A Complete Christian Dictionary, Dictionary · Part OA
O A.
Oares]
Made of the okes of Basham, Ezek. 27. 6. Used and handled by Sea-men or Mariners, Ibid. 29. for the rowing of gallies (or other vessels, ships, or boats, great or small, on the sea, or rivers of fresh waters) that they may go the more swiftly, Isa. 33. 21.
Oath]
;;A calling of the Name of God (the searcher of the heart) to witness a needful truth, for the ending of strife and controversies. Heb. 6. 16. An oath sor confirmation is the end of all strise.
;;The end and use of an Oath, is either for the ending of controversies, or for the performing of promises. An Oath may be taken either publickly or privately, if cause be.
;;2. A wicked or false taking God to witness, for some evill end; as either to do some wickedness, or to hinder some good thing. Mat. 14. 9. For his oaths sake. Herod's oath.
An Oath is either lawful, or unlawful.
I. Lawful, as 1. of God, both to Christ, Psal. 110. 4. Heb. 7. 21. and to Man; and that whether in love or mercy, as Gen. 22. 16. Isa. 45. 23. Amos 6. 8. Heb. 6. 16. or in wrath and displeasure, Numb. 32. 10, 11. Deut. 4. 21. Psal. 95. 11. Ezek. 20. 15, 23. Heb. 3. 18. Who sweareth by himself, Heb. 6. 13. his holiness, Psal. 89. 35. his right hand and arm of his strength, Isa. 62. 8. his great name, Jer. 44. 26. his soul, Jer. 51. 14. the excellency of Jacob, Amos 8. 7. his life. Isa. 49. 18.
2. Of Angels; who swear by God, Dan. 12. 7. Revel. 10. 5, 6.
3. Of Men; who are to swear religiously, by God only, Deut. 6. 13. & 10. 20. 1 King. 2. 8. Reverently, with fear, Eccl. 9. 2. …, Gen. 24. 5, 8. Josh. 2. 17. Lawfully, namely in things lawful, and that in truth, in judgement and in …, Jer. 4. 2. For that an oath bindeth, Numb. 30. 3. …. 9. 19. Eccl. 8. 2. and is a part of Gods …, Psal. 63. 11. Isa. 45. 23. & 48. 1. & 65. 16. which hath been required one of another, Gen. 24. 3, 37. & 25. 13. & 47. 31. 2 King. 11. 4. and used in mutual Covenants, Gen. 21. 23. & 26. 31. & 31. 53. 1 Sam. 20. 3, 13, 17.
These words being used in taking it;
As the Lord liveth, Judg. 8. 19. Ruth 3. 13. 1 Sam. 14. 45.
God is my witness, Rom. 1. 9.
God is my record, Phil. 1. 8.
… … …. … Thess. 2. 5, 10.
God knoweth, 2 Cor. 11. 11, 31.
Behold, … God, I lie not, Gal. 1. 20.
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, Rom. 9. 1.
As the truth of Christ is in me, 2 Cor. 11. 10.
I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not, 1 Tim. 2. 7.
Verily I say unto you, Mat. 5. 13.
Verily, verily I say unto you, Joh. 1. 51.
The Lord sorbid (a phrase used in the denial of a thing) 1 Sam. 24. 6. 1 King. 21. 3.
God do so to me, and more also, 1 King. 2. 23. Where note, that the Hebrews in their forms of oaths, were wont to expresse the conditional part, but not the imprecation of the evill, which was to seise on them, if knowingly they did deceive, or swear falsly.
II. Unlawfull, as to swear, 1. Idolatrously, by false Gods, Josh. 23. 7. Jer. 12. 16. Amos 8. 14. Zeph. 1. 5. or, by the Creatures, Gen. 42. 15, 16. 2 Sam. …. 11. Mat. 5. 34, 36. & 23. 16, 18. Jam. 5. 12.
2. Deceitfully, Lev. 19. 12. Jer. 42: 5, 20.
3. Falsly, Lev. 6. 3. Eccl. 9. 2. Hos. 10. 4.
4. …, 1 Sam. 28. 10. & 25. 22. 2 King. 6. 31. Jer. 5. 2.
5. Rashly, Lev. 5. 4. Eccl. 9. 2. 2 King. 5. 20. 2 Sam. 19. 7. Josh. 9. 15, 18, 19. Judg. 21. 1, 18. Mar. 6. 26. Mat. 14. 7.
Oath of God]
;;An oath which God exacteth of his people, and they willingly give unto God, for performance of obedience to him. Eccl. 8. 2. I counsell thee to keep the Kings commandement, and that in regard of the oath of God. They erre which deny unto Christians the lawful use of an oath.
Oath]
Without an oath, Heb. 7. 21. or without swearing of an oath, marg.
Oath]
Heb. 7. 20. and in as much as not without an oath he was made Priest. It is as if the Apostle had said, It must needs be a great thing, and of singular weight and importance, which God Almighty ratifieth with an oath. Annot.