also sayth Pâ—o. xxix Whan yâ— preachyng of Gods worde fayleth than perysh the people come to nought We fynd thys true euery daye more more For the longer we lyue the more wyckednes do we se reygne It pytyeth a Christen mannes hert to beholde yâ— face of thys worlde What vngodlynes supersticion Hypocrisye dissimulacion swearynge pryde enuye dronkenshyp glotony fornicacion adulterye whoredome couetousnes an whole sea of euelles hath ouerflowed the world And all this is come to passe thorow the sleapye negligence of Curates nether can ther as yet be perceuedony amendment The Prestes go forthe styl to neglecte yâ— office of preaching Gods worde and yâ— people remayne styll in theyr old blyndenes not carynge much though they neuer heare one word of the holye Scripture preached vnto them in al theyr lyfe so lytyll pleasure haue the poore selye soules in it because they knowe not what a precious tresure yâ— most holye worde of God is What than remayneth but that one of vs moâ—yshe Colos. iii teache and exhorte another as S. Paule byddeth teache monyshe ye one another For if one laye man were no more mercyefull to a nother than yâ— Preastes are for the moste part surely the greatest part of the world shuld philâ— ii I thyncke ronne hedlonge vnto the deuel for want of knowlege Wherfore I exhort al meÌ„ of what degre â—orte soeuer they be charitably to monyshe one a nother whan they se ony man offende and rebuke hym by the Scriptures of God yâ— we maye shyne in the myddes of a froward croked nacion as greate lyghtes in the worlde pure fauteles Rom. vi â–ª such as noman can complayne of holdynge fast the word of lyfe Let vs suffer no synne to reygne in thys our mortal body but mortifye all thynges yâ— stryue agenst the spirite Let vs so watch gyue diligence to our selfes yâ— nether Satan nor the world nor yet the flesh may haue ony interest in vs. Math. v. Let vs hate deteste abhorre synne Iacob v. as yâ— mooste greuous pestilence and pestiferous poyson that can chaunse vnto vs. But aboue al thynges as Christe Iames monysheâ—he vs lette vs not sweare at all nether by heauen nor by earth nor yet by ony thyng that is contayned in them If one of vs at onye tyme shall chaunse to heare a nother sweare pollute yâ— name of our Lord God by vayne idle vnlaful othes let vs charitably monishe the offeÌ„der exhorte hym to cease froÌ„ hys swerynge and moue hym vnto yâ— prayle of God and of hys moste holy blessed name For surely if ther were no mo synnes committedde in Englond but only yâ— blasphemynge of God of his creatures by vayne swearyng it were ynoughe to bring final destruccion vnto thys Realme from yâ— which I besech God longe to preserue it and gyue the InhabitauÌ„tes thereof grace to correcte and amende theyr synful manners And to the intent that men may knowe how great offence it is before God vaynly to sweare I haue made this Inuectyue agaynste swerynge which here foloweth wherin as in a clere myrrour they shal vnfaynedly perceue and se what great dampnacion hanggeth ouer the heades of all swearers and that it is not possible for them to escape yâ— moost greuous vengeauns of God excepte wyth al haste they repent for sake theyr detestable maÌ„ner of swearyng earnestly fal vnto the harty praises of God Thys myne Inuectyue I dedicaâ—e to your good Master shyppe to whoÌ„ I confesse my selfe more endeâ—ted bound than my poore beggary shal euer may be able to recompeÌ„ce your moost kynd free geÌ„tylnes desiring you for your accustomed humanite to accept this my litle gift with yâ— mind wherwyth I haue offered it to you and to take it as a testimomy of my faythefull and seruiseable harte towarde you I was the gladder to dedicate this my lytyll treatyse to you because I haue in times paste perceaued and styl daylye do howe greatly ye desyre that al menne shulde lyâ—e accordynge to theyr profession at Baptime that thorowe theyr good workes they maye garnysh the doctrine of oure Lorde and Sauyoure Iesus Christ. Nether is it vnknowne vnto me what a ferueÌ„t and godlye affeccion you beare towarde the holy scripture howe desyrous ye are that the worde of Christ shuld dwell in Christen