A37049:600
A37049:600
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. It is lawful to command Devils in the Name of God by those who are called to it, and are gifted to cast them out. 2. It is lawful for any by Prayer to God, and the exercise of Faith on Him, to endeavour to repel and resist them, and to beg that he would rebuke them; as thus, The Lord rebuke thee Satan; this way we neither command the Devil, nor pray to him, but pray unto the Lord to command him.
Again: It is unlawful, 1. When one adjureth him who is not called to it, as those Sons of Sceva did, Act. 19.13, 14. This certainly being a peculiar and extraordinary gift, as those of prophesying, fore-telling of things to come, speaking with Tongues, and healing of the Sick with a word, were; ought not without special warrant to be usurped more than they.
Again: It is unlawful, 1. When one adjureth him who is not called to it, as those Sons of Sceva did, Act. 19.13, 14. This certainly being a peculiar and extraordinary gift, as those of prophecying, fore-telling of things to come, speaking with Tongues, and healing of the Sick with a word, were; ought not without special warrant to be usurped more than they.
2. It is unlawful when it is done by exhorting or obtesting of, or praying unto the Devil himself, and entreating him as we do God, which way implieth, 1. Friendship with him when we entreat him as a Friend. 2. Prayer or worship to him who is not the object of it. 3. An obligation on us to him, when he yieldeth to obey; and he will not fail, if by any means he can, to put that complement or obligation on us, and so Ne •romancers, Witches, Exorcists, &c. may cast out Devils by collusion (though possibly not in a way so explicit), whereby the Devil. gaineth his point upon such as effectually, as if there were a most expressly formed Covenant betwixt him & them; and thus ⟨p. 142⟩[…] ⟨p. 143⟩[…] ⟨p. 144⟩the Pharisees falsely and blasphemously, charged on our blessed Lord, Mat. 12. as if by Beelzebub; that is, by Collusion with the Prince of Devils, he had cast out Devils. There are no doubt, many Sins committed this way, while some take on them confidently to Command the Devil, as if with an Avoid Satan, they could put him into Bonds: And others seek Health from Devils or Witches, (especially when it is supposed to come from them,) and entreat them to do such and such things: All which are Breaches of this Part of the Third Commandment.
2. It is unlawful when it is done by exhorting or obtesting of, or praying unto the Devil himself, and intreating him as we do God, which way implyeth, 1. Friendship with him when we intreat him as a Friend. 2. Prayer or worship to him who is not the object of it. 3. An obligation on us to him, when he yieldeth to obey; and he will not fail, if by any means he can, to put that complement or obligation on us, and so Ne •romancers, Witches, Exorcists, &c. may cast out Devils by collusion (though possibly not in a way so explicit), whereby the Devil. gaineth his point upon such as effectually, as if there were a most expresly formed Covenant betwixt him & them; and thus ⟨p. 142⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 143⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 144⟩the Pharisees falsly and blasphemously, charged on our blessed Lord, Mat. 12. as if by Belezebub; that is, by Collusion with the Prince of Devils, he had cast out Devils. There are no doubt, many Sins committed this way, while some take on them confidently to Command the Devil, as if with an Avoid Sathan, they could put him into Bonds: And others seek Health from Devils or Witches, (especially when it is supposed to come from them,) and intreat them to do such and such things: All which are Breaches of this Part of the Third Commandment.
3. What is said of Adjuring Devils, may be said Proportionally of Adjuring Unreasonable Creatures, which is the same ways Lawful and Unlawful: Charming also, and naming the Lords Name over Diseases, as if some special worth and Efficacy were in some words; is unlawful and Condemned by this Command.
3. What is said of Adjuring Devils, may be said Proportionally of Adjuring Unreasonable Creatures, which is the same wayes Lawful and Unlawful: Charming also, and nameing the Lords Name over Diseases, as if some special worth and Efficacy were in some words; is unlawful and Condemned by this Command.
