III. Whofoever taketh an oath, ought duly to confider the weightiness of fo folemn an act, and therein to avouch no thing but what he is fully perfwaded is the truth g: Neither may any man bind himself by oath to any thing but what is good and juft, and what he believeth fo to be, and what he is able and refolved to perform b. Yet it is a fin to refule an oath touching any thing that is good and just, being imposed by lawful authority i. IV. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common fenfe III, g Exod.20.7.(See letter b.) Jer. 4. 2. And thou fhalt fwear, The Lord liveth,in truth,in judgment, and in righteou!nefs; and the nationsfhallblefsthemselves in him, and in him fhall they glory. h Gen. 24.2 And Abraham faid unto his eldestservant of hishoufe, that ruledover all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh v. 3. And I will make thee fwear by the Lord,the Godof heaven and the Godof the earth, that thoufhalt not take a wife unto my fon, of the daughters of the Canaanites, amongst whom I dwell.v.5. And thefervant faidunto him,Peradventure the woman will not be willingto followme unto this land: muft I needs bring thy fon again unto the land from whence thou camelt? v. 6. And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my fonthitheragain.. 8. And if the woman will not be willing to followthee,then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only bringnotmyfon thitheṛagain..9. Andthe fervant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his mafter, and fware to him concerning that matter, i Num.5.19.And the priestfhall charge her by an oath,and lay un to the woman,if no man have lien with thee, and if thou haft not gone afide to uncleannefs with another instead of thy hufband, be thou free from thisbitterwaterthat caufeth the curfe, v.21. Then the of prieft fhall charge the woman with an oath of curfing, and the priest fhall fay untothewoman, The Lord make thee a curfe and an oath among the people, when the Lord doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to fwell.Neh.5.12. Then faid they, we will reftore them, & will require nothing of them; fo will we do as thou fayeft. Then I called the priests,and took an oath ofthem,that they should do according to this promife.Exod. 22.7. If amanfhalldeliverunto his neighbour money or ftuff to kee,and if it be ftolen out of the mans houfe; if the thief be found, let him pay double. . 8. If the thief be not found,then the master of the houfe fhallbe brought unto the judges,to fee whether he have put his hand unto hisneighbours goods..9 For all mannerof trefpafs, whetheritbe forox forafs, forfheep,for raiment, or for any manner of loft thing, which anotherchallengeth tobehis: the cause of both parties fhall come before the judges; and whom the judges fhall condemn,he fhall pay double unto his neighbour.. 10. If a man deliverunto hisneighbour an afs, or an ox,or afheep, or any beaft to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away,no man feeing it,, 1.Then shall the oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his handunto his neighbours goods: and the owner of it fhall accept thereof, and he fhall not make it good. IV. k Jer. Chap. 22. of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation kIt cannot oblige to fin; but in any thing not finful, being taken, it binds to performance, altho' to a man's own hurtl. Nor is it to be violated, altho'made to heretics or infidels m. V. A vow is of the like nature, with a promiffory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness n. VI. It IV.k Jer. 4. 2. (See letter g.) Plal. 24. 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his foul unto vanity, nor fworn deceitfully. 11 Sam. 25. 22.So and more alfo doGod unto the enemies of David, if leave ofall that pertainunto him, by the morning light,any thatpiffeth against the wall. v. 32. And David faid unto Abigail, Bleffed be the Lord God of Ifrael,which fent thee this day to meet me: v. 33. And bleffed bythyadvice, and blef fed be thou that halt kept me this day from coming to fhed blood, and from avenging myfelf with mine own hand. v.34. For in very deed, as the Lord God of Ifrael liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadft hafted and come to meet me, furely there had not been left unto Nabal, by the morning light, any that piffeth against the wall. Pfal. 15.4 In whole eyes a vile perfon is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord: He that weareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. m Ezek. 17.16.Asl livefaith the LordGod,Surelyinthis placewhere the king dwelleth that made him king, whole oath he defpifed, and whofecovenanthe brake,even with him, in the midft of Babylon he fhall die. v. 18. Seeing he defpifed the oath, by breaking of the covenant (when lo he had given his hand &hath done all thefe things hefhallnotefcape.". 19. Therefore thus faith the Lord God. As I live, furely mine oath that he hath defpifed, and my covenant that he hath broken,even it will I recompenfe upon his own head. Josh.9. 