The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a…

1. When it is done rashly and without deliberation; the Wiseman tells us that we should not hastily utter any thing before God, E••l. 5.2. i. e. as a Witness. This he applies to a Vow in particular, verse 5. and gives a reason for it; because it is better not to Vow, than having so done, not to pay; and it is a poor excuse to say, it was an error; now all […] is the probable issue of precipitancy: […] do not premeditate, and afterwards they repent […] the most forward in promising, are not […] the most backward in performing.

1. When it is done rashly and without deliberation; the Wiseman tells us that we should not hastily utter any thing before God, E••l. 5.2. i. e. as a Witness. This he applies to a Vow in particular, verse 5. and gives a reason for it; because it is better not to Vow, than having so done, not to pay; and it is a poor excuse to say, it was an error; now all 〈…〉 is the probable issue of precipit•ncy: 〈…〉 do not premeditate, and afterwards they repent 〈…〉 the most forward in promising, are not 〈…〉 the most backward in performing.

2. When it is in things that are unlawful. If men have no Physical Power to fulfil it, because they promise that which is not their own, or above their ability of procuring; or no moral power to do it, because it is unlawful, as being forbidden by God; and it would be a sin in them to keep promise: it is th•r• fore an act of profaneness for men to Swear that they will do such things: of this nature was Jeptha's Vow, which procured him so much trouble; such also was Herod's promise which he sware to his Daughter-in-law. And to this head we may subjoin those Oaths that are minatory, when men bind themselves to do