forswear. It is confessed and manifest, that it is necessary for
him that sweareth much to be perjurious." [Greek], "For," saith he
again, "it is impossible, it is impossible for a mouth addicted to
swearing not frequently to forswear." He that sweareth at random,
as blind passion moveth, or wanton fancy prompteth, or the temper
suggesteth, often will hit upon asserting that which is false, or
promising that which is impossible: that want of conscience and of
consideration which do suffer him to violate God's law in swearing
will betray him to the venting of lies, which backed with oaths
become perjuries. If sometime what he sweareth doth happen to be
true and performable, it doth not free him of guilt; it being his
fortune, rather than his care or conscience, which keepeth him from
perjury.


V. Such swearing commonly will induce a man to bind himself by oath
to unlawful practices; and consequently will entangle him in a
woeful necessity either of breaking his oath, or of doing worse, and
committing wickedness: so that "swearing," as St. Chrysostom saith,
"hath this misery attending it, that, both trangressed and observed,
it plagueth those who are guilty of it."

Of this perplexity the Holy Scripture affordeth two notable
instances: the one of Saul, forced to break his rash oaths; the
other of Herod, being engaged thereby to commit a most horrid
murder.

Had Saul observed his oaths, what injury had he done, what mischief
had he produced, in slaughtering his most worthy and most innocent
son, the prop and glory of his family, the bulwark of his country,