Chap. 22. Ars Expofition upon the Bookvf JO B. Verf ;. 269 rifieGod ; fecondly, to oblidge us more tirialy to obedience. HenceNote ; Firft, It is lawful! to make a Vow. All the Scripture teflimonies before alledged confirm that pto. potation. Secondly, Vowes lawfullymade, cragtot to be k pt. nogfhalt pay thy vows, bath in it the nature both of pro rnife and ofa command ; Vowes are bonds, wemuft take heed of breaking them ; ifwe breake our ivowes, God will breake our peace. The word which we tranfiate to pay a vow, fig.uihes alío to give peace and quictnefs,implying that tillthe vowbe paid we cannot have peace. A.man Char is in bond. to men bath no pewee till he dilchargeth or bath prepared to discharge his debts and therefore an acquittance or a difcharge for a dePt, is cc,n noniy called.4 goiettss rfl,implying that till a mass bath got:t difchárge, he is not at quiet. We are at our liberty whether we well vowor no, but weare not at our liberty whether we will pay our vowes or no. And therefore Solomon loth not only exhort to the-pap, trient ofvowes, but to the speedypayment of them (Eccl5.4 When Ikon voweft a ,vowlento god deferre not ro pay ir, fon, e bath as pleafurem fo,le ,That is,he is greatly difpleaf,d with foals , he means ia not of fuck asare called fools for the want of a natural ucderftandirg,bnt for the want of a good confcieoce- -;and loch are all they, who fl otter God with their h ,ftinefs in m ,vowes, and then mock him by their flowneffe in or negled of paying them. And therefore, take foure Cautions about Vowes. F'irft, Be not .frcquentinmakingvowes ; vowing muti not be like pra ing,an every days wark,we may not vow,as we mutt.pray alwayes, and without ceafing. Many have brought then;ííelves in.. togreat fnares by multiplying vows;and we have need tohe tau tion'd in this thing, becaufe the natureof c.,aa.is cart), e.1 pinch to it.The Heathens made many vowes, efpecialfywhen they were" in anydifreffe, and fo weer carnall men.will due to this day, vow great things, what theywill be, and what they will, do; if trouble be upon thetn.It is faid that tholeHeathen Marriners made Vowel when the ftcr'rme was,over and the danger paft (Ion. 1.i6. )Many Blake vowes in a ftormwhether at Sea or Land,.which they little minded
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