men ritchely with all wysdome as saynt Paule sayth Ioan. x â–ª Chele be the singulare great gyftes of God which he hath wrought in you by his holye spirite and are manifest â—â—gâ—es tokeÌ„s that ye are the child of saluacion â–ª eâ—heri toure of eternall glory one of Christes flock seynge ye are â—o earnestly bent both to heare practyse the word of god in your dayly maners Titus iâ— For Christe sayth Loâ—o. iii. He that is of God hearethe yâ— wordes of God Agen My shepe heare my voyce God mought vouchsafe to encrease these his gyftes in you dayly more Ioan. viii more vnto yâ— glory of hys most blyssed name and the saluacion of your soule in whome I desyre to yourâ— ryghte worshypful Mastership and to the good Gentle womanne youre wyfe all good luckye and prosperous thynges AMEN Yours at coÌ„maundement and wyll Theodore Basille Leuit. 24. VVho soeuer curseth hys God shall beare hys synne And he that blasphemethe the name of the Lorde he shall dye for it All the multitude shall stone hym to death Whyther he be Cytezyn or Straunger if he blaspheme the name of the Lord let hym dye the deathe August in Math. THey synne no les whyche blaspheme Chryste reyguyng in heauen than they whych crucifyed hym walkyng in earthe ¶ The Inuectyue WHense shall I take my beginnyng whyle I lament the corrupte maÌ„ners of thys moost wretched world more aptely and fytter for the purpose than of the Prophet Ieremy and with wepyng teares and sorowfull harte cry oute wyth hym Hiere lx sayeng Oh who shall giue my head water ynoughe a well of teares for myne eyes that I may wepe nyght and daye for the slaughter of my people The Prophet dothe not here bewayle them that haue theyr bodyes slayne wyth swearde or with ony other kynde of violence but he lamenteth the to muche wretched and daÌ„nable state of suche as are slayne in theyr soules withe the multitude of synnes for what so euer the sweard is vnto the body euen the very same is synne vnto the soule as it manifestly appeareth by his wordes that followe For he calleth them adulterers and a company of wycked traÌ„sgresâ—ours They bend theyr tonges lyke bowes Veâ—itasodium parit sayth he to showte ouâ—e lyes As for the trueth they maye nothyng awaye wyth all in the world For they go from one wickednes vnto another holde nothyng of god They are so false and crafty thaâ— euery one had nede to kepe hymselfe from another No man maye safely trust hys owne brother for one brother
vndermineth another and one neghbour begyleth another Exulat Veritas yea one dissembleth with another and they deale with no trueth They haue practised theyr tonges to speake lyes haue taken great paynes to do myschefe They haue set theyr stoole in the myddest of deceate and for very dissemblynge falshode they wyll not knowe the Lord. Theyr tonges are like sharpe arowes to speake deceat Wyth theyr mouth they speake peasably to theyr neyghbour but priuely they laye wayte for hym These wordes of the Prophet declare euidently that he bewaylethe theÌ„ that are slayne in theyr soules by the reason of the manifolde wyckednes wherwyth they are wouÌ„ded inwardely slayne that is to saye cast awaye from the fauour of God condemned vnto perpetual death except they repent beleue amende So lykewyse I at this tyme vsyng the wordes of the Prophet do not lament suche as haue tasted the death of the bodye and are gone but them that are yet alyue in this worlde as concernyng theyr bodyes but dead thorowe synne as towchynge theyr soules These I lament these I bewayle these I sorow sygh for â—oth daye and nyghte These make me to laye asyde all myrthe and ioye to walke as one desolate â–ª and confortelesse These cause me to wyth that I beyng one a priuate parson might be banyshed yea cursed from Christ so that so great a multitude myght be saued My fayth is yâ— I am wrytten in the boke of lyfe and nombred amoÌ„g the vessels of mercy notwithstondyng woulde God I myghte be wyped out Rom. ix so that these the are slayne in the soule thorow synne myght be saued What one man hauyng but a carnel of Christen salte in his brest wyssheth not so Who desyrethe not rather beyng one parsonne to be