aid, "I say unto you, Swear
not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth;
for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the
great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not
make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea;
Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."[207] But in
these words he does not forbid every use of the oath. The passage, along
with another[208] of kindred import, must not be considered as
condemnatory of swearing by the name of God in some cases; for that holy
name is not mentioned among those things that may not be used in
swearing; but may be viewed as reproving the practice of swearing
irreligiously in common conversation, as well as the idolatry of
swearing by the creature in any case, with or without the intention of
thereby appealing to God. The oath, therefore, coeval with other
institutes of religious worship, with them, through every age, shall
continue to be observed. It stands enjoined among those precepts that
are inculcated for every dispensation. Till the consummation of all
things, the law enjoining it will not be fulfilled; nor before that
period will it pass away; and with it the exercise of Covenanting will
endure. In every age there will be found those who, entering into
explicit engagements with the Lord by oath, will obey his words,--"Let
him take hold of my strength,[209] that he may make peace with me; and
he shall make peace with me."[210] Finally,

Commands enjoining the exercise in all its parts. That such have been
promulgated, there is distinct evidence. "He hath commanded his Covenant
for ever." That He delivered statutes, enjoining the keeping of his
Covenant, these words imply. One of the duties of this Covenant was
Covenanting. "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul
shall live; and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the
sure mercies of David." They indicate, therefore, that this was
enjoined. And of these statutes, like the foregoing, this other is
explicit, "Be ye mindful always of his Covenant, the word which he
commanded to a thousand generations."[211]

The exercise is inculcated in threatenings of Divine judgment uttered
against such as disregard it. In language peculiarly strong, it is said,
"The uncircumcised man-child, whose flesh of his foreskin is not
circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he h