CHAP. XXIII.
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.

1. A lawful Oath is a part of religious worship, ^(a) wherein the person swearing in Truth, Righteousness, and Judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth; ^(b) and to judge him according to the Truth or falseness thereof.

a Exo. 20 7. Deut. 10 20. Jer. 4.2.

b 2 Cro. 6 22,23.

2. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all Holy Fear and reverence, therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious, and dreadful name; or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful and to be ^(c) abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth, ^(d) and ending all strife, an Oath is warranted by the Word of God; so a lawful Oath being imposed, ^(e) by lawful Authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.

c Mat. 5.34.37. Jam. 5.12

d Heb. 6.16. 2 Cor. 1.23.

e Neh. 13.25.

3. Whosoever taketh an Oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duely to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act; and therein to avouch nothing, but what he knoweth to be the truth; for that by rash, false, and vain Oaths the ^(f) Lord is provoked, and for them this Land mournes.

f Levit. 19.12. Jer. 23.10.

4. An Oath is to be taken in the plain, and ^(g) common sense of the words; without equivocation, or mental reservation.

g Ps. 24.4.

5. A Vow which is not to be made to any Creature, but to God alone, ^(h) is to be made and performed with all Religious care, and faithfulness: But Popish Monastical Vows, ⁽ⁱ⁾ of perpetual single life, professed ^(k) poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious, ^(l) and sinful snares, in which no Christian may intangle himself.

h Psal. 76.11. Gen. 28.20,21 22.

i 1 Cor. 7.2.9.

k Eph. 4.28.

l Mat. 19.11.