at all if so weighty that we may lawfully swear as before a Magistrate being called to it then we must only use the glorious Name of our God in a holy and religious manner as you may see Deut. 6.13 Isa 45.23 65.16 Josh 23.7 Jer. 5.7 Exod. 23.13 And the reasons of it are weighty if we look into them for in swearing by any creature whatsoever we do invocate that creature and ascribe to it divine worshâ—p a lawful oath being a kind of Invocation and a part of Gods worship Yea whatsoever we swear by that we invocate both as our Witness Surety and Judge Heb. 6.16 and by consequence deifie it by ascribing and communicating unto it Gods incommunicable Attributes as his Omnipresence and Omniscience of being every where present and knowing the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart and likewise an Omnipotency as being Almighty in patronizing protecting defending and rewarding us for speaking the truth or punishing us if we speak falsly all which are so peculiar to God as that they can no way be communicated or ascribed to another So that in swearing by any of those things thou committest an high degree of gross Idolatry thou spoilest and robbest God of his Glory the most impious kind of theft and in a manner dethronest him and placest an Idol in his room Sect. 6. And as to swear by the creature makes the sin far more hainous so the more mean and vile the thing is which you swear by be it by my fay by cock and pâ—e hares foot by this châ—ese and such like childish oaths which are so much in use with the ignorant superstitious swarm the greater is your sin in swearing such an Oath because you ascribe that unto these basest of creatures which is only proper to God namely to know your heart and to be a discerner of secret things why else should you call that creature as a witness unto your conscience that you speak the truth and lie not which only belongeth to God And therefore the Lord calls it a forsaking of him as mark well what he saith Jer. 5.7 How shall I spare thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no Gods And do you make it a small matter to forsake God and make a God of the Creature Will you believe the Prophet Amos if you will he saith speaking of them that swore by the sin of Samaria that they shall fall and neâ—er rise again Amos 8.14 A terrible place to vain swearers Neither are we to joyn any other with God in our oaths for in so doing we make base Idols and filthy creatures Coâ—â—â—vals in honour and Competitors in the Throne of Justice with the Lord who is Creator of Heaven and Earth and the supreme Judge and sole Monarch of all the World Or in case we do our doom shall be remediless for the Lord threatneth by the Prophet Zephany That he will cut off them that swear by the Lord and by Malcham Which Malcham was their King or as some think their Idol Zeph. 1.4 5. But admit the sin were small as you would have it to be yet the circumstances make it most heinous for even the least sin in its own nature is not only mortal but rests unpardonable so long as it is willingly committed and excused or defended Swearer But all do swear except some few singular ones and they also will lye which is as bad Sect. 7. Messenger You must not measure all others by your own bushel for although ill Dispositions cause ill Suspicions even as the eye that is bloudâ—hot sees all things red or as they that have the Jauâ—dies see all things yellow yet know that there be thousands who can say truly through Gods mercy that they had rather choose to have their souls pass from their bodies than a wâ—lful premeditated Lye or a wicked Oath from their mouths Wherefore when you want experience think the best as Charity bids you and leave what you know not to the searcher of hearts Sect. 8. As for the number of Swearers it cannot be denied but the sin is almost universal and this is it which hath incensed Gods wrath and almost brought an universal destruction upon our whole Nation But is not this excuse That others do so a most reasonless plea and only becoming a fool when our Saviour Christ hath plainly told us that the greatest number go the broad way to destruction and but a few the narrow way which leadeâ—h unto life Mat. 7.13 14. And S. John that the whole World lieth in wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 And that the number of those whom Satan shall deceive is as the sand of the sea Rev. 20.8 13.16 Isa 10.22 Rom. 9.27 And tell me Were it a good plea to commit a Felâ—ny and say that others do so Or wilt thou leap into Hell and cast away thy soul because others do so A sorry comfort it will be to have a numerous multitude accompany us into that lake of fire that never shall be quenched Besides this is Gods express charge Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil And S. Pauls everlasting Rule Rom. 12.2 Fashion not your selveâ— like unto this world Swearer But I may lawfully swear so I affirm nothing but the truth Sect. 9. Messenger If you be lawfully called to it as before a Magistrate or when some urgent matter constraineth for the confirming of a necessary truth which can by no other lawful means be cleared and for the ending of all contentions and controversies and clearâ—ng our own or our neighbours good name