Part 50

[Sidenote: _Contrary to Scripture._] _Thirdly_, The Scripture severely reproves such Practices, both commending and commanding the contrary; as _Isa._ iii. how severely doth the Prophet reprove the Daughters of _Israel_ for their _tinkling Ornaments_, their _Cauls_, and their _round Tires_, their _Chains_ and _Bracelets_, &c. and yet is it not strange to see Christians allow themselves in these Things, from whom a more strict and exemplary Conversation is required? Christ desires us not to be _anxious_ about our Clothing, _Matt._ vi. 25. and to shew the Vanity of such as glory in the Splendor of their Clothing, tells them, _That even _Solomon_, in all his Glory, was not to be compared to the Lily of the Field, which To-day is, and To-morrow is cast into the Oven_. But surely they make small Reckoning of Christ’s Words and Doctrine that are so curious in their Clothing, and so industrious to deck themselves, and so earnest to justify it, and so enraged when they are reproved for it. The Apostle _Paul_ is very positive in this Respect, 1 _Tim._ ii. 9, 10. _I will therefore in like Manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel, with Shamefacedness and Sobriety, and not with broidered Hair, or Gold, or Pearls, or costly Array, but (which becometh Women professing Godliness) with good Works_. To the same Purpose saith _Peter_, 1 Pet. iii. 3, 4. _Whose Adorning let it not be that outward Adorning of plaiting the Hair, and wearing of Gold, or of putting on of Apparel; but _let it be_ the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit_, &c. Here both the Apostles do very positively and expresly assert two Things. _First_, That the _Adorning of Christian Women_ (of whom it is particularly spoken, I judge, because this Sex is most naturally inclined to that Vanity, and that it seems that _Christian Men_ in those Days deserved not in this Respect so much to be reproved) ought not to be outward, nor consist in the Apparel. [Sidenote: _Plaiting the Hair_, &c.] _Secondly_, That they ought not to use the _Plaiting of the Hair_, or _Ornaments_, &c. which was at that Time the Custom of the Nations. But is it not strange, That such as make the Scripture their Rule, and pretend they are guided by it, should not only be so generally in the Use of these Things, which the Scripture so plainly condemns, but also should attempt to justify themselves in so doing? For the Apostles not only commend the Forbearance of these Things, as an Attainment commendable in Christians, but condemn the Use of them as unlawful; and yet may it not seem more strange, That in Contradiction to the Apostle’s Doctrine, as if they had resolved to slight their Testimony, they should condemn those that out of Conscience apply themselves seriously to follow it, as if in so doing they were _singular_, _proud_, or _superstitious_? This certainly betokens a sad _Apostasy_ in those that will be accounted Christians, that they are so offended with those who love to follow Christ and his Apostles, in denying of, and departing from, the lying Vanities of this perishing World; and so doth much evidence their Affinity with those who _hate to be reproved_, and _neither will enter themselves, nor suffer those that would_.

