Ellis Walker

1650-1700 / England

Xliii. Oaths To Be Used Seldomly And Very Cautiously

Avoid th' engagement of an oath, or swear,
As seldom as you can, at least forbear
To bind yourself to what you cannot do,
And only swear to that which lies in you:
For 'tis a wicked, blasphemous offence,
To call the gods to each impertinence;
To make them knights o'th'post, to testify
That to be truth, you know to be a lye.
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