daÌ„ned than so great a nomber shoulde peryshe What nede I rehearse here the teÌ„der affeccion of Moses Christ and Paule Exo. xxxii which they bare toward the saluacion of other Phili. ii whom all we ought to followe Rom. ix Moses whan the Isralites had offended God for worshyppyng of the golden calfe prayed for them on this manner Forgyue them oh Lorde this faulte or eâ—les wype me oute of the boke wherin thou hast wrytten me Christ by the Prophet saythe Esa. v Iudge I praye you betwyxte me and my vyneyard What more coulde haue bene done for it yâ— I haue not done Rom. ix S. Paule wyshed hymselfe to be banyshed from Christ for hys brethren and kynnesfolke as pertaynyiâ—g to the fleshe whiche are the Israelites Certes he is no true Christen maÌ„ that prouideth for his owne saluacion and carethe not for the health of other God sayth Chrisostome Hom. vii iâ—â— Genesâ— wyll not that a ChristeÌ„ maÌ„ shoulde be contemed wyth hymselfe alone but that he also edifye other not by teachyng only but by lyuing and coÌ„uersacion also Charite sayth saynt Paule i. Cor. xiii Phil. ii seaketh not her owne Agayne let no man seake his owne but the profyt of other This made al the holy fathers in tymes past to be so desyrous of the health of other that they wyshed euen wythe the losse of theyr owne healthe Hiâ— ix the saluacion of theyr Christen brothers who beyng of theyr mynd and godly enspired wisheth not yâ— same at this hour For euen as the Prophet Hieremye dyd lament the wyckednes of the people whiche lyued at that tyme Vice greately encreased euen so I am sure do so many as are godly mynded bewayle the vngodlines that reygne among vs at this daye For consyder what synne and howe manifolo reygned at that â—yme eueÌ„ the very same with a great heape more reygneth yea triumpheth in these our dayes so greatly hathe wyckednes preuayled and gotteÌ„ the vppermoost hand If I shulde discend go downe in to the great Occean and mayne see which ouerfloweth the whole world wyth thaboundans of all euelles so shoulde I neuer be able to sayle and passe thorow I wyl therfore at this tyme take vpon me onely to searche the seuerall sea of one synne only althogh it may seme to be both great large brode depe bottomeles not able to be sayled thorow of ony maÌ„ and shewe howe many dauÌ„gers and greuous perrelles abyde them that presume to passe in that cruell fearse see And this synne is the moost wycked and detestable vice of swearyng which now reygneth so greatly in euery place that I feare all admonicions exhortacions warnynges and councels are frustrate and vayne so euell is a noughtye peruerse custome so rare a thynge is it to heale that pocke which is rooted by the bonne Notwythstondyng although some ê‘aduenture shal laugh at this my laboure as a songe sunge to them that are deafe eared yet for asmuche as my trust is yâ— al whiche be entangled with this vice are not of a desperate mind nor so ouerwhelmed wyth the waues of this vnmercifull sea but that they maye be called agayne brought vnto amendment eueÌ„ for theyr sake and to wyn theyr soules vnto glory wyl I speke somewhat in this matter declare how greatly the abhominable synne of swearyng is to be detested and abhorred of euery true Christen harte Therfore I shaâ—l moost intierlye desyre all faythefull and Christen people that shall read this my worke to marke diligently what so euer they shall here fynde and to repose it in yâ— bottome of theyr hartes as a graue weyghty matter pertaynyng vnto the health of theyr soules Saye 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 If ony man wyll not amend after this our admonicion his damnacion fâ—ll vpon his owne head For I am free froÌ„ his bloud and haue done my dutye in this behalfe After that God had brought his people the Israelites out of Egipte myndyng to institute appoynâ—e a newe publique weale that shulde be gouerned after his deuyse and appoyntment he ordined certayne ceremonies and ordinaunces whiche they shoulde obserue and by the obseruasis therof shewe and outwardly declare theyr obediente harte towarde hym Among all other for the ryght iÌ„stitucioÌ„ of theyr lyfe he gaue