28. It is also written, “But I say unto you, Swear not at all.” But the Apostle himself has used oaths in his Epistles.40    Rom. ix. 1; Phil. i. 8; Gal. i. 20 And so he shows how that is to be taken which is said, “I say unto you, Swear not at all:” that is, lest by swearing one come to a facility in swearing, from facility to a custom, and so from a custom there be a downfall into perjury. And therefore he is not found to have sworn except in writing, where there is more wary forethought, and no precipitate tongue withal. And this indeed came of evil, as it is said, “Whatever is more than these is of evil:”41    Matt. v. 34, 37 not however from evil of his own, but from the evil of infirmity which was in them, in whom he even in this way endeavored to work faith. For that he used an oath in speaking, while not writing, I know not that any Scripture has related concerning him. And yet the Lord says, “Swear not at all:” for He hath not granted license thereof to persons writing. Howbeit, because to pronounce Paul guilty of violating the commandment, especially in Epistles written and sent forth for the spiritual life and salvation of the nations, were an impiety, we must understand that word which is set down, “At all,” to be set down for this purpose, that as much as in thee lies, thou affect not, love not, nor as though it were for a good thing, with any delight desire, an oath.

28. Scriptum est etiam, Ego autem dico vobis, non jurare omnino. Juravit autem ipse Apostolus in Epistolis suis (Rom. IX, 1; Philipp. I, 8, et Galat. I, 20). Et sic ostendit quomodo accipiendum esset quod dictum est, Dico vobis, non jurare omnino: ne scilicet jurando ad facilitatem jurandi veniatur, ex facilitate ad consuetudinem, atque ita ex consuetudine in perjurium decidatur. Et ideo non invenitur jurasse, nisi scribens, ubi consideratio cautior non habet linguam praecipitem. Et hoc utique a malo, sicut dictum est, Quod autem amplius est, a malo est (Matth. V, 34, 37): non tamen suo, sed eorum infirmitatis, quibus etiam sic fidem facere conabatur. Nam quod loquens jurasset, dum non scriberet, nescio utrum aliqua de illo Scriptura narraverit. Et tamen Dominus ait, omnino non jurare: non enim concessit ut id liceret scribentibus. Sed quia praecepti violati reum Paulum, praesertim in Epistolis conscriptis atque editis ad spiritualem vitam salutemque populorum nefas est dicere; intelligendum est illud quod positum est, omnino, ad hoc positum, ut quantum in te est, non affectes, non ames, non quasi pro bono cum aliqua delectatione appetas jusjurandum.