Loyalty amongst rebels the true royalist, or, Hushay the Archite, a happy counsellour in King David's greatest danger / written by Edward Wolley ...

And as the Clergy are obliged to subscribe ex Animo to the three Articles contained in the 37 canon,

so are they (when they receive holy orders, and are made Deacons or Priests, at their ordination, or when they receive institution to any Ec∣clesiastical Living or Promotion, and Installation to any Dignity in the Church) obliged to canonical obedience, to their respective Dio∣cesans, and the Bishops likewise are (at their consecrations) obliged to promise Canonical obedience, to their Metropolitans, and the res∣pective Arch-Bishops of either Provinces and Sees of Canterbury and York: and the Arch-Bishops likewise promise and vow the du∣tyes of Faith and true Allegiance to the King, when (at their homage, kneeling before the King) they take an Oath of Fealty and Obedi∣ence to the King, and his lawful heirs and successors.

These are most holy and sacredd bonds, more fit for all the Sonnes of Aaron and the Tribe of Levy, and

These do breed, keep and cherish Peace & unity in the Church;e ob∣lige the inferiour orders to their su∣periours; & in fine, unite all ecclesi∣astick subjects in true Allegiance to their King. And though the Anabap∣tists and some squemish Phanaticks, (cunningly instructed, or factiously engaged) are shy of such sacred oaths and obligations: yet, it is warranted from the holy Scripture. Thus Abimelech and Phicol re∣quired an Oath from Abraham, Now therefore swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsly with me, nor with my Son, nor with my Sonns Son. Thus Moses directeth Israel,f Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and swear by his name. Thusg Ezra arose and made the cheif Priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear, that they should do according to this word: and they sware. And if yet, any deluded or factious Cu∣riosity, be not satisfied, but will

object evangelical strict Com∣mands against lawful Oathes: be∣cause Christ hath preachedh Swear not at all: and St. Iames advised,k above all things (my brethren swear not.) Yet these sacred Cautions and Commands, were not to take away the lawful and holy, but the unlawful and profane use and cu¦stome of Oathes. Thus St. Hierom commenteth. Our Saviour doth not utterly forbid an Oath, sed per coelum & terram jurare! St. Augu∣stine seems more full and plain, say∣ing, that Counsel was given to pre∣vent an idle and sinful habit of swear∣ing; which from a profane facility, might quickly run into custome, and so fall into perjury; or, that no persons should be affected with cu∣stomary Oathes or swearing;k or greedily with delight and dele∣ctation to seek and hunt after Oathes, which on good grounds may be lawful: and for a good end

and purpose, to discern truth, and to end all Controversies; And thus St. Paul (on several occasions) hath presented himself an Apostolical exemplar to Gods Church. And to all that hath been said, it may be further added. That it is a Theolo∣gical determination of the Church of England;l to which every true sonne hath or ought to subscribe and submit. That as vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ, and Iames his Apoctle: so we judge that Chri∣stian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear, when the Ma∣gistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity. So it be done according to the Prophets teaching, in Iustice, Iudgement and Truth.

Notes

• d

  Iura∣mentum est confirmatio verbi; de∣quo jura∣tur. Orig.
• e

  Quid est jurare per Deum nifi testis est Deus? D. August de verbis Apostoli sermn. 28.
• Gen. 21.23.
• f

  Deut. 6.13.10.12.13.4.
• g

  Ezra. 10.5.
• h

  Matt. 5.34. 1 Iam. 5.12.
• k

  Hanc eli∣menta ju∣randi, pessi∣mam con∣suetudinem habere Iu∣daeinoscun∣tur. D. Hiero. in 5. Mat.
• k

  Dico vobis non jurare om∣nino, ne scil. juran∣do ad facili∣tatem ju∣randi Por∣ventatur, & en fa∣cultate ju∣randi ad conseitudi∣nem & à consuetudi∣ne in Perju∣rium deci∣datur. D. August. de menda∣cio, cap. 15.
• l

  Articles of Religi∣on. 39. Ar∣ticle.