270 Chap. 22. An Expofition aeon the Book of JOB. Vert 27 minde when the forme is done. But thofe Heathens (which may be a rebuke to tome Chriftians) made vowes of praite and thank- fulneffewhen they had efcaped the forme. And this is a further proofeofthat naturalnes which is in man to make vows. And the reafon of it is, becaufe this fatisfieth a natural( man,and fills him withconfidence that he (hall receivegood from God,becaufe he bath vowed duty cohim. Man loves to be uponhis own bottone, and thinks he (hail furely engageGod to be merciful', while him- kite promifeth to be dutiful! and thankful!. Now (I fay) though therebe fill a lawfulneffe ofvows in thefe Gofpel times,yet take heed ofmakingmany vowes, efpecially ofconceiting to oblidge God by any of them. As the former may prove a fnare, and an entanglement to us, fo the latter is a difhonour to God,who roe* ver fhewesus mercy more freely, then when we binde our felves molt to duty. Secondly, when ever j ,u vow befare yca doe it in the ftrength ofChriff.None difcover more weakneffe in keeping vowes, then they who make vowes in their own frength,or not wholly in the firength of Chrift. Some have vowed never to commit filch a fin more, and they never committed it fo much as after they bad vowed. Some have thought to get cure and remedy againft loch a corruption or tuft by a vow,anAyet that tuft or corruption bath prevailed more upon them after their vow. The reafon ofa Il is, becaufe theyhave either put their vow in the roome ofChrift, as if that could help them alone,or elfe they havemade their vont es alone,without rayance upon the power ofChrift. That rule of the Apoftle which obtains in all cafes ofduty, doth molt in this Whatfoever ye doe in word or deed, doe all in the na+re of the Lord lefam,giving thanks to god and the Father by him (Coloffians 3. 17.) Thírdly,In things wch are direétly commandedor direcily for. bidden in the law ofGod,weare not to vow the doingor not do- ing of the thing in it felf,but only a greater care & [hader watch over our (elves, either for the doing ofthe one, or not to doe etc other. As forexample, we fhouldnot vowabfolutely, that we will not worfhip Idols, that we will not (wear, that we will keep the Sabbath, that we will honour our parents, that we will do no murder, for all thefe duties are expreffely commanded by God, and are therefore paf being vowed by us. Onely thus, we (ob- (erving
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