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Lord's Day 37
Question 101: May we then swear religiously by the name of God?
Question 102: May we also swear by saints or any other creatures?
A.
Yes:
either when the magistrates demand it of the subjects;
or when necessity
requires us
thereby to confirm a fidelity and truth
to the glory of God, and the safety of our neighbour:
for such an oath is founded on God's word, (a)
and therefore
was justly used by the saints,
both in the Old and New Testament. (b)
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(a)
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Deut.6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt
swear by his name.
Deut.10:20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and
to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
Isa.48:1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name
of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear
by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but
not in truth, nor in righteousness.
Heb.6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for
confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
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(b)
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Gen.21:24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
Gen.31:53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their
father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father
Isaac.
Gen.31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his
brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night
in the mount.
Jos.9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them,
to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
Jos.9:19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have
sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not
touch them.
1 Sam.24:22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David
and his men gat them up unto the hold.
2 Sam.3:35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat
while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more
also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
1 Kin.1:28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And
she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
1 Kin.1:29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath
redeemed my soul out of all distress,
1 Kin.1:30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel,
saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall
sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
Rom.1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always
in my prayers;
2 Cor.1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to
spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
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A.
No;
for a lawful oath is calling upon God,
as the only one who knows the heart,
that he will bear witness to the truth,
and punish me if I swear falsely; (a)
which honour is due to no creature. (b)
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(a)
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2 Cor.1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to
spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
Rom.9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
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(b)
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Matt.5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for
it is God's throne:
Matt.5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by
Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Matt.5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not
make one hair white or black.
James 5:12 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.
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