Berm. 24. Whether well compofed Religious Vows, &e. I might fo define Religion, or dnRight Ithefe nd propercMaott r, it would done in right and due Manner, amount to a definition find biñdrReligion a fs oif thelmind which rref have in the vanity and idolatrou(ly adhered to, have been nothing elfe but their Ren- ering to their p ed Gods, the to the truepGod in at rue and erroneous thouughts ; and confo- right manner, is the fs mm of' Religion. Notion S IMa 2. nant to the Scriptures Thus avz1G vuntGod the things that are God's : as true loyalty is a giving to Gafar the Ehings that are Cafars, fo true Piety is the giving to God the things that are Gods. And fo i,ci that Parable by the redndring the to fruit us the mar..zc.4i. men ;0/111 we owe to G P vineyard; particular A &s of Religion are fo expreffedtoo the* St Hof Il. 6.I2. ptures, Let this then be the import of David s 2 f .14.2 4.z5 ,/hall 1 render to the Lord ? In what things ? and by what means (hall felf I promote Religion t i rd 1him bath been con fiantlyland abundantly doily Religious towa in his benefits towards me ? The fecund thing to be noted is this, that David fo ordired his vows 2 that he could pay them, and in paying them did fo render to the Lord, as that Religion was promoted and furthered ; Re had fames engaged himfelf by vow, that he could fay 1 will pay ; fuch as were a fit Anfwer to that enquiry, What (hall I render to the Lord ? David had very well compofed his vow, it lay within his coin. pafs, he could perform it, and in performing he paid Tribute and did homage to the Lord ; in keeping his vow he gave unto the Lord. Now put thefe two notes together, and they are refolved into this Do &rinall pofition, Vower, fo made as we can fay we will pay them, and fo made that in Dol`lya paying them we render to the Lord, do much advance and promote Re. ligies. Or in the words of that Cafe of Confcience now to be flatcd, Well conspofed vowes do much promote Religion. Who to doth engage himfelf by a well ordered vow, doth fet his Religion in the whole, or in fome particular part of it in very good forwardnefs. Religion is a gainer by this bargain well made ; the Bond is to God, but Religion receives the interefs at leaf, Well corn- pofed vowes are Religion's engines, able to soave the weightier burtbens and loads, and fit to be onely employed in them. In handling farther this Cafe we muti enquire, Zzz z What 541
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=