Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the
person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly
calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according
to the truth or falseness thereof.
(
Exodus 20:7;
Deuteronomy 10:20;
Jeremiah 4:2;
2 Chronicles 6:22, 23
)
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 abhorred;
yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and
ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful
oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to
be taken.
(
Matthew 5:34, 37;
James 5:12;
Hebrews 6:16;
2 Corinthians 1:23;
Nehemiah 13:25
)
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 knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false,
and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
(
Leviticus 19:12;
Jeremiah 23:10
)
4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words,
without equivocation or mental reservation.
(
Psalms 24:4
)
(Ps. 24:4)
5. A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God
alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and
faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life,
professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being
degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful
snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
(
Psalms 76:11;
Genesis 28:20-22;
1 Corinthians 7:2, 9;
Ephesians 4:28;
Matthew 19:11
)
Back to the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith
