should yield him the privilege which the Athenians granted to
Xenocrates, that he should testify without swearing.

He should be like the Essenes, of whom Josephus saith, that
everything spoken by them was more valid than an oath; whence they
declined swearing.

He should so much confide in his own veracity and fidelity, and so
much stand upon them, that he should not deign to offer any pledge
for them, implying them to want confirmation.

"He should," as St. Jerome saith, "so love truth, that he should
suppose himself to have sworn whatsoever he hath said;" and
therefore should not be apt to heap another oath on his words.

Upon such accounts common reason directed even pagan wise men wholly
to interdict swearing in ordinary conversation, or about petty
matters, as an irrational and immoral practice, unworthy of sober
and discreet persons. "Forbear swearing about any matter," said
Plato, cited by Clem. Alex. "Avoid swearing, if you can, wholly,"
said Epictetus. "For money swear by no god, though you swear
truly," said Socrates. And divers the like precepts occur in other
heathens; the mention whereof may well serve to strike shame into
many loose and vain people bearing the name of Christians.

Indeed, for a true and real Christian, this practice doth especially
in a far higher degree misbecome him, upon considerations peculiar
to his high calling and holy profession.

Plutarch telleth us that among the Romans the flamen of Jupiter was