person or estate and to put an end to all strife aiming at Gods glory and our own or our neighbours good which is the only use end of an oath in which case a man is rather a patient than a voluntary agent you may swear otherwise not Neither must we swear at all in our ordinary communication if we will obey Gods Word as you may see Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. Jam. 5.12 Swearer Except I swear men will not believe me Sect. 10. Messenger Thou hadst as good say I have so often made shipwrack of my credit by accustomary lying that I can gain no belief unto my words without an oath for it argues a guilty conscience of the want of credit and that our word alone is worth no respect when it will not be taken without a pawn or surety Neither will any but base Bankrupts pawn so precious a Jewel as their Faith or offer better security for every small trifle Besides he that often sweareth not seldom forsweareth And so I have informed you from Gods Word what the danger is of vain and wicked swearing Memb. 3. Sect. 1. But as if Swearing alone would not press thee deep enough into Hell thou addest Cursing to it a sin of a higher nature which none use frequently but such as like Goliah and Shimei are desperately wicked it being their peculiar brand in Scripture
A Sovereign ANTIDOTE Or A Precious MITHRIDATE For Recovery of Souls twice dead in SIN and buried in the Grave of Long Custome to the Life of Grace With hopeful Means God blessing the same to prevent that three-fold and worse than Aegyptian Plague of the Heart Drunkenness Swearing and Profaneness Wherein is a sweet composition of Severity and Mercy Of Indignation against Sin of Compassion and Commiseration to the Sinner with such Christian moderation as may argue Zeal without Malice and a desire to win Souls no will to gall them By R. YOUNGE of Roxwell in Essex Imprimatur Ex Aed Lamb. Feb. 5. 1663. G. Stradling S.T.P. Rev. in Christo Pat. D. Gilb. Archiep. Cant. Ã Sac. Domestic London Printed by J. Hayes and are to be sold by Mrs. Crips in Popes-Head Alley with 39 other Pieces composed by the same Author 1664. A Sinner rescued from Satans subtilty and slavery SECTION I. NOt to admonish our brother is to hate him as the Holy Ghost witnesseth Lev. 19.17 But to scorn our brother should admonish us is more to hate our selves That little which Croesus learned of Solon saved his life And had Pilate taken that fair warning his wife gave him it might have saved his soul which once lost cannot be redeemed with ten thousand worlds no not with the enduring of ten thousand thousand years torments in Hell Enough I suppose together with a desire of my Readers eternal welfare to encourage me to speak others to hear Wherefore let none in the least be offended with what I shall deliver or with me for it For not only the searcher of hearts but the world shall witness that I fight not against you but against your sins and you have no such foes as your faults And these are they I seek to subdue and batter down before you as well knowing that unless they die you cannot live Yea if I make you smart give me the more thanks love me the better for it Sharp reprehension is the healing of the soul and love to the soul is the soul of love And let this serve for an Apologie and if you please for a Protection Sect. 2. Considering the numberless number of those that by professing themselves Protestants discredit the Protestant Religion Who because they have been Christened as Simoâ— Magus was received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper like Judas and for company go to Church also as Dogs do are called Christians as we call the Heathen Images gods yea and being blinded by the Prince of darkness 2. Cor. 4.4 think to be saved by Christ though they take up Arms against him and are no more like Christians then Michals Image of Goats-hair was like David Who make the world only their god and pleasure or profit alone their Religion Who are so graceless that God is not in all their thoughts except to blaspheme him and to spend his daies in the Devil's service Who being Christians in name will scoff at a Christian indeed Who honour the dead Saints in a cold profession while they worrey the living Saints in a cruel persecution Who so hate Holiness that they will hate a man for it and say of good living as Fâ—stus of great Learninq It makes a man mad whose hearts will rise at the sight of a good man as some stomacks will rise at the sight of sweet meats Whose Religion is to oppose the power of Religion and whose knowledge of the Truth to know how to argue against the Truth Who justifie the wicked and condemn the just who call Zeal madness and Religion foolishness Who love their sins so much above their souls that they will not only mock their Admonisher scoff at the means to be saved and make themselves merry with their own damnations but even hate one to the death for shewing them the way to eternal life who will condemn all for Round-heads that have more Religion then an Heathen or knowledge of heavenly things then a child in the womb hath of the things of this life or conscience then an Atheist or care of his soul then a Beast and are mockers of all that march not under the pay of the Devil Who with