The law unsealed

Under Vows we comprehend, 1. Sacraments. 2. Covenants, solemnly engaged into before others. 3. Particular Vows to God. 4. Promises and engagements▪ whether inward in the Heart only, or also outwardly expressed to, or before the Lord: For though these have not always Gods Name, formally and expressly interposed in them▪ yet He being Party, and they being made to him, he cannot but be singularly looked at, as Party, Witness, and Judge, in the making and performing of them: Therefore, do we comprehend all even purposes, expressed in Prayer to him, as being of the same kind, though not of the like Degree.

Under Vows we comprehend, 1. Sacraments. 2. Covenants, solemnly ingaged into before others. 3. Particular Vows to God. 4. Promises and ingagements▪ whether inward in the Heart onely, or also outwardly expressed to, or before the Lord: For though these have not alwayes Gods Name, formally and expresly interposed in them▪ yet He being Party, and they being made to him, he cannot but be singularly looked at, as Party, Witness, and Judge, in the making and performing of them: Therefore, do we comprehend all even purposes, expressed in Prayer to him, as being of the same kind, though not of the like Degree.

We mind not here to meddle with speculative Debates about Vows, but to hold us only at what concerneth Practise: And say, 1. That such Promises to God, and engagements, being rightly made and taken on, or rightly gone about; are not only Lawful, but sometimes necessarily called for, as appeareth. 1. From the Command, which is to Vow, as well as to perform, Psalm 76 11. 2. From Example of Saints in all Ages: David faith, Psalm 119. when his frame is most tender, Verse 57. I have said. I will keep thy words. And thereafter, Verse 106. I have sworn, […] well perform it, That I w•ll keep thy righteous Judgements. For, saying and swearing to God are near the same; and who sincerely say in secret, may in some Cases also Articulately swear. 3. From the end of Vows, which is to bind us to something the more straitly, and to evidence our greater desire and willingness to be so bound: And therefore they being Midses, for that end; when the end is in a special manner called for: and may, in all probability, be the better obtained, by the use of this Mean: then is it called for also, and cannot be omitted. 4. From the Lords gracious accepting of such Engagements and Vows, and approving of them. 5. From the several Promise and Prophecies of them, as commendable and good service, from Men to God, under the Gospel,