                 
                   That
                   boldness
                   that
                   men
                   personate
                   against
                   their
                   Maker
                   (
                   were
                   it
                   real
                   )
                   would
                   not
                   be
                   the
                   effect
                   of
                   their
                   resolution
                   ,
                   but
                   either
                   of
                   their
                   inconsiderateness
                   ,
                   or
                   their
                   unbelief
                   .
                   
                     The
                     wicked
                     flee
                  
                   (
                   says
                   Solomon
                   )
                   
                   
                     when
                     no
                     man
                     pursueth
                     ;
                     but
                     the
                     righteous
                     are
                     bold
                     as
                     a
                     Lyon.
                  
                   And
                   indeed
                   it
                   is
                   no
                   great
                   encouragement
                   to
                   despise
                   this
                   life
                   ,
                   to
                   want
                   either
                   hope
                   ,
                   or
                   at
                   least
                   confidence
                   of
                   a
                   better
                   .
                   Nor
                   will
                   all
                   men
                   so
                   easily
                   conclude
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   that
                   fears
                   not
                   to
                   venture
                   his
                   Soul
                   ,
                   dares
                   freely
                   venture
                   his
                   Body
                   .
                   For
                   since
                   it
                   is
                   not
                   the
                   essential
                   worth
                   of
                   things
                   ,
                   
                   but
                   the
                   proprietary's
                   value
                   of
                   them
                   ,
                   that
                   their
                   dearness
                   to
                   us
                   is
                   to
                   be
                   measured
                   by
                   :
                   That
                   standard
                   ,
                   and
                   most
                   mens
                   actions
                   ,
                   will
                   present
                   us
                   the
                   soul
                   and
                   body
                   in
                   a
                   very
                   inverted
                   order
                   of
                   precedency
                   ;
                   the
                   greater
                   part
                   of
                   men
                   living
                   for
                   the
                   Body
                   as
                   if
                   they
                   were
                   all
                   Body
                   ,
                   and
                   slighting
                   their
                   Souls
                   as
                   if
                   they
                   had
                   no
                   Souls
                   ,
                   or
                   had
                   them
                   but
                   to
                   lose
                   .
                   It
                   being
                   but
                   too
                   true
                   of
                   the
                   very
                   greatest
                   of
                   those
                   people
                   ,
                   that
                   in
                   themselves
                   as
                   in
                   their
                   stables
                   ,
                   the
                   Employment
                   of
                   the
                   Man
                   is
                   but
                   to
                   serve
                   the
                   Beast
                   .
                   And
                   truly
                   he
                   that
                   considers
                   that
                   the
                   neglect
                   of
                   the
                   Soul
                   proceeds
                   from
                   the
                   former
                   dotage
                   on
                   the
                   Body
                   ,
                   will
                   think
                   that
                   a
                   very
                   unlikely
                   consequence
                   ,
                   that
                   infers
                   a
                   readiness
                   to
                   hazard
                   the
                   latter
                   ,
                   from
                   the
                   carelessness
                   of
                   what
                   becomes
                   of
                   the
                   former
                   .
                   He
                   that
                   
                   shakes
                   off
                   the
                   emboldening
                   Fear
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   betrays
                   himself
                   to
                   as
                   numerous
                   apprehensions
                   ,
                   as
                   did
                   the
                   weak-ey'd
                   Frantick
                   ,
                   who
                   to
                   be
                   secur'd
                   from
                   the
                   offensiveness
                   of
                   the
                   Sun
                   's
                   brighter
                   Beams
                   ,
                   by
                   pulling
                   out
                   his
                   eyes
                   ,
                   expos'd
                   himself
                   to
                   all
                   those
                   dangers
                   and
                   those
                   horrors
                   that
                   attend
                   on
                   blindness
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   PLEA
                   XIII
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   ,
                   say
                   some
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   if
                   I
                   renounce
                   this
                   Vice
                   ,
                   my
                   Repentance
                   will
                   procure
                   me
                   a
                   derision
                   I
                   shall
                   be
                   asham'd
                   of
                   .
                
                 
                   Ans
                   .
                   Must
                   then
                   that
                   Bashfulness
                   which
                   is
                   both
                   the
                   Livery
                   and
                   Guard
                   of
                   Virtue
                   ,
                   oppose
                   our
                   addresses
                   to
                   it
                   ?
                   Like
                   Ditches
                   when
                   the
                   Draw-bridge
                   is
                   cut
                   down
                   ;
                   which
                   tho
                   their
                   use
                   be
                   to
                   secure
                   the
                   Fortress
                   from
                   Enemies
                   ,
                   forbid
                   
                   access
                   to
                   them
                   that
                   once
                   have
                   salley'd
                   ,
                   when
                   they
                   are
                   meditating
                   a
                   Retreat
                   .
                   But
                   yours
                   is
                   an
                   excuse
                   as
                   receivable
                   as
                   the
                   Whores
                   ,
                   who
                   pretended
                   Bashfulness
                   for
                   their
                   turning
                   honest
                   .
                   I
                   was
                   much
                   taken
                   with
                   an
                   Italian
                   Gentleman
                   ,
                   who
                   spying
                   a
                   Friend
                   of
                   his
                   peep
                   out
                   his
                   head
                   from
                   behind
                   the
                   door
                   of
                   a
                   Bordello
                   ,
                   to
                   see
                   if
                   he
                   might
                   retire
                   undiscover'd
                   ;
                   
                     Come
                     forth
                     ,
                     come
                     forth
                  
                   ,
                   cries
                   he
                   ,
                   
                     you
                     need
                     not
                     be
                     ashamed
                     to
                     leave
                     that
                     sluttish
                     place
                     ;
                     but
                     you
                     should
                     have
                     been
                     asham'd
                     to
                     have
                     entred
                     it
                     .
                  
                
                 
                   Have
                   Innocence
                   and
                   Vice
                   then
                   so
                   chang'd
                   natures
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   that
                   did
                   not
                   blush
                   to
                   commit
                   sin
                   ,
                   should
                   blush
                   to
                   forsake
                   it
                   ?
                   And
                   he
                   that
                   hath
                   once
                   fram'd
                   mishapen
                   Characters
                   ,
                   be
                   ashamed
                   afterwards
                   to
                   write
                   a
                   Neater
                   Hand
                   ?
                   The
                   blushes
                   that
                   do
                   wait
                   on
                   our
                   
                   Repentance
                   ,
                   proceed
                   from
                   an
                   implicite
                   confession
                   it
                   imports
                   of
                   some
                   former
                   faultiness
                   ;
                   and
                   so
                   if
                   it
                   have
                   been
                   shameful
                   to
                   have
                   committed
                   a
                   fault
                   ,
                   how
                   much
                   more
                   should
                   we
                   be
                   ashamed
                   to
                   continue
                   ;
                   and
                   how
                   little
                   can
                   it
                   discredit
                   us
                   to
                   forsake
                   it
                   ?
                   And
                   truly
                   ,
                   he
                   that
                   thinks
                   a
                   fault
                   a
                   just
                   engagement
                   to
                   a
                   relapse
                   ,
                   lest
                   his
                   Conversion
                   should
                   make
                   him
                   laugh'd
                   at
                   ,
                   deserves
                   the
                   Censure
                   men
                   would
                   pass
                   upon
                   that
                   fool
                   ,
                   who
                   having
                   slipt
                   one
                   foot
                   into
                   a
                   Quagmire
                   ,
                   should
                   rather
                   proceed
                   to
                   be
                   entirely
                   bogg'd
                   ,
                   than
                   by
                   timely
                   stepping
                   back
                   ,
                   to
                   confess
                   a
                   mischance
                   that
                   may
                   provoke
                   mens
                   laughter
                   .
                   I
                   had
                   much
                   rather
                   men
                   should
                   laugh
                   at
                   my
                   retracting
                   ,
                   than
                   God
                   frown
                   upon
                   my
                   relapses
                   ;
                   and
                   care
                   not
                   so
                   much
                   who
                   smiles
                   at
                   any
                   action
                   that
                   makes
                   my
                   
                   Conscience
                   do
                   so
                   ,
                   (
                   not
                   by
                   way
                   of
                   derision
                   ,
                   but
                   of
                   applause
                   .
                   )
                
                 
                   How
                   contradicting
                   are
                   the
                   desires
                   of
                   mortals
                   !
                   We
                   are
                   angry
                   if
                   we
                   are
                   not
                   thought
                   virtuous
                   ,
                   and
                   yet
                   we
                   are
                   ashamed
                   to
                   appear
                   so
                   ,
                   and
                   think
                   it
                   a
                   just
                   ground
                   of
                   quarrel
                   ,
                   to
                   be
                   reported
                   the
                   contrary
                   of
                   what
                   we
                   blush
                   to
                   seem
                   !
                   Like
                   Ladies
                   ,
                   who
                   tho
                   they
                   long
                   to
                   live
                   till
                   they
                   grow
                   old
                   ,
                   fret
                   to
                   appear
                   what
                   they
                   desire
                   to
                   be
                   .
                   The
                   sinner
                   that
                   is
                   overmuch
                   concerned
                   in
                   bad
                   mens
                   opinions
                   of
                   good
                   mens
                   actions
                   ,
                   does
                   as
                   it
                   were
                   swear
                   Allegiance
                   to
                   the
                   Devil
                   ,
                   and
                   let
                   him
                   bore
                   his
                   Ear
                   
                   through
                   with
                   an
                   Awl
                   against
                   the
                   Door-Post
                   ,
                   sealing
                   an
                   engagement
                   to
                   perpetual
                   bondage
                   ;
                   for
                   (
                   as
                   the
                   same
                   men
                   that
                   crucified
                   our
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   derided
                   him
                   )
                   as
                   long
                   as
                   the
                   greatest
                   part
                   of
                   men
                   are
                   wicked
                   
                   enough
                   to
                   injure
                   Piety
                   ,
                   there
                   will
                   be
                   found
                   men
                   impudent
                   enough
                   to
                   mock
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   For
                   Sinners
                   knowing
                   that
                   in
                   the
                   world's
                   esteem
                   ,
                   the
                   extent
                   of
                   a
                   Deformity
                   makes
                   it
                   vanish
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   the
                   Generality
                   of
                   a
                   Crime
                   does
                   so
                   divest
                   it
                   of
                   that
                   name
                   ,
                   that
                   every
                   body's
                   sins
                   are
                   thought
                   no
                   body's
                   ,
                   are
                   by
                   the
                   cheapness
                   of
                   the
                   expedient
                   easily
                   sway'd
                   to
                   intrust
                   the
                   protection
                   of
                   their
                   Reputation
                   rather
                   to
                   common
                   Guilt
                   than
                   to
                   a
                   private
                   Virtue
                   ;
                   and
                   to
                   seek
                   an
                   innocence
                   rather
                   by
                   adding
                   to
                   the
                   number
                   of
                   the
                   wicked
                   ,
                   by
                   their
                   Calumnies
                   and
                   Derision
                   ,
                   than
                   by
                   increasing
                   the
                   number
                   of
                   the
                   godly
                   by
                   their
                   Conversion
                   .
                   Thus
                   being
                   brib'd
                   by
                   their
                   own
                   interests
                   to
                   discredit
                   such
                   actions
                   as
                   they
                   are
                   tied
                   to
                   ,
                   and
                   yet
                   will
                   not
                   practice
                   ;
                   't
                   is
                   no
                   wonder
                   if
                   by
                   
                   scoffingly
                   condemning
                   what
                   closely
                   condemns
                   them
                   (
                   tho
                   therein
                   their
                   Consciences
                   give
                   their
                   Tongues
                   the
                   lye
                   )
                   they
                   cunningly
                   endeavour
                   to
                   father
                   their
                   faults
                   ,
                   not
                   upon
                   their
                   want
                   of
                   Piety
                   ,
                   but
                   store
                   of
                   Wit
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   make
                   their
                   slavery
                   to
                   their
                   Passions
                   pass
                   for
                   the
                   superiority
                   of
                   their
                   Judgments
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   sure
                   he
                   is
                   very
                   unfit
                   to
                   be
                   Christ's
                   Soldier
                   ,
                   that
                   blushes
                   to
                   wear
                   his
                   Heavenly
                   Leader's
                   Colours
                   ,
                   and
                   wants
                   the
                   Courage
                   to
                   disobey
                   Example
                   .
                   He
                   that
                   will
                   take
                   the
                   Canaan
                   above
                   by
                   violence
                   ,
                   must
                   imitate
                   the
                   Conqueror
                   of
                   the
                   Canaan
                   below
                   ,
                   who
                   profest
                   to
                   the
                   world
                   ,
                   
                     If
                     it
                     seem
                     evil
                     unto
                     you
                     to
                  
                   
                   
                     serve
                     the
                     Lord
                     ,
                     chuse
                     you
                     this
                     day
                     whom
                     you
                     will
                     serve
                     ,
                     whether
                     the
                     gods
                     ,
                  
                   &c.
                   
                   
                     But
                     as
                     for
                     me
                     and
                     my
                     house
                     ,
                     we
                     will
                     serve
                     the
                     Lord.
                  
                   Our
                   Saviour
                   (
                   who
                   
                   for
                   us
                   
                     endured
                     the
                     cross
                     ,
                     despising
                     the
                     shame
                  
                   )
                   apportions
                   Felicity
                   to
                   the
                   being
                   reviled
                   for
                   his
                   sake
                   :
                   And
                   
                   congruously
                   his
                   Apostles
                   being
                   causlesly
                   misused
                   by
                   the
                   Chief-Priests
                   ,
                   
                     departed
                     from
                     the
                     presence
                     of
                  
                   
                   
                     the
                     council
                     ,
                     rejoicing
                     that
                     they
                     were
                     counted
                     worthy
                     to
                     endure
                     shame
                     for
                     his
                     name
                     .
                  
                   Derision
                   for
                   Virtue
                   is
                   a
                   grievance
                   as
                   old
                   as
                   Job
                   ;
                   who
                   in
                   his
                   time
                   complained
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     the
                     just
                  
                   
                   
                     and
                     upright
                     man
                     is
                     laughed
                     to
                     scorn
                     :
                  
                   And
                   't
                   was
                   even
                   Christ's
                   own
                   case
                   ;
                   of
                   whom
                   one
                   of
                   the
                   Evangelists
                   in
                   some
                   place
                   records
                   ,
                   That
                   
                     they
                     laughed
                     him
                     to
                     scorn
                  
                   .
                   But
                   we
                   may
                   
                   say
                   of
                   the
                   Resolute
                   Christian
                   what
                   the
                   Wise-man
                   says
                   of
                   his
                   Maker
                   ,
                   That
                   he
                   
                     scorneth
                     the
                     scorners
                  
                   :
                   And
                   
                   surely
                   ,
                   since
                   God
                   is
                   said
                   to
                   laugh
                   divers
                   Transgressors
                   of
                   his
                   Law
                   to
                   scorn
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   not
                   improbable
                   that
                   he
                   will
                   not
                   fail
                   to
                   laugh
                   them
                   to
                   
                   scorn
                   ,
                   that
                   for
                   his
                   Glory
                   scorn
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   laugh'd
                   at
                   :
                   Especially
                   ,
                   since
                   such
                   persons
                   are
                   deeply
                   accessary
                   to
                   their
                   own
                   and
                   Piety's
                   Disgrace
                   ,
                   by
                   a
                   sneakingness
                   which
                   so
                   implies
                   a
                   Guilt
                   ,
                   that
                   where
                   it
                   proceeds
                   not
                   from
                   a
                   fault
                   ,
                   it
                   is
                   one
                   :
                   And
                   themselves
                   highly
                   countenance
                   the
                   discountenancers
                   of
                   the
                   Profession
                   of
                   Religion
                   ,
                   by
                   being
                   asham'd
                   to
                   own
                   it
                   .
                   Whereas
                   the
                   loss
                   of
                   the
                   blind
                   world's
                   applause
                   should
                   prove
                   as
                   little
                   dissuasive
                   in
                   the
                   point
                   of
                   Conversion
                   ,
                   as
                   its
                   acquisition
                   should
                   be
                   a
                   motive
                   .
                   The
                   man
                   that
                   dares
                   be
                   good
                   without
                   a
                   President
                   ,
                   looks
                   like
                   the
                   noblest
                   President
                   of
                   good
                   :
                   Tho
                   to
                   say
                   truth
                   ,
                   as
                   Horses
                   are
                   not
                   much
                   priz'd
                   ,
                   only
                   for
                   not
                   refusing
                   to
                   set
                   forth
                   unless
                   others
                   lead
                   the
                   way
                   ,
                   and
                   for
                   not
                   leaving
                   the
                   track
                   they
                   once
                   are
                   in
                   ,
                   because
                   none
                   but
                   
                   resty
                   Horses
                   are
                   guilty
                   of
                   the
                   contrary
                   faults
                   ;
                   so
                   is
                   not
                   the
                   Gallantry
                   of
                   contemning
                   the
                   opinions
                   and
                   smiles
                   of
                   sinners
                   so
                   meritorious
                   as
                   it
                   is
                   thought
                   ;
                   since
                   none
                   but
                   Children
                   (
                   and
                   they
                   too
                   laugh'd
                   at
                   for
                   it
                   )
                   will
                   let
                   themselves
                   be
                   frighted
                   from
                   what
                   they
                   love
                   ,
                   by
                   others
                   making
                   mouths
                   and
                   faces
                   at
                   it
                   .
                   Could
                   singularity
                   in
                   goodness
                   consist
                   with
                   the
                   innocence
                   of
                   others
                   ,
                   a
                   Gallant
                   Spirit
                   would
                   look
                   upon
                   that
                   Solitude
                   rather
                   as
                   a
                   delight
                   than
                   a
                   determent
                   ;
                   since
                   't
                   is
                   not
                   a
                   greater
                   Affliction
                   to
                   his
                   Charity
                   ,
                   than
                   't
                   is
                   a
                   Complement
                   to
                   his
                   Generosity
                   ,
                   by
                   assuring
                   his
                   Devotion
                   of
                   the
                   highest
                   extraction
                   ,
                   and
                   restraining
                   the
                   acts
                   of
                   it
                   to
                   the
                   noblest
                   ends
                   .
                
                 
                   He
                   is
                   the
                   welcomest
                   to
                   Paradise
                   who
                   ventures
                   tho
                   alone
                   ,
                   and
                   comes
                   
                   unattended
                   thither
                   :
                   I
                   mean
                   ,
                   who
                   by
                   so
                   resolute
                   a
                   Bravery
                   ,
                   as
                   setting
                   forward
                   to
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   without
                   staying
                   for
                   Company
                   ,
                   gives
                   so
                   good
                   Example
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   arrives
                   there
                   with
                   much
                   difficulty
                   .
                   To
                   all
                   this
                   I
                   must
                   add
                   ,
                   That
                   when
                   once
                   't
                   is
                   noted
                   that
                   the
                   apprehension
                   of
                   being
                   derided
                   for
                   retracting
                   ,
                   is
                   the
                   sole
                   obstacle
                   that
                   stands
                   between
                   your
                   Reason
                   and
                   so
                   important
                   a
                   change
                   as
                   your
                   Conversion
                   ,
                   they
                   will
                   justly
                   esteem
                   your
                   parvanimity
                   so
                   great
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   deserve
                   derision
                   for
                   so
                   poorly
                   fearing
                   it
                   ;
                   and
                   so
                   you
                   will
                   fall
                   into
                   that
                   Contempt
                   you
                   would
                   decline
                   ,
                   by
                   your
                   very
                   shunning
                   of
                   it
                   .
                   If
                   then
                   Laughter
                   in
                   this
                   case
                   cannot
                   absolutely
                   on
                   both
                   sides
                   be
                   avoided
                   ,
                   sure
                   it
                   's
                   much
                   better
                   to
                   endure
                   that
                   of
                   Fools
                   at
                   your
                   Repentance
                   ,
                   than
                   that
                   of
                   Wise
                   Men
                   at
                   your
                   Timerousness
                   .
                   
