A Complete Christian Dictionary, Dictionary · Part VO
V O.
Vocation]
;;The common calling of Christianity. Eph. 4. 1. Walk worthy of the vocation whereunto you are called This is a general Vocation, whereby the elect are called to be faithful and holy, as God is holy.
;;2. The particular calling and course of life, wherein every Christian liveth; as a Magistrate or Minister, Captain, Souldier, &c. 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let every man abide in the same vocation whereunto he was called. This is our special calling.
Vocation] is either common and general; or special and effectual.
By the first all indifferently good and bad, elect and reprobate, are outwardly invited by the Ministery of the Gospel, to embrace the benefit of redemption wrought by Christ, which notwithstanding is ineffectual to the reprobate, who refuse to come to the Supper of the great King, and contemn these inestimable benefits therein offered.
The special and effectual is proper to the elect, Mat. 22. 3, 8. Rom. 8. 30. Act. 13. 48. Joh. 6. 45. It is wrought by the Spirit of God, opening our deaf ears, enlightening our blinde minde, enclining our wils, and sanctifying our affections; that we may attentively hear, truly understand, and heartily embrace the Gospel preached unto us, Act. 16. 14.
The parts of it are,
1. Our separation from the world, whereof we were Citizens and members, that from henceforth we should be of Gods house and family, …. 15. 19. Eph. 2. 19. And thus the Lord cals us when we think not of him, Isa. 65. 1. when we were dead in sins, Eph. 2 1, 3, 12. when we were desperate sinners, 1 Cor. 6. 11. walking after the lust of the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 4. 3. and wandring sheep, Isa. 53. 6.
The 2. part is that reciprocal donation, whereby God the Father giveth Christ his only Son effectually to all the elect, to be their head, Redeemer and Saviour; and also whereby he giveth his elect to Christ, to become his members, Isa. 9. 6. Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 8. 32. Joh. 17. 6. Joh. 10. 29. This donation is altogether spiritual, after a heavenly manner; for the means whereby it is brought to passe on Gods part, is his holy Spirit; and on our part, a lively Faith.
The 3. part is the union and communion which is between Christ and the elect, which followeth upon this donation, whereby Christ and they are mystically coupled together in one body, he becoming their head, and they becoming his members. Of this speaketh the Scripture, Eph. 4. 15, 16. & 5. 30. Joh. 15. 1. Eph. 2. 20. 21, 22. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Joh. 6. 54.
The means on Gods part are,
1. The preaching of the Word, which is made effectual by the holy Spirit.
2. To mollifie our hard hearts, and to humble us, by setting before us our sins, and the curse due to them. And after we see our inability of working our own salvation, we are brought out of our selves, to see our salvation in Jesus Christ, applying him and his merits unto us, by a true and lively faith, which is done by the preaching of the Gospel.
The means on our part, is the saving hearing of the Word, whereby our hearts being mollified, and we humbled, are brought out of our selves, to seek salvation only in Christ, and to rely upon him for the same.
Heavenly vocation]
;;A calling from heaven, tending to heaven, glory, and blisse, and requiring a heavenly conversation, led according to the Laws of heaven. Heb. 3. 1. Partakers of the heavenly vocation.
To make our vocation sure]
;;To labour to give to our selves a sure, and to others an evident testimony that we have the true faith, whence good works do arise and spring, 2 Pet. 1. 16.
Voice]
;;The speech of one calling us to him, or calling unto one. Act. 9. 7. Hearing his voice, but they saw no man. A natural created voice.
;;2. The Doctrine of Christ, uttered by his own, or by the voice of the Apostles, Prophets and Ministers. Psal. 95. 7. If ye will hear his voice. Joh. 20. 27. My sheep hear my voice, & Joh. 5. 15. A spiritual voice, or voice of doctrine. It also signifieth the statutes and commandements of the Law. Exod. 19. 5. If ye will hear my voice.
;;3. An exceeding great terrible sound of words, made of God at the delivery of the Law. Heb. 12. 26. Whose voice then shook the earth. An uncreated supernatural voice.
;;4. The dreadful noise of thunder. Psal. 29. 3. The voice of the Lord is above the waters; the God of glory makes it to thunder. Also v. 4, 5. Voice of thunder. See Job 38. 1. Thus God appearing as a Judge did speak unto Adam, as Gen. 3. 8.
