The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-09
First Baptist Church Committee
 Feels Greatly Encouraged
FOUR THOUSAND SUBSCRIBED
The Rev. pr. Dickinson Breaches in the Morning on the Relation of Vows to Religious
 Life.

work of raising funds for the new church which the congregation of the First Bap- tist church propose to erect is meeting with much encouragement. So far about s4O00 has been subscribed by about ten of the congregation towards the build ing. It Is proposed to raise s10,00O and the committee have not yet made thorough canvass of the congregation.
 The new church will be built on the site of the present church at Sixth avenue and Twenty-second street. The new church will be of stone and it will not cost more than brick if native stone, which proves very effective in large buildings, is used.
 There is little doubt but that the rest of the money needed will be subscribed and that the work will commence before long on the new building
 Religious Life.
 The Rev. Dr. A. H. Dickinson preached at the church yesterday morning on the relation of vows to religious life. His text was from Deut. 23:21-3. A large congregation was present
 MT. DlCklIlSOh icid NhosN Ni'N making vows was discountenanced by the Bible, that what was duty to God could not be made more so by vow that as a matter of fact vows were nsu- ally made from a commercial spirit the one making z vow promising something to God in return for his aid and assist ance in some enterprise.
 of making vows to the Deity was universal in ancient religions said Dr. Dickinson. Tt was an attempt to enlist the special interest of God In the fulfillment of some cherished desire oy pledging him some gift or service as It Is of the nature or bargain with God, that for and In con sideration of some special faVor rom ms hand, not otherwise to be expecteo' 'he devotee pledges himself to give some spe- cial service to his God, not otherwise ms due. It is a commercial transaction with tbe Deity wherein the odds are usually greatly in favor of the devotee.'
 He then showed how the custom was inherited by the Israelites and perslst- ed down to the days Of Christ
 '"rhe Old Testament" he continued, "recognizes and regulates the custom, put nowhere enjoins or encourages H. Jus1 as 1t did with slavery and poiygamy; When once made 1t Is to be cons'oereo binding, but the pledge, if 1t be the nle of a nerson or other promises not cquit- able to fulfill to the letter, may be re- deemed by the payment of it's value Tn money or animals.
 Jesus Condemns Custom.
 "The attitude of the law WIS to restraih and relieve the custom Of It's posslpie results in such cases. Jesus refers to the custom only once, and then to conoeihn it's abuse in giving unfaithful children nr.text to escape the obligation to sup port their parents by saving Una. that wherewith thou mightest be pronteo Is pledged to God in a VOW.
 .orhe Gospel not cnly does not approve the custom, but by It's doctrine of grace and complete conservation nuilines the prernise which is supposed to give II war rant. IL is not found among the Caristians of the early centuries, and came into Christianity along with the innovations of Manicheanism and Monasticism, and was defended on the ground Of the two fold morality or as belonging to the sphere of works of supererogation not pledged in baptism.
 there arose a distinction between the works and service of God necessary to obt aiming salvation and pledged in ones baptisma, vows and that incident to ex- traordinary spiritual standing and fuller sanctification."
 This last sphere of service was consid- cred with reference to the obtaining or salvation as works of supererogation, which one might do or withhold at his own pleaSure.
 Origin of VOWS.
 "Out of this sphere men might pledge the Deity services for His special favor. Hence there arose the monastic vows of chastity, poverty, abstinence and other ascetic practices, presumed to be pleas ing to God but optional with his servants. These were pledged as consideration for special divine favor. Of this same na- ture are certain vows of Protestants whereby they pledge God to abstain from worldly pleasures or to be more diligent In religious duties If God will grant them some special favor. Many a great man has promised God If he will give success to his cherished hopes to make a million he will give him a few hundred. and deludes himself with the thought that such @ one-sided bargain has merit in 1t.
 "Such ideas and customs are abhorrent to the gospel; first because they assume that the God of all grace can be moved fin his Providence by a commercial con- sideration, as though He were affected by selfish interest and not always im- pelled by that love which seeketh not It's own; second, that there are services well pleasing to God which His servant is not already under obligations to rem der. but which God must buy at the price of some special grace. The baptis- nal vows wherein is proclaimed in the symbol one's death to self and sin. and resurrection through faith to God and leaves nothing that is not already Gods. You cannot pledge to God what is already His nor buy of Him out of His own purse; third. the custom is promised on a doctrine of merit of works dictinctly repudiated in the New Testa-
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