The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-05-18
The SoIeEnmify of am Oath.

form as is now provided by law in other cases.
The SOIeRmmify of ;an Oath.
The most potent engine of the dpmagogues
who herd together IN secret conspiracy, at least
over weak minds, is the impressive obligation
of an oath But there are two kinds oi cath
There is the sacred oath, taken in the eye OF
God, for just purPose-thp oath that Black
stone calls "lrgal oath :" there is, again, the
false oath-the oath taken to bptrav ones conn-
try-thr oath Of an Arnold or a Cataine. The
great weapon OF the latter was the hideous and
shameless, oaihs he enforced upon his conleder-
a.es. Robbers take oaths for their mutual pro-
trciion bat there is no law, human or divine,
that can crnsnre the violation oftheSe oaths.-
The crime is in taking them.
Tofaks m oath TO Jefroy a friend IS, IN the
ldighest sense Of the aoord, MORAL PERIUEY.7
how can such an oath outweigh a sacred obli-
gaion, recognized as sacred bv the lawl A
secet oath. for per oaal, or party, or corrupt
purposes, cannot sever the tie that commands US
to be- 'athiul to God our country, to the truth,
to orr amily, or to friends. To attempt this IS
to contemplate perjury.
Says Blackstone
''The crane of wlfuI and corrupt perjury
is defined b Sir Edward Coke TO be a cIimr
committed ,sAep hufm oath is administered
IN soae .}fdicml procepdiRg. TO person rho
s~e7rs mffufig, absolutely, md fatsefy, IN u
moffer 0laeriot 10 the issue or point an ques-
hon''
We lear il 10 conscientious men TO say how
| far an oath.sworn in the sight of the living
God, IN Midnight conclave, to make rrligi-
Gus diffrrencs or the nativity of neighbor OF
fri~rd, caiSr of persecution, can bp MAIN
tanned withon,morai perjury. 1t is simply
choice OF obligations whether We will abide bv
the obligations hcognized as binding and as inSi,
or whether we Will annpl these BY accepting
| those which are tplusi and cruel.
| Sacred historyAells US of one of the most
cherished discipp,of our Saviour who denied
his Master three tines. We ask the attention
ofthose who belieS in the system Of secret
beIrayals 10 this instructive passage:
Matt. 90. Snow letrr sat without in the
palace and damsel gamp INTO him, saving
! Thou also vert with JSns Of Galllre.
40. But he denied fore them all, saying
| l KNOW NOT WHAT THOukAYEST.
all. And when be sas gone out into the
porch, another maid saw5him, and said unto
them that were there nis fellow was also
with Jesus OF Nazareth.
"72. find again he deniea icjh an oath, ! DO
NOT KNOW THE MAN.
"73. And after while cam unto him they
that stood by, and said TO Peter Surely thou al |
so art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth
! thee.
ss73 Then began he TO curse nd sqcear, say
ing KNOB NOT the man."
The commentator upon this Impressive pas
sage in Scripture speaks of Peters conduct (so |
amply atoned Immediately after'ards) in the |
following manner
'spefpr denies his .Nasfer acih oybs and Car
SeS. There is nothing more mrrtant for us
to learn than our own weakness. Who that |
saw Peter Wanting but the dav befor-shough |
all men fo'sake Thee. vet will ndI'-coud |
have supposed that in 81 short tim he could
haue forgotten, or at ieasf hare brden oil his
promises % Here, it will BE- seen, ishe high
pr obligation SIT against mere worlty oath ! ! /
''What an apostle prevaricate and 7! Yea,
and curse and swear THAT HE KNEyNoT THE
NAN To WHOM HE HAD PRoFEssEp SO sRoNG AN
ATTACHMENT for whom, in fact, he hi fought,
and nearly committed murder Thquestion
of silly damsel confused and terrtd Peter,
and the fear of being taken for one dthe fol-
lowers Of Jesus led him to prevaricatn, living,
and perjury"
! Now, although Peter had taken oath to
llupport his great Master, vet he owe an OBJ
lgation which he could not, as it seem violate
without bling accused Of perjury Til recalls
us'o the point that there is an o5ligaon due
TO be Stat. and to friendship, and to god NOR
ais, impressed upon all men. which can't be
set AIDE byany worldly obligation, andSsst of
all oSa midnight oath wrung from the ftarand
the pfjudictS of men, without staining osp
who resort TO ,his oath with the guilt of praIt
perjury! bttray abenehctor as Peter d
to betray Shla kiss as Judas did-to persute
neighoor aAr professions of kindnesS all
+, these belong 10 4e science which plots ST.