;;5. A mighty, loud, and unexpressible noise, by speech or words, which Christ shall utter at his coming for the raising of the dead. Joh. 5. 28. The hour shall come, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. An extraordinary supernatural …. This is that Trumpe mentioned 1 Thess. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52.
;;6. Words of counsel and advice. Exod. 18. 14. Moses obeyed the voice of his Father.
;;7. The fame and rumour of a thing, Gen. 55. 16.
Voice] There is a Prophetical voice, Rev. 15. 4. and it is twofold.
1. Such as ariseth from an external sound, but having no physical cause: by this voice Samuel was awaked, 1 Sam. 3. 4. No question he heard a sound, but such as came not from nature.
2. There is another that cometh from no external sound (as that Rev. 18. 4.) but from a certain affection of the ears, beside nature; for as in great sicknesses the organs of the senses are so affected, as that we seem to hear such sounds which extrinsecally are not; so may the same come to passe in prophesying, but with this difference, that such a disposition in the ears of the Prophets is no disease, but cometh from God, therefore it comes to them that are in health: Now between these two kindes of Prophetical voices, the difference is, that as … as the Prophets hear an external sound, others that are present hear the same; but when it cometh as it were immediately from God, not extrinsecally, then the Prophet alone heareth it.
Voice]
;;The Word of Christ, by which he calleth the elect to him, Cant. 2. 8. It is the voice of my wellbeloved.
;;2. The prayers, supplications, thanksgivings, whereby the Church doth (as it were) talk with Christ, …. 2. 14. Let me hear thy voyce.
The voice of my beloved]
Cant. 5. 2. A Christian soul doth know and may discern the voice of Christ, yea that, even in a lazy sleepy estate, but much more when in a good and lively frame. It is the Ear-mark as it were of a Christian, one of the characters of the new man, to last words by the ear, as Job saith, Job 12. 11. See Joh. 10. 3, 26. Again, The Church of God and every Christian takes notice of the means that God useth for their salvation; namely his voice, in the Ministery of the Word. Sibs.
Voice of the Bridegroom]
;;The mirth and …, such as useth to be expressed and exercised at marriages. Rev. 18. 23. The voice of the Bridegroom shall be heard no more. In these words he alludeth to Jer. 52. 10.
To change the voice]
;;To use words more milde and gentle. Gal. 4. 20. I desire to change my voice. Paul was forced to write somewhat roughly and sharply, as chap. 3. 1. now he wisheth that he might speak as a Mother to her children, with soft and loving words, which he calleth the changing of his voice, occasioned by the change of their mindes and lives.
Voice of a …]
;;John the Baptist, by his voice and preaching, proclaiming the year of an eternal Jubilee, of exceeding joy and eternal redemption by Christ. Joh. 1. 23. I am the voice of him that cryeth, &c. Because John the Baptist was thought to begin his Ministery in the year of Jubilee, which is the fiftieth year, and was wont to be proclaimed by the voyce of a Cryer, and the sound of a …, that every man might return to his possession, and every man to his own family, Lev. 25. 10. Hence it is most likely, was John the Baptist called the voice of a Cryer, as he that first proclaimed the coming of the …, by whom an eternal Jubilee and Liberty from Satan and Sin was purchased and bestowed on his people.
To give the voice]
;;To utter a loud and high speech, to cry, to make a noyse by thunder, Psal. 18. 13. & 46. 6. & 68. 33. & Jer. 2. 14. Numb. 14. 1. 2 Chron. 24. 9. Heb. 3. 10.
To give forth his voice]
;;To cry aloud, Gen. 42. 5. … is an Hebrew manner of speaking, often used, as Numb. 14. 1. 2 Chr. 24. 9. Psal. 46. 7 & 68. 34. & 77. 18.
A voice of … and Musicians &c.]
;;All manner of mirth and joy, expressed by any manner of instruments, whether toucht by the finger, or made to sound by the force of the breath. Rev. 18. 22. And the voice of Harpers, Musicians, and Trumpeters, shall be … no more.
