The Christian's manual in three parts ... / by L. Addison ...

XXV.

Words are (fourthly) emi∣nently wicked, when they run out into Oaths and Execrations;

which were utterly prohibited by Christ, when he confin'd all Discourse among his Proselytes, to Yea, yea, and Nay nay; to serious and earnest affirmations and denials; asserting, that what else is used in ordinary conversation, proceeds from an evil principle, or that evil One, the Devil; who hath variety of Snares wherewith to catch Souls, and intrap them in Ido∣latry, Errour, and Unbelief: Such as is swearing by Heaven, Earth, &c. as Christ instanceth, St. Mat. 4.34. where all need∣less promissory Oaths are whol∣ly forbidden. When you there∣fore hear vain men replenishing their Discourse with Oaths, 'twill be no breach of Charity for you to conclude, that this ill Custom proceeds either from a vain glorious humour, deligh∣ting in big and swelling Lan∣guage, out of an idle conceit

that it is an argument of a great Spirit; or, that it comes of a want of Reverence to the holy Name of God; or, that men u∣sing such Oaths, think others are like themselves; namely, so faithless, as not to be believed without them. And as to Exe∣crations and Cursings of your self or others, consider, I beseech you, what David hath said, not barely by way of wish, but also of prophecy, in Psal. 109.18, 19, &c. I shall mention no o∣ther ways whereby you may sin in your Speech, (1.) because all the fault thereof may be re∣duced to these four; and (2.) because men are more eminent∣ly liable to offend by speaking filthily, reproachfully, falsely, or prophanely.