Theologicall questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays, vpon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Wherein, about two thousand six hundred and fifty necessary, and profitable questions are discussed; and five hundred and eighty speciall points of doctrine noted; and five hundred and fifty errours confuted, or objections answered: together with divers arguments, whereby divers truths, and true tenents are confirmed. By Richard VVard, sometimes student in the famous vniversities of Cambridge in England: St. Andrews in Scotland: and Master of Arts of both the kingdoms; and now a preacher in the famous city of London.

[Vers. 20.21.] VERS. 20.21. Who so therefore shall sweare by the Altar, sweareth by it, and all things there∣on. And who so sweareth by the Temple, sweareth by it, and him that dwelleth therein.

[Quest.] Whether is it lawfull to sweare by the Saints, or by other creatures?

[Answ.] They take the name of God in vaine, which doe sweare by any other, then by the name of God, and therefore the Rhemists (in hunc locum) erre, who maintains swearing by the name of Saints. The truth of this answer appeares evidently by these particulars; viz.

First, God commandeth that we should sweare onely by his Name, Deut. 6.13. and 10.20. Exod. 23.13.

Secondly, God reproveth those which sweare by any other then by him: as Zephan. 1.5.

Thirdly, Invocation belongeth onely unto God, but the taking of an oath is a kind of invocation; therefore it is a service due onely unto God.

Fourthly, in taking of an Oath, we call God to be a witnesse unto our Soule; but God only know∣eth the secrets of the heart, and neither Angell nor Saint, nor any other Creature; and therefore we are to sweare by none but God onely.

Fifthly, hee that sweareth, giveth unto him by whom he sweareth, power to punish, if he sweare falsly; but God onely is able to punish the Soule, Matth. 10.28. And therefore we must sweare onely by him.

[Object] Against this the Rhemists object thus, It is law∣full to sweare by the name of Saints, because all is referred to the honour of God; as, he that swea∣reth by the Temple, sweareth by him that dwel∣leth therein.

[Answ. 1] First, in this place CHRIST reproveth the Pha∣risees for their Swearing, and condemneth it by this argument: that howsoever they thought it a small matter to sweare by the Temple, yet in ef∣fect they did sweare by God himselfe: And thus he doth not here justifie swearing by Creatures, but confuteth that nice and unwise distinction of the Pharisees, who taught, That it was nothing to sweare by the Temple, but by the gold of the Temple, verse. 16. CHRIST here shewes, that they could not avoid swearing by God when they did sweare by the Temple, because it was the place of his habitation: and so they did in such an oath take the name of God in vaine. And thus we see the boldnesse of our Rhemists, who dare justifie swearing by creatures by the same reason that CHRIST condemneth it.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, our Saviour here saith nothing but this, that in every oath there is an invocation of the divine power, and therefore whosoever swea∣reth by a creature, committeth idolatry in making it his God.

[Answ. 3] Thirdly, if our Saviour should here allow of swearing by Creatures, as by heaven, saying, He that sweareth by heaves sweareth by the throne of God, he should be contrary to himselfe: [for elsewhere he saith, Sweare not at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, Matth. 5.34.]