Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now if it was so in the time of the law, by greater reason ought we nowadays to be freed therefrom. For vows were then common among the people, and it behooved the people also to be exercised in such ceremonies according to the weakness of that time, when our Lord Jesus was not yet come into the world. And it was requisite that the faithful should follow those figures and shadows which were in that time. And albeit God held them in, as little children by appointing such ceremonies: Yet notwithstanding in this behalf he laid the bridle on their necks as men say, & meant not to persuade them to vow, or to occasion them to bind themselves; but left the matter to their own choice and liberty. Nowadays then seeing that we are under the Gospel, where there is no longer any such bondage as was in the time of the law; think we that our Lord taketh any great pleasure of it when men vow, so as they think they be not devout enough, except they vow one thing or other and pass others therein? But our Lord contrariwise had much rather that men should keep themselves unto that which he hath ordained and follow the common rule in which is all our perfection. Moreover let us note, that if any man think to add any thing to the law of God by vowing, he is to be condemned for it, although it have no other evil nor vice in it. For we are forbidden to add any thing unto that which God hath declared unto us. Therefore when we make any vow, it must not be as if we would give God something besides that which he hath required; but it must be to keep ⟨p. 831⟩us always unto his service. When we tend unto this code, we may say: we belong unto God, and all that he hath given unto us is his still; and it is good reason that we should make an acknowledging of it. In deed we have not any special rule to say: I will offer this thing or I will offer that: God leaveth it in our own choice. But howsoever the world goeth we must attempt nothing beyond that which he hath permitted unto us, and what we know §10that he requireth of us by his word. If men (I say) be not held with such a bridle, questionless whatsoever we vow is unclean and devilish, and God disavoweth all and condemneth it.

Nowe if it was so in the time of the law, by greater reason ought we nowadayes to be freed therefrom. For vowes were then common among the people, and it behooued the people also to bee exercised in such ceremonies according to the weakenesse of that time, when our Lorde Iesus was not yet come into the worlde. And it was requisite that the faithfull shoulde folowe those figures and shadowes which were in that time. And albeit God helde them in, as little children by appointing such ceremonies: Yet notwithstanding in this behalfe hee layde the bridle on their neckes as men say, & meant not to perswade them to vowe, or to occasion them to binde themselues; but left the matter to their owne choyce and libertie. Nowadayes then seeing that wee are vnder the Gospell, where there is no longer anie such bondage as was in the time of the lawe; thinke wee that our Lorde taketh any great pleasure of it when men vowe, so as they thinke they be not deuout enough, except they vowe one thing or other and passe others therein? But our Lorde contrariwise had much rather that men shoulde keep themselues vnto that which he hath ordeined and followe the common rule in which is al our perfection. Moreouer let vs note, that if anie man thinke to adde any thing to the lawe of God by vowing, hee is to bee condemned for it, although it haue no other euill nor vice in it. For wee are forbidden to adde anie thing vnto that which God hath declared vnto vs. Therefore when we make any vowe, it must not bee as if wee woulde giue God something besides that which he hath required; but it must be to keepe