them by his seruaunt Moses ten coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes whych by no means they myght transgresse except they woulde faull into his great displeasure wrathe indignation To the kepers of those commaundementes he promised all good Deut. xxviii fortunate and prosperous thynges but to the traÌ„sgressours suche as breke them he threatened all troublous greuous and paynefull thynges as we maye se in the bokes of Moses of yâ— other Prophetes AmoÌ„g all other he gaue a commaundement whiche is thys Thou shalte not take the name of thy Lorde God in vayne For the Lorde wyll not holde hym gylteles that taketh hys name in vayne As thoughe he shoulde saye Beholde I am yâ— Lorde thy God which haue done the many greate singuler pleasures I haue made the lyke vnto myn owne similitude lykenes and image I haue preserued the froÌ„ eternall
Iewes God amende these croked customes Furthermore this damnable vse of swearyng hath so greatly preuayled ChildreÌ„ among them that professe Christ that it is also exepte into the brestes of yonge chyldren It is not a rare thyng nowe a dayes to heare boyes mothers teare the moost blyssed body of Christ wyth theyr blasphemo â–ª oothes euen from the toppe vnto yâ— too What meruel is it thaÌ„ thoughe they be abhominable swearers whaÌ„ they come to age But wheÌ„se learne they thys Verely of theyr pareÌ„tes and such as bryng them vp Cursed be those parentes whiche so behaue them selues eyther in worde or dede that they gyue ony occasion of euell at all vnto theyr chyldren Great is theyr daÌ„nacion The bloud of theyr chyldren shal be required at theyr haÌ„des Better were it for such fathers and mothers if they had a mylstone teyed aboute theyr neckes and so to be caste into the sea thaÌ„ blaspemously to abuse the name of God vnto yâ— euell example of theyr chyldren Is it ony maruell therfore thoughe we be so greatly plaged seing the name of God is so much blasphemed amoÌ„g vs nowe a dayes of euery degre and age Howe can we be bolde to saye yâ— we beleue in God whan we lyue no thyng accordynge vnto hys worde Wyth what forhead may we be bold to call vpon the name of God in our aduersite seyng we wythout all honour and reuerence do so shamefully abuse it wythe vngodlye oothes Howe maye we hoope that Christes bodye was offered vp to God the father a swete smellyng Sacrifice for our synnes Ephe. v whan we so vnreuerently sweare by it Heb. ix How maye we boldly say 1. Ioan. i that all our iniquities be wasshed awaye by Christes bloude whaÌ„ it shameth not vs wickedly to swear by it to obscure the vertue of it by our vnlawefull oothes so muche as lyeth in our power Wyth what couÌ„tenauÌ„ce shall we be bolde at yâ— dreadful day of iudgemeÌ„t to behold loke vpoÌ„ yâ— moost glorious face of the euerlastiÌ„g righteous Iudge Christ whose honour we haue so oft defaced with our vayne ydle swearyng Vndoubtedly these swearers and blasphemers of the name of God are in a farre worse case The world and gods word iudgeth diuersly of swearers than they appere before the worlde The world by the reason of the longe custome continuaunce therof thyncke it no synne ydelly to swear nether doth it iudge them that are swerers to be in onye worse case than the other sorte be but the worde of God iudgeth other wyse of them Gods word declareth them to be the moost greuous enemies of god of his moost blyssed name of Iesus Christ his sonne and of his moost bytter passion Gods word vttereth them to be the chyldrenne of wrath fyre brondes of hell captiues of Satan and ryght heyres of eternall daÌ„nacion Gods worde sheweth manifestly yâ— they haue in no parte yâ— celestial heritage but are already iudged to hel syre if they do not in thys lyfe repente bewayle theyr wretchednes confesse theyr abhominacioÌ„ desyre marcy and beleue faythfully to haue forgyuenes For heaueÌ„ and earth shall passe awaye but yâ— worde of the Lorde abydeth for euer Math v Esay xl Therfore this comminacion and threate which accompanieth the commaundement must nedes be true come to passe The Lorde wyll not holde hym gyltelesse that taketh hys name in vayne Let not these swearers