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James Major' says, Philip, earl of Flanders, made this institution within his earldom, in the year of our Lord 1178 ; that he who did forswear himself should lose his life and goods.

Maximilian, the emperor, made also a decree; that whosoever he were that was a common swearer, should, for the first time, lose a mark, (13s. 4d.). And if he were not content with that, he should lose his head. Which act, he and the nobility of the empire commanded to be published four times in the year : at Easter, Whitsuntide, Assumption of our lady, as they called it, and Christmas. See the chronicles of memorable things.

The law of the Egyptians was, that no swearing should be used among them at all, except it were for a weighty cause. If any were found to be perjured, the same should lose his head. See Bæmus. The law of the Scythians was, that if

any among them could be proved to be a notable swearer, or such a one as would forswear himself, the same being convicted of the fault, should not only lose his head, but his goods also, which they should have who proved him perjured.

The Romans had a law, that all such as were found to be perjured, should be thrown down headlong from the top of a high rock, called the Tarpeian. See the law of the twelve tables.

The Third Commandment saith, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The wise man saith, Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swear, for in it there are many faults, &c. As a servant who is oft punished cannot be without some sore, even so whatsoever he be that sweareth, and nameth God (in vain) shall not be clean purged from sin. A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with wickedness, and the plague shall never go from his house.

The words of the swearer bring death, (God grant that it be not found in the house of Jacob) but they that fear God, eschew all such, and lie not weltering in sin.

The counsel of Josephus is this : that he which blasphemeth God, and irreverently useth his name, should be stoned unto death, and then hanged up by the space of one day, and so taken down, and buried without any

kind of honour. Lib. iv. Ant. Cap. vi.

Divers other most noble princes made divers other most holy laws for the eschewing of customary swearing and perjury. Would that some method might be devised, for the abolishing and putting away of the most wicked and detestable custom of swearing, by every prince, as he shall think most convenient for the state of his realm. Laws are made and penalties appointed for divers mean things, which only concern worldly matters; why then do not christian princes also make laws, acts, and decrees, for the glory of God, that his name may be had in honour and reverence, as most worthy of all it is ! Worldly matters may not so be esteemed, that things per. taining to the glory of God and the salvation of christian men's souls shall be neglected. For rulers are appointed of God, not only to look upon mundane and worldly, bút also upon divine and spiritual matters. And it is their duty, no less to tender the glory of God, and to make acts concerning the same, than to see that public tranquillity, and all things decent and comely for an honest outward order, be maintained, preserved, and kept. And as they are the supreme heads and chief rulers of the spirituality and temporality, so ought they to travail in spiritual no less than in temporal matters. Look what enormities, wickednesses, ungodly customs, superstitious and unrighteous manners, &c. reign in realms. All these ought to be abolished, and put away by the worldly potentates and earthly rulers. God grant that we may see it shortly, not only in this realm, but in the kingdoms of so many as profess Christ. Amen.*

Remedies against Swearing. If thou art bent to leave the wicked custom of swearing, First, Pray fervently unto God, that he will take away * The laws of England now in force, enact, that if any person shall profanely curse, or swear, and be convicted thereof before a justice on the oath of one witness, he shall forfeit, if a day labourer, common soldier, or seaman, one shilling ; every other person under the degree of a gentleman, two shillings; every person of or above the degree of a gentleman, five shillings ; for a second offence after conviction, each shall forfeit double, and for every subsequent offence treble the above-mentioned sums. Every constable that hears a person curse or swear is required to prosecute, or is liable to a penalty of forty shillings.

thy heart, which is defiled in such sort, and so hardened with the customable usage of sinning, that there can enter no virtue nor godliness into it.

Secondly, Desire him, for his great mercy's sake, to create in thee a new heart, and to pour his Spirit so abundantly

, into thy breast, that by the influence of it thou mayest be able to drink in virtue, and all that ever shall be pleasant to the divine majesty.

Thirdly, Be so at defiance with all vice and sin, that by no means at any time thou have pleasure either to think, hear, or talk of it; so far let it be from thee to meddle any thing at all with it, in thought, word, or deed.

Fourthly, Set this saying of Christ ever before thine eyes, that at the day of judgment account shall be given of every

idle word that is spoken. This shall bring unto thy remembrance how grievous an account shall be required of them that customably swear, vainly usurp the name of God, blaspheme God, are falsely forsworn, &c.

Fifthly, That thou mayest the more easily eschew swear. ing, fly the company of them that use customably to swear, or have a pleasure to interlace their talk with blasphemous oaths. And whatsoever thou hatest in others, look that by no means thou do the same.

Sixthly, Busy thyself continually in giving praises unto God, and setting forth the glory of his name. Delight thou in nothing so much as in doing those things that make unto the advancement of the divine majesty. This shall not a little make unto the putting away of swearing, and make thee to have a mouth which shall be the organ and instrument of the Holy Ghost, to set forth and publish the glory of God.

Finally, let nothing come forth of thy mouth until it be thoroughly considered in thy breast, as Epictetus, the Greek philosopher warns; and so order both thy tongue and thine acts in all thy conversation, that it never repent thee afterward of any thing that thou hast done. So shalt thou not only eschew the damnable custom of swearing, but also garnish thy life with all kinds of virtues, unto the great glory of God, and the health of thy soul.

So BE IT.

GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

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THE NAME OP The Lord is A STRONG CASTLE, UNTO THAT DOTH THE

RIGHTEOUS RUN, AND RE SHALL BE PRESERVED.-PROVERBS XVI!I.

1549.

I am he only that for mine own self's sake do away thine offences, and forget thy sins, so that I will never think upon them.--Isaiah xliii.

If any man be thirsty, let him come unto me and drink.--John vii.

O taste and see, how sweet the Lord is; blessed is that man that potteth his trust in him.-Psalm xxxiv.

DEDICATION.

To the most honourable and virtuous lady, Maria, duchess of Richmond, her grace, Thomas Becon wisheth from God the Father through our

Lord Jesus Christ, a faithful
perseverance in God's
most holy word
unto the

end.

It was not without a great cause, most godly lady, that the holy apostle, saint Paul, desired the Thessalonians to hold fast the doctrine that he had taught them before, and not suddenly to be moved from their knowledge and understanding, nor to be troubled, neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter. For he undoubtedly did before see, by the revelation of God's Spirit, that there should arise false anointed, and false preachers, which should work great miracles and wonders, insomuch, that if it were possible, the very elect and chosen people of God should be brought into error.

Which also should say, Behold here is Christ, or there is Christ, bringing in damnable sects, and utterly denying the Lord that bought them; as Peter saith, · He considered the imbecility, weakness, and childish hearts of men, which, except they are corroborated* and fortified with the strength of God's Spirit, are soon carried about with divers and strange learnings, embracing no less greedily that which is co themselves noisome and pestiferous, than that which is good and profitable, as we at this present time see daily before our eyes. Therefore, this most excellent apostle desired the Thessalonians, (yea, and so many of us as profess Christ unfeignedly,) to persevere and abide in the word of truth, even unto the end, that we may be saved ; and not lightly to be moved with the subtle and crafty persuasions of them that teach weak and beggarly traditions with human constitutions; which give heed to fables and men's commandments, that turn away the followers of them from the truth ; which profess that they know God, but with their deeds they deny him, insomuch as they are abominable and disobedient, yea, and unmeet to

* Strengthened.

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