The Views of the Ancient Waldenses Against the Swearing of Oaths

In regard to this point the Waldenses were of the same opinion with us, teaching that the fathers of the Old Testament were permitted, when necessity required it, to swear an oath, in or by the name of the Lord; but that for Christians it is quite unlawful, according to the teaching of our Savior, who says: "You have heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord: but I say to you, Swear not at all" (Matthew 5, verses 33 and 34).

In the first book of the first part of the History of the Waldenses, written by Jean Paul Perrin Lionnoys, and translated by J. M. H., chapter 3, page 6, column 1, the following point, among others, is brought forward as an accusation against the Waldenses: "The sixth (tenet) which they (the Waldenses) maintained was that men should not swear on any account." From Albert de Capit. and Reiner. Also, P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 534, column 2, page 535, column 1.

How the compiler of these things seeks to explain this matter, we here pass over, as this is not the proper place to speak of it. But when necessary, we shall consider it our duty to give an account of it.

Far more pertinent and important, however, is what is recorded in Bapt. Hist., page 624, where it is stated that in regard to the swearing of oaths they believed this: "Article 9. That every oath is a mortal sin; saying: Swear not at all; but let your communication be, Yes, that is yes; No, that is no." Extracted from an old book of parchment, ascribed to Reinerius. Also, A. Mell., second book, folio 432, column 4:

In the articles ascribed by G. Prateolus and G. Reginaldus to the Waldenses, as having constituted their faith, mention is made of their views in regard to the swearing of oaths, concerning which the eighteenth article contains the following: "They (the Waldenses) say that all manner of swearing is unlawful for Christians, so that it is nowhere lawful to swear, not even before the judge, when he compels one to it, to testify to the truth." A. Mell., second book, folio 434, column 1. Elench. Haeres. Calv. Turcism., book 2, chapter 5.

It is true, Mellinus, after the manner of the Calvinists, of whom he was a leader, endeavors to explain, as it were, this article of the Waldenses, as though by it they did not prohibit all swearing of oaths, but only frivolous swearing. His words are these: "The eighteenth article has reference only to unjust and perjurious swearing, as the said author admits, (he means the author who charges them with those articles) saying: 'The occasion which led them into this belief was the fact that they so often and continually heard the people swear for trifling reasons, and because by this one easily falls into perjury.'"

But hear what he further says, as he adds a jeering comparison, saying: "That the heretics, who never swear, are like the devil, of whom we do not read that he ever swore." Page 434, column 3.

I ask you, beloved reader, see now by what author Mellinus seeks to establish his case. It is true, he first quotes this author when presenting the articles of the Waldenses, and this for the reason that the latter has presented them in such a way that they in every part militate against the Roman church; but now, seeing that the said author has presented the article about the swearing of oaths (in which the Waldenses deny all swearing) in such a way that it militates against the Calvinistic church, he begins, in order to make the matter doubtful, and to deprive the Waldenses of the article about non-swearing, to quote from the said author again, and this in mocking and impious language.

But becoming more discreet, he begins to extol what is expressed in the eighteenth article about the swearing of the Waldenses, above the manner of the papists, saying: "But they (the Waldenses) who have learned from Christ, 'Let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no; for whatever is more than these comes of evil' (Matthew 5, verse 37), will judge that the papists, among whom the practice of daily swearing so frivolously is in vogue, are more like that Evil One, that is, the devil, than the Waldenses, who, guarding against lying and swearing, and in their daily conversation, are accustomed to say only, Yes, yes; No, no; as this same writer acknowledges in regard to them. They guard against backbiting, foul words, lying, and swearing, and, as another inquisitor has said:

They are prudent in their words, avoid all lying and swearing; also, they teach to avoid all lying, backbiting, and swearing." A. Mell., second book, folio 434, column 3, from Freher. Hist. Bohem., page 232.

With these and similar passages from the authors mentioned above, Mellinus has sought to embellish the Waldenses, to show that they were pious, upright and moral people; but in the meantime he forgot himself, never once thinking that by this he abundantly establishes what in other places he endeavors to refute, namely, that the Waldenses rejected all swearing of oaths.

Here we see how excellent truth is, that it cannot remain hidden, but is brought to light even by its opponents, either unintentionally or otherwise. I should leave this subject here, but since Mellinus has helped me on the way to show him his perverted zeal, I find it necessary to enter more deeply into the matter. This good, but perversely zealous man, having put all his arguments aside, plainly relates, from an old papistic work of three hundred years ago, that the Waldenses believed all oaths to be mortal sins; indeed, that they considered him who would compel another to swear worse than a murderer. A. Mell., second book, folio 432, column 4, from Illyric. Catal., book 15. Title Waldens. See also, Conferedit Freher. in Hist. Bohem. and Gretser. Sweluc. Tudens. [n386-2]

Of such and similar passages the writers who present the views of the Waldenses are full to overflowing, so that it is as clear as the sun that these people rejected the swearing of oaths and everything that resembled it, even to the saying of the word, Truly, or Certainly, and so on; of which the writer mentioned above also makes mention, saying: "They (the Waldenses) do not say to one another, Truly, Certainly, or the like." Folio 432, column 4.

All this was done from fear of swearing in any way, because the Lord had so expressly said, "Swear not at all." Matthew 5, verse 34; hence they avoided all manners which bore any resemblance to the swearing of oaths.

But, lest any should think that the Albigenses, who were one people with the Waldenses (though others distinguished between them), differed from them in their views, belief, and practice as regards this point, let him read what is noted in the Martyrs' Mirror, edition of 1631, page 51, column 2; where it is stated, from Baronius, for the year 1178, numbers 3 and 4: "That many of the Albigenses, from fear of severe punishment, feigned a return to the Roman church; but when an oath was demanded of them they refused to swear; hence they were pronounced heretics and solemnly excommunicated with burning tapers, with an injunction to all Catholics to shun them, and to all (Romanistic) princes to expel them from their dominions. [n386-1]