1. It is good thus to vow, if it were but to excite and qidchen our dulness and fonicij'ulness of our general vow ; to put us in mind of our duty, the . more to oblige us to God and refresh oui* memories. This bond, that having promised, now I must do it, provokes the soul to it. As it helps the memory, so it quickens the affections.
2. Besides, as by nature we are forgetful, so we are inconstant; in which respect it is a tie to our inconstant and unsteady natures. For there are none who have the Spirit of God at all, with any tenderness of heart, but will thus think : I have vowed to God. If it be a heinous thing to break with men, what is it wittingly and willingly to break with the gi'eat God ? A vow is a kind of oath. This is the sacrifice of fools, to come to God, and yet neither to make good our vows, nor endeavour to do it.
Hose A XTV. 2.] the returning backslider. 269
Let us consider therefore what we have done in this case. By permis- sion of authority, there was a fast lately, when we all renewed our yows (we mocked God else), [and] received the communion. WiU God be mocked, think you ? No ; but howsoever man may forget, God will not, but will come upon us for non-payment of our vows and covenants. Lay we it to heart therefore what covenants we have made with God of late. And then, for the time to come, be not discouraged if you have been faulty in it. There is a general vow, wherein, though we have failed (if we be his children, and break not with God in the main, cleaving to him in pm-pose of heart, occasionally renewing our purposes and covenants), yet let not Satan discourage us for our unfaithfulness therein. But be ashamed of it, watch more, look better to it for the time to come, and make use of the gracious covenant ; and, upon recoveiy, say with the church, ' So will we render the calves of our lips.'
It was the custom under the Jewish policy, you know, to offer sacrifices of all sorts. But the Spirit of God speaks here of the church of the Jews under the New Testament ; especially what they should be after their con- version, having reference to the Jews in Christ's time, and to the believing Jews in all times, implying thus much ; howsoever, not legal sacrifices of calves, bullocks, sheep, and lambs, yet the ' calves of the lips,' which God likes better, are acceptable to him. And it hkewise implies some humilia- tion of the church. Lord, whatsoever else we could offer unto thee, it is thine own, though it were the beasts upon a thousand mountains ; but this, by thy grace, we can do, to ' praise thee,' Ps. 1. 23. For God must open and circumcise our lips and hearts before we can offer him the ' calves of our lips.' Thus much the poorest creature in the world may say to God, Lord, ' I will render thee the calves of my lips.' Other things I have jiot. This I have by thy gracious Spirit, a heart somewhat touched by the sense of thy favom*. Therefore ' I will render thee the calves of my lips ; ' that is, praise, as the apostle hath it, ' By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually ; that is, the fruit of oui" lips, giving thanks to his name,' Heb. xiii. 15. 'So will we render thee the calves of om" lips.' Whence the point is,
Doct. That God's children at all times have their sacrifices.
There is indeed one kind of sacrificing determined * and finished by the coming of Chi'ist, who was the last sacrifice of propitiation for our sins. The more to blame those who yet maintain a daily sacrifice, not of laud and praise, but of cozening and deluding the world, in saying mass for the sins of the quick and the dead ; all such sacrifices being finished and closed up in him, our blessed Saviour ; who, ' by one sacrifice,' as the apostle speaks, ' hath perfected them that are sanctified,' Heb. s. 14, vii. 27 ; and that, ' by one sacrifice, when he offered up himself,' Heb. x. 12 ; when all the Jewish sacrifices ended. Since which, aU ours are but a commemora- tion of Christ's last sacrifice, as the fathers say : the Lord's supper, with the rest, which remain still ; and the sacrifice of praise, with a few others, I desire to name.
1. First, The sacrifice of a broken heart, whereof David speaks, Ps. li. 17 ; which sacrifice of a wounded, broken heart, by the knife of repentance, pleaseth God wondrously well.
2. And then, a broken heart that offers Christ to God every day ; who, though he were offered once for all, yet our believing in him, and daily presenting his atonement made for us, is a new ofiering of him. Christ is
* That is, ' abolished ' = fulfilled.— G.
270 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON II.
crucified and sacrificed for thee as oft as thou beHevest in Christ crucified. Now, upon all occasions "we manifest our belief in Chiist, to wash and bathe ourselves in his blood, who justifieth the ungodly. So that, upon a fresh sight of sin, with contrition for it, he continually justifieth us. Thus, when we believe, we ofier him to God daily ; a broken heart first, and then Christ with a broken heart.