said before reignes over the house of Joseph and Jacob saith swear not at all for by the oath he was to be carried our of Egypt and so by Christ the oath of God that ends the oaths are all to be carried out of spiritual Egypt Gen. 47.31 chap. 50.5 6. and Exod. 13.5 where the Lord sware to the Fathers concerning the Jews who had the covenant and promise which Christ the Covenant performs the oath of God and his promise and covenant who saith swear not at all And Exod. 6.8 God sware he would give the land to the children of Israel which he had sworn to Abraham but Christ who was before Abraham said they should not swear that redeems out of the earth and treads upon the earthly Canaan And the Lord said to Moses go to the land which I sware to Abraham Isaac and Jacob so the oath of the Lord brought them to this land the outward land of Canaan but Christ who was before Abraham that reigns over the house of Joseph and Jacob that ends the oaths brings to God and the land of the Living where is the everlâ—sting rest above Canaan Exod. 33 1. The Lord sware in the wilderness that he would bring the people into the land and the Lord said they should see the land which he sware to their fathers but they that provoked him should not see it and they should not come into the land which he sware save Caleb c. who had provoked the Lord and these did not abide in the oath which brought into the land as the Christians do not abide in Christ that brings into the land of the Living that saith swear not at all as they did not abide in the oath which would have brought them into the land of Canaan Num 14.16 23 30. I set the land before you saith the Lord which I sware to Abraham your Father and Isaac and Jacob and to their seed after them Deut. 1.8 ch. 8.1 ye shall possess the land if ye do all things I command you vvhich I svvare to your Fathers and ye shall prolong your dayes in the land vvhich I svvare to your Fathers and the dayes of your children vvhich the Lord svvare to your fathers should be multiplyed ch. 11.9.21 And the Lord svvare that Moses should not go over Jordan the Lord forgâ—t not his covenant to the Fathers vvhich he svvare to them ch. 4 2·1.31 And the Lord brought thee into the land vvhich he svaare to Abraham Isaac and Jacob ch. 6.10.13 18. thou shalt possess the land vvhich the Lord svvare to the Fathers ye shall keep covenant and mercy vvhich the Lord svvare to your Fathers to give thee the land ch. 7.12 13. ch. 8 18. so you may see here hovv the oath of the Lord being kept vvhich brought to the land and the oath being not kept but the Lord was provoked and turned against them and he svvare they should not enter into the land so Christ vvho ends the oath who abides in him he brings them into rest but who doth not abide in him the light turns against them and he condemns them and so they come not into rest chap. 9.5 And the Lord perform his word which he sware to Abraham Isaac and Jacob ch. 2.8.11 and the Lord will make thee fruitful in the land which he sware to give thee as he kept the Law he kept the oath and so they bare fruit as they do which abide in Christ who ends the oath Chap. 30.20 as they loved and obeyed his voice he was their life and the length of their dayes that they might dwell in the land which he sware to their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob so in obedience to the Law the oath was performed but he that ends the law ends the oath who was before daies was who is the life Christ chap. 26.3 They shall tell the Priest that they are come to the land which the Lord gave them Jos. 1.6 be strong and of good courage ye shall inherit the land which the Lord sware Deut. 30.20.23 when the Lord had brought them into the land which he sware they were to keep covenant this was spoken to the Jews else the oath turned against them which oath and covenant Christ ends Jos. 5.6 And the Prince of the congregation sware ch. 9.15 20. but Christ the Prince of peace ends these Princes among the Jews their authority and oaths ch. 14.9 And Moses sware chap. 21.43 44. and the Lord gave the people rest as he sware to their Fathers now this was spoken to the Jews and Moses the servant which sware Christ the Son who is greater then the servant Moses that ends the Law and redeems out of the earth saith swear not at all who is Gods covenant everlasting Judg. 2.1 the Lord said he had brought them into the land which he sware and he would not break covenant with them and this was spoken to the Jews that had the outward covenant and the land and the oath spoken to them and not the Christians which Christ ends 1 Sam. 19.6 and Saul sware who was a King and Jonathan sware to David in the time of his sufferings but Christ the King of Kings saith swear not at all there is the top and corner stone laid that destroyes the Devil the authour of sufferings in