18.Andthe childrenof Ifrael fmote themnot,because the princes of the congregation had wornunto them by the Lord God of Ifrael: and all thecongregationmurmuredagainst the princes. v.19.But all the princes faid unto all the congregation, We have fworn unto them by the LordGod of Ifrael: now therefore wemaynottouch them With Sam, 21. 1. Then there was a famine in the days of David,three years, year after year;& David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord anfwered,it is forSaul & his bloody house, becaufe he flew the Gibeonites. V. n Ifa. 19. 21. And the Lord fhall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians fhall know the Lord in that day, and fhall do facrifice and oblation,yea,they fhall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. Eccl.5.4. When thouvowelt avow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in a fool; pay that which thou halt vowed. 7.5. Better is it that thou fhouldft not vow, than that thou shouldit vow and not pay. v. 6. Suffer not thy mouth to caule thy flesh to fin,neither fay thoubefore the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angryat thy voice,and deftroy the work of thine hand? Pfal. 61.8. So will I fing praife unto thy name for ever, thatI may dailyperform my vows.Pfal,66. 13. I will gointo thy houfe with burnt-offerings:Iwill pay thee my vows.". 14. Which my lips have uttered, and my VI. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone o: And, that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and confcience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what he want; whereby we more ftrictly bind ourselves to neceffary duties, or to other things, so far and fo long as they may fitly conduce thereunto p. VII. No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise or ability from God 9. my mouth hath fpoken whenIwas in trouble. VI.OPfal.76. 11. Vow and pay unto the Lord yourGod:let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. Jer. 44.25.Thus faith the Lord of holts,the God of Ifrael,faying, Ye and your wives have both fpoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, Saying, We will furely perform our vows that we have vowed,to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her ye will furely accomplish your vows, and furely perfom your vows. v. 26. Therefore,hear yethe word of the Lord,all Judah that dwell in the landof Egypt, Behold, Ihave fworn by my great name, faith the Lord, that my name fhall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah,in all the land of Egypt, faying, the Lord liveth. p Deut.23.21. When thou fhalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not flack to pay it: for thelordthyGodwill furely require it of thee; and it would be fin in thee. v. 22. But if thou fhalt for bear to vow, it fhall be no fin in thee. v. 23. That which is gone out of thy lips, thou shalt keep & perform; even a freewill-offering, according as thou haft vowed unto the Lord thy God,which thou haft In promifed with thy mouth. Pfal 50. 14. Offer unto God thankfgiving, and pay thy vows unto the molt High. Gen. 28. 20. And Jacob vowed a vow, faying, If God will be with me,and I willkeep me inthis way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on: v.21.So that I come again to my fathers house in peace then fhall the Lord be my God. v. 22. And this ftone,which I have fet for a pillar, fhall be Gods house; and of all that thoufhall give me,I will furely give the tenth unto thee. 1 Sam. 1.11.And fhevowed a vow, and faid, O Lord of hofts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid,and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid,butwill give unto thinehandmaid a man child, then will I give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no rafor come upon his head. Pfal. 66. 13, 14.(See letter n.)P(a). 132, 2.How he fware unto the Lordand vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob.v.3. Surely I will notcome into the tabernancle of my houfe,nor go up into my bed: v. 4. I will not give fleep to mine eyes or flumber to mine eye lids, v. 5. Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for themighty Godof Jacob. VII. q Acts 23. 12. And when itwas day,certain of the ewsband ded in which refpects, popish monaftical vows of perpetual fingle life, profeffed poverty, and regular obedience, are fo far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are fu perftitious and finful fnares, in which no Chriftian may intangle himselfr. CHAP. XXIII. Of the civil Magistrate. OD, the fupreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magiftrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good; and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the fword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil-doers a. ded together, & bound themselves under a curfe, faying, That they would neither eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul, . 