                   Did
                   not
                   Martyrs
                   ,
                   thorough
                   Frowns
                   ,
                   Infamy
                   ,
                   and
                   Torments
                   ,
                   force
                   themselves
                   a
                   Passage
                   to
                   the
                   same
                   Heaven
                   you
                   aim
                   at
                   ,
                   and
                   will
                   you
                   with
                   Smiles
                   be
                   frighted
                   from
                   your
                   Happiness
                   ?
                   I
                   am
                   asham'd
                   on
                   't
                   ;
                   and
                   if
                   you
                   be
                   not
                   so
                   of
                   your self
                   ,
                   Christ
                   will
                   be
                   so
                   of
                   you
                   :
                   For
                   ,
                   Whosoever
                   (
                   says
                   our
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   who
                   
                     before
                     Pontius
                     Pilate
                  
                   
                   
                     witnessed
                     a
                     good
                     confession
                  
                   )
                   
                     shall
                     be
                     ashamed
                     of
                     me
                     and
                     of
                     my
                     words
                     ,
                     in
                     this
                     adulterous
                     and
                     sinful
                     generation
                     ,
                     of
                     him
                     also
                     shall
                     the
                     son
                     of
                     man
                     be
                     ashamed
                     when
                     he
                     cometh
                     in
                     the
                     glory
                     of
                     his
                     father
                     ,
                     with
                     the
                     holy
                     Angels
                     .
                  
                   And
                   truly
                   ,
                   for
                   my
                   part
                   ,
                   I
                   had
                   rather
                   be
                   laugh'd
                   at
                   by
                   men
                   on
                   earth
                   ,
                   than
                   howl
                   with
                   the
                   Devils
                   in
                   Hell.
                   
                
              
            
             
               
               
                 DIGRESSION
                 .
              
               
                 [
                 Nor
                 need
                 we
                 be
                 
                 (
                 as
                 even
                 the
                 best
                 New
                 Converts
                 often
                 are
                 )
                 so
                 scrupulous
                 to
                 own
                 Repentance
                 for
                 fear
                 of
                 injuring
                 Humility
                 ;
                 since
                 certainly
                 if
                 the
                 latter
                 be
                 a
                 Virtue
                 ,
                 she
                 cannot
                 enjoin
                 a
                 Vice
                 so
                 heinous
                 as
                 Ingratitude
                 ,
                 by
                 forbidding
                 us
                 even
                 such
                 a
                 Retribution
                 as
                 Acknowledgment
                 ;
                 for
                 sure
                 't
                 is
                 the
                 least
                 return
                 we
                 owe
                 to
                 God
                 for
                 his
                 Gifts
                 ,
                 to
                 confess
                 that
                 we
                 have
                 received
                 them
                 .
                 Who
                 would
                 not
                 tax
                 him
                 of
                 Unthankfulness
                 ,
                 that
                 being
                 loaded
                 with
                 a
                 Prince's
                 Presents
                 ,
                 should
                 disclaim
                 them
                 ,
                 for
                 fear
                 of
                 confessing
                 himself
                 to
                 
                 be
                 rich
                 .
                 Altho
                 a
                 Woman
                 prais'd
                 for
                 her
                 Complexion
                 ,
                 be
                 bound
                 in
                 Modesty
                 to
                 gainsay
                 those
                 Praises
                 ,
                 yet
                 if
                 the
                 Fire
                 have
                 given
                 her
                 a
                 good
                 Colour
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 thought
                 Pride
                 to
                 refrain
                 contradicting
                 ,
                 because
                 the
                 Effect
                 being
                 natural
                 to
                 the
                 Fire
                 ,
                 and
                 requiring
                 no
                 excellent
                 Predispositions
                 in
                 the
                 Object
                 ,
                 to
                 refer
                 those
                 ascriptions
                 to
                 their
                 Cause
                 ,
                 is
                 held
                 to
                 justify
                 the
                 not
                 rejecting
                 them
                 :
                 So
                 tho
                 there
                 be
                 an
                 eye
                 of
                 Vanity
                 in
                 the
                 Publication
                 of
                 those
                 Graces
                 ,
                 whose
                 near
                 resemblance
                 (
                 or
                 affinity
                 )
                 to
                 Virtues
                 merely
                 Moral
                 ,
                 leaves
                 their
                 Extraction
                 dubious
                 ;
                 yet
                 true
                 Repentance
                 is
                 a
                 Grace
                 so
                 purely
                 foreign
                 ,
                 that
                 being
                 acted
                 in
                 us
                 by
                 a
                 Principle
                 not
                 native
                 or
                 acquired
                 ,
                 but
                 infus'd
                 ,
                 to
                 own
                 the
                 having
                 received
                 it
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 boast
                 our
                 Merits
                 ,
                 but
                 acknowledge
                 our
                 
                 Debts
                 ;
                 the
                 vanity
                 being
                 rather
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 ,
                 who
                 by
                 pretending
                 to
                 disclaim
                 so
                 supernatural
                 a
                 Grace
                 ,
                 imply
                 that
                 they
                 esteem
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 their
                 own
                 Inheritance
                 or
                 Purchase
                 .
                 God's
                 Goodness
                 being
                 so
                 free
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 the
                 only
                 Title
                 to
                 its
                 self
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 motives
                 of
                 his
                 Favours
                 being
                 taken
                 from
                 himself
                 and
                 not
                 from
                 us
                 ,
                 his
                 Blessings
                 argue
                 indeed
                 the
                 Bounty
                 of
                 the
                 Benefactor
                 ,
                 but
                 infer
                 not
                 the
                 Merit
                 of
                 the
                 obliged
                 ;
                 since
                 the
                 Spirit
                 's
                 Irradiations
                 into
                 our
                 Souls
                 (
                 like
                 the
                 Sun
                 's
                 shining
                 upon
                 Shrubs
                 and
                 Hemlock
                 )
                 is
                 due
                 to
                 the
                 diffusiveness
                 of
                 his
                 Goodness
                 ,
                 not
                 the
                 attractiveness
                 of
                 ours
                 .
                 Moral
                 Virtues
                 may
                 perhaps
                 be
                 resembled
                 to
                 Great
                 Mens
                 Cloaths
                 ,
                 which
                 supply
                 those
                 that
                 see
                 them
                 ,
                 with
                 some
                 conjectures
                 of
                 the
                 Quality
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 wear
                 them
                 :
                 
                 But
                 inspired
                 Graces
                 (
                 such
                 as
                 Repentance
                 is
                 )
                 are
                 like
                 their
                 Liveries
                 ,
                 whose
                 Gawdiness
                 evinces
                 not
                 the
                 Footman's
                 Deserts
                 ,
                 but
                 his
                 Lord's
                 Splendidness
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 mens
                 esteem
                 entitles
                 the
                 Lacquey
                 to
                 nothing
                 but
                 a
                 good
                 Master
                 .
                 Those
                 better
                 Qualities
                 Blood
                 may
                 convey
                 ,
                 or
                 Industry
                 acquire
                 ,
                 like
                 Honours
                 conferr'd
                 by
                 Princes
                 ,
                 suppose
                 the
                 Party
                 deserving
                 ;
                 but
                 Heavenly
                 Donatives
                 are
                 like
                 Alms
                 ,
                 which
                 ever
                 presume
                 need
                 ;
                 and
                 where
                 they
                 are
                 more
                 liberally
                 bestow'd
                 ,
                 stronglier
                 conclude
                 the
                 greatness
                 of
                 the
                 Party's
                 Wants
                 than
                 Merits
                 .
              
               
                 Upon
                 such
                 Considerations
                 ,
                 possibly
                 ,
                 as
                 these
                 ,
                 the
                 great
                 Apostle
                 (
                 after
                 a
                 recital
                 of
                 his
                 first
                 unworthiness
                 )
                 scruples
                 not
                 to
                 write
                 of
                 himself
                 in
                 such
                 bold
                 erms
                 as
                 these
                 ;
                 
                   By
                   the
                   grace
                   of
                   God
                
                 
                 
                   I
                   am
                   what
                   I
                   am
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   grace
                   which
                
                 
                 
                   was
                   bestowed
                   on
                   me
                   was
                   not
                   in
                   vain
                   ;
                   but
                   I
                   laboured
                   more
                   abundantly
                   than
                   they
                   all
                   ,
                
                 (
                 meaning
                 the
                 College
                 of
                 the
                 Holy
                 Apostles
                 )
                 
                   yet
                   not
                   I
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   grace
                   of
                   God
                   which
                   was
                   with
                   me
                   .
                
                 (
                 I
                 might
                 produce
                 many
                 resembling
                 
                 Passages
                 of
                 Scripture
                 ,
                 had
                 I
                 not
                 handled
                 this
                 Subject
                 elsewhere
                 .
                 )
                 But
                 truly
                 ,
                 since
                 you
                 are
                 commanded
                 in
                 the
                 Gospel
                 to
                 let
                 
                 
                   your
                   light
                   so
                   shine
                   before
                   men
                   ,
                   that
                   they
                   may
                   see
                   your
                   good
                   works
                   ,
                   and
                   glorify
                   your
                   father
                   which
                   is
                   in
                   heaven
                
                 ;
                 you
                 ought
                 to
                 consider
                 whether
                 or
                 no
                 your
                 expressing
                 a
                 serious
                 dislike
                 of
                 others
                 present
                 ,
                 and
                 your
                 own
                 former
                 practice
                 (
                 in
                 point
                 of
                 Swearing
                 )
                 do
                 not
                 either
                 proclaim
                 your
                 Repentance
                 ,
                 or
                 infer
                 you
                 a
                 Hypocrite
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 your
                 Reason
                 (
                 as
                 questionless
                 it
                 will
                 )
                 lead
                 you
                 to
                 embrace
                 the
                 affirmative
                 ,
                 believe
                 
                 you
                 are
                 then
                 further
                 to
                 be
                 put
                 in
                 mind
                 ,
                 that
                 not
                 only
                 the
                 Confession
                 of
                 our
                 Virtues
                 is
                 justifiable
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 necessary
                 to
                 your
                 Justification
                 ,
                 but
                 (
                 tho
                 in
                 all
                 other
                 cases
                 our
                 actions
                 should
                 commend
                 us
                 ,
                 not
                 we
                 our selves
                 ,
                 Praise
                 being
                 a
                 Debt
                 which
                 he
                 that
                 pays
                 himself
                 ,
                 acquits
                 all
                 others
                 of
                 )
                 even
                 the
                 mention
                 of
                 our
                 own
                 Praises
                 is
                 allowable
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 are
                 produc'd
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 extol
                 ,
                 but
                 barely
                 to
                 vindicate
                 us
                 ,
                 and
                 finds
                 a
                 sufficient
                 defence
                 in
                 its
                 being
                 necessary
                 unto
                 ours
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 owning
                 of
                 Repentance
                 has
                 so
                 much
                 of
                 Penance
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 not
                 any
                 Grace
                 more
                 indispos'd
                 to
                 a
                 perversion
                 into
                 Vanity
                 ;
                 for
                 still
                 Repentance
                 (
                 like
                 the
                 Pardon
                 it
                 endeavours
                 to
                 procure
                 )
                 does
                 presuppose
                 a
                 Fault
                 ,
                 having
                 this
                 particular
                 unhappiness
                 
                 above
                 other
                 Virtues
                 ,
                 that
                 men
                 cannot
                 arrive
                 at
                 it
                 but
                 through
                 Vice.
                 And
                 therefore
                 in
                 the
                 return
                 to
                 the
                 disinterestedness
                 of
                 action
                 ,
                 Virtue
                 (
                 who
                 can
                 scarce
                 more
                 reward
                 our
                 love
                 to
                 her
                 ,
                 than
                 by
                 imparting
                 unto
                 us
                 a
                 higher
                 degree
                 of
                 it
                 )
                 commonly
                 recompenceth
                 so
                 unselfish
                 a
                 Duty
                 ,
                 by
                 making
                 it
                 a
                 powerful
                 engagement
                 to
                 perseverance
                 against
                 Relapses
                 ;
                 and
                 any
                 affront
                 or
                 loss
                 sustain'd
                 upon
                 that
                 score
                 ,
                 turns
                 to
                 a
                 Blessing
                 ,
                 by
                 producing
                 in
                 us
                 towards
                 Religion
                 ,
                 the
                 usual
                 property
                 of
                 Sufferers
                 for
                 a
                 Cause
                 ,
                 more
                 Zeal
                 and
                 Passion
                 for
                 the
                 Party
                 men
                 have
                 been
                 Sufferers
                 for
                 .
                 But
                 admit
                 you
                 could
                 not
                 own
                 Repentance
                 ,
                 without
                 being
                 fancied
                 vain
                 ,
                 must
                 the
                 fear
                 of
                 others
                 sins
                 continue
                 (
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 immediately
                 )
                 yours
                 ?
                 Will
                 you
                 rather
                 let
                 others
                 sin
                 by
                 
                 imitation
                 of
                 your
                 bad
                 actions
                 ,
                 than
                 in
                 their
                 misconstruction
                 of
                 your
                 good
                 ones
                 ?
                 And
                 will
                 you
                 quench
                 the
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 and
                 refrain
                 from
                 being
                 virtuous
                 ,
                 lest
                 men
                 should
                 think
                 you
                 know
                 your self
                 to
                 be
                 so
                 ?
                 Especially
                 since
                 our
                 Ignorance
                 in
                 good
                 Performances
                 ,
                 tho
                 it
                 criminate
                 the
                 act
                 ,
                 degrades
                 the
                 Agent
                 from
                 the
                 Title
                 of
                 Virtuous
                 :
                 Virtue
                 being
                 a
                 habitude
                 elective
                 ,
                 and
                 election
                 pre-requiring
                 knowledge
                 .
                 Which
                 reason
                 I
                 might
                 fortify
                 ,
                 by
                 asking
                 to
                 what
                 end
                 Preachers
                 should
                 light
                 us
                 so
                 many
                 Candles
                 ,
                 and
                 give
                 us
                 so
                 many
                 Touchstones
                 to
                 discover
                 and
                 examine
                 Graces
                 with
                 ,
                 if
                 our
                 being
                 conscious
                 to
                 our
                 own
                 Repentance
                 were
                 a
                 fault
                 that
                 deserved
                 it
                 ?
                 Undoubtedly
                 ,
                 that
                 were
                 (
                 and
                 that
                 were
                 strange
                 )
                 to
                 make
                 it
                 our
                 Duty
                 to
                 seek
                 ,
                 what
                 it
                 were
                 our
                 Sin
                 to
                 find
                 .
              
               
               
                 This
                 last
                 Reflection
                 I
                 must
                 recruit
                 ,
                 by
                 adding
                 ,
                 That
                 since
                 our
                 improvement
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 thankfulness
                 for
                 Grace
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 expected
                 proportionable
                 to
                 our
                 stock
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 the
                 Parable
                 of
                 the
                 Talents
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 Saviour's
                 declaring
                 ,
                 that
                 
                   where
                   much
                   is
                   given
                   ,
                   there
                   also
                   much
                   will
                   be
                   required
                   ,
                
                 evinces
                 )
                 we
                 cannot
                 without
                 the
                 knowledge
                 of
                 our
                 Receits
                 ,
                 know
                 what
                 our
                 Returns
                 must
                 be
                 (
                 of
                 Gratitude
                 and
                 Duty
                 )
                 to
                 be
                 answerable
                 to
                 them
                 .
                 The
                 utmost
                 that
                 Modesty
                 does
                 exact
                 of
                 you
                 ,
                 is
                 the
                 declining
                 of
                 those
                 Praises
                 your
                 actions
                 do
                 deserve
                 ,
                 not
                 the
                 refraining
                 actions
                 that
                 deserve
                 Praise
                 ,
                 for
                 fear
                 of
                 being
                 suspected
                 to
                 affect
                 it
                 .
                 But
                 truly
                 ,
                 Bashfulness
                 ,
                 tho
                 in
                 Maids
                 thought
                 a
                 Virtue
                 ,
                 in
                 Virtue
                 is
                 a
                 fault
                 ;
                 for
                 sure
                 it
                 is
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 worst
                 Complements
                 you
                 can
                 put
                 upon
                 the
                 
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 to
                 lock
                 him
                 up
                 in
                 a
                 dungeon
                 ,
                 for
                 shame
                 to
                 own
                 his
                 Visits
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 union
                 betwixt
                 Virtues
                 is
                 too
                 strict
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 assistances
                 so
                 reciprocal
                 ,
                 that
                 That
                 may
                 be
                 concluded
                 to
                 be
                 no
                 Virtue
                 ,
                 that
                 forbids
                 the
                 exercise
                 of
                 any
                 ,
                 and
                 does
                 not
                 rather
                 facilitate
                 than
                 obstruct
                 it
                 .
                 Certainly
                 't
                 is
                 better
                 be
                 accused
                 of
                 Vanity
                 ,
                 than
                 guilty
                 of
                 Relapses
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 some
                 Reputation
                 must
                 be
                 lost
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 fitter
                 that
                 you
                 should
                 be
                 dishonoured
                 by
                 other
                 mens
                 faults
                 ,
                 than
                 God
                 by
                 yours
                 ;
                 for
                 he
                 is
                 good
                 enough
                 to
                 recompence
                 his
                 servants
                 ,
                 not
                 only
                 for
                 being
                 good
                 ,
                 but
                 for
                 their
                 not
                 being
                 thought
                 so
                 for
                 his
                 sake
                 ;
                 and
                 to
                 make
                 one
                 day
                 their
                 Dishonour
                 (
                 not
                 only
                 the
                 Foil
                 ,
                 but
                 )
                 the
                 Purchase
                 of
                 their
                 Glory
                 .
                 I
                 have
                 spent
                 the
                 more
                 Ink
                 to
                 carry
                 away
                 
                 this
                 Obstruction
                 ,
                 because
                 I
                 have
                 observed
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Block
                 ,
                 at
                 which
                 the
                 best
                 natur'd
                 Novices
                 in
                 Piety
                 are
                 the
                 most
                 prone
                 to
                 stumble
                 ;
                 the
                 Devil
                 ,
                 our
                 subtle
                 Antagonist
                 ,
                 (
                 more
                 Serpent
                 far
                 than
                 that
                 he
                 tempted
                 our
                 First
                 Parents
                 in
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 insinuated
                 himself
                 into
                 our
                 credulous
                 Mother's
                 easy
                 Faith
                 ;
                 in
                 which
                 sly
                 winding
                 Creature
                 ,
                 he
                 elected
                 not
                 a
                 fitter
                 Instrument
                 than
                 Emblem
                 )
                 in
                 the
                 Scruple
                 we
                 have
                 laboured
                 to
                 remove
                 ,
                 leaving
                 his
                 own
                 to
                 assume
                 the
                 borrowed
                 habit
                 of
                 an
                 
                   Angel
                   of
                   Light
                
                 ;
                 in
                 that
                 Disguise
                 to
                 make
                 Virtue
                 clash
                 with
                 Grace
                 ,
                 and
                 pervert
                 Modesty
                 into
                 an
                 Obstacle
                 of
                 Reformation
                 .
                 Thus
                 when
                 Man
                 was
                 once
                 fallen
                 from
                 Paradise
                 ,
                 even
                 Cherubims
                 intercepted
                 his
                 return
                 unto
                 the
                 
                   Tree
                   of
                   Life
                
                 .
                 ]
                 
              
               
                 
                 
                   The
                   Last
                   Excuse
                   .
                
                 
                   Lastly
                   ,
                   (
                   replies
                   the
                   Swearer
                   )
                   All
                   this
                   I
                   confess
                   to
                   be
                   very
                   true
                   ;
                   but
                   what
                   would
                   you
                   have
                   me
                   to
                   do
                   ?
                   Long
                   time
                   and
                   custom
                   have
                   so
                   habituated
                   me
                   to
                   this
                   Vice
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   find
                   the
                   Impossibility
                   of
                   my
                   subduing
                   it
                   ,
                   as
                   great
                   as
                   my
                   willingness
                   to
                   leave
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   Answ
                   .
                   Well
                   ,
                   I
                   am
                   very
                   glad
                   we
                   have
                   brought
                   you
                   to
                   this
                   pass
                   :
                   'T
                   is
                   then
                   confessedly
                   a
                   sin
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   great
                   one
                   :
                   The
                   question
                   therefore
                   is
                   ,
                   Whether
                   it
                   be
                   fitter
                   for
                   God
                   to
                   make
                   it
                   no
                   sin
                   ,
                   or
                   you
                   not
                   to
                   make
                   it
                   yours
                   ;
                   and
                   for
                   him
                   to
                   be
                   reconcil'd
                   to
                   the
                   evil
                   of
                   its
                   nature
                   ,
                   or
                   for
                   you
                   to
                   desist
                   from
                   its
                   practice
                   ?
                   Your
                   Apology
                   is
                   just
                   as
                   excusing
                   as
                   the
                   Murderer's
                   would
                   be
                   ,
                   who
                   should
                   alledge
                   before
                   
                   his
                   Judge
                   ,
                   that
                   since
                   he
                   had
                   been
                   a
                   Murderer
                   from
                   his
                   Youth
                   ,
                   he
                   begs
                   to
                   be
                   excused
                   ;
                   but
                   truly
                   for
                   his
                   part
                   he
                   could
                   not
                   help
                   it
                   ,
                   and
                   he
                   must
                   needs
                   continue
                   the
                   Trade
                   of
                   cutting
                   of
                   Throats
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   so
                   long
                   practic'd
                   .
                   Is
                   not
                   yours
                   a
                   holy
                   consequence
                   ,
                   I
                   have
                   been
                   wicked
                   long
                   ,
                   therefore
                   I
                   will
                   continue
                   so
                   still
                   ?
                   Sure
                   't
                   is
                   the
                   Devil's
                   Logick
                   ,
                   from
                   those
                   sins
                   that
                   evidence
                   the
                   Justice
                   of
                   our
                   suddener
                   Repentance
                   ,
                   to
                   infer
                   the
                   legitimateness
                   of
                   our
                   Relapses
                   into
                   Crimes
                   .
                   The
                   Argument
                   would
                   have
                   as
                   much
                   Reason
                   ,
                   and
                   more
                   Honesty
                   ,
                   that
                   concludes
                   out
                   of
                   ,
                   I
                   have
                   been
                   wicked
                   but
                   too
                   long
                   already
                   ;
                   that
                   ,
                   Therefore
                   I
                   must
                   be
                   so
                   no
                   more
                   ;
                   and
                   from
                   our
                   former
                   want
                   of
                   Piety
                   ,
                   infers
                   there
                   needs
                   a
                   greater
                   measure
                   now
                   to
                   make
                   amends
                   for
                   past
                   Omissions
                   .
                   
                   You
                   would
                   judge
                   him
                   uncharitable
                   ,
                   that
                   should
                   tell
                   you
                   that
                   you
                   are
                   scarce
                   so
                   much
                   as
                   desirous
                   to
                   be
                   forgiven
                   :
                   But
                   (
                   to
                   shew
                   you
                   how
                   little
                   you
                   have
                   for
                   your
                   opinion
                   ,
                   besides
                   your
                   wishes
                   )
                   consider
                   who
                   would
                   think
                   that
                   Delinquent
                   very
                   ambitious
                   of
                   Pardon
                   ,
                   who
                   refuses
                   to
                   accept
                   it
                   ,
                   unless
                   he
                   may
                   have
                   license
                   to
                   thieve
                   again
                   ;
                   and
                   declines
                   to
                   purchase
                   it
                   by
                   an
                   engagement
                   against
                   former
                   Misdemeanors
                   .
                   Certainly
                   ,
                
                 
                   
                     
                       Weak
                       is
                       th'
                       Excuse
                       that
                       is
                       on
                       Custom
                       built
                    
                     ;
                  
                   
                     
                       For
                       th'
                       Vse
                       of
                       sinning
                       lessens
                       not
                       the
                       Guilt
                       .
                    
                  
                
                 
                   And
                   Custom
                   in
                   Evil
                   rather
                   increases
                   than
                   contracts
                   the
                   fault
                   ;
                   for
                   that
                   Custom
                   that
                   now
                   is
                   the
                   Parent
                   ,
                   was
                   first
                   the
                   Child
                   of
                   
                   Sin
                   ,
                   since
                   the
                   Evil
                   of
                   Custom
                   proceeds
                   from
                   the
                   Custom
                   of
                   Evil
                   ;
                   (
                   like
                   Ice
                   ,
                   which
                   tho
                   it
                   easily
                   thaw
                   into
                   Water
                   ,
                   was
                   first
                   produced
                   out
                   of
                   that
                   Element's
                   Congelation
                   .
                   )
                   And
                   therefore
                   our
                   equitable
                   and
                   impartial
                   Laws
                   ,
                   that
                   in
                   Theft
                   chastise
                   the
                   first
                   faults
                   only
                   with
                   a
                   Brand
                   upon
                   the
                   Hand
                   or
                   Shoulder
                   ,
                   punish
                   Relapses
                   with
                   deserved
                   Death
                   .
                
                 
                   Nor
                   are
                   the
                   Obstacles
                   that
                   oppose
                   your
                   cure
                   ,
                   so
                   stubborn
                   as
                   you
                   are
                   pleas'd
                   to
                   fancy
                   them
                   .
                   We
                   flatter
                   our selves
                   in
                   augmenting
                   the
                   Difficulty
                   of
                   our
                   Repentance
                   ,
                   that
                   we
                   may
                   lessen
                   the
                   Guilt
                   of
                   our
                   Neglects
                   .
                   The
                   truth
                   on
                   't
                   is
                   ,
                   our
                   baseness
                   adds
                   dimensions
                   to
                   these
                   difficulties
                   ,
                   because
                   we
                   are
                   really
                   loath
                   to
                   forsake
                   our
                   sins
                   ,
                   and
                   yet
                   would
                   fain
                   cheat
                   our
                   Consciences
                   into
                   a
                   belief
                   ,
                   that
                   our
                   refractoriness
                   
                   and
                   impenitency
                   do
                   proceed
                   ,
                   not
                   from
                   our
                   unwillingness
                   to
                   mend
                   ,
                   but
                   from
                   our
                   impotence
                   .
                   We
                   do
                   not
                   ,
                   in
                   this
                   case
                   ,
                   like
                   many
                   flourishing
                   Orators
                   ,
                   who
                   out
                   of
                   ostentation
                   use
                   to
                   create
                   Monsters
                   ,
                   afterwards
                   to
                   quell
                   them
                   ;
                   but
                   like
                   Children
                   in
                   the
                   dark
                   ,
                   who
                   fancy
                   first
                   horrid
                   mishapen
                   Bug-bears
                   ,
                   and
                   then
                   are
                   frighted
                   by
                   them
                   .
                
                 
                   And
                   yet
                   when
                   the
                   slight
                   Penalty
                   of
                   a
                   Shilling
                   is
                   laid
                   upon
                   each
                   Oath
                   ,
                   and
                   strictly
                   exacted
                   ,
                   we
                   may
                   easily
                   discern
                   a
                   visible
                   abatement
                   in
                   the
                   tale
                   of
                   your
                   sins
                   ,
                   as
                   long
                   as
                   you
                   are
                   true
                   to
                   your
                   engagement
                   ;
                   which
                   were
                   not
                   most
                   men
                   too
                   soon
                   weary
                   of
                   ,
                   would
                   (
                   probably
                   )
                   soon
                   make
                   them
                   weary
                   of
                   Offences
                   of
                   that
                   nature
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   'T
                   is
                   the
                   opinion
                   both
                   of
                   Pious
                   and
                   of
                   Judicious
                   Persons
                   ,
                   that
                   Swearing
                   is
                   therefore
                   ,
                   tho
                   not
                   the
                   most
                   unpardonable
                   ,
                   at
                   least
                   the
                   most
                   inexcusable
                   of
                   Vices
                   ;
                   because
                   that
                   in
                   it
                   men
                   have
                   most
                   power
                   to
                   refrain
                   :
                   And
                   in
                   effect
                   ,
                   this
                   sin
                   is
                   so
                   destitute
                   both
                   of
                   Temptations
                   ,
                   Advantages
                   ,
                   and
                   Apologies
                   ,
                   that
                   in
                   subduing
                   the
                   Custom
                   of
                   Swearing
                   ,
                   we
                   have
                   scarce
                   any
                   thing
                   but
                   the
                   Custom
                   to
                   subdue
                   .
                   Try
                   ;
                   't
                   is
                   less
                   easy
                   to
                   surmount
                   the
                   belief
                   of
                   the
                   difficulty
                   ,
                   than
                   the
                   difficulty
                   it self
                   ,
                   which
                   nothing
                   makes
                   so
                   much
                   invincible
                   ,
                   as
                   our
                   thinking
                   that
                   it
                   is
                   so
                   .
                
                 
                   Here
                   ,
                   a
                   willingness
                   to
                   hoise
                   Sail
                   (
                   to
                   quit
                   this
                   ruinous
                   Vice
                   )
                   serves
                   for
                   a
                   prosperous
                   Gale.
                   If
                   therefore
                   Christ
                   by
                   giving
                   you
                   a
                   desire
                   to
                   shake
                   off
                   the
                   clogging
                   
                   Yoke
                   of
                   Sin
                   ,
                   do
                   call
                   you
                   to
                   himself
                   ,
                   give
                   me
                   leave
                   to
                   say
                   to
                   you
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   people
                   did
                   to
                   the
                   blind
                   man
                   of
                   
                     Jericho
                     ,
                     Be
                     of
                     good
                     comfort
                     ,
                     rise
                     ,
                  
                   
                   
                     he
                     calleth
                     thee
                  
                   .
                   And
                   to
                   compleat
                   that
                   comfort
                   ,
                   I
                   must
                   tell
                   you
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   Operation
                   of
                   Saving
                   Grace
                   upon
                   the
                   Sicknesses
                   of
                   the
                   Soul
                   ,
                   is
                   like
                   that
                   of
                   the
                   Pool
                   of
                   Bethesda
                   upon
                   the
                   Infirmities
                   of
                   
                   the
                   Body
                   ,
                   since
                   without
                   all
                   regard
                   either
                   to
                   the
                   age
                   or
                   greatness
                   of
                   the
                   disease
                   ,
                   so
                   the
                   remedy
                   be
                   but
                   duly
                   applied
                   ,
                   the
                   Cure
                   is
                   infallible
                   .
                
                 
                   I
                   shall
                   never
                   despair
                   of
                   the
                   recovery
                   of
                   any
                   ,
                   that
                   is
                   but
                   heartily
                   desirous
                   to
                   be
                   reclaim'd
                   ;
                   since
                   that
                   which
                   God
                   was
                   pleas'd
                   to
                   make
                   me
                   lately
                   instrumental
                   to
                   work
                   upon
                   a
                   Gentleman
                   ,
                   whose
                   Nation
                   being
                   French
                   ,
                   his
                   Vice
                   little
                   younger
                   than
                   himself
                   ,
                   Humor
                   
                   extremely
                   Cholerick
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   apprehensions
                   of
                   the
                   Successlessness
                   of
                   his
                   Endeavours
                   very
                   great
                   ,
                   obliged
                   him
                   to
                   vanquish
                   Indispositions
                   numerous
                   and
                   great
                   enough
                   to
                   make
                   that
                   concurrence
                   very
                   frequent
                   in
                   one
                   single
                   person
                   ;
                   and
                   yet
                   before
                   one
                   Fortnight
                   was
                   effluxt
                   ,
                   he
                   obtain'd
                   so
                   visible
                   a
                   Conquest
                   over
                   this
                   stubborn
                   Vice
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   had
                   afterwards
                   only
                   as
                   many
                   relicks
                   of
                   it
                   to
                   suppress
                   ,
                   as
                   might
                   keep
                   him
                   from
                   growing
                   proud
                   of
                   so
                   sudden
                   a
                   Recovery
                   .
                
                 
                   So
                   easy
                   is
                   it
                   after
                   having
                   vanquish'd
                   the
                   Imagination
                   of
                   the
                   Difficulty
                   ,
                   to
                   overcome
                   the
                   Difficulty
                   it self
                   ;
                   for
                   in
                   matter
                   of
                   uneasy
                   Christian
                   Duties
                   ,
                   we
                   must
                   not
                   only
                   consider
                   the
                   disproportion
                   of
                   our
                   Weaknesses
                   to
                   the
                   Obstacles
                   we
                   must
                   surmount
                   ,
                   but
                   allow
                   the
                   disproportion
                   of
                   those
                   
                   Obstacles
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   Supernatural
                   Assistances
                   we
                   ought
                   to
                   hope
                   for
                   .
                   For
                   God
                   requires
                   nothing
                   at
                   our
                   hands
                   ,
                   which
                   his
                   own
                   Favour
                   (
                   zealously
                   implor'd
                   by
                   our
                   addresses
                   )
                   will
                   not
                   enable
                   us
                   to
                   execute
                   .
                   And
                   in
                   this
                   ,
                   the
                   Commands
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   differ
                   from
                   those
                   of
                   men
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   latter
                   but
                   lay
                   on
                   us
                   an
                   Obligation
                   ,
                   the
                   former
                   invest
                   us
                   with
                   a
                   Power
                   to
                   obey
                   them
                   .
                   As
                   when
                   our
                   Saviour
                   commanded
                   the
                   sick
                   man
                   (
                   in
                   the
                   Gospel
                   )
                   to
                   
                     take
                     up
                     his
                     bed
                     ,
                     and
                     walk
                     ,
                  
                   
                   at
                   the
                   same
                   instant
                   he
                   strengthens
                   his
                   Sinews
                   to
                   perform
                   what
                   he
                   enjoin'd
                   :
                   And
                   in
                   the
                   first
                   Creation
                   ,
                   that
                   powerful
                   Command
                   ,
                   
                     Let
                     there
                     be
                     light
                  
                   ,
                   gave
                   that
                   bright
                   
                   Creature
                   an
                   Existence
                   ,
                   to
                   make
                   it
                   capable
                   of
                   paying
                   him
                   an
                   Obedience
                   .
                   Let
                   not
                   then
                   Tasks
                   above
                   the
                   forces
                   of
                   our
                   Nature
                   ,
                   
                   disanimate
                   those
                   that
                   may
                   expect
                   assistances
                   from
                   his
                   Almightiness
                   ,
                   who
                   in
                   the
                   same
                   Leaves
                   where
                   he
                   commands
                   us
                   to
                   perform
                   more
                   than
                   we
                   are
                   able
                   ,
                   promises
                   to
                   do
                   in
                   us
                   what
                   he
                   commands
                   ;
                   since
                   difficulties
                   are
                   not
                   essential
                   properties
                   of
                   obstacles
                   ,
                   but
                   only
                   disproportions
                   to
                   the
                   powers
                   they
                   are
                   to
                   resist
                   .
                   But
                   admit
                   that
                   your
                   habitude
                   of
                   swearing
                   have
                   rendred
                   your
                   Conversion
                   as
                   difficult
                   as
                   you
                   pretend
                   ;
                   sure
                   then
                   ,
                   that
                   which
                   Custom
                   of
                   sinning
                   has
                   confessedly
                   made
                   so
                   uneasy
                   ,
                   the
                   continuance
                   of
                   that
                   Custom
                   is
                   very
                   unlikely
                   to
                   facilitate
                   :
                   As
                   probably
                   may
                   he
                   ,
                   whom
                   a
                   Surfeit
                   of
                   Melons
                   has
                   cast
                   into
                   a
                   Fever
                   ,
                   hope
                   for
                   a
                   Cure
                   by
                   eating
                   more
                   again
                   .
                   No
                   ,
                   no
                   ;
                   remember
                   that
                   bad
                   Customs
                   ,
                   like
                   Consumptions
                   ,
                   admit
                   of
                   Remedies
                   in
                   the
                   beginning
                   ,
                   
                   but
                   grow
                   still
                   more
                   incurable
                   by
                   delay
                   ;
                   and
                   Vices
                   ,
                   like
                   young
                   Trees
                   ,
                   the
                   longer
                   they
                   are
                   let
                   grow
                   ,
                   the
                   greater
                   difficulty
                   there
                   is
                   in
                   felling
                   of
                   them
                   ;
                   each
                   single
                   sin
                   being
                   not
                   bad
                   only
                   for
                   the
                   evil
                   of
                   the
                   act
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   propensity
                   it
                   gives
                   to
                   repetition
                   .
                
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 II.
                 
              
               
                 BUT
                 because
                 to
                 shew
                 a
                 sinner
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 his
                 Disease
                 ,
                 without
                 prescribing
                 him
                 the
                 Remedies
                 that
                 may
                 contribute
                 to
                 his
                 Recovery
                 ,
                 would
                 be
                 but
                 to
                 give
                 him
                 a
                 perfecter
                 knowledge
                 of
                 his
                 wretchedness
                 ,
                 and
                 prove
                 a
                 Truth
                 as
                 uncomfortable
                 to
                 him
                 as
                 an
                 
                   Ignis
                   fatuus
                
                 to
                 the
                 benighted
                 Traveller
                 that
                 has
                 lost
                 his
                 way
                 ,
                 whose
                 horrid
                 light
                 serves
                 not
                 to
                 guide
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 affright
                 the
                 Wanderer
                 :
                 I
                 think
                 it
                 not
                 amiss
                 in
                 the
                 ensuing
                 Directions
                 to
                 cast
                 the
                 Swearer
                 a
                 few
                 Cords
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 (
                 if
                 they
                 be
                 carefully
                 laid
                 hold
                 on
                 )
                 he
                 may
                 happily
                 be
                 drawn
                 out
                 of
                 that
                 deep
                 and
                 dangerous
                 Pit
                 of
                 Sin
                 ,
                 into
                 which
                 his
                 Negligence
                 or
                 his
                 
                 Corruptions
                 may
                 have
                 betray'd
                 him
                 .
                 Nor
                 let
                 the
                 courseness
                 of
                 these
                 home
                 spun
                 Lines
                 divert
                 you
                 from
                 making
                 them
                 Instruments
                 of
                 your
                 Rescue
                 ;
                 for
                 Silk
                 and
                 Satten
                 Ribbons
                 ,
                 you
                 know
                 ,
                 are
                 not
                 so
                 proper
                 to
                 draw
                 men
                 out
                 of
                 Pits
                 ,
                 as
                 homely
                 Hempen
                 Cords
                 :
                 Nor
                 did
                 the
                 imprison'd
                 Prophet
                 refuse
                 to
                 be
                 drawn
                 up
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 Dungeon
                 ,
                 tho
                 by
                 the
                 help
                 of
                 
                   old
                   cast
                
                 
                 
                   clouts
                   and
                   rags
                
                 :
                 Since
                 in
                 cases
                 of
                 this
                 nature
                 ,
                 't
                 is
                 not
                 the
                 Value
                 nor
                 the
                 Fineness
                 of
                 the
                 Instrument
                 ,
                 but
                 their
                 Fitness
                 for
                 our
                 Purposes
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 ought
                 chiefly
                 to
                 regard
                 .
                 But
                 to
                 begin
                 without
                 more
                 Circumstance
                 .
              
               
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   I.
                   
                
                 
                   My
                   first
                   Advice
                   shall
                   be
                   ,
                   Seriously
                   to
                   consider
                   ,
                   that
                   Swearing
                   is
                   a
                   Sin
                   ,
                   and
                   such
                   a
                   Sin
                   too
                   ,
                   as
                   not
                   
                   its
                   Nature
                   ,
                   but
                   its
                   Commoness
                   only
                   ,
                   makes
                   men
                   count
                   little
                   :
                   For
                   if
                   we
                   may
                   judge
                   of
                   the
                   greatness
                   of
                   the
                   Crime
                   ,
                   by
                   that
                   of
                   the
                   Vengeance
                   Heaven
                   inflicteth
                   on
                   it
                   ,
                   certainly
                   God
                   has
                   divers
                   times
                   so
                   severely
                   punish'd
                   obdurate
                   and
                   incorrigible
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   that
                   were
                   his
                   Judgments
                   on
                   them
                   as
                   divulg'd
                   as
                   they
                   have
                   been
                   terrible
                   ,
                   that
                   crying
                   Sin
                   would
                   (
                   possibly
                   )
                   be
                   almost
                   as
                   unfrequent
                   as
                   it
                   ought
                   to
                   be
                   .
                   Nor
                   will
                   the
                   seeming
                   harmlessness
                   of
                   that
                   act
                   do
                   more
                   than
                   make
                   a
                   parallel
                   betwixt
                   your
                   fate
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   fond
                   Wretches
                   (
                   mention'd
                   in
                   the
                   Book
                   of
                   Numbers
                   )
                   
                   that
                   provok'd
                   stoning
                   ,
                   for
                   gathering
                   a
                   few
                   sticks
                   on
                   the
                   Sabbath-day
                   .
                   For
                   tho
                   Almighty
                   God
                   (
                   whose
                   Will
                   is
                   the
                   exactest
                   Rule
                   of
                   Good
                   and
                   Ill
                   )
                   should
                   forbid
                   actions
                   otherwise
                   Innocent
                   ,
                   yet
                   
                   his
                   Prohibition
                   divests
                   them
                   from
                   that
                   property
                   :
                   And
                   (
                   as
                   the
                   preceding
                   Verses
                   of
                   that
                   Passage
                   alledg'd
                   of
                   Numbers
                   intimate
                   )
                   makes
                   you
                   liable
                   to
                   a
                   just
                   Punishment
                   ,
                   tho
                   not
                   for
                   the
                   act
                   ,
                   yet
                   for
                   the
                   disobedience
                   .
                   And
                   consonantly
                   we
                   find
                   ,
                   that
                   tho
                   the
                   killing
                   of
                   so
                   horrid
                   and
                   Parricidicial
                   a
                   Murderer
                   as
                   Cain
                   ,
                   might
                   seem
                   an
                   
                   Act
                   of
                   Justice
                   ,
                   yet
                   God
                   by
                   his
                   prohibition
                   having
                   render'd
                   it
                   a
                   sin
                   ,
                   annexes
                   a
                   Sevenfold
                   Vengeance
                   to
                   the
                   Breach
                   of
                   that
                   Command
                   .
                
                 
                   Nay
                   ,
                   tho
                   the
                   rebuilding
                   of
                   a
                   ruin'd
                   City
                   be
                   in
                   it self
                   not
                   only
                   innocent
                   ,
                   but
                   highly
                   conducing
                   to
                   the
                   publick
                   good
                   ;
                   yet
                   God
                   (
                   to
                   shew
                   the
                   Independency
                   of
                   his
                   Justice
                   )
                   having
                   forbidden
                   the
                   re-edification
                   
                   of
                   Jericho's
                   raz'd
                   Walls
                   ,
                   punish'd
                   the
                   Transgression
                   of
                   that
                   
                   Prophetick
                   Order
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   very
                   
                   Children
                   of
                   the
                   Transgressor
                   .
                   An
                   Example
                   of
                   Severity
                   very
                   observable
                   ,
                   being
                   not
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   know
                   of
                   ,
                   to
                   be
                   parallel'd
                   .
                   Consider
                   not
                   therefore
                   so
                   much
                   (
                   in
                   your
                   Swearing
                   )
                   the
                   little
                   harm
                   you
                   do
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   great
                   God
                   you
                   offend
                   .
                   False
                   Coinage
                   is
                   as
                   well
                   Felony
                   in
                   Farthings
                   ,
                   as
                   in
                   Half
                   Crowns
                   ,
                   or
                   Twenty-Shilling-Pieces
                   .
                   And
                   as
                   careful
                   Mothers
                   soundlier
                   whip
                   their
                   Children
                   for
                   eating
                   sowre
                   Crabs
                   ,
                   and
                   such
                   Green
                   Trash
                   ,
                   than
                   ripe
                   and
                   goodly
                   Fruit
                   ;
                   so
                   often
                   are
                   those
                   sins
                   most
                   severely
                   dealt
                   with
                   ,
                   which
                   bring
                   us
                   least
                   advantage
                   ;
                   nor
                   is
                   it
                   a
                   Prodigy
                   ,
                   to
                   see
                   men
                   get
                   most
                   stripes
                   for
                   those
                   offences
                   they
                   get
                   least
                   by
                   .
                
                 
                   It
                   is
                   an
                   easy
                   matter
                   in
                   trivial
                   things
                   to
                   transgress
                   heinously
                   .
                   What
                   Trifle
                   could
                   appear
                   slighter
                   than
                   the
                   eating
                   of
                   an
                   Apple
                   ?
                   Yet
                   
                   this
                   petty
                   seeming
                   Peccadillo
                   lost
                   Adam
                   Paradise
                   ,
                   and
                   us
                   a
                   Title
                   to
                   it
                   :
                   God's
                   Interdict
                   enabling
                   the
                   Core
                   of
                   that
                   Forbidden
                   Fruit
                   to
                   choak
                   his
                   Immortality
                   ,
                   and
                   his
                   Posterity's
                   hopes
                   of
                   it
                   upon
                   earth
                   .
                   But
                   I
                   purposely
                   decline
                   all
                   Instances
                   of
                   this
                   nature
                   ,
                   not
                   only
                   in
                   pursuance
                   of
                   my
                   intended
                   Brevity
                   ,
                   but
                   because
                   't
                   is
                   much
                   nobler
                   and
                   more
                   handsom
                   for
                   you
                   to
                   owe
                   your
                   Repentance
                   to
                   your
                   Reason
                   ,
                   than
                   to
                   your
                   Apprehension
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   II.
                   
                
                 
                   In
                   the
                   next
                   place
                   I
                   shall
                   prescribe
                   ,
                   A
                   Zealous
                   and
                   Incessant
                   Sollicitation
                   at
                   the
                   Throne
                   of
                   Grace
                   ,
                   for
                   Power
                   to
                   subdue
                   this
                   stubborn
                   Vice.
                   This
                   Second
                   Advice
                   St.
                   James
                   seems
                   to
                   suggest
                   to
                   
                   us
                   in
                   these
                   words
                   ,
                   
                     Resist
                     the
                     devil
                     ,
                     and
                     he
                     will
                     flee
                     from
                     you
                  
                   ;
                   and
                   he
                   immediately
                   
                   adds
                   these
                   ,
                   
                     Draw
                     nigh
                     unto
                     God
                     ,
                     and
                     he
                     will
                     draw
                     nigh
                     unto
                     you
                     .
                  
                   And
                   truly
                   men
                   presume
                   too
                   much
                   ,
                   when
                   they
                   imagine
                   those
                   treacherous
                   natural
                   Forces
                   of
                   their
                   own
                   ,
                   are
                   able
                   to
                   redeem
                   that
                   Spiritual
                   Liberty
                   they
                   were
                   unable
                   to
                   defend
                   ;
                   and
                   then
                   they
                   lose
                   their
                   best
                   advantages
                   ,
                   when
                   their
                   omissions
                   of
                   applying
                   themselves
                   to
                   their
                   Maker
                   ,
                   makes
                   them
                   neglect
                   Supplies
                   infallibly
                   victorious
                   ,
                   which
                   wait
                   but
                   the
                   imploring
                   ,
                   to
                   advance
                   to
                   their
                   rescue
                   .
                   Cease
                   not
                   then
                   with
                   Moses
                   to
                   lift
                   up
                   your
                   hands
                   to
                   Heaven
                   ,
                   till
                   you
                   
                   have
                   thereby
                   discomfited
                   and
                   destroy'd
                   these
                   spiritual
                   Amalekites
                   ,
                   your
                   Vices
                   :
                   And
                   believe
                   it
                   ,
                   Prayer
                   (
                   to
                   use
                   a
                   Term
                   of
                   Physick
                   )
                   is
                   a
                   Specifick
                   Remedy
                   against
                   this
                   Disease
                   ,
                   and
                   deserves
                   that
                   among
                   all
                   the
                   Weapons
                   proper
                   
                   for
                   this
                   Warfare
                   ,
                   you
                   should
                   say
                   that
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   that
                   David
                   said
                   of
                   huge
                   Goliah's
                   Sword
                   ,
                   
                     There
                     is
                     none
                     like
                  
                   
                   
                     that
                     ,
                     give
                     it
                     me
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   For
                   Prayer
                   perform'd
                   with
                   those
                   due
                   Rites
                   its
                   Object
                   requires
                   in
                   it
                   ,
                   gives
                   us
                   such
                   awful
                   sentiments
                   of
                   God's
                   Holy
                   Name
                   ,
                   that
                   our
                   Conscience
                   will
                   not
                   in
                   a
                   short
                   while
                   after
                   permit
                   us
                   to
                   dispense
                   with
                   the
                   usurping
                   it
                   in
                   vain
                   .
                   And
                   thus
                   this
                   sacred
                   Duty
                   does
                   not
                   only
                   procure
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   a
                   manner
                   give
                   us
                   what
                   we
                   pray
                   for
                   :
                   As
                   when
                   some
                   squeamish
                   and
                   disrelish'd
                   person
                   takes
                   a
                   long
                   walk
                   to
                   the
                   Physician
                   's
                   Lodging
                   to
                   beg
                   some
                   remedy
                   for
                   his
                   Inappetence
                   ,
                   his
                   very
                   walking
                   thither
                   does
                   in
                   some
                   measure
                   give
                   him
                   that
                   good
                   Stomach
                   he
                   hopes
                   to
                   regain
                   by
                   the
                   Medicines
                   he
                   shall
                   get
                   there
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   But
                   if
                   in
                   your
                   first
                   attempts
                   this
                   Sin
                   meet
                   with
                   a
                   success
                   more
                   answerable
                   to
                   your
                   fears
                   than
                   your
                   desires
                   ,
                   be
                   not
                   discourag'd
                   at
                   it
                   ,
                   but
                   make
                   of
                   this
                   delay
                   the
                   use
                   it
                   is
                   intended
                   for
                   ,
                   a
                   Rise
                   of
                   greater
                   eagerness
                   and
                   importunity
                   in
                   the
                   pursuit
                   of
                   your
                   addresses
                   .
                   Nor
                   think
                   it
                   strange
                   ,
                   that
                   God
                   should
                   make
                   you
                   wait
                   a
                   while
                   for
                   the
                   grant
                   of
                   your
                   requests
                   ,
                   that
                   have
                   been
                   so
                   tediously
                   refractory
                   to
                   the
                   Motions
                   of
                   his
                   Spirit
                   ,
                   that
                   summon'd
                   your
                   obedience
                   to
                   his
                   commands
                   .
                   But
                   lose
                   not
                   Patience
                   ,
                   for
                   the
                   wish'd
                   supply
                   will
                   infallibly
                   arrive
                   at
                   last
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   your
                   expectation
                   will
                   but
                   serve
                   to
                   endear
                   it
                   when
                   receiv'd
                   ;
                   for
                   God
                   will
                   not
                   be
                   wanting
                   with
                   his
                   Power
                   to
                   assist
                   what
                   is
                   undertaken
                   only
                   for
                   his
                   Glory
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   Nor
                   is
                   it
                   less
                   our
                   duty
                   to
                   trust
                   in
                   his
                   Promises
                   ,
                   than
                   to
                   obey
                   his
                   Commands
                   ;
                   and
                   we
                   may
                   confidently
                   expect
                   from
                   his
                   Faithfulness
                   to
                   the
                   one
                   ,
                   what
                   he
                   will
                   enable
                   our
                   endeavours
                   to
                   perform
                   the
                   other
                   .
                   The
                   great
                   Apostle
                   tells
                   us
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   same
                   God
                   will
                   give
                   us
                   
                     to
                     will
                  
                   ,
                   that
                   
                     worketh
                     in
                     us
                     to
                     do
                  
                   :
                   
                   And
                   therefore
                   you
                   may
                   be
                   confident
                   ,
                   that
                   (
                   as
                   he
                   elsewhere
                   speaks
                   )
                   
                     he
                     which
                     hath
                     begun
                     a
                     good
                     work
                     in
                     you
                     ,
                  
                   
                   
                     will
                     perform
                     it
                     unto
                     the
                     day
                     of
                     Jesus
                     Christ
                     .
                  
                   And
                   on
                   this
                   score
                   our
                   Saviour
                   ,
                   who
                   entails
                   happiness
                   only
                   to
                   the
                   godly
                   ,
                   does
                   yet
                   pronounce
                   them
                   
                     blessed
                     ,
                     that
                     hunger
                     and
                     thirst
                  
                   
                   
                     after
                     righteousness
                  
                   ,
                   promising
                   that
                   they
                   shall
                   be
                   satisfied
                   .
                   Thus
                   he
                   that
                   graciously
                   
                     accepts
                     the
                     will
                     for
                     the
                     deed
                     ,
                  
                   counts
                   good
                   desires
                   but
                   Infant
                   Holiness
                   ,
                   as
                   things
                   that
                   differ
                   from
                   more
                   perfect
                   Graces
                   ,
                   not
                   
                   in
                   their
                   Nature
                   ,
                   but
                   their
                   (
                   Age
                   and
                   )
                   Growth
                   .
                
                 
                   In
                   the
                   mean
                   time
                   ,
                   let
                   this
                   Consideration
                   comfort
                   you
                   ,
                   That
                   those
                   sins
                   displease
                   God
                   least
                   ,
                   that
                   displease
                   the
                   Doer
                   most
                   :
                   And
                   that
                   in
                   this
                   our
                   Combats
                   against
                   sins
                   are
                   differenc'd
                   from
                   our
                   Battels
                   amongst
                   men
                   ;
                   that
                   in
                   the
                   former
                   the
                   Victory
                   depends
                   not
                   so
                   much
                   on
                   our
                   Success
                   as
                   our
                   Resistance
                   ;
                   since
                   none
                   are
                   there
                   held
                   vanquish'd
                   ,
                   but
                   submitters
                   .
                   And
                   for
                   your
                   further
                   comfort
                   ,
                   you
                   may
                   take
                   each
                   Victory
                   Grace
                   wins
                   of
                   your
                   Corruptions
                   ,
                   not
                   only
                   for
                   a
                   Preparative
                   to
                   new
                   ones
                   ,
                   but
                   an
                   Earnest
                   of
                   more
                   .
                   For
                   the
                   Conquests
                   of
                   Saving
                   Grace
                   in
                   the
                   Soul
                   are
                   not
                   like
                   those
                   the
                   Sea
                   makes
                   upon
                   the
                   Strand
                   ,
                   when
                   it
                   makes
                   Acquisitions
                   by
                   the
                   Flow
                   ,
                   but
                   to
                   lose
                   them
                   again
                   within
                   few
                   
                   hours
                   by
                   the
                   Ebb
                   :
                   But
                   the
                   Expeditions
                   of
                   the
                   Spirit
                   against
                   Vices
                   ,
                   are
                   like
                   those
                   of
                   the
                   Crown'd
                   Rider
                   of
                   the
                   White
                   Horse
                   in
                   the
                   Revelation
                   ,
                   of
                   whom
                   it
                   is
                   said
                   ,
                   
                   That
                   
                     he
                     went
                     forth
                     conquering
                     ,
                     and
                     to
                     conquer
                     .
                  
                
              
               
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   III.
                   
                
                 
                   In
                   the
                   next
                   place
                   ,
                   as
                   far
                   as
                   conveniency
                   will
                   permit
                   ,
                   't
                   were
                   fit
                   to
                   fly
                   the
                   Conversation
                   ,
                   or
                   at
                   least
                   the
                   Familiarity
                   of
                   profest
                   Swearers
                   .
                   This
                   Advice
                   of
                   declining
                   Infectious
                   Company
                   ,
                   tho
                   in
                   a
                   general
                   Caution
                   ever
                   found
                   prevalent
                   against
                   all
                   Vices
                   ,
                   has
                   a
                   peculiar
                   property
                   against
                   this
                   :
                   For
                   there
                   being
                   very
                   small
                   (
                   if
                   any
                   )
                   Temptation
                   to
                   it
                   in
                   our
                   natures
                   ,
                   it
                   is
                   principally
                   imitated
                   from
                   others
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   when
                   one
                   yawns
                   ,
                   most
                   of
                   the
                   Company
                   ,
                   though
                   
                   otherwise
                   uninclin'd
                   to
                   that
                   act
                   ,
                   do
                   usually
                   yawn
                   out
                   of
                   sympathy
                   )
                   and
                   so
                   subsists
                   but
                   as
                   't
                   is
                   cherish'd
                   by
                   Example
                   and
                   Custom
                   ,
                   (
                   its
                   Motive
                   and
                   its
                   Nurse
                   )
                   .
                   And
                   therefore
                   ,
                   a
                   very
                   effectual
                   Remedy
                   against
                   Swearing
                   ,
                   is
                   by
                   conversing
                   where
                   it
                   is
                   discountenanc'd
                   ;
                   to
                   starve
                   it
                   by
                   discontinuance
                   ,
                   forcing
                   that
                   shame
                   of
                   singularity
                   that
                   first
                   begot
                   it
                   ,
                   to
                   make
                   amends
                   for
                   the
                   mischief
                   it
                   has
                   occasion'd
                   ,
                   by
                   employing
                   it
                   to
                   the
                   ruin
                   of
                   its
                   own
                   Productions
                   .
                   As
                   Physicians
                   make
                   Scorpions
                   their
                   own
                   Antidote
                   by
                   preparing
                   out
                   of
                   them
                   an
                   Oyl
                   that
                   is
                   Sovereign
                   against
                   their
                   Stings
                   .
                   Lovers
                   of
                   the
                   same
                   Sin
                   ,
                   may
                   (
                   methinks
                   )
                   be
                   resembled
                   unto
                   Firebrands
                   ,
                   which
                   being
                   laid
                   together
                   ,
                   kindle
                   each
                   other
                   by
                   their
                   mutual
                   heat
                   ;
                   but
                   being
                   sever'd
                   and
                   kept
                   so
                   asunder
                   ,
                   
                   each
                   single
                   Brand
                   ,
                   after
                   a
                   little
                   smoaking
                   ,
                   does
                   of
                   it self
                   go
                   out
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   IV.
                   
