Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/273

CANTO II.] But saints, whom oaths or vows oblige, Know little of their privilege; Further, I mean, than carrying on Some self-advantage of their own: For if the devil, to serve his turn, Can tell truth; why the saints should scorn, When it serves theirs, to swear and lie, I think there's little reason why: Else h' has a greater power than they, Which 'twere impiety to say, We're not commanded to forbear, Indefinitely, at all to swear; But to swear idly, and in vain, Without self-interest or gain. For breaking of an oath and lying, Is but a kind of self-denying, A saint-like virtue; and from hence Some have broke oaths by Providence. Some, to the glory of the Lord, Perjur'd themselves, and broke their word: And this the constant rule and practice Of all our late apostles' acts is. Was not the Cause at first begun With perjury, and carried on? Was there an oath the godly took, But in due time and place they broke?