¶ Christian menne maye take an Othe.
On Lawful Oaths
The Christian religion forbids vain swearing but allows oath-taking when the magistrate requires it in a cause of faith and charity, provided it is done in justice, judgment, and truth.
Just as we confess that our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostle James forbid Christians from swearing vainly and rashly, we also believe that the Christian religion doesn't prohibit a person from swearing when a magistrate requires it for the sake of faith and charity—provided it is done, as the prophets teach, in justice, judgment, and truth.1
Read the original English
AS we confesse that vayne, & rashe swearing is forbidden Christian men, by our Lorde Iesu Christ, & his apostle Iames: so we iudge that Christian religion doeth not prohibite, but that … man may sweare, when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of faythe, and charitye: so it be done (according to the Prophetes teachynge) in iustyce, iudgemente and truthe.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source has an ellipsis before 'man' ('but that … man may sweare'); rendered as the most plausible reading 'a person' / 'a man'.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit