A cure for the tongue-evill, or, A receipt against vain oaths being a plain and profitable poem, shewing the hainousness of common swearing, with reasons against it, and remedies for it / by T.I., an hearty well-wisher to his king, church, and country. Jordan, Thomas, 1612?-1685? 1662 Approx. 27 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A46240 Wing J1024 ESTC R10705 12253748 ocm 12253748 57250 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A46240) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 57250) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 151:8) A cure for the tongue-evill, or, A receipt against vain oaths being a plain and profitable poem, shewing the hainousness of common swearing, with reasons against it, and remedies for it / by T.I., an hearty well-wisher to his king, church, and country. Jordan, Thomas, 1612?-1685? [2], 14 p. Printed for Christopher Ecclestone ..., London : 1662. Written by T. Jordan. Cf. Wing. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Swearing -- Early works to 1800. 2003-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-02 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-06 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-06 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-08 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A CURE FOR THE Tongue-Evill . OR , A Receipt against VAIN OATHS . Being a plain and profitable Poem . SHEWING The Hainousness of COMMON SWEARING , with Reasons against it , and Remedies for it . By T. I. an hearty Well-wisher to his King , Church , and Country . LONDON , Printed for Christopher Ecclestone , in St. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet , 1662. A CURE FOR THE Tongue-Evill . REader take well what I thee here present To Cure thy Tongue , that wild-fire instrument ▪ As it by Common Oaths doth give offence To all that fear God in a filial sence . Now what means swearing customarily ? Is 't not a strain of hellish poesy ? But stay ; who ever heard hells Jailor use With horrid oath Gods dreadfull name t' abuse ? Cert's 't is a truth , to give devills their due , They will not swear , as doth their cursed crue . The devils roaring herd both swear and lye , But this alone is his grand property ? Hells fiend rants not in wine , or ale , or beer As if with oaths he heaven and earth would tear . His subtile wit variety affords Without all nonsense-sauring-swearing-words . Yet as for oaths , as commonly they 're us'd The causes vile , by which they are produc't , Are hells provoking pow'rs , Satan and sin , Sinne unrepented causing rage within ; Want of Gods fear and love , the great neglect Of daily prayers , want of due respect To Gods all-seeing eye , his vast essence , That heaven and earth doth fill with his presence ; Neglect of reading Gods most Holy Law , Which God hath ma●e to keep us in his awe , The damn'● abuse of mea● to great excesse , Of Wine , and other drinks , to drunkennesse , A vayn and light heart , a distemper'd brain , And fellowsh●p with those , whom Oathes do stain , A 〈◊〉 , and hee●less minde , base idlenesse , Anger , and gami●g and covetousnesse ▪ For were it not for these infectious ills , No speech would bee , that conversation spills . Swearing's a bodge in wilde mens poetry , Who minde not words of ingenuity . It is a rash fooles bolt , that is soon shot , Did men consider , use it they would not . It is the rant of debauch'd Ruffians , That stare and roar o're pots and cups and cans . It is a mad , uncivill , Bedlam course , Which gracelesse people use in their discourse . It is the silth defiles Gods Attributes , A Folly which with reason never suites . The Cognizance 't is of Gods Enemy , The damned mens note in Hellish misery . It is from Hell a vapour rising so , That down to Hell again it bends to goe . It is a badge of Satans followers , Gives blackness worse than that of Colliers . It binds the Soul to Satan , Death and Hell. It is the signe , at which Satan doth dwell . It is the Common and filthy drivell Of a foul in-mate in men ▪ the Devill . It is the poyson of the lips , which makes The soul to stink worse than the filthiest ●akes . It is the thunder from Hell that is sent , For it men quake , if for it they repent . It is a banefull hearb , thht grows apace . It chokes the seed of the good word of grace . It is the Common Filth , whereby's defil'd Both Man and Woman , and the tender Child . One onely day the Sabbath men do break But every day and hour sweare , when they speak . Oaths are so common , they fly up and down In every Country , County , City , Town . At Cards and Dice , at table , bed and boord Men use this plaguy soul-polluting word . Both Master and Servants in every place Gods Holy Name do commonly disgrace : The rich and poor in this are all alike ▪ At Gods great name with ugly Oaths they strike . There 's scarce an house , in which there 's not one dead Through wicked oaths , which wound the heart and head . For other sins there seemeth some pretence , That profit or pleasure doth flow from thence ; Such is the way of Drunkards , theevish wights , And those that violate the Nuptiall Rites ; But swearing is so base a foolery , It brings no pleasure , nor utility . It wounds more hearts together at one blow , Then any weapon of the deadly'st foe . A Common oath is like a fatal dart , Which being shot doth wound the shooters heart . An house full of plagues and a tongue of Oaths Are joyn'd together , as Body and Cloaths . For this the flying roll of cursed woe That cuts off many , o're the earth doth go . As man doth not delight to blesse , but swear And curse , so shall be wofull curses wear . This brings the plague on mens houses of clay , Upon their goods and Chattels in a way . Of crosses losses and many curses It breeds a vacuum in mens purses . Nothing holds well with those , who do'nt refrain , Their tongues from belching in this bloody strain . The swearer needs no executioner , But his vile tongue himself to rent and tear , He needs not any poison , spear or sword , To kill himself , but his own tongue and word . A good name is precious in ev'ry kinde , But this is worthless in a swearers minde . It is a truth , 'gainst which there 's no dispute , He lyar-like is crackt in his repute . By oaths Saints hearts are wounded through their ears They 'r words for which the Christian sheddeth tears ; They grieve Gods Spirit in saints , and they make In little worlds a great and sad earth-quake . Swearing is like the plague it spreads and kills , With great infection it many fills . The swearers plagues company , Still multiply their base society . Except the Scottish Covenant-sharer , I dare pronounce the rash common swearer , The worst of the worst of Subjects , yea more The millions of common oathes men swore , Occasion'd this damned Covenant , As being the product of the swearers rant : God suffer'd this for these , for cause best known Unto his dreadfull Majesty alone . To gather rebells 'gainst our Sovereign Our Church and State , to our great woe and pain . Swearing's a fire , that many places burns , It is an engine , houses over-turns , It smites the aire into tempests , thunder , The ground Gods-footstool it tears asunder . It makes the Land to put on sable weeds , And in great Kingdoms dismal changes breeds . This bloody agent both in Church and State , Doth ruin all things in most dreadfull fate . It is a Kingdom-weakning , wasting Sin , It is a State-confounding cursed gin , This leading generall sin in notions , Doth bring upon them desolations . This sin which is of a deep stain and die , On all the world brings grievous misery . T is sad to think how many Millions Do damn their souls by their foul swearing tongues , T is sad to think , how many plagues and woes Are usher'd in by Oathes , mens mortal foes . Swearing's high treason 'gainst the King of Kings , On swearers heads who justly Vengeance brings , Gods attributes stand all engag'd , 'gainst all That commonly to witnesse God doth call . A swearer is Gods daring Opposite , And is abhominable in his sight , As much as in man lies , he wounds Gods soul , As if vain dust would live without controul : No man Gods honour makes to suffer worse , Than one , for trifles that doth swear and curse . The Swearers life Gods greatness doth defie , And his Omniscience doth vilifie , Gods name with such is common and unclean , A mark they doe to Satans service lean . They God Almighties Majesty forsake , And creatures frail All-judging Gods doe make , Giving them part of Worship that 's divine , Against Gods Law , from which they do decline , They are the Rabshakehs that blaspheme God , They clip his mercie and quicken his rod Of dreadfull justice ; many of them have Lost both their lives and souls , while they did ●rave . They strike at Heaven , yea Deity it self ; And this they do for any trifling pelfe . They slight Gods justice , as if Mercy was The only Attribute of Divine grace . They to their power out brave the Lord above , For his great Name have no respect , nor love . They make the Lord