The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

7. And lastly, Mercies are given as answers of prayers, in case you make care and conscience, to perform to God those vows which you made to God before you did enjoy the mercy. But when we promise God largely before we have the mercy, and when we have them, do not perform our vows, it is an argument we have the mercies by general and common providence: Job 22. 27, 28. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; and thou shalt ¹pay thy vows: thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When thou begest a mercy, and sayest, Lord give me such a mercy, and I will do thus and thus; I will walk so and so before thee, I will improve them to thy glory. Now when thou shalt thus ask for mercy, and make vows to God, he will hear; but then thou must be sure to perform thy vows. This frame of heart we find to be in David, Psal. ²66. 13, 14. I will go into thine house with burnt offerings, I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble. You see David was ⟨p. 92⟩in trouble, and he prayed to God, and made some promises and vows, in case God would deliver him. Now God did deliver him out of trouble, and he did make good his vows. Now here was a return of prayer. David you see did not grow secure and careless, but he made conscience to pay what he had promised to God. And so you see how you may discover, whether the mercies you receive from God be returns of prayer, or only fruits of common and general providence. And so much for Answer to that Question.

7. And lastly, Mercies are given as answers of prayers, in case you make care and conscience, to perform to God those vowes which you made to God before you did enjoy the mercy. But when we promise God largely before we have the mercy, and when we have them, do not perform our vowes, it is an argument we have the mercies by general and common providence: