The Whole Body of Religion, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Concerning Invocation and Swearing.
BEcauſe amongſt good works commanded by God Invocation is none of the laſt, but is often taken in holy Scripture for the whole worſhip of God, whereunto alſo is added an Oath as being a part of divine worſhip: Therefore we thought good here in brief to explicate and declare what is our belief concerning both; and that the rather, becauſe even amongſt thoſe that profeſſe the name of Chriſt there is ſome controverſie concerning them both.
DOCTRINE I. That Invocation is due to God onelyonly, and therefore alſo to Ieſus Chriſt.
AS concerning religious Invocation, we believe that it isaDeut. 6.13.10.12, 20. due onelyonly to the true God (that is the Father; the Son, and the holy Ghoſt) and therefore to Ieſus Chriſt our Advocate, and to none beſides.Matt. 4.10. That Invocation is due to God onelyonly, it is made manifeſt by many places of Scripture: Becauſe God alone is to be worſhipped and adored. And that it is due unto Chriſt as our Mediatour and Advocate, we have ſufficient teſtimonies in the Acts of the Apoſtles, in the Epiſtles, and in the Revelation. And as we are expreſſelybColoſſ. 2.18. forbidden to worſhip and adore, any creature whatſoever it be, whether in heaven, or on earth: So likewiſe are we forbidden to invocate and call upon them. And if whatſoever is not of faith, is ſin; much more that which is committed againſt the expreſſe word of God: For the very gentiles themſelves did not judge it fit to call upon any with a religious worſhip, whom they did not acknowledge for a God. And (as the Apoſtle ſaith)aRom. 10.14. How ſhall they call on him in whom they have not believed? But we muſt believe onelyonly in God and in Ieſus Chriſt, as we are taught in holy Scripture, and all the true Catholike Church confeſſeth in the Apoſtles Creed which is dayly recited.
DOCT. II. That a Chriſtian man may ſwear lawfully.
WE believe likewiſe that a Chriſtian man may ſwear lawfully, to wit, in truth,bIer. 4.… in judgement, and in righteouſneſſe (as the Prophet teacheth) ſo that his oath be neither falſe, nor raſh, nor unjuſt. For the taking of the name of the Lord in our mouthes, is not ſimply condemned; but the taking of it in vain, and falſly. And it is a received cuſtome amongſt all nations from the foundation of the world to take an oath, when it makes for the glorie of God, and the benefit of a neighbour. And (to ſay nothing of the perpetuall conſent of the Church in all ages) it is likewiſe confirmed by Gods own example, as alſo by the example of Chriſt, and his Apoſtles. Wherefore the Doctrine of Chriſt inaMatt. 5.24. St. Matthews Goſpell, &bIam. 5.12. St. Iames in his Epiſtle is not repugnant to ours. For their purpoſe was to ſhew the true meaning of the commandment concerning ſwearing, and they ſpake onelyonly againſt the abuſe thereof.
DOCT. III. That, when we ſwear, we are to ſwear by God onelyonly, and by no other.
WE believe that, when we are to ſwear, no other is by us to be called upon as the witneſſe of our conſciences but God alone; and therefore that we are to ſwear by none but God: For God alone is the beholder and ſearcher of our hearts, and he alone hath power over our ſouls. And therefore to him onelyonly is this honour and worſhip due, to be appealed unto by us as unto a witneſſe, and avenger on our ſouls, if we obſerve not what by oath we have promiſed.
DOCT. IV. That ſuch oaths as are juſt, and lawfully*Or taken. made, are to be kept and obſerved by us.
HE reupon we confeſſe that ſuch oaths as are lawfully*Or taken. made are by us to be kept and obſerved alſo, and that for the glory of God, whoſe name we do as it were lay to pledge as often as we ſwear by it: As it is alſo commanded in the law; for we are not to take the name of God in vain, or falſly.
DOCT. V. That oaths concerning*Vnjuſt, Or unlawfull. wicked and ungodly matters, that is, ſuch as are repugnant to the Law of God, are not to be taken; or if taken, yet not to be kept.
AGain, foraſmuch as we are to promiſe nothing which is*Unjuſt, or unlawfull. wicked and ungodly, that is to ſay, repugnant to the Law of God: Therefore much leſſe ought we to confirme any ſuch thing by an oath, interpoſing the name of God. But if any ſuch oath of it ſelf unlawfull be taken, we affirme that it ought not to be kept: for in keeping it the ſin is doubled; as we read in theaMatt. 14.7, 8, 9, &c. Goſpel concerning Herod.
DOCT. VI. That ſuch oaths as cannot be kept without trangreſsing Gods Law, are not to be kept; although ſome of them of themſelves be not unjuſt or unlawfull.
ANd this alſo we adde, that ſuch oaths as cannot be kept without tranſgreſſing Gods Law, are not to be kept, although the things themſelves be not of themſelves unjuſt, or unlawfull. And therefore (to inſtance in a particular) If any man hath bound himſelf by an oath, never to marry; which oath he cannot keep without manifeſt tranſgreſſing of the divine Law: we determine that he is in no wiſe to keep that oath.
DOCT. VII. Errours condemned.
WE therefore condemne all thoſe, whoſoever invocate or adore, call upon or worſhip either idols, or dead men, or any thing whatſoever without life: As likewiſe all Anabaptiſts, who ſimply and abſolutely condemne all manner of oaths, contending for this, that it is not lawfull for a Chriſtian man to ſwear in any kind: And again, thoſe who call upon any other beſides God, to be witneſſe to their ſouls and conſciences: And to conclude, all thoſe whoſoever contend for this, that vowes and oaths, though of themſelves impious, and ſuch as cannot be kept without wickedneſſe, are yet notwithſtanding to be kept.