If then there be a necessity to engage, it may be asked, How peace may be attained in it, and how we may be helped to perform? Answ. 1. We should endeavour to be clear and quiet, as to the soundness of our by-past engagements, and of these ⟨p. 153⟩we presently enter in, as to the motives, grounds, ends, and manner of engaging, that all be right there. 2. If any thing be seen to be wrong, it should be taken with, and mended, that we use not Vows mainly to put by a challenge for the time, without any more of it. 3. Ye should seriously mind these directions: 1. Forget not your Vows and Engagements, be minding them often, and thinking of them so as they may never be forgotten, Jer. 50.4, 5. 2. Defer not to pay them, Eccles. 5.4. Deut. 23.21. Delays make the impression of the weight of the Vow, and of the dread of Him to whom it is made, much to wear out; and, taking liberty to be slack in paying of it, for, but for this once, or for a little while, is a direct breach of it self, and maketh way for more. 3. Keep in mind, and entertain such a frame of spirit as ye were in when they were at first made; such humility, tenderness, awe of God, &c. We often, alas, take on Vows in a good frame, to be on the matter a sort of excuse for us in letting such a frame go, or at least to ease us a little for the time, as if engaging were performance, which is not the least part of the deceit of our hearts. 4. The performance of the thing would be followed as it is undertaken, to wit, in the strength of grace, and by virtue of life derived from Jesus Christ, quickening and strengthening us both as promising and performing. 5. We should be often considering the fearfulness of the sin of Breaking, and examining our selves about our keeping of them; making breaches, that are particularly observed, the matter of confession to God, and of serious repentance before him. If we would suffer these things to sink down deep in us as in the sight of God; this no doubt would make them have a quite other impression. 6. We should still keep the knot fast, and if one promise or resolution seem to be loosed, we should forthwith cast another; or if one obligation given, seem to be weakened, we should give another, that there may be still some obligation standing over our heads;
If then there be a necessity to engage, it may be asked, How peace may be attained in it, and how we may be helped to perform? Answ. 1. We should endeavour to be clear and quiet, as to the soundness of our by-past engagements, and of these ⟨p. 153⟩we presently enter in, as to the motives, grounds, ends, and manner of engaging, that all be right there. 2. If any thing be seen to be wrong, it should be taken with, and mended, that we use not Vows mainly to put by a challenge for the time, without any more of it. 3. Ye should seriously mind these directions: 1. Forget not your Vows and Engagements, be minding them often, and thinking of them so as they may never be forgotten, Jer. 50.4, 5. 2. Defer not to pay them, Eccles. 5.4. Deut. 23.21. Delays make the impression of the weight of the Vow, and of the dread of Him to whom it is made, much to wear out; and, taking liberty to be slack in paying of it, for, but for this once, or for a little while, is a direct breach of it self, and maketh way for more. 3. Keep in mind, and entertain such a frame of spirit as ye were in when they were at first made; such humility, tenderness, awe of God, &c. We often, alasse, take on Vows in a good frame, to be on the matter a sort of excuse for us in letting such a frame go, or at least to ease us a little for the time, as if engaging were performance, which is not the least part of the deceit of our hearts. 4. The performance of the thing would be followed as it is undertaken, to wit, in the strength of grace, and by virtue of life derived from Jesus Christ, quickning and strengthening us both as promising and performing. 5. We should be often considering the fearfulness of the sin of Breaking, and examining our selves about our keeping of them; making breaches, that are particularly observed, the matter of confession to God, and of serious repentance before him. If we would suffer these things to sink down deep in us as in the sight of God; this no doubt would make them have a quite other impression. 6. We should still keep the knot fast, and if one promise or resolution seem to be loosed, we should forthwith cast another; or if one obligation given, seem to be weakned, we should give another, that there may be still some obligation standing over our heads;
