Oaths.
SWearing was another thing with the Jews than with us, because they might not pronounce the Name of the Lord Jehovah.
There is no Oath scarcely, but we swear to things we are ignorant of: For Example, the Oath of Supremacy; how many know how the King is King? what are his Right and Prerogative? So how many know what are the Privi∣ledges of the Parliament, and the Liber∣ty of the Subject, when they take the protestation? But the meaning is, they will defend them when they know them. As if I should swear I would take part with all that wear red Ribbons in their Hats, it may be I do not know which Colour is Red; but when I do know, and see a red Ribbon in a Man’s Hat, then will I take his Part.
I cannot conceive how an Oath is imposed, where there is a Parity (viz.) in the House of Commons, they are all pares inter se, onely one brings Paper, and shews it the rest, they look upon it, and in their own Sense take it: Now they are but pares to me, who am none of the House, for I do not acknow∣ledge my self their Subject; if I did, then no question, I was bound by an Oath of their imposing. ’Tis to me but read∣ing a Paper in their own Sense.
There is a great difference between an Assertory Oath, and a Promissary Oath. An Assertory Oath is made to a Man be∣fore God, and I must swear so, as Man may know what I mean: But a Promis∣sary Oath is made to God only, and I am sure he knows my meaning: so in the new Oath it runs [whereas I believe in my Conscience, &c. I will assist thus and thus] that [whereas] gives me an Outloofe, for if I do not believe so, for ought I know, I swear not at all.
In a Promissary Oath, the mind I am in is a good Interpretation; for if there be enough happen’d to change my mind, I do not know why I should not. If I promise to go to Oxford to Morrow, and mean it when I say it, and afterwards it appears to me, that ’twill be my undo∣ing; will you say I have broke my Pro∣mise if I stay at Home? certainly I must not go.
The Jews had this way with them, concerning a Promissary Oath or Vow, if one of them had vow’d a Vow, which afterwards appear’d to him to be very prejudicial by reason of something he either did not foresee, or did not think of, when he made his Vow; if he made it known to three of his Country-men, they had Power to absolve him, though he could not absolve himself, and that they pick’d out of some Words in the Text: Perjury hath only to do with an Assertory Oath, and no Man was punisht for Perjury by Man’s Law till Queen Eli∣zabeth’s time ’twas left to God, as a sin against him; the Reason was, because ’twas so hard a thing to prove a Man perjur’d: I might misunderstand him, and he swears as he thought.
When Men ask me whether they may take an Oath in their own Sense, ’tis to me, as if they should ask whether they may go to such a place upon their own Legs, I would fain know how they can go otherwise.
If the Ministers that are in seque∣stred Livings will not take the Engage∣ment, threaten to turn them out and put in the old ones, and then I’ll war∣rant you they will quietly take it. A Gentleman having been rambling two or three Days, at length came home, and being in Bed with his Wife, would fain have been at some thing, that she was unwilling to, and instead of complying, fell to chiding him for his being abroad so long: Well says he, if you will not, call up Sue (his Wife’s Chamber-maid) upon that she yielded presently.
Now Oaths are so frequent, they should be taken like Pills, swallowed whole; if you chew them you will find them bitter: if you think what you swear ’twill hardly go down.