A CURE FOR THE Tongue-Evill. OR, A Receipt against VAIN OATHS. Being a plain and profitable Poem. SHOWING The Heinousness of COMMON SWEARING, with Reasons against it, and Remedies for it. By T. I. an hearty Wellwisher to his King, Church, and Country. LONDON, Printed for Christopher Ecclestone, in St. Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleetstreet, 1662. A CURE FOR THE Tongue-Evill. REader take well what I thee here present To Cure thy Tongue, that wildfire instrument▪ As it by Common Oaths doth give offence To all that fear God in a filial sense. Now what means swearing customarily? Is't not a strain of hellish poesy? But stay; who ever heard hell's Jailor use With horrid oath God's dreadful name t' abuse? Cert's 'tis a truth, to give devils their due, They will not swear, as doth their cursed crew. The devils roaring herd both swear and lie, But this alone is his grand property? Hell's fiend rants not in wine, or ale, or beer As if with oaths he heaven and earth would tear. His subtle wit variety affords Without all nonsense-sauring-swearing-words. Yet as for oaths, The Causes of vain swearing. as commonly they're used The causes vile, by which they are produced, Are hells provoking powers, St. Matth. ●. 27. Esay 57.20. Satan and sin, Sin unrepented causing rage within; Want of God's fear and love, the great neglect Of daily prayers, want of due respect To Gods allseeing 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 damned abuse of mea● to great excess, Of Wine, and other drinks, to drunkenness, A vain and light heart, a distempered brain, And fellowship with those, whom Oaths do slain, A 〈◊〉, and hee●less mind, base idleness, Anger, and gaming and covetousness▪ For were it not for these infectious ills, No speech would be, that conversation spills. A mad Sin. Swearing's a bodge in wild men's poetry, Who mind not words of ingenuity. It is a rash fool's bolt, that is soon shot, Did men consider, use it they would not. It is the rant of debauched Ruffians, That stare and roar o'er pots and cups and cans. It is a mad, uncivil, Bedlam course, Which graceless people use in their discourse. It is the silth defiles God's Attributes, A Folly which with reason never suits. The Cognizance 'tis of God's Enemy, Hellish. The damned men's note in Hellish misery. St Matth. 5.27 ●am. 5.12. It is from Hell a vapour rising so, That down to Hell again it bends to go. It is a badge of Satan's followers, giveth blackness worse than that of Colliers. It binds the Soul to Satan, Death and Hell. It is the sign, at which Satan doth dwell. Devilish. It is the Common and filthy drivel Psal. 10.7. Of a foul inmate in men▪ the Devil. It is the poison of the lips, which makes Filthy, The soul to stink worse than the filthiest ●akes. Terrible. It is the thunder from Hell that is sent, For it men quake, if for it they repent. It is a baneful herb, Baneful. thht grows apace. It chokes the seed of the good word of grace. It is the Common Filth, Common. wherebies defiled Both Man and Woman, and the tender Child. One only day the Sabbath men do break But every day and hour swear, 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 board Men use this plaguy soul-polluting word. Both Master and Servants in every place God's 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; Unprofitable, Such is the way of Drunkards, thievish wights, And those that violate the Nuptial Rites; But swearing is so base a foolery, It brings no pleasure, nor utility. It wounds more hearts together at one blow, Injurious, Then any weapon of the deadly'st foe. A Common oath is like a fatal dart, To a man's self. Which being shot doth wound the shooters heart. Psal. 109.19. Zach. 5.3. Psal. 109.17, 18, 19 An house full of plagues and a tongue of Oaths Are joined together, as Body and clothes. For this the flying roll of cursed woe That cuts off many, o'er the earth doth go. As man doth not delight to bless, His body and Goods. but swear And curse, so shall be woeful curses wear. This brings the plague on men's houses of clay, Upon their goods and Chattels in a way. Of crosses losses and many curses It breeds a vacuum in men's purses. Nothing holds well with those, who don't refrain, Their tongues from belching in this bloody strain. The swearer needs no executioner, But his vile tongue himself to rent and tear, To his Soul, Psal. 64.8. He needs not any poison, spear or sword, To kill himself, but his own tongue and word. To his good name. A good name is precious in every kind, But this is worthless in a swearers mind. It is a truth, against which there's no dispute, He lyar-like is cracked in his repute. To Saints, By oaths Saints hearts are wounded through their ears They're words for which the Christian sheddeth tears; They grieve God's Spirit in saints, and they make In little worlds a great and sad earthquake. Swearing is like the plague it spreads and kills, To others. With great infection it many fills. The swearers plagues company, Still multiply their base society. To the King. 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 oaths men swore, Occasioned this damned Covenant, As being the product of the swearers rant: God suffered this for these, for cause best known Unto his dreadful Majesty alone. To gather rebels against our Sovereign Our Church and State, to our great woe and pain. To Kingdoms. Swearing's a fire, that many places burns, It is an engine, houses overturns, It smites the air into tempests, thunder, The ground Gods-footstool it tears asunder. It makes the Land to put on sable weeds, jer. 23.10. And in great Kingdoms dismal changes breeds. This bloody agent both in Church and State, Hosea 4.3. Doth ruin all things in most dreadful fate. It is a Kingdom-weakning, wasting Sin, It is a State-confounding cursed gin, This leading general 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. 