Seem. 24. do trot exceedingly promote Religion ? SSx Vows, they did give real teftimony that their God delivered them by his power and providence, and this is Religious honour that it is the Woríhip of fo mighty a God. 2. 11 b %nonrs God in hie readinefs to hear, and in his faithf ulnefs to anfwe r the prayers of his Juppliants ; Prayers conceived fpeak a belief that be is ready, Vows made fpeak our confidence that- he is faithful!, but now Vows performed fpeak thus much, that we have found 1 :1 u fo to us ; whc n `David laid, I will pay my vows, it is, that he may ren- der to ill e Lord for the Lords readinefs and faithrulnefs ro hear and deiver him. Now its Religions honour, that it is the worthip of a God of truth and faithfulnefs. 3. It h.nokrs God in his Omnifcience and all - feting eye , it declares to the world that we worfhip And ferve is God who takes notice of see in particular, and who obferves whether we keep our word with bim or no ; when thou haft made a Vow, and canti perform it , yea doff per form it , becaufe thou knoweil and be'ieveft thy God rem:n bets when thou didft make it and cbrerve :h how thou wilt perform it, what is this but to give him the honour or his all- feeing and all- k,bfer ving eye ! 4, it honours Religion in th:t it it a Demonffration that Religions teachetb men gratitude. It is a high charge which is laid on the Ro- mans in their Herhenifine, that they were unthankful!, Rom. I.2 r. It is a very great reproach to Religi,n, to have its profejjf'ors branded with tbis : iris ( though but one fingle mìfcarriage) left on Hezekiah's name, like a fpot in tlx Moon -, to endure while his name fhal i be in remembrance. That be remembred not to return to the Lord, accord- ing to the benefit done unto him, 2 Chron. 3 2. 25 But wow thy care to- make thy Vows well, that they may be kept, and thy tbankefulnefs in keeping them, when fo made, do clearly evidence . that thy Religion engaged, thee to aim and attempt at the higheft gratitude. Now ac- cording to the old Rule, if you fay a man ae unthankef ull, you fay he !i ingrown se all naught ; fo if you fay he i$ thankfull," and his Religion teach- dixeris emnim eth him to be fo, you fpeak all good -of the man and of his Religion. dick. Indeed David doth often comprife all Religion in this, Be tbankefull unto him. So Religion Jhineth forth in the luflre and brightnefs of a good name, when they who profefi it, dare neither be rafb in making, not remife or falle in keeping their V:rvs. Nexc Vows well tern pc-fe.i, and faithfully performed, do much pro- mote Religion, and. that frequently, z. By
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