[3zc] that taking the words, yet the fenfe may be elude ed by Come Sophifm, and all the force of it whol- ly be enervated. The ()Id Chriftians received not this Theology: The founder Heathens received not this Moral Philofophy : Much otherwife out of them, faith Augufiine E" They are perjured who 'c keeping the words, deceive the expr Elationof them that they fear to] And otherwife, faith Cicero, "[That is to be km pt which is fo f rorrr as the mind " of the Impofer conceived it fhould be done,] Read the proofs, p. 34, &c. i. From many Texts of Scripture: a. From God's own example : 3 From the nature of Truth: 4. From the end of an Oath, p. 38. which is the confirmation of a doubtful matter ;' that is, that of things otherwife uncer- tain and depending on humane credit, there fhould be had tech certainty as humane affairs require. For an Oath was inftituted by God, by force of the Light of Nature, for a remedy of humane defects about Truth; that among mortals it fhould be Truths last garrfen as oft as all other kinds of proof do fail. But this end would be wholly overthrown, and there could be no certain credit among men, Wit were free for the fwearer, ,at his Own arbiter'ment, what he fpeaKeth in words to cJufe belief; by fume tacite ambiguity in fwear- , or rfrer he hash fworn, by finding out force new, and as it were, poithumous comment fo to difable it, as that it fhall lofe a'l its force, and be utterly inertial If either of rhefe were law- ful, an Oath fhould not be the end of firife, but the beginning, and fhould rather give occafion for new contradiaions and fo fifes, than end the old ones. Open but this window once, and then what can be thought of fo falfe, for the defence whereof
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