An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. It cannot oblige to sin; but in any thing not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt. Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels.
Humans have a remarkable capacity for making a word say something other than its simple meaning. Here the Confession exhorts us to speak plainly and not to create a hedge with our words or leave loopholes against a future need of escape.
Whatever is sinful cannot bind, so an oath taken to do a sinful thing has no validity. Still, exercise caution, for again the Confession warns that a valid vow is binding even to the detriment of the one vowing. And it must be kept--there is no use saying that my vow was made to an unbeliever and therefore I am not obligated to keep my word. The Christian's integrity should be unimpeachable.
Tomorrow: How does an oath work out?
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