r, 6q Chap.16. #ñExpóftiötttijitirtthèBöék,òf JOI;. Verfr9. or no. As Paul by Oath purged himfelf from covetoufneffe offpirit ; fo Abraham protefted by Oath againll all covetous prafices, Gen, r q.. 22. 1 have lifted up mine band to the molt high God, thepoffeffour of Heaven andEarth, that I trill not take any thing that is thine. This galore of lifting up the hand when an Oath is taken, is there put for an Oath it Pelf; by which Abraham appealed to God as a witnefs of his fincere intentions in taking up thofe Armes for the refcue of his Ne- phew Lot, and that as he had Overcome his Enemies, fo he had overcome covetoufiiefs, which was of the two, the far more noble viiör.y. This calling ofGod to witnefs, is of two forts. Fittl, When we are called by others , who have lawfull power, to teftifie the truth ; fuch is (wearing before a Magi- !irate. Secondly, When we offer it our felves, for the removal of fuch jealoufies as arc cati upon w, and we have no other way left, to free, or vindicate our felves from. This latterwas the occafion of Jobs Oath, as alfo of thofe alleadging concerng Paul and Abraham : but whether it be an Oathof the one fort, or ofthe other, both meet in this,that God is appealed to, and called to witnefs by fuch as ufe them: and feting he is a jealous God, who will not hold them guilt lets that take his name in vain : I (hall add fume cautions for the boundingand direting ofour prafkice. Firtl, We may call God to witnefs in weighty matters and unlefTe the matter be weighty, either in it fell, or in the con- fequents of it, we may not ; God is my witnefs, andGod is my judge are not for common, much Ieffe for vain things. There are two things in every Oath or appeal to God which fhew this Füft, An Oath is for confirmation, Heb. 6.16. vain things ire not worth the meritioning , much leffe are they worthy theconfirming ; we ought not to (hive at all about them, much lets ought we to (wear about them, which is an end of all 1lrrfe. Secondly, In every Oath or appeal to God, there is an in- vocation ofthe Name ofGod ; but the name of God muff not be taken in vain, which it cannot but be when it is takeh inch our moúthes about a vain thing., Secondly,
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