6. Q. When may we be accounted to take God's name in vain, by using it in swearing?

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b

A. When we swear falsely. Lev. xix. 12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely. Whether it be by a positive asserting of what is untrue; or by tricking and equivocating, in what is in some respect true; though not in that in which we would be understood to swear. Secondly, when we swear needlessly, where either the matter was not of moment enough to justify the solemnity of an oath, or might have been sufficiently determined without one. Of which kind are the greatest part of those voluntary oaths which are so frequently used by profane persons in their common discourse. Thirdly, when we swear rashly, but especially in matters of promise; in which we are most exposed to the danger of perjury. And, fourthly, when we swear irreverently ; whether we take an oath carelessly and lightly, and without due regard to the honour of God's name ourselves, or administer it so to others.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Isaiah, xlviii. 1. Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. Mal. iii. 5. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts.

b Psalm xxiv. 4. He that hath clean hands, and a

pure heart; who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully: he shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Matt. v. 34. But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

7. Q. What think you of those who swear not only by the name of God, but by that of some creature, such as the blessed Virgin, or the like saint?

A. I think it to be, without all controversy, sinful; as giving that honour to the creature, which is due only to the Creator. And so God himself declares that he accounts it. Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him: and shalt swear by his name; ye shall not go after other gods. And again, Deut. x. 20. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

And when, in process of time, that people began to do otherwise, the prophet Jeremy tells us how heinously God resented the affront, that was thereby put upon him. Jer. v. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this? Thy children have forsaken me, and swore by them, that are no gods. And again, Amos, viii. 14. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy God, O Dan, liveth; and the manner of Beersheba liveth: even they shall fall, and never rise up again. Compare Josh. xxiii. 7. Jer. xii. 16. Zeph. i. 5. Josh. That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them,

neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them. Jer. And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, the Lord liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. Zeph. I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops, and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and swear by Malcham.

8. Q. How does it appear that to swear by any creature, is to give to that creature by whom we swear the proper honour of God?

A. The very nature of an oath declares it; which supposes the person whom we swear by to be capable both of discerning the truth or falsehood of what is sworn, and the sincerity or insincerity with which we swear; and also of punishing us for our perjury, if we swear otherwise than we ought to do. All which are actions proper to God alone, and above the capacity of any creature: and therefore being ascribed to one who is not God, must needs give the honour due to God alone, to that person by whom

we swear.

9. Q. Is it lawful to swear in any matter of moment, if we take care to swear in such a manner as we ought to do?

A. It has been the opinion of many good men that we should decline all voluntary swearing, even in matters of moment, as much as may be: and that for fear of perjury, which is a sin of a very heinous nature. Yet if we are required to do it by such, whom we ought not to disobey, and do it faithfully and reverently, in truth, in judgment, and in righ

teousness, Jer. iv. 2, it is both an act of religious worship, and for the glory of God, and upon those accounts undoubtedly lawful. Nor did our Saviour ever intend to forbid swearing altogether; but only to restrain all voluntary and needless use of it in common conversation; and to keep us, when we do swear, to the doing of it only by the name of God, and not by that of any other thing or person.

See Matt. v. 34, &c. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool.

PROOF SUBJOINED.-Psalm xv. 4. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not-he that doeth these things shall never be moved.

10. Q. How may God's name be taken in vain by vowing?

A. By vowing to do any thing which may not lawfully be fulfilled: *by vowing that which we are not able to fulfil: **by vowing rashly, and indiscreetly, what though we should be able to fulfil, might yet much better, and more prudently have been let alone: *by vowing any thing for a long time to come, it may be for one's whole life; and of our future capacity to make good which, hereafter we cannot at the present judge: and, lastly, by accustoming ourselves to vow frequently, which must necessarily expose us to the hazard of not performing our vows.

PROOF SUBJOINED.-Judges, xi. 30, 31. And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall

surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burntoffering.

11. Q. Would it not therefore be advisable not to make any vows at all?

A. It cannot be doubted but that if a vow be duly made, it is not only lawful, but acceptable to God. But then, that it may be so, we should take heed, first, not to vow upon every occasion; but when we have some considerable mótive to engage us to the doing of it. Secondly, To see that what we do vow be in itself good; fit for us to vow, and for God to accept. Thirdly, That we be sure not to vow any thing but what we are in a capacity to fulfil. Eccles. v. 4, 5. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.

PROOFS SUBJOINED. - Deut. xxii. 21, 22, 23. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee, and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform, even a free-will offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. Psalm lxvi. 13, 14. I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. Prov. xx. 25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

12. Q. When do we take God's name in vain in praying?