Westminster Confession (1646) C. 22 Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.
Source: The Confession of Faith, Together with the Larger
and Lesser Catechismes, Composed by the Reverend Assembly of Divines Sitting at
Westminster, Presented to Both Houses of Parliament. 2nd Edition. London 1658.
p. 74 - 78.
Chapter XXII. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.
I. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein,
upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he
asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood
of what he sweareth.
II. The name of God only is that by which men ought to
swear; and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.
Therefore, to swear vainly or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or,
to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. Yet, as in
matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under
the New Testament, as well as under the Old; so a lawful oath, being imposed by
lawful authority, in such matters ought to be taken.
III. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the
weightiness of so solemn an act; and therein to avouch nothing, but what he is
fully persuaded is the truth. Neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything
but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able
and resolved to perform. Yet is it a sin to refuse an oath touching anything
that is good and just, being imposed by lawful authority.
IV. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of
the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. It cannot oblige to
sin: but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although
to a man’s own hurt. Not is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or
infidels.
V. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and
ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the
like faithfulness.
VI. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:
and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and
conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the
obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary
duties; or to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce
thereunto.
VII. No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of
God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his
own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from
God. In which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed
poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher
perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no
Christian may entangle himself.
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