25 It is a ruine for a man which deuoureth holinesse: and after the vowe, to make enquirie.
Because wee see not God with our eies, and that we heare him not with our eares, neither also it seemeth vnto vs that hee neither heareth nor seeth vs: for this occasion wee are not afraide to de∣priue him of the honour which wee doe owe to him, and are abu∣sed so farre, that wee thinke not of the euil which wil come to vs thereby. This while wee ceasse not to be in danger of perdition, as Solomon signifieth, when he saith,
It is a ruine for a man, &c. Heere Solomon hath regarde to that which is written of vowes in the lawe, as God woulde that one shoulde doe him this honour, to holde holy that which he hath vowed to him, & not to applie it to prophane vses, but to yeeld it to him according to his promise made. Also when by baptisme we are dedicated to him, and sanctified by the worke, we ought to offer our¦selues continually to his seruice, and to separate ourselues from all prophane thinges, to the ende that wee bee holinesse to the Lord. and that we yeelde ourselues to him, according as wee haue promi∣sed: and also he calleth vs thereto, and commandeth vs, You shalbe holy vnto me, otherwise we shal deuoure holynesse, appliyng it to another vsage then is lawful, and this shoulde bee after the vowes to make inquirie, howe wee shoulde bee deliuered from rendring them to doe then as wee woulde ourselues. And in this sorte wee iest at God, to be iested at of him again: and to be destroyed, as we wel deserue, then to the ende that wee fal not into such inconueni∣ence, let vs followe with perseuerance that which Saint Paule tea∣cheth vs, I pray you therefore brethren that you offer vp your bo∣dies a quicke sacrifice, holy, and acceptable vnto the Lord, which is your reasonable seruice.