5 44 Whether well compiled Religious Vows Seim. 24, Ejufmodi ve- uftd by tu, fo often as the Lord bath delivered to from any deftrutiicn, to hodie vigil; or dangerous difeafe, or from any danger, faith Calvin, fpeaking of nobta in ufiu ejfe Vowes for mercy to be received. And Mr Perkins in his Cafes of pop"unr,quoties confcience, both affirms what we now do, and aniwers the Objections Dominus made to the contrary. But leave we men and come to Reafon ; why it vel k clade a Y , liquâ, vet a is lawful! for us to vow. morbo difficili, I. What is not evil in it felf, nor evil by accident * (unlefs made velabalio quo- evil by the undue ordering of it through our fault) may l.twfnity vii uit. Ca nil be done 6 ea. I know this well confidered proves it fell yet I eripuit. Calvin. y ' Isffit.l.4.c. i3. would confirm it with this obfervation : What is not evil, may law - * t.Porvs well- fully be done by us ? now things are evil either per fe, or per accidens ordered not fin If Vows be either way evil, it is by accident, which accidental evil inrhemfelves, may b; prevented, and indeed is by duecom ofin of Vowes and nor by accident. Y .. a Y P g , by diligent performing of them when compofed. So that if a Chri- flian may order the making and performing his Vow, fo as to pre- vent the evil which attends a Vow ill -made ; than fuch a Chritiian may furely make a Vow very lawfully. But I prefume no one will doubt, that he who makes Vowes feldome, confultedly, and finer rely, may_ duely keep them, and in fo doing, prevent any confequent evil. 2. Vowes may be lawfully made now by us Chri{iians, becaufe what was lawfull tetbe few on Morali confederations, and not on any Ceremoniall con federations, that is arlfo lawfull now unto us Chritians. Let it be noted ; I do not fay what was once lawfull to them, is now lawfull unto us, for it was lawfull for them to facrifice, it is not now lawfull unto us : But I fay, what was once on Morali grounds lawful to them, is now lawfull to us, becaufe the morality of the thing (which is fuppofed the ground of this Vow) is the fame to them and us. It was lawfull for Jacob on Moral! motives to engage him felf wore clofely to God, if God would indeed be with him; It is as lawfull for any of us on the fame occafion, and for the like motive, to vow unto God. Jacob was moved to it, left he ihould be found lefs than ordinarily thankfull, for a more than ordinary providence and mercy to him : So may you or I; * for it L not abhor. rent to the duty of a pious man, at fuch time to confecrate (as a folemrs tefiimony of his acknowledgement) an offering by Vow, leffhe Jhoteld feem unthankefroll for bis bounty. If there were then Vota moralia, Vowes that were moral! in their matter, manner, motives, and ends ; and (that filch there were) lob's covenant with his eyes, and Da- vid's fwearing to keep Gods Commandments, prove to us ; either we * 2 some Pout once lavvfud on moral! grounds, Such lawful! * Neq; enim pii hominis of- ficfo, tunc ab borret votivam oblationem, ve- lut folenne re- cognitionis Sym. bolnm confecra- re,ne ingratus erga benignita- tem ejtss v:dea- tur. Calvin.In. Jtit, l.4 C.13.
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