The law unsealed

If it be asked, 1. How Vows bind? We Answer, 1. In moral Duties, they make the Obligation no greater; for, they being laid on by the Command of God, and having his Authority, there can be no Addition to that in it self: But there is a two-fold Addition. 1. In respect of us; so that though the Obligation be not greater in it self, yet we join our Approbation or Consent unto that, whereby, as by a positive Super-added voluntary Consent, we bind our selves; so that in some respect we have two Bonds (the Law, and our Oath both) for one. 2. Though it make not the former Obligation, to bind more strongly in it self; yet it maketh that Obligation to have a more deep Impression upon us; so that a man, by Vow bound to a commanded Duty, will think himself more bound to it, then before; and that Command will have a deeper Impression, and more weight on him, to persuade him to do, and to challenge him when he hath omitted, then before. Again, in things that are merely Accessories to a Religious end, as Extrinsic means; for instance, fasting, staying at home, &c. Vowing, never maketh the doing of these of themselves, to be Acts of religious Worship; but it maketh our keeping of them to be by a Religious Tie: so that without Profanity they cannot be altered, out of the case of necessity.

If it be asked, 1. How Vows bind? We Answer, 1. In moral Duties, they make the Obligation no greater; for, they being laid on by the Command of God, and having his Authority, there can be no Addition to that in it self: But there is a two-fold Addition. 1. In respect of us; so that though the Obligation be not greater in it self, yet we joyn our Approbation or Consent unto that, whereby, as by a positive Super-added voluntary Consent, we bind our selves; so that in some respect we have two Bonds (the Law, and our Oath both) for one. 2. Though it make not the former Obligation, to bind more strongly in it self; yet it maketh that Obligation to have a more deep Impression upon us; so that a man, by Vow bound to a commanded Duty, will think himself more bound to it, then before; and that Command will have a deeper Impression, and more weight on him, to perswade him to do, and to challenge him when he hath omitted, then before. Again, in things that are meerly Accessories to a Religious end, as Extrinsick means; for instance, fasting, staying at home, &c. Vowing, never maketh the doing of these of themselves, to be Acts of religious Worship; but it maketh our keeping of them to be by a Religious Tye: so that without Prophanity they cannot be altered, out of the case of necessity.