Chap. ZZ. An E. pofition upon the Book of J OB. Verf 27. ferving the treachery ofour own hearts) may vow more care and diligence in and about all thefe things. And thus we are to u- derftand that of7acob (Gen.28.2r.) vowing that the Lord fhould be hu Clod , as alto that of)?avid (P'al z 19. 1°5.) Ihave [worn, and will perform it,that Iwill keep tby righteous judgments avid kept them before,but now he would be more ftrict then before in lteepingthern.So then, whenwe vow things already commanded or forbidden, we mutt pitch and placeour vow not upon the mat- ter of the commandement, but upon the manner and intenfenefhe ofour Ipirits in keeping it. Fourthly, Let not vowes about indifferent things be perpetu- all. All vowes abou: things expreffed in the Law of God mnft be perpetual), becaufe the things themfelves are aiwayes a duty. For the affirmative precepts of the Law are at all times binding, and the negative binde at all times, But as for things which are not precifely under a Law ; As for example, in the affirmative to pray fo many times in a day, to reade fomany Chapters of the holy Scriptures in a day, to heare fo many Sermons in a week ; and in the negative, not to drinke any wine or frrong drinke ; not to weare fluke or lace for or upon our Apparrel, not to take fuck or fuch a recreation in it felfe lawful). I fay in thefe cafes, let not viowesbe perpetual! but limited to a feafon, left thereby we en- tangle our own foulcs, and cafe our felves into temptation, while (through a zeal not according to knowledge) we tile tnch . means to avoid it. Mike no vowes to binde your felves at all times in things which are not neceffary at all tittles, either to be done or not to be done. From the whole verfe, Obferve ; That, the anfwer oíprayer receivedfròn the Lord, doth call to to pay andper forme all the ditties that we have promifed or vowed to the Lord in prayer. Though we doe not alwayes make stria and formali vowec whenwe pray, yet every prayer bath fomewhat ofa vow in ir,fo that having prayed at anytime,we tmay fay,tbe vows of ggod:are uponnr for when we pray we promife,and then etpccìally.we do fo, when we pray under any pre ffare of trouble, or when we have any extraordinary requeft to make ; then I 'ay, we engage our felves in a more folemnemannesto fetve: and . walke with God. . And 271
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