under another Head. But that which I intend, is this; That there is thisevil Confequence doth always attend the Custom of Swearing, that it engages a Man in a World of Perju ries, which he before-hand is not aware of, or, if he was, he would tremble at the Thoughts of them. It is an old Obfervation; "He that fweareth continually (they "are St. Chryfoftom's Words), both wilfully "and unwilfully; both ignorantly and "knowingly; both in earnest and in jeft; "fuch a Man, being often transported by "Anger, and many other Things, will fre "quently forfwear himself." It is almoft unavoidable, but a Man that is much given to swear in his Difcourfe (a Man that useth to bind every Thing he fays, or every Thing that he promiseth, with an Oath), must say a great many Things that are not true, and muft likewife promise a great many Things which he never performeth. In a Multitude of Oaths there cannot want Perjury (as a wife Man faid).

God help us! As the Condition of human Affairs is in this World, there is no Man, that confiders well, that dare be accountable for the exact Truth of every Thing that he hath Occafion to fay in Converfation, be he never fo careful of what he faith. And if fo, in what a Condition are thofe open Sluices among us, that vent every Thing that comes into their Heads, and ferves to fill up Talk,

whether

whether it be News, or Stories of other Perfons, or Fancies of their own, and clinch all they fay with bitter Oaths and Imprecations!

I dare fay, you are all fenfible, that those who make a Practice of Swearing in their Talk, make no great Distinction about this Matter, and the Occafion upon which they ufe their Oaths; but they come from them in courfe, without thinking, without deliberating, upon all Occafions,

How then is it poffible, that in fuch a Multitude of idle Difcourfe as flips from them, they should not, many times a Day, over-fhoot themfelves, either in affirming more than is true, or in promifing more than they make good? And yet, by their calling God to witness to the Truth of fuch Things, they become really and ftrictly perjured and forfworn; if, indeed, it be Perjury to swear that which is false, or that we are not certain is true; or if it be Perjury to say a Thing that we do not mean to do.

I would to God, all that have accustomed themselves to take the Name of God into their Mouths upon flight Occafions, would seriously confider this; and withal, confider what a fort of Crime Perjury is: What a horrid Defiance it is of God Almighty, and what a folemn Addrefs made to him to deftroy us and confound us, if he either have Power or Justice.

C, c 4

But

But I have faid enough upon this Head: As for the four following, which remain, I have not Time to treat of them as they deserve, and therefore I fhall referve them to the next Opportunity.

I pray God give us all fuch a lively Sense of the Excellence and Holiness of his Nature, fuch a Sense of his Greatnefs, his Majefty, and Power, and Wisdom, and Justice, and Goodness, that we may, in all our Thoughts, and Words, and Actions, give him that Honour, and Reverence, and Adoration, that is for ever due to his most holy Name.

To this God, immortal and invifible, be all Glory, &c.

SERMON

SERMON XVIII.

PREACHED

OCTOBER the 26th, 1690.

JAMES V. 12.

Above all Things, my Brethren, Swear not.

Y

OU may remember the Argument I am engaged in, and confequently may know, beforehand, what fort of Difcourfe you are to expect at this Time; that is to fay, a hearty Diffuafive from that Practice which is too much in Use among all forts of Perfons, and may juftly be accounted one of the reigning Sins of the Nation; I mean, the Practice of Swearing and Curfing in our Difcourfe.

I believe I faid enough, in my last Difcourse, to convince any ferious Man, both of the great Sinfulness of this Practice, and

of

of the evil Confequences that do attend it; which were the two Heads I then proceeded upon.

I now come to lay before you fome other Confiderations; which, if they be added to what I have before reprefented upon this Point, cannot but weigh fo far with all Men that ever reflect upon their own Actions, as to fet them perfectly against this Practice; fince it will appear to be, upon all Accounts whatsoever, fo infinitely unreasonable and inexcufable. I am fenfible those who are not used to this Practice, will think that I have already faid enough against it; but I defire them to remember, that I do not preach to those that are innocent, but to those that are guilty of this Fault; and for the rescuing of fuch from fo deteftable a Custom, all that can be faid is little enough.

I defire, therefore, in the third Place, thofe that are apt to fwear or curfe in their common Difcourfe, would be pleased to confider, not only that it is a grievous Sin, and brings many evil Confequences upon Mankind, as I fhewed the laft Time; but alfo, that it is contrary to all good Manners and good Breeding. This will, perhaps, be very furprifing to a great many; for, it is probable, feveral of the better fort among us, that are given to this Vice, did for this Reason take up the Custom, because they thought it the beft Breeding, fince the Gentlemen and the

Perfons