                
                 
                   For
                   the
                   Fourth
                   Remedy
                   ,
                   I
                   should
                   advise
                   the
                   Swearer
                   to
                   oblige
                   himself
                   to
                   pay
                   or
                   suffer
                   somewhat
                   for
                   every
                   Oath
                   he
                   swears
                   ;
                   those
                   little
                   Forfeitures
                   serving
                   both
                   as
                   Monitors
                   and
                   as
                   Penalties
                   .
                   But
                   if
                   the
                   Bargain
                   tye
                   you
                   to
                   Pecuniary
                   Disbursements
                   ,
                   be
                   sure
                   distressed
                   Christians
                   be
                   (
                   at
                   least
                   )
                   Sharers
                   in
                   them
                   .
                   For
                   if
                   (
                   as
                   Divines
                   tell
                   us
                   )
                   the
                   Poor
                   be
                   God's
                   Receivers
                   ,
                   they
                   seem
                   to
                   have
                   a
                   Title
                   as
                   well
                   by
                   Justice
                   as
                   by
                   Charity
                   ,
                   to
                   the
                   Amerciaments
                   that
                   are
                   estreated
                   upon
                   Trespasses
                   against
                   their
                   Lord.
                   But
                   have
                   a
                   care
                   you
                   turn
                   not
                   this
                   Physick
                   into
                   Poyson
                   ,
                   by
                   imagining
                   that
                   
                   when
                   you
                   have
                   fin'd
                   for
                   your
                   engagements
                   ,
                   you
                   have
                   done
                   Penance
                   for
                   your
                   sins
                   ;
                   and
                   by
                   your
                   Justice
                   to
                   your
                   Compacts
                   ,
                   cancell'd
                   your
                   Disobedience
                   to
                   your
                   Maker
                   .
                   No
                   ,
                   no
                   ,
                   God
                   requires
                   not
                   that
                   you
                   should
                   part
                   with
                   your
                   Sixpences
                   ,
                   but
                   with
                   your
                   Sins
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   Repentance
                   he
                   accepts
                   ,
                   consists
                   not
                   in
                   a
                   paying
                   for
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   forsaking
                   your
                   Transgressions
                   .
                   Esteem
                   then
                   these
                   inconsiderable
                   Mulcts
                   but
                   as
                   Remembrancers
                   of
                   your
                   Faults
                   ,
                   not
                   Satisfaction
                   for
                   them
                   .
                
                 
                   Ally'd
                   to
                   this
                   Expedient
                   is
                   that
                   useful
                   one
                   of
                   procuring
                   some
                   discreet
                   Friend
                   ,
                   by
                   putting
                   you
                   in
                   mind
                   of
                   every
                   Oath
                   ,
                   to
                   force
                   you
                   to
                   take
                   notice
                   of
                   your
                   Faults
                   ;
                   which
                   this
                   course
                   will
                   very
                   much
                   contribute
                   to
                   make
                   you
                   both
                   weary
                   
                   and
                   asham'd
                   of
                   .
                   Provided
                   always
                   ,
                   that
                   these
                   Reprehensions
                   be
                   as
                   well
                   seasonable
                   as
                   just
                   ;
                   for
                   to
                   correct
                   men
                   in
                   the
                   first
                   violent
                   transports
                   of
                   their
                   Choler
                   ,
                   is
                   by
                   administring
                   Physick
                   in
                   the
                   extremity
                   of
                   the
                   Fit
                   ,
                   but
                   to
                   exasperate
                   instead
                   of
                   curing
                   .
                   Reason
                   being
                   to
                   our
                   Passions
                   ,
                   as
                   the
                   Wind
                   to
                   the
                   Fires
                   ;
                   the
                   same
                   Puff
                   that
                   will
                   blow
                   out
                   the
                   Flames
                   of
                   a
                   Candle
                   ,
                   will
                   but
                   kindle
                   those
                   that
                   prey
                   upon
                   a
                   Faggot
                   .
                   Reprehensions
                   may
                   suppress
                   Passions
                   when
                   they
                   are
                   weak
                   ,
                   but
                   do
                   but
                   incense
                   them
                   whilst
                   they
                   are
                   raging
                   .
                   'T
                   is
                   listed
                   amongst
                   the
                   Miracles
                   of
                   Christ
                   ,
                   that
                   he
                   once
                   chid
                   a
                   Storm
                   into
                   a
                   
                   Calm
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   V.
                   
                
                 
                   The
                   Fifth
                   thing
                   that
                   I
                   must
                   prescribe
                   our
                   Swearer
                   ,
                   is
                   to
                   resolve
                   at
                   once
                   to
                   renounce
                   that
                   Vice
                   ,
                   by
                   a
                   Desertion
                   not
                   only
                   sincere
                   ,
                   but
                   unsuspended
                   and
                   intire
                   .
                   Were
                   it
                   but
                   one
                   of
                   these
                   mere
                   Moral
                   Failings
                   ,
                   whose
                   Unfitness
                   or
                   Misbecomingness
                   makes
                   all
                   the
                   Guilt
                   ,
                   I
                   should
                   possibly
                   counsel
                   you
                   to
                   wean
                   yourself
                   of
                   it
                   by
                   degrees
                   ,
                   whose
                   progress
                   were
                   scarce
                   discernible
                   before
                   its
                   end
                   ;
                   just
                   as
                   Physicians
                   use
                   to
                   reclaim
                   those
                   that
                   have
                   been
                   long
                   accustomed
                   to
                   unwholsome
                   Diet.
                   But
                   as
                   the
                   same
                   Physicians
                   ,
                   when
                   once
                   a
                   dangerous
                   Surfeit
                   is
                   contracted
                   ,
                   restrain
                   not
                   by
                   degrees
                   ,
                   but
                   totally
                   and
                   abruptly
                   ,
                   those
                   Excesses
                   that
                   occasion'd
                   
                   it
                   ,
                   and
                   whose
                   continuance
                   would
                   prove
                   fatal
                   to
                   the
                   Patient
                   ;
                   so
                   here
                   ,
                   where
                   that
                   which
                   is
                   to
                   be
                   forsaken
                   ,
                   is
                   not
                   so
                   properly
                   a
                   Fault
                   as
                   a
                   Sin
                   ,
                   we
                   must
                   refrain
                   without
                   the
                   least
                   Exception
                   or
                   Connivance
                   ;
                   since
                   else
                   (
                   the
                   thing
                   prohibited
                   being
                   in
                   it self
                   a
                   Sin
                   )
                   we
                   allow
                   our selves
                   to
                   offend
                   God
                   as
                   much
                   as
                   ever
                   ,
                   tho
                   not
                   so
                   often
                   ;
                   by
                   committing
                   the
                   same
                   Sins
                   in
                   Quality
                   ,
                   however
                   not
                   in
                   Multitude
                   .
                
                 
                   Indeed
                   what
                   is
                   lessen'd
                   by
                   the
                   Number
                   of
                   our
                   Oaths
                   in
                   this
                   partial
                   Reformation
                   ,
                   is
                   recompenc'd
                   by
                   the
                   aggravated
                   Heinousness
                   of
                   their
                   nature
                   ;
                   those
                   that
                   seem'd
                   formerly
                   but
                   the
                   slips
                   of
                   Infirmity
                   ,
                   being
                   now
                   authoriz'd
                   by
                   Dispensation
                   .
                   This
                   bare
                   abatement
                   of
                   the
                   Tale
                   of
                   our
                   Sins
                   is
                   a
                   
                   good
                   Refuge
                   ,
                   but
                   a
                   bad
                   Design
                   :
                   Many
                   times
                   this
                   diminution
                   is
                   the
                   utmost
                   our
                   Endeavours
                   can
                   arrive
                   at
                   ;
                   but
                   then
                   it
                   ought
                   to
                   be
                   practis'd
                   ,
                   and
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   intended
                   ;
                   for
                   true
                   Repentance
                   ,
                   and
                   a
                   purpose
                   of
                   relapsing
                   ,
                   are
                   hugely
                   inconsistent
                   ;
                   the
                   one
                   not
                   being
                   real
                   ,
                   without
                   a
                   property
                   destructive
                   to
                   the
                   other
                   ;
                   since
                   he
                   but
                   very
                   lamely
                   repents
                   his
                   Crimes
                   ,
                   that
                   resolves
                   not
                   against
                   Relapses
                   into
                   the
                   Crimes
                   that
                   he
                   repents
                   .
                   No
                   ,
                   no
                   ,
                   this
                   faint
                   desisting
                   from
                   some
                   acts
                   of
                   Vice
                   ,
                   does
                   but
                   endear
                   the
                   rest
                   that
                   is
                   unexil'd
                   ,
                   and
                   that
                   importunately
                   urge
                   for
                   the
                   recalling
                   of
                   their
                   banish'd
                   Companions
                   .
                   This
                   mild
                   remissness
                   ,
                   if
                   it
                   do
                   not
                   prune
                   a
                   Vice
                   ,
                   at
                   least
                   it
                   does
                   but
                   lop
                   it
                   ;
                   and
                   that
                   prohibits
                   not
                   its
                   future
                   growth
                   ;
                   
                   which
                   the
                   only
                   way
                   infalliby
                   to
                   prevent
                   ,
                   is
                   to
                   dig
                   it
                   up
                   by
                   the
                   Roots
                   ,
                   with
                   the
                   Spade
                   of
                   an
                   absolute
                   and
                   irrevocable
                   Resolve
                   ,
                   never
                   to
                   accord
                   to
                   our selves
                   so
                   much
                   as
                   by
                   connivance
                   ,
                   the
                   least
                   License
                   that
                   may
                   endanger
                   a
                   Relapse
                   .
                   In
                   this
                   case
                   ,
                   Extirpation
                   is
                   that
                   alone
                   which
                   can
                   secure
                   our
                   quiet
                   ;
                   and
                   the
                   only
                   way
                   that
                   leads
                   to
                   an
                   establish'd
                   safety
                   ,
                   is
                   a
                   severity
                   that
                   its
                   object
                   secures
                   from
                   all
                   possibility
                   of
                   excesses
                   .
                   A
                   Sinner's
                   condition
                   may
                   be
                   resembled
                   to
                   a
                   Mouse
                   in
                   a
                   Pail
                   of
                   Water
                   ;
                   if
                   she
                   can
                   get
                   out
                   at
                   one
                   leap
                   ,
                   well
                   and
                   good
                   ,
                   otherwise
                   her
                   toyl
                   will
                   prove
                   but
                   fruitless
                   ,
                   in
                   attempting
                   to
                   get
                   out
                   by
                   degrees
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                 
                   DIRECT
                   .
                   VI.
                   
                
                 
                   Lastly
                   ,
                   My
                   concluding
                   Precept
                   is
                   ,
                   To
                   make
                   frequent
                   and
                   serious
                   Reflections
                   upon
                   the
                   Vanity
                   and
                   Foolishness
                   of
                   Swearers
                   ,
                   who
                   live
                   as
                   if
                   they
                   meant
                   to
                   remove
                   all
                   our
                   wonder
                   from
                   the
                   Folly
                   of
                   our
                   First
                   Parents
                   ,
                   that
                   lost
                   Paradise
                   for
                   an
                   Apple
                   .
                   Sure
                   that
                   these
                   people
                   are
                   not
                   quarter'd
                   in
                   Bedlam
                   ,
                   (
                   where
                   far
                   less
                   Frenzies
                   have
                   imprison'd
                   many
                   )
                   proceeds
                   rather
                   from
                   the
                   Multitude
                   of
                   the
                   infatuated
                   ,
                   than
                   any
                   want
                   of
                   Madness
                   in
                   their
                   actions
                   :
                   But
                   howsoever
                   ,
                   wise
                   men
                   build
                   Cages
                   for
                   them
                   in
                   their
                   opinions
                   ,
                   and
                   in
                   their
                   soberer
                   Thoughts
                   condemn
                   them
                   to
                   inhabit
                   those
                   Frantick
                   Lodgings
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   That
                   usual
                   expression
                   of
                   Scripture
                   
                   which
                   sometimes
                   puts
                   the
                   word
                   Folly
                   instead
                   of
                   the
                   word
                   Sin
                   ,
                   seems
                   chiefly
                   calculated
                   for
                   the
                   Swearer's
                   Vice
                   ,
                   to
                   which
                   it
                   does
                   so
                   eminently
                   belong
                   ,
                   and
                   which
                   is
                   so
                   uncapable
                   of
                   being
                   wrong'd
                   by
                   the
                   appellation
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   to
                   what
                   has
                   been
                   already
                   delivered
                   ,
                   to
                   shew
                   how
                   little
                   shelter
                   our
                   Swearers
                   find
                   from
                   all
                   their
                   weak
                   Apologies
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   certainly
                   the
                   Fruitlesness
                   and
                   Inexcusableness
                   of
                   their
                   Vice
                   considered
                   ,
                   almost
                   no
                   Sinners
                   have
                   more
                   to
                   answer
                   for
                   ,
                   and
                   less
                   to
                   answer
                   )
                   we
                   must
                   now
                   add
                   ,
                   That
                   they
                   want
                   not
                   only
                   the
                   Temptation
                   of
                   an
                   Excuse
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   very
                   Excuse
                   of
                   a
                   Temptation
                   ,
                   (
                   unless
                   its
                   being
                   forbidden
                   ,
                   pass
                   for
                   
                   one
                   )
                   .
                   For
                   (
                   First
                   )
                   this
                   Mungrel
                   Issue
                   cannot
                   (
                   as
                   other
                   Vices
                   use
                   to
                   be
                   )
                   be
                   said
                   at
                   Nature's
                   door
                   ;
                   we
                   cannot
                   father
                   it
                   upon
                   Traduction
                   ,
                   since
                   we
                   inherit
                   it
                   not
                   from
                   our
                   Parents
                   ;
                   nor
                   is
                   it
                   born
                   with
                   us
                   ,
                   but
                   learn'd
                   by
                   us
                   ;
                   so
                   that
                   here
                   ,
                   before
                   we
                   can
                   be
                   Sinners
                   ,
                   we
                   must
                   have
                   been
                   Disciples
                   .
                   But
                   (
                   then
                   )
                   all
                   other
                   Vices
                   have
                   either
                   Honour
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   Ambition
                   )
                   ,
                   or
                   Profit
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   Avarice
                   )
                   ,
                   or
                   Delight
                   ,
                   (
                   as
                   Uncleanness
                   )
                   ,
                   to
                   plead
                   for
                   their
                   excuse
                   ;
                   Swearing
                   alone
                   can
                   plead
                   nothing
                   but
                   Guilty
                   :
                   So
                   that
                   if
                   ever
                   that
                   expression
                   of
                   the
                   Apostle
                   ,
                   which
                   mentions
                   
                     Superfluity
                     of
                     Naughtiness
                  
                   ,
                   
                   belong'd
                   to
                   any
                   sin
                   ,
                   't
                   is
                   certainly
                   here
                   to
                   be
                   appropriated
                   .
                
                 
                   The
                   silly
                   Indians
                   ,
                   that
                   part
                   with
                   Gold
                   and
                   Jewels
                   ,
                   for
                   Glasses
                   ,
                   
                   Whistles
                   ,
                   and
                   such
                   trifling
                   Gugaws
                   ,
                   are
                   Solomons
                   to
                   Swearers
                   :
                   Betwixt
                   whose
                   Madness
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   fam'd
                   folly
                   of
                   Lysimachus
                   ,
                   who
                   (
                   parch'd
                   with
                   extreme
                   Thirst
                   )
                   to
                   get
                   a
                   little
                   drink
                   ,
                   became
                   a
                   voluntary
                   Prisoner
                   to
                   his
                   (
                   soon
                   after
                   vanquish'd
                   )
                   Enemies
                   ,
                   I
                   find
                   no
                   disparity
                   advantageous
                   to
                   Swearers
                   ;
                   it
                   being
                   a
                   less
                   ill
                   bargain
                   ,
                   to
                   sell
                   away
                   ones
                   Liberty
                   for
                   ones
                   Belly-full
                   of
                   Water
                   ,
                   than
                   to
                   sell
                   away
                   ones
                   Soul
                   for
                   a
                   Mouth-full
                   of
                   Air.
                   This
                   Swearing
                   is
                   a
                   Hook
                   without
                   a
                   Bait
                   :
                   And
                   when
                   Hell
                   employ'd
                   its
                   spurious
                   brood
                   of
                   Vices
                   into
                   the
                   world
                   to
                   seduce
                   mankind
                   ,
                   it
                   furnish'd
                   every
                   one
                   of
                   them
                   with
                   a
                   Dowry
                   ,
                   either
                   of
                   Fame
                   ,
                   of
                   Pleasure
                   ,
                   or
                   Advantage
                   ,
                   to
                   entice
                   Lovers
                   with
                   ;
                   only
                   poor
                   
                   Swearing
                   was
                   left
                   Portionless
                   ;
                   a
                   Mistress
                   (
                   only
                   )
                   for
                   those
                   generous
                   and
                   disinterested
                   Sinners
                   ,
                   that
                   need
                   no
                   Temptation
                   ;
                   but
                   loving
                   Wickedness
                   (
                   as
                   they
                   ought
                   to
                   do
                   Virtue
                   )
                   for
                   its
                   own
                   sake
                   alone
                   ,
                   aim'd
                   at
                   nothing
                   in
                   the
                   act
                   of
                   sin
                   ,
                   beyond
                   the
                   satisfaction
                   of
                   having
                   committed
                   it
                   .
                   To
                   whom
                   the
                   Lord
                   may
                   justly
                   say
                   ,
                   as
                   he
                   did
                   to
                   the
                   Israelites
                   in
                   the
                   Prophet
                   ,
                   
                     You
                     have
                     sold
                     your selves
                  
                   
                   
                     for
                     nought
                  
                   .
                   For
                   whereas
                   usually
                   those
                   Vices
                   that
                   rifle
                   the
                   Soul
                   ,
                   do
                   bribe
                   the
                   Senses
                   ;
                   in
                   swearing
                   the
                   poor
                   Soul
                   is
                   stript
                   of
                   her
                   Graces
                   ,
                   and
                   robb'd
                   of
                   her
                   Joys
                   ,
                   without
                   the
                   least
                   Emolument
                   (
                   of
                   Pleasure
                   or
                   Advantage
                   )
                   accruing
                   to
                   the
                   Senses
                   .
                   This
                   swearing
                   (
                   in
                   my
                   opinion
                   )
                   is
                   e'en
                   as
                   foolish
                   as
                   loving
                   a
                   cruel
                   Mistress
                   ;
                   a
                   
                   man
                   parts
                   with
                   his
                   heart
                   ,
                   and
                   gets
                   nothing
                   in
                   exchange
                   for
                   it
                   .
                   An
                   Oath
                   is
                   like
                   the
                   Powder
                   that
                   charges
                   a
                   Granado
                   ,
                   its
                   properties
                   are
                   to
                   make
                   a
                   momentary
                   ,
                   displeasing
                   noise
                   ,
                   to
                   offend
                   those
                   that
                   are
                   within
                   the
                   reach
                   of
                   it
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   spoil
                   that
                   from
                   which
                   it
                   parts
                   .
                   Nor
                   is
                   that
                   criminal
                   blast
                   unlike
                   the
                   Prophet's
                   description
                   of
                   the
                   Cankerworm
                   ;
                   of
                   which
                   he
                   gives
                   this
                   Character
                   ,
                   That
                   
                     it
                     spoileth
                  
                   ,
                   
                   
                     and
                     fleeth
                     away
                  
                   .
                
