OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS

1.  A lawful oath is an act of religious worship, in which the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment, solemnly calls God to witness what he swears, and to judge him according to the truth or falsity of it.[1]

2.  Only by the name of God can a righteous oath be sworn; and only if it is used with the utmost fear of God and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and awesome name of God, or to swear at all by any other name or thing, is sinful, and to be regarded with disgust and detestation; yet in matters of weight and moment, for the confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such circumstances, can rightly be taken.[2]

3.  Whosoever takes an oath warranted by the Word of God is bound to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and affirm or confess to nothing but what he knows to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and because of them this land mourns.[3]

4.  An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.[4]

5.  A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastic vows of a perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.[5]