§. VIII. [Sidenote: Sports, _&c. inconsistent with the Gospel._] _Fourthly_, Let us consider the Use of _Games_, _Sports_, _Comedies_, and other such Things, commonly and indifferently used by all the several Sorts of Christians, under the Notion of _Divertisement_ and _Recreation_, and see whether these Things can consist with the _Seriousness_, _Gravity_, and _Godly Fear_, which the Gospel calls for. Let us but view and look over the Notions of them that call themselves Christians, whether _Papists_ or _Protestants_, and see if generally there be any Difference, save in mere Name and Profession, from the _Heathen_? Doth not the same _Folly_, the same _Vanity_, the same _Abuse_ of _precious_ and _irrevocable Time_ abound? The same _Gaming_, _Sporting_, _Playing_, and from thence _Quarrelling_, _Fighting_, _Swearing_, _Ranting_, _Revelling_? Now how can these Things be remedied, so long as the _Preachers_ and _Professors_, and those who are the _Leaders_ of the People, do allow these Things, and account them not inconsistent with the Profession of Christianity? And it is strange to see that these Things are tolerated every where; the Inquisition lays no Hold on them, neither at _Rome_, nor in _Spain_, where in their _Masquerades_ all Manner of _Obscenity_, _Folly_, yea, and _Atheism_ is generally practised in the Face of the World, to the great Scandal of the _Christian Name_: But if any Man reprove them in these Things, and forsake their Superstitions, and come seriously to _serve God_, and _worship him in the Spirit_, he becomes their Prey, and is immediately exposed to cruel Sufferings. Doth this bear any Relation to Christianity? Do these Things look any Thing like the Churches of the Primitive Christians? Surely not at all. I shall first cite some few _Scripture Testimonies_, being very positive Precepts to Christians, and then see whether such as obey them can admit of these forementioned Things. The Apostle commands us, That _whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do it all to the Glory of God_. [Sidenote: _By Sports and Games God is not glorified._] But I judge none will be so impudent as to affirm, That in the Use of these _Sports_ and _Games_ God is glorified: If any should so say, They would declare they neither knew God nor his Glory. And Experience abundantly proves, That in the Practice of these Things Men mind nothing less than the _Glory of God_, and nothing more than the Satisfaction of their own _carnal Lusts_, _Wills_, and _Appetites_. The Apostle desires us, 1 _Cor._ vii. 29. 31. _Because the Time is short, that they that buy should be as though they possessed not; and they that use this World, as not abusing it_, &c. But how can they be found in the Obedience of this Precept that plead for the Use of these _Games_ and _Sports_, who, it seems, think the Time so long, that they cannot find Occasion enough to employ it, neither in taking Care for their Souls, nor yet in the necessary Care for their Bodies; but invent these _Games_ and _Sports_ to pass it away, as if they wanted other Work to serve God in, or be useful to the Creation? The Apostle _Peter_ desires us, _To pass the Time of our Sojourning here in Fear_, 1 Pet. i. 17. But will any say, That such as use _Dancing_ and _Comedies_, _Carding_ and _Dicing_, do so much as mind this Precept in the Use of these Things? Where there is nothing to be seen but _Lightness_ and _Vanity_, _Wantonness_ and _Obscenity_, contrived to draw Men from the _Fear_ of God, and therefore no Doubt calculated for the Service of the Devil. There is no Duty more frequently commanded, nor more incumbent upon Christians, than the _Fear of the Lord_, to _stand in Awe before him_, to _walk as in his Presence_; but if such as use these Games and Sports will speak from their Consciences, they can, I doubt not, experimentally declare, That this _Fear_ is forgotten in their Gaming: And if God by his _Light_ secretly touch them, or mind them of the _Vanity_ of their Way, they strive to shut it out, and use their Gaming as an Engine to put away from them that troublesome Guest; and thus _make merry over the Just One, whom they have slain and crucified in themselves_. But further, if Christ’s Reasoning be to be heeded, who saith, _Matt._ xii. 35, 36. That _the good Man, out of the good Treasure of the Heart, bringeth forth good Things; and an evil Man, out of the evil Treasure, bringeth forth evil Things_, and that _of every idle Word we shall give an Account in the Day of Judgment_, it may be easily gathered from what _Treasure_ these Inventions come; and it may be easily proved, that it is from the _Evil_, and not the _Good_. [Sidenote: Comedies _a studied Complex of idle lying Words._] How many _idle Words_ do they necessarily produce? Yea, what are _Comedies_ but a _studied Complex of idle and lying Words_? Let Men that believe their _Souls_ are _immortal_, and that there will be a _Day of Judgment_, in which these Words of Christ will be accomplished, answer me, how all these will make Account in that _great_ and _terrible Day_, of all these _idle Words_ that are necessarily made use of about _Dancing_, _Gaming_, _Carding_, and _Comedies acting_? And yet how is it that by Christians not condemning these Things, but allowing of them, many that are accounted _Christians_ take up their whole Time in them, yea, make it their Trade and Employment? Such as the _Dancing-masters_ and _Comedians_, &c. whose Hellish Conversations do sufficiently declare what Master they serve, and to what End these Things contribute. And it cannot be denied, as being obviously manifest by Experience, That such as are Masters of these Occupations, and are most delighted in them, if they be not open _Atheists_ and _Profligates_, are such at best as make Religion or the Care of their Souls their least Business. Now if these Things were discountenanced by _Christians_, as inconsistent with their Profession, it would remove these Things; for these Wretches would be necessitated then to betake themselves to some honest Livelihood, if they were not fed and upholden by these. And as hereby a great Scandal and Stumbling-block would be removed from off the _Christian Name_, so also would that in Part be taken out of the Way which provokes the Lord to with-hold his _Blessing_, and by Occasion of which Things the Minds of many remain chained in _Darkness_, and drowned in _Lust_, _Sensuality_, and _worldly Pleasures_, without any Sense of God’s Fear, or their own Soul’s Salvation. Many of those called _Fathers of the Church_, and other serious Persons, have signified their Regret for these Things, and their Desires they might be remedied; of whom many Citations might be alleged, which for Brevity’s Sake I have omitted.

