Serra. 24. do net exceedingly promote Religion ? 559 than I firft purpofed, becaufe I was enforced by the undifcerned fpeed of the time outrunning me in preaching it, to contraft much more than I was willing to have done. The tirfi Vfe then, if well compofed Vowes do indeed much pro, Lille In- mote Religion, it will teach ice how carefnll we Jbotold be in making forms. oatr VOWeS to the greatef advantage of Religion. if you look to the necefftry requilìtes of fuch Vowes, it wilt appear to you that you need a great care and diligence in making them, if you look to Reh- gions lofs in breach of Vowes, or its gain in a faithful' performance of them, the care will appear double ; it,.you look to your obligation under which you are to performe them, it will appear yet further needful, that you be very wary and circumfpectly careful' how you make them ; the rafh and inconíìderate perfon who cares' not how he makes, will not care whether he performe his Vowes. And what a reproach is this to his Religion? what a provocation is this to his God to deltroy either him or the worksof his hand ? And ail thefe befpeak your care, and advife you to circumfpe&ion in this cafe: Do you not find. it hard enough todifcern what is daily and ordinarily to be done under daily and ordinary occurrences ? are you not in great care to frame your felves fitly and comely to every dayes bulïnefs you have to do among men, efpecially when you within the tye of a promife to them? How folicitous are you; what, and when, and on what terms you promife ? How you Thal' performe, and fo keep your word and credit ? Any competent meafure of honefly, and regard to reputation will make a man confider what he promifeth to a man, How much more care fhould he ufe in promifing unto God, where the promife is more than ordinary, where the tye is fo indif- foluble, where the demand is fo puhftually and peremptorily made; whete the danger fo great in making default. Let me commend unto thy more than ordinary care thefe two things, if thou wilt make a Vow fo well framed as to fet up Religion. Firfl, Be carefnll that thy Vow of obedience for, and in canfideresti- on of a mercy hoped or received, hold weight with that mercy, keep a fieddy hand, and get an even ballance. and weigh the mercy which commands thy obedience and weigh thy Vow which promifeth rdentutm He it. Ir will be thy reproach and Religions reproach to have thy Vow braorum Conti. found a fbekel, when thy mercy, weighs a talent ; when God gives a net pondere full harveft, thou mu{t not Vow a handful' or one (heal . This were 3000factos. to expofe thy God to contempt, and it would be praáicalVdeny- Brerewo bd de nderibHS. all of his bounty to thee. 7aeob obferved this proportion, Geis: Z8,'. 20,21,22,,,
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