It followeth now that we say some-thing to Vows, which are Bonds, whereby a man bindeth himself (and so they differ from Adjurations) to God only as party, and that in things belonging to God; willingly, and upon Deliberation. (And so they differ from Promissory Oaths, wherein we bind our selves to others; and in matters which are not of themselves Religious.)
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 God's 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 only, or also outwardly expressed to, or before the Lord: For though these have not alwayes God's 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 some-times necessarily called for, as appeareth. ⟨p. 145⟩1. From the Command; which is to Vow, as well as to Perform, Psalm. 76.11. 2. From Examples of Saints in a • Ages; David faith, Psal. 119. when his Frame is most tender, Ve •se, 57. I have said, I will keep thy Words. And thereafter, Ver. 106. I have sworn, and will perform it, That I will keep thy Righteous Judgments. 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 Midfes, 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 Lord's gracious accepting of such Engagements and Vows, and approving of them. 5. From the several Promises and Prophecies of them, as commendable and good Service, from Men to God, under the Gospel, Isaiah, 19.18. and 21. Jer. 50.4, 5. Isa. 44.5.
We mind not here to medle with Speculative Debates about Vows, but to hold us only at what concerneth Practise: And say, 1. That such Promises to God, and Ingagements, being rightly made and taken on, or rightly gone about; are not only Lawful, but some-times necessarily called for, as appeareth. ⟨p. 145⟩1. From the Command; which is to Vow, as well as to Performe,
So then, I say,
1. In some Cases; to wit, when it Glorifieth God, and Edifieth others; or is Profitable to our selves: But if it thwart with any of these, there is a failing; or when some Pressure of Spirit, or cogent Reason, putteth us not to it, or some great need calleth for it; (as Abraham, for the weighty Reason, expressed by himself, Gen. 14. Swore he would take none of the spoil, he had rescued from the King's over - come by him:) For we are not always called to it.
1. In some Cases; to wit, when it Glorifieth God, and Edifieth others; or is Profitable to our selves: But if it thwart with any of these, there is a failing; or when some Pressure of Spirit, or cogent Reason, putleth us not to it, or some great need calleth for it; (as Abraham, for the weighty Reason, expressed by himself, Gen. 14. Swore he would take none of the spoil, he had rescued from the King's over - comne by him:) For we are not alwayes called to it.
2. I say, Not in all Things; Because the matter of a Vow, must be one of these two: Either, 1. Some commanded Duty, as Jacobs Vow, Gen. 28. and Davids, Psal. 119.106. were: Or 2. Some-thing that relateth to Worship; or may further some commanded Duty, or prevent some Sin, to which we are given, and much inclined: As suppose a Man should engage himself to rise sooner in the Morning, that he might the more Effectually cross the Lust of his Lazine •s; and to keep more at home, the better to prevent the Snare of Evil, and House-Company: It is not House-keeping simply, or Rising soon, that is the matter of his Vow; but as they relate ⟨p. 146⟩unto, or are made use of for such ends; Therefore Vows can only be made to God alone, Psalm. 76.11. and Psalm. 132.2.
2. I say, Not in all Things; Because the matter of a Vow, must be one of these two: Either, 1. Some commanded Duty, as Jacobs Vow, Gen. 28. and Davids, Psal. 119.106. were: Or 2. Some-thing that relateth to Worship; or may further some commanded Duty, or prevent some Sin, to which we are given, and much inclined: As suppose a Man should engage himself to rise sooner in the Morning, that he might the more Effectually cross the Lust of his Lazine •s; and to keep more at home, the better to prevent the Snare of Evil, and House-Company: It is not House-keeping simply, or Rising soon, that is the matter of his Vow; but as they relate ⟨p. 146⟩unto, or are made use of for such ends; Therefore Vows can onely be made to God alone, Psalm. 76.11. and
3. I say, Rightly gone about: That is, 1. Deliberately, and Judiciously; for, Ignorance, Haste, and Ras •ness will spill all. 2. With Humility, and due Sense of our own Corruption, which maketh us (Alas!) to stand in need of such Bands to keep it in, and of such Up-stirrings and Excitements to Duty. 3. With Fear, Singleness, and Zeal for God; with Love to His Honour, and to true Holiness: Not for our self-ends, to gratify an Humour or Passion, or in Fits of Conviction, to stop the Mouth of a Challenge, and so put it by.