§. IX. [Sidenote: _Object._] But they object, _That Men’s Spirits could not subsist, if they were always intent upon serious and spiritual Matters, and that therefore there is Need of some Divertisement to recreate the Mind a little, whereby it being refreshed, is able with great Vigour to apply itself to these Things_.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_; Though all this were granted, it would no Ways militate against us, neither plead the Use of these Things, which we would have wholly laid aside. For that Men should be always in the same Intentiveness of Mind, we do not plead, knowing how impossible it is, so long as we are clothed with this Tabernacle of Clay. But this will not allow us at any Time so to recede from the Remembrance of God, and of our Souls chief Concern, as not still to retain a certain Sense of his _Fear_; [Sidenote: _The Fear of God the best Recreation in the World._] which cannot be so much as rationally supposed to be in the Use of these Things which we condemn. Now the necessary Occasions in which all are involved, in order to the Care and Sustentation of the outward Man, are a Relaxation of the Mind from the more serious Duties; and those are performed in the Blessing, as the Mind is so leavened with the Love of God, and the Sense of his Presence, that even in doing these Things the Soul carrieth with it that _Divine Influence_ and _Spiritual Habit_, whereby though these Acts, as of _eating_, _drinking_, _sleeping_, _working_, be upon the Matter one with what the Wicked do, yet they are done in another Spirit; and in doing of them we please the Lord, serve him, and answer our End in the Creation, and so feel and are sensible of his _Blessing_: Whereas the Wicked and Profane, being not come to this Place, are in whatsoever they do _cursed_, and their _Ploughing_ as well as _Praying_ is _Sin_. Now if any will plead, that for Relaxation of Mind, there may be a Liberty allowed beyond these Things, which are of absolute Need to the Sustenance of the outward Man, I shall not much contend against it; provided these Things be not such as are wholly superfluous, or in their proper Nature and Tendency lead the Mind into _Lust_, _Vanity_, and _Wantonness_, as being chiefly contrived and framed for that End, or generally experienced to produce these Effects, or being the common Engines of such as are so minded to feed one another therein, and to propagate their Wickedness, to the imprisoning of others; seeing there are other innocent Divertisements which may sufficiently serve for Relaxation of the Mind, [Sidenote: _Lawful Divertisements._] such as for _Friends to visit one another_; _to hear or read History_; _to speak soberly of the present or past Transactions_; _to follow after Gardening_; _to use Geometrical and Mathematical Experiments_, and such other Things of this Nature. In all which Things we are not to forget God, _in whom we both live, and are moved_, Acts xvii. 28. as not to have always some _secret Reserve_ to him, and Sense of his Fear and Presence; which also frequently exerts itself in the Midst of these Things by some short Aspiration and Breathings. And that this may neither seem _strange_ nor _troublesome_, I shall clear it by one manifest Instance, answerable to the Experience of all Men. It will not be denied but that Men ought to be more in the Love of God than of any other Thing; for we ought to _love God above all Things_. Now it is plain, that Men that are taken with Love, whether it be of Women, or of any other Thing, if it hath taken a deep Place in the Heart, and possess the Mind, it will be hard for the Man so in Love to drive out of his Mind the Person or Thing so loved; yea, in his eating, drinking, and sleeping, his Mind will always have a Tendency that Way; and in Business or Recreations, however intent he be in it, there will but a very short Time be permitted to pass, but the Mind will let some Ejaculation forth towards its Beloved. [Sidenote: _The Love towards its Beloved shuns its Offence._] And albeit such a One must be conversant in those Things that the Care of this Body and such like Things call for; yet will he avoid as Death itself to do those Things that may offend the Party so beloved, or cross his Design in obtaining the Thing so earnestly desired: Though there may be some small Use in them, the great Design, which is chiefly in his Eye, will so balance him, that he will easily look over and dispense with such petty Necessities, rather than endanger the Loss of the Greater by them. Now that Men ought to be thus _in Love with God_, and the _Life to come_, none will deny; and the Thing is apparent from these Scriptures, _Mat._ vi. 20. _But lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven._ Col. iii. 2. _Set your Affection on Things above_, &c. And that this hath been the Experience and Attainment of some, the Scripture also declares, _Psalm_ lxiii. 1. 8. 2 _Cor._ v. 4.

[Sidenote: _Sports and Plays draw Men from the Fear of God._] And again, That these _Games_, _Sports_, _Plays_, _Dancing_, _Comedies_, &c. do naturally tend to draw Men from _God’s Fear_, to make them forget _Heaven_, _Death_, and _Judgment_, to foster _Lust_, _Vanity_, and _Wantonness_, and therefore are most _loved_, as well as _used_, by such Kind of Persons, Experience abundantly shews, and the most serious and conscientious among all will scarcely deny; which if it be so, the Application is easy.

§. X. _Fifthly_, The Use of _Swearing_ is to be considered, which is so frequently practised almost among all Christians; not only _profane Oaths_ among the _Profane_, in their common Discourses, whereby the _Most HOLY NAME of GOD_ is in a horrible Manner daily blasphemed; but also _solemn Oaths_, with those that have some Shew of _Piety_, whereof the most Part do defend _Swearing_ before the Magistrate with so great Zeal, that not only they are ready themselves to do it upon every Occasion, but also have stirred up the Magistrates to persecute those, who, out of Obedience to _Christ_, their Lord and Master, judge it unlawful to _swear_; upon which Account not a Few have suffered Imprisonment, and the Spoiling of their Goods.

[Sidenote: _All Swearing is forbidden--_] But considering these clear Words of our Saviour, _Matt._ v. 33, 34. _Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old Time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths. But I say unto you, SWEAR NOT AT ALL, neither by Heaven, _&c._ But let your Communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of Evil._ As also the Words of the Apostle _James_ v. 12. _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._ I say, considering these clear Words, it is admirable how any one that professeth the _Name of Christ_ can pronounce any _Oath_ with a quiet Conscience, far less to persecute other Christians, that dare not _swear_, because of their Master _Christ_’s Authority. For did any one purpose seriously, and in the most rigid Manner, to forbid any Thing comprehended under any General, can they use a more full and general Prohibition, and that without any Exception? I think not. For Christ, _First_, proposeth it to us negatively, _Swear not at all, neither by Heaven, not by the Earth, nor by _Jerusalem_, nor by thy Head_, &c. And again, _Swear not by Heaven, nor by Earth, nor by any other Oath_. _Secondly_, He presseth it affirmatively, _But let your Communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of Evil._ And saith _James_, _Lest ye fall into Condemnation_.

[Sidenote: _Without Exception._] Which Words both all and every one of them do make such a full Prohibition, and so free of all Exception, that it is strange how Men that boast the Scripture is the _Rule_ of their _Faith_ and _Life_, can counterfeit any Exception! Certainly _Reason_ ought to teach every one, that it is not lawful to make void a general Prohibition coming from God by such Opposition, unless the Exception be as clearly and evidently expressed as the Prohibition: Neither is it enough to endeavour to confirm it by Consequences and Probabilities, which are obscure and uncertain, and not sufficient to bring Quiet to the _Conscience_. For if they say, That there is therefore an Exception and Limitation in the Words, because there are found Exceptions in the other general Prohibition of this _Fifth Chapter_, as in the forbidding of _Divorcement_, where Christ saith, _It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his Wife, let him give her a Writing of Divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his Wife, saving for the Cause of Fornication, causeth her to commit Adultery_; if, I say, they plead this, they not only labour in vain, but also fight against themselves, because they can produce no Exception of this general Command of _not Swearing_, expressed by God to any under the _New Covenant_, after _Christ_ gave this Prohibition so clear as that which is made in the Prohibition itself. [Sidenote: _Also Oaths before a Magistrate._] Moreover, if _Christ_ would have excepted _Oaths_ made before Magistrates, certainly he had then expressed, adding, _Except in Judgment, before the Magistrate_, or the like; as he did in that of _Divorcement_ by these Words, _Saving for the Cause of Fornication_: Which being so, it is not lawful for us to _except_ or _distinguish_, or, which is all one, _make void_ this general Prohibition of Christ; it would be far less agreeable to _Christian Holiness_ to bring upon our Heads the Crimes of so many _Oaths_, which by Reason of this Corruption and Exception are so frequent among Christians.

