with godly virtues and good works, that it may light so many as are in the house of God. Christ, the HighPriest and everlasting Bishop, grant it may be so.

CONCLUSION.

reverence.

But, as I may return unto our matter of swearing; let them that be preachers, I say, above all things rebuke this abominable sin of swearing, and declare unto the people what a great offence it is, and how the plagues of God, and his vengeance, shall not depart from the houses of those who use this most detestable sin of swearing.

Furthermore, let all fathers and mothers give earnest diligence, that their children may, from their very cradles, learn to worship and honour the most blessed name of God, and never have it in their mouths without great

Let them not be suffered by any means to swear by God, or by any of his creatures, but let their communication be, yea, yea ; nay, nay. (Matt. v.; James v.) If they at any time swear, let them first of all be admonished of their fault, and told how great an offence it is before God wickedly and vainly to swear, If they will not so amend, let the parents punish them sharply. Better were it that their bodies, in this world, should suffer a little pain, than, after this life, to have both their bodies and souls cast into hell-fire. If all fathers and mothers will thus diligently watch over their children, it shall cause them, not only not to be defiled with the most grievous sin of swearing, but also that the most holy name of God shall be had in high reverence, great estimation, and perpetual honour for ever after, so long as they live. But above all things, let the parents themselves be an ensample in this behalf unto their children, and show evermore such reverence unto the name of God, that the younglings may well perceive that it is no vain thing that they are taught.

Let all masters and mistresses, and so many as have servants under their dominiou, provide that by no means they suffer their servants at any time to swear, either by God, or by any of his creatures. Let them show unto them what a great danger it is, and how that the vengeance of God shall not depart from those houses where swearers are; neither can there anv thing prosper, but all

things must needs go to havoc. Let them also teach them to have the name of God in so great honour and reverence, that it never be named among them but honourably and reverently. Let them at the least put off their caps so oft as they name God, Christ, or any part of his most precious body. If any of their servants will not leave their swearing, and learn to have the name of God in honour, then let them be put out of their houses, lest they bring the vengeance of God upon so many as are in their company. For as the godliness of one man is many times the occasion that God is merciful to many, so is the wickedness of one man oftentimes the cause that many are punished. Therefore, it is not enough that the masters and the mistresses of the house be virtuous and godly, except the servants be so likewise. It becomes a master to have servants like unto his own manners, lest his goodness profit not so much in the right institution of his family, as the wickedness of the other destroys. It is well when one planteth and another watereth, but it is evil when one planteth and another plucketh up. Mine eyes are unto the faithful of the earth, that they may dwell with me, saith David, and whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant. There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. (Psalm ci.) Would God all masters were of this mind.

Let all men of occupation* abstain from swearing in their buying and selling. For it is a shame that the name of God should be esteemed among christian men of so small price, that, for the value of a little temporal advantage and worldly lucre, men should abuse it, and take it in vain. Wo be to that man, who, for his own private lucre, blasphemes the name of God, or any of his creatures. There ought to be such great sincerity and faith among christian men, that there should need no oaths in their bargains and worldly business. A christian man's word ought to be better and surer than any obligation. God grant that we may once see this come to pass in England! Let them that swear, because it is the custom so to do, leave their swearing, and no more follow the wicked custom, but the truth of God's word which saith, Swear not at all. Let your communication be yea ; yea, nay, nay. (Matt. v.) Let those who glory and rejoice so much in their swearing, that they will take upon them to maintain it by the scripture, abstain from their idle oaths, and wrest no more the holy scripture, lest they, following the manners of Satan, receive a reward worthy their wickedness. Matt. iv.

Let those who say, Though we swear, yet we think no harm, leave their swearing, and remember that they shall give account at the dreadful day of judgment for every idle word they have spoken, so that they shall not escape unpunished for their idle oaths. Let those who say, Few or none will believe us, except we swear, rather meddle with few or none, than they should transgress the commandment of God, and bring damnation upon their own heads.