whom is peace chap. 20.3.17 David sware chap. 24.21 22. David sware unto Saul ch. 28.10 Saul sware to the witch but Christ Jesus that David called Lord saith swear not at all though David and Saul were Kings yet Christ who hath all power in heaven and earth who is king of kings whose dominion is larger thâ—n Sauls or Davids who saith swear not at all 2 Sam. 3.35 and David sware he would not eat till the Sun went down Bathsheba said to David O king did not thou swear to thy handmaid that Solomon should reign and she said thou swaredst by the Lord thy God that Solomon should reign 1 King 17.29 30. and David sware as his soul lived and God who had redeemed it out of all adversity that Solomon should reign and Adoniah would have had Solomon swear that he would not slay him ver. 51. and David sware he would not slay Shimâ—i if he went not out of Jerusalem and Shimei sware to the king and broke his oath 1 King 28.42 and Solomon said to him did I make thee to swear and Joab said to David he sware by the Lord 2 Sam. 19.1 2 3. and Solomon said 1 Kin. 8.31 2 Chron. 6.22 when a man trespasses against his neighbour and they lay upon him an oath to cause him to swear and the swearer shall come before the Altar in this house and Solomon said it was alike to him that sweareth and him that feareth an oath Eccl. 9.2 and the young man that came out of Egypt bid David swear by the Lord that he vvould not kill him nor deliver him into the hands of his Master 1 Sam. 30 15· novv here vvas
svvearing and this vvas among the Jevvs and though these are proofs for their swearing yet Christ a greater then Solomon who was greater then David and Solomon who were kings saith swear not at all he which hath all power in heaven given to him And here they were to swear before the Altar in the house of God as said king Solomon but this is nothing to the Christians that they should swear but Christ that ends the oath ends the Altar and the Temple and said it should be thrown down so Solomon was made by an oath for David sware to his Mother that Solomon should reign so according to the oath he was so Christ who ends the oaths that is a greater then Solomon that redeems from the earth makes kings to reign upon the earth which are not to swear and saith swear not at all And you may see Gedaliah sware 2 Kin. 25.24 Jer. 40.9 and said be ye Servants to the Caldees and Sampson made the children of Judah swear that they would not kill him Judg. 1.5.12 and the spies sware to Rahab that they would not open the matter and if she uttered the matter they were quit of the oath Jos. 2.12 20. and Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezar which had caused him to swear by God 2 Chron. 36.13 And the children of Israel sware together to serve the Lord and rejoyced at the oath they had sworn with their hearts 2 Chr. 15.14 15. now as these Scriptures is to prove that these sware but all who came to the joy which remains in Christ Jesus they come to him which ends the swearing and ends the oaths and then they joy in the oath Christ Jesus who is of the tribe of Judah who ends the swearing who is a greater then Sampson and none of these Scriptures prove that the true Christians sware after Christ forbade them Moses said to the Lord remember Abraham Isaac and Israel to whom thou sware by thy self I will multiply thy seed and give you this land here you may see this was to the Jews who had the land which when Christ came among them him they was to hear who ended the oaths and said they should not swear they persecuted him Exod. 32 13· thou shalt serve the Lord and cleave to him and swear by his name Deut. 10.11 and thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in righteousnesse and truth and in judgment Jer. 4 2. and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the true God Isa. 65.16 now here is the oath that was to be performed to the Lord and Christ the righteousnesse of God and truth ends the oath that was to be sworn in righteousnesse and saith swear not at all to whom every knee must bow And the Lord said he had sworn by himself his word was gone out in righteousnesse every knee should bow and every tongue should swear to him this was the true oath and the house of Jacob sware by the name of the Lord but not in truth and righteousnesse these was the vain oaths which the Prophet forbade and was forbidden by the Jews Isa. 45.23 chap. 48.1 and the true oath was that which was sworn by the Lord and then the Jews bowed to him but God saith this is my beloved Son hear him who saith swear not at all and they that be true Christians do the thing that he commands John 5. And Israel sware not in truth and righteousnesse though they said the Lord lived yet they sware falsly amongst them that seek not the truth nor execute true judgment Jer. 5 2. the Lord saith I swear by my self that this house