Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 32
PIRNCIPLES CONCERNING VOWES. XXXII.
THE TREATISE OF VOWS IS TO BE ANnexed vntounto the diſcourſe concerning an oath: we are therfore in this place to intreat of them: and firſt of all, to ſee what a vow is.
1 A Vow is a promiſe of things lawfull, and poſsible, made vntounto God, with aduiſed deliberation, and to a godlie end; wherby a man bindeth himſelfe to the performance of ſome thing.
2 For whereas euerie lawefull promiſe muſt proceede, not onelie from the will, but alſo from the reaſon: it muſt needs be, that in vowing, not onelie the bare motion of the mind is to be preſent, but euen a ſure deliberation, wherto a purpoſe of binding a mans ſelf doth alſo concur. Now this aſſurance doth not els-where depend then vponupon a good conſcience, grounded vppon Gods worde, by the which, nothing can be lightly or raſhly promiſed.
The Ethnicks therefore in times paſt did, and the Papiſts now a daies doe, many waies offend in this point, who were, and are wont to make vowes lightlie, & without any word of God: ſo alſo did IEPHTE. IVD. 11.
3 But we are to take heede, that wee vowe nothing that is vnlawfull; much more, that wee performe it not. For it is vnlawefull to promiſe, or to offer any thing vntounto God, that diſpleaſeth him: Next, wee are to bee carefull, that our vowes be not of light, and jeſting matters: thirdly, that they be not of thinges that are impoſsible for vsus to performe.
4 The firſt ſort of theſe vowes, are ſuch, as wherby men doe bind themſelues to commit ſome wickednes; of which ſort, was that vowe, ACT. 23.12. And that of the mother of MICHA, IVDE. 17. The ſecond ſort is of them, which, either doe take vponupon them, or deny the doing of ſomthing (that is indifferent in it owne nature) vppon this or that day. The third is of them, who promiſe thoſe things that they are not able to performe, as they doe, who vowe perpetuall Chaſtitie, which God vſeth not to grant vntounto all: but vntounto ſome onelyonly; and that often, but for a time.
5 Nowe, ſeeing GOD onelie is hee, vntounto whome, wee owe our ſelues, and all that wee hauehave; and that he is the onelye ſearcher of the heart, and hath power to take puniſhment, of thoſe that breake their vowes; wee juſtlie conclude, that our vows are to be made to him only. DEV. 23.21. PSAL. 56.12.
The Papiſts therfore do amiſſe, who vow at their pleaſure vntounto Saints that are dead.
6 Som part of the ceremonial law conſiſted in vows, whereby, men being mindfull of Gods blesſings, did offer giftes and ſacrifices vntounto him in token of thankeſgiuing: therefore they were commaunded in the olde lawe, but the neceſsitie of vowing, togeather with other Ceremonies, were taken away at the comming of Chriſt.
7 For in the newe teſtament there is no commandement of vowing mentioned, either in the Goſpell, or in the writings of the Apoſtles: ſeeing the whole dutie of a Chriſtian, is contained vnderunder the rule of faith and charitie.
8 For the vow wherewith PAVLE bound himſelfe, was done vponupon conſideration of the time, and other circumſtā ces; the Apoſtle framing himſelf vntounto the Iewes, that hee might win them vntounto Chriſt. Act. 21.
9 Yet vowes are nor altogether vnprofitable vntounto chriſtians, that by ſuch exerciſes they may conforme their wils vntounto well doing, & reſtraine themſelues from euill: ſo that the cautions aboue mentioned be obſerued: for nothing is to be vowed, which maketh not for the ſetting forward of Gods glorie, & the profit of our neighbour. And after this ſort did IACOB, Gen. 28. and the Nazarites IVD. 6. make their vowes.
10 And euen as an oath made raſhlie, and concerning vnlawfull things, ought to bee anihilated: euen ſo a vowe that is either vnlawfull or vnpoſsible, ought to bee juſtlie accounted of no force: And therfore that common ſaying is not without good ground: In things that thou haſt ſinfullie promiſed, breake thy promiſe: and this in like ſort, In a godles vow change thy purpoſe.
11 For if in couenants that are betwene man and man thoſe promiſes, doe onelyonly binde vsus wherewith the partie with whome we couenant, will hauehave vsus bound: it is an abſurd thing that we ſhould be compelled to performe thoſe things which God requireth not, but refuſeth to be done.
The Papiſts therefore are too obſtinat in the defence of their Monaſticall life, abuſing thereunto manie places of the Scripture. Impure alſo, and filthy is that PIGHIVS and CAMPEGIVS, who teach, that is better for him who hath vowed chaſtity, to hauehave a hundred Concubines one after another, then to marry one lawefull wife; whereas the Apoſtle doth perſwade them that hauehave not the gift of continency, that it is better to hauehave a lawfull wife, then to burne.
The thinges that are to bee vowed, are diuerſe: for the faithfull in the olde time were wont to vow either men, 1. SAM. 1. or beaſts, LEVIT. 21. or thinges without life. 1. CHRON. 29.
Defended by CORNELIVS MARTYN, a low country man of Roxenburgh in Vltraject