To beat the voice of Christ]
;;To believe with the heart the doctrine of Christ, concerning eternal life by his merits. Joh. 5. 25. The dead shall hear the voice. Joh. 10. 24. My sheep hear my voice.
;;2. To feel the force and power of his mighty word, and commanding the dead to live and arise, Joh. 5. 28.
Great voice of a great multitude]
;;A most great and cheerful noise of innumerable Citizens of the Church-Militant, cheering and rejoycing themselves with the ruine and fall of Babylon. Rev. 19. 1. I heard a great voice of a great multitude in heaven.
… out of the Temple]
;;The faithful prayers of the Saints prevailing with God, for the execution of his judgements upon his, and their accursed enemies in Antichrists Kingdom. Rev. 16. 1. And I heard a great voice out of the Temple. Others understand this of Gods own voice, immediately thundring out of heaven, the Temple of his holiness: which cannot agree, seeing the Temple signifieth the Militant Church in earth, as ch. 11. 1.
A voice out of the throne]
;;A most sweet exhortation uttered by some of those Angels which are said to be amidst the throne, and about the throne of God, stirring up the Servants of God to praise him. Rev. 19. 5. Then a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise the Lord.
Voice of the Turtle]
;;The singing or sweet melody made by the Turtle, Cant. 2. 12. The voice of the Turtle is heard in our ….
Voice of many waters, and of strong thunders]
;;An effectual voice, … terrible, piercing and striking (like thunder) and making great noise (like many waters toge ther) strongly provoking both the Jews restored, and the believing Gentiles, to sound forth the praises of God, for his infinite mercies in Christ, and his great judgements against the great Whore. Rev. 16. 9. I heard a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of strong thunders.
Voices]
;;Strange stings and pricks of conscience, vexing men with continual expectation of some evill to come. Rev. 4. 5. Out of the throne proceeded lightenings, thunderings and voices. Some by these words understand no other thing, but the fearful judgements of God, threatned in most horrible manner to the wicked, alluding to the terrible manner of delivering the Law by thundring, lightning, and sounding of a trumpet, Exod. 19.
An Hebraism, for loud sounds, and … of thunder, Exod. 9. 23, 28. & 20. 8. Annot.
;;2. The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, sounded forth by the operation of the holy Ghost, to reprove the world, and to terrifie tyrants and worldlings, who thereupon … up all manner of tumults and uprores, persecutions and slanders, represented by thundering, lightening, and earthquake. Rev. 8. 5. And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightenings, and ….
;;3. A word or sentence uttered miraculously from heaven. Rev. 10. 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven, spake to me again.
Void]
;;Altogether without, Genes. 1. 2. To frustrate and disappoint, Numb. 30. 12, 13, 15. Destitute, Deut. 32. 28. Prov. 7. 7. …, 1 King. 22. 10. 2 Chron. 18. 9. Clear of, free from, Act. 24. 16. Desolate, Nah. 2. 10.
Void]
Without, Deut. 32. 28. Prov. 7. 7. & 10. 13. Void place, 2 Chr. 18. 9. or floor, marg.
Volume]
A book, Luk. 3. 4. Act. 1. 20. It is put for the book of the Word of God, Psal. 40. 8. Rivet upon the place.
Volume]
Psal. 40. 7. That by the volume of the book, the Law of God which prescribes to all men how to live godlily (or which is the rule of godliness unto all men) should be understood, I do not think absurd. But nevertheless I take this to be the more genuine exposition, that David should professe himself in eorum catalogo censeri (some by this volume of the look, understand a scrol or catalogue, wherein Souldiers names were registred) to be of their number, enrolled by name, who yeeld obedience unto God. If by foreign, there is no necessity the Scripture should be understood, the words of themselves being general, which may as well be translated, in a volume of a book, as in the volume of the book, and by foreign, any Writings, Evidences, Bils, Court-rols, &c. may be understood, as Deut. 24. 1. and in divers other places, as no man makes any question; then I see nothing why this should not be thought the most literal aud convenient interpretation; that David should make here a solemne … of his purposed absolute obedience unto God, as one that were legally bound and obliged by a written and registred covenant or engagement. Neither is it unusual to the Scripture by mention of a Book to intimate the certainty and irrevocableness of things, as also to deliver things with more solemnity. Annot.
