The Saints Sacrifice, Section 114
§. 114. Of vowing praiſe to God.
PSAL. CXVI. XVIII.
I will pay my vowes unto the LORD, now in the preſence of all his people.
THe immediate inference of this verſe upon the former, ſheweth the principall matter of the Prophets vow. For he maketh mention of his vow, as of a motive, the more See Verſ. 14. §. 89.to provoke him to offer up a ſacrifice of thankſgiving. But if he had not vowed ſuch a ſacrifice, what motive could his vow have beene thereto? This approved patterne of the Prophet giveth evidence, that,
Praiſe to God is a meet matter to be vowed.
Where mention is made of performing vowes, expreſſe mention uſeth there to be of this very matter, and that where directions are given for vowes, thus, aPſal. 50. 14.Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vowes: and where performance is promiſed, thus, b—22. 25.My praiſe ſhalbe of thee, I will pay my vowes. c—56. 12.Thy vowes are upon me, O God: I will render praiſes unto thee. d— …1. 8. Haec ſunt vo…a Prophetae ut laudem dominicam celebret. Hier. Comment. in Pſal. 5….I will ſing praiſe to thy name for ever, that I may daily performe my vowes, The praiſes which he ſang to the Lord tending to this end, that hee might performe his vow, evidently prove that he had vowed ſo to doe. Where Iacob vowed that eGen. 28. 22.the ſtone which he ſet for a pillar, ſhould be Gods houſe, what intended he thereby, but that publike and ſolemne praiſe ſhould be given to God? This was the maine ſubſtance of fIudg. 11. 31.Iepthahs vow, that in way of thanks he would give ſomething to the Lord. If his vow had not too farre extended it ſelfe, even to ſuch things as might not bee offered to the Lord, it had beene a warrantable and commendable vow.
One end of a vow to give evidence of mans reſpect to God.1 A vow rightly made is of ſomething to be done for the Lords ſake, and to teſtifie our reſpect to him. If a vow be made againſt any ſinne, or againſt temptations or occaſions that lead thereto, it is becauſe by ſinne God is offended and diſhonoured. Now to vow againſt that whereby God is offended and diſhonoured, is implicitly to pleaſe and to honour God. If a vow be made for performing any duty, that is made ſomewhat the more directly to the honour and praiſe of God: for, all good duties tend thereunto. Now, becauſe there is nothing wherein and whereby we can more honour God, or better teſtifie our reſpect to God, then by giving praiſe to him, to praiſe God muſt needs be a very fit ſubject for a vow: yea the beſt that can be.
Another end of a vow is gratitude.2 In making a vow ſomething is aimed at, either as received, or as expected from the Lord, which occaſioneth the making thereof. When in diſtreſſe a vow is made, it is in expectation of deliverance from that diſtreſſe. When to avoid ſinne, a vow is made, it is to gaine aſſurance of pardon for that ſinne before committed, and aſſiſtance againſt it for the time to come. Though in theſe and other like caſes a vow be made before the kindneſſe, for which it is made, be received, yet it is to binde us unto gratitude for the kindneſſe which wee deſire and expect. If after a kindneſſe conferred a vow bee made, then it is an apparent teſtimony of gratefulneſſe. But what duty more proper to gratitude then praiſe of God? Wherefore, to praiſe God is a matter moſt meet to be vowed.
A third end of a vow to tie us more firmly to that whereunto we are otherwiſe bound.3 Thoſe duties whereunto we are moſt bound, from performance whereof, no ſuperiour power on earth may hinder us, which by the gift of grace, that God uſeth to give to his children, wee are able to doe, wee ought eſpecially to vow. But in the uppermoſt rancke of all ſuch duties, praiſing of God, is moſt juſtly to bee placed. So as, if any bee meet to bee vowed, this is of all moſt meet.
A vow of praiſe in prayer quickeneth it.4 A vow muſt alwayes bee joyned with prayer. Commonly when men earneſtly deſire the removall of ſome evill, or the obtaining of ſome good thing, in opening their deſire to God, they will vow ſomething to him. At leaſt when a vow is made, prayer muſt then be made for grace to keepe it. Now when in making any petition to God, the mind is fixed on rendering ſomething to God, and is thereby brought to vow praiſe unto him, this vowing of praiſe will much enlarge the deſire of a mans heart, and ſettle his ſoule in aſſurance of obtaining what hee deſireth.
A vow of praiſing God in craving any bleſſing from God, is like to this proteſtation, As wee forgive them that treſpaſſe Exhortation to vow praiſe in praying for any ſpeciall bleſſing. Quid voveatis, quid reddatis? An forte anima lia illa quae …fferebantur ad aras aliquando? Nibil tale offeras. In to eſt quod voveas & reddas▪ De cordis arca profer laudis incenſum. Aug. Enar. in Pſal. 55.againſt us, annexed to the fift petition, whereby we are ſtirred up more earneſtly to crave, and more ſtedfaſtly to believe, pardon of our ſinnes. The thought of praiſing God, eſpecially when it is ratified by a vow, workes much confidence in Gods favour towards him, that is in truth reſolved to performe that vow. Is not this then a very meet matter to be vowed?
Do ye now enquire, what ye may vow, what ye may render? Whether ſuch creatures as were ſometimes offered on altars? Thou needeſt offer no ſuch thing. There is in thee what thou maiſt vow and render. From the arke of thy heart bring forth the incenſe of praiſe. Now therefore yee who are well informed in the lawfulneſſe, meetneſſe, excellency and utility of this duty of making vowes to God, (whereof before) and are thereupon moved to put the duty in practice, here take notice of this maine matter of a vow, and be forward in vowing praiſe to God. When for themſelves men crave in ſickneſſe, recovery of health; in penury, ſupply of their neceſſities; in reſtraint, liberty; in ſterility, children; in oppreſſion, protection; in their labours, ſucceſſe; in any danger, ſafety; or in any other caſe, any needfull bleſſing; yea when they pray in the behalfe of others, whether for the Church in generall, or ſuch parts thereof as are in diſtreſſe, or for their owne nation, citie, towne, pariſh, family, children, or any others: when they pray for any more then ordinary bleſſing, and favour from the Lord, let them in making that prayer vow to render praiſe unto the Lord: that when the Lord giveth any evidence of hearing their prayer, they may ſay, I will praiſe thee, O Lord, that I may performe my vow.
See more of this verſe, before, on verſe 14.