A hopeful way to Cure that horrid sin of SWEARING: or an help to save Swearers, if willing to be saved: Being an Offer or Message from HIM whom they so daringly and audaciously provoke.  
Also a Curb against CURSING.  
Before you lay it by, at lest read the Postscript at the end.  Messenger, 
SIr, me thinks you Swear and Curse as if he that made the ear could not hear, Or as if he were ne●ther to be feared nor cared for, who for sin cast the Angels out of Heaven, Adam out of Paradis● drowned the old world, reigned down fire and brimstone upon Sodom, commanded the earth to op●… her mouth, and swallow down quick Korah and his company, he who smote Egypt with so ma●… plagues, overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, destroyed great and mighty Kings, giving th●… land for an inheritance to his people, and can as easily with a word of his mouth strike you dead wh●… you are blaspheming him, and cast you body and soul into hell for your odious unthankfulness; Yea i●… a mercy beyond expression that he hath spared you so long.  
What, because you are displeased with others, will you fly in your Maker's face? and tear your Savio●… Name in pieces? This is worse than frenzy, this is to send challenges into Heaven, and make love to ●…struction; consider of it, lest you swear away your part in that Blood which must save you, if ever you 〈◊〉 saved; yea, take heed lest you be plagued with a witness, and that both here and hereafter, for God (w●… cannot lie) hath threatened that his curse shall never departed from the house of the swearer, as it is Za●… 5.1. to 5. And I doubt not but you are already cursed, though you know it not; That either he hath c●…sed you in your body by sending some foul disease, or in your estate by suddenly consuming it, in your name by blemishing or blasting it, or in your seed by not prospering it, or in your mind 〈◊〉 darkening it, or in your heart by hardening it, or in your conscience by terrifying it, or will in your soul 〈◊〉 everlastingly damning it, if you repent not. Wherefore take heed what you do before it prove too late.  
Or if you regard not yourself, or your own souls good, yet for the Kingdoms good leave your swearing for the Lord (as now we find to our smart) hath a great controversy with the inhabitants of the l●… because of swearing, Hos. 4.1, 2. Yea because of oaths the whole land (even the three Kingdoms) no●… mourneth, or rather lies a bleeding, and that to death, as you may see, Jer. 23.10. Neither object that 〈◊〉 are so accustomed to swearing that you cannot leave it, for this defence is worse than the offence, as ta●… an instance; Shall a Thief or Murderer at the baralleage for his defence, that it hath been his use a●… custom of a long time to rob and kill, and therefore he must continue it: or if he do, will not the Jud●… so much the rather send him to the Gallows.  
Besides, the objection is false and frivolous, for were you forced to pay twelve pence for every Oath you swear (as the Law enjoins) or if you were sure to have your tongue cut out, which is too light punishment for this sin, damnation being the due penalty thereof, as the Apostle sets it down, Jam. 5.1 you both could and would leave it. Wherefore I beseech you by the mercies of God (who hath removed so many evils, and conferred so many good things upon you, that they are beyond thought or imagination) to leave it, especially after this warning, which in case you do not, will be a sore witness, and ri●… up in judgement against you another day.  Swearer. 
Did I swear or curse?  Messenger. 
Very often, as all here present can witness, and Satan also, who stands by to take notice reckon up, and set on your score every Oath you utter, keeping them upon record against the great day ●…asize, at which time every Oath will prove as a dagger's point stabbing your soul to the heart, or as so ma●… weights pressing you down to hell, Revel. 12.10. As also the searcher of hearts, who himself will one da● be a swift witness against swearers, Mal. 3.5. For of all other sinners the Lord will not hold him guiltle that taketh his Name in vain, as the third Commandment tells you, Exod. 20.7.  
But woe is me, it fares with common swearers as with persons desperately diseased, whose excrement and filth comes from them at unawares; for as by much labour the hand is so hardened that it hath no sen●… of labour, so their much swearing causeth such a brawny skin of senselessness to overspread the hea●… memory, and conscience, that the swearer sweareth unwittingly, and having sworn, hath no remembranc●… of his Oath, much less repentance for his sin.  Swearer. 