'tis sad to think how many Millions Do damn their souls by their foul swearing tongues, 'tis sad to think, how many plagues and woes Are ushered in by Oaths, men's mortal foes. Swearing's high treason against the King of Kings, To God. On swearers heads who justly Vengeance brings, God's attributes stand all engaged, against all That commonly to witness God doth call. A swearer is Gods daring Opposite, Psal. 129.20. And is abominable in his sight, As much as in man lies, he wounds God's soul, As if vain dust would live without control: No man God's honour makes to suffer worse, God's honour. Than one, for trifles that doth swear and curse. The Swearers life God's greatness doth defy, And his Omniscience doth vilify, God's name with such is common and unclean, A mark they do to Satan's service lean. They God Almighty's Majesty forsake, And creatures frail All-judging Gods do make, Law. Giving them part of Worship that's divine, Against God's Law, from which they do decline, They are the Rabshakehs that blaspheme God, jer. 5.7. They clip his mercy and quicken his rod Of dreadful justice; many of them have Person. Lost both their lives and souls, while they did ●rave. Psal. 73.9. They strike at Heaven, yea Deity itself; And this they do for any trifling pelf. They slight God's justice, as if Mercy was justice.. 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 patronise a lie, Yea all the filth of vile iniquity, To want an all-discerning, judging eye, Or else to be a drowsy Deity. They spit their venom in jehovahs' face, The Lords great Majesty they do disgrace. They mock Gods roaring, thundering voice and note, Christ's Church, Person, Name, Blood, Body. They rend asunder Christ his seamlesse coat. There is but one most precious saving name, The name of jesus of transcendent fame, And yet these Swearers most unthankfully, Abuse this name of names most filthily. They make no more esteem of Christ his blood, Than of dumb beasts unclean, that doth no good. Oaths are the nails that pierce Christ's hands & feet, They are the thorns that crowned his head most sweet They are the spear that wound his blessed side, In's bloody sweat they caused him to abide God wrongs them not, yea what they are and have, They have of God, yet his Name they deprave. A Sin most sinful. God's person they contemn most gracelesly, And his Precepts and that most publicly: And this is it, their sin that aggravates. Above all other that jehovah hates. They are the worst of sinners wronging God, Provoking him with his most dreadful 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 stairs and swears blasphemously, Becomes brimful of vile iniquity: Show me a swearer, Psal. 59.12. and I'll show to thee A liar, show to me one that doth lie, And I'll show thee a thief, Zac 8.17 one in whom lies A base deformed heap of perjuries. Psal. 10.7. Swearing is no single evil, A complicated Evil. there's none That ever used it, that used it alone; It argues hearts profane, Host 4.2. and loose, and vile; All parts in man it sadly doth defile. By faith men swear, and so turn Infidels, 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 yield their necks to the tormentor's rope: They swear by Creatures, which they drink and eat, Provoking God to curse their drink, their meat; At table while they swear without control, Their table's made a snare to catch their soul. Psal. 69.22. 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 God's wrath in dreadful might, Threatening revenge to every banning wight; For than 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 Maker's will. Cast off therefore this poison of the tongue, With all the filth, that to it doth belong; Cast out this Devil, lest it cast thee down Into the pit of Condemnation. Let no God-dammees from thy mouth proceed, Lest with damned Spirits thou be numbered. Ob. Say not, thou canst not help this swearing strain, Sol. Help but thyself, Gods help thou shalt obtain. 〈◊〉 Now that thou may'st this Black-mouth Devil shun, Remedies against rash swearing. Join Fasting to thy Supplication; With an Oath-loating heart thy Oaths confess, Make clean thy heart, this evil to suppress. 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 Hell's fearful night; Hold in thy hand the rugged staff of Hell, That thou may'st use thy tongue in all things well. 〈…〉 King joash prospered whiles jehojada Did Counsel him to keep Gods Holy Law: So whiles God's fear doth rule the heart of man, His speech doth thrive in praises Christian. Acquaint thyself with the Lords sacred Laws, That thou may'st not take Oaths without a cause; See there his Oath forbidding, threatening power Against blasphemous wretches every hour: Stamp on thy heart God's awful 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 God's word and feared, and this fear Would not permit him any more to swear. Of God thy Lord think rightly all thy days, But do not use his Name, but to his Praise, Use not thyself Gods Holy Name to use, Lest thou by Oaths Gods Holy Name abuse: Psal. ●5. 2●. Swear not, Eccles. 