SerEn.24, do not exceedingly promote Religion p 555 fuch a nature was Yob's covenant with his eyes, which ,hut the win- . dowel of his foul, and kept out finne by preventing its entrance at the out doors, I have made a covenant with my eyes, Job 3 1.r. Away then with all alluri::g beauties, I cannot gaze on them, for I cannot be falfe to my vow and covenant. Every Vow is for more arid and exa t approbation of out felves, in either univerfall, or particular, either in a perpetuall or temporary obfervance and ferving the Lord : Now that promotes Religion, which thusexadly and aridly binds the foul to approve it felf to God : Sinne and Religion have two concernments as contrary to each other as the Rebell, and the Law of his Soveraigne, and as he promotes the interefs of his So- veraigne who doth aridly bind himfelf to oppofe any Rebell, fo he promotes Religion who by vow binds himfelf aridly to oppofe any one finne whatever. If Noah vowed after his mifcarriage againft drinking any confiderable quantity of wine that he might prevent that finne, this vow ftreng-llened the interefs of his holy fobriety, and the interefs of Religion too, fo faire as fobriety promotes our fit - nefs and greater aptnefs to Religious works. But I thall be here asked Maya man vow again, any one Dub. particular finne, and bind himfelf by fo great a bond againff -the committing of it ? The ground of the doubt is, becaufe none fo Elands but he may fall, and it is not in our power to keep our felves from any finne To this then I anfwer, That it would be rag) and inconfiderate to vow Sol. abfolutcly and peremptorily, that thou wilt never ad firth or Pith a finne. But thus thoumayéfl jufli¢iably vow; i. That thou wilt endeavour and with thy heft- diligence labour to prevent this or that Panne ; thou mayeft vow to fet a guard upon thy foul, but thou mayeft not vow the fuccefs of this guard ;the ewdeavour'is thy duty, and that thou maye/t vow ; the fnccefr is Gods f t, `ated that thou mu, pray for. And let weak Chriftians take notice of this, left they enfnare themfeives by vowing what isnotintheir over. 2. If thou wilt vow fo, thou mull do it .hill with dependence on the Lord for power to performs, through grace thou wilt not finne thus or thus, may be thy vow. 3. If thou wilt fo vow, then take my advice with. thee, (r.) -Let it be onely againfi great fins, and fuck as are committed' with &Ober. ration, thefe are feen before committed and fo are more ealily re- filled. (2.) Let it reach no farther then finceré endeavour o ain(t Bbbb them:
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