For the Fourth Remedy, I should advise the Swearer to oblige himself to pay or suffer somewhat for every Oath he swears; those little Forfeitures serving both as Monitors and as Penalties. But if the Bargain tye you to Pecuniary Disbursements, be sure distressed Christians be (at least) Sharers in them. For if (as Divines tell us) the Poor be God’s Receivers, they seem to have a Title as well by Justice as by Charity, to the Amerciaments that are estreated upon Trespasses against their Lord. But have a care you turn not this Physick into Poyson, by imagining that when you have fin’d for your engagements, you have done Penance for your sins; and by your Justice to your Compacts, cancell’d your Disobedience to your Maker. No, no, God requires not that you should part with your Sixpences, but with your Sins; and the Repentance he accepts, consists not in a paying for, but in forsaking your Transgressions. Esteem then these inconsiderable Mulcts but as Remembrancers of your Faults, not Satisfaction for them.
Ally’d to this Expedient is that useful one of procuring some discreet Friend, by putting you in mind of every Oath, to force you to take notice of your Faults; which this course will very much contribute to make you both weary and asham’d of. Provided always, that these Reprehensions be as well seasonable as just; for to correct men in the first violent transports of their Choler, is by administring Physick in the extremity of the Fit, but to exasperate instead of curing. Reason being to our Passions, as the Wind to the Fires; the same Puff that will blow out the Flames of a Candle, will but kindle those that prey upon a Faggot. Reprehensions may suppress Passions when they are weak, but do but incense them whilst they are raging. ‘Tis listed amongst the Miracles of Christ, that he once chid a Storm into a (Mat. 8. 26) Calm.