Page:Admonition against Profane and Common Swearing.djvu/13

tor, makes the Swearing by them, in Effect, a Swearing by God. 3. The common Swearer is more eſpecially concerned to obſerve the Cauſe, and the Conſequence, of this Sin: The Cauſe, in what our Saviour here tells him, that it cometh of Evil, (either of an evil Heart, void of all Reverence towards God, or of the evil one, that is of the Devil.) The Conſequence, in what St. James adds, that it brings them into Condemnation. 4. Let him diligently attend to that moſt excellent Rule for the daily Converſation of a Chriſtian, Let your Communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; in your Common Diſcourſe, (of which our Saviour is ſpeaking) go no farther in enforcing what you ſay, than bare Affirmations and Denials. In Courts of Juſtice, and to ſerve any ſerious and weighty Purpoſe, an Oath in Truth and Righteouſneſs may lawfully be taken; but in ordinary Diſcourſe, what our Saviour Chriſt has here ſaid, muſt be the Rule of every Perſon who deſires to maintain a Chriſtian Converſation.

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