                 
                   But
                   the
                   less
                   advantages
                   this
                   Vice
                   affords
                   ,
                   the
                   more
                   culpable
                   it
                   is
                   ;
                   the
                   Disobedience
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   Folly
                   of
                   a
                   forbidden
                   act
                   being
                   increased
                   by
                   the
                   want
                   of
                   its
                   being
                   beneficial
                   ;
                   he
                   that
                   trespasses
                   for
                   least
                   ,
                   transgresses
                   most
                   ;
                   for
                   sure
                   't
                   is
                   rather
                   an
                   aggravation
                   than
                   an
                   
                   excuse
                   of
                   having
                   injured
                   any
                   body
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   get
                   nothing
                   by
                   it
                   .
                   The
                   Ambitious
                   and
                   the
                   Incontinent
                   ,
                   are
                   like
                   great
                   Ladies
                   ,
                   that
                   surfeit
                   upon
                   Apricocks
                   ,
                   Nectarines
                   ,
                   and
                   Melons
                   :
                   Whereas
                   the
                   Swearer
                   is
                   but
                   too
                   justly
                   resembled
                   to
                   those
                   Beggars
                   ,
                   that
                   kill
                   themselves
                   with
                   Blackberries
                   and
                   Slows
                   ,
                   and
                   such
                   like
                   Trash
                   ,
                   the
                   Excrements
                   of
                   Hedges
                   ;
                   having
                   Appetites
                   as
                   ridiculously
                   noxious
                   ,
                   as
                   those
                   of
                   some
                   of
                   our
                   Green-sickness
                   Girls
                   ,
                   whose
                   Stomachs
                   rise
                   at
                   Dainties
                   ,
                   and
                   long
                   for
                   Loam
                   and
                   Charcoal
                   .
                
                 
                   For
                   my
                   part
                   ,
                   would
                   I
                   renounce
                   my
                   interest
                   in
                   Virtue
                   ,
                   it
                   should
                   be
                   for
                   the
                   attaining
                   of
                   a
                   Scepter
                   ,
                   a
                   Fame
                   transcending
                   Caesars
                   ;
                   and
                   (
                   in
                   a
                   word
                   )
                   where
                   the
                   Happiness
                   I
                   forfeited
                   should
                   seem
                   so
                   recompenc'd
                   
                   by
                   that
                   I
                   gain'd
                   by
                   losing
                   it
                   ,
                   that
                   wise
                   men
                   themselves
                   should
                   have
                   occasion
                   rather
                   to
                   compassionate
                   my
                   frailty
                   ,
                   than
                   admire
                   my
                   weakness
                   .
                   For
                   I
                   confess
                   it
                   would
                   extremely
                   trouble
                   me
                   to
                   hang
                   for
                   my
                   Thirteen-pence-half-penny
                   ;
                   and
                   I
                   am
                   confident
                   ,
                   that
                   many
                   of
                   those
                   this
                   senseless
                   Vice
                   has
                   damn'd
                   ,
                   do
                   find
                   a
                   vast
                   accession
                   to
                   the
                   Pains
                   of
                   Hell
                   it self
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   consideration
                   of
                   the
                   Cause
                   of
                   their
                   enduring
                   them
                   .
                
                 
                   Since
                   then
                   ,
                   Swearing
                   is
                   a
                   Vice
                   so
                   ill
                   qualified
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   want
                   a
                   Temptation
                   to
                   it
                   ,
                   you
                   find
                   no
                   Pleasure
                   in
                   it
                   ,
                   nor
                   do
                   derive
                   any
                   Advantage
                   from
                   it
                   ;
                   O
                   let
                   not
                   your
                   obstinacy
                   to
                   doat
                   upon
                   an
                   empty
                   fleeting
                   sound
                   ,
                   that
                   has
                   
                   nothing
                   in
                   it
                   of
                   a
                   Sin
                   ,
                   except
                   the
                   Guilt
                   ,
                   hinder
                   you
                   from
                   shunning
                   Torments
                   that
                   will
                   equal
                   your
                   Wretchedness
                   to
                   your
                   Folly
                   ,
                   and
                   from
                   keeping
                   up
                   a
                   Title
                   unto
                   Joys
                   ,
                   whose
                   very
                   Hope
                   transcends
                   all
                   Earthly
                   Happiness
                   ,
                   by
                   opposing
                   all
                   your
                   past
                   Unnecessary
                   Oaths
                   ,
                   by
                   one
                   Inviolable
                   Promisary
                   One
                   ,
                   
                     Never
                     to
                     Swear
                     Needlesly
                     again
                  
                   .
                
              
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               Advertisement
               .
            
             
               TO
               prevent
               all
               Mistakes
               that
               may
               arise
               from
               some
               apprehensions
               of
               mine
               ,
               which
               (
               seeming
               to
               censure
               Oaths
               without
               distinction
               )
               may
               possibly
               be
               stretch'd
               beyond
               my
               meaning
               ,
               I
               thought
               my self
               oblig'd
               to
               declare
               ,
               That
               in
               no
               part
               of
               this
               Discourse
               my
               intention
               was
               to
               justify
               that
               plausible
               Error
               of
               our
               Modern
               Anabaptists
               ,
               that
               indiscriminately
               condemn
               all
               Oaths
               as
               absolutely
               and
               indispensibly
               prohibited
               and
               abolished
               by
               the
               Gospel
               :
               My
               Design
               being
               only
               to
               restrain
               the
               Needless
               Abuse
               ,
               not
               interdict
               the
               Necessary
               Use
               of
               Swearing
               .
               Whose
               Criminousness
               if
               not
               in
               this
               Discourse
               I
               have
               represented
               in
               its
               most
               enlarged
               dimensions
               ,
               I
               may
               find
               an
               Excuse
               in
               the
               President
               and
               
               Practice
               of
               those
               Painters
               ,
               who
               being
               to
               draw
               upon
               the
               Concaves
               of
               the
               Roofs
               of
               Churches
               ,
               make
               their
               Pictures
               more
               Gigantick
               than
               the
               Originals
               they
               are
               to
               resemble
               ;
               to
               recompence
               by
               that
               advantage
               in
               the
               dimensions
               ,
               what
               the
               eye
               loses
               by
               the
               distance
               from
               the
               object
               .
               For
               every
               Sinner
               naturally
               beholding
               Vice
               upon
               which
               he
               dotes
               ,
               through
               the
               contracting
               Optick
               of
               Self-love
               ,
               must
               have
               the
               Idea
               of
               his
               Crime
               enlarged
               beyond
               its
               true
               proportions
               ,
               to
               make
               him
               see
               it
               in
               its
               just
               quantity
               .
               I
               might
               add
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               scarce
               possible
               to
               paint
               this
               ugly
               Negro
               in
               blacker
               Colours
               than
               his
               own
               ;
               especially
               since
               now
               this
               Sin
               is
               grown
               so
               much
               in
               fashion
               ,
               that
               it
               expects
               not
               (
               as
               most
               other
               Vices
               )
               slow
               time
               or
               years
               to
               ripen
               it
               ;
               since
               in
               our
               very
               streets
               we
               hourly
               hear
               Children
               (
               who
               sure
               offer
               up
               Oaths
               as
               the
               First-Fruits
               to
               the
               Devil
               )
               swear
               ,
               that
               can
               scarcely
               speak
               ;
               and
               see
               them
               perfect
               in
               
               their
               Father's
               Language
               ,
               before
               they
               are
               old
               enough
               to
               speak
               their
               Mother-Tongue
               .
            
             
               But
               tho
               in
               the
               heinous
               Properties
               of
               this
               Vice
               I
               might
               find
               cause
               enough
               to
               justify
               more
               fierceness
               than
               I
               have
               exprest
               against
               it
               ;
               yet
               should
               I
               be
               extremely
               loth
               ,
               with
               many
               (
               much
               better
               stor'd
               with
               Zeal
               than
               Charity
               )
               to
               doom
               all
               those
               to
               Hell
               ,
               that
               through
               frailty
               or
               temptation
               sometimes
               let
               slip
               an
               Oath
               .
               For
               so
               severe
               a
               Sentence
               may
               perhaps
               concern
               too
               many
               ,
               whose
               addictedness
               to
               other
               ,
               not
               to
               greater
               sins
               than
               ours
               ,
               makes
               often
               all
               the
               difference
               of
               our
               Guilts
               :
               And
               who
               in
               spite
               of
               all
               their
               slips
               and
               stumbles
               by
               the
               way
               ,
               may
               by
               Repentance
               arrive
               safely
               at
               the
               Heavenly
               Canaan
               :
               And
               therefore
               I
               shall
               conclude
               what
               has
               been
               said
               of
               Swearing
               ,
               with
               this
               sense
               of
               it
               ,
               That
               't
               is
               a
               Sin
               too
               Heinous
               to
               excuse
               Neglect
               ,
               and
               too
               Venial
               (
               if
               I
               may
               so
               speak
               )
               justly
               to
               beget
               Despair
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               DISSUASIVE
               FROM
               CURSING
               .
            
             
               For
               Mr.
               
                 W.
                 D.
              
               to
               Sir
               
                 G.
                 L.
              
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               A
               DISSUASIVE
               FROM
               CURSING
               .
            
             
               For
               Mr.
               
                 W.
                 D.
              
               to
               Sir
               
                 G.
                 L.
              
               
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 ,
              
            
             
               I
               Have
               too
               much
               Passion
               for
               your
               Person
               ,
               to
               have
               any
               Complaisance
               for
               your
               Faults
               ;
               and
               still
               have
               lov'd
               you
               at
               so
               high
               a
               rate
               ,
               that
               I
               had
               rather
               hazard
               the
               Loss
               of
               your
               Affection
               ,
               than
               
               decline
               any
               Proofs
               of
               the
               Reality
               of
               mine
               .
               'T
               is
               not
               that
               I
               am
               not
               as
               unwilling
               to
               employ
               Censure
               ,
               as
               I
               am
               confident
               you
               will
               be
               troubled
               to
               have
               necessitated
               it
               from
               me
               ;
               but
               (
               all
               consider'd
               )
               I
               have
               too
               much
               Friendship
               ,
               to
               have
               Courtship
               enough
               to
               let
               slip
               so
               fair
               an
               opportunity
               as
               your
               forc'd
               Conversation
               with
               Cleander
               ,
               to
               shew
               you
               in
               him
               the
               Deformity
               of
               a
               Vice
               ,
               from
               which
               I
               wish
               you
               were
               as
               free
               as
               from
               all
               other
               Crimes
               .
            
             
               Certainly
               ,
               if
               Curses
               were
               as
               much
               the
               Badges
               of
               a
               Gentleman
               as
               he
               thinks
               them
               ,
               men
               would
               not
               guess
               him
               to
               be
               of
               a
               lower
               Order
               than
               that
               of
               Emperors
               :
               And
               if
               the
               Devil
               were
               
               to
               fetch
               all
               those
               he
               bids
               him
               Take
               ,
               his
               Water-Dog
               would
               not
               have
               half
               so
               busy
               an
               Employment
               ;
               Hell
               would
               have
               cause
               to
               praise
               his
               Liberality
               ;
               and
               were
               not
               Satan
               still
               
                 the
                 Father
                 of
                 Lies
              
               ,
               he
               could
               not
               but
               acknowledge
               ,
               That
               none
               of
               the
               Seven
               Deadly
               Sins
               ,
               (
               nor
               perhaps
               all
               together
               )
               sent
               thither
               half
               so
               many
               .
               If
               I
               thought
               Cleander
               would
               take
               it
               for
               a
               Dissuasion
               ,
               that
               I
               proved
               Cursing
               to
               be
               a
               Sin
               ,
               I
               could
               be
               as
               ready
               to
               bring
               Prohibitions
               of
               it
               out
               of
               Scripture
               ,
               as
               he
               is
               to
               transgress
               them
               .
               The
               Prophet
               David
               (
               imitated
               by
               the
               Apostle
               Paul
               )
               makes
               it
               the
               Character
               of
               the
               wicked
               ,
               That
               
                 his
                 mouth
              
               
               
                 is
                 full
                 of
                 cursing
              
               .
               And
               in
               another
               place
               ,
               That
               
                 they
                 curse
                 inwardly
              
               .
               
               And
               suitably
               to
               his
               own
               Doctrine
               ,
               when
               Shimei
               (
               equalling
               
               his
               Curses
               to
               the
               Number
               of
               his
               steps
               )
               rail'd
               at
               him
               with
               as
               many
               Imprecations
               as
               he
               deserved
               Blessings
               ,
               he
               did
               not
               (
               to
               speak
               St.
               Peter's
               Language
               )
               render
               
               
                 evil
                 for
                 evil
                 ,
                 or
                 railing
                 for
                 railing
              
               ;
               but
               only
               answers
               ,
               
                 Let
                 him
                 curse
                 ,
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 the
                 Lord
                 will
              
               
               
                 look
                 upon
                 mine
                 affliction
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 Lord
                 will
                 requite
                 me
                 good
                 for
                 his
                 cursing
                 this
                 day
                 .
              
               Our
               Saviour
               commands
               us
               to
               bless
               even
               those
               
               
                 that
                 curse
              
               us
               ;
               nay
               ,
               
                 bless
                 them
                 that
                 persecute
                 you
                 .
                 Bless
              
               (
               says
               St.
               Paul
               )
               
               
                 and
                 curse
                 not
              
               .
               And
               to
               shew
               you
               that
               it
               was
               not
               only
               his
               Precept
               but
               his
               Practice
               ,
               
                 being
                 reviled
              
               (
               says
               he
               )
               
                 we
                 bless
                 ;
                 being
                 persecuted
              
               
               
                 we
                 suffer
                 it
                 ;
                 being
                 defam'd
                 we
                 intreat
                 .
              
               Imagine
               then
               you
               
               hear
               the
               Apostle
               saying
               ,
               as
               in
               one
               place
               he
               does
               ,
               
                 Be
                 ye
                 followers
              
               
               
                 of
                 me
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 also
                 am
                 of
                 Christ
                 ;
                 who
              
               (
               says
               another
               Apostle
               )
               when
               
               
                 he
                 was
                 reviled
                 ,
                 reviled
                 not
                 again
                 ;
                 when
                 he
                 suffered
                 ,
                 he
                 threatned
                 not
                 ,
                 but
                 committed
                 himself
                 to
                 him
                 that
                 judgeth
                 righteously
                 .
              
               And
               in
               effect
               ,
               when
               upon
               the
               Samaritan
               Clowns
               refusal
               to
               receive
               Christ
               ,
               the
               two
               Fiery-spirited
               Disciples
               desired
               
               leave
               to
               call
               down
               Fire
               from
               Heaven
               (
               to
               consume
               those
               by
               the
               Fury
               of
               that
               active
               Element
               ,
               who
               refus'd
               Entertainment
               to
               him
               that
               created
               it
               )
               our
               Saviour
               answers
               ,
               but
               with
               a
               Rebuke
               ,
               and
               telling
               them
               ,
               That
               they
               
                 knew
                 not
                 what
                 manner
                 of
                 spirit
                 they
                 were
                 of
                 .
              
            
             
               If
               then
               ,
               in
               spite
               of
               Provocations
               we
               are
               enjoin'd
               to
               return
               
               Prayers
               for
               Maledictions
               ,
               sure
               we
               that
               are
               forbidden
               to
               retribute
               Curses
               ,
               are
               much
               more
               prohibited
               to
               lavish
               them
               .
               And
               if
               we
               will
               take
               the
               pains
               to
               shrive
               ,
               and
               to
               look
               back
               into
               their
               Pedigree
               ,
               we
               may
               discern
               in
               them
               a
               Hereditary
               Guiltiness
               ,
               and
               shall
               find
               them
               sinful
               (
               if
               I
               may
               so
               speak
               )
               by
               Traduction
               ,
               they
               being
               but
               the
               Emanations
               and
               Sallies
               of
               a
               Temper
               extremely
               unconsonant
               to
               Christianity
               ;
               of
               which
               our
               Saviour
               makes
               Love
               
               the
               distinguishing
               Signature
               :
               And
               St.
               Paul
               tells
               us
               ,
               That
               
                 the
                 end
                 of
              
               
               
                 the
                 commandment
                 is
                 charity
              
               .
               Of
               which
               in
               another
               place
               he
               gives
               this
               Character
               ,
               That
               
                 Charity
                 suffereth
              
               
               
                 long
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 kind
                 ;
                 doth
                 not
                 behave
                 it self
                 unseemly
                 ,
                 beareth
                 all
                 things
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 easily
                 provok'd
              
               ;
               with
               
               many
               other
               properties
               of
               the
               same
               nature
               .
               Insomuch
               ,
               that
               St.
               John
               scruples
               not
               to
               affirm
               ,
               that
               if
               a
               
                 man
                 say
                 ,
                 I
                 love
                 God
                 ,
                 and
              
               
               
                 hateth
                 his
                 brother
                 ,
                 he
                 is
                 a
                 lyar
              
               ;
               (
               as
               concorporating
               things
               inconsistent
               ,
               and
               uniting
               things
               distanter
               than
               the
               two
               Poles
               of
               Heaven
               )
               :
               And
               therefore
               when
               St.
               James
               ,
               speaking
               of
               the
               Tongue
               with
               a
               certain
               kind
               of
               wonder
               ,
               in
               these
               terms
               ,
               
                 Therewith
                 bless
                 we
              
               
               
                 God
                 ,
                 even
                 the
                 father
                 ;
                 and
                 therewith
                 curse
                 we
                 men
                 that
                 are
                 made
                 after
                 the
                 similitude
                 of
                 God
                 :
                 Out
                 of
                 the
                 same
                 mouth
                 proceedeth
                 blessing
                 and
                 cursing
              
               ;
               he
               adds
               ,
               
                 My
                 brethren
                 these
                 things
                 ought
                 not
                 so
                 to
                 be
                 .
              
