Serin. 24. do not exceedingly promote Religion ? 549 Fourthly, Ins well compofed Vow, thy deliberation mull be irn- 4. Wherber bi ployed in con(iderirg thy power and ability ; Whether it be in thy tby power. power to do what thou vowcfs : No impoffîble thing can be the matter of a Vow. God bath not made an impotlibility the matter and primitive obje& of our duty; nor doth be expe& we fhould ; or would he ac- cept fuch a Vow : For a Vow of an impoílible thing , is in efFe& to bind our felves to alf ;ìe our Vow. Who engageth to do what he cannot de, ongageth himfel f to be worfe than his word. You muff confider then whether the thing be poffible in it fell; and then next whether it be in your power, that you can fay yon will do it , that you may truly of firm you can abfolutely do it ; which thing king very uncertain for what is to day in our power, to morrow may be out of our power : It is therefore good to limit it fo far, as it (hall be in your power, and fo long as it continues in your power to perform your Vows. Thefe two things are requitite to a well- compofed Vow ; an occafion or exi- gency more than ordinary ; and then a thing lawful) , acceptable proportioned to the mercy, and within our power. Now when thefe concurre, A third mull be added, that is, Thou muff vow cheerfully , and with 3. Kw' mwrf a ready mind ; there mull be much of the will in it. Some tell Us the be cheerfully Latine word noting a Vow, comes from the word which Lignifies the n'ade- will : Indeed all that is in a Vow, fo far as it is a Vow, is and mull be of 6ur will, for it con[fteth principally, if not folely in the manner of our obliging our felves ; and this is voluntary. God bath left it much at our lib?rty to vow, or not to vow ; only he requires us to do it cheerfully if we vow ; it is matter of our choice. Dent. 23. 22 If thous forbear to vow, it (hall n,ot he fin unto thee. Yet if we will Vow, it is mar..er of duty to do it cheerfully, for, fo the Lord loveth a cheer® full giver , z Cor. g. 7. and therefore exfpe &s a fpeedy perform- ance. Defer not to pay, Ecal. 5. 3. Hence the Rabbinicall proverb, Speed fuits the time of deliverance. As a Vow fuits the time of dan- rip gers and (traits; fo haft from a ready mind, tics the time of deliver- rin11 ance and mercy. But, K9LI'tÚ Fourthly, H_ e that will compofe his Vow well, muff vo* fincerely and Tentpore ref i- uprightly, that is, to the end he may :r.oif honour God. By ratronít feJtino tie. 1. The Commemoration of bee mercy, and goodnefs. Vows are mer- vow fix. ciesMonumenrs,on which are written the praife of the Lord. cerely. 2. The publifhing the mercies of God,for the engaging others to ad- mire the Lord, and co mill him, and to feek unto him, 3? The fitting trace on werl¿ in the heart and foul of him that Aaaa z Vows.
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