Perjury among the Jews.-Very doubtful whether it was to be visited by temporal punishment.-Opinion of Michaëlis.- Apprehension expressed that the temporal consequences of Perjury detected suggest in many persons a stronger motive to speak the truth, than a religious sense of the obligation of Perjury in Greece.-Probability that it was from ancient days punished by the State.-Religious dread in early times very Perjury in Rome.-Michaëlis mistaken.-Law of the Twelve Origin of Oaths.-Heineccius.-Caution to the English reader, Definitions of an Oath, Ancient and Modern. First, Such as The question fully discussed." Did our Saviour take a Judicial Oath before the High-Priest, or did he merely make a simple Ancient Division of Oaths.-Not applicable to the present Oaths by Proxy.-Kings usually swore to Treaties by Proxy.- Various instances.-Practice not entirely obsolete in England. Oath of William Rufus, 'Per Vultum de Lucca.'-Curious mis- take of Historians.-Legend of the "Face of Lucca."- Similar Oath still used in Spain.-Reflections on the fabrica- Oaths of Office.-Judges probably always took an Oath.-In Greece. In Rome.-In Mexico.-Curious Oaths prescribed OATHS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. THE practical questions on which I have endeavoured, in the following treatise, to throw some light, are chiefly these three : - First: Are Oaths, in themselves, lawful to a Christian? or, are they altogether prohibited by the Gospel? Secondly: If oaths are in themselves lawful, are they, as at present administered and taken in England, calculated to promote truth and justice? and are they agreeable to the spirit of the Religion which we profess? Thirdly: If any alterations in our system of oaths should appear desirable, on what principles, and by what means, may such changes be most safely and satisfactorily effected? The discussion of these questions I originally intended to reserve, till the reader had been put in possession of such historical information on the subject, as I had been able to glean. Afterwards, however, becoming apprehensive that such an B arrangement might, in effect, throw these questions into the back-ground, and make them appear subjects of secondary consideration (whereas my desire was, that every other part of the work should bear more or less directly on their elucidation), I resolved to enter upon them at once, after a few preliminary remarks. The reader then will observe, that the treatise is divided into three parts. In the first, having traced oaths to their origin, and offered some reflections on their essential characteristics, I proceed to investigate in succession, those three practical points of inquiry; the importance of which, whether to society or to its individual members, will not probably be doubted; and each of which demands a serious, calm, and unprejudiced examination. In the second portion, I have attempted to trace the history of Oaths, from the first mention of them in the Bible, through different ages and countries, down to the present time. The facts and arguments introduced in this division of the work, may not perhaps seem, every one equally, subservient to the main object; but I have good hope that, whilst the greater part of them may prove to be generally interesting, merely as incidents illustrative of various passages in history, they are collectively calculated to assist us in taking a correct view of all the chief subjects of our investigation. |