3. I say, Rightly gone about: That is, 1. Deliberately, and Judiciously; for, Ignorance, Haste, and Ras •ness will spill all. 2. With Humility, and due Sense of our own Corruption, which maketh us (Alas!) to stand in need of such Bands to keep it in, and of such Up-stirrings and Excitements to Duty. 3. With Fear, Singleness, and Zeal for God; with Love to His Honour, and to true Holiness: Not for our selfe-ends, to gratifie an Humour or Passion, or in Fits of Conviction, to stop the Mouth of a Challenge, and so put it by.
4. The Vow would be heartily, and cheerfully undertaken, not as a piece of Bondage, but of Liberty, that we may be thereby indeed engaged unto the Lord, having no hink or Hesitation; nor Reservation in the making of it: what can be expected as to the performance, if there be Hesitation, in the very undertaking?
4. The Vow would be heartily, and chearfully undertaken, not as a piece of Bondage, but of Liberty, that we may be thereby indeed ingaged unto the Lord, having no hink or Hesitation; nor Reservation in the making of it: what can be expected as to the performance, if there be Hesitation, in the very undertaking?
5. There should be much denyedness in it. 1. To our selves. 2. To the Oath as not accounting our selves to be more Religious by it; or more pleasing to God, as if it merited somewhat; nor yet more strengthened by making of it, but more engaged to perform, and keep what we have vowed.
5. There should be much denyedness in it. 1. To our selves. 2. To the Oath as not accounting our selves to be more Religious by it; or more pleasing to God, as if it merited somewhat; nor yet more strengthned by making of it, but more ingaged to perform, and keep what we have vowed.
6. There should be Diligence in doing, going on, and helping and inciting others to join with us; that so it may through Grace be made irrevocable, which is the practise of the People of God, Jer. 50.4, 5.
6. There should be Diligence in doing, going on, and helping and inciting others to joyne with us; that so it may through Grace be made irrevocable, which is the practise of the People of God, Jer. 50.4, 5.
7. There should be Engaging, in the Lively Exercise of Faith; drawing Strength from Jesus Christ, according to His own promise; and of our selves to make use of him, for that end: Yea, that should be Laid for the Foundation of our undertaking: Therefore every such engaging, is a Covenanting with God, and there is no Covenanting with Him, but by interposing of Jesus Christ, both for the procuring of Pardon for by-past failings and guilt; and for Grace and Strength, to perform, called-for, and engaged into Duties, •or the Future. See a frame of Spirit, •it for Covenanting, when seriously and suitably gone about, Jer. 50.4.5.
7. There should be Ingaging, in the Lively Exercise of Faith; drawing Strength from Jesus Christ, according to His own promise; and of our selves to make use of him, for that end: Yea, that should be Laid for the Foundation of our undertaking: Therefore every such ingaging, is a Covenanting with God, and there is no Covenanting with Him, but by interposing of Jesus Christ, both for the procuring of Pardon for by-past failings and guilt; and for Grace and Strength, to perform, called-for, and ingaged into Duties, •or the Future. See a frame of Spirit, •it for Covenanting, when seriously and suitably gone about, Jer. 50.4.5.
Concerning these Engagements, we say. 2. That they are of themselves Obligatory, and binding to those who come under them, as Numb. 30.2, 3. Vowing is called the Binding of a Man's Soul; And Psal. 36.12. it's said, Thy Vows are upon me, O Lord, as pressing him with a Weight, till they were payed.
Concerning these Ingagements, we say. 2. That they are of themselves Obligatory, and binding to those who come under them, as Numb. 30.2, 3. Vowing is called the Binding of a Man's Soul; And Psal. 36.12. it's said, Thy Vows are upon me, O Lord, as pressing him with a Weight, till they were payed.