nant when recognised as not merely
issued according to his sovereign will, but as having received the
acquiescence of the heart, and been acceded to by solemn oath and vow.
That the acceptance of them in Covenanting brings under obligation is
therefore most manifest. They are permanently the Lord's charge. His law
remains so, whether or not it be obeyed by men. It remains so when
presented, and acceded to in its covenant form. But when it is accepted
in vowing to God, it is so conveyed over to the believer, that at once
he is called to keep it sacred to the Lord's service, and to stand
chargeable in his sight for the use he makes of the precious trust. If
he fail to draw upon the blessings promised therein, he is liable to
rebuke; if he obey not the duties enjoined in it, he is exposed to
chastisement. Both evils he is commanded and encouraged to avoid. That
he may not dishonour the God of his salvation, by making little progress
in the use of precious means of spiritual improvement, and that he may
not be found unfaithful, he endeavours to manifest the deep-felt sense
cherished by him of the reality of his obligation acknowledged, when he
says, "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they
are the rejoicing of my heart."[332]

Thirdly. The Lord commands that the vow be paid. A lawful promise to men
binds to performance; and why not a vow to God? If the vow made, whether
in the use of the oath implicitly or explicitly, be not paid, the truth
will not have been spoken; and accordingly, not merely the ninth, but
the third precept of the moral law will have been transgressed. The
command enjoining that truth be spoken, and that forbidding that God's
name be taken in vain, both inculcate, therefore, the fulfilment of the
vow. But various explicit statutes enjoin the same. Such are
these--"Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God."[333] "When thou vowest a
vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay
that which thou hast vowed."[334] "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the
Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will
surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee."[335] From such
dictates there can be no appeal. Even were we altogether ignorant of the
reason why they were uttered, we should, because of the authority of
God, willingly acquiesce in them. But the ground of them he has been
pleased to make known. Were it not in order that the service promised