positively hath enjoined, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all;"
and how then can we find in our heart directly to thwart His word.

The other is, that we would lay to heart the reason whereby St.
James doth enforce the point, and the sting in the close of our
text, wherewith I conclude: "But above all things, my brethren,
swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any
other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay nay, lest ye fall
into condemnation," or, "lest ye fall under damnation." From the
which infinite mischief, and from all sin that may cause it, God in
mercy deliver us through our Blessed Redeemer Jesus, to whom for
ever be all glory and praise.



OF EVIL-SPEAKING IN GENERAL.



"To speak evil of no man."--Titus iii. 2.

These words do imply a double duty; one incumbent on teachers,
another on the people who are to be instructed by them.

The teacher's duty appeareth from reflecting on the words of the
context, which govern these, and make them up an entire sentence:
put them in mind, or, rub up their memory to do thus. It is St.
Paul's injunction to Titus, a bishop and pastor of the Church, that
he should admonish the people committed to his care and instruction,
as of other great duties (of yielding obedience to magistrates, of