3 Examine you who do this fin purfue,

4

Are thefe God's words, and are they falfe or true: If words have meaning, these must fully prove, God doth of fwearing wholly disapprove.

Then let falfe reas'ner's bow before the Lord! And now believe what's written in his word; For fwearing makes this guilty land to mourn3, And God on us his righteous judgments turn.

(p) Jer. xxiii. 10.

I 6

(q) Rev. xvi. 7.-xix. 2.

It is impoffible that the Prophet Jeremiah fhould have had more uft reafon to fay, because of SWEARING the land mourneth; or to fay, that both Prophet and Priest are profane, than we have to fay thus at the prefent day: For it is eftablished as an orthodox. doctrine, (by learned Prelates and Judges of the law, both from the pulpit and the prefs) that Swearing a duty commanded of God, which ought to be complied with whenever it is neceffary to confirm the truth, &c. Hence to the great difgrace of those who profefs Chriftianity, one of the most plain and pofitive commands of the Son of God is entirely reverfed, by drawing wrong inferences from what was given to the Jews, only for a time, while under a difpenfation which afforded but a fhadow of good things to come, until Chrift, who is the real fubftance, fhould come. Seeing then that Chrift is come, and that in revealing. the will of his Father, he hath faid unto us, Swear not at all, &c. we ought to obey God rather than man. But having very little room here for controverfy, I recommend my readers to lay afide all prejudice, and carefully to read and judge of the Holy Scriptures for themfelves, which are able to make them coife unto falvation, 2 Tim. iii. 15. Mach information may alfo be obtained upon this important fubject from the worthy labours of ROBERT BARCLAY. See his Apology, from page 542 to 556.-One remark, however, feems neceffary to be made of the injuftice of fome exifting laws; we find the laws of men, in certain cafes, make it a crime to refufe taking an oath, although thefe perfons who refufe are ready, in the moft folemn manner, to affirm what these laws are requiring they should fwear: And there is other cafes where, if confcientious men will not fwear (though it is evident they have no other objection, but because they believe fwearing is contrary to the law of God) they thereby forfeit that protection which thefe laws afford to fwearers of every defcription.. For instance, fhould one of thefe perfons who will not fwear, fee a daring ruffian break open his houfe, murder his wife and children, take away all his property, and leave himfelf for dead; yet fhould the injured recover, challenge the horrid murderer, and feek to have juftice adminiftered; if no confeffion can be extorted from the murderer himself, and if no other evidence can be brought against him that will fwear,the answer ac

5 Let none pervert' the words of the most High!
For God is true, however man may lie;
And what he's said, he in his times will do,
Though we know not exactly when or how.

H

CLXXXIV.

Remarks made upon Sinners and Saints.

OW dark' are all who live in fin?
They grope at noon who live therein;
But light and glad in God are they
Who walk in wifdom's" pleafant way.

2 Happy are they who do rely*
At all times on the Lord moft high!
From heav'n he will bleflings pour,
And keep them in temptation's' hour..
3 Thrice happy are his faints indeed!
For on the bread2 of life they feed;
And at the ftreams of his free grace
They bow and drink before his face..

But fin, however sweet it be,
Brings certain death and mifery :-
Hence, 'tis our wifdom, in God's ways.
To fpend our residue of days.

(r) Micah. iii. 9.

(f) 2 Cor. i., 18.-Rev. vi. 10.—XV. 3. (s) Ifa. xl. 10.-lx. 22.-) -Ezek. xxiv. 14. (t) Prov. iv. 19.— 1 John ii. 11. (u) Deut. xxviii. 29.—Ifa. lix. 10. (v) Pf. xcvii. .6. (x) Pfal. xxxvii. 3, (y) Rev. iii. (a) Ifa. xxxiii. 21.-Rev. xxii. 17.

II.

(w) Prov. iii. 17. (z) John vi. 35. (b) Rom. vi. 23.

