SERMON XX. 281 Better it is thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow, andnot pay ; Ec. v. 4, 5. 2. Promises of things lawful made to our fellow-creatures, must also be fulfilled with religious care. As for things unlawful, they ought not to be promised. We hind ourselves to perform whatwe promise, and the law of God binds us as well as the laws of social life. In the xvth Psalm, ver. 4. it is another of the characters of him that shall inhabit the mountain of God, that he sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; that is, he makes a promise to his neighbour, and though it be much to his own dis- advantage, yet he doth not alter the word that is gone out of his lips, nor malte a forfeiture of his truth by breach of his promise. We should remember, that when we bind ourselves by a promise to give any good thing to another, or to do any thing for the benefit of another, the right of the thing promised passes overfrom us to the person towhomthe promise is made, as much as if we had given him a legal bond, with all the formalities of signing and sealing ; we have no power to recai, or reverse it without his leave. Always except the promise be made with a condition expressed, or necessarily and evidently implied ; then indeed, if thecondition fail, the promise is void. But the lips of achristian, when theyhave once utteredan absolute promise, have laid a bond upon his soul ; and he dares not break the law of his God, though the law of man should not bind him. 3. The caseof threatenings is somewhat different. A pro- mise makes over the right of some benefit to another who may justly claim it; but a threatening only shews what punishment shall be due to another for such a particular fault or offence. If p superior propose and publish a law, and therein threaten an inferior with some penalty, the superior is supposed to be at liberty, whether he will execute the threatening of his own law, or no : for the criminal will not claim it. Thence arises the power of a superior topardon a fault. But if over and above the proposal and publication of this law, a father, for instance, or a master, does solemnly foretel or declare that he will certainly execute the penalty upon the child Pr servant offending ; I think he ought generally to esteem him.. self bound to fulfil such a declaration or threatening, if it were made in a prudent and lawful manner ; unless the repentance of theoffender, or someother change of circumstances, give him 4 just reason tochange his mind and alter his purpose. And in the fourth place, the case is much the same when we make a 'solemn resolution, and publicly declare it, that we will do such or such a thing in time to come. If this resolution be so.- lemnand public, and be in all respects lawful, it should generally .tae perforated ; unless some other circumstances arise, which we
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