Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-04

David refer 10 his VOWS TO the Lord: the pro-
prietary of so doing and his appreciation OF
the responsibilities thus incurred and his de-
termination to fulfill his VOWS. The word vow
rarely used today except In respect TO clerical
800 AoSS -
considerable extent been superseded oy tne
wcrd promise and other words which signify
an obligation to the Lord, covenant or agree
ment, as, for instance, we speak OF our cove
nants with the Lord. meaning our VOWS or 90
legations. The word conservation is frequently
used to express this thought OF avowed ODE
dience and sacrifice to the Lord and His cause.
Thus when ST. Paul writes, L beseech you
therefore, brethren. b. the mercies OF God
that ye present your bodies living sacflIlee'
holy. acceptable unto God, which is your rea-
sonable service" he is eXhorting US TO cOnse-
cration-to an avowal of fidelity to the Lord
10 the extent OF death. Much is said IN the
Scriptures respecting the making Of such con-
secration VOWS 10 the Lord.
The Scriptures contain severe warnings
against the making of vows to the Lord cara
lessly, assuring that il would be better to
make no vow at all than to vow and to fail TO
perform to the extent Of our ability. II is IN
harmony with this. that our Lord ferewarns us
TO sit down first and count the cost Of disciple
ship, that there may be no falling back or
even looking back subsequently. he de-
clares, He that puts his hand to the pillow
or vow of sacrifice will not be accounted
worthy of share in the kingdom" The Scrip
lures abound with eXhortations that we take
heed to promise the Lord nothing that we will
not fulfill to the best of ability. Permit
me to quote you some of these instances
when thou shalt vow VOW unto the Lord.
thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay il; for
the Lord thy God will surely require il of thee
lit will be sin in thee 10 ignore it,. I.
That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt
keep and perform, even freewih offering
unto the Lord thy God "-Deut. 23:21-23
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. Better is ii
that thou shouldst not VOW than that thou
shouldst vow and not pay (the vow)."-Eccl
5A-5.
praise waiteth for thee. o God. in Sion.
and unto thee shall the VOW be performed. o
thou that heareth prayer, unto thee shall all
flesh come. Pea 651-2.
Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let
all that be round about him bring presents unto
him that ought to be feared."-Psa. 1911.
MY praise shall lie of in the great congre-
cation: l Will pay my vows before them that
fear him.'-Psa. 22:25.
offer unto God Thanksgiving; and pay thy
VOWS unto the Most High: and (then) call upon
me in the day Of trouble; 1 will deliver thee,
and thou shalt glorify me. But unto the
wicked covenant breakers vow breakers), God
saith What hast thou to do to declare my
statutes, or that thou shouldst take my cove
nant into thy mouth? Seeing that thou hatest
instruction and easiest my words behind thee"
''Thy vows are upon me- o God I will rem
der praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered
my soul from death; wifi thou not deliver my
feet from falling PISA. 56:12-13.
Il will abide in thy tabernacle forever;
will trust in the covert of thy wings For
thou God. hast heard my vows: thou hast
given ME the heritage of those that fear thy
name. So will sing praise unto thy
nam. forever that / may daily perform my
Il will pay thee my vows. which my lips
have uttered and my mouth hath spoken. when
l in troube."-Psa. 66:13-1L
PROPER vows VALUABLE.
AS have seen from the foregoing illus
trations vow represents a promise or cove
nant with God, respecting some matter not
strictly called for by Divine law. That is to
say, whatever is demanded of us by justice
is obligation. and could not properly be
considered a sacrifice of conservation. sucn
as the word would imply. 1t is for this
reason that specific vows are not outlined
and commanded in the Scriptures The entire
decalogue is commanded; love for God and for
our neighbor to the fullest extent Is COM
manded, but the COW is merely suggested as
possibility to those DESTROYS on making an
offering sacrifice to the Lord. Similarly
the Divine law. which commands that the
human nature be restrained from sin and be
obedient to every law OF righteousness does
not command that We shall consecrate our
lives to the extent of sacrificing them, even
in the Divine service.
thing demanded and commanded cannot
be a sacrifice Thus the apostle whine urg-
ing upon all believers conservation, does not
command it. nor even hint a penalty upon
those who do not consecrate He merely
urges, saying, II beseech you. therefore,
brethren, by the mercies Of Cod that We pre-
ceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service" Whoever accepts the apostles suG-
festion sacrifices his human rights to the
Lord and his cause and the expression OF such
sacrifice or conservation is a vow-an
avowal
While it is true that those who make
vow of conservation and who fail to perform
Il in spirit will be less esteemed OF the Lord
than those who never made this vow, never
theiess there is a great blessing connected
with such an avowal OF LOYALTY to God, to
the extent of self-sacrifice. Those who never
make this conservation. this VOW will in no
sense be sharers of the heavenly kingdom and
its nigh spiritual reward. This does not mean
that God has no other portion no other bless
ing, for those who retain to vow, for those
who refrain to come into conservation