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. VII.

The ƲSE.

1. IS this sin of Swearing prophanely, and of mens Cursing themselves and o∣thers so bitterly, so common, and so hai∣nous, Let all that have any tenderness of Conscience, any Love to, or Reverence of Gods holy dreadful Name, stand amazed, be astonished, and wonder at the hardness of mens Hearts, their fearlesness of God, and Torments of Hell, to commit such sins, and yet make so light of them: Oh why do they not bitterly take on, and humble themselves for so great Indignities and da∣ring Affronts cast upon the supream Maje∣sty of Heaven and Earth! Oh when will they begin with Penitent Hearts in fervent Prayer religiously to call upon that blessed God by whom they have so long, so often sworn prophanely! when will they upon their Knees cry and call to the God of Hea∣ven,

that their Hearts and Consciences might be washed in the Blood of the only Saviour, which have been so much defiled by their Swearing by it! when will their Oaths by the wounds of Christ, be turned into fervent Prayers that their Souls might be healed, sanctified and saved by his Wounds? Oh all ye Angels of God that reverence his Name, behold and wonder at the stupid, hardened, irreverent Sons of Men! Oh! Sun, Moon, and Stars, that by your light and motion declare the glo∣ry of his Name, why do ye not put on your mourning robes, and cloath your selves with clouds of darkness; or when you set and go down from this Horizon, why do ye not stay and hide your selves there, as being ashamed to rise again to us, and see the great dishonour done a∣mong us to great Jehovahs Name? Oh thou Mount Sinai that didst tremble at the giving of this Law, that Men should not take Gods Name in vain, why standest thou still, and dost not quake at the daily horrid violations of the same! why do not the Heavens thunder at the foaming rage of daring Sinners, against the God of Hea∣ven! Oh Earth! Earth! how canst thou bear so great a burden without groaning

under it, or dost not cleave asunder, that such audacious Sinners might go to their deserved place! Oh Sea! how canst thou refrain from overflowing the dry Land to wash it, so polluted with the Prophanations of the Name of the God of Earth and Sea! thou! alas! thou hast not Water enough to wash away this filth and guilt, which alone can be done by the Wounds and Blood of the only Saviour by which these Sinners do so prophanely Swear! Oh Air! whi∣ther dost thou hasten? to what Parts, where there are no Inhabitants dost thou speed away out of these Mens mouths to purge thy self, to become sweet, who so often art the stinking breath of such de∣bauched Swearers? But above all, most just and righteous God! may we not wonder at thy Patience, that when thou canst look these Prophaners of thy Name into the Grave, and frown them into Hell, canst stop their breath at Pleasure, even with their Oaths in their mouths, yet holdest thine hand, restrainest the effects of thy Wrath so long! which might we admire most, the bold Presumption of these da∣ring Sinners, or Gods long forbearance to∣wards them, so often committing this pro∣voking, aggravated sin! Lord! let this a∣bundant

Swearing which calls to Heaven for Vengeance, put on all that fear thy Name to more abundant Praying to pre∣vent the Judgments which may make this Land to mourn.

2 Ʋse. This Doctrine sends forth Sum∣mons to all that have been guilty of such Swearing and Cursing, speedily, heartily, and deeply to Repent: Guilty ye are, guiltless God will not hold you in this matter, what will ye do? go on in your sin, or turn from it? The sin is hainous, God is jealous of his Name, his threat∣nings against it are severe, the Punishment is as certain as it is great, and the omnisci∣ent God knows all the Persons, the seve∣ral Oaths, the time when, the place where, and the Company in which all of them have been uttered: O let the Repentance and Reformation be as general as the sin hath been; and alas! is still unto this day. Par∣don as yet might be obtained upon condi∣tion of Repentance and Faith in Christ; up then, and hasten to the Throne of Grace, down upon your Knees; as yet this God whose Name you have Prophaned, doth sit upon the Mercy-seat; he hath been pro∣voked by you, but is yet reconcileable to

you; you have wronged him, but he is willing to pass by all the abuses of his Name, if you will accept of Mercy as Mercy is offered in the Gospel: But if ye will Swear still, and go on in an obstinate course of Rebellion against God, and die in this and other sins Impenitent and Unbelieving, say you were told that you shall fall into eter∣nal Condemnation.