The swearer silenced, or, The evil and danger of prophane swearing and perjury demonstrated by many arguments and examples of Gods dreadful judgments upon sinful swearers / by Tho. Doolittle.

SECT. I.

The Introduction.

THE awful Reverence of the tre∣mendous Name of the Eternal glorious God, the odious Na∣ture of this Sin of Swearing, whereby it is Prophaned, the infinite di∣strnce betwixt this Soveraign Jehovah and the abusers of his holy Name, even the greatest of them; the frequent Commissi∣on of this sin, in Markets, Taverns, Ale-houses, open Streets and Shops, by Men, Women, and Children; the great Punish∣ment thereby deserved, the Necessity of Repentance, or the certainty of Damna∣tion to be inflicted for it, the seldom Preaching against it, if compared with the daily, hourly acting of it; the abun∣dant

guilt contracted not only by the Swear∣er on himself, but on the hearer that doth not reprove him for it, which is too often; the daring Provocation given to God, and yet the patient forbearance of this provoked, just and powerful Lord, that though he can, yet doth not strike these Swearers dumb, or dead, and send them immediately to the Damned too, as soon as these Oaths are uttered by them, (if peradventure God will give some of them Repentance, that they might be reco∣vered out of the snares of the Devil, and Gods long-suffering might prove Salvation to some, though not to all,) hath determi∣ned my thoughts to the publishing of this littie Manual; which when I had taken into my fluctuating mind, I could not quietly sleep; the consciousness of mine own inabi∣lity to grapple with such a reigning, rageing and abounding sin on the one hand; and the sense of Gods dishonour, the danger of these swearing sinners Souls on the other hand, im∣pressed on my heart, caused me to wait for the morning light; when, most holy Lord, I did with haste betake my self to thy Throne of Mercy, begging thy direction, and then re∣solved to lay what I could do in this matter at thy feet, hoping thou wouldst please to lay it on some offenders Consciences: In which I

found great satisfaction, though I did fore∣see I might for my endeavour become the Drunken Swearers-song, and also by thy stronger Servants be accounted weak and foolish for my unskilful management of so great a work, whom I do provoke as they tender the honour of thy Name, to bring forth their stronger reasons to stop this mighty torrent that overflows the Land: But Lord thou knowest it is not the reputa∣tion of mine own (which is nothing) but the Vindication of the honour of thy Name, which to me, and all that love thee, make to be all in all.

Reader, the Book that is brought unto thine hand, on purpose is but small, that thou mightest not fling it by; wilt thou take the pains, and have so much patience as to read it all? for all thou seest is but little; weigh what thou readest, and if thou art a Swearer, and canst answer all that is brought against thy practice herein, Swear on; but if there be but one Scripture or Ar∣gument, though thou shalt find more, which thou canst make no defence against, if thou wilt swear on, be it at thy peril; and prepare by fortifying thy self to bear the Punish∣ment that, if not by Men, yet by God, if not on Earth, yet in Hell shall be inflicted on thee for this thy sin.

Prophane Swearers in their common Discourse either Swear by the true God, or by such things or persons that are not God. First, I shall endeavour the Conviction of them that in common Discourse prophanely Swear by the true God, and interlace al∣most every sentence with some Oath, as be∣fore God, by God, by Christ, by Gods wounds, by their Maker, &c. with such desperate boldness, hardness, fearlesness of the great God, that such Men on Earth exceed the Devils in Hell, who have so much Faith and Fear of God, as makes them tremble before him, and at the knowledge, thoughts and dread they have of him, which is not in these Swearing men, Jam. 2. 19. The De∣vils believe and tremble.

Because Swearing is a sin that is rife a∣mongst the Ignorant, and Men of inferiour Education and Callings, as well as amongst some of more Knowledge, (which aggra∣vates their sin) and of more liberal Educa∣tion, and higher employments, I shall accom∣modate my discourse to the meanest capa∣city, that I may not lose the end I aim at. And my first task shall be to present the Swearer with twenty Arguments against this sin, consisting of members or parts, so op∣posite, that he cannot think of another to add to them, and leave him to his choice

to take which he will; and if all have their grand Inconveniencies, I hope he will be convinced so far, as to repent of his past Oaths, and Swear (prophanely) no more.