3. It must be in that which is in the man's power to perform, in the ordinary course of Gods Providence. It is not lawful for men to promise impossibilities, whether in themselves so, or in their circumstances; nor ought they to be rash in promising improbabilities, there are many things which a man hath not in his own hands, nor is it in his view, how he shall be able to obtain them; some things a man is able to do for any thing that is in them, but he cannot do them in such a time: now to promise in any of these considerations, is to necessitate himself ⟨p. 10⟩to lie; and it is profaneness added to falsehood: for him to impute his disappointment of doing them, to the Providence of God, because in very deed God's Providence, if he had any regard to that, did plainly forbid him from making of any such engagements. There are al•o some things that are very hazardous such as things ventured at Sea, and men had need to be very cautious, and plain dealing in such promises, else they may impose upon others, and that is so far against the Truth: For any to promise a payment by such a day, when he neither hath it in his hands, nor hath a prospect of a way in which he shall probably come by it, is a mere purpose to deceive, and may well be branded for a Cheat: to say he hopes it, when he hath no rational hope at all, in the ordinary course of second causes, is but very little better, if any thing at all: To promise more work to be done within the compass of such a time, then it will allow him to do, with all the diligence that he is able to use, is likewise of the same nature: But to promise that which he may do, and is in the power of his hand, in case God shall please to continue his health and limbs, or if he preserve his Estate unto him which he hath in possession, this must he acknowledge to be within a mans ordinary compass or ability: and the ⟨p. 11⟩Promiser ought always to have a respect to that.
3. It must be in that which is in the man's power to perform, in the ordinary course of Gods Providence. It is not lawful for men to promise impossibilities, whether in themselves so, or in their circumstances; nor ought they to be rash in promising improbabilities, there are many things which a man hath not in his own hands, nor is it in his view, how he shall be able to obtain them; some things a man is able to do for any thing that is in them, but he cannot do them in such a time: now to promise in any of these considerations, is to necessitate himself ⟨p. 10⟩to ly; and it is profaneness added to falsehood: for him to impute his disappointment of doing them, to the Providence of God, because in very deed God's Providence, if he had any regard to that, did plainly forbid him from making of any such engagements. There are al•o some things that are very hazardous such as things ventured at Sea, and men had need to be very cautious, and plain dealing in such promises, else they may impose upon others, and that is so far against the Truth: For any to promise a payment by such a day, when he neither hath it in his hands, nor hath a prospect of a way in which he shall probably come by it, is a meer purpose to deceive, and may well be branded for a Cheat: to say he hopes it, when he hath no rational hope at all, in the ordinary course of second causes, is but very little better, if any thing at all: To promise more work to be done within the compass of such a time, then it will allow him to do, with all the diligence that he is able to use, is likewise of the same nature: But to promise that which he may do, and is in the power of his hand, in case God shall please to continue his health and limbs, or if he preserve his Estate unto him which he hath in possession, this must he acknowledge to be within a mans ordinary compass or ability: and the ⟨p. 11⟩Promiser ought always to have a respect to that.
