A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 120. Of swearing by God alone.

THe proper object of mens swearing, is thus set down, a by the greater. Here∣by God is meant: God alone. For men that swear are here considered a•…•… •…•…∣tures distinguished from their Creator. Now all creatures in reference to their Crea∣tor are fellow-servants: and in that respect none so great over an other, as meet to be sworn by. Besides all other creatures were made for man. God gave man do∣minion over all creatures in the aire, waters and earth (Gen. 1. 28.) The heavens are made a covering for him: the Sun, Moon, and Stars to give him light: yea, the Angels have a charge given unto them to keep man in safety, (Psal. 91. 11.) and they are ministring spirits for him, Heb. 1. 14. Now that for which other things are i•…•… counted the best. There being then among creatures no greater then man by whom he may swear, he may swear only by the Creator.

As God, because he had no greater then himself, did swear by himself: so man, because he hath no greater then God, must, when he sweareth, swear by God. This exclusive particle, only, which Christ addeth to serving of God (Matth. 4. 10.) is to be applied to swearing by God. For both these are joyned together, Deut. 6 13. This phrase, unto me every tongue shall swear (Isa. 45. 23.) is exclusive: it exclud•…•… all but God: and this, he that sweareth in the earth, shall swear by the God of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Isa. 65. 16.

• 1. Divine properties are attributed to that by which men swear; as, omnipresence, omniscience, searching the heart, supreme soveraignty, power to revenge, and the like, which are proper to God alone. That which the Lord saith of the last of these; to me belongeth vengeance, Deut. 32. 35. may be said of all the rest: To the

• Lord belongeth, omnipresence, omniscience, &c. even to him alone.
• 2. Divine worship is given to him by whom men swear: for there is divine invo∣cation comprised in an oath, which is a principall part of divine worship.
• 3. It is a great debasement for man to swear by any other then God: in that h•…•… maketh himself inferiour to, and lesse and lower then that by which he sweareth.
• 4. It addeth much to Gods honour, to have such a prerogative proper and •…•…∣liar to himself.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Arist. Phys. l. 2. c. 3.