9. “I will now (he goes on) address myself to _church-wardens_. Your oath is, ‘That you shall well and truly execute the office of a _church-warden_, for the ensuing year; and to the best of your skill and knowledge, _present_ such persons and things, as are _presentable_, by the ecclesiastical laws of this realm.’ I shall set down only a few of these.”
“The statute of king _James_ I. obliges you to present once a year, all monthly _absenters_ from church.”
“The 90th canon enjoins you, first to _admonish_ and then, if they reform not, to _present_, all your parishioners who do not _duly_ resort to _church_ on Sundays, and there continue the whole time of divine service. On this article observe. 1. That a person’s being absent from church, is ground sufficient for you to proceed. 2. That you are not only to present those who do not come to church, but also those that behave _irreverently_ or _indecently_ there, either walking about, or talking; all who do not abide there orderly and soberly, the whole time of service and sermon, and all that _loiter_ away any part of that time in the church-yard or in the fields.”
“The 112th canon enjoins you, within 40 days after Easter, to exhibit to the bishop or his chancellor, _the names of all_ above the age of sixteen, within your parish that did not receive the communion.”
“Other statutes oblige you to present _drunkenness_, _tippling_, and public houses _suffering persons to tipple_ in them.”
“And the 109th canon binds you to present _all manner_ of vice, prophaneness and debauchery, requiring you faithfully to _present all_ and every the offenders in _adultery_, _whoredom_, _drunkenness_, _prophane swearing_, or any other _uncleanness_ and _wickedness_ of life.” It is therefore a part of that office to which you are solemnly sworn to present not only all _drunkenness_ and _tippling_, but _prophane swearing_, _lewdness_, and whatsoever else is contrary to Christian piety. So that if you know any of your parishioners, be his quality or circumstances what they will, that is guilty of any of these, you are obliged to _present him to the next visitation_, or you are yourselves guilty of perjury. And the 26th canon expresses such an abhorrence of a _church-warden_’s neglect in this matter, that it forbids the minister, _in any wise_, to admit you to the holy communion, _who_ (as the words of the canon are) _having taken your oaths to present all such offences in your several parishes, shall notwithstanding your said oaths, either in neglecting or refusing to present, wittingly and willingly, desperately and irreligiously incur, the horrid guilt of perjury_.”
And who is clear? I appeal to every minister of a parish, from one end of _England_ to the other, how many _church-wardens_ have you known, in twenty, thirty, forty years, who did not thus _desperately_ and _irreligiously incur, the horrid guilt of perjury_?
10. I proceed to perjuries of another kind. The oath taken by all _captains of ships_, every time they return from a trading voyage, runs in these terms:
“I do swear, that the entry above written, now tendered and subscribed by me, is a just report of the name of my ship, its burthen, bulk, property, number and country mariners, ♦the present master and voyage: and that it doth farther contain a true account of my lading, with the particular marks, numbers, quantity, quality and consignment, of all the goods and merchandizes in my said ship, to the best of my knowledge; and that I have not broke bulk, or delivered any goods out of my said ship, since her loading in.
So help me God.”
♦ “he” replaced with “the” per Errata
These words are so clear, express, and unambiguous, that they require no explanation. But who takes this plain oath, without being _knowingly and deliberately forsworn_? Does one captain in fifty? Does one in five hundred? May we not go farther yet? Are there five captains of vessels now in _London_, who have not at one time or another, by this very oath, which they knew to be false when they took it, incurred the guilt of _wilful perjury_?
11. The oath which all _officers_ of his Majesty’s _customs_, take at their admission into the office, runs thus:
“I do swear to be true and faithful in the execution, to the best of my knowledge and power, of the trust committed to my charge and inspection, in the service of his Majesty’s customs: and that I will not take or receive, any reward or gratuity, directly or indirectly, other than my salary, or what is or shall be allowed me from the crown, or the regular fees established by law, for any service done or to be done in the execution of my employment in the customs, on any account whatsoever. So help me God.”