2dly. We must, by a solemn vow, oblige ourselves to some duties of religion in particular. As it is good to engage ourselves by covenant against particular sins, that by the help of resolution, our resistance of them may be invigorated; so it is good to engage ourselves to particular duties, that thereby we may be quickened closely and diligently to apply ourselves to them, and may see our works before us.

(1.) We should particularly oblige ourselves to those duties which our own consciences have charged us with the neglect of. We have known that good which our own hearts tell us we have not done; we find, upon reflection, it may be, that we have not been constant in our secret devotion-that we have not done that good in our families which we should have done; we have been barren in good discourse....careless of our duty to the souls of others....backward to works of charity....unfurnished for, and indisposed to religious exercises. In these or other things wherein we are conscious to ourselves that we have been de fective, we must covenant, for the future, to be more circumspect and industrious, that our works may be found filled up before God. When the Jews, in Nehemiah's time, made a sure covenant, wrote it, and sealed to it, they inserted particular articles relating to those branches of God's service which had been neglected, and made ordinances for themselves, according to the ordinances that God hath given them, (Neh. x. 32)-so should we do, as an evidence of the sincerity of our repentance for our former omissions, both of duty, and in duty. That work of our Lord wherein we have been most wanting, in that we must covenant to abound most, that thereby we may redeem the time.

(2.) We should particularly oblige ourselves to those duties, which we have found, by experience, to contribute most to the support and advancement of the life and power of godliness in our hearts. They that have carefully observed themselves, perhaps can

tell what those religious exercises are, which they have found to be most serviceable to the prosperity of their souls; and by which they have reaped most spiritual benefit and advantage. Have our hearts been most enlarged in secret devotion? Hath God sometimes met us in our closets with special comforts, and the unusual manifestations of himself to our souls? Let us from thence take an indication, and covenant to be more and longer alone, in secret communion with God. Have public ordinances been to us as green pastures, and have we sitten down by them with de light? Let us resolve to be so much the more dili. gent in our attendance on them, and wait more closely at those gates where we have so oft been abundant. ly satisfied. Though one duty must never be allow ed to entrench upon another, yet those duties which we have found to be the most effectual means of in. creasing our acquaintance with God....confirming our faith in Christ, and furthering us in our way to Heaven, we should, with a peculiar care, engage ourselves to.

Though God hath strictly commanded us the great and necessary acts of religious worship, yet, for the trial of our holy ingenuity and zeal, he hath left it to us to determine many of the circumstances; that even instituted sacrifices may be, in some respect, free-will offerings. He hath commanded us to pray, and read the scriptures, but hath not told us just how oft, and how long we must pray and read: here, therefore, it is proper for us to bind ourselves to that which will best answer the intention of the command in general ....best agree with the circumstances we are in, and best advance the interests of our souls; in which we must take heed on the one hand, that we indulge not spiritual sloth by contenting ourselves with the least proportions of time that may be, much less by confi ning ourselves to them; and, on the other hand, that we make not religious exercises a task and burden to ourselves, by binding ourselves to that at all times,

which, in an extraordinary pang of devotion, is easy and little enough. In making resolutions of this kind, we ought to be cautious, and not hasty to utter any thing before God, that we may not afterwards say before the angel, It was an error....Eccl. v. 2, 6. Though such is the decay of Christian zeal in the age we live in, that few need this caution, yet it must be inserted, because, it is a snare to a man to devour that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

