Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.- A
LAWFUL oath is a part of religious worship, [1] wherein, upon just
occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he
asserteth or promiseth; and to judge him according to the truth or
falsehood of what he sweareth. [2]
- The
name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is
to be used with all holy fear and reverence; [3] therefore to swear vainly
or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any
other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. [4] Yet, as in matters of
weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the word of God under the
New Testament, as well as under the Old; [5] so a lawful oath, being
imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken. [6]
- Whosoever
taketh an oath, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an
act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is
the truth. [7] Neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but
what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is
able and resolved to perform. [8] Yet it us a sin to refuse and oath
touching anything that is good and just, being imposed by lawful
authority. [9]
- An
oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without
equivocation or mental reservation. [10] It cannot oblige to sin; but in
anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to
a man's own hurt; [11] nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics
or infidels. [12]
- A
vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made
with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like
faithfulness. [13]
It
is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: [14] and that it may
be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience
of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the
obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to
necessary duties, or to other things, so far and so long as they may
fitly conduce thereunto. [15]
No
man may vow to do anything forbidden in the word of God, or what would
hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his power, and
for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. [16] In
which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life,
professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees
of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in
which no Christian may entangle himself. [17]
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