the Epiftletothe Romans. 325 will;for which purpofehe alto praifeth them, verf.4, 5. Which commends th wifdome of the Apof}le, in preventin the contempt of his do&rive. T t M. What doth heeperform in the, three frfi- verfes ? S s L. He layeth downe, or pro poundeth the truth. Secondly, eh greatneffe. Thirdly, the caufe of his forrow. The truth and greatneffe of his forrow, he pro-; es by a facred oath, calling Chrift,his own confcience, and the Holy Ghoft to witneffe that it was fo,that hedid truly and greatly bewail their cafe. T 1 M. What inffruehonc are we to learn out of th is ftrft verfe S s L. Thata Chrif}ian mull always (peak truth,but efpecially in an Oath ; the reafon is,becaufe a^t untruth utter- ed in an oath,is not only a lye, but it is a perjury, which is a greater fin. Se- condly,becaufe by filch untruths Gods name is difhonoured, when he is called to witneffe a falfe matter, who is the avenger of all falfehood. T r M. What ufe hereof? S I L. It admonilheth all men to take heed what they afiirme or deny upon their oath, that it be no vain matter or Uncertain and doubtful , or untrue or falfe:but fuch as they know to be mot} certain and true. T s M. What further infirutíion from hence? S I L. Hence we learn what an oath is,by whom wemay fwear,and in what form of words. TIM, What le an oath? S I L. A confirmation of fome hid- den truth neceffary to be known, (and yet not known to others :) by ap- pealing to the witneffe and judgement of God, who is the fearcher of hearts, and punilher ofperjury, I King. 8.3 2. Heb.6. TIM. By whom may we (wear ? S i L. By Chrif} Jefus, and by the Holy Ghot, as well as by God the Father, which doe plainly prove the deity of Chrift and the Spirit : as alto that it is a fin to (wear by any creature, becaufe they are not the fearchers of of hearts,nor punifhers of fecret perju- e ries; alto becaufe fwearing lawfully, is g a part of Gods worfhip,Deut.6. I,, T i M, Why then doti, Paulput his Nit- re faience in theoath,it being a creature ? S t L. His meaning is , that what - his conCcience knew to be true, Chia e and the Spirit all() knew it more per fe &ly. TIM. In what forth is an oath to be taken? S I t.. Thus : I (peak the truth and lye not,Chril;;l beating my con fcience witneffe. T I M. What think ye of there words at Pharaoh iiveth , as thy foulliveth, or ve- rily, verily? Geu.42.15. s Sans .17. 55, John 3 5. S i L. They be carnet} affever. tions, affirming weighty things fhmewhat gravely and vehemently, but are no Oaths. T r M. Why doth Pauifay, I fpeaktruth and lye not? S I L. This is fpoken after the man- ner of the Hebrews, who fay one thing twice for plainnefli. Alto, one may fpeak truth, and yet lye: the thing may be a truth which one (peaks, and yet he think it a lye. This Paul dif- claims, profeffing fìncerity ofminde, as well as truth in words, he is no Equi- vocator. T s M. What other things doe ye learn from hence? S I L. That though ones confci- ence bee a thou rand rvitneffes, (even a good confcience,as well as an evil) yet Chrift and the Spirit are greater then the Confcience, and feeth more and further, s Joh.3.2o. Again, from hence we learn, that a Chriftian may take a private oath lawfully,though it be not before a Judge orMagiftrate. Example hereof wee have of Abrahams fervant, Gen.24.3. of Rahab and the Spies, Jojh. 2.12.and of Paul in this place; itappea- reth alto by the nature and end of an Oath,Heb.6, 16. but it is to be done in grave and important cafes, and not in light and trifling things ; but when.it behoves and concernech Gods glory, & the falvation, or forte great good of our
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