               And
               surely
               too
               ,
               the
               Gospel
               teaches
               us
               ,
               that
               these
               Assassinates
               and
               Murders
               of
               the
               Heart
               ,
               for
               being
               Bloodless
               are
               not
               therefore
               Guiltless
               .
            
             
             
               But
               granting
               the
               sin
               to
               be
               as
               venial
               as
               indeed
               't
               is
               heinous
               ;
               (
               and
               that
               by
               using
               Curses
               men
               did
               not
               merit
               them
               )
               yet
               certainly
               the
               Multitude
               of
               Cleander's
               Faults
               would
               give
               them
               that
               Danger
               that
               is
               pretended
               to
               be
               wanting
               to
               their
               Nature
               ;
               and
               he
               that
               considers
               that
               those
               little
               drops
               of
               Rain
               ,
               which
               single
               seem
               but
               so
               many
               Liquid
               Atoms
               ,
               do
               often
               (
               united
               by
               their
               Confluence
               )
               swell
               into
               Torrents
               ,
               nay
               ,
               (
               sometimes
               )
               into
               Deluges
               ,
               will
               easily
               believe
               that
               Curses
               cannot
               but
               be
               extremely
               criminal
               in
               that
               Cleander
               ,
               that
               curses
               as
               if
               
               he
               were
               an
               Inhabitant
               of
               Mount
               Ebal
               ;
               and
               who
               is
               so
               resolved
               not
               to
               keep
               the
               Devil's
               Counsel
               by
               concealing
               any
               impious
               suggestions
               ,
               that
               were
               but
               his
               
               Prayers
               as
               frequent
               as
               his
               Curses
               ,
               he
               would
               seem
               to
               obey
               literally
               
               that
               qualified
               Injunction
               of
               the
               Apostle
               ,
               of
               
                 praying
                 without
                 ceasing
              
               .
            
             
               I
               might
               add
               ,
               that
               in
               most
               of
               these
               Imprecations
               ,
               God's
               Sacred
               Name
               being
               clearly
               taken
               in
               vain
               ,
               renders
               these
               Ebalites
               guilty
               of
               the
               breach
               as
               well
               of
               the
               Second
               Commandment
               of
               the
               First
               ,
               as
               of
               the
               great
               Commandment
               of
               the
               Second
               Table
               ;
               unless
               they
               will
               justify
               themselves
               from
               that
               Crime
               ,
               by
               the
               owning
               of
               a
               worse
               ;
               I
               mean
               ,
               demonstrate
               ,
               That
               they
               d●d
               not
               employ
               God's
               Name
               to
               no
               purpose
               ,
               by
               confessing
               they
               employ'd
               it
               to
               a
               bad
               one
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               this
               last
               Consideration
               leads
               me
               to
               that
               of
               the
               Unreasonableness
               of
               Cursing
               ;
               For
               it
               is
               not
               a
               fit
               thing
               ,
               that
               
               upon
               every
               little
               Accident
               that
               Cleander's
               vex'd
               at
               ,
               the
               Creatures
               of
               God
               must
               instantly
               change
               Masters
               ,
               and
               devolve
               to
               the
               Devil
               .
               Were
               it
               not
               very
               just
               ,
               that
               God
               should
               be
               the
               Executioner
               of
               all
               the
               rash
               Decrees
               his
               pettish
               Passion
               makes
               ;
               and
               his
               Creator's
               Power
               should
               have
               no
               other
               Employment
               ,
               but
               to
               run
               on
               Errands
               (
               at
               the
               Moody
               Gentleman's
               beck
               )
               often
               repugnant
               to
               his
               Justice
               ,
               and
               ever
               to
               his
               Mercy
               ?
            
             
               Nay
               ,
               how
               often
               has
               Cleander
               in
               his
               Passion
               wish'd
               things
               ,
               whose
               Accomplishment
               himself
               confesses
               would
               have
               made
               him
               miserable
               ?
               And
               is
               it
               then
               either
               the
               part
               of
               a
               Good
               Man
               to
               make
               Wishes
               that
               are
               unlawful
               ,
               or
               for
               a
               Wise
               Man
               to
               frame
               Desires
               of
               
               which
               he
               need
               repent
               the
               Grant
               ?
               One
               Imprecation
               amongst
               the
               rest
               Cleander's
               very
               ready
               in
               ,
               which
               (
               with
               as
               little
               Caution
               as
               he
               commonly
               observes
               )
               I
               would
               not
               have
               pronounc'd
               for
               as
               many
               Kingdoms
               as
               he
               has
               us'd
               it
               times
               ,
               and
               that
               's
               ,
               
                 The
                 Devil
                 take
                 me
              
               .
               For
               should
               God
               (
               as
               we
               are
               sure
               he
               may
               ,
               and
               know
               not
               but
               that
               he
               will
               )
               give
               the
               Devil
               leave
               to
               take
               him
               at
               his
               word
               ,
               in
               what
               a
               case
               were
               he
               ?
               And
               what
               Curb
               shall
               we
               henceforward
               think
               strong
               enough
               to
               bridle
               his
               Corruption
               ,
               when
               what
               to
               the
               wickedest
               is
               the
               greatest
               Terror
               ,
               he
               makes
               his
               wish
               ?
            
             
               There
               was
               some
               years
               since
               in
               Geneva
               ,
               an
               Italian
               ,
               (
               both
               by
               Extraction
               and
               Humour
               )
               who
               
               riding
               a
               handsome
               Mare
               in
               a
               solitary
               Angle
               ,
               was
               by
               the
               Devil
               seduc'd
               to
               stallion
               her
               himself
               .
               The
               Fact
               once
               done
               ,
               the
               Horror
               of
               a
               Crime
               that
               made
               him
               more
               a
               Beast
               than
               that
               on
               which
               he
               acted
               it
               ,
               transported
               him
               so
               far
               ,
               as
               to
               make
               him
               give
               himself
               to
               the
               Devil
               ,
               if
               ever
               after
               he
               relaps'd
               :
               But
               some
               while
               after
               ,
               forgetting
               both
               his
               Conscience
               ,
               and
               the
               condition
               of
               his
               Vow
               ,
               he
               was
               fatally
               tempted
               to
               repeat
               his
               former
               Beastliness
               in
               the
               self-same
               place
               ;
               which
               he
               had
               scarce
               compleated
               ,
               before
               the
               Devil
               appearing
               to
               him
               visibly
               ,
               remembers
               him
               of
               his
               forgotten
               Promise
               ,
               and
               claims
               the
               Forfeiture
               :
               The
               trembling
               Wretch
               ,
               to
               avoid
               the
               being
               hurried
               away
               instantly
               from
               the
               Hell
               he
               felt
               ,
               
               to
               that
               he
               fear'd
               ,
               compounds
               with
               the
               Devil
               to
               resign
               him
               his
               Soul
               at
               the
               expiration
               of
               a
               limited
               Reprieve
               :
               But
               before
               that
               time
               came
               to
               be
               effluxt
               ,
               it
               pleased
               God
               to
               visit
               both
               himself
               and
               the
               place
               of
               his
               Residence
               with
               the
               Plague
               ;
               which
               rowzing
               his
               sear'd
               and
               lethargick
               Conscience
               ,
               forc'd
               him
               to
               expressions
               of
               his
               Anguish
               unusual
               enough
               to
               make
               his
               Companions
               inquisitive
               into
               the
               Cause
               ;
               which
               having
               fully
               and
               circumstantially
               confest
               ,
               he
               was
               after
               his
               Recovery
               ,
               upon
               that
               Evidence
               ,
               accus'd
               of
               having
               carnally
               abus'd
               a
               Beast
               ,
               and
               having
               made
               a
               Compact
               with
               the
               Devil
               ;
               which
               latter
               ,
               though
               upon
               a
               Repentance
               suitable
               to
               his
               Sin
               ,
               God's
               Mercy
               did
               disannul
               ,
               yet
               the
               Justice
               of
               
               the
               Magistrate
               did
               for
               the
               former
               Crime
               condemn
               him
               to
               a
               Death
               he
               richly
               had
               deserved
               ,
               and
               penitently
               endured
               .
               This
               Story
               I
               thought
               not
               impertinent
               to
               instance
               in
               ,
               to
               teach
               us
               how
               dangerous
               and
               unsafe
               it
               is
               to
               present
               that
               to
               the
               Devil
               ,
               for
               which
               Christ
               shed
               his
               Blood
               ;
               and
               (
               with
               more
               wariness
               than
               Cleander
               can
               pretend
               to
               )
               to
               offer
               that
               to
               one
               that
               is
               greedy
               to
               snatch
               (
               and
               therefore
               surely
               willing
               to
               accept
               )
               that
               which
               the
               whole
               business
               of
               Religion
               is
               to
               defend
               and
               rescue
               from
               his
               Attempts
               .
               The
               Story
               it self
               may
               teach
               us
               ,
               that
               though
               we
               are
               never
               to
               despair
               of
               God's
               Mercy
               ,
               we
               are
               as
               seldom
               to
               provoke
               his
               Justice
               .
               I
               have
               given
               it
               you
               in
               the
               very
               Words
               of
               our
               Friend
               Mr.
               Boyle
               ,
               who
               had
               it
               upon
               
               the
               place
               from
               an
               excellent
               Divine
               of
               that
               Republick
               ;
               to
               whom
               the
               Delinquent
               himself
               confest
               it
               ,
               as
               to
               him
               that
               was
               assign'd
               to
               comfort
               and
               assist
               him
               at
               his
               Death
               .
               And
               the
               Instances
               are
               not
               unfrequent
               in
               the
               most
               credited
               Authors
               ,
               of
               those
               whose
               Imprecations
               God
               has
               punish'd
               by
               granting
               them
               .
            
             
               But
               I
               had
               almost
               forgot
               to
               mention
               one
               opportunity
               to
               which
               the
               Devil
               is
               indebted
               for
               a
               vast
               number
               of
               Cleander's
               Curses
               ,
               and
               that
               's
               his
               Gaming
               ;
               for
               the
               least
               Frown
               of
               Chance
               upon
               him
               then
               ,
               gives
               Fire
               to
               whole
               Volleys
               of
               Curses
               against
               Fortune
               ;
               if
               at
               least
               they
               deserve
               not
               a
               more
               heinous
               Title
               than
               barely
               that
               of
               Curses
               ,
               who
               in
               severer
               mens
               Opinions
               
               are
               guilty
               of
               an
               (
               at
               least
               )
               Implicite
               Blaspheming
               ;
               since
               Solomon
               
               does
               discreetly
               affirm
               ,
               That
               all
               these
               cross
               and
               happy
               Lucks
               at
               Play
               are
               not
               rashly
               or
               designlesly
               shuffled
               by
               a
               blind
               Hazard
               ,
               but
               are
               dispensed
               by
               an
               All-ruling
               Providence
               .
            
             
               I
               determine
               not
               here
               ,
               Whether
               these
               Words
               of
               the
               Wise
               Man
               (
               according
               to
               the
               receiv'd
               Opinion
               of
               Divines
               )
               may
               be
               extended
               to
               an
               absolute
               Sentence
               of
               Condemnation
               against
               all
               Games
               of
               Hazard
               ;
               but
               this
               I
               know
               ,
               that
               (
               not
               to
               insist
               on
               that
               Injunction
               of
               God
               to
               the
               
                 Jews
                 ,
                 Be
                 circumspect
                 ,
                 and
                 make
                 no
                 mention
                 of
                 the
                 names
                 of
              
               
               
                 other
                 gods
                 ,
                 neither
                 let
                 it
                 be
                 heard
                 out
                 of
                 thy
                 mouth
              
               ;
               )
               it
               is
               very
               unfit
               that
               under
               the
               Sunshine
               of
               Christianity
               ,
               
               we
               should
               build
               or
               repair
               the
               ruin'd
               Altars
               of
               depos'd
               Chance
               ,
               and
               acknowledge
               a
               blind
               Deity
               ;
               that
               under
               the
               abused
               name
               of
               Fortune
               ,
               Fools
               anciently
               were
               pleas'd
               to
               create
               a
               Goddess
               ,
               and
               sinners
               now
               dissemble
               to
               mistake
               for
               some
               such
               thing
               ,
               that
               they
               may
               unreproved
               controul
               and
               censure
               those
               Heavenly
               Dispensations
               their
               proud
               and
               peevish
               natures
               are
               displeased
               with
               .
               I
               know
               that
               many
               unforeseen
               Accidents
               ,
               which
               the
               Ignorant
               Vulgar
               do
               impute
               to
               Fortune
               ,
               are
               by
               God
               in
               the
               Scriptures
               ascribed
               to
               Providence
               :
               And
               therefore
               you
               must
               give
               me
               leave
               ,
               both
               to
               take
               notice
               of
               ,
               and
               disapprove
               that
               ungrateful
               expression
               of
               our
               Language
               ,
               wherein
               (
               to
               justify
               our
               Unthankfulness
               for
               the
               Benefits
               
               we
               have
               received
               )
               we
               use
               to
               call
               God's
               Blessing
               to
               a
               man
               in
               his
               outward
               Possessions
               ,
               his
               Fortune
               ;
               as
               if
               our
               Estates
               were
               Gifts
               blindly
               cast
               on
               us
               by
               the
               rash
               Profuseness
               of
               that
               fond
               Deity
               ,
               and
               not
               the
               Emanations
               of
               God's
               Bounty
               ,
               and
               Presents
               of
               his
               Providence
               .
               
               Old
               Jacob's
               Gratitude
               speaketh
               another
               strain
               ,
               and
               will
               not
               mention
               his
               Wealth
               (
               though
               never
               so
               justly
               the
               Wages
               of
               his
               prosper'd
               Industry
               )
               without
               acknowledging
               it
               for
               the
               Gift
               of
               God.
               
            
             
               But
               since
               this
               much-abused
               Name
               of
               Fortune
               has
               presented
               it self
               in
               my
               way
               ,
               I
               dare
               not
               take
               leave
               of
               it
               ,
               till
               I
               have
               express'd
               a
               desire
               that
               men
               would
               be
               more
               wary
               how
               they
               defame
               her
               ,
               lest
               through
               the
               sides
               of
               Fortune
               they
               
               affront
               Providence
               .
               If
               Fortune
               under
               the
               common
               Notion
               ,
               had
               fee'd
               me
               to
               be
               her
               Advocate
               ,
               I
               should
               alledge
               ,
               That
               Gamesters
               of
               all
               others
               ,
               have
               the
               least
               Justice
               to
               complain
               of
               her
               Disfavours
               ,
               since
               the
               Success
               of
               the
               one
               absolutely
               depending
               upon
               the
               Losses
               of
               the
               other
               ,
               they
               themselves
               reduce
               Fortune
               to
               a
               Necessity
               of
               disobliging
               some
               of
               them
               ,
               by
               rendring
               it
               impossible
               for
               her
               to
               content
               them
               all
               .
               And
               I
               would
               add
               ,
               That
               what
               we
               fondly
               call
               her
               Inconstancy
               ,
               when
               she
               sometimes
               forsakes
               those
               she
               once
               smil'd
               on
               ,
               is
               much
               more
               properly
               to
               be
               ascribed
               to
               the
               Justice
               of
               her
               Goodness
               ,
               and
               the
               Extensiveness
               of
               her
               Affection
               to
               men
               ;
               since
               seeing
               she
               is
               not
               able
               to
               make
               them
               all
               compleatly
               happy
               at
               
               once
               ,
               at
               least
               she
               endeavours
               to
               make
               them
               fortunate
               by
               turns
               ,
               and
               for
               some
               Intervals
               of
               time
               .
            
             
               Nor
               is
               it
               her
               Fickleness
               ,
               that
               in
               pursuance
               of
               this
               impartial
               Love
               she
               seems
               to
               desert
               her
               former
               Favourites
               ,
               when
               she
               confers
               her
               Favours
               on
               new
               Persons
               ,
               since
               she
               bereaves
               not
               the
               first
               possessors
               of
               them
               with
               intention
               ,
               but
               only
               by
               consequent
               ;
               as
               being
               not
               able
               to
               lend
               her
               benefits
               to
               new
               Necessities
               ,
               without
               redemanding
               them
               of
               her
               former
               Debtors
               ;
               whom
               ,
               otherwise
               ,
               she
               has
               as
               little
               design
               to
               offend
               by
               this
               transplacing
               of
               her
               bounties
               ,
               as
               the
               Sun
               has
               to
               benight
               the
               Antipodes
               ,
               when
               to
               bring
               Light
               into
               our
               Hemisphere
               he
               is
               necessitated
               to
               leave
               them
               in
               darkness
               .
            
             
             
               'T
               is
               not
               the
               malice
               or
               instability
               of
               Fortune
               ,
               but
               our
               mistakes
               of
               the
               nature
               of
               her
               Presents
               ,
               that
               occasion
               our
               Complaints
               ;
               for
               we
               mistaking
               those
               Benefits
               for
               absolutely
               given
               to
               us
               ,
               which
               are
               indeed
               but
               deposited
               in
               our
               hands
               ,
               repine
               and
               murmur
               at
               their
               restitution
               ,
               instead
               of
               being
               thankful
               for
               their
               Loan
               ,
               and
               having
               had
               their
               use
               .
               And
               surely
               they
               that
               pretend
               to
               be
               so
               perfect
               in
               her
               inconstancy
               ,
               must
               be
               guilty
               of
               more
               madness
               in
               trusting
               her
               ,
               than
               she
               can
               be
               of
               treachery
               in
               deceiving
               them
               .
            
             
               But
               were
               I
               to
               frame
               an
               Apology
               to
               vindicate
               Fortune
               under
               the
               notion
               of
               Providence
               ,
               I
               might
               represent
               ,
               that
               what
               we
               attribute
               of
               her
               envious
               partiality
               ,
               when
               she
               does
               shower
               most
               Favours
               on
               
               those
               that
               least
               deserve
               them
               ,
               is
               but
               the
               effect
               of
               God's
               immenser
               Bounty
               ,
               that
               gives
               even
               them
               a
               larger
               portion
               of
               Pleasures
               in
               this
               life
               ,
               to
               whom
               he
               reserves
               none
               at
               all
               in
               the
               next
               ;
               and
               withal
               casts
               a
               disesteem
               upon
               these
               glittering
               Goods
               ,
               Fools
               over-value
               ,
               by
               heaping
               them
               upon
               his
               very
               Enemies
               .
            
             
               I
               might
               farther
               alledge
               ,
               That
               what
               our
               discontents
               ,
               call
               Fortune's
               Spitefulness
               ,
               and
               her
               Injustice
               ,
               when
               she
               seems
               to
               persecute
               those
               most
               ,
               that
               are
               most
               Virtuous
               ,
               is
               in
               effect
               but
               God's
               Care
               of
               his
               Children
               ,
               which
               by
               these
               Afflictions
               both
               Exercises
               and
               improves
               their
               Piety
               ,
               secures
               them
               from
               the
               Allurements
               of
               Prosperity
               ,
               endears
               his
               Assistances
               and
               his
               Recompences
               by
               these
               
               difficulties
               ;
               which
               both
               add
               Lustre
               to
               their
               Victories
               ,
               and
               make
               their
               Vertues
               more
               Exemplary
               and
               more
               Meritorious
               .
            
