come_v of_o evil_a i._n e._n whatsoever_o be_v more_o than_o bare_a affirm_v or_o deny_v any_o thing_n that_o be_v still_o in_o our_o communication_n in_o our_o ordinary_a talk_n and_o discourse_n be_v from_o evil_a from_o man_n so_o common_o break_v of_o promise_n and_o speak_v of_o falsity_n from_o whence_o that_o lewd_a custom_n of_o add_v oath_n proceed_v because_o they_o can_v be_v believe_v without_o they_o now_o therefore_o since_o our_o saviour_n be_v here_o direct_v we_o how_o to_o govern_v our_o common_a discourse_n and_o conversation_n together_o the_o prohibition_n also_o in_o the_o beginning_n must_v be_v restrain_v to_o the_o same_o matter_n and_o so_o the_o full_a sense_n of_o the_o word_n seem_v to_o i_o to_o be_v this_o in_o your_o communication_n familiari_fw-la sermone_fw-la in_o your_o common_a talk_n use_v no_o swear_n not_o so_o much_o as_o by_o any_o creature_n but_o let_v it_o suffice_v bare_o to_o affirm_v or_o deny_v and_o be_v always_o so_o true_a to_o your_o word_n that_o nothing_o far_o need_v be_v desire_v or_o expect_v from_o you_o all_o other_o confirmation_n in_o such_o ordinary_a affair_n be_v practise_v only_o by_o such_o as_o be_v use_v to_o lie_v and_o dissemble_v and_o intend_v to_o impose_v upon_o other_o 3._o that_o our_o saviour_n do_v not_o here_o forbid_v all_o swear_n whatever_o cause_n there_o may_v be_v for_o it_o as_o a_o thing_n in_o itself_o unlawful_a we_o be_v full_o satisfy_v from_o the_o example_n of_o st._n paul_n who_o certain_o understand_v his_o master_n mind_n in_o this_o particular_a now_o it_o be_v a_o very_a unreasonable_a thing_n to_o imagine_v that_o he_o shall_v so_o often_o swear_v and_o that_o by_o the_o name_n of_o god_n too_o that_o such_o his_o oath_n shall_v be_v record_v in_o the_o scripture_n and_o that_o there_o shall_v not_o be_v the_o least_o intimation_n of_o his_o sin_v in_o so_o do_v if_o all_o swear_n be_v utter_o prohibit_v by_o his_o lord_n and_o master_n i_o shall_v propound_v two_o or_o three_o eminent_a instance_n to_o show_v that_o in_o serious_a and_o great_a matter_n of_o mighty_a concernment_n he_o make_v no_o scruple_n of_o add_v the_o confirmation_n of_o a_o oath_n gal._n 1.20_o now_o the_o thing_n which_o i_o write_v unto_o you_o behold_v before_o god_n i_o lie_v not_o he_o bear_v witness_n to_o the_o truth_n of_o his_o writing_n by_o a_o express_a oath_n rom._n 1.9_o for_o god_n be_v my_o witness_n who_o i_o serve_v that_o without_o cease_v i_o make_v mention_n of_o you_o always_o in_o my_o prayer_n it_o be_v of_o great_a moment_n that_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o epistle_n he_o shall_v persuade_v those_o to_o who_o he_o do_v address_v himself_o of_o his_o goodwill_n towards_o they_o how_o well_o therefore_o he_o do_v wish_v they_o he_o call_v god_n to_o witness_v which_o be_v the_o formal_a essence_n of_o a_o oath_n thus_o again_o to_o name_v no_o more_o 2_o cor._n 11.31_o the_o god_n and_o father_n of_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n which_o be_v bless_v for_o evermore_o know_v that_o i_o lie_v not_o which_o be_v a_o plain_a appeal_n to_o god_n testimony_n so_o that_o when_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o the_o public_a good_a be_v engage_v he_o think_v it_o not_o unlawful_a to_o invoke_v god_n holy_a name_n and_o to_o call_v his_o majesty_n for_o a_o witness_n of_o his_o truth_n or_o the_o avenger_n of_o his_o falsehood_n thus_o our_o bless_a saviour_n himself_o when_o he_o stand_v before_o the_o highpriest_n of_o the_o jew_n do_v not_o refuse_v to_o answer_v upon_o oath_n matth._n 26.63_o the_o highpriest_n say_v unto_o he_o i_o adjure_v thou_o by_o the_o live_a god_n that_o thou_o tell_v we_o whether_o thou_o be_v the_o christ_n the_o son_n of_o god_n which_o among_o the_o jew_n be_v