therfore glory in theyr wickednes and thynke yâ— they shall escape vnponished â—ota because God takethe not vengeaunce on them streyght wayes but rather let them thyncke that theyr damnacioÌ„ shall be so muche the more greuous seyng they escape so longe wythout punyshment The rytche gloâ—tonne of whome we read in the Gospell of Luke Luke xvâ— liued in this world according to hys fleshly appetyte and wanted nothyng that myght satisfy yâ— beastlyke desyre of yâ— flesh yet yâ— end of him was euerlastiÌ„g daÌ„nacioÌ„ So shall it chauÌ„se to al theÌ„ yâ— be wycked traÌ„sgresâ—ours of this holy precepte of God The Lorde wyll not holde him gylteles sayth the scripture yâ— taketh hys name in vayne This thret of god is not to be laughed at For if there be a God as I am certenly ê‘suaded ther is I am sure that these abhominable Swearers shall not escape vnponysshed let theÌ„ esteme theyr synne as lyght as lytle as they lyst yea I am sure the vengeaunce of God hangeth ouer theyr heades wher so euer they be And although God take the not vengeauÌ„ce on them streyght wayes yet am I sure that they shall not escape if in this worlde yet not in the worlde to come Ps. exliiii so righteous a Iudge is God so faythefull is he in all his wordes Howe can it otherwyse be We se by dayly experience that if ony manne blasphemeth an earthly Prynce Gen. iii or speakâ— euell of his name he dyeth yâ— death streyghtwayes without mercy If such honour and reuerence be gyueÌ„ vnto a worldly Prynce which is earth vnto earth shall returne ageÌ„ what is thaÌ„ to be thought of theÌ„ which blaspheme yâ— name of the moost hygh celestial kyng which is kyng of all kynges and Lorde of all Lordes The blasphemy done to a mortall man is ponyshed with swearde and shall the blasphemy done to god escape thyncke you wyth a fylyppe in the forhead or with the knocke of a lytyll woden betyll as it beganne in certen monnes houses to be ponyshed nowe of late Na verely It is no fylyp matter excepte ye wyll admyt suche a fylyppe as shal fylyppe them downe into the botome of hell fyre God is no popette nor no babe It is not a fylippe that can wype awaye yâ— blasphemy of his moost blissed name before his hyghe throne glorioê° maiestye Wo be to theÌ„ yâ— syn and kepe not my comaundementes sayth the Lorde for I wyll not surely spare them iiii Es. xv In the olde lawe God gaue this coÌ„mauÌ„dement for the blasphemers of his name Who so euer curseth his god Le. xxiiii sayth he shall beare his synne And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde he shall dye for it All the multitude shall stonne hym to deathe Whyther he be Citizyn or straunger if he blasphemethe the name of the Lord let hym dye yâ— deathe What wyll the blasphemers of God saye to thys precepte Do they thynke that God is a sleape so that nowe he careth not for the glory of his name Na let them be sure GOD tendereth nowe his glory so much as euer he dyd and abhorreth wyckednes now no lesse thaÌ„ he hath done euer heretofore He is a ielous god wyl not suffer theÌ„ to escape vnponysshed that pollute defyse his moost glorious name In math S. AusteÌ„ sayeth they synne no lesse whiche blaspheme Christ reygnyng in heauen than they which crucifyed hym wal kyng in earth In qecalogum A certen wryter also in
the Hebrue tong called Rabbi Aben Ezra writethe on this manner Certes this is the custome in Egipt euen vnto this daye that if ony maÌ„ doth sweare by the head of the kyng and dothe not fulfyll his sayenge he shall be the chylde of deathe If that he woulde offer for hys raunsome a great suÌ„me of golde yet shall he not lyue seing he hath despised the kyng openly If a kynge doth so which is flesh and bloud whose begynnyng ende is vanite and whose kyngdom is vanite much more yea a thousaÌ„d tymes more ought a man to take hede that he offeÌ„d not God with his toÌ„g yâ— he doth not so order his mouth yâ— he maketh his flessh to synne by remeÌ„bryng God in vayne AgeÌ„ he sayth ther are many which thinke it no great offeÌ„ce if a maÌ„ taketh yâ— name of god in vayne Ibidemâ— But I wyll shewe theÌ„ yâ— it is greter more greuous thaÌ„ yâ— brekyng of al