shall be wasted if they would not hear the words of God Jer. 22.5 and the Lord swore unto the Fathers that he would give them the land that flowed with milk and honey now mind this oath brought them into the land that had the types and figures and shadows which when Christ comes he ends this oath and types and figures and shadows King David said Psal. 63.11 the king shall rejoyce in God and all that swear by him shall rejoyce in him this was a true oath and David sware to the Lord and vowed to the mighty God Ps. 132.2 and David said unto the Lord where are thy former mercies which thou sware unto thy servant in truth Psal. 89.49 he honoureth him that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not shall not be removed Psal. 15 4. now this is to prove swearing to them that were under the Law and to the Jews and that King David sware and the Prophets sware which Christ the end of the Prophets and David saith swear not at all him that David calls Lord and this is my beloved Son whose voice is to be heard saith God Whosoever voweth a vow to the Lord or sweareth an oath to bind himself by a bond he shall not break it here they were to perform their oaths to the Lord Num. 30.2 Deut. 26.15 when the children of Israel walked in the law of God they should possesse the land which he sware unto them so they possessed the oath as a true Christian possesses Christ who forbids that oath and walks in the light and so he possesseth the word which is the honey and the milk as the Jews possessed the land that flowed with milk and honey that kept the Lords oath and his law but they departed from it but the new Covenant being witnessed and the law written in the heart and mind that possess it they shall not depart from the Lord Ezra caused the chief Priests and all Israel to swear and that they would do according to the law now these were the Jews in the law which Christ ends Ez 10.5 Isa. 3.7 in the time of confusion the man shall swear he will not be a healer this was in the time when they had transgressed the oath of God and his Law ch. 19.18 Egypt shall speak the land of Canaan and shall swear by the Lord and they were not to swear falsly Lev. 6.3.5 and the Jews was not to swear to pronounce with their lips to do evil and if he did it ignorantly he was to confess it cha. 5.4 and they should not swear by the Name of the Lord faslly chap. 19.20 and swearing faslly was forbidden by the Prophet to the Jews Jer. 7.9 And Jeremiah cryed out the Land was full of Adultry and Oaths Chap. 2 3.10 These was not the oaths that Christ said they should perform to the Lord And by swearing and killing and lying blood toucheth blood Hos. 4.2 these were the rebukable oaths and while they were in â—hat state playing the harlot they were not to sweare the Lord lives when they were in the rebellious state then they were rebukable and could not swear the true oath but went to the false oathes and Hosea told the Jews they sware faslly so the Prophet judged the false oaths but Christ ended the true Hos. 10.4 And Malaci told the Jews the Lord would rise a witness against
an imposer of Oaths upon tender Consciences who professeth thy self a Minister of Christ who did forbid all swearing and his Minister did preach against it and said above all things swear not at all lest they fall into condemnation but it is manifest that thy Ministry is to bring people into condemnation and not into the obedience to Christs command therefore they that fear God will turn away from such 2 Tim. 3.5 Now saith Jo. Tombs the grand objection against swearing is our Saviours words Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. and Jam. 5.12 which words saith he doth seem expresly and fully to forbid any swearing at all excluding some sorts of Oaths by name and the rest by general terms that our Communication should be yea yea nay nay and what is more cometh of evil or of the evil One yet saith he we must of necessity find out a limitation of the speeches as we do and the limitation is this that is frequent vain light prophane unnecessary customary passionate swearing or in secular matters of no importance which in these Scriptures are forbidden Ans. Indeed it doth plainly appear that thou must of necessity either disprove Christs words or else deny thy own seeing they are contrary the one to the other so therefore thou sayest that it was those Oaths above mentioned that was forbidden by Christ and the Apostles And I shall shew it plainly that thou hast no necessity to limit Christs words to vain and prophane swearing out onely that thou would have thy words true and his false for Christs words in Mat. 5. doth not intend such Oaths for he speaks of the true Oaths which was used amongst the Jewes and such Oaths as Christ told them they were to perform for it was not said in old time that they should perform vain