very curious work and interesting a THEIR ORIGIN, NATURE, AND HISTORY. Job Loudley's Book BY JAMES ENDELL TYLER, B. D., RECTOR OF ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND LATE FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE. As by the rare and reverent use of Oaths their dignity is upheld and their ISAAC BARROW. LONDON: JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND. MDCCCXXXIV. i PREFACE. THE following Treatise had been designed, and was in a forward state of preparation for the press, before the Bishop of London announced in the House of Lords, his intention to bring the subject of Oaths, as now administered in England, under the notice of Parliament; when his sentiments were cordially hailed by the Lord Chancellor. The effect of this announcement on my mind was far from discouraging. I received it as an intimation that the present time opened a favourable opportunity to any one who believed that he was able to assist in throwing light on this important, but ill-understood subject. It warned me, indeed, of a fact, which under other circumstances might have deterred me from carrying my design into execution-that the powers of master-minds would be brought to bear on the questions which I had been pursuing; but I was |