yâ— coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes that follow For he yâ— is a maÌ„sleare or an adulterer whiche surely are great offeÌ„ses he caÌ„ not slea nor play yâ— whoremonger at al times for he is in feare But he that hath accustomed him selfe vnto vayne oothes he coÌ„mitteth in one day in numerable othes he is so greatly in vse with thys fault that he perceaueth it not whan he swereth And if thou rebukest hym sayst wherfore haste thou nowe so sworne He streyghtwayes sweareth that he sware not yea and that for the to muche vse of sweryng For such before they bring forth ony worde they sweare fyrste thynkyng that it garnyseth theyr communicacion very pleasauntely so to sweare But if there were in Israel no more faultes but this one alone it were ynoughe to prolonge our captiuite and cause yâ— we shulde be plaged euery daye more more These are the wordes of the Hebrue Interpretoure wherof we maye learne howe great an offeÌ„ce it is vaynly to sweare and howe it heapeth vp on vs the plages and vengeaunce of God more then the breakyng of ony other commaundement except it be for ydolatry whiche synne thys also matcheth But let vs returne to the scriptures of God Heare me 〈◊〉 xxiii oye children sayth the wyse manne I wyll gyue you a doctrine how ye shal order your mouth Who so kepethe it shall not perysshe thorow his lyppes nor be hurte thorowe wycked workes As for the synner he shal be taken in his owne vanite He that is proude and cursed shall fall therin Let not thy mouth be accustomed wyth swearyng For in it there are many faulles Lette not the namyng of God be continually in thy mouth For lyke as a seruaunt whiche is ofte ponyshed can not be wtout some sore eueÌ„ so what so euer he be that sweareth and nameth God shall not be clene purged from synne A man that vseth much swearyng shall be fylled wyth wyckednes and the plage shall neuer go from hys house If he begylethe hys brother hys faute shal be vpon him If he knowledged not his synne he maketh a double offence if he sweareth in vayne he shall not be founde ryghteous For hys house shal be ful of plages The wordes of the swearer bryng deathe God grauÌ„t that it be not sounde in the house of Iacob but they that feare God exchewe all such and lygh not weltryng in syn Vse not thy mouthe vnto vnhonest aâ—d fylthy talkyng For in it is the worde of synne Here the wyse man playnely affirmeth tâ—at they whyche sweare and take yâ— name of God in vayne shal be replenyshed wyth wyckednes the greuous plages of Gods vengeaÌ„ce shall â—aul vpon them So that theyr house shal be visited wyth diuers ponyshmentes and plages O terrible layeng To muche saxeous stony is his harte that tremble the not at the hearynge of these wordes Zach. v The Prophet Zachary also sayth I turned me lyftynge vp myne eyes and looked And beholde a flyeng booke And he sayde vnto me what seest thou I answered I se a flyeng boke of .xx cubites long and ten cubites brode Than sayde he vnto me this is the curse that goeth forth ouer yâ— who le earth For all theues shall be iudged after this boke and al swearers shal be iudged accordyng to the same I wyll bryng it forth sayth the Lorde of hoostes so that it shall come vpon the house of the these and vpon the house of hym that falsely sweatethe by my name and shall remayne in yâ— myddest of his house and consume it wyth the tymber stones therof What wyll swearers and blasphemers of Godsmoost holy name saye vnto these wordes of the Prophet Here maye they se that the terrible curse of God is come abroade for all Theues and sweares so that it shall faull vpon theyr house and consume it wyth all that euer pertayne vnto it Here maye they learne that they iudgement is at hand that theyr daÌ„nacion can not be exchewed exceptâ— they shortly repent beleue amend For the boke of curses slieth abrode It is no lenger kept in secret and it shall vndoubtedly faull on the houses of so many as vaynely sweare God can no lenger abyde this abhominacion it is so great and grownâ— vp into suche an heyghâ— Wo be vnto all swearers for theyr oothes Foâ— a daggar pryckethe not so sharpely sayth Chrisostome â—om xv as the nature