Voluntarie]
Willing, is referred,
I. To Persons; and that, In a good sense, Exod. 35. 22. 2 Chr. 29. 31. 1 Chr. 28. 21. 2 Cor. 8. 3. Psal. 110. 3.
II. To things, as to Sacrifices, Lev. 22. 18, 20, 21, 23. Lev. 7. 16. Psal. 54. 7.
It signifieth sometimes liberal, Psal. 68. 10. plentiful rain. In the Hebrew it is rain of willingness, so called, because (as some would have it) it cometh from the good will of God; or as others, because of the great quantity of it, as liberal men use not to give sparingly; or because of the seasonableness and fruitfulness of the same.
Voluntarily]
Willingly, of their own free will, not being urged or compelled, Ezek. 46. 12.
Vomit]
is spoken,
1. of God, who cannot endure them that are not zealous in his service, Rev. 3. 16.
2. Of the Land, weary with the inhabitants because of their sins, which is by the just judgement of God upon impenitent sinners, Lev. 18. 25.
3. Of one that is grieved for eating the meat of the covetous, Prov. 23. 8.
4. Of the covetous man, who shall come to poverty, Job 20. 15.
5. To them who are deluded with errors, Isa. 19. 14. and return to their sin after repentance, Prov. 26. 11. 2 …. 2. 22. and who shall be made by God a laughing-stock to others, Jer. 48. 26.
6. To the Whale, Jon. 2. 10.
Vomit]
Isa. 28. 8. or ordure, for so the word properly signifieth, chap. 36. 12. See chap. 4. 4. An excesse of … that makes men … both wayes. Annot.
It's put for a loathsome and detestable course of conversation (as in the forequoted place) and for great sorrow … the heart, as a … doth the stomach, being overcharg'd so as he falleth down upon his vomit, Jer. 48. 26.
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A thing broken, or parched, a portion, a diminishing. or …. The Father of Nahbi, Numb. 13. 14.
…]
;;A wish, or desire.
;;2. An holy promise made unto God of Thankfulness for his benefits, either by words or praise, or by offering something to his service. Psal. 50. 14. Pay thy vows to the Lord. Eccl. 5. 5. Deut. 23. 21. When thou hast vowed to the Lord, be not slack to pay it.
;;Also it signifieth prayer and invocation, Psal. 116. 14. Vows were made to God with Prayer, Gen. 28. 20. and paid with Thanksgiving, Psal. 61. 5. and by Law their payment was required, Deut. 23. 23. Eccl. 5. 5. Psal. 76. 12. and there were Sacrifices for Vows, Lev. 7. 16.
;;3. Some gift freely promised by Vow, and offered unto God. Lev. 7. 16. If the Sacrifice of his offering be a Vow.
;;A vow is a testification of a willing promise, made devoutly and properly unto God, of some lawful things which do belong unto God, and being in our own power, unto the service and honour of his name. Such a vow is either Legal, appertaining to the Law; or Evangelical, pertaining to the Gospel; and this latter, is either general to all Christians, as that of our Baptism; or else particular and special, as when we binde our selves to a greater endevour to leave some sin, or to do some duty, Psal. 116. 18. Eccl. 5. 4.
;;The vows of perpetual chastity in single life, they are unlawful, as not being in our own power, nor required of God; much more unlawful are the promises and vows of massacring innocent Christians, and killing lawful Kings, under pretence of advancing the holy Catholick faith, as they falsly call their Romish Idolatrous religion.
Vow is a deliberate promise made to God of some good thing to be performed, if it be not disanulled by a Superiour, Deut. 23. 23. For the making of a vow, the desire and purpose are not sufficient, except he that voweth have a minde to oblige himself; which mental obligation is sufficient without word or writ.
2. It must be done deliberately, for a sudden passion maketh not a Vow.
3. It must be of good things, for a man may not vow that which is evill in it self, Act. 20. 12.
Some vows are of evill things to an evill end, some are of good things in an evill manner, some are of good things in a good manner.
The first ought neither to be made nor kept.
The second may be made, and ought to be kept in respect of the matter, but not in respect of the end; as we may vow to give almes, but not to be seen of men.
The third may be made, and ought to be kept.
We must not vow that which will hinder a greater good, Joh. 13. 8. So we must not vow that which is not in our power; a man must not vow abstinence from his Wife, because he hath not power over his own body, 1 Cor. 7. 4. other things he may without her consent, because he is her head. We may not vow that which is absolutely necessary, as to die; nor a trifle, as to … a straw.
4. A vow must have the consent of the Superiour, otherwise it is null.
We may not vow now under the Gospel such things as are necessary for some other things, but are free in themselves.
He that is drunk may vow abstinence from strong drink:
1 If he restrain it not to one certain day.
2 If he put no holiness in it; for the kingdom of heaven is not in meat and drink, Rom. 14. 17.
3 If he place not merit in it.
4 If it take not away his Christian liberty, but only restrain the use of his liberty. This way to vow, is to make a … to the commandement of God.
A vow is a strait obligation to binde us to God. Psal. 56. 12. My vows are upon me; i. e. I am bound to do it.
The Hebrews use the preposition upon for the duties which we are to perform to any. Neh. 6. 10. they are to be holden with their vow; it must be performed; Shillem is called a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, because when men are in danger, they vow; and when they are freed, they perform the vow: the word cometh from another word that signifieth to render, and then from a word signifying peace, because when a man payeth his vows to the Lord, he getteth peace to his minde.
Vow]
It's made with a promise, Gen. 28. 20. With an oath sometime, Numb. 30. 2. Psal. 132. 2. and with prayer, 1 Sam. 1. 10, 11, 27. Whereof God taketh notice, Deut. 23. 21. accepteth, Numb. 21. 3. 1 Sam. 1. 19. and is carefully to be performed, being made, Deut. 23. 21. which the godly do, Psal. 61. 8. & 66. 13.
Choyce vows, Deut. 12. 11. Heb. the choyce of your vows, marg.
Had a vow]
Act. 18. 18. Had a vow here, is not to be referred to Paul, but to Aquila, for which his name is conjoyned foreign, &c. Shaving his head, without so much as a comma between in some printed Copies. And it is not improbable, that when it is said vers. 19. that Paul went to Ephesus, and left them there, the foreign there should not denote Ephesus to which, but Cenchrea from which he came (for why should his leaving them at Ephesus be immediately subjoyned to his coming thither?) and this on this occasion, to purifie himself, and to be shaved, to which some stay, at least seven dayes was necessary. This vow was without all question the vow of the Nazarites among the Jews, Numb. 6. 5. which was not alwayes for life, but sometimes for a determinate time, wherein they did foreign, and not suffer the razor to come upon them; but when that time was past, then one part of the vow was to be shaved, vers. 18. and to offer up the hair, (called the hair of his separation) to put it in the fire, which is under the sacrifice of the Peace-offerings, and accordingly here is shaving himself, for he had a vow. But because this is here by him at Cenchrea, and not at Jerusalem, (where the accomplishment of the vow was to be performed as before at the dore of the Tabernacle, Numb. 6. 13. and as we see it performed here, Act. 21. 23.) therefore it is most probable that this shaving here, was not on the accomplishing of his vow, but upon some intervening legall pollution, in which case he was bound to offer for a cleansing, and on the seventh day to shave his head, and so begin the dayes again, Numb. 6. 11, 12. This probably might be done in any City where a man happened to be polluted. But that at the completion of the vow, when the dayes of his separation were fulfilled, was to be at Jerusalem. This custome was practised among the Heathens who offered their hair (when it was cut) to Apollo, whom they tearmed, the nourisher of hair. Dr. Ham. Annot. b.
Vow]
To binde ones self, whether by promise or oath, or both, to perform such or such a thing; which hath been done, both lawfully, as Gen. 28. 20, 21. & 31. 15. Numb. 21. 2, 3. 1 Sam. 1. 11. Psal. 132. 2. Prov. 31. 2. Jonah 2. 9. Act. 21. 23. and unlawfully, out of rashnesse, Judg. 11. 30. deceit, 2 Sam. 15. 7, 8. to serve idols, Jerem. 44. 25. Judge. 17. 3. to doe villany, Act. 23. 14.
Voyage]
Act. 27. 10. Journey by Sea, or sailing, as the word is rendred, vers. 9. In chap. 21. 7. it is … course.