§. 123. Of undue swearing by creatures.
A Second error is swearing by creatures. This is not only practised by the vul∣gar sort of Papists in their ordinary speech (who commonly swear by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Crosse, M•…•…sse, Virgin Mary, Peter, and sundry other Saints) but it is also used in their public•…•… Courts, and sole•…•… oathes, thus: by God and the Virgin Mary, by God and the Holy Gospell: yea, it is also justified by their a 1.1 Divines. The Rhemists in their Annotations on Matth 23. 21. have this glosse, swearing by creatures, as by the Gospell, by Saints, is all re•…•…erred to the honour of God, whose Gospell it is, who•…•…e Saints they are.
Answ.
- 1. Their manner of referring that which they do to the honour of God, is without and against Gods word: and this conceit hath been the occasion of most of their Idolatry.
- 2. Gods honour is simply to be referred to himselfe, and not relatively in and through his creatures. I am the Lord (saith he) That is my Name, and my glory will I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ther, neither my praise •…•…o graven Images, Isa. 42. 8.
- 3. That manner of referring honour to God, drawes mens mindes from the Creator to the creature. They have in such an oath, their minds so fixed on the creature, by whom they swear▪ as they think not on God.
Herein Papists do justifie Pagans, who swear by their false Gods, as Laban did, Gen. 31 53.
Scholars in their ordinary Grammer Scholes, yea, and in universities too, and in other places, where they write, or speak Latin, do justifie the practise of heathens herein, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the very words and phrases of the heathen, which were concis•…•… formes of their swearing by their Idols: such as these, Hercle, Mehercle, Pol, Aede∣•…•…, Di•…•… immortales, with the like.
Profane persons among us do herein exceed both Papists and Pagans. Scarce a creature can be thought on by which they do not swear.
They swear by the heaven, by the Sun, by the light, and by all the host of heaven.
They swear by all things on earth that are for mans use, as, bread, meat, drink, mon•…•…y, fi•…•…, and what not?
They swear by the parts of man, as, soul, heart, body, head, and other parts.
They swearby the body of Christ himself, by his blood, by his wounds, by his cr•…•…ss▪ &c.
They swear by graces and vertues, as, faith, truth, honesty with the like.
They swear by meer toyes.
As the Gilea•…•…ites and Ephraimites were distinguished by their manner of speech (Iudg. 12. 6.) so may Pagans. Papists profane and pious persons, •…•…e distinguished by their manner of speech. Pagans swear by f•…•…lse Gods, Papists by Saints; profane persons by mute things: pious persons only by the true God, and that on just occa∣sion, and in a due manner.