AN ESSAY. 179 Lice and discretion in mercy and truth to be executed in all his judgments. The oath of allegiance obliges the people to sup- port the king in all his,just rights and powers, so far as he can, doth, and will protect his subjects in their just rights and pro- perties. It is e`viden!ly a mutual contract, and both are bound to each other by this solemnity of an oath. VI. It seems to me also very proper, that the outward ceremony or'action which is used in swearing, whether it be lift- ing up the hand, or kissing the book, &c. be publicly and autho- ritatively declared, not to be designed as a religious ceremony, whereby we pay our invented honours to God in the act of swearing, but that it is used only as a civil gesture or sign; whereby we testify to the world that we do call God to wit- ness to the truth of that we speak. Hereby we shall secure many scrupulous persons from the fear of taking an oath with that sign, lest they should thereby worship the great God by ceremonies invented by men, which many good subjects have thought unlawful. Or if they do still really and in conscience scruple any particular gesture or outward sign, or ceremony, their oath expressed in full and strong language should be taken without it. VII. If any particular persons of known sobriety should declare solemnly, that from a principle of conscience they scru- ple the form of an oath or a solemn appeal to God concerning the truth, I think they are bound to give some proper satis- faction to the government, that the form of words which they use in . witnessing, in affirmations or promises, &c. shall be deemed in all respects equal to the obligation of an oath,' viz. that their consciences are equally bound by it before God, and that they shall incur the same penalties among men by the vio- lation thereof. 'l'his will relieve the people that are called Quakers, who will not takeany oath : And indeed without some such security no person is fit to enjoy the privileges of civil go, vernment, nor to be a member of any state, who refuses to bind his truth by an 'oath. VIII. And therefore if there be any person who thinks and' believes that the obligation arising from an oath, or from such a, solemn affirmation made before the 'civil powers, may be dis- solved and nullified by any other power upon earth, such a person may be lawfully excluded from becoming a member of the state, or enjoying any of the privileges thereof; unless he can find some way or other that shall he justly satisfactory to the state, concerning his truth or fidelity to his neighbours and his governors. For where one party cannot or will not effectually oblige themselves to allegiance and fidelity, the other party is not bound to afford them civil protection and the privi- leges of the government. }low far the papists are concerned in NI 1
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