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AS we confess, That vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian Men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Apo∣stle: so we Judge that Christi∣an Religion doth not prohibite,
but that a man may swear, when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of Faith and Charity, so it be done according to the Prophets teaching, in Justice, Judgment and Truth.
* 1.1A Lawful Oaths is a part of Religi∣ous Worship, wherein upon just occa∣sion the Person swearing, solemnly calleth God to Witness what he asser∣teth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the Truth or Falshood of what he sweareth.
The name of God only is that by which Men ought to swear, and therein is to be used with all Holy Fear and Reverence. Therefore to swear vainly and rashly by that glori∣ous and dreadful Name; or by any o∣ther thing, is sinful and to be abhorred: Yet as in matters of weight and Mo∣ment, an Oath is Warranted by the Word of God under the New Testa∣ment, as well as under the Old; so that a Lawful Oath being imposed by Lawful
Authority, in such matters ought to be taken.
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 per∣swaded is Truth. Neither may any Man bind himself by Oath to any thing but what is good and Just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform; yet it is a Sin to refuse an Oath, touching any thing that is Good and Just, being impos'd by lawful Anthority.
An Oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the Words, with∣out Equivocation and Mental Reserva∣tion. It cannot oblige to Sin: but in any thing not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to Mans hurt, nor is it to be violated, though made to Hereticks or Infidels.
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 not promise of Abi∣lity
from God, in which respects Po∣pish 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 in∣tangle himself.
Do not in Terms deny this Article. But First, they maintain, That the Pope hath a Power to dispence with, or Ab∣solve any Man from the Obligation of a∣ny lawful Oath. And Secondly, They al∣low the Doctrine of Equivocation, so that a Man may lawfully take any Oath, provided that by a secret Reservation in his mind, he make, or form to himself a tollerable lawful Sense. Thirdly, They teach that if any Prince become an He∣retick, all his Subjects are immediately Absolved from their Oaths of Subjection and Allegiance. Fourthly, They declare That no Faith is to be kept with Here∣ticks, and this is a Vote even of one of their Councils, to wit, That of Con∣stance,
who on that very score burnt John Hus, though they before had gi∣ven Letters of safe Conduct, by all which They render all Oaths (the highest Secu∣rity mortal Creatures are able to give to each other) either insignificant, or but Shares to deceive the Credulous. And in a word, destroy (as much as in them lies) all Faith and Honesty, Confidence and fair dealing amongst Humane So∣ciety.
Ass. Cons. 22. Sect. 1, 2. 3, 4, 7.