to patronize a lie , Yea all the filth of vile iniquity , To want an all-discerning , judging eye , Or else to be a drowsie Deity . They spit their venome in Iehovahs face , The Lords great Majesty they doe disgrace . They mock Gods roaring , thundring voyce and note , They rent a-sunder Christ his seamlesse coat . There is but one most precious saving name , The name of Iesus of transcendent fame , And yet these Swearers most unthankfully , Abuse this name of names most filthily . They make no more esteem of Christ his bloud , Than of dumb beasts unclean , that doth no good . Oathes are the nayls that pierce Christs hands & feet , They are the thorns that crown'd his head most sweet They are the speare that wound his blessed side , In 's bloody sweat they caus'd him to abide God wrongs them not , yea what they are and have , They have of God , yet his Name they deprave . Gods person they contemne most gracelesly , And his Precepts and that most publikely : And this is it , their sin that aggravates . Above all other that Iehovah hates . They are the worst of sinners wronging God , Provoking him with his most dreadfull Rod. To punish Rulers , Kingdoms , Church and State , With Sword and Pestilence unfortunate , Famine and Plagues of all sorts , that may be Wholly destructive to Felicity ▪ A man that stares and swears blasphemously , Becomes brim-full of vile iniquity : Shew me a swearer , and I 'le shew to thee A lyer , shew to me one that doth lye , And I 'le shew thee a theif , one in whom lies A base deformed heap of perjuries . Swearing is no single evil , there 's none That ever us'd it , that us'd it alone ; It argues hearts profane , and loose , and vile ; All parts in man it sadly doth defile . By faith men swear , and so turn Infidells , They swear by truth , till no truth in them dwells ; As they are honest men they swear , and so To all the points of Knavery they go . They vainly swear by their Salvations hope , So yeild their necks to the tormentors rope : They swear by Creatures , which they drink and eat , Provoking God to curse their drink , their meat ; At table while they swear without controul , Their table 's made a snare to catch their soul. Oh that vile man , who is dust and ashes , Did see the stabs , wounds , and bloody gashes Made in his soul by Oaths , that he might shun This excrement in Conversation ! Oh that vain swearers saw the work they make , When they Gods blessed Name in vain do take ; Yea when they tear the Lords most holy Name , Without all fear and wit , all grace and shame . Oh that they saw Gods wrath in dreadfull might , Threatning revenge to ev'ry banning wight ; For then they would not , could not , dare not swear , But they would speak of God in holy fear ; Yea they would be for ever rather still , Then they would croak against their Makers will. Cast off therefore this poyson of the tongue , With all the filth , that to it doth belong ; Cast out this Devil , least it cast thee down Into the pit of Condemnation . Let no God-dammees from thy mouth proceed , Least with damn'd Spirits thou be numbered . Say not , thou canst not help this swearing strain , Help but thy self , Gods help thou shalt obtain . Now that thou may'st this Black-mouth Devil shun , Joyn Fasting to thy Supplication ; With an Oath-loating heart thy Oaths confesse , Make clean thy heart , this evil to suppresse . As with a Bit thy mouth and lips fast keep , Whilst for thy Oaths thou heartily dost weep . Str●ve against all thy hearts corruptions , That grace may deck all thy expressions ; Fear God , and mind his power thee to smite By sudden death into Hells fearfull night ; Hold in thy hand the rugged staff of Hell , That thou may'st use thy tongue in all things well . King Ioash prosper'd whiles Iehojada Did Counsel him to keep Gods Holy Law : So whiles Gods fear doth rule the heart of man , His speech doth thrive in praises Christian. Acquaint thy self with the Lords sacred Laws , That thou may'st not take Oaths without a cause ; See there his Oath forbidding , threatning power Against blasphemous wretches ev'ry hour : Stamp on thy heart Gods awfull Majesty , For then thy lips will shun all blasphemy . Thus was Saint Austin cured , who before He feared God , did swear as many more ; He read Gods word and feared , and this fear Would not permit him any more to swear . Of God thy Lord think rightly all thy dayes , But do not use his Name , but to his Praise , Use not thy self Gods Holy Name to use , Least thou by Oaths Gods Holy Name abuse : Swear not , unlesse Gods