Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 25 – Part 26
Now some obiections of the Anabaptists, who hold the vse of an Oath altogether vnlawfull, and refuse it, because (as they say) they would not take Gods Name in vaine, are to be answered.
Obiection. 1 They obiect first, that the Lord in the Old Testament did onelyonly permit Swearing, as hee did some other things that were euill; and that Christ hath quite taken away the same.
Quest. How is this to bee answered?
Ans. Thus; Christ hath onelyonly taken away those things, which made a partition, either betweene God and his chosen, namely, their sinnes; or betweene the Iewes and Gentiles, as the Ceremonies whereby the Iewes were distinguished page missing confirmed with an oath, and the other of things to come, namely, when any thing is promised to men with an oath.
Quest. How must a man take an oath, whether an affirming oath, or a promising oath, when hee hath a lawfull calling therevnto?
…erem. 4.2.Ans. Hee must looke that hee sweare, in Truth, in Iudgement, and in Righteousnes: these three vertues are required in the right manner of swearing.
Quest. What is it to sweare in truth?
Answ. Swearing in truth respecteth two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; that the thing we sweare, to be a truth; and that we know it so to bee, or at least thinke it so, and be perswaded in Conscience it is a truth: for God must not bee brought for a witnesse to a lye;…ohn ….44. because that were to make him like the Deuill.
Quest. VVhat is the second?
Answ. This; that we sweare simply and plainely, without fraud,…sal. 15.4▪ …sal. 24.4. or deceit; not swearing one thing, and meaning another, but meaning as we sweare, and intending to performe that truth which we promise with an oath.
Quest. What is it to sweare in Judgement?
Answ. This; to sweare with deliberation, and due consideration, both of the nature and greatnesse of an oath, wherin God is called to witnesse the truth, and to iudge and punish vsus, if we sweare falsely, and of the matter we sweare to, and of the particular circumstances of time, place, and persons before whom we sweare; and in taking the oath, to hauehave in vsus a reuerent awe, and feare of Gods Maiestie. Hence it is called The Lords oath, Exod. 22.11.Exod. 22.11. And hence, feare the Lord,Deut. 6.13. and swearing by his Name, are ioyned together.
Quest. What is it to sweare in righteousnesse?
Ans. To sweare in righteousnes, respecteth three things.
First, that the thing we sweare, to be iust and lawfull, and such as may stand with piety & charity.… Sam. 25.22. Dauid failed in this.
Secondly, that our calling to sweare be iust and warrantable, as on the authoritie of the Magistrate, or on some necessary cause of our lawfull calling.
Thirdly, that our swearing bee directed to a right end,Hebr. 6.16. namely, the glory of God, and peace among men.
Quest. Doth an oath being taken alwayes binde a man to the keeping of it?
Answ. An oath taken touching things certaine, lawfull, and possible, alwayes bindeth, and is to be kept, though it be made to our enemies.
Quest. Whence hath an Oath a binding power?
Answ. From such particular commandements of God, as require the keeping of Oathes lawfully taken: as that, Num. 30.3. Math. 5.33.Num. 30.3. Math. 5.33.
Quest. Doth an Oath taken by creatures binde a man to the keeping of it?
Answ. Yes, it doth; for though it be vnlawfull in the manner, yet in the substance it is an oath, and therefore ought to bee kept.
Quest. How is it in substance an oath?
Answ. Thus; a man swearing by a creature,Math. 23.22. sweares by God indirectly: because eueryevery creature is a signe of Gods presence, and God is to be seene in eueryevery creature.
Quest. Doth an oath taken by false Gods or Idols, binde them that take it, to the keeping of it?
Answ. Yes, it doth: for though it be vnlawfully taken, yet in effect it is an oath; because the false God or Idoll by which the oath is taken, is a true God in the opinion of him that sweareth. Thus the oath of the Turke by his Mahomet. And the oath of Laban, by the gods or Idols of Nachor, Gene. 31.53.Gene. 31.53. Iacob accepted it.
Quest. Doth an oath binde a man, when by the keeping of it, losses and hinderances doe follow?
Answ. If it be of a thing lawfull,Psalm. 15.4. and the losse or damage be but temporary, or priuate, it doth binde.
Quest. Doth an oath, to which a man is brought by errour, fraud, or guile, binde him to the keeping of it?
Answ. If it be of things lawfull and within his power, it bindeth and must be kept. Joshua and the Princes oath to the Gibeonites was kept; and the breach of that oath by Saul, Iosh. 9.19. 2 Sam. 21.1. to 9.caused three yeares dearth, and was not satisfied.
Obiection. The oath made to the Gibeonites was contrary to Gods commandment, Deu. 29.16, 17. and therfore ought not to be kept.
Quest. How is this to bee answered?
Ans. Thus; that commandement is to be vnderstood with this exception,Iosh. 2.11.12. 13.14. Ioh. 6.22. 1. King. 9 20.21 vnlesse any did submit themselues, as Rahab did, who therefore was spared. And Salomon spared the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hiuites, and Iebusites, and made them Tributaries.
Quest. Doth a constrained oath, to which a man is brought by feare and compulsion, bind him to the keeping of it?
Answ. If it be of things lawfull and possible, it doth; because in an oath a man stands bound to the Lord, as if a man sweare to a thiefe for the sauing of his life, to bring him some of his owne money or goods; he is bound to performe it, because the losse is priuate: but if hee further sware to be silent, and not to disclose the theife, he is not bound to performe his oath, but to discouer him to the Magistrate; because the keeping of that oath is in some sort to maintaine theft, & to communicate with the sinne of the thiefe: and it tends to the hurt of the commonwealth; and therefore ought not to be kept.