light prophane unnecessâ—ry customary and passionate Oaths but such as they were to perform betwixt the Lord and them and the solemn vowes and Covenants which they made in old time to their Kings and one unto another the Christians now by the command of Christ was not to swear these Oaths neither any Oath true nor false so that Christ is not to be limited to intend vain Oaths when as for instance Christ mentions the Jewes swearing who was in the Commandment who did deny all vain customary false and passionate swearing so that Jo. Tombs limitation is taken away and Christs meaning must be as large as his words which is not to swear at all by any Oath but to keep to yea and nay in all promises professions and engagements upon all occasions and so to keep out of the condemnation whereby all peoples Consciences may be kept clean to the Lord in all things and they brought to the exercise of a good Conscience for the Lord is now teaching his people himself and bringing them to obey the doctrine of his Son in which they may find peace for their soules and not to be in bondage unto such Teachers as are given to change with every Government who preach as the false Prophets did for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread and such are they who preach the lawfulnesse of swearing or sinning against Christs command but the Lord hath made them manifest and is redeeming his elect and chosen from amongst such who have made a prey upon people and fed upon their sins but not upon the life which the Saints was in A true Testimony of the Jews swearing under the Law mentioned in 113. Scriptures with a distinction also of the Apostate Christians swearing without either Law or Gospel for example in their oaths And also the Christians state under the gospel ministration and new Covenant how they are by Christ commanded not to swear at all plainly made manifest from the Scripture THe Jews swear the Apostate Christians swear but the true Christians who are redeemed out of the Apostacy that sees Christ Jesus that was before the Jewes and Apostates cannot swear at all in whom we see that the doctrine of the Jews was to swear the doctrine of the Apostates is to swear the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles was not to swear at all the Jews sware by the living God but the Apostates by the book which is not comparable to the Jews swearing Here is a list of the Scriptures which was spoken to them of the old time and the Law and first Covenant who swore and was to swear and perform their oaths to the Lord which Christ ends who saith swear not at all but in all your Communications let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of evil and this said be to whom all power in heaven and earth was given who put down swearing in the Law first Covenant and old time which were true Oaths not frivolous for the frivolous was judged by them of the Law first Covenant and old time for that Oath which Christ puts down was that which was sworn to the Lord and was to be performed in the state of the Law first Covenant and the old time since man was drove from God into the earth which Law first Covenant Christ ends and Oath and redeems man out of the earth and makes all things new who saith swear not at all now as followeth are the Scriptures which was spoken to the Jews and them of the old time that swore Abimelech and his Captain and Abraham sware Gen. 21.23 24 31. Christ which was before Abraham was said swear not at all that is the Covenant that ends Abrahams and Abimelechs Covenant and saith they must keep to yea and nay in their communications And the Lord sware unto Abraham Gen. 24.7 that unto his seed he would give the land and that Oath was performed and Christ being come who was before Abraham who saith swear not at all And Abrahams servant swore to Abraham Gen. 2.4.9.37 And Esau sware to Jacob and sold his birth-right Gen. 25.33 and Joseph sware by the life of Pharaoh Gen. 42.15 but Christ reigns over the house of Joseph and Jacob which saith swear not at all and the house of Esau must be as stubble And chap. 26.3 the Lord said he would perform his oath to Abraham which he sware that his seed should be as the stars of heaven this was before Christ was come in the flesh who was bâ—fore Abraham who saith swear not at all And Isaac and Abimelechs Captain sware and an oath was betwixt them and this was in the old time and in Isaac was the seed called Christ Jesus who said swear not at all Gen 26.30.31 chap. 31.53 Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac in whom as I said before the seed should be called who reignes over the house of Jacob who said swear not at all but in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay nay this was in the new time the other was in the old And Joseph sware unto Jacob in Egypt in the old time but Christ as I