1Strike the iron therefore, as it is in the proverb, strike it while it is hot. It is then fit to be wrought upon for any thing. Take the first opportunity, which is the fittest season. If in any thing thou wilt make speed, and manifest forwardness, do it in performing thy vows. Hast thou made a vow whilst thou art at sea? pay it so soon as thou comest to land: if thou canst pay it so soon. Hast thou vowed in sickness? let the payment of it, be the first thing thou doest upon thy recovery. So on other like occasions. Hast thou by vow bound thy self to read the word and pray every morning? Let this be the first work thou doest being up. If thou hast any weighty business to do betimes, rise the sooner, that thy vow may be first done. Let all things give place to it: it, to nothing. A man that is able and willing to pay a debt, accounts no money his own, till the debt be paid. He will keep in mind and memory the day of payment, he will watch for it: his money (as we say) burneth in his bags, till it be paid. Account thy vow a debt. No debt can be more due. No bond more binding. A man of his word had as leave forfeit a bond, as fail of his word. Be thou a man of thy word with God. Pay thy debt: perform thy vow, and that on the day of payment, in due time; even ⟨p. 197⟩now, if the now be come, Defer not to pay thy vows. Very pertinent to this purpose, and emphatical is this phrase of the Psalmist, Thy vows are upon me O God. Though he 2made the vows, yet he stiles them Gods vows; because being made to God, they were as a debt due to him, as a bond made by a debtor to a creditor, is not now the debtors, but the creditors. Thus then he accounts his vow as a due debt unto God; Thereupon he adds, Thy vows are upon me, 3whereby he shows, that as a faithful debtor, who hath a mind to discharge his bond, oft thinks of the time of payment; and in that respect his debt lieth as a burden upon him, neither can he be quiet, till it be paid (As a porter that hath a burden on him, is not at rest till he be freed from it) so this Psalmist had the vow which he had made to God, as a debt, as a burden, upon him, whereby he shows, that his mind and desire was, with the first opportunity to be eased thereof, which could not be, but by performing the same.
1Strike the iron therefore, as it is in the proverbe, strike it while it is hot. It is then fit to be wrought upon for any thing. Take the first opportunity, which is the fittest season. If in any thing thou wilt make speed, and manifest forwardnesse, do it in performing thy vowes. Hast thou made a vow whilest thou art at sea? pay it so soone as thou commest to land: if thou canst pay it so soone. Hast thou vowed in sicknesse? let the payment of it, be the first thing thou doest upon thy recovery. So on other like occasions. Hast thou by vow bound thy selfe to read the word and pray every morning? Let this be the first worke thou doest being up. If thou hast any weighty businesse to doe betimes, rise the sooner, that thy vow may bee first done. Let all things give place to it: it, to nothing. A man that is able and willing to pay a debt, accounts no money his owne, till the debt be paid. He will keepe in mind and memory the day of paiment, he will watch for it: his money (as we say) burneth in his baggs, till it be paid. Account thy vow a debt. No debt can be more due. No bond more binding. A man of his word had as leave forfeit a bond, as faile of his word. Be thou a man of thy word with God. Pay thy debt: performe thy vow, and that on the day of paiment, in due time; even ⟨p. 197⟩now, if the now be come, Deferre not to pay thy vowes. Very pertinent to this purpose, and emphaticall is this phrase of the Psalmist, Thy vowes are upon mee O God. Though hee 2made the vowes, yet he stiles them Gods vowes; because being made to God, they were as a debt due to him, as a bond made by a debtor to a creditor, is not now the debters, but the creditors. Thus then he accounts his vow as a due debt unto God; Thereupon he adds, Thy vowes are upon me, 3whereby he shewes, that as a faithfull debter, who hath a mind to discharge his bond, oft thinkes of the time of paiment; and in that respect his debt lyeth as a burden upon him, neither can he be quiet, till it be paid (As a porter that hath a burden on him, is not at rest till he be freed from it) so this Psalmist had the vow which hee had made to God, as a debt, as a burden, upon him, whereby hee shewes, that his mind and desire was, with the first opportunity to be eased thereof, which could not be, but by performing the same.
- 1Exhortation to be speedy in paying vows. Libenter voveat. & celeriter reddat, & in hoc quod votum reddit meliori semper conatu proficiat. Aug. de Fide ad P. Diac. c▪ 3.Exhortation to be speedy in paying vowes. Libenter voveat. & celeriter reddat, & in hoc quod votum reddit meliori semper conatu proficiat. Aug. de Fide ad P. Diac. c▪ 3.
- 2Psal 56. 12.
- 3Vows are debts.Vowes are debts.