A lass though I did swear, yet I thought no harm.  Messenger. 
O fool! What Prince, hearing himself abused to his face, by the reproachful words 〈◊〉 his base and impotent Subject, would admit of such an excuse, that whatsoever he spoke with his mouth yet he thought no ill in his heart? And shall God take this for a good answer, having told us before hand Deut 28.58, 59 that if we do not fear and dread his glorious and fearful Name, the Lord our God, he wi●… make our plagues wonderful, and of long continuance, and the plagues of our posterity. Besides, how frequently dost thou pollute and profane God's Name, and thy Saviour's. The Jews grievously sinned in crucifying the Lord of life but once, and that of ignorance, but the times are innumerable that thou dost it ●…ery day in the year, every hour in the day, although thy Conscience and the ●oly Spirit of gra●…●… checked thee for it a thousand and a thousand times.  
Dost thou expect to have Christ thy Redeemer and Advocate; when thy Conscience tell; thee that a hast seldom remembered Him but to blaspheme Him, and more often named Him in thy oaths and ●…ses then in thy prayers.  Swearer. 
Surely if I did swear, it was but faith and troth, by our lady, the mass, the rood, the light, this bread, by ●…crosse of the silver, or the like, which is no great matter, I hope, so long as I swore not by God, nor by my Saviour.  Messenger. 
That's your gross ignorance of the Scriptures, for God expressly forbids it, and that upon ●…ne of damnation, Jam. 5.12. First, our Saviour Christ in his own person forbids it, Matth. 5. 34, 35, 37. I say unto you, Swear not at all, neither by Heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by Earth, for it is his foot●…e; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the City of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thine head, because tho●…●…t not make one hair white or black; but let your communication be Yea, Yea, Nay, Nay, for whatsoever is more ●…n these cometh of evil. And then by his Apostle, Above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by Hea●… nor by Earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay, lest you fall into condemnation 〈◊〉 5.12. where mark the Emphasis, in the first words, Above all things swear not; and the great danger 〈◊〉 it, in the last word, condemnation.  
If the matter be light and vain, we must nor swear at all; if so weighty, that we may lawfully swear●… before a Magistrate, being called to it, than we must only use the glorious Name of our God in a holy ●…d religious manner, as you may see, Deut. 6.13. Isa. 45.23. & 65.16. Josh. 23.7. Jer. 5.7. Exod. 23.13 ●…d the reasons of it are weighty, if we look into them: for in swearing by any creature whatsoever, we ●…e invocate that creature, and ascribe to it divine worship; a lawful oath being a kind of invocation, 〈◊〉 a part of God's worship: Yea, whatsoever we swear by, that we invocate, both as our witness, sure●… and judge, Heb. 6.16. and by consequence deify it, by ascribing and communicating unto it Gods in●…mmunicable attributes, as his Omnipresence, and Omniciencie of being every where present, and know●…g the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart, and likewise an omnipotency, as being Almighty i●…●…ronising, protecting, defending, and rewarding us for speaking the truth, or punishing us if we speak ●…ly: All which are so peculiar to God, as that they can no way be communicated or ascribed to another 〈◊〉 that in swearing by any of those things, thou committest an high degree of gross Idolatry, thou spoile●…●…d robest God of his glory (the most impious kind of theft) and in a manner dethronest him and place●… 〈◊〉 Idol in his room.  
And as to swear by the creature makes the sin far more heinous, so the more mean and vile the ●…ng is which you swear by (be it by my faith, by cock and pie, hare's foot, by this cheese, and such like ●…ildish oaths, which are so much in use with the ignorant and superstitions swarm) the greater is your ●…ne in swearing such an oath, because you ascribe that unto these basest of creatures, which is only pr●…●…r to God, namely to know your heart, and to be a discerner of secret things; why else should you call that ●…eature as a witness unto your conscience, that you speak the truth and lie not, which only belongeth 〈◊〉 God? And therefore the Lord calls it a forsaking of him; as mark well what he saith, Jer. 5.7. How ●…ll I spare thee for this? thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods, Exod. 23.13. And ●…e you make it a small matter to forsake God, and make a God of the creature? Will you believe the ●…ophet Amos, if you will, he saith (speaking of them that swore by the sin of Samaria) that they sha●…●…ll and never rise again, Amos 8.14. a terrible place to vain swearers.  
Neither are we to join any other with God in our oaths, for in so doing we make base Idols and filth●●…eatures corrivals in honour, and competitors in the throne of justice with the Lord, who is Creator of ●eaven and Earth, and the supreme Judge and sole Monarch of all the world.  
Or in case we do, our doom shall be remediless, for the Lord threatneth by the Prophet Zephan at he will cut off them that swear by the Lord, and by Maulcham: which Maulcham was their King or as some ●…ink, their Idol, Zeph. 1.4, 5.  
But admit the sin were small, as you would have it to be, yet the circumstances make it most heinous; 〈◊〉 even the least sin in its own nature is not only mortal, but rests unpardonable, so long as it is wil●…gly-committed, and excused or defended.  Swearer. 
But all do swear, except some few singular ones, and they also will lie, which is as bad.  Messenger. 
You must not measure all others by your own bushel, for although ill dispositions cause i●…●…spitions, even as the eye that is bloodshed sees all things red, or as they that have the Jaundees see a●…●…ings yellow; yet know that there be thousands who can say truly, through God's mercy, that they ha●…●…ther choose to have their souls pass from their bodies, than a wilful premeditated lie, or a wicked oath ●…om their mouths; wherefore when you want experience, think the best, as charity bids you, and leave ●…hat you know not to the searcher of hearts.  
As for the number of swearers, it cannot be denied, but the sin is almost universal, and this is 〈◊〉 which hath incensed God's wrath, and almost brought an universal destruction upon our whole Na●…on: But is not this excuse, That others do so? a most reasonless plea, and only becoming a fool then our Saviour Christ hath plainly told us, that the greatest number go the broad way to destruction, and bi●… a few 〈…〉 wickedness, 1 John 5.19. And that the number of those whom Satan shall deceive, is as the sand of the sea, Revel. 20.8. and 13.16. Isay 10.22. Rom. 9.27. And tell me, were it a good plea to commit a felony, and say that others do so? Or wilt thou leap into hell and cast away thy soul, because others do so? A sorry comfort it will be to have a numerous multitude accompany us into that lake of fire that never shall be quenched.  
Besides, it is Gods express charge, Exod. 23.2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; and St. Paul's everlasting rule, Rom. 12.2. Fashion not yourselves like unto this world.  Swearer. 
But I may lawfully swear, so I affirm nothing but the truth.  Messenger. 
If you be lawfully called to it as before a Magistrate, or when some urgent matter constraineth for the confirming of a necessary truth (which can by no other lawful means be cleared) and for the ending of all contentions and controversies, and clearing our own or our neighbours good name, person, or estate, and to put an end unto all strife, aiming at God's glory, and our own or our neighbours good, which is the only use and end of an oath; in which case a man is rather a patiented then a voluntary agent, You may swear, otherwise not.  
Neither must we swear at all in our ordinary communication, if we will obey God's Word, as you may see Matth. 5.34, 35, 36, 37. James 5.12.  Swearer. 
Except I swear, men will not believe me.  Messenger. 
Thou hadst as good say, I have so often made shipwreck of my credit by accustomary lying, that I can gain no belief unto my word, without an oath; for it argues a guilty conscience of the want of credit, and that our word alone is worth no respect, when it will not be taken without a pawn or surety. Neither will any but base banquerours pawn so precious a jewel as their faith, or offer better security for every small trifle. Besides, he that often sweareth, not seldom forsweareth. And so I have informed you from God's Word what the danger is of vain and wicked swearing.  
