The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 67
Gods Justice Covenant-breakers and Vowes broken punished.
VOwes are …o be used between God and man on speciall occasions, when either2 Sam. 3. 35. David. to strengthen our selves against some sinne, or the better to performe some dutie, we binde our Consciences to avoide all occasions that may draw us to the one, and use all good meanes, that may further us to the other.
These things are to be considered before Vowing:
1. To vow that which is lawfull. 2. Not to vow that which is contrary to our Vocation. 3. Vowes must be of that which we can doe. 4. They must be farre from so much as a conceit of merit, or worship of God. 5. It must be to Gods glory: and lastly, the event is to be considered, for the Vow being made, it will be in vain to plead before God it was mistaken of thee.
Having vowed deferre not to pay it, but be sure to performe it, yet so as they incroach not upon the libertie of Conscience which Christ hath given us, and therefore look how the probable causes thereof do remaine, or are taken away, so accordingly stands our libertie in keeping of a vow.
King Saul Vowed That no person should taste of any food till he were avenged of his enemies: Ionathan his son not hearing the vow made, finding hony1 Sam. 14. did …aste thereof, for which the Lord was displeased with all Israel.
Jewes Vowed That they would set at libertie their servants, they performed not the same, for which the Lord sent among them the Sword, Pestilence,Ier. 34. 11. and Famine.
Samson Vowed To performe the vow of a Nazarite: by shewing Delilah where his strength lay, he brake the same, for which he lost his haire, eyes,Numb. 6. 5. Iudg. 16. strength and life.
Ioshua Made a Covenant with The Gibeonites that they should have peace among the Israelites: Saul slew some of them, for which the PhilistinesIosh. 9. 3. 1 Sam. 13. 2 Sam. 21. 2 Sam. 3. 13. prevailed against him, slew his sonnes, &c. And seven of his sonnes at the Gibeonites request were hanged, and all the land was three years with famine punished.
Israel Made a Covenant with The Lord, swearing falsly, they were by him plagued.Hos. 10. 4. Ezek. 17. 16. 2 K…ng. 14. Judg. 9. … … 2. …. …z…k. 17. 15. P…i…sts, Mal 2. 8. 2 Chron. 38.
Iehoiakim Made a Covenant with Babel king: he brake the same, and was slain.
Shechemites Made a Covenant with Abimelech: they brake the same, and were slain.
Shimei Made a Covenant with Salomon: that lost him life for not performing the same.
Zed…kiah Made a Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar: and brake the same, he lost his eyes, his sonnes slain.
Covenant-breakers are ranked by Saint Paul among capitall sinnes.Rom. 1. 31. Psal. 55. 20.
Covenants and Vowes made and performed.
Iacob Performed the vow made To the Lord that he should be his God, and that he would give him Tithe of all that he had, if God gave himGen. 28. bread, &c.
Iephthah Performed the vow made To the Lord: in offering up his daughter, as he had said.Iudg. 11. Numb. 21. 2.
Israel Performed the vow made To the Lord: destroying the Canaanites, as they had vowed.
Ionah Performed the vow made To the Lord in sacrificing; with the marriners being delivered.Ionah 1. & 2.
Iosiah Performed the vow made To the Lord: that he would walk in the wayes of the Lord.2 King. 23. 1 Sam. 1. Psa 32. 2. & 116▪ 14. 1 Sam. 18. 2 Sam. 1….
Hannah Performed the vow made To the Lord: by dedicating her sonne Samuel unto him.
Performed the vow made To the Lord: by providing a habitation for God to dwel in.
David Performed the vow made To Ionathan; by entertaining M…phibosheth his son.
To Performed the vow made To Shimei… that he should not die by his hand for cu…sing him.
Ioshua spies Performed the vow made To Raha…: by saving her when Jericho was destroyed.Iosh 6. Psal. 15. Deut. 23. 21.
He that sweareth to his neighbour, and disapp…inteth him not, though it be to his own hinderance, shall dwell in the heavens.
Gods Covenant made with Man.
God Made a Covenant with Noah, that the waters should not destroy all things again.Gen. 15. Chap. 17. 11. Deut. 29.
God Made a Covenant with Abraham That he would give his posteritie the promised land.
God Made a Covenant with Abraham That he would multiply him and be his God: and gave him Circumcision as a Covenant to be kept by him.
God Made a Covenant with The Israelite… 1. Concerning the lawes they were to keep. 2. ThatExo. 24. 8. & 34 Heb. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Exo. 31. & 34. Ier. 31. & 32. Numb. 25. 12. 2 Sam. 23. Isai. 59. 21. they should sanctifie the Sabbath. 3. That he would cast out the Canaanites. And lastly, that he wouldHag. 2. 5. put his law in their inward parts, so that he would not leave them, unlesse they forsook him.
God Made a Covenant with Phinebas of Peace: and with David, that he should rule over men.Mal. 2. 5.
God Made a Covenant with Isaiah, that the spirit that was on him should not depart from him.
Covenants made between man and man.
King Asa Made a Covenant with Benhadad, 1 King. 15. Benhadad with Ahab1 King. 20. 2 Sam. 5. Iob 31. Ez. 10. 2 C…r. 15, 2 King. 11. 1 King. 13.
Abraham Made a Covenant with Abimelech, Gen. 21. David with Abner, 2 Sa. 3. & with others.
Iacob Made a Covenant with Laban, Gē. 31. Isaac with Abimelech, Gē. 26. Iob with his eies.
Ioshua Made a Covenant with Israel, Ios. 24. & with the Gibeonites, Iosh. 9. Israel with God.
Iehoiada Made a Covenant with God and the King: and between the people and him.
Salomon Made a Covenant with King Hiram, so as there was continuall peace between them.
Ʋnlawfull Oathes made:
Ben…adad Swore The dust of Samaria should not be a handful for every of his army.1 King. 2…. 1 King. 19. 2 Kin. 6. Ier. 44. 25. Act. 23. Matth. 14▪
Iezebel Swore She would make the life of Elijah as those he had slain.
Iehoram Swore That the head of Elisha should be taken from him.
Certain Jemes Swore They would burn incense to the Queene of heaven, and would not eat or drink till Paul was killed by them.
Herod Swore He would give Herodias to the halfe of his kingdome.
Reade Nahum 1. 15. Eccles. …. 3. Numb. 30. 3. Psal. 19. 21. Isai. 50. 14. Deut. 2…. 18.