the_o form_n of_o give_v a_o oath_n to_o which_o our_o saviour_n answer_v thou_o have_v say_v that_o be_v upon_o my_o oath_n it_o be_v as_o thou_o say_v nay_o to_o make_v all_o sure_a that_o there_o be_v no_o evil_a in_o swear_v when_o it_o be_v do_v grave_o and_o serious_o and_o upon_o a_o important_a occasion_n that_o require_v it_o we_o find_v that_o god_n himself_o have_v be_v please_v to_o give_v we_o his_o oath_n though_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o he_o to_o lie_v yet_o that_o we_o may_v have_v strong_a consolation_n and_o full_a assurance_n to_o show_v the_o heir_n of_o the_o promise_n the_o immutability_n of_o his_o counsel_n he_o confirm_v it_o by_o a_o oath_n and_o when_o he_o can_v not_o swear_v by_o a_o great_a he_o swear_v by_o himself_o heb._n 6.13_o and_o therefore_o it_o must_v be_v very_o absurd_a to_o deny_v among_o christian_n the_o lawfulness_n of_o do_v that_o though_o upon_o never_o so_o great_a reason_n which_o st._n paul_n so_o often_o do_v nay_o which_o god_n almighty_a who_o be_v truth_n itself_o do_v yet_o vouchsafe_v out_o of_o condescension_n to_o our_o weakness_n to_o do_v more_o than_o once_o not_o now_o to_o mention_v baptism_n and_o the_o lord_n supper_n both_o of_o which_o have_v in_o they_o the_o nature_n of_o oath_n and_o be_v therefore_o call_v sacrament_n 4._o we_o be_v to_o consider_v that_o swear_v right_o circumstance_v be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o thing_n in_o itself_o evil_a and_o so_o universal_o forbid_v that_o it_o be_v indeed_o a_o most_o eminent_a part_n of_o religious_a worship_n and_o divine_a adoration_n by_o which_o we_o do_v most_o signal_o own_v and_o recognize_v god_n almighty_a to_o be_v the_o great_a sovereign_a lord_n and_o governor_n of_o the_o world_n the_o high_a and_o supreme_a power_n to_o which_o the_o last_o and_o final_a appeal_n be_v in_o all_o case_n to_o be_v make_v by_o it_o we_o acknowledge_v the_o immensity_n of_o his_o presence_n his_o exact_a knowledge_n and_o continual_a care_n of_o humane_a affair_n and_o all_o thing_n that_o happen_v here_o below_o his_o all-seeing_a eye_n that_o he_o search_v into_o the_o depth_n of_o our_o heart_n and_o be_v conscious_a to_o our_o most_o inward_a thought_n and_o secret_a meaning_n we_o do_v by_o it_o avow_v he_o as_o the_o grand_a patron_n of_o truth_n and_o innocence_n as_o the_o severe_a punisher_n and_o avenger_n of_o deceit_n and_o perfidiousness_n and_o therefore_o do_v god_n often_o in_o holy_a scripture_n appropriate_v this_o to_o himself_o he_o only_o shall_v thou_o serve_v and_o to_o he_o shall_v thou_o cleave_v and_o shall_v swear_v by_o his_o name_n and_o if_o this_o be_v do_v with_o that_o consideration_n and_o solemnity_n which_o do_v become_v such_o a_o special_a part_n of_o devotion_n upon_o a_o occasion_n that_o do_v deserve_v and_o that_o will_v in_o some_o measure_n excuse_v our_o engage_v the_o divine_a majesty_n as_o a_o witness_n in_o it_o i_o say_v if_o it_o be_v perform_v with_o due_a awe_n and_o reverence_n with_o hearty_a intention_n for_o a_o considerable_a good_a we_o do_v thus_o call_v upon_o god_n when_o we_o swear_v by_o he_o honour_n and_o glorify_v his_o great_a and_o holy_a name_n as_o well_o as_o by_o prayer_n or_o praise_n or_o any_o other_o act_n of_o religious_a worship_n whatever_o 5._o add_v to_o this_o the_o necessity_n of_o take_v oath_n in_o order_n to_o civil_a government_n public_a administration_n of_o justice_n and_o the_o maintain_n of_o good_a order_n and_o peace_n in_o society_n and_o therefore_o the_o apostle_n tell_v we_o heb._n 6.16_o that_o a_o oath_n for_o confirmation_n to_o man_n be_v the_o end_n of_o all_o strife_n and_o that_o not_o by_o particular_a custom_n and_o law_n prevail_v in_o some_o place_n only_o but_o from_o the_o