Now if you either believe the Scriptures, or desire to escape that direful sentence, Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels, Matth. 25.41. No longer excuse nor defend it, but repent of it and forsake it; and so much the rather for that of all other sins this sin of swearing is the most inexcusable. First, because it is a sin from which of all other sins we have most power of abstinence, as I shown you before; and the easier the thing commanded is, the greater guilt in the breach of it; and the lighter the injunction, the heavier the transgression; as St. Austin speaks, and Adam his eating the forbidden fruit sufficiently proves. Secondly, because it is a sin, to which of all other sins we have the fewest temptations; for all thou canst expect by it is the suspicion of a common liar by being a common swearer; Or that thou shalt vex others, and they shall hate thee; for it bringeth not so much as any appearance of good unto us to induce us: for whereas other sins have their several baits to allure us, some the bait of profit, some of honour, some of pleasure, this sin is destitute of them all, and only bringeth much loss here, namely of credit and a good conscience; and the loss of God's favour, and the Kingdom of Heaven hereafrer, which is of more value than ten thousand worlds; which shows that thou lovest this sin only because it is a sin, and swearest out of mere malice and contempt of God, which is most fearful; and (as a man would think) should make it unpardonable. I am sure the Psalmist hath a tertible word for all such, if they would take notice of it, Let them be confounded that transgress without a cause, Psal. 25.3.  
And no marvel, that this fearful imprecation should fall from the Prophet's mouth, for that man is bottomlesly ill who loves vice merely because it is a vice, and because God most strictly forbids it. He is a desperate, prodigious, damnable wretch, who (rather than not die) will anger God on set purpose.  
But as if swearing alone would not press thee deep enough into hell, thou addest Cursing to it, a sin of a● higher nature; which none use frequently, but such as are desperately wicked: it being their peculiar brand in Scripture, as how doth the Holy Ghost stigmatize such an one? His mouth is full of cursing, Psal 10. and Rom. 3.14. ot, He loveth cursing, Psal. 109.17. and indeed, whom can you observe to love this sin, or to have their mouths full of cursing? but ruffaines, and sons of Belial, such as have shaken out of their heart the fear of God, the shame of men, the love of Heaven, the dread of Hell, not once caring what is though of spoken of them here or what becomes of them hereafter; yea, observe them well, and you will find that they are mockers of all that march not under the pay of the Devil.  
And whence do these monsters of the earth, these hellish miscreants, these bodily and visible devi●… learn this their damnable cursing and swearing? are not their tongues fired and edged from hell, as Sain●… James hath it, Jam. 3.6. yea, it is the very language of the damned, as you may see Revel. 16.11, 21. On●… they learn it here before they come thither; and are such proficients therein, that the Devil counts the●… his best scholars, and sets them in his highest form, Psal. 1.1. and well they deserve it, with whum th●… language of hell is so familiar, that blasphemy is become their mother tongue. Besides, it is the very dep●… of sin, roaring and drinking is the horse way to hell; whoring and cheating the foot way; but swearing and cursing follows Corah, Dathan, and Abiram. And certainly, if the infernal Tophet be not for these me it can challenge no guests. But see how witless, graceless, and shameless, even the best are that use t● curse 〈…〉 saying, God damn me, confound me, the devil take me, and the like; which would make a rational man tremble to name; because I were as good knock at a dead man's grave, as speak to them.  
Thou art crossed by some one, perhaps thy wise, child, or servant; or else thy horse, the weather, the ●…ce, bowls, or some other of the creatures displease thee; and thou fallest a cursing, and blaspheming them, wishing the plague of God, or God's vengeance to light on them, or some such hellish speech falls from thy foul mouth. And so upon every foolish trifle, or every time thou art angry, God must be at thy beck, and come down from Heaven in a I haste, and become thine officer to revenge thy quarrel, and serve thy malicious humour. (O monstrous impiety! O shameless impudence! to be abhorred of all that hear ●t) not once taking notice what he commands in his Word, as, Bless them that persecute you, bless, I say, and curse not, Rom. 12 14. And again, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which hurt you, Luke 6.28. which is the practice of all true Christians, 1 Cor. 4.12.  
But this is not one half of thine offence, for whom dost thou curse? Alas the creatures that displease thee are but instruments, thy sin is the cause, and God is the Author, 2 Sam. 16.11. Psal. 39.9, 10. Gen. 45.8. Job 1.21. from whom thou hast deserved it, and ten thousand times a greater cross. But in stead of looking up from the stone, to the hand which threw it; or from the effect, to the cause; as God's people do: thou like a mastiff dog settest upon the stone or weapon that hurts thee. But in this case who are you angry withal? Does your Horse, the Dice, the Rain, or any other creature displease you? alas, they are out servants, and if their master bid Smite, they must not forbear; they may say truly what Rabshakeh usurped, Jsa. 36 10. Are we come without the Lord, and all that hear thee may say, as the Prophet did to Sena●ha●…b, 2 King. 19 22. Whom hast thou blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thyself? even ●gainst ●he holy One of Israel.  
And what will be the issue? the causeless curse shall not come where the curser meant it, Prov. 26.2. ●ea though thou cursest, yet God will bless, Psal. 109.28. but thy curses shall be sure to rebound bacl into thine own breast, Psal. 7.14, 15, 16. Prov. 14.30. Cursing mouths are like ill made Pieces, which while men discharge at others, recoil in splinters on their own faces. Their words and wishes be but whirlwinds, which being breathen forth, return again to the same place. As hear how the Holy Ghost delivers it, Psal. 109. As he loved cursing, so shall it come unto him; and as he loved not blessing, so shall it be far ●…om him. As he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like ●…e into his bones; let it be unto him as a garment to cover him, and for a girdle wherewith he shall always be ●…rded, ver. 17, 18, 19 Hear this all ye, whose tongue run so fast on the Devil's errand, you loved curing, you shall have it, both upon you, about you, and in you, and that everlastingly, if you persevere and ●…e on; for Christ himself at the last day, even he which came to save the world, shall say unto all such, epart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels, Mat. 25.41. Where they ●…all do nothing but curse for evermore; for they no farther apprehending the goodness, mercy, and ●…ounty of God, then by the sense of their own torments, the effects of his justice shall hate him, and ●…ing him they shall curse him, Revel. 16.11, 21. They suffer, and they blaspheme, there is in them a ●…rious malice against him, being cursed of him they recurse him; they curse him for making them, curse ●…m for condemning them, curse him because being adjudged to death, they can never find death; they ●…se his punishments, because they are so unsufferable; curse his mercies, because they may never taste ●…em; curse the Blood of Christ shed on the Cross, because it hath satisfied for millions, and done their believing souls no good; curse the Angels and Saints in Heaven, because they see them in joy and ●…emselves in torment; Cursing; shall be their sins, and their chief ease; Blasphemies their Prayers, La●…mae their notes; Lamentation all their harmony; these shall be their evening songs, their morning ●…gs, their mourning song; for ever and ever. And indeed, who shall go to Hell, if cursers should be ●…t out. Wherefore let all those learn to bless, that look to be heirs of the blessing.  
Other objections follow in this conference, and are accordingly answered (with the means of cure ●…scribed, etc.) in the ten ensuing pages, which are also printed for such as think these four over short. ●t being loath either to surfeit or cloy the swearer, who is communly short breathed in well doing, and least ●…ing more should hinder him from reading this (for Satan and her corrupt heart will not condescend shall hold cut to hear his beloved sin so spoken against) it brakes off thus abruptly.   

Postscript.  
YOu that fear God, or have any bowels of compassion towards the precious souls of those poor ignorant men, women, and children, whom you hear to swear and curse as dogs bark; (that is not more ●…urstnes than out of custom;) wish them to read these four pages, which I thought fit to print, even as, ●…und it in the beginning of a Manuscript. And in case you perceive good come of it, give of them to ●…ur friends and neighbours. At James Crumps, a Bookbinder in little Bartholomewes' Well-yard, you may ●…e as many gratis, as you shall be pleased to destribute. If you would passed it on a wall, or Table, take 〈◊〉 of each lea●e, placing the pages thus 1. 2. 3. 4. paring away the margins.   

Imprimatur  
John Downam