Quest. When is it that an oath being taken, binds not a man to the keeping of it, but may lawfully be broken?
Ans. There be six particular cases in which an oath taken, binds not to the keeping of it, but may lawfully be broken.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This; when it is made of any thing directly against the word of God, and tends to the maintenance of sinne: for all the power an oath hath to bind, is from the word of God: and therefore being against the word of God, it hath no power to binde; & an oath must not be a bond of iniquity. Hence it was,1 Sam. 25.22. that Dauid, when he had made a rash vow to destroy Nabal; 1 Sam. 25.32.23.34. 1 Sam. 19.23.hee reioyced when Abigail by her comming, stayed him. And though hee sware to Shimei to saue his life, yet afterwards, vponupon better consideration hee commanded his sonne Salomon that hee should not count him innocent.1 King. 2.9. Mat. 14.9. Herod was deceiued, when he thought he was bound by his oath to performe his promise.
Quest. What is the second?
Ans. When it is made against the good and wholesome Lawes of the Kingdome whereof a man is a member:Rom. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.13. for Gods commandement, binds to keepe the good lawes of men.
Quest: What is the third?
Ans: This; when it is taken by such persons as want sufficient reason and discretion; as yong children, fooles, and mad-men. For conscience cannot be bound, where vnderstanding cannot discerne what is done, and where hee that sweareth wants reason and vnderstanding, to discerne what he doth.
Quest. What is the fourth?
Answ. This; when it is taken by such persons, as are vnderunder the tuition & gouernment of others, and hauehave no power to bind themselues;Numb. 30.4, 5, as by Children that are vnderunder the gouernment of their Parents. For it is the Law of Nature, that hee which is not in his owne power, cannot bind himselfe without the consent of his gouernours.
Quest. What is the fift?
Answ. This; when it is made of a thing impossible, and out of a mans power; for that is a vaine oath, and a mocking of God; because a man cannot hauehave a serious purpose, when he sweareth to doe that which he knowes he cannot doe.
Quest. What is the sixt?
Answ. This; when the oath is taken touching some thing, or things, that are lawfull to be done, and afterwards the same things become either impossible to bee done, or vnlawfull: for then God himselfe may be said to reuerse that oath, and God frō heauen frees a man from it, & it ceaseth to bind. For example, a King sweares to a forraine Prince to aide him, and to defend him, and his people against his enemies: and afterwards, that Prince becomes an enemie to him, and to his Religion, and people, & then the Kings oath binds him not.
The Papists ad another case wherein an oath binds not.
Say they, the supreame power, that is, the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, may dispence with a lawfull oath, and free a man in conscience from the bond of a lawfull oath.
Quest. Is this true or no?
Answ. It is false. Because in a lawfull oath,1 Sam. 20.8. 2 Sam. 21.7. man is not only bound to man, but is thereby also immediately bound to God himselfe; and therefore a lawfull oath is not dispensable by man, neither can any creature dispence with it, it is called The Lords oath.2 Sam. 21.7.
Now to the second branch, namely, of yeelding due reuerence to the name of God in action.
Quest. How doe men yeeld due reuerence to the Name of God in action?
Answ. Thus; when their actions tend to the glory of God; and whatsoeuer they doe,1 Cor. 10.31. Coloss. 3.17. they doe it to that end, that God may bee honoured and glorified.
Quest. How many wayes is this done, that the actions of men tend to Gods glory; & whatsoeuer they doe, they doe it to his glory?
Answ. Two wayes: either in generall, or in particular.
Quest: How doe the actions of men in generall tend to the glory of God?
Math. 5.16. 1 Pet. 2.12. Reuel. 2.13.Ans. Thus; when men liue holily, and so behaue themselues, as that in their whole conuersation, and in all their dealings they bring glory to the name of God.
Quest. How doe the actions of men in particular tend to the glory of God?
Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Psalm. 119.105 Luke 8.15.Answ. This; when the power and fruit of the Word of God, and other meanes of saluation is expressed in their particular actions, as occasion is offered.
Quest. VVhat is the second?
Answ. This; when men doe sanctifie all Gods blessings and benefits bestowed on them,1 Tim. 4.5. and his chastisements and afflictions layd on them, and his ordinances, and the works of their callings by the word of God, and by prayer.
Quest. How doe men sanctifie these things by the word of God?
Ans. Thus; when they take instruction from the word of God, touching the lawfull vse of them: and doe learne from thence to vse them after an holy manner:Psalm. 119.24 and in respect of time, place, affection, and a right end, doe vse them as they are taught by the word of God.
Quest. How doe men sanctifie Gods blessings and benefits by prayer?
Answ. By petition, and by thanksgiuing.
Quest. How is it done by petition?
Answ. Thus; when men goe to the Lord by prayer, and craue the assistance of his grace,Gen. 24.12. 2 Chron. 16.12 Iohn 6.11. Actes 27.35. Actes 21.5. and his blessing in the lawfull vse of his blessings, ordinances, and works of their callings, as particular occasion is offered to them; as for good successe in their businesse, for a blessing on their meates and drinkes, and on their Phisicke in the time of sicknes, on their iourney when they goe abroad.
Quest. How doe men sanctifie Gods blessings and benefits by thankesgiuing?
Answ. Thus; when they magnifie the name of the Lord, and returne to him praise and thankes for his grace, ayd, and blessing vouchsafed to them in the lawful vse of his blessings, ordinances, and workes of their callings,Gen. 24.27. Deut. 8.10. Exod. 18.10. 2 Sam. 22.1.10 the end. as occasion is likewise offered; as for good successe in their affaires, for the good creatures of God, their meats, drinks, and other necessaries bestowed on them; for deliuerance out of trouble, for victory ouer their enemies.