appointment_n of_o god_n the_o reasonableness_n and_o fitness_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o and_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o all_o the_o world_n in_o all_o age_n for_o as_o far_o and_o wide_o as_o the_o sense_n of_o a_o deity_n have_v spread_v itself_o have_v also_o the_o religion_n of_o a_o oath_n and_o the_o final_a determination_n of_o matter_n in_o difference_n by_o call_v to_o witness_v the_o lord_n and_o maker_n of_o all_o thing_n this_o be_v the_o utmost_a assurance_n and_o the_o sure_a pledge_n any_o can_v give_v of_o their_o faith_n and_o sincerity_n for_o nothing_o can_v be_v imagine_v sufficient_a or_o effectual_a to_o engage_v man_n to_o speak_v truth_n or_o to_o be_v faithful_a and_o constant_a to_o their_o promise_n if_o a_o oath_n do_v not_o he_o must_v sure_o renounce_v all_o sense_n and_o fear_n of_o god_n all_o conscience_n of_o duty_n or_o regard_n to_o the_o almighty_n love_n and_o favour_n who_o can_v with_o open_a face_n call_v he_o to_o testify_v to_o a_o lie_n or_o challenge_v he_o to_o punish_v he_o if_o he_o speak_v not_o true_a when_o yet_o at_o that_o very_a time_n he_o know_v he_o do_v not_o this_o be_v the_o great_a security_n man_n can_v give_v of_o their_o honesty_n and_o
the_o discountenance_v of_o sin_n and_o vice_n that_o do_v give_v more_o forcible_a argument_n for_o the_o one_o and_o against_o the_o other_o that_o do_v lay_v great_a stress_n upon_o a_o pure_a mind_n and_o a_o blameless_a life_n and_o less_o upon_o voluntary_a strictness_n and_o indifferent_a rite_n and_o ceremony_n than_o we_o do_v i_o will_v very_o soon_o be_v of_o that_o church_n and_o even_o entice_v all_o i_o can_v to_o it_o but_o till_o such_o a_o one_o can_v be_v find_v nay_o so_o long_o as_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o all_o the_o zealous_a opposer_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n do_v hold_v opinion_n either_o destructive_a of_o or_o in_o their_o plain_a tendency_n weaken_v the_o force_n of_o all_o the_o precept_n promise_n and_o threaten_n contain_v in_o the_o gospel_n and_o such_o as_o if_o they_o do_v not_o encourage_v man_n to_o yet_o at_o least_o furnish_v they_o with_o plea_n and_o excuse_n for_o their_o wickedness_n i_o be_o sure_a it_o be_v our_o interest_n no_o less_o than_o our_o duty_n if_o we_o sincere_o love_v god_n and_o our_o soul_n and_o have_v any_o real_a desire_n of_o our_o own_o or_o other_o welfare_n faithful_o to_o adhere_v to_o that_o church_n we_o have_v the_o happiness_n to_o be_v member_n of_o and_o vigorous_o to_o maintain_v and_o defend_v it_o a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o whitehall_n the_o four_o sermon_n rom_n xii_o 16._o be_v not_o wise_a in_o your_o own_o conceit_n there_o be_v hardly_o any_o vice_n that_o man_n do_v so_o ready_o condemn_v in_o other_o and_o yet_o so_o easy_o overlook_v and_o excuse_v in_o themselves_o as_o this_o of_o self-conceit_n or_o a_o fond_a opinion_n of_o their_o own_o great_a wisdom_n and_o understanding_n none_o of_o we_o can_v endure_v that_o another_o shall_v assume_v to_o himself_o continual_o to_o prescribe_v to_o we_o or_o usurp_v so_o far_o upon_o we_o as_o to_o be_v always_o impose_v on_o we_o his_o own_o private_a custom_n humour_n or_o manner_n as_o if_o we_o have_v no_o wit_n or_o judgement_n of_o our_o own_o whereby_o to_o govern_v and_o order_v our_o own_o affair_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v to_o be_v fear_v most_o of_o we_o who_o call_v this_o intolerable_a pride_n in_o another_o be_v so_o deep_o in_o love_n with_o ourselves_o and_o our_o own_o way_n that_o we_o can_v forbear_v to_o censure_v and_o despise_v to_o charge_v with_o folly_n and_o ignorance_n all_o that_o do_v not_o believe_v and_o practice_v just_a as_o we_o