A37049:605
A37049:605
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.
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, 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 Articulatly 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 calledfor 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.
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.
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 twofold 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 Superadded 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, than before; and that Command will have a deeper Impression, and a more weight on him, to persuade him to do, and to challenge him when he hath omitted, than before. Again, in things that are merely Accessories to a Religious end, as Extrinsic Means; for Instance, Fasting, Staying at Home, Vowing, &c. 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 twofold Addition, 1. In respect of us; so that though the Obligation be not greater in it self, yet we joine our Approbation or Consent unto that, whereby, as by a positive Superadded 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, than before; and that Command will have a deeper Impression, and a more weight on him, to perswade him to do, and to challenge him when he hath omitted, than before. Again, in things that are meerly Accessaries to a Religious end, as Extrinsick Means; for Instance, Fasting, Staying at Home, Vowing, &c. 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.
If it be asked, 2. What is to be thought of our Common and Ordinary Engagements, 1. By Baptism. 2. At the Lords Supper. 3. By Oaths in Covenants. 4. Engagements in Private to God by Vows, Purposes, Promises, Resolutions, in thoughts within; or expressed in Prayer: (I suppose it doth not a little concern all of you to know, how they bind and when they are broken.) We Answer.
If it be asked, 2. What is to be thought of our Common and Ordinary Ingagements, 1. By Baptism. 2. At the Lords Supper. 3. By Oaths in Covenants. 4. Ingagements in Private to God by Vows, Purposes, Promises, Resolutions, in thoughts within; or expressed in Prayer: (I suppose it doth not a little concern all of you to know, how they bind and when they are broken.) We Answer.
1. That, All these are binding, and still accounted so, (Psal. 119.106. Psal. 67.) is not to be doubted, yea binding in an Eminent Degree, as being made To God, and not only Before ⟨p. 148⟩Him: The Nature of the thing and our consent also bindeth: For, 1. If interposing the Name of God to men doth bind, much more to God. 2. If a Promise solemnly ratified bind to men, much more to God. Hence 3. Our Obligations in Baptism, and the Lords Supper, receive Strength and Conviction against us from the Covenant, which we solemnly Ratify and renew with God therein, and that before the World: And our Breach of these Vows is charged on us by the Lord, as an open Breach of his Covenant; the Obligation whereof is pleaded from them, Genesis, 17. ver. 10. and 14. and else-where.
1. That, All these are binding, and still accounted so, (Psal. 119.106. Psal. 67.) is not to be doubted, yea binding in an Eminent Degree, as being made To God, and not only Before ⟨p. 148⟩Him: The Nature of the thing and our consent also bindeth: For, 1. If interposing the Name of God to men doth bind, much more to God. 2. If a Promise solemnly ratifyed bind to men, much more to God. Hence 3. Our Obligations in Baptism, and the Lords Supper, receive Strength and Conviction against us from the Covenant, which we solemnly Ratifie and renew with God therein, and that before the World: And our Breach of these Vows is charged on us by the Lord, as an open Breach of his Covenant; the Obligation whereof is pleaded from them, Genesis, 17. ver. 10. and 14. and else-where.
2. Yet do they not bind absolutely, as the Duty lieth upon us and as we should aim at it; for though we be bound by the Law to be perfectly Holy, and without sin; yet doth not a Vow so tie us, or that Obligation is not from our Vow, but from the Law; because our Vow is to be understood, 1. With Respect to our Nature, now Corrupt and sinful: and therefore to Vow, Absolutely, to be without Sin, or absolutely to abstain from it, is injurious and impossible. 2. With respect to our aim and desire. 3. With respect to our not Approving, or Dis-approving our selves in any thing, wherein we come short. 4. In respect of the Obligation to endeavour it, which is, Alway, and by all suitable means to press at it, and to leave nothing undone, which may further it: So then 1. They do not bind Absolutely or Simply, but Respectively. 2. Not as to the Victory, but as to the Wrestling and Fighting for Victory. 3. Not as to the Event, but as to the Means which are in our Power; and therefore some plead, That they had not broken Covenant, though they had Sins, Psal. 44.17.
2. Yet do they not bind absolutely, as the Duty lyeth upon us and as we should aim at it; for though we be bound by the Law to be perfectly Holy, and without sin; yet doth not a Vow so tye us, or that Obligation is not from our Vow, but from the Law; because our Vow is to be understood, 1. With Respect to our Nature, now Corrupt and sinful: and therefore to Vow, Absolutely, to be without Sin, or absolutely to abstain from it, is injurious and impossible. 2. With respect to our aim and desire. 3. With respect to our not Approving, or Dis-approving our selves in any thing, wherein we come short. 4. In respect of the Obligation to endeavour it, which is, Alway, and by all suitable means to presse at it, and to leave nothing undone, which may further it: So then 1. They do not bind Absolutely or Simply, but Respectively. 2. Not as to the Victory, but as to the Wrestling and Fighting for Victory. 3. Not as to the Event, but as to the Means which are in our Power; and therefore some plead, That they had not broken Covenant, though they had Sins, Psal. 44.17.
3. Though they bind not Simply or Absolutely, (and are not therefore to be so taken or understood) yet they tie Absolutely, 1. To the main of having God ours in Christ. 2. In other things, thus:
3. Though they bind not Simply or Absolutely, (and are not therefore to be so taken or understood) yet they tye Absolutely, 1. To the main of having God ours in Christ. 2. In other things, thus: