Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie, Book · Book 4 · Chapter 13
Cap. 13. Of vowes by raſhe promiſing, whereof each man hath miſerably entangled him ſelfe.
FIrſt, he treateth generally of vows, from the 1. to the 7. then namely of monaſtery vowes, from the 8. to the 21. but firſt of monaſtery profeſſion and manners, from the 8. to the 16. thē of vowes themſelues, but chiefly of the vow of chaſtitie, from the 17. to the 21.
1 He ſheweth by certaine generall foundations, in what place vowes may be had, and how ſuperſtitiouſly not only the Ethnikes, but alſo the Chriſtians hauehave offended in declaring hereof.
2 The better to ſhewe the ſame, hée ſetteth downe thrée thinges to be obſerued:Col. 2.2…. who it is to whome we expreſſe a vowe; who we be that make the vowe; Laſt of all, with what minde we vowe. Out of the cōſideration of the firſt, this appereth, that we vow nothing to God, but that he requireth: what ſo euer is not of Fayth is ſinne, and Fayth is in reſpect of the worde.
3 Secondly, we are admoniſhed that we meaſure our ſtrength,Rom. 12.3. 1. Cor. 12.11. and hauehave an eye to our vocation, otherwiſe wée may eaſily offende, as he ſheweth by two examples: and therefore the vowe of ſingle lyfe is to be improued.
4 The third,Gen. 28.20. Pſal. 22.27. doeth admoniſhe vsus to reſpect the end: for there are only foure good endes, whereof two are referred to the tymes paſt, and they are exerciſes of giuing thankes: the other to tyme to come: and they are exerciſes of repentance, where alſo he ſpeaketh of ye firſt two.
5 The two laſt tend to this end, partly that we be made more warier, partly that we may bée ſtirred to our dueties as it were with certaine prickes.
6 Of theſe which are ſpoken, euerie man may eaſily gather what is to bee thought of vowes. That general vowe which is made in Baptiſme, of all men ought to be of great force with vsus, but the particulars muſt bée examined according to the rules aboue ſaide.
7 Thereby it is playne, with howe great ſuperſtition the worlde hath in certayne ages béene poſſeſſed, which firſt he generally ſheweth.
8 Moreouer that hée may not recken vp all the particular fourmes, he ſpeaketh namely of Monkiſhe vowes: and ſo being brought to Monkiſhe vowes, firſt he ſheweth what the life of Monks was in tymes paſt, and what inſtitution, that hée may ſhewe him to be otherwyſe then at this day the Papiſticall Monkes be with vsus.
9 That more manifeſtly appeareth out of Auguſtine.
10 Moreouer making compariſon betwéene that olde Monkerie, and that which is at this day: hée ſheweth by thrée principall notes, howe much this differeth from that: that is to ſay, in vnaduiſed roughneſſe, in vnprofitable idlenes, and in falſe chalenging of perfection.
11 The laſt whereof more diligently examining: he firſt ſheweth howe vniuſtlye they chalendge them ſelues, the title of perfection, although it bée done with ſuche moderation as they falſly pretende.
12 Moreouer he ſhaketh of two things wherein they thinke the perfection doth ſtand, the firſt whereof is generall,Mat. 14. becauſe they preach that they obſerue not only all commaundementes, but alſo the Euangelicall Councels.
13 The other ſpeciall,Mat. 19.21. becauſe they hauehave forſaken all. which that it may be graunted them,1. Cor. 13.3. Col. 2.14. Luk. 10.25. yet the perfection which they dreame of, can not be founde therin.
14 But ſéeing their wordes (which make their profeſſion, ſome ſecond baptiſme) and the thing it ſelf doeth ſpeak, that all they which at this day goe into Monaſteries, do depart from ye Church, …ruely howe many Monaſteries there …e at this day, ſo many Conuenticles …r aſſemblies of Schiſmatikes are …here.
15 Neyther onelyonly is that profeſſion …orrupted, which is at this daye, but …heir manners are moſt corrupted.
16 In that olde Monkerie there was very muche which ought not to pleaſe vsus, and the ſame is chiefly ſhewed in foure vices.
17 As touching ye Monaſtery vowes which this day are in vſe, firſt he generally condemneth all for thrée cauſes:Rom. 14.23. Deu. 31.17. Moreouer he plainely teacheth how far the vow of ſingle lyfe is eſtranged from all religion.
18 That doeth litle help them which they alledge out of Paule, concernyng widowes,1. Tim. 5.12. for they did not profeſſe vnmaried life, for any other reaſon, but becauſe mariage agreed not with the Miniſtery which they tooke in hād, becauſe they could not beare that office, but being at their owne libertie & looſe from the yoke of marriage: therefore if they once loked backe & gaue them ſelues to new mariages, what was it elſe but to ſhake of the calling of God, & to breake their firſt Fayth made in Baptiſme, which is, that eueryevery man ſhoulde aunſwere his calling? yet were they not ſo farre bound, but that if they were troubled with pricking of the fleſhe to fall into any vncleannes, they might better marry againe. That age wherein they were choſen, was commōly out of danger, ſpecially ſith they were choſen ſuch as being content with one marriage, hauehave alreadie ſhewed a token of theyr continencie.
19 Their example alſo is moſt fooliſhly wreſted,1. Tim. 5.9. Rom. 14.21. to the newnes which hée ouerturneth by thrée reaſons.
20 Suche vowes are for two cauſes to be cut off.
21 They are vnworthily accuſed of breach of Fayth and periury,Gal. 3.… which departe from Monkery to ſome honeſt kinde of liuing, and they hauehave a triple defence.