[Sidenote: _The Concurrence of the ancient Fathers therein._] Neither is it to be omitted that without Doubt the most _learned Doctors_ of each Sect know, That these fore-mentioned Words were understood by the _ancient Fathers_ of the _first three hundred Years_ after Christ to be a Prohibition of all Sorts of _Oaths_. It is not then without Reason that we wonder that the _Popish Doctors_ and _Priests_ bind themselves by an _Oath_ to interpret the _Holy Scriptures_ according to the universal Exposition of the _Holy Fathers_; who nevertheless understood those controverted Texts quite contrary to what these _modern Doctors_ do. And from thence also do clearly appear the Vanity and foolish Certainty (so to speak) of _Popish Traditions_; for if by the Writings of the _Fathers_, so called, the Faith of the Church of those Ages may be demonstrated, it is clear they have departed from the Faith of the Church of the _first three Ages_ in the Point of _Swearing_. Moreover, because not only _Papists_, but also _Lutherans_ and _Calvinists_, and some others, do restrict the Words of _Christ_ and _James_, I think it needful to make manifest the vain Foundation upon which that Presumption in this Matter is built.

§. XI. [Sidenote: Object.] _First_, They object, _That Christ only forbids those Oaths that are made by Creatures, and Things created_; and they prove it thence, because he numbers some of these Things.

Secondly, _All rash and vain Oaths in familiar Discourses; because he saith, Let your Communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay_.

[Sidenote: _Answ. 1._] To which I _answer_, _First_, That the _Law_ did forbid all _Oaths_ made by the Creatures, as also all vain and rash _Oaths_ in our common Discourses, commanding, That Men should only _swear_ by the Name of God, and that neither falsely nor rashly; for that is to take his Name in vain.

[Sidenote: _Answ. 2_.] _Secondly_, It is most evident that Christ forbids somewhat that was permitted under the _Law_, [Sidenote: _To swear by God himself forbidden by Christ._] to wit, to _swear by the Name of God_, because it was not lawful for any Man to _swear_ but by God himself. And because he saith, _Neither by Heaven, because it is the Throne of God_; therefore he excludes all other _Oaths_, even those which are made by God; for he saith, Chap. xxiii. 22. _He that shall swear by Heaven, sweareth by the Throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon_: Which is also to be understood of the rest.

[Sidenote: _Answ. 3._] _Lastly_, That he might put the Matter beyond all Controversy, he adds, _Neither by any other Oath_: Therefore seeing to _swear_ before the Magistrate by God is an _Oath_, it is here without Doubt forbidden.

[Sidenote: Object.] _Secondly_, They object, _That by these Words Oaths by God’s Name cannot be forbidden, because the Heavenly Father hath commanded them; for the Father and the Son are one, which could not be, if the Son had forbid that which the Father commanded_.

[Sidenote: _Answ._] I _answer_, They are indeed one, and cannot contradict one another: [Sidenote: _Oaths under the Old Covenant_.] Nevertheless the Father gave many Things to the Jews for a Time, because of their Infirmity under the _Old Covenant_, which had only a Shadow of good Things to come, not the very Substance of Things, until Christ should come, who was the Substance, and by whose Coming all these Things vanished, to wit, _Sabbaths_, _Circumcision_, the _Paschal Lamb_: Men used then Sacrifices, who lived in Controversies with God, and one with another, which all are abrogated in the Coming of the Son, who is the Substance, Eternal Word, and Essential Oath and Amen, in whom the _Promises of God are Yea and Amen_: Who came that Men might be redeemed out of Strife, and might make an End of Controversy.

[Sidenote: Object.] _Thirdly_, They object, _But all Oaths are not Ceremonies, nor any Part of the Ceremonial Law_.