554 Whether well cornpefed Religious Vows Serm. 34, ------------------- to calf up accounts, co make even, he finds an unconflant and flatt- ing heart bath in this or that particular endammaged him, and if there be any way of dealing with it to keep it confiant and ¢able, it is by doubling its bonds, and this mull be done by vow ; this courte is like to repair former defects, and reparation 1 am fure is good and effe 1uall means to keep up the houle. Some Interpreters tell us, that when 7acob came to reform his houle, it was occafioncd by his defec`live obfervance of his Vow ; and that God in Gen. 3 S. t. puts him in mind of it in fuch words, Go up to Beth -el and dwell there, and there build an Altar ; if their conjedure fail not, it is a pertinent inflance to our cafe ; 7acob had made a good Vow, and well ordered, and doubtlefs had performed much of it, yet thirty years after he is minded of it by God, and then he comes to confi- der and performe what was yet wanting, to make up his defecgs; Tisni when care to perform Vowel well manie, difcovers things ill car- ried to the prejudice of Religion, it makes way for future furtherance of Religion. But it is like you will enquire, May a Chriflian vow the repairing of fuch defeás ? are they not more than can be dilcerned ? more than can be prevented ? fhould he vow this would he not enfnare himfelf and break his vowes ? Sol. To this I anfwer briefly, That no man in the world may engage himfelf by vow, to live for future without any defeat, fuch perfettton is onely in Meaven ; here it is not attainable. But a Chriflian may engle d) vow to be careful!, and to do his bell diligence to prevent 46 many as he can ; He may vow,that fo farre as Grace fhall enable him, he will endeavour to live with fewer faults. But a vow of full perfeFlion can never be a well compofed vow, nor ever be per- formed. Thirdly, Well compofed vowes do promote Religion in the heart and life of a Chrifhian, in that it flrongly and unalterably engageth the Chrifi<ian againhi force one or other particular finne, which would more eafily prevail, if the reverence or care of fo Tarred an engagement did not fet the Chrif{ian againg that finne. Sometime we thould fin by taking too little notice of great providences, or by Petting them at too low rate, or by foon forgetting them, or by waxing proud and infolent under them. Now fuch fins provoke God, weaken Re. ligions interefs in the heart and diminlh its fruir in the life. Now when vowes prevent fuch fronts , they do as much promote Religion as perventing Phyfck promotes the health of the body ; of fuch Dub. 3. now! en- gage againgl a particular fin.
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