To conclude ; let all oaths be taken away from the midst of christian men, except they be taken for those causes which I have expressed before. If we will thus do, we shall easily eschew the most detestable vice of perjury, and live friendly together in all truth, sincerity, and faith, as it becomes saints, and so many as profess Christ. For he that will not swear, will not lightly swear falsely, and be forsworn. And that we may be the more encouraged to forsake all vain and idle oaths, let us remember that God, who is the everlasting truth, hath promised, that he will glorify those who honour him, and have his name in reverence. Again, that those shall come unto dishonour and a shameful end, who despise him and blaspheme his most holy name. Now if we would that God glorify us, that is to say, be our good Lord, defend, preserve, keep, and govern us, bless us, lighten his gracious countenance upon us, send us all things necessary for our living in this present world, and after this life, give us eternal glory

-then is it convenient that we do not abuse the name of God by our vain and unrighteous oaths, but always laud, praise, commend, magnify, and bless it, call upon it, fly unto it, as unto an holy anchor, in all our adversity, and never have it in our mouths but with high reverence and great honour. If we do the contrary, that is to say, blaspheme his most holy name, then shall we undoubtedly come unto dishonour and a shameful end. In this world, the plague and vengeance of God shall not go away from our houses; we shall be stricken with many grievous diseases in our bodies ; our goods and cattle, yea, and all that ever we have, shall come to nought. Our kind of living shall be despised by all good men; our death shall be painful, miserable, and wretched; and after these so great and manifold plagues, we may be sure, for our wicked swearing, to be cast into hell-fire, where the flames of it shall never be quenched, where weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be, where the worm that shall gnaw our consciences shall never die. Isa. Ixvi. ; Mark ix.

Therefore, I beseech all christian men, by the tender mercies of God, and by the most precious blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whereby alone we are redeemed, made pure, and delivered from all our sins, that they, from henceforth, leave their abominable swearing, either by God, or by any of his creatures. Let them never take God to witness, except it be in a necessary and earnest matter, I mean, such a matter as maketh unto the glory of God. Let their communication be yea, yea ; nay, nay. Let such great sincerity, truth, and faith, reign among them, that one may believe another without an oath, even by a word.

Let them have God in such reverence and honour, and so order their tongues in this world unto the glory of God, that after this life, through the mercy of God, they may be found worthy to be in the number of those blessed spirits, who, without ceasing, sing perpetual praises to the most holy name of God on this manner : Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty, righteous and true are thy ways, 0 King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the glory and honour and power, for thou hast made all things, and for thy will they are and were made. To Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honour, and glory and power, world without end.

AMEN.

SAY NOT BUT THAT YE ARE WARNED.

GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

Certain ancient, godly, and politic Laws for the punish

ment of Swearing, gathered out of divers authors.

The Divine Law (Leviticus xxiv.) saith, He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall die for it. All the multitude shall stone him to death ; whether he be citizen or stranger, if he blaspheme the name of the Lord, let him die the death.

This law was executed upon the son of a certain Israelitish woman, because he blasphemed the name of the Lord. He was first put in prison, and afterwards, at the commandment of God, he was stoned unto death.

Walden relates, that king Henry the fifth made a statute for swearers in his own palace, that if he were a duke that did swear, he should forfeit for every time forty shillings to the aiding of poor people. If he were a lord or baron, twenty shillings. If he were a knight or an esquire, ten shillings. If he were a yeoman, twenty pence. If he were a page, or a lackey, or a slave, to be scourged naked, either with a rod, or else with a whip.

King Edmond made this law; That they which were proved once to be falsely forsworn, should for ever be separated from God's congregation.

Hector Boetius says, Donald, king of Scotland, made this law within his land ; that all perjurers and common swearers should have their lips seared with a burning hot iron.

This law aforesaid did Lewis, king of France, enact also, and put it once in execution, at Paris, upon a citizen there, for blaspheming the name of Christ, for example of others, and so caused it to be proclaimed throughout his realm, for a general punishment.

Vincent relates, that Philip, king of France, whomsoever he perceived to blaspheme the name of God, either in taverns, or any where else; yea, although he were a great man of dignity, commanded that he should be drowned ; and caused a strong act to be made of it a little before his death, and left it unto his successors.