The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
UNDER 70 WIS.


Every reader of this article who is a
protesting Christian may say with the
Psalmist, "Thy VOWS are upon me, o
Cod" These vows were first taken un
der circumstances of peculiar interest and
tenderness, when first you apprehended
the forgiving love of God, and conse-
Grated your heart to the Redeemer. And
more formally and solemnly did you
make covenant engagements to be the
Lords, when you publicly protested
your faith Gin the presence of all his peo-
pie. And, moreover, these pledges are
ratified every time you come to the Lord Is
table.
Is all this solemn farce? Does it
merely admit the professor of religion to
the roll of the Church, with, it may be,
hope of heaven, when life is over? Such
an inference might justly be drawn from
the inactivity and utter uselessness of
many in the Church, who are Christ's by
profession
But the vows taken are indeed of the
most solemn import. You avowed that
you would follow Christ as one of that
peculiar people Jealous of good works. :"
You renowned the world with its pomp
and vanity, and promised that your life
should be consecrated, neither to bust
ness nor to pleasure, but to the service of
Christ Whilst the men of this world
may seek what they shall eat, and what
they shall drink, and wherewithal they
shall be clothed, you have solemnly
vowed that you would seek first the king
dom of God and his righteousness. Your
separation IS not that of the ascetic, re-
moved from association with his fellow
men nor that of the mendicant, who re-
nounces all worldly possessions and takes
the vows of eternal poverty; nor that of
the celibate, whether priest, monk, or
nun, who discards those social relation
ships and family ties that bind the com
munity of mankind in harmony. You
are still in the world but you have SOL
emily avowed that you are not of it, and
that its spirit should not animate your
life.
Recall these VOWS when allured too
far along the paths of worldly pleasure
Recall them, as you press with the busy
throng in the race of fortune and in your
eager pursuit of the world forget your
Lord, his people, and the welfare of his
Church. Recall them, ere solemn con-
victions Of Christian duty be drowned in
the dissipating influences of this life.
Your vows being of the nature of a
solemn covenant with God and his people
are irrevocable Unless you could by
divine permission sever all connection
with Christ, you can not draw back from
them. And God requires that you pay
them When thou hast vowed VOW
unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not
slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will
surely require it of thee" when thou
vowest vow unto God, defer not to pay
1t; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay
that which thou hast vowed" See that
your body is "the living sacrifce" pledged.
See that you form an active element in
that living, working body, the Church,
which Christ is using for the regenera-
ton Of the world. See that you and your
all are really what you have pledged they
should be, the Lords
The vows that are upon you are of the
most sacred character Of the deepest i'm
port as to what is involved in them, and
Of the most binding obligation Dare you
treat them lightly? Rather break every
pledge and discard every obligation to
your fellow-me1, than fail to keep these
vows Your truthfulness, your Chris
tian honor, your integrity OF character
are all involved