ourselves_o do_v every_o one_o thus_o in_o his_o own_o vain_a imagination_n presume_v himself_o wise_a and_o good_a enough_o to_o set_v a_o pattern_n and_o give_v law_n to_o all_o round_a about_o he_o it_o be_v the_o observation_n of_o the_o great_a french_a philosopher_n that_o the_o most_o equal_a distribution_n god_n have_v make_v of_o any_o thing_n in_o this_o world_n be_v of_o judgement_n and_o understanding_n because_o every_o man_n be_v content_a with_o his_o own_o and_o think_v he_o have_v enough_o and_o though_o as_o to_o the_o outward_a gift_n of_o nature_n or_o fortune_n he_o be_v willing_a to_o yield_v to_o other_o yet_o he_o doubt_v not_o but_o he_o himself_o be_v as_o far_o remove_v from_o a_o fool_n have_v as_o large_a a_o share_n of_o reason_n and_o discretion_n be_v as_o able_a to_o manage_v himself_o and_o his_o own_o business_n as_o any_o other_o whatever_o whence_o it_o be_v that_o all_o man_n be_v apt_a so_o confident_o to_o lean_v unto_o and_o rely_v upon_o their_o own_o understanding_n so_o peremptory_o to_o trust_v to_o and_o follow_v their_o own_o judgement_n so_o resolute_o and_o inflexible_o to_o adhere_v to_o their_o first_o choice_n and_o determination_n scorn_v and_o take_v it_o in_o great_a snuff_n and_o dudgeon_n to_o be_v teach_v advise_v check_a or_o control_v by_o any_o now_o this_o be_v to_o be_v wise_a in_o our_o own_o conceit_n against_o which_o the_o apostle_n here_o in_o my_o text_n caution_n we_o when_o any_o man_n have_v a_o vast_a and_o undue_a opinion_n of_o his_o own_o power_n and_o faculty_n and_o think_v of_o himself_o above_o what_o be_v meet_v when_o he_o will_v hearken_v to_o none_o other_o nor_o believe_v any_o one_o but_o just_a himself_o when_o he_o know_v all_o thing_n do_v all_o thing_n be_v all_o thing_n to_o himself_o and_o within_o himself_o alone_o not_o need_v at_o least_o in_o his_o own_o big_a thought_n any_o one_o help_n counsel_n or_o assistence_n in_o short_a when_o he_o rate_v and_o value_v himself_o above_o his_o true_a worth_n and_o despise_v other_o and_o judge_n mean_o of_o his_o better_n than_o a_o man_n may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v wise_a in_o his_o own_o conceit_n which_o self-conceit_n undoubted_o lie_v at_o the_o bottom_n and_o be_v the_o original_a cause_n of_o all_o atheism_n and_o sceptical_a dispute_n against_o providence_n and_o religion_n of_o all_o undutiful_a carriage_n towards_o governor_n and_o superior_n and_o of_o all_o those_o uncharitable_a separation_n and_o unchristian_a division_n that_o be_v so_o rife_o among_o we_o and_o do_v so_o sad_o threaten_v the_o ruin_n both_o of_o our_o church_n and_o state_n whereas_o on_o the_o other_o side_n the_o great_a foundation_n of_o all_o true_a religion_n and_o civil_a order_n the_o only_a effectual_a mean_n of_o procure_v and_o advance_v peace_n real_a wisdom_n and_o truth_n among_o man_n be_v a_o humble_a and_o lowly_a esteem_n of_o ourselves_o a_o modest_a diffidence_n of_o our_o own_o apprehension_n a_o hearty_a and_o serious_a acknowledgement_n of_o our_o own_o defect_n and_o a_o willingness_n to_o be_v instruct_v direct_v rule_v and_o govern_v by_o other_o who_o be_v better_a and_o wise_a than_o ourselves_o i_o shall_v at_o this_o time_n propound_v to_o you_o some_o plain_a instance_n wherein_o this_o sort_n of_o pride_n or_o self-conceit_n do_v show_v itself_o particular_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n together_o with_o the_o folly_n and_o mischief_n of_o it_o i._o this_o self-conceit_n show_v itself_o in_o be_v confident_a and_o positive_a about_o thing_n which_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v and_o in_o intermeddle_v with_o affair_n which_o do_v not_o belong_v to_o we_o ii_o in_o be_v obstinate_a and_o pertinacious_a in_o some_o singular_a