of an ooth doth A sweard sleath not so cruelly as the plage of an oothe doth For a swearer although he semeth to lyue yet is he dead already and hath receued hys deadly wouÌ„d And as he that taketh an halter before he goeth out of the Citie and coÌ„meth vnto the place of execucion hath the Hangman followyng him is dead so soone as he goethe oute of the place of iudgement so lykewyse is he that is a swearer The oothe is not so soone come out of the mouth but that the swearer is condemned streyghtwayes vnto eternall damnacion What wyll these blasphemers of Gods moost holy name saye to this golden mouthed Doctore which coÌ„parethe all swearers to theues Sweares are lyke theues condâ—ned to be hanged and sayth that they are like vnto a these that is condemned vnto death and wereth his halter redy to be haÌ„ged Are not these swearers come nowe vnto a fayre promocion They be lyke theues coÌ„demned to dye sayth the holy Doctore Chrisostome The Iudge hathe gyuen sentence They be condemned So that althoughe they be yet fre from yâ— playes of goddes vengeaunce as the these is before he commeth vnto the gallowes yet they maye be as sure not to escape them as though they were nowe already in theyr neckes And the longer theyr punyshment is differed the more greuous shall it be whan it coÌ„meth Many I graunt in this worlde are not ponysshed for theyr great abhominable swearynge yet haue there not wanted examples in our tyme which haue aboundantly declared howe greatly the synne of swearyng displeasethe God Examples of sweariÌ„g ponyshed in
but that which is good to edify with all whan nede is that it maye haue fauour with the hearers If no fylthy communicacion ought to procede out of our mouthes muche lesse ought ony vayn dothes vngodly swearynges blasphemies c. come forth out of them If our wordes ought to be good to edify wythe all thaÌ„ ought they not to be such as should destroy both our selues the hearers which many tymes chaunseth thorow wicked oothes Let not dome Ephe. v sayth he and all vnclennes or couetousnes or fylthynes or folyshe talkynge or iestynge be once named among you as it becommeth saynctes but rather thanckes gyuyng If these thynges maye not once be named among vs surely much lesse yea a M. tymes muche lesse oughte oothes swearynges blasphemies of Gods moost holy name be named among vs and hearde in our dayely speache If the wrath vengeaunce of God be wonte to faull vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue for these thynges aforesayd as S. Paule testifyeth certenly let all swearers be certenlye assured that they shall not escape the plages of Gods vengeasice and theyr damnacion shal be yâ— more greuous for asmuch as they professe godlynes and lyue nothynge accordyng thervnto What are they ony other than blasphemous mockers of God They saye that they knowe God but withe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are become abhommable and disobediente and enell mynded vnto all good workes as S. Paule writeth Titus i They are welles wythout water cloudes caryed about of a tempest to whom yâ— myst of darckenesse is reserued for euer They are trees without â—rute at gatheryng tyme ii Pe. ii twyse dead plucked vp by the rootes Iudas Epistle They are the ragyng waues of the sea somyng oute theyr owne shame Howe can they than escape the vengeaunce of god The Sodomites Gomorrians sinned agaynst nature therfore were they consumed wythe fyre brymestonne froÌ„ heaueÌ„ the swearers synne agaynst the God maker of nature is it to be thought â—e xviii that they shall escape vnponyshed If suche as committe the lessest synne be punysshed howe can they than escape which of sende in the greatest They maye be sure if they do not amend not only to be plaged with fyre brymestone but also to suffer all other kyndes of intollerable paynes yea and that in hell where is no redemcion nor marcy to be had The Lorde Psal. xi sayth Dauid seeth both the ryghteous vngodly but who so delyghteth in wickednes him his soule abhorreth Vpon the vngodly he shall reygne snares fyre brymestonne storme tempest this rewarde shall they haue to drynke For the Lorde is ryghteous