Westminster Confession of Faith

A lawful oath is a part of religious worship,⁴⁴⁴ wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.⁴⁴⁵

The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.⁴⁴⁶ Therefore, to swear vainly or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred.⁴⁴⁷ Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under the New Testament, as well as under the Old;⁴⁴⁸ so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters ought to be taken.⁴⁴⁹

Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act; and therein to avouch nothing, but what he is fully persuaded is the truth.⁴⁵⁰ Neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform.⁴⁵¹ Yet is it a sin to refuse an oath touching anything that is good and just, being imposed by lawful authority.⁴⁵²

An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation.⁴⁵³ It cannot oblige to sin: but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt.⁴⁵⁴ Not is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels.⁴⁵⁵

A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness.⁴⁵⁶

It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:⁴⁵⁷ and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties; or to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.⁴⁵⁸

No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God.⁴⁵⁹ In which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.⁴⁶⁰