í> tyeatife ofConic2ence, 16; 1 the time of performance, we arenot bound in conr'cience to perform them c as if a man upon the receit of fóine m ercie (honk' in teftinion e ofhis thanktulne e vow a hundred pounds to good uiês, in the mean time his eftate fo decayeth as that he fl-,all undo hir,felf and his famine if heperform it ;' this is fo Great a conlequence, and '6ontingently hapned, that it freeth his confcience from performing what he hadvowed : Orif a man fhould prornife marnage to a woman, and before the time of nuptials the be found unchaft ; this is a farre greater con- fequence, andhe is not bound it';confciencetomarry her. There kinds- of-vows do not bind in confeieiice Bit all other do bind us. n I Vfe ; Wemay learn from hence never to vow bat with good % udgement and counlél. For either we mutt keep our U b promife, or not :.If we muff that is a fignetit is good, and therefore had need of deliberation : If we`rhtrft not keep it then it is a ligne of ra{hneffe and incontiderateneffe ; and be- tides it may prove fcandalous and offenfiveto them to whom we make it, and s.ifo to them that (hall heare of it : And there: fore it requireth good judgement and advifeto vow: What a rafts vow was that of good Jephrhah? If thou wilt deliver trudges xi Ammon into myktnd, whatfoewer nseeteth me J will offer it 30. fora burnt-offering. How if a dog had ñrft met him ? what a Gnne had it been ? How if his daughter ? what a thing had that been? And indeed. it proved to be his daughter. Vows without judgement do bu3 inereafe our firms and aggravate our tranfgrefliòns againf+ God. 2. ¡7e ;. This teacheth us to keepour goodvows whatfoever they be that we make. Indeed it is hard tokeep ,a good, yea it is hard tomake a good vow in that manner as<we fhould : It requireth a greatdeal offaith and felf -denia and'-fiiamiility and ftrength oftefolution-: But when wehave`tna.d 4 , :öur fin' is .the. greater ifwe do not then keep it Betterit it not to yew then `clef S ,tbAgthou fheuldfl vciv and not pay. Haft thou vowed a vow ? then deferre not topay it : Godbath no pleaí? re in foots. As if theholy Ghoft had laid, It rs thepart ofafool togrow before he ! I i 3 eonfider A
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=