hteousness:" in truth, taking heed that our
meaning be conformable to the sense of our words, and our words to
the verity of things; in judgment, having with careful deliberation
examined and weighed that which we assert or promise; in
righteousness, being satisfied in conscience that we do not therein
infringe any rule of piety toward God, of equity toward men, or
sobriety and discretion in regard to ourselves.

The cause of our swearing must be needful, or very expedient; the
design of it must be honest and useful to considerable purposes
(tending to God's honour, our neighbour's benefit, our own welfare);
the matter of it should be not only just and lawful, but worthy and
weighty; the manner ought to be grave and solemn, our mind being
framed to earnest attention, and endued with pious affections
suitable to the occasion.

Otherwise, if we do venture to swear, without due advice and care,
without much respect and awe, upon any slight or vain (not to say
bad or unlawful) occasion, we then desecrate swearing, and are
guilty of profaning a most sacred ordinance: the doing so doth
imply base hypocrisy, or lewd mockery, or abominable wantonness and
folly; in bodily invading and vainly trifling with the most august
duties of religion. Such swearing therefore is very dishonourable
and injurious to God, very prejudicial to religion, very repugnant
to piety.

III. We may consider that the swearing prohibited is very noxious
to human society.

The great prop of society (which upholdeth the safety, peace, and
welfare thereof, in observing laws, dispensing justice, discharging
trusts, keeping contracts, and holding good correspondence mutually)
is conscience, or a sense of duty toward God, obliging to perform
that which is right and equal; quickened by hope of rewards and fear
of punishments from Him: secluding which principle, no worldly
confederation is strong enough to hold men fast, or can further
dispose many to do right, or observe faith, or hold peace, than
appetite or interest, or humour (things very slippery and uncertain)
do sway them.

That men should live honestly, quietly, and comfortably together, it
is needful that they should live under a sense of God's will, and in
awe of the divine power, hoping to please God, and fearing to offend
Him, by their behaviour respectively.

That justice should be administered between men, it is necessary
that testimonies of fact be a