z Chap. 3. OÍ taki.i ' Có J n.ims by arr o.rt%í. otn t4. ''edged to be 'Farris fortzflima a molt thong Tower, that. his Teainiony is more certainthanall reafons, and tettimonies of men. When we hereby account of it, as the wifeman, faying, The name of the Lord is a strong Tower of defence, the righteous run to it,&are exalted.Thevery heathen could fayv= ís n emu` -_ 9oá cis To=rt PrcV' 3' of all things men fit molt by their faith : much more, then is Gods faith, and fidelity to be efteemed wherein we take fanttuary, when all other people fail. z. An oath proceeds .from faith, it argues a great faith in God, which is the ground of all honour given to any, for in the former part of an oath, which is con- teftation, a callíni;God towitnefs, we profefs with our tongues, that God is every where prefer t, that we believe he is omnifcient, that he feeth even the fecrets of the heart, and will lighten all things that are done in ferret ; and in regard of the fecondpart, callingGod to avenge, we profefs, that we believe that he is a jail aveng^r, that he will not fuller fin to go unpunifhed, that he may fay, mini vind:Ela e,go ratatbuam, vengeance is mine, and I will repay. Thus we believe that he bath power to punifh, and to execute vengeance, which is a part of his glory t and thus wefee thatan oath brings glory to God, in which regard God is content to lend us his name to fwear by, thereby tomake an end of all our Controverties. Thus we fee the nature of an oath, with the meaning, the parts and end thereof. Nowaccording to former method, we are to feewhat is commanded, and what is forbidden, which is the firft rule of extention formerly mentioned, and withal! the Homogenen of the fame, according to the fecond rule. The affirmative part is, that we take uphis name to end our quarrels and contro- verfies, his namemuttbe a fanCluary to flye to, by whichwe mutt beacquitted, or the Af¡i ms- condemned, that whereby we do enclofe and hedge in our felvès, and fatisfie the 11vepnrt< adverfe party. r. Herein the liriç. thing commanded is, Jurare, to fwear, this is flatly com- manded. It is fet dofe to that, whichwas the affirmative part of the fecond com- mandment, Thou fhalt fear the Lord thy God, and ferve hint, and fwear by his pear: 6 name. But more effeEtually and vehemently it is required in "Efay, I live and have fworn by my fe'f, that every knee fhall how to me, and every tongue íhá11 t,,. 4j: 2Js'; (wear byme ; Therefore God bathnot only taken order, that an bath fhould pats between parties at variance, and that upon the oathof the party accufed, he (hall beacquit, as Edod. zz. s I. which fome call °vProV iaider-w a voluntary oath ; but elfo if the partybenot willing, there fhall be pros äar¢r.70e an oath of impofition, an oath (hall be laid upon him, hethan be made conftrille jurare, to (wear punEtually and precifely to what isrequiredof him 2Chron, 6. zz, And if amanhearan oath be- tween parties, whereby truth might appear toGods glory, and do not utter it, but e9'° conceal it it fhall be accounted to him for a fin : fo that we fee here Cods will and what he commands, that in, refpett of thefegreat ends of his own glory, ` and mans necetlity,anoath is a thing ;fubprecepto ,; expreflyCommanded in thefe cafes. For example, the Pfalroitl faith, laudabantur amnia eP' letabunt, r, c ery onethat pia&. 63 fweareth by him, (hall be praifed, and (hall rejoyee, And therefore all the Saints of Godhave part of this commendation in wing it. Betides men we have the ex- ample of God, and his holy Angels. God himfelf fwears,I have f ',worn by my feif, that becaufe thou haft done this, I « ill finely biefs thee. And after God the hea- Gen. äs, e6. venly fpirits for the Angel lifted up his hand, and fwore by him that liveth for evermore. Rev. re. ó. In thefe two cafes already mentioned, of Gods glory, and mans neceflity, we have diverfe examples. I. Fitt} for Gods glory. Therewas a famous oath taken by King Aft and the people, they fwear with a loud voice, and with fhoutitíg, and with Trumpets, and ` Chró.t s q: with Cornets, to feek the God of their Fathers. The like we read of Nehemiah 6,1, tó. aq, and thepeople, to keep the Lawof God. Si guis ca (faith Origen) quevidit toprix- I ,vb,u ratzt ámífus; del,fío, vel non;udicatnil in tofitanonium vac'atus non ue c erafunt dixerie n'e MA° fair peceatem quad commifat tile quacelar ip cfaafripier, &pana remijJi revertitarAd cocftiásrn, In _Levit. if any man doch not either reveal offhimfelf, or being called as a witnefs, Mall not fpeak the truth of that he knoweth concerning his neighbours offence, he which eoncealeth it takesit upon himfelf, and.the punifhmeñt for the offence committed, turns upon him thatknows it. z-i b á
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