Confession of the Christian Religion, Confession · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Of inuocation and an oath.
BEcauſe among the other good workes commaunded by God prayer is not the leaſt, ſo that, very often in the ſcriptures it is taken for the whole ſeruice of god; whereunto is ioyned alſo an oath, as being a part of Gods ſeruice: therefore we hauehave thought fitt, brieflie to declare our faith, concerning theſe two things: and the rather ſith among the profeſſours of Chriſt there is ſome controuerſie, about both theſe points.
I. OnelyOnly God, and ſo Ieſus Chriſt, to be praied vntounto.
We beleeue that (ſpeaking of prayer, which pertaineth vntounto religion) the true God, (that is, the Father, Sonne, and holie ghoſt) and ſo Ieſus Chriſt our aduocate, is to be prayed vntounto, and none other. Pſa. 50.16For of calling vppon God alone, there bee expreſſe commaundements: ſith he alone is to bee ſerued and worſhipped. And of Chriſt being our mediatour and aduocate we lack not teſtimonies and examples in the Acts of the Apoſtles, in their Epiſtles, Deu. 10.12 Mat. 4.10 Col. 2.18& in the reuelation. And as it is expreſly forbidden vsus, to ſerue or worſhipp any meere creature, whatſoeuer it bee, either in heauen or earth: ſo alſo we are forbidden to praye vntounto them. And if whatſoeuer is not of faith is ſinn: Ioh. 1.6much more then is that which is admitted againſt the cleare worde of God: ſith the verie heathen themſelues, thought none was to bee called vppon, except he were thought a God: And how ſhall they pray vntounto him (ſaith the Apoſtle) in whome they hauehave not beleeued? But that God alone and Ieſus Chriſt are to be beleeued in, the whole ſcripture, and the whole catholicke church, euen in the creede which is daily rehearſed, do manifeſtly teach.
II. A chriſtian man may ſweare, lawfully.
We alſo beleeue, that a chriſtian man may ſweare, Ier. 4.2lawfully, namely in trueth (as the Prophet teacheth) in iudgement, in righteouſneſſe, ſo that his oath be neither falſe, nor raſh, nor vniuſt. Neither is it condemned, that one ſhould take the name of the Lord: but if he take it in vaine, and for an vntrueth. And among all nations, ſince the beginning of the worlde, an oath hath beene vſed: when it maketh for the glorie of God, and profite of our neighbour. Yea it hath beene confirmed by the examples of god himſelfe, of Chriſt, and of the Apoſtles, being a parte of Gods worſhip: to ſpeake nothing of the perpetuall conſent of the whole church. Wherefore the doctrine of Chriſt in Matthew, Mat. 5.35 Ia. 5.12or of Iames in his Epiſtle, cannot be repugnant vntounto this. For they ſpake againſt the abuſing of oathes: and ment to declare a true vnderſtanding of the commaundement concerning an oathi
III. We muſt not ſweare, but by God.
We beleeue, when an oath is to bee taken, that we ought to call vppon or take to witnes of our conſcience no other, beſides God: and therefore may not ſweare, but by him. For God alone is the ſearcher of our hearts, and he alone muſt hauehave his honour and worſhipp, that he may bee the witneſſe and reuenger againſt our ſoules, if we performe not that, which by our oath we promiſe.
IV. Oathes which are iuſt, and lawfully taken muſt be kept.
Hereuppon we confeſſe, that for the honor of God, whoſe name in our oathes, is as it were laide to pleadge, all oathes, lawfully taken ought to be obſerued: as alſo the law commaundeth: neither is the name of God to bee taken in vaine, or in an vntrueth.
V. Oaths vponupon vngodly and vniuſt matters, ſuch as be againſt the law of God ought not to bee made: or being made ought not to be kept.
Againe ſith wee ought to promiſe nothing that is vniuſt or vngodly, namely, contrarie to the law of God: much leſſe doe we iudge it lawful to be confirmed, by oath, or by taking the name of God: yet if it be taken, we affirme that ſuch an oath, vnlawfull in it ſelfe, ought not to bee kept: becauſe in performing ſuch an oath the ſinne is doubled: Mat. 14.7as wee reade of Herode in the Euangeliſts.
VI. Oathes which cannot be kept vvithout breach of Gods law, ought not to be kept: though ſome ſuch oathes are in themſelus not vniuſt.
This alſo wee adde, that all ſuch oathes, as cannot be kept without breach of gods commaundement, C. 22. q. 4though they are in themſelues not vniuſt, yet are not to bee kept. And therefore (for example ſake) they which by oath promiſe perpetuall ſingle life, which afterwards they cannot keepe without manifeſt breach of Gods law: we iudge that ſuch ought by no meanes to keep their oath.
VII. Errors.
Wee diſallowe therefore thoſe which praye vntounto idolls, dead men, things without life, or do worſhip them. Wee diſallow alſo the Anabaptiſts, which ſimplie condemne all oathes, and affirme that no manner of oath is lawfull for a chriſtian man: as alſo thoſe, which call to witneſſe to their ſoules, others beſids God: laſtly thoſe, which hold that their oathes, which in themſelues are vngodlie, and cannot without great offence be performed, yet that they are to be fully kept and obſerued.