• What matter of humiliation is here ministered unto us for breaking this strong cord, for mocking God by our too much carelessness in keeping our vows, yea and impious profaneness in breaking them? Who hath not cause to be much humbled in this respect? Some (it may be) will say, we never made any vows: and therefore cannot be guilty of breaking vows. Let such consider that most sacred vow which every of us made in Baptism. Let them consider the like sacred vows made and renewed so oft as we have celebrated the Lords Supper. Let them consider the solemn vows that we have made in days of humiliation and fast. Let them also consider the public vows which in the assembly of Saints have week after week been made. And as for 1others which are more conscionable in their duty, let us consider the private vows which in our daily prayers we make, especially those which upon some heinous sins lying heavy upon our conscience, in sickness or any other distress, in earnest desire of some special blessing, we have vowed. Consider these and other vows whereby we have fast bound our selves to the Lord, and we shall see that the 2Lord hath cause enough to account us all sons of Belial, refractary children, that will be kept under no yoke, no not under those yokes that we have voluntarily put upon our own necks. We come in this respect too near to them, who say, against the Lord and against his Anointed, Let us break 3their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. Thus do we justly deserve that God should disannul his promise and covenant of mercy and grace with us. Let these things ⟨p. 192⟩be laid close to our consciences, that the wounds thereof may humble us, and being penitently humbled, we may earnestly crave mercy and pardon for this sin especially. Sins against the third commandment, as blasphemy, perjury, and breach of vows, pierce deep into a sensible conscience. But though they make deep wounds, yet is there sufficient virtue in the blood of Christ to heal them: The 4blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. Apply that precious blood to the wounds of thy soul. Seeing that which is past and done, cannot be recalled and undone, it is not meet that the wounds of thy conscience should continually be kept open, till all the life thereof be clean wasted. Therefore in craving pardon for this sin, believe that it is pardoned:
• What matter of humiliation is here ministred unto us for breaking this strong cord, for mocking God by our too much carelesnesse in keeping our vowes, yea and impious profanesse in breaking them? Who hath not cause to bee much humbled in this respect? Some (it may bee) will say, we never made any vowes: and therefore cannot be guilty of breaking vowes. Let such consider that most sacred vow which every of us made in Baptisme. Let them consider the like sacred vowes made and renewed so oft as we have celebrated the Lords Supper. Let them consider the solemne vows that we have made in daies of humiliation and fast. Let them also consider the publike vowes which in the assembly of Saints have weeke after weeke beene made. And as for 1others which are more conscionable in their duty, let us consider the private vowes which in our daily prayers we make, especially those which upon some hainous sinnes lying heavy upon our conscience, in sicknesse or any other distresse, in earnest desire of some speciall blessing, we have vowed. Consider these and other vowes whereby we have fast bound our selves to the Lord, and we shall see that the 2Lord hath cause enough to account vs all sonnes of Beliall, refractary children, that wilbe kept under no yoke, no not under those yokes that we have voluntarily put upon our own neckes. We come in this respect too neare to them, who say, against the Lord and against his Annointed, Let us breake 3their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. Thus doe we justly deserve that God should disanull his promise and covenant of mercy and grace with us. Let these things ⟨p. 192⟩be laid close to our consciences, that the wounds thereof may humble us, and being penitently humbled, we may earnestly crave mercy and pardon for this sin especially. Sinnes against the third commandement, as blasphemy, perjury, and breach of vowes, pierce deepe into a sensible conscience. But though they make deepe wounds, yet is there sufficient vertue in the bloud of Christ to heale them: The 4bloud of Christ cleanseth from all sinne. Apply that precious bloud to the wounds of thy soule. Seeing that which is past and done, cannot be recalled and undone, it is not meet that the wounds of thy conscience should continually be kept open, till all the life thereof be cleane wasted. Therefore in craving pardon for this sinne, beleeve that it is pardoned:
