Eccl. V. 4, 5, When thou voioest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ; for he hath no pleasure in fools : pay that which thou hast voiced. Better is it that thou shouldest not voio, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
THE offering of vows was extremely common under the Mosaic dispensation ; and many laws were instituted in relation to them. By them persons bound themselves to the performance of certain things which were not specifically appointed of God. Some were conditional, and depended on some mercy which should be previously bestowed by God^ : and others were absolute, and to be performed by the persons at all events. Respecting vows made by persons who were under the government of others, especial provision was made, under what circum- stances, and to what extent, they should be binding^ In cases where the vows themselves were not lawful, the person sinned, whether he performed them or nof^; and in some cases at least, the violation of them was less criminal than the observance*^: but where they were not in themselves contrary to any command of God, there they were to be punctually fulfilled, and without delay.
We propose, on the present occasion, to consider,
I. The vows which you have made^ —
These are doubtless very comprehensive — [The things promised /or us in our baptism, are contained under the following heads : first, that we should " renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh: next, that we should believe all the articles of the Christian faith : and lastly, that we should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of our life." In our confirmation we take these vows upon ourselves. Let us consider them dis- tinctly Let us often revolve them in our minds, and cry
a Gen. xxviii. 20 — 22. 1 Sam. i. 11. i' Numb. xxx. 3 — 15.
<= ver. 6. ^ Matt. xiv. 6 — 10. Acts xxiii. 12.
^ This is intended for an Address after Confirmation ; but may be easily changed to a Preparatory Address.