Against Cursing .

FIrst , ( if thou wilt liue in a holy feare and reuerence of the Name of God ) thou must consider what thou art , and learne to know thy selfe ; for hee that truely knoweth himselfe , is a man of very happy acquaintance , for by this thou shalt know thy selfe to be Earth , Gen. 2. 7. conceiu'd in sinne , Psalme 51. 5. Borne to paine , Iob , 5. 7. Euill , Eccles. 9. 3. Wretched Rom. 7. Filthy , Iob 15. Corrupt , abominable , and doing nothing good , Psal. 14. Mortall , Ro. 6. Vaine , Psal. 62. Wicked , Esay 9. Vnprofitable , Rom. 3. Vanitie , altogether more light then Vanitie , Psal. 62. Sinfull , 1 Kings , 8. Miserable , 1 Corinth . 15. Dust and Ashes , Gen. 18. Gods enemy , Rom. 8. A child of wrath , Ephesians 2. 3. A worme , Iob 25. Wormes meate , Esay 51. Nothing , yea lesse then nothing , Esay 40. 17.

Hauing thus by the Touch-stone of Gods Word tryed , and examined thy miserable estate and condition , and therewithall knowing thy selfe , then on the other side , consider ( as neere as thy frailty will permit ) the power of God in creating thee , his mercy in Redeeming thee , his loue , in preseruing thee , his bounty , in keeping thee , his promise to glorifie thee in heauen , if thou honour him on earth , and his Iudgements to condemne thee , if thou blaspheme and dishonour him .

Our Sauiour Christ , being the Head of Blessednesse , and of all that are or shall be blessed , how is it possible , that any Accursed or Cursing person can be a member of that Blessed Head ; who hath expressely forbidden vs to Curse , but to bless them that Curse vs ? Luke , 6. Math. 5. Rom. 12 And in the 109. Psalme , It is said of him that accustomes himselfe to Curse , Cursing was his delight , therefore shall it happen vnto him , he loued not blessing , therefore it shall be farre from him .

And seeing no man can merit the least part of blessings temporall ; how , or with what face can one that liues accursedly , or vseth cursing ( here , ) hope for a Kingdome of Eternall blessednesse hereafter ?

It is fearefull to heare how , and with what cold dulnesse , many men doe pray for blessings either for themselues or for others , and ( contrarily ) with what vehemency they will Curse : as some haue willed and wished themselues Gods Plague , the Pox , and other mischiefes , and some haue too often bid the Deuill take them , God Sinke them : Renounce , Confound , Consume , Refuse , and Damne them : and yet these silly gracelesse earth-wormes , haue an ambicious deceitfull ayme to be blessed , partakers of the blessed Kingdome of Heauen .

Therefore , if thou hast a desire of Eternall blessednesse , know that the way thither , is not by Cursing : if thou hast a hope to escape the dreadfull sentence of , Goe yee Cursed , Math. 25. Then giue thy mind to prayer and blessing , and then shalt thou haue the ioyfull welcome of , Come ye blessed inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world . To the which God of his mercy bring vs all .

Amen .

Against Swearing .

HAuing with a Christian humilitie considered thy owne base and contemptible estate and condition , then thinke with thy selfe , what an Incomprehensible , Glorious , Infinite and Almighty Maiestie thou offendest and blasphemest with thy vngodly Swearing , who hath said , that he will not hold him guiltlesse , that takes his Name in vaine .

And much better were it at the last day , for that miserable wretch , that he had beene created a Toade , a Viper , or the most loathsome creature , then to appeare before that great and dreadfull Tribunall , and there to be accused by the Deuill and his owne conscience , for Swearing and for Forswearing , and Blaspheming the blessed Name of the Eternall God , where no excuse can serue , no Aduocate can plead , no Proxey or Essoyne is to be graunted , but presently the guilty Caitif is commanded to vtter darkenesse and perpetuall torments .

There is some excuse for the ignorant Iewes , that crucified our Sauiour , because they knew not what they did : but for a prosessed Christian , who knowes God to be his Creator , and that Iesus Christ paid no lesse then the peerelesse & most precious blood of his heart for mans Redemption , how can any one that knowes and beleeues these things , hope for saluation by that blood , wounds , heart and body , which he so much , and so often blasphemes and teares betwixt his accursed teeth ? So that there is no Traytor so bad , or treason so great , as is against the Maiestie of heauen , nor hath the Deuill any that doth him more pleasing seruice , then an odious and common Swearer doth , and herein he goes beyond all the Deuils in hell , in impiety and contempt of God : for Saint Iames saith , Chap. 2. 19. That the Deuils doe beleeue there is a God , and that they also tremble in feare of his mighty power ; but the Swearer , though he doe know and beleeue there is a God , yet he beleeues not his Word , or feares or trembles at his Iudgements .

Besides these endlesse torments ordained in hell for odious Swearers , God hath promised to afflict them in this life : for he saith , The plague shall neuer go from the house of the Swearer , Ecclesiasticus 23.

So that the gaine of a Swearer is nothing but the eternall wrath os God , the hatred of all good men , the ill example to others , and the vexation and discredit of himselfe , his kindred and friends , with a fearefull reward hereafter , ( except true repentance obtaine mercy . ) What a foolish absurditie is it for a man ( being crost in any worldly affaires , or gaming , or other businesse , either materiall or triuiall ) to reuenge himselfe vpon God , and carelesly and blasphemously fly in the face of his Maker , with Oathes and Execrations ?

If we did consider what God hath done for vs , we would not so vnthankefully requite him : if wee called to minde his gracious promise of glory euerlasting , to those that loue and feare him , we should then hold his Name in such reuerence as becomes Christians : if his fearefull threatnings against the takers of his Name in vaine , could terrifie vs , ( no doubt ) but we would be more carefull and circumspect in our liues and conuersations , as that we would be allured by his mercies , or restrained by his Iudgements .

GOd hath naturally placed and inclosed the tongue of man within the stone walls of his teeth , and without those walls there are also the two earthen Bulwarkes or Rampieres of his lippes : he hath appointed Reason to be the tongues guide and guardian , and hee freely offers his Grace , to be Reasons counsellour & gouernour : wherefore let vs flee to the Throne of Grace , and beseech the God of Grace , that he will cause his sauing Grace to guide our Reason , that our Reason may rule our tongues , that Cursing may be cashered , Swearing suppressed : that ( by Gods Spirit ) our lippes may be opened , that with our mouthes his Name may bepraysed : that Gods holy Name may be glorified , and our sinfull soules eternally saued , through the merits of our great and blessed Redeemer Iesus christ , To whom with the Father and the blessed Spirit , be all Honour , Power , Maiestie , Glory , Dominion , and Thankesgiuing , ascribed and rendred ( as is due ) of men and Angels , both now and for euermore .

Amen , Amen . IOHN TAYLOR .