and he loueth righteousnes his cosâ—tenauce beholdeth the thyng that is iuste Agayne he saythe God is a ryghteous Iudge Psal. vii and God is euer threatenyng If men wyl not turne he hath whet his swearde he hathe bent his bowe and made it redy He hath prepared hym the weapons of deathe ordined his arrowes to bestroye We rede in the forth boke of Moses that whan the chyldren of Israel were in the wyldernes they fouÌ„d a man gatherynge styckes vpon the Sabboth day 〈◊〉 .xv â–ª And they that found him gatheryng styckes brought him vnto Moses and Aaron vnto all the congregacion they put him inward For it was not declared what shoulde be done vnto hym And the Lorde sayd vnto Moses the manne shall dye Let al the multitude stone hym with stones without the hoost And all the multitude brought hym wythout the hoost stoned hym with stones and he dyed as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses If the man that gathered styckes vpon the Saboth daye for transgressyng that coÌ„mauÌ„dement whiche notwythstondynge was but a ceremoniall law seruyng but for a tyme and a figure of oure spirituall quietnes and reast which we ought to haue coÌ„tinually in our consciences toward God which precepte also is nowe abolyshed stond in none effect so that we are Lordes of the Sabothe daye and maye appoynte what daye it shall please the head rulers to cease from laboure yâ— we may the more coÌ„ueniently come togyther vnto the teÌ„ple for to pray to heare the holye worde of God to se the blyssed Sacramentes ministred c. If the man that gathered styckes I saye vpon the Sabothe daye was stoned vnto deathe by the commaundement of God for transgressynge that precepte howe maye these swearers than persuade themselues that they shal escape vnponished althoughe they sweare abuse God and all hys creatures by theyr vnlawfull oothes The other precepte was ceremoniall The Iewes at thys day accordiÌ„ge to theyr olde wont wyl teare there garmentes whan the heare Gods blessedâ—ame blasphemed for the drede of Gods feercewrath that is â—â—yred vp there by Butte who among vs ChristeÌ„ shewethe hiÌ„selfe by ony meanes to be displeased there wtal in whom ough to be the loue feare dreade of God so wel as in yâ— Iewes is nowe of no strengthe but this commaundement is morall and abydeth styll in perfecte strengthe and so shall do so longe as the worlde stondeth shall yâ— transgressioÌ„ of this than escape vnponyshed The other was punyshed by death and shall this escape fre wythout punyshment Let the wicked worldlynges laughe at the matter so much as they lyst there lyueth a god agaynst whome the offence is committed which wyl not suffer the blasphemies of his holy name and of his creatures to escape vnpunyshed And well were it wythe these abhominable swearers which go forth in theyr wyckednes wyll not amend if in this worlde they myght he consumed with fyre and brymestone froÌ„ heauen as the Sodomites were or stoned vnto death as the transgressour of yâ— Saboth daye was so that theyr plages and paynes myght on this manner ende they afterward enioye euerlastyng lyfe But it is to be feared that after thys lyfe they shall feale more greuous tormentes than euer the Sodomites dyd ether suffer in this world or where they be nowe God be marcifull vnto them and gyue them grace to amend Hytherto haue we hearde howe greuous an offence it is beâ—ore God for to sweare to take his moost blissed name in vayne or to abuse onye of his creatures by vayne vnlawfull oothes We haue heard also how God wyll not suffer by ony meanes them to escape vnponished that wickedly sweare and breake this godly commaundement Nowe seyng that GOD wyll so sharpely ponysh them that take hys name in vayne or feare not to sweare for euery lytle trifle by hym or by hys creatures what is than to be sayd of perâ—â—ry Of perâ—ury What is to be thought of them which bothe falsely and wyllyngely forsweare them selues Into howe great ponyshment shall they faull whiche feare nothyng at all to sweare in a false matter vpon the holy Euangely that moost â—lyssed worde of euerlastyng trueth yea to call God and all his holy saynctes to be wytnesses