Adam will become Satans bondslaves for an Apple and like Esau sell their birthright of Grace here and their Blessing of Glory hereafter for a mess of pottage Who prefer the pleasing of their palates before the saving of their souls who have not only cast off Religion that should make them good men but reason also that should make them men Who waste vertues faster then riches and riches faster then any vertues can get them Who do nothing else but sin and make others sin too who spend their time and patrimonies in Riot and upon Dice Drab Drunkenness who place all their felicity in a Tavern or Brothel house where Harlots and Sycophants rifle their Estates and then send them to rob Who will borrow of every one but never intend to satisfie any one Who glory in their shame and are ashamed of that which should and would be their glory Who desire not the reputation of honesty but of good fellowship Who in stead of quenching their thirst drown their senses and had rather leave their wits then the wine behind them who place their Paradise in their throats Heaven in their guts and make their belly their god Who pour their Patrimonies down their throats and throw the house so long out at windows that at length their house throws them out of doors Who think every one exorbitant that walk not after their Rule Who will traduce all whom they cannot seduce even condemning with their tongues what they commend in their consciences Who as they have no reason so they will hear none Who are not more blind to their own faults then quick-sighted in other mens Who being displeased with others will flie in their Makers face and tear their Saviours Name in pieces with oathes and execrations as being worse then any mad dog that flies in his Masters face that keeps him Who swear and curse even out of custom as Currs bark yea they have so sworn away all grace that they count it a grace to swear and being reproved for swearing they will swear that they swore not Sect. 3. Or perhaps they are covetous Cormorants greedy Gripers miserly Muck-worms all whose reaches are at riches Who make gold their god and commodity the stern of their consciences Who hold every thing lawful if it be gainful Who prefer a little base pelf before God and their own salvation and who being fatted with Gods blessings do spurn at his precepts Who like men sleeping in a Boat are carried down the stream of this World untill they arrive at their Graves-end Death without once waking to bethink themselves whither they are a going to Heaven or Hell Or Ignorant and Formal Hypocrites who do as they see others do without either conscience of sin or guidance of reason Who do what is morally good more for
vices As who by looking in a Glass shall spy spots in his face and will not forth with wipe them out A wise man will not have one sin twice repeated unto him And these may be resembled to wax which yieldeth sooner to the seal than steel to the stamp But Sect. 3. Secondly others are like Tullies strange soil much rain leaves them still as dry as dust Or the Wolf in the emblem which though she suckt the Goat kept notwithstanding her wolvish nature still For speak what can be spoken to them it presently passes away like the sound of a Bell that is rung Let testimonies examples never so much concern them they prove no other than as so many characters writ in the water which leave no impression behind them Who may be resembled to an Hour-glass or Conduit that which in one hour runneth in the same in another hour runneth out again Or the Smiths Iron put it into the fire it is much softned again put it into the water 't is harder than before Yea let them never so much smart for their sins they will return to them again until they perish Resembling some silly fly which being beat from the candle an hundred times and oft singed therein yet will return to it again until she be consumed Prov. 23.35 All those Beasts which went into the Ark unclean came likewise out unclean Sect. 4. Thirdly another sort will very orderly hear the Word and delight in it so long as the Minister shall rove in generalities preach little or nothing to the purpose But if once he touch them to the quick drive an application home to their consciences touching some one sin of theirs as John Baptist served Herod then they will turn their backs upon him and hear him no further as those Jews served our Saviour Joh. 6.66 The Athenians Paul Acts 17.16 to 34. and Ahab Micaiah 1 Kings 22.8 Sect. 5. Sore eyes you know are much grieved to look upon the Sun Bankrupts cannot abide the sight of their counting books nor do deformed faces love to look themselves in a true glass For which read John 3.19 20 21. But let such men know that to fly from the light and reject the means puts them out of all hope That sin is past cure which turns from and refuseth the cure Deut. 17.12 Prov. 29.1 As what is light to them that will shut their eyes against it or reason to them that will stop their ears from hearing it If those murtherers of the Lord of life Act. 2.23 had refused to hear Peters searching Sermon in all probability they had never been prickt in their hearts never been saved ver 37 38. And take this for a Rule if ever you see a drowning man refuse help conclude him a