Honour to defend , Swear not , unlesse to strifes to put an end , Unlesse thy Name , Goods , Body , Life to save From great Reproaches , Losses , Crosses , Grave : Swear not , unlesse in Justice , Judgement , Truth , Let these be joyn'd in ev'ry taken Oath : Swear not thy self or any man to wrong , Swear not to shew the rashnesse of thy tongue , Swear not to fence or underprop a lie , For this contracts the guilt of perjury . Wouldst thou not Gods most Holy Name profane ? Observe Gods dayes most Holy , without blame . Remember this , remember Holynesse , In reference to all Righteousnesse . Keep like a Christian Christs Sabbath day , That on the week dayes thou may'st keep alway Thy lips from speaking vile blasphemous words , The language which the scalding lake affords . Mind Polycarpus , choosing death by fire , Rather than swear by Caesars love or ire ; This gracious thought in his good soul did dwell , To chuse sins way is the sure way to Hell. Rebuke these words of death in all , and cry , Why do you smite my God , my King on high ? 'T is just with God , men swear themselves to death , When they forbear to check the swearers breath . Mind this of Oaths , how great indignity , And what disgrace thou casts on God thereby . What if thy Prince did make a Law , that all That vainly swear , this evil should befall , That they should suffer seared lips , or tongues , Bored quite through with burning hot Irons , Or hang'd , beheaded , drown'd , or burnt should be , And should loose all the worlds prosperity ? Wouldst thou not Cov'nant with thy lips & tongue To use Gods Name with circumspection ? I dare presume thou wouldst , yet wilt thou not Fear God , who threatens swearers with the lot Of endlesse , easelesse torments in Hell-fire , Which none , but he , can do in his fierce ire ? Methinks thou shouldst consider well in mind , That God's thy Maker , and Preserver kind , That God is Lord and Judge of all , for hence Thou mightest learn Gods Name to reverence , And alwayes stand in greater awe of God , Than man , who can scourge all men with his Rod. Consider that the Hosts Caelestiall , The Sun , and Moon , and Stars , obey Gods call : Consider that the Heavens , the Clouds , the Aire , Fire , Earth , and Sea , and all things therein are , Bespeak us all by their obedience , Gods Holy Name to have in reverence : Consider that all things both deaf and dumb , Do call on us Gods Servants to become ; And b'ing endow'd with reasons light , and grace , To praise Gods sacred Name in ev'ry place . Consider this , that God for all he gives , Asks only prayse , while mortall mankind lives , That hon'ring God in this sad vale of tears , They may him praise in Heav'n , free from all fears . Keep silence or refrain thy lips some dayes From Oaths , yea words , to free thy mouth alwayes From uselesse fruitlesse speech ; for then thou shalt So keep thy tongue , that it shall never halt . Resolve for each rash Oath this penalty To put upon thy self in equity , Give certain silver peeces to the Poor , As two or three or four or six or more : For by their prayers great in Gods esteeme , Thou may'st thy mouth from all vain Oaths redeem . Mind praysing God , as they in Heav'n that dwell , Angells and Saints , for in it they excell . And if with them thou thinkest a part to bear , Thou must on Earth betimes defist to swear . Gods Saints below foresee Gods love above , And this their hearts & tongues doth strongly move To praise his holy name , while they do live , That God to them eternall life may give . They are not like proud wordlings , who like Swine Tread under feet the gifts , that are divine , Through all the gifts they do receive , they see And do acknowledg God most thankfully . They wait for life in Heav'n free from all shame , And therefore here they praise Gods holy name . Mind if thy name men used commonly , As thou dost use Gods dreadfull Majesty , Thou would'st it take in great and just disdain , As if thy name they filthily did stain . And do not thou to others , what thou wouldest hate . Others should do to thee in name , or state . That thou mayest not thy soul in danger bring , Through Oaths pull out thy raging passions sting ; Let not the worlds great make-bate anger make Thee madman-like Gods holy name to take . Look how unruly dogs their chains that slip , To do great Mischiefs up and down will skip : So wrathfull men for want of reasons pow'r Gods honour seek most wildly to devour . Now that thou may'st shun wrath , where Oaths do ●ow , Indang'ring soules ( as Wisemen