             
               And
               (
               Lastly
               )
               I
               might
               say
               ,
               That
               what
               we
               miscall
               Inconstancy
               in
               Fortune
               ,
               when
               her
               Changes
               invalidate
               the
               title
               of
               Prescription
               to
               her
               Favours
               ,
               and
               make
               their
               residence
               (
               when
               possess'd
               )
               as
               incertain
               as
               their
               wish'd
               stay
               is
               welcome
               ;
               is
               indeed
               but
               a
               merciful
               stratagem
               of
               Providence
               ,
               to
               wean
               us
               from
               a
               dangerous
               fondness
               of
               these
               transitory
               Goods
               ;
               lest
               if
               the
               continuance
               of
               their
               fruition
               were
               as
               certain
               as
               the
               contentments
               of
               it
               are
               great
               ,
               we
               should
               by
               neglecting
               forfeit
               all
               nobler
               joys
               ,
               and
               lose
               far
               greater
               Pleasures
               reserved
               for
               us
               in
               Heaven
               .
            
             
             
               But
               we
               have
               too
               long
               wandered
               from
               our
               Theme
               ;
               let
               us
               return
               to
               Cleander
               and
               his
               Cursing
               ;
               which
               over
               and
               above
               those
               other
               good
               qualities
               we
               have
               already
               observ'd
               in
               it
               ,
               has
               that
               of
               being
               a
               Sin
               as
               useless
               as
               it
               is
               Unchristian
               .
               All
               other
               Vices
               have
               something
               to
               extenuate
               their
               Guilt
               ;
               all
               other
               Sinners
               serve
               Satan
               for
               his
               Pay
               ;
               but
               the
               Curser
               ,
               (
               as
               the
               Swearer
               )
               is
               the
               Devil's
               Volunteer
               ,
               valuing
               his
               Soul
               so
               cheaply
               ,
               that
               some
               suspect
               ,
               that
               the
               reason
               of
               its
               stay
               in
               the
               Body
               ,
               is
               ,
               that
               the
               Devil
               scarce
               thinks
               it
               worth
               the
               fetching
               :
               And
               certainly
               ,
               Esau's
               
               Bargain
               ,
               who
               sold
               his
               Birth-right
               for
               a
               Mess
               of
               Pottage
               ,
               becomes
               no
               more
               absurd
               when
               parallell'd
               to
               this
               ;
               which
               makes
               those
               it
               Damns
               as
               much
               admir'd
               for
               their
               
               folly
               ,
               as
               tormented
               for
               their
               sins
               ,
               and
               so
               casts
               upon
               them
               the
               imputation
               of
               Madness
               ,
               that
               it
               deprives
               them
               of
               the
               privilege
               of
               Mad-men
               ;
               for
               whereas
               Frantick
               Persons
               (
               who
               innocently
               act
               all
               Crimes
               )
               may
               Kill
               men
               without
               Murther
               ,
               the
               Curser
               (
               on
               the
               other
               side
               )
               does
               Murther
               without
               Killing
               .
            
             
               Cleander
               may
               indeed
               give
               himself
               to
               the
               Devil
               by
               his
               Curses
               ,
               but
               never
               his
               Enemy
               ;
               for
               if
               Solomon's
               Authority
               be
               credited
               in
               this
               point
               ,
               we
               shall
               believe
               that
               ,
               as
               
               
                 the
                 bird
                 by
                 wandering
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 swallow
                 by
                 flying
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 curse
                 causless
                 shall
                 not
                 come
                 .
              
               But
               the
               best
               on
               't
               is
               ,
               that
               these
               Intentional
               Sins
               ,
               for
               being
               ineffectual
               against
               others
               ,
               divest
               not
               the
               being
               criminal
               in
               themselves
               :
               For
               the
               Curser
               is
               as
               uncharitable
               
               to
               himself
               as
               to
               his
               Enemies
               ;
               he
               commits
               Murders
               without
               acting
               them
               ;
               and
               contracts
               the
               Guilt
               of
               his
               Neighbours
               Blood
               ,
               without
               shedding
               it
               ;
               and
               incurs
               the
               Penalty
               ,
               without
               once
               tasting
               the
               Sweetness
               of
               Revenge
               .
               For
               't
               is
               not
               only
               in
               Good
               that
               God
               accepts
               the
               Will
               for
               the
               Deed
               ;
               he
               makes
               the
               same
               reception
               to
               our
               Endeavours
               and
               Designs
               of
               Ill.
               And
               justly
               may
               God
               punish
               the
               Ill
               by
               us
               intended
               ,
               tho
               by
               him
               prevented
               ,
               since
               that
               disappointment
               in
               which
               we
               think
               to
               find
               our
               justification
               ,
               is
               not
               the
               effect
               of
               our
               want
               of
               Malice
               ,
               but
               our
               want
               of
               Power
               ,
               and
               so
               does
               not
               excuse
               our
               Ill
               ,
               but
               magnifies
               God's
               Goodness
               .
               Let
               us
               therefore
               cease
               to
               wonder
               ,
               that
               whilst
               we
               curse
               one
               another
               ,
               our
               Maker
               curses
               
               us
               ;
               and
               that
               the
               Plague
               is
               so
               raging
               in
               our
               Houses
               ,
               so
               long
               as
               it
               is
               so
               rife
               in
               our
               Mouths
               :
               But
               rather
               let
               us
               tremble
               at
               that
               dismal
               Fate
               ,
               that
               David
               praying
               against
               his
               Enemies
               ,
               Prophecies
               against
               God's
               .
               
                 As
                 he
                 loved
                 Cursing
              
               (
               says
               he
               )
               so
               
               let
               it
               
                 come
                 unto
                 him
                 :
                 as
                 he
                 delighted
                 not
                 in
                 Blessing
                 ,
                 so
                 let
                 it
                 be
                 far
                 from
                 him
                 :
                 As
                 he
                 Cloathed
                 himself
                 with
              
               Cursing
               ,
               
                 like
                 as
                 with
                 his
                 Garment
                 ,
                 So
                 let
                 it
                 come
                 into
                 his
                 Bowels
                 like
                 Water
                 ,
                 and
                 like
                 Oil
                 into
                 his
                 Bones
                 .
              
            
             
               I
               might
               yet
               further
               alledge
               ,
               That
               Curses
               are
               of
               so
               culpable
               a
               Nature
               ,
               that
               their
               very
               Apology
               concludes
               them
               Guilty
               ,
               by
               Pleading
               them
               to
               be
               Idle
               Words
               :
               And
               I
               might
               add
               to
               all
               the
               past
               
               Dissuasives
               ,
               The
               Ill
               Repute
               that
               Curses
               gain
               a
               man
               ,
               amongst
               the
               most
               Scrupulous
               and
               Preciser
               sort
               
               of
               People
               ,
               who
               judging
               of
               the
               greatness
               of
               the
               Vice
               ,
               by
               the
               smallness
               of
               the
               Advantage
               that
               is
               derivable
               from
               it
               ,
               will
               hardly
               believe
               him
               to
               be
               the
               owner
               of
               much
               Piety
               ,
               that
               will
               Slight
               it
               upon
               so
               little
               a
               Temptation
               .
               And
               those
               of
               our
               Divines
               that
               hold
               Curses
               to
               be
               the
               Dialect
               of
               the
               Reprobates
               in
               Hell
               ,
               will
               think
               it
               but
               an
               ominous
               Piece
               of
               Providence
               in
               Cleander
               to
               imitate
               Travellers
               ,
               who
               use
               to
               accustom
               themselves
               before-hand
               to
               the
               Language
               of
               those
               Climes
               they
               design
               to
               Visit
               .
               But
               the
               last
               Consideration
               that
               I
               shall
               employ
               to
               persuade
               you
               to
               divest
               ,
               with
               the
               Practice
               of
               using
               Curses
               ,
               the
               means
               of
               Provoking
               them
               ,
               and
               the
               Fears
               of
               suffering
               them
               ;
               is
               that
               of
               the
               scandal
               this
               vicious
               Custom
               gives
               to
               weaker
               Christians
               .
               And
               as
               
               the
               former
               Considerations
               relate
               properly
               to
               Cleander
               ,
               so
               this
               I
               must
               more
               peculiarly
               address
               to
               You
               ,
               whose
               Vertues
               have
               acquir'd
               you
               so
               high
               a
               Reverence
               ,
               that
               they
               have
               put
               it
               in
               your
               Power
               ,
               not
               only
               to
               excuse
               ,
               but
               almost
               to
               Canonize
               the
               worst
               Actions
               by
               your
               Example
               ;
               and
               therefore
               ought
               to
               make
               you
               so
               much
               the
               more
               Wary
               and
               Strict
               in
               your
               Behaviour
               :
               Since
               men
               believing
               it
               impossible
               to
               fail
               in
               imitating
               you
               ,
               your
               Exemplary
               Faults
               will
               contract
               a
               deeper
               Guilt
               by
               being
               Presidents
               ,
               than
               by
               being
               Sins
               .
            
             
               But
               ,
               Sir
               ,
               lest
               I
               should
               give
               you
               too
               Just
               an
               occasion
               to
               encrease
               the
               number
               of
               your
               Curses
               ,
               by
               bestowing
               some
               fresh
               ones
               upon
               my
               tediousness
               ,
               I
               will
               now
               put
               a
               Period
               to
               your
               trouble
               ,
               by
               saying
               to
               you
               as
               once
               our
               Saviour
               did
               to
               the
               
               young
               man
               in
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               (
               that
               so
               resembled
               you
               in
               the
               Possession
               of
               so
               many
               Vertues
               )
               
                 One
                 thing
                 thon
                 lackest
              
               (
               yet
               )
               ;
               and
               that
               one
               thing
               in
               
               you
               is
               but
               ,
               by
               Sacrificing
               your
               Habitude
               of
               Cursing
               ,
               to
               make
               your self
               capable
               of
               as
               transcendent
               Blessings
               as
               constantly
               are
               implor'd
               for
               you
               ,
               by
            
             
               
                 SIR
                 ,
              
               
                 Your
                 most
                 Affectionate
                 ,
                 most
                 Faithful
                 ,
                 and
                 most
                 Humble
                 Servant
                 ,
                 
                   W.
                   D.
                
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           
             
               ERRATA
               .
            
             
               PAge
               3.
               l.
               8.
               read
               
                 Wise
                 Man.
              
               P.
               127.
               l.
               ult
               .
               r.
               Promissory
               .
            
          
           
             
             
               THE
               CONTENTS
               .
            
             
               
                 
                   VAIN
                   Swearing
                   ,
                   as
                   well
                   as
                   Perjury
                   ,
                   forbidden
                   in
                   Scripture
                   .
                
                 Page
                 2
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 I.
                 
              
               
                 
                   The
                   usual
                   Pleas
                   and
                   Excuses
                   for
                   Vain
                   and
                   Rash
                   Swearing
                   ,
                   considered
                   .
                   As
                   ,
                
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 
                   It
                   's
                   a
                   Venial
                   Sin.
                
                 7
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   but
                   seldom
                
                 .
                 16
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 
                   Not
                   so
                   often
                   as
                   others
                
                 .
                 19
              
               
                 4.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   what
                   is
                   true
                
                 .
                 22
              
               
                 5.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   by
                   the
                   Creatures
                   ,
                   and
                   not
                   by
                   God.
                
                 28
              
               
                 6.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   by
                   fictitious
                   terms
                
                 .
                 31
              
               
                 7.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   some
                   peculiar
                   Oath
                
                 .
                 34
              
               
                 8.
                 
                 
                   If
                   they
                   swear
                   not
                   ,
                   they
                   shall
                   not
                   be
                   believed
                   .
                
                 38
              
               
                 9.
                 
                 
                   If
                   they
                   swear
                   not
                   ,
                   they
                   shall
                   not
                   be
                   fear'd
                   ,
                   nor
                   obeyed
                   .
                
                 43
              
               
                 10.
                 
                 
                   They
                   swear
                   not
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   Passion
                   ,
                   or
                   in
                   Drink
                   .
                
                 46
                 ,
                 52.
                 
              
               
                 11.
                 
                 
                   They
                   repeat
                   but
                   the
                   Oaths
                   of
                   others
                   .
                
                 53
              
               
                 
                 12.
                 
                 
                   By
                   using
                   Oaths
                   they
                   are
                   looked
                   upon
                   as
                   Gentlemen
                   .
                
                 59
              
               
                 13.
                 
                 
                   If
                   they
                   renounce
                   it
                   ,
                   they
                   shall
                   be
                   derided
                   for
                   it
                   .
                
                 66
              
               
                 
                   A
                   Digression
                   about
                   Repentance
                
                 .
                 77
              
               
                 14.
                 
                 
                   It
                   's
                   impossible
                   to
                   subdue
                   it
                
                 .
                 88
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 II.
                 
              
               
                 
                   Directions
                   for
                   the
                   Cure
                   of
                   it
                   .
                
                 99
              
               
                 1.
                 
                 
                   Consider
                   ,
                   it
                   's
                   not
                   the
                   Nature
                   ,
                   but
                   the
                   Commonness
                   ,
                   makes
                   Swearing
                   thought
                   a
                   little
                   Sin.
                
                 101
              
               
                 2.
                 
                 
                   Be
                   zealous
                   and
                   incessant
                   in
                   Prayer
                   .
                
              
               
                 3.
                 
                 
                   Fly
                   the
                   Conversation
                   and
                   Familiarity
                   of
                   Profess'd
                   Swearers
                   .
                
                 110
              
               
                 4.
                 
                 
                   Let
                   the
                   Customary
                   Swearer
                   oblige
                   himself
                   to
                   pay
                   ,
                   or
                   suffer
                   somewhat
                   for
                   every
                   Oath
                   .
                
                 112
              
               
                 
                   Or
                   procure
                   some
                   Friend
                   to
                   take
                   notice
                   of
                   it
                   .
                
                 113
              
               
                 5.
                 
                 
                   To
                   resolve
                   at
                   once
                   to
                   renounce
                   it
                   .
                
                 115
              
               
                 6.
                 
                 
                   To
                   reflect
                   frequently
                   upon
                   the
                   folly
                   of
                   it
                   .
                
                 119
              
            
             
               
                 
                   A
                   Discourse
                   against
                   Cursing
                
                 .
                 Pag.
                 1.
                 
              
            
          
           
             
             
               
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               preach'd
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                 in
                 the
                 Fields
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               Jan.
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               the
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         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A28981-e260
           
             Anno
             1647.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A28981-e600
           
             Mat.
             5.
             33
             ,
             34.
             
          
           
             V.
             37.
             
          
           
             James
             5.
             12.
             
          
           
             Eccl.
             9.
             2.
             
          
           
             Hos
             .
             4.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             Zech.
             5.
             3.
             
          
           
             Luke
             12.
             47.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             11.
             21
             ,
             22.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             19.
             20.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             20.
             7.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             10.
             31.
             
          
           
             Mark
             5.
             9.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             23.
             10
             ▪
             
          
           
             Mat.
             7.
             13.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             23.
             2.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             18.
             32.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             16.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             6.
             23.
             
             Prov.
             13.
             18.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             30.
             12.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             33
             ,
             34
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Lev.
             19.
             12.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             139.
             20.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             34.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             5.
             7.
             
          
           
             Deut.
             6.
             13.
             
             &
             10.
             20.
             
             Isa
             .
             65.
             16.
             
             Josh
             .
             23.
             7.
             
             Jer.
             12.
             16.
             
             Exod.
             23.
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             28.
             8.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             6.
             7.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             3.
             19.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             16.
             2.
             
          
           
             James
             2.
             10.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             32.
             19.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             16.
             26.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             6.
             16.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             29
             ,
             3●
             .
          
           
             Eph.
             4.
             26.
             
          
           
             Dan.
             5.
             5.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             14.
             9.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             28.
             1.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             21.
             6.
             
          
           
             Josh
             .
             24.
             15.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             11.
             
          
           
             Acts
             5
             41.
             
          
           
             Job
             12.
             4.
             
          
           
             Mat
             9.
             23.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             3.
             34.
             
          
           
             Mark
             8.
             33.
             
          
           
             The
             Lines
             included
             within
             this
             Parenthesis
             [
             ]
             may
             perhaps
             pass
             for
             one
             ,
             and
             appear
             somewhat
             foreign
             both
             to
             the
             Theme
             and
             Style
             of
             this
             Discourse
             :
             I
             have
             yet
             ventur'd
             to
             insert
             ▪
             them
             here
             ,
             to
             please
             a
             Person
             that
             I
             much
             affect
             ;
             leaving
             to
             the
             Reader
             a
             liberty
             to
             skip
             them
             if
             he
             please
             ;
             but
             if
             he
             chance
             to
             vouchsafe
             them
             ▪
             a
             perusal
             ,
             I
             must
             beg
             for
             them
             his
             attention
             ,
             not
             that
             they
             deserve
             it
             ,
             but
             because
             they
             need
             it
             .
             
               It
               ends
            
             p.
             87.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             15.
             10.
             
          
           
             In
             an
             Essay
             of
             mistaken
             Modesty
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             16.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             3.
             24.
             
          
           
             Mark
             10.
             49.
             
          
           
             John
             5.
             2
             ,
             3
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             Mark
             2.
             9
             ,
             12.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             1.
             3.
             
          
           
             Jer.
             28.
             11
             ,
             12
             ,
             13.
             
          
           
             Numb
             .
             15.
             32.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             4.
             15.
             
          
           
             Josh
             .
             6.
             26.
             
          
           
             1
             Kings
             16.
             34.
             
          
           
             James
             4.
             7
             ,
             8.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             13.
             11
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             21.
             9.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.
             13.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             1.
             6.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             Rev.
             6.
             2.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             8.
             26.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             34.
             7.
             
             Josh
             .
             7.
             15.
             
             Judges
             20.
             6.
             
          
           
             Jam.
             1.
             21.
             
          
           
             Isa
             .
             52.
             3.
             
          
           
             Nahum
             3.
             16.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A28981-e5100
           
             Psal
             .
             10.
             7.
             
             Rom.
             3.
             14.
             
             Psal
             .
             62.
             4.
             
          
           
             2
             Sam.
             16.
             5.
             
             &
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             3.
             9.
             
          
           
             2
             Sam.
             16.
             11
             ,
             12.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             44.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             12.
             14.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             4.
             12
             ,
             13.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             11
             ▪
             1.
             
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             23.
             
          
           
             Luke
             9.
             54
             ,
             55.
             
          
           
             John
             13.
             35.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             1.
             5.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             13.
             4
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             1
             John
             4.
             20.
             
          
           
             James
             3.
             9
             ,
             10.
             
          
           
             Deut.
             11.
             29.
             
          
           
             1
             Thes
             .
             5.
             17.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             16.
             33.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             23
             :
             13.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             33.
             11
             ,
             &
             5.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             25.
             33.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             26.
             2.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             109.
             17
             ,
             18.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             12.
             36.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             10.
             21.