wilful murtherer Sect. 6. Fourthly and lastly for I pass by those blocks that go to Church as dogs do only for company can hear a powerful Minister for twenty or thirty years together and mind no more what they hear than the seats they sit on or the stones they tread on There are a generation of hearers who when a Minister does plainly reprove them for their sins and declare the judgments of God due unto the same to the end they may repeâ—t and believe that so they may be saved will carp and freâ— spurn against the very Word of God for being so sharp searching thereupon persecute the Messenger as the Princes false Prophets did Jeremiah Herodias John Baptist and the Pharisees Christ Sect. 7. And this God takes as done to himself What saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.10 I have not spoken but the Lord and therefore as the Lord said unto Saul Act. 9.4 that he persecuted him though in heaven so they which resist any truth delivered out of the Word do resist God himself and not his Messenger as evidently appears by these Scriptures Psal 44.22 74.4.10.18.22.23 83.2 5 6. 89.50 51. 139.20 Prov. 19.3 Rom. 1.30 9.20 Mat. 10.22 25.45 1 Sam. 17.45 Isa 37.4.22 23 28. Act. 5.39 9.4 5. Joh. 9.4 1 Thes 4.8 Joh. 15.20 to 26. Num. 16.11 1 Sam. 8.7 Mar. 9.42 Psal 79.12 2 Kin. 2.24 O that the Gospels enemies would but seriously consider these Scriptures and be warned by them For certainly it is neither wise good nor safe either resisting or angring him that can anger every vein of their hearts Yea God hath Messengers of wrath for them that despise the Messengers of his love Sect. 8. But hear why they so mortally hate the naked truth Because it is the word by which they are condemned they loath as much to hear it as a prisoner doth abhor to hear his sentence from the just Judge And indeed if many as we know by experience love not to hear the worst of their temporal causes and cases nor yet of their bodily distempers with which their lives or estates be indangered How much more will wicked men decline from seeing their hainous abominations and themselves guilty of Hell and eternal damnation though thereof there be an absolute necessity if ever they be saved Sect. 9. Guilty sinners love application as dearly as a dog does a cudgel And no marvel for what Leper will take pleasure in the searching of his sores Nor were Satan his Crafts-master if he did permit them For if they could clearly see the loathsomness of their impieties it were impossible not to abhor them not to abhor themselves for them but their blindness makes them love their own filthiness as Ethiopians do their own swarthiness Besides they love not to have their consciences awakened but would sleep quietly in their sins And he that desires to sleep will have the curtains drawn the light shut out and no noise made Whence as good meats are unwelcome to sick persons so is good counsel to obstinate and resolved sinners Tell them of their swearing drinking whoring cheating they will fret and chafe and fume and swell and storm and be ready to burst again to hear it But let envy sweat swell and burst truth must be spoken And indeed why should not Gods servants take as free liberty in reproving as the Devils servants take liberty in offending Shall not the one be as loud for God as the other are for Baal and Beelzebub Sect. 10. Yea admonish them never so mildly they will say we take too much upon us as Korah and his complices twitted Moses Num. 16.3 not knowing how strictly God commands and requires it Lev. 19.17 2 Tâ—m 2.25 Ezek. 3.18 to 22. 2 Pet. 2.7 8. Whence as the Chief Priests answered Judas What is that to us so they will blaspheme God tear Christ in pieces and more than betray even shed his innocent bloud digging into his side with oaths and say when told of it What is that to us when they might as well say What is Christ to us what is heaven to us or what is salvation to us For to us the one cannot be
excess in sin with further obduration not only delivers them up â—o Satan the God of this world who so blinds their minds and deludes their understandingâ— that the light of the glorious Gospâ—l of Christ shall not shine unto them 2 Cor. 4.3 4. Eph. 2.2 2 Thes 2.9 But he gives them up even to a reprobate judgment to the hardness of their hearts and to walk in their own counsels Psal â—1 11 12. Rom. 1.21 to 32. And better be given up to Satan as the incestuous Corinthian was than thus to be given up For he was thereby converted saved as God used the matter making the Scorpion a medicine against the sting of the Scorpion the Horseleech a means to abate the vicious and superfluous bloud so ordering Satans craft and malice to ends which himself intended not Whereas these are given over as a desperate Patient is given over by his Physician when there is no hope of his recovery As thus Because they will not receive the truth in love that they might be saved for this cause God gives them up to strong delusions that they should believe lies that all they might be damned who believe not the truth but take pleasure in unrighteousness they are the very words of the Holy Ghost 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. If any vvould see more touching the woful condition of a deluded