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1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship 1wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he swears; 2and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful and to be 3abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth 4and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed 5by lawful authority in such matters ought to be taken.
3. Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the word of God ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knows to be the truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths the 6Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and 7common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
5. A vow, which is not to be made to any creature but to God alone, 8is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows 9of perpetual single life, professed 10poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection that they are superstitious 11and sinful snares in which no Christian may entangle himself.