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HItherto of the Rules, that concerne the most vsuall parts of Gods seruice: There are other parts of Gods seruice, which are to be vsed, but at certaine times, and vpon speciall occasions, & these are Vowes, and Oathes, and Fasting.
The rules about Vowing are briefely comprehen∣ded in that place,* 1.1 Eccl••s. 5. 3, 4. and they are chiefly two.
1. First, Before thou vow∣est, consider: consider, I say, thine owne strength, whe∣ther thou be able to do it: and consider also the end, that it bee to Gods glory; and consider the matter, that thou vow not things vnlawfull: and consider what may be the euents of thy Vow, for all Vowes be∣ing made before the Angell, that takes notice of all Couenants, it will bee in vaine afterwards to plead, it was an errour, thou wast mistaken: God may bee an∣gry at thy voice, and destroy the worke of thy hands: Be not rash therefore, to cause
thy flesh to sinne therein.
2. Secondly, when thou hast vowed thy vow to God, deferre not to pay it, be sure thou performe it: it is a grieuous offence to breake a lawfull vow: Bet∣ter it is thou shouldst not vow, then that thou shouldst vow, and not pay.
Thus of Vowing.
Concerning the Oath,* 1.2 when thou art called to sweare, thou must obserue these Rules:
First, that thou sweare not by any thing which is not God, Ier. 5. 7.
Secondly, that thou sweare in truth, that is, that
thy conscience know, what thou swearest is true.
Thirdly, that thou sweare in iudgement, that is, with due consideration of the nature of God, and with sound deliberation, not rashly, and diligently weighing of all things, that belong to the matter thou swearest about.
Fourthly, that thou sweare in righteousnesse, that is a∣bout lawfull things, & iust matters: Thou must not sweare to do vniust things, as Dauid sware to kil Nabal: nor must thou swear about impossible things, or about things that are doubtfull
and vncertaine: Nor in the forme of thy oath must thou vse such words, as be contumelious to God, or expresse not sufficient reue∣rence to the Diuine Maies∣tie, as they that wickedly sweare by any part of Christ, or such like.
The Rules about vowing.
Rules a∣bout Swearing.