worldling and how Satan gulls wicked men with a world of misprisions that he may the better cheat them of their souls Let them read The Drunkards Character and The Cure of Misprision for in this I study all possible brevity being loath either to surfeit or cloy the Swearer who is commonly short-breathed in well-doing and lest adding more should hinder him from hearing this for Satan and his corrupt heart will not condescend he shall hold out to hear his beloved sin so spoken against Memb. 5. Sect. 1. Only I will insert a few notions aphorisms or conclusions touching the former point of Gods forbearing to punish the most flagitious sinners when they so horribly provoke him together with some pregnant examples of some that he hath executed Martial Law upon even in this life Cornelius Gallus not to mention many nor any that every Author sets down died in the very act of his filthiness as Plutarch well notes Nitingal Parson of Crondall in Kent was struck dead in the Pulpit as he was belching out his spleen against Religion and zealous Professors of the Gospel It was the usual imprecation of Henry Earl of Schuartzbourg Let me be drowned in a Jakes if it be not so and such was his end You may remember one Lieutenant of the Tower was hanged it had wont to be his usual imprecation as he confessed at his death Earl Godwin wishing at the Kings Table that the bread he eat might choak him if he were guilty of Alphreds death whom he had before slain was presently choaked and fell down dead Yea his lands also sunk into the Sea and are called Godwins sands where thousands since have made shipwrack It was usual with John Peter mentioned in the Book of Martyrs 〈…〉 say If it be not true I pray God I may rot ere I die and God saying Ame 〈…〉 t he rotted away indeed A Serving-man in Lincolnshire for every trifle used to swear Gods precious bloud and would not be warned by his friends to leave it insomuch that hearing the bell tole in the very anguish of death he started up in his bed and swore by the former oath that bell toled for him whereupon immediately the bloud most fearfully issued as it were in streams from all parts of his body not one place left free and so died Popiel King of Poland had ever this wish in his mouth If it be not true I would the Rats might eat me and so it came to pass for he was so assailed by them at a banquet that neither his guards nor fire nor water could defend him from them as Munster mentions The Jews said Let his bloud be upon us and upon our children and what followed Sixteen hundred years are now past since they wished themselves thus wretched and have they not ever since been the hate and scorn of the world Did they not many of them live to see their City buried in ashes and drowned in bloud to see themselves no Nation Was there ever any people under heaven that was made so famous a spectacle of misery and desolation They have had what they called for to the ful and it 's just that they who long for a curse should have it Yet how many among us do familiarly curse their wives children c Nor is it seldom that God pay them in their own coin men profane Gods Name and he makes their names to stink When the pestilence rageth in our streets blasphemy and execration must confess that they have their due wages Blasphemers live swearing and die raving it is but their wages Sect. 2. He punisheth some in the Suburbs of Hell that they might never come into the City it self The evil he now suffers uncorrected he refers to be condemned Sin knows the doom it must smart here or hereafter Outward plagues are but favour in comparison of spiritual judgments and spiritual judgments but light to eternal torments God doth not punish all flagitious sinners here that he may allow some space to repent and that none may doubt his promise of a General Judgment nor does he forbear all here lest the World should deny his providence and question his justice Memb. 6. Sect. 1. But what do I urge reason to men of a reprobate judgment to admonish them is to no more purpose than if one should speak to life-less stones or sence-less plants or wit-less beasts for they will never fear any thing till they be in Hell-fire wherefore God leaves them to be confuted with fire and brimstone since nothing else will do it If there be any here that believe a Resurrection as I hope better things of some of you all such I would beseech by the mercies of God before mentioned that they would not be so desperately wicked as to mock their admonisher scoff at the means to be saved and make themselves merry with their own damnations but that they would entertain this message as if it were an Epistle sent from God himself to invite and call them to repentance Yea consider seriously what I have said and do not oh do not mock at Gods Word nor sport away your souls into those pains which are easeless endless remediless Shall we give an account at the day of judgment for every idle word we speak Mat. 12.36 never give a reckoning for our wicked swearing and cursing We shall be judged by our words v. 37. Are you willing to be saved if you are Break off your sins by repentance Dan. 4.27 Cease to do evil learn to do well Isa 1.16 17. Seriously grieve and bewail for the millions of times that you have