SEW:WON XXII. 305 Ín the case, Of promises made to others, and public solemn resolutions, be not too frequent in making of them. See that the reason of things, the providence Of God, and the circumstances of life, seem to call you td it before you engage, that so youmay better maintain your faithfulness, and turn your words into deeds. Why should you make chains to bind yourself, without necessity orreason ? Why should you promise to do this, or to go thither in athoughtless or trifling way, and let your tongue pit needless bonds and fetterson your hands and feet for time to come ? My son, if thouart surety for a stranger, Or if thou make a bargain without discretion, or multiply promises without prudence, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth: There are some persons who are very freeof their promi- ses uponall occasions, and often indulge this manner of speak- ing, " I am resolved to do such a thing to -day, or I will cery tainly go to such a place to- morrow," &c: Whereas sometimes they find the thing impracticable, sometimes it isinconsistent with their other duties of life, sometimes it lays them under great diffi- culties and inconveniences to fulfil such appointments, and often they forget them too, and so disappoint their friends. Before you tie yoursélves by your solemn resolves and en- gagements, ask your hearts, Is it possible to be done, Is it lawful ? Is it convenient ? Is it proper ? Is it 'consistent with other promises ? Is the thing which I worldpromise due to my neighbourupon principles of honour, virtue, gratitude, religion ? Is it necessary at all, and is it necessary at this time ? Methinks I would havenopromise made, but whät should be kept ; and there- fore I would set all theseguards around my lips. Experience of human affairs will teach us the use of these prudential rules, if we cannot learn them withoutit. A watchful caution in all such sort of language, as lays us under any engagements to future practices, is of necessary use to secure our faithfulness, and to maintain our truth with honour: Besides, I might addalso, that we shouldbring in something of God and piety into thecommon engagements of life ; and this would preserve a greater guard upon our tongues, Go to now, ye that say, to-dayor to-morrowwe will go into such acity, and con- tinue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow ;for that yeought to say, I/'the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that; James iv. 13, &c. If thereforewe would secure our faithfulness as well as our veracity, it is necessary to learn a modest and cautious way of speakingand accustomour tongues to practise it. When we are relatingany thing,past or present, the words, I think, I suppose, x2
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