Verse 33. Thou shalt not for swear thy self.]
An oath is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a hedge which a man may not break. It must not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without necessity. Hence the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nishbang is a passive, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be sworn, rather then to swear. For if the doubt or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may be asloiled, or ended by Verily, or Tru∣ly, or such naked 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we are, by the example of our Sa∣viour, to forbear an oath. But having sworn, though to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a man must not change, Psal 15. 4. upon pain of a curse, yea a book full of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 3 4. It is not for men to play with oaths, as children doe with nuts: to slip them at pleasure, as mon∣kies doe their collars: to snap them asunder, as Samson did his cords. It was an impious and blasphemous speech of him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, My tongue hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but my minde is unsworn. And* 1.1 who can but detest that abominable doctrine of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of old, and their heirs the Jesuites alate,
Jura, perjura, secretum prodere noli.* 1.2
God will be a swift witnesse against perjured persons, Mal. 3.* 1.3 as those that villainously abuse his Majesty, making him an accesla∣ry, yea a partner in their sin, thinking him like themselves, and therefore calling him to justifie their untruths. Had Shimei peace, that brake 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oath to Solomon? Or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that kept not touch* 1.4 with the King of Babylon? Or Ananias and Saphira, that but uttered an untruth, swore it not? God punisheth perjury with destruction, men, with disgrace, saith a fragment of the twelve Tables in Rome. The AEgyptians and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 punished it with death. So did Philip Earl of Flanders, and others. But where men have not done it, God hath hanged up such with his own hands, as it were, as our Earl Godwin: Rodolphus Duke of Sue∣via* 1.5 that rebelled against his master Henry Emperour of Germany,* 1.6 to whom he had sworn allegiance: Ladeslaus King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, at the great battell of Varna, where the raging Turk (provoked* 1.7 by his perjury) appealed to Christ: Michael Paleologus Em∣perour of Constantinople, who for his perjury, and other his foul and faithlesse dealings, lieth obscurely shrowded in the sheet 〈◊〉〈◊〉