The Marrow of Sacred Divinity by William Ames

Author:William Ames
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: On the Wing
Published: 2014-07-15T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10.

Of an Oath.

1. There are two manners of petition to be used on occasion, which were brought in by reason of man’s infirmity: an Oath, and a Lot [chap. 11].

2. But because these two manners are brought in on such occasions, they must not be frequently used, but only where human necessity requires, and a weighty and just cause is in hand.

3. An OATH is a requesting of God’s Testimony to confirm the truth of our testimony. Heb 6.13, 16, Men swear by him who is the greater: and an Oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

4. An Oath became necessary after the fall of man, because by sin man had lost both that credit which ought to be given to his simple testimony, and also that credit which he should have given to the testimony of others.

5. That infirmity of man in giving credit to the testimony of others, is so great that it was in a manner necessary for God himself to also demean himself to confirm his testimonies by the form of an Oath, Heb 6.13, 17.918 This was more than what was needed in respect to God’s faithfulness, but not in respect to human infirmity.

6. Yet, seeing that God has no greater or superior Judge, Heb 6.13, he cannot properly swear; this is prescribed to him only metaphorically: because all that perfection of confirmation which is found in the Oaths of men, most perfectly corresponds to those testimonies of God.

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7. But God’s Testimony is worthily called upon to confirm truth, because he is the highest truth, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Heb 6.18, It cannot be that God should lie.

8. Hence in an Oath, the worship of religion is given to God as he is both acknowledged to be the Author of truth, and also conscious of all our thoughts — to his eyes those things are naked and open which are most secret to all Creatures; he is the rewarder of truth and falsehood, and as the living God, he provides for all things by an admirable providence. Deu 6.13, Fear the Lord your God, and worship him, and swear by his name.

9. Hence we may not swear by any Creature, but by God alone: he alone is omniscient; the only law-giver, and rewarder of those things which pertain to conscience; and finally, he alone is to be religiously worshipped, Mat 5.34-35; 23.21-22; Jas 5.12.919

10. Yet everything considered in an Oath is not properly the worship of God, because it does not directly tend to give honour to God, but to confirm the truth. Yet that request which is made in an Oath, is worship; and in that respect, sometimes in Scripture, to swear by the true God sets forth true worship, Deu 6.13; Isa 48.1.920 And an Oath itself is customarily called worship.921

11. In this requesting of the testimony of God, the one who swears makes himself subject to God’s vengeance and curse if he gives false testimony; that is, if he wittingly deceives.

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