fancy_n and_o opinion_n though_o upon_o never_o so_o slight_a ground_n at_o first_o believe_v and_o entertain_v iii_o in_o affect_v to_o impose_v our_o own_o humour_n and_o conceit_n upon_o other_o and_o in_o despise_v and_o condemn_v all_o that_o be_v not_o in_o every_o thing_n just_a of_o our_o own_o mind_n and_o persuasion_n i._o this_o self-conceit_n appear_v in_o be_v confident_a and_o positive_a about_o thing_n which_o we_o do_v not_o understand_v and_o in_o intermeddle_v with_o affair_n which_o do_v not_o belong_v to_o we_o when_o we_o reject_v every_o thing_n as_o false_a which_o we_o can_v present_o comprehend_v and_o damn_v every_o thing_n of_o which_o we_o can_v easy_o give_v a_o satisfactory_a account_n when_o we_o speak_v evil_a of_o those_o thing_n which_o we_o know_v not_o as_o st._n judas_n say_v of_o some_o in_o his_o day_n when_o nothing_o shall_v escape_v we_o which_o we_o do_v not_o straight_o arraign_v and_o bring_v to_o the_o bar_n nor_o any_o thing_n pass_v with_o we_o for_o wise_a good_a or_o decent_a but_o what_o be_v exact_o fit_v to_o our_o own_o palate_n and_o suit_v to_o our_o raw_a and_o unwary_a notion_n of_o thing_n when_o we_o measure_v and_o judge_v of_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n the_o counsel_n of_o heaven_n the_o method_n of_o providence_n the_o constitution_n of_o our_o governor_n the_o doctrine_n of_o our_o approve_a teacher_n the_o reasonableness_n of_o public_a law_n the_o design_n and_o undertake_n of_o other_o man_n truth_n and_o falsehood_n good_a and_o evil_n only_o according_a to_o the_o agreement_n or_o disagreement_n of_o thing_n with_o our_o private_a fancy_n childish_a prejudices_fw-la and_o rash_a judgement_n but_o more_o particular_o 1._o hence_o it_o be_v that_o man_n be_v apt_a to_o quarrel_v with_o god_n and_o religion_n and_o endeavour_n either_o to_o dispute_v or_o rally_v they_o out_o of_o the_o world_n into_o this_o one_o principle_n i_o think_v may_v be_v resolve_v the_o most_o considerable_a if_o any_o such_o there_o be_v nay_o almost_o all_o the_o objection_n that_o ever_o be_v frame_v against_o the_o existence_n of_o a_o god_n and_o the_o truth_n and_o certainty_n of_o religion_n viz._n that_o there_o be_v many_o thing_n common_o teach_v and_o believe_v which_o some_o pert_a young_a sinner_n can_v by_o any_o mean_n understand_v and_o therefore_o all_o of_o it_o must_v present_o be_v false_a they_o can_v possible_o frame_v a_o notion_n of_o a_o spirit_n or_o immaterial_a substance_n every_o thing_n they_o think_v of_o be_v clothe_v with_o corporeal_a accident_n they_o can_v conceive_v a_o infinite_a be_v nor_o solve_v all_o the_o difficulty_n about_o eternity_n omnipresence_n
thus_o when_o they_o have_v vent_v a_o most_o curse_a malicious_a lie_n with_o the_o woman_n in_o the_o proverb_n they_o wipe_v their_o mouth_n and_o say_v they_o have_v do_v no_o wickedness_n and_o will_v have_v you_o impute_v it_o whole_o to_o their_o zeal_n and_o not_o to_o their_o malice_n this_o i_o can_v better_o represent_v unto_o you_o than_o by_o translate_n the_o word_n of_o a_o ancient_a father_n who_o thus_o describe_v some_o in_o his_o day_n there_o be_v say_v he_o who_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o shadow_n and_o disguise_v the_o malice_n and_o ill-will_n they_o have_v conceive_v against_o any_o sort_n of_o person_n or_o company_n of_o man_n with_o the_o false_a colour_n of_o zeal_n for_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n and_o sorrow_n for_o the_o wickedness_n of_o the_o time_n and_o then_o look_v very_o sad_o and_o premise_v a_o deep_a sigh_n with_o a_o deject_a countenance_n and_o doleful_a voice_n they_o vent_v their_o lie_n and_o slander_n and_o therefore_o say_v he_o they_o do_v 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