(3.) We should particularly oblige ourselves to those duties by which we have opportunity of glori fying God....adorning our profession, and doing good in our places. We are not born for ourselves, nor bought for ourselves; we were born for God, and bought for Christ; and both as men, and as Christians, we are members of one another, and we ought to sit down and consider how we may trade with the talent we are instructed with, though it be but one, to the glory of our Creator....the honor of our Redeemer, and the good of our brethren. The liberat and pious devise liberal things and pious things, and oblige themselves to them. Think, then, my soul, not only what must I do, but what may I do for God, who hath done such great things for me? How may I be serviceable to the interests of God's kingdom among men? What can I do to promote the strength and beauty of the church, and the welfare of precious souls? And if we have thought of any thing of this kind, that falls within the sphere of our activity, (though but a low and narrow sphere), it may do well when we find ourselves in a good frame at the table of the Lord, by a solemn vow, with due caution, to oblige ourselves to it, that we may not leave room for a treacherous heart to start back. Thus Jacob, for the perpetuating of the memory of God's favor to him, made it a part of his vow-Gen. xxviii. 22.... This stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house. Thus Hanaah vowed, that if God would give her a son, she would give him to the Lord....1 Sam.

i. 11. It is one of the rules prescribed concerning cost or pains bestowed for pious and charitable uses -II Cor. ix. 7....Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give...so let him do. Now, lest that purpose should fail, and come to nothing, it is good when the matter of it is well digested, to bring it to a head in a solemn promise, that the tempter seeing us stedfastly resolved, he may cease soliciting us to alter our purpose.

(4.) We should particularly oblige ourselves to the duties of our respective callings and relations. Much Christian obedience lies in these instances, and in them we are especially called to serve God and our generation, and should therefore bind ourselves to do

So.

They that are in places of public trust and power, should here oblige themselves, by a solemn vow, to be faithful to the trust reposed in them, and to use their power for the public good. They that rule over men, must here covenant that they will be just, ruling in the fear of God. Their oaths must here be ratified, and David's promise must be theirs-Psal. lxxv. 2.... When I shall receive the congregation, I will judge uprightly. This ought to be seriously considered by all those who receive this holy sacrament at their admission into the magistracy. When publicans and soldiers submitted to the baptism of John, and thereby obliged themselves to live a holy life, they asked and received of John instructions how to discharge the duty of their respective employments; (Luke iii. 12, 13, 14.) for when we vow to keep God's commandments, though we must have a universal respect to them all, yet we must have a special regard to those precepts which relate to the calling wherein we are called, whatever it is.

The stewards of the mysteries of God, when they administer this ordinance to others, receive it themselves as an obligation upon them to stir up the gift that is in them, that they may make full proof of their

ministry. Their ordination-vows are repeated, and confirmed in every sacrament, and they are again sworn to be true to Christ and souls. He that ministereth about holy things must here oblige himself to wait on his ministering...he that teacheth, on teaching, and he that exhorteth, on exhortation....Rom. xii. 7, 8.

Governors of families must here oblige themselves, as David did, to walk before their houses in a perfect way, with a perfect heart, and must affix this seal to Joshua's resolution, that whatever others do,' they and their houses will serve the Lord'....Psal. ci. 2– Josh. xxiv. 15. Here they must consecrate to God a church in their house, and bind themselves to set up, and always to keep up both an altar and a throne for God in their habitation, that they may approve themselves the spiritual seed of faithful Abraham, who was famous for family religion. It is with this intent, (I suppose), that the rubric of the public establishment declares it convenient, that new-married persons should receive the holy communion at the time of their marriage, or at the first opportunity after their marriage; that being engaged to each other in a new relation, they may solemnly engage themselves to dis charge the duties of that relation in the fear of God.

And inferior relations must here oblige themselves to do the duty they owe to their superiors; children to be dutiful to their parents...servants to be obedient to their masters; yea, all of us to be subject one to another. They that are under the yoke, as the Apostle speaks....1 Tim. vi. 1. I may here make the yoke they are under easy to them, by obliging themselves to draw in it from a principle of duty to God, and gratitude to Christ, which will both sanctify and sweeten the hardest services and submission.

Whatever our employments are, and our dealings with men, we must here promise and vow, that we will be strictly just and honest in them; that, whatever temptations we may be under to the contrary at any time, we will make conscience of rendering to