University of Virginia Library

A-gainge (so) the horrible vice of swearynge.

Cap. xi.

In vaine take not
the name of god;
Swere not at all
for feare of his rod.
The house with plagues
he threteneth to visit
where othes are vsed:
they shall not escape it.
Iuste are his iudgementes,
and true is his worde,
And sharper then is
a two edged sworde;
wherfore beware thou
his heauy indignacion,
And learne to lyue well
in thy vocacion
wherin that god
shall thee set or call;
Rysinge againe—
if it fortune to fall—
By prayer and repentance,
whiche is the onely waie.
Christ wolde not the death
of a sinner, I saye,
But rather he turne
From his wickednesse,
And so to lyue
in vertue and goodnesse.
what better art thou
for this thy swearyng
Blasfamouslye,
the name of god tearyng?
Prouokynge his yre
and kyndlinge his wrath
Thee for to plauge,
that geuinge the hath
Knowlage and reason
thy selfe for to rule,
And for to flee
the thynge that is euyl.
Senica doth councell thee
all swerynge to refrayne,
Although great profite
by it thou mighte gaine:
Pericles, whose wordes
are manifeste and playne,
From sweryng admonisheth
thee to obstaine;
The lawe of god,
and commaundement he gaue,
Swearynge amongst vs
in no wyse wolde haue.
The councell of philosoph[ers]
I haue here expreste,
Amongest whom sweryng
was vtterly deteste;
Much lesse amongest christians
ought it to be vsed,
But vtterly of them
cleane to be refused.