clearly know ) Praise God if once his blessed hand of grace Restrain'd thy tongue from speaking in disgrace Of his great Majesty , that thou may'st still Find grace to speak according to his will. Behold Christ Jesus , his sad agony And bloody sweat enduring quietly , Behold him suff'ring most cruell scoffings , Spittings , whippings and wofull buffetings , And last of all a death of pain and shame For thee , that wrath may never the inflame . Mind this ( vile worm ) that thus Christ suffered That thou by wrath may'st never be misled . Keep anger in by silence , that it may Soon spend it self and vanish quite away With Heathenish Cato learn to pardon all Except thy self for failings great and small . To keep thy tongue from oaths those words of death Take heed of drunkennesse whilst thou dost breath . That heart-bewitching , brain-besotting sin , Marring speech without , spoyling heart within . Hence oaths men use when drunk , stick in their teeth When sober grown , and this the Wise man seeth . If thou dost love thy soul next God most dear , Of Wrathfull men , as common swearers are , Avoyd the banning company ; for why ? It bindes , betrays , and blindes destructively . Forbear their presence , or do not forbear To give them due rebukes , when they do swear , And that with friendly , loving gentlenesse , That they their Oaths with loathing may confesse , That this Goliah-monstrous sin may have Its wound to death , I do thee humbly crave , That thou wouldst prudent warning take , This sin of sins most timely to forsake ; By dreadfull Judgements on Blasphemers sent , That for and from vain Oaths thou may'st repent . See stories stuft with Swearers smitten dumb , So struck , that mad , blind , dead they did become . And those examples were , that men might fear God and themselves by Oaths to rent and tear . Let Kings therefore be wise , and Magistrates , So ord'ring all that live within their Gates , That none do swear by Gods most sacred Name , Least they themselves do suffer for the same Shame and dishonour , for Gods word is true , Dishonour me , and I 'le dishonour you . Let all be wise , and utter not a word That may become their soul-destroying sword . Let all with all their might advance Gods Name , That God may keep them from eternal shame . Let all our tongues speak well of God most high , That God may bless us all Eternally . Let us all pray , and do accordingly , With hearts and tongues , that we may sanctifie Gods holy , dreadfull , just , and mighty Name , That all our speeches may be free from blame ; So shall we use our tongues with sapience , And shall be blessed , when we go from hence . Let us not say , our words are winde , for why ? This is a truth , which wise men can't deny ; Rash Oaths are such a winde , that hurry men Into the Devils black and noysome Den. Let us not call our Oaths to speech a grace , For that by them Gods Name we do deface . Lastly , if we will bear most worthily , The name of Children dear to God on high , If we do love our God in Heaven , our King , Our Goods , our Soul as a most precious thing , Our Kin , our Country-men , and Nation , Angels and Saints , and our Salvation : Let us not curse or swear as Atheists do , That ban themselves to Hell , the lake of woe . Let us be still , or let our speech bring forth Something , to some that may be something worth . Let our words be few , wise , and circumspect , And alwayes to Gods glory have respect , That speaking here like Angels , as we ought , Hereafter we to Angels may be brought . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A46240-e130 The Causes of vain swearing . St. Matth. ● . 27 . Esay 57.20 . A mad Sin. Hellish . St Matth. 5.27 ●am . 5.12 . Devillish . Psal. 10.7 . Filthy , Terrible . Banefull . Common . Vnprofitable , Injurious , To a mans self . Psal. 109.19 . Zach. 5.3 . Psal. 109.17 , 18 , 19. His body and Goods . To his Soul , Psal. 64.8 . To his good name . To Saints , To others . To the King. To Kingdoms . Ier. 23.10 . Hosea 4.3 . To God. Psal. 129.20 . Gods honour . Law. Ier. 5.7 . Person . Psal. 73.9 . Iustice. Christs Church , Person , Name , Bloud , Body . A Sin most sin●ull . Psal. 59.12 . Zac 8.17 Psal. 10.7 . A complicated Evil. Hos. 4.2 . Psal. 69.22 . Ob. Sol. 〈◊〉 Remedies against rash swearing . 〈…〉 Psal. ●5 . 2● . Eccles. 23.10 ▪ 11. and an Oath . Jer. 4.2 ▪ Col. 3.8 . Psalm 37.8 . Hos. 4.11 . Remedys against Wrath. Psal. 39. ● . Remedies against swearing . Hos. 4.11 . Prov. 2● . 24 . 1 Sam. 2.30 . 1 Pet. 3.15 . Matth. 6. Ob. Sol. Ob. Sol. Psal. 145.2 .