us not to swear by the immediate name of God, but he has
said, "swear not at all, neither by heaven nor by the earth," and in
order to hinder our inventing any other irreligious exclamations or
expressions, he has even added, "but let your communications be yea,
yea, and nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than this simple
affirmation and denial cometh of evil." Nay, more, so greatly do I
reverence that high and holy name, that I think even some good
people have it too frequently in their mouths; and that they might
convey the idea without the word.

_Bragwell._ Well, well, I must take a little more care, I believe. I
vow to heaven I did not know there had been so much harm in it; but
my daughters seldom speak without using some of these words, and yet
they wanted to make me believe the other day that it was monstrous
vulgar to swear.

_Worthy._ Women, even gentlewomen, who ought to correct this evil
habit in their fathers, and husbands, and children, are too apt to
encourage it by their own practice. And indeed they betray the
profaneness of their own minds also by it; for none who venerate the
holy name of God, can either profane in this manner themselves, or
hear others do so without being exceedingly pained at it.

_Bragwell._ Well, since you are so hard upon me, I believe I must
e'en give up this point--so let us pass on to the next, and here I
tread upon sure ground; for as sharp as you are upon me, you can't
accuse me of being a Sabbath breaker, since I go to church every
Sunday of my life, unless on some very extraordinary occasion.

_Worthy._ For those occasions the gospel allows, by saying, "the
Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Our own
sickness, or attending on the sickness of others, are lawful
impediments.

_Bragwell._ Yes, and I am now and then obliged to look at a drove of
beasts, or to go a journey, or take some medicine, or perhaps some
friend may call upon me, or it may be very cold, or very hot, or
very rainy.

_Worthy._ Poor excuse! Mr. Bragwell. Do you call these lawful
impediments? I am afraid they will not pass for such on the day of
judgment. But how is the rest of your Sunday spent?

_Bragwell._ O, why, I assure you I often go to church in the
afternoon also, and even if I am ever so sleepy.

_Worthy._ And so you finish your nap at church, I suppose.

_Bragwell._ Why, as to that, to be sure we do contrive to have
something a little nicer than common for dinner on a