Oath to be administered to every man in his own religion.
16. And seeing men cannot be afraid of the power they believe not, and an oath is to no purpose, without fear of him they swear by, it is necessary that he that sweareth, do it in that form which himself admitteth in his own religion, and not in that form which he useth, that putteth him to the oath. For though all men may know by nature, that there is an Almighty power, nevertheless they believe not, that they swear by him in any other form or name, than what their own, which they think the true, religion teacheth them.
Oath addeth not to the obligation.
17. And by the definition of an oath, it appeareth that it addeth not a greater obligation to perform the covenant sworn, than the covenant carrieth in itself, but it putteth a man into a greater danger, and of greater punishment.
Covenants bind but to endeavour.
18. Covenants and oaths are de voluntariis, that is, de possibilibus. Nor can the covenantee understand the covenanter to promise impossibles; for they fall not under deliberation: and consequently, (by chap. XIII. [sect. 10] of the Treatise of Human Nature, which maketh the covenantee interpreter) no covenant is understood to bind further, than to our best endeavour, either in performance of the thing promised, or in something equivalent.
CHAPTER III.
[1.] That men stand to their covenants. [2.] Injury defined. 3. That injury is done only to the covenantee. [4.] The signification of those names, just, unjust. [5.] Justice not rightly divided into commutative, and distributive. [6.] It is a law of nature, that he that is trusted, turn not that trust to the damage of him that trusteth. [7.] Ingratitude defined. [8.] It is a law of nature, to endeavour to accommodate one another: [9.] And that man forgive upon caution for the future: [10.] And that revenge ought to respect the future only: [11.] That reproach and contempt declared, is against the law of nature: [12.] That indifference of commerce is of the law of nature: [13.] That messengers employed to procure or maintain peace, ought to be safe by the law of nature.
That men stand to their covenants.