14. And they came to the chief priests & elders,and faid, We have bound our felves under a great curfe,that we will eat nothinguntil we have flain Paul.Mark 6.26.And the king was exceeding forry, yet for this oaths fake,ard for their fakes which fat with him,he would not reject her. Numb 30.5. But if her father difallow herin theday thathe heareth notofany ofhervows,orofherbonds wherewith flie hathbound her foul, fhall ftand: and the Lord fhallforgive her, because her Father difallowed her.".8.But if her husband difallow her on the day that he heardit; then he shall make hervow which the vowed, & that which the utteredwith herlips,wherewithfhe bound her foul, of none effect:and the Lord fhallforgiveher.v.12.But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded outofherlips, concerning hervows, or concerning the bondof her foul, fhall not ftand; her husband hath madethem void,and the Lordfhall forgive her, v. 13.Every vow,and every binding oath to afflict the II. It foul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. r Mat. 19. 11. But he faid unto them, All men cannot receive this faying,favetheytowhomitisgiven. v.12. Forthere are fome eunuchs, which were foborn from their mothers womb: & there are fome eunuchs,which were made eunuchsof men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heavens fake: He that is able to receive it,let himreceive it. I Cor. 7.2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication,let every man have his own wife,& let every woman have her own husband. . 9, But ifthey cannot contain,let them marry for it is bettertomarry than to burn. Eph. 4. 28. Let him that ftole,fteal no more: but rather let him labour, working with hishands the things whichisgoodthathemay have to give to him that needeth. 1Pet.4.2.That heno longer should live the reft of his time in the flesh, to the lufts ofmen, but to the will of God.1 Cor.7.23. Ye are bought with a price,benot ye the fervants of men. I. a Rom. 13. 1. Let every foul be fubject untothe higher powers. For there is nopower but of God: the powers that be,are ordained of God. 127 II. It is lawful for Chriftians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto b: In the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice and peace, according to the wholfom laws of each commonwealth c; fo, for that end, they may lawfully, now under, the new teftament, wage war upon just and neceffary occafions d. III. The civil magiftrate may not affume to himself the administration of the word and facraments, or the power God. v. 2. Whofoever therefore refifteth thepower,refifteth the ordinance of God: and they that refift, fhallreceiveto themfelves damnation. v. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works,but tothe evil. Wilt thou then not be afraidof the power? do that which is good, and thou fhalt have praife of the fame: v. 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil,beafraid forhe beareth notthefword in vain: for he is the minifter of God,a revenger, to execute wrathuponhim that doth evil. 1 Pet.2.13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords fake: whether it be to the king as fupreme.v.14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punifhment of evil-doers, and forthe praise of them that do well. II. b Prov. 8. 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree juftice. v. 16: By me princes rule, and nobles,even all the judgesoftheearth. Rom. 13. 1, 2.4. (See in letter a.) c Pfal 2.10. Be wife now therefore, ye king: be instructed, ye judges of the earth, v. 11. Serve the Lordwith fear,and rejoicewith trembling 12. Kifs the Son, left he be angry, & ye perifh from the way, when hiswrath is kindled but a little, bleffed areall they that put their trust in him. 1 Tim. 2.2. For kings,and for all thatare in autho rity, that we maylead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and I of honefty. Pfalm. 82. 3. Defend the poor and fatherlefs: do juftice to the afflicted and needy. v.4. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 2Sam.23.3.The God ofIfrael faid, the Rockof Ifrael fpake to me,He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 1Pet. 2. 13. (fee in letter a.) d Luke 3. 14. And the foldiers likewife demanded of him, faying, And what fhall we do? And he faid unto them,Do violence to no man, neither accufe any falfly,&be content with your wages. Rom.13.4: (See letter a.)Mat. 8. 9. For I am aman under authority,having foldiers under me and I fay to this man, Go, and he goeth and to another, Come, and he cometh: and to my fervant Do this, and he doth it, v. 10. When Jefus heard it, he marvelled and laid to them that followed, Verily, I fay unto you,lhave not found fo great faith no not in Ifrael. Acts 10. 1. There was a certain man inCesarea,called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, v, 2. A devoutman,and one that feareth God withall hishoufe,which gave much alms to the people,and prayed to God alway. Rev. 17. 14. These fhall make war with the Lamb,and the Lamb fhall overcome them:for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings and they that are with him, are called; & chofen, and faithful v.16. And theten horns which thou fawelt |