23.10▪ 11. and an Oath. unless God's Honour to defend, Swear not, unless to strifes to put an end, Unless thy Name, Goods, Body, Life to save From great Reproaches, Losses, Crosses, Grave: Swear not, Jer. 4.2▪ unless in Justice, Judgement, Truth, Let these be joined in every taken Oath: Swear not thyself or any man to wrong, Swear not to show the rashness 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 God's days most Holy, without blame. Remember this, remember Holiness, In reference to all Righteousness. Keep like a Christian Christ's Sabbath day, That on the week days thou may'st keep always Thy lips from speaking vile blasphemous words, The language which the scalding lake affords. Mind Polycarpus, choosing death by fire, Rather than swear by Caesar's love or ire; This gracious thought in his good soul did dwell, To choose 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? 'Tis 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 hanged, beheaded, drowned, or burnt should be, And should lose all the world's prosperity? Wouldst thou not Covenant with thy lips & tongue To use God's Name with circumspection? I dare presume thou wouldst, yet wilt thou not Fear God, who threatens swearers with the lot Of endless, easeless 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 God's Name to reverence, And always stand in greater awe of God, Than man, who can scourge all men with his Rod. Consider that the Hosts Celestial, The Sun, and Moon, and Stars, obey Gods call: Consider that the Heavens, the Clouds, the Air, Fire, Earth, and Sea, and all things therein are, Bespeak us all by their obedience, God's Holy Name to have in reverence: Consider that all things both deaf and dumb, Do call on us God's Servants to become; And b'ing endowed with reason's light, and grace, To praise Gods sacred Name in every place. Consider this, that God for all he gives, Asks only praise, while mortal mankind lives, That hon'ring God in this sad vale of tears, They may him praise in Heaven, free from all fears. Keep silence or refrain thy lips some days From Oaths, yea words, to free thy mouth always From useless fruitless speech; for than thou shalt So keep thy tongue, that it shall never halt. Resolve for each rash Oath this penalty To put upon thyself in equity, Give certain silver pieces to the Poor, As two or three or four or six or more: For by their prayers great in God's esteem, Thou may'st thy mouth from all vain Oaths redeem. Mind praising God, as they in Heaven that dwell, Angels and Saints, for in it they excel. And if with them thou thinkest a part to bear, Thou must on Earth betimes defist to swear. God's 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 eternal life may give. They are not like proud worldlings, who like Swine Tread under feet the gifts, that are divine, Through all the gifts they do receive, they see And do acknowledge God most thankfully. They wait for life in Heaven free from all shame, And therefore here they praise Gods holy name. Mind if thy name men used commonly, As thou dost use God's dreadful Majesty, Thou wouldst it take in great and just disdain, As if thy name they filthily did slain. And do not thou to others, what thou wouldst 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 world's great makebate anger make Col. 3.8. Thee madman-like Gods holy name to take. Psalm 37.8. Look how unruly dogs their chains that slip, To do great Mischiefs up and down will skip: So wrathful men for want of reason's power Host 4.11. God's honour seek most wildly to devour. Now that thou may'st shun wrath, where Oaths do ●ow, Remedys against Wrath. Indang'ring souls (as Wisemen clearly know) Praise God if once his blessed hand of grace Restrained 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 suffering most cruel scoffings, Spitting, whip and woeful buffet, 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 Psal. 39 ●. Soon spend itself and vanish quite away With Heathenish Cato learn to pardon all Except thyself for failings great and small. To keep thy tongue from oaths those words of death Remedies against swearing. Take heed of drunkenness whilst thou dost breath. That heart-bewitching, brain-besotting sin, Marring speech without, spoiling heart within. Host 4.11. 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 Wrathful men, as common swearers are, Avoid the banning company; for why? Prov. 2●. 24. It binds, betrays, and blinds destructively. Forbear their presence, or do not forbear To give them due rebukes, when they do swear, And that with friendly, loving gentleness, That they their Oaths with loathing may confess, 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 dreadful Judgements on Blasphemers sent, That for and from vain Oaths thou may'st repent. See stories stuffed 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 ordering all that live within their Gates, That none do swear by Gods most sacred Name, Lest they themselves do suffer for the same Shame and dishonour, 1 Sam. 2.30. for God's word is true, Dishonour me, and I'll 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 God's 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, 1 Pet. 3.15. and do accordingly, With hearts and tongues, that we may sanctify Gods holy, Matth. 6. dreadful, 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, Ob. our words are wind, for why? This is a truth, Sol. which wise men can't deny; Rash Oaths are such a wind, that hurry men Into the Devils black and noisome Den. Ob. Let us not call our Oaths to speech a grace, Sol. 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 Countrymen, 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 always to God's glory have respect, Psal. 145.2. That speaking here like Angels, as we ought, Hereafter we to Angels may be brought. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS.