A summons for svvearers, and a law for the lips in reproving them: wherein the chiefe disswasives from swearing are proposed, the sleight objections for swearing answered, the strange judgments upon swearers, forswearers, cursers, that take Gods name in vain, related. Which may be a terror to the wicked for swearing, and a preservative for the godly from swearing. With sundry arguments to prove the verity of the Scriptures, and excellencie of the decalogue, against all prophane and atheisticall deniers thereof. By Walter Powell, preacher at Standish, neer Glocester.

An Abstract or Epitome of the Contents handled in this Tract.

• 1. THe Titles wherewith the word of God is hone∣red, to allure mens affections to attend with love and reverence unto it, as a Preface or introdu∣ction to the Text, page 1, &c.
• 2. The Decalogues division, and Texts explica∣tion, to informe the judgement, p. 6. &c.
• 3. The severall acceptions of the word Name, p. 7. &c.
• 4. Gods Name (besides swearing, forswearing, cursing) is taken in vain 102. wayes, p. 22, &c.
• Doct. Rightly to sweare is to sanctifie Gods Name, wherein are handled,
• 1. The definition of on oath,
• 2. The ends of an oath, foure.
• 3. Causes why men swearing lay their hands on a booke, foure.
• Vses. 1. Iustification of the lawfulnesse of swearing,
• 2. Confutation of Anabaptists, p. 23, &c.
• 3. Caution in respect of the Rules, in Truth, Iustice, Iudgement, p. 30.
• Doct. 2. Sinful swearing, though by man it bee not, yet by God shall severely be punished, page 33.
• Ten wayes how men sweare sinfully, 33
• ...

• Vses. 1. Reprehension and commination, p. 34, &c. where sundry objections are resolved.
• 2. Removall of the twelve common objections for swearing p. 43, &c.
• 3. Excitation by twenty motives to hate and es∣chiew ibis sinne p. 36 &c.
• Where is shewed how it hath been punished by God, by men, by the Romans, Egyptians, Turkes, French, Scythians, Persians; By Kings, Hea∣then, Christian, from p. 56. ad p. 80.
• Twenty severall in conveniences ensuing by swea∣ring, p. 80.
• Vse 4. Direction what means to use whereby this poy∣son may be expelled, this traytor beheaded, this dis∣ease cured, this Commandement obeyed, page 82. where twelve meanes are prescribed.
• 5. Exhortation for Magistrates, for Ministers, to set themselves against this sinne, p. 88
• 6. Imitation, God bolds not such sinners guiltlesse; so must not we, p. 99. seen by punishing, by re∣proving it; where the Rules are, 1. the matter what: 2. the men whom we must reprove: 3. the time when: 4. the manner how: 5. the motives why, p. 101
• 1. For generall uniformity, 2. because of delayes, inutility, p. 117.
• In reproving them we must have, 1. an Eagles eye, 2. a Ladies hand, 3. a Liens heart, p. 125
• Hereunto are required 4. graces, as most needfull, 1. Fidelity, 2. Courage, 3. Discretion, 4. Pa∣tience. p. 28
• If we can doe no good, then depart from their com∣pany inregard of the danger of, 1. Suspition, 2. In∣fection.

• 3. Malediction. Where ten objections to continue in swearers company, are answered, 146
• An edge may be put to our zeale herein by Argu∣ments drawn 1. from our Calling, 2. from Cau∣tion, 3. from Discredit, 4. from Danger. 163
• Ten objections alledged, (and the same answered) why men doe not reprove or punish swearers, 268 to 282.
• Doct. 3. Forswearers, because they take Gods name in vain shall not by God be left unpunished. 282.
• Vses. Where the Motives to disswade from this sin in regard of 1. the greatnesse of the sinne, 2. the grievousnesse of the punishment: 1. eternall: 2. spirituall: 3. corporall, exemplified by Gods many visible judgments, is manifested in ten par∣ticulars. 282. 287
• Doct. 4. There is a certaine multiplicity, severity of punishment attending all those that by Cur∣sing take Gods name in vain. 300
• Vse 1. Dehorts from this sin, because of 1. its great∣nesse in regard of the breach of Gods Comman∣dement.
• 1. The Curser breaking the first, 2. the second Table. 301
• 2. The greatnesse of the punishment:
  • 1. Threatned in the Word.
  • 2. Inflicted in the world. 301. to 315
• Where obiections from the examples,
• Of some mentioned in the Scriptures, that wi∣shed dangerous wishes to themselves, are answe∣red. 315
• ...

• 21. Cases and questions touching swearing and for∣swearing, are answered from page 322. to 334
• Lastly, the swearers, forswearers, cursers common refuge touching Gods mercy to be expected by them, or the threats in the word proposed, doub∣ted of by them, are briefly answered.
• Where, to convince the prophane and Atheisticall sinners, twenty arguments are revealed to prove the Scriptures to be the word of God, and therefore the threats therein mentioned to be feared, to work repentance in those sinners, and faith and obedience to this commandement. 336
• Which Decalogue (or Commandments) doe in a spe∣ciall manner call for reverence and obedience in regard of
• 1. The soveraignty, 2. Antiquity, 3. Generali∣ty, 4. Immutability, 5. Ʋtility, 6. Solemnity, 7. Brevity of it. 340
• A Prayer containing the summe of the whole Ser∣mons. 343
• Greenhams Rules concerning Reproofe. 351
• The fearfull end of him who drank a health to the Devill.