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Obj. ANother of the Popish tenents is, That it is lawfull to sweare by Saïnts or other Creatures, for proofe of which they instance the words of Christ, Mat. 23. 21. Whosoever sweareth by the Gold of the Temple, sweareth by the Temple, and him that dwelleth therein.
Ans. Our Saviour in that place doth not justifie swearing by Creatures, but confuteth that nyce distinction of the Pharisees, who thought it was nothing to sweare by the Temple, but by the Gold of the Temple, ver. 16. and sheweth that in so doing they could not avoyd swearing by God, because it was the place of his Habitation, and so they did in such an Oath take the name of God in vaine, for otherwise if our Saviour should have allowed swearing by Creatures; as by heaven, saying, He that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the Throne of God; he should be con∣trary to himself, for elsewhere he saith, Sweare not at all, neither by heaven, for it is the Throne of God, Mat. 5. 34.
We are also commanded by God himself, that we should sweare* 1.1 only by his name, Deut. 6. 13. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God, and sweare by his name, which text our Saviour abridging, Mat. 4. interpreteth it by the word only, (him only shalt thou serve.) So also, Deut. 10. 20. & Exod. 23. 13. it is directly forbidden that they should take the name of any other God in their mouthes.
2. God reprooveth those that sweare by any other then by him, as Zep. 1. 5. I will cut off him that worship and sweare by the Lord, and Malcham.
3. Invocation only belongeth unto God, but the taking of an Oath is a kinde of invocation, therefore it is a service due only un∣to God.
4. In the taking of an Oath, we call God to witnesse unto our Soules, that God only knoweth the secrets of our hearts, but neither Angels or Saints doe so. Ergo.
5. He that sweareth giveth power to him by whom he swear∣eth, to punish him if he sweare falsly, but God is only able to pu∣nish the Soule, Mat. 10. 20.