IC.

cording to these laws must be, This is a criminal cafe, and no evidence can be admitted without an Oath! Where then have these who refuse to fwear (though from a fenfe of duty to God) any fecurity from the fore-mentioned laws, either for their lives or their property? I have .not pointed out this to ftir up difcord, but in hopes, that by bringing it to the public eve, it may be duly confidered, and at length be brought in a proper manner before our Legiflators, praying for redress,

CLXXXV.

On the Bleffed State of the Righteous.

TASE and fees, and know the Lord is good! 10

"The hungry foul he feeds with living food: 10 He grants the righteous all their hearts defire,- 10 All things which they in Jefu's name require. 10 2 For these afk nothing but what faith can claim; They ask not wealth, honour, or a great name: They envy not the high and lofty state

Of men who in this world are rich and great. 3 They know all things to them for goods are fent, And hence they learn to live in true content": Refign'd to God, they love and joy poffefs, And lasting peace, which words can't well express. 4 If God to man fuch bleffings doth bestow, What can we wish for more while here below? We in fome measure live like those above, And fhall ere long immortal pleasures prove!

I

CLXXXVI.

On the happy effects of Faith.

HAPPY! thrice happy is their cafe,

Who do in God confide;

For he doth them fupport with grace,
And all their footsteps guide.

2 Whate'er their outward trials be
Refpecting worldly good,

He fees their wants continually,
And gives them needful food.

(c) Pfal. xxxiv. 8. (f) John xiv. 13, 14.

(d) Luke i. 53.

(g) Rom. viii. 28.

(i) Gál. v. 22. (j) Pfal. cxliv. 15.-Prov. xvi.

3 For bread and water is made fure
By promise in his word;
And of the hardships they endure
He keeps a juft record.

4

Without his notice not one hair1
Can fall unto the ground:

There God is prefent ev'ry where,

Whofe care does them furround.

5 Walls" of falvation round his faints
He builds on ev'ry fide:

The things they want he also grants,
Wherever they refide.

6 With courage, therefore, they meet death,
And when this world recedes,

In God's way they give up their breath,-
Who them to glory leads!

W

CLXXXVII.

On the Attributes of GOD.

HOP is like unto thee, O Lord,

"Amongst the gods? who is like thee?" S

Glorious in holinefs, thy word

And works for evermore fhall be!

2 Fearful in praifes is thy name,
In doing wonders ev'ry where;
thou art the same,
A God, whom all must own and fear!

3

From age to are

Like Miriam, triumphantly

Of thy bleft attributes we'll fing:
Our foes must all before thee fly,
For thou art an almighty King!

(k) Ifa. xxxiii. 16. (n) Ifa. xxvi. 4.-lx. 18. 11, 20, 21.

(1) Matt. x. 30.

(0) Prov. x. 24.

8

8

(m) Prov. xv. 3r (p) Exod. xv

4 Mercy and truth in Chrift are met,
And fo is righteousness and peace:
A mother' may her child forget,
But to thy church thy love can't ceafe.

CLXXXVIII.

A Figurative Description of the manner in which GOD exercifes fome of his Attributes.

TH

HE Lord hath put on righteousness,
And it doth as a breaftplate wear:
His helm falvation doth poffefs,
But yet his robes of veng'ance are!

2 He, clad with zeal, as with a cloke,
His adverfaries will repay;

3

4

And in his fury, with one ftroke,
All the incorrigible flay!

Lo! his great name, with fear and dread,
From west and east with glorious light,

Shall over all the world be spread,
And chace away the fhades of night.

The enemy, who like a flood

Comes in to hurt the church with lies,
Shall by God's Spirit be withstood;
His standard shall against them rise!

CLXXXIX.

On a Promife made to the Faithful.
O our Redeemers, he is come
To Zion, his beloved place!

For wrestling Facob has made room,-
And likewife all his num'rous race.

(q) Pfal. 1xxxv. IC, (r) ifa. xlix. 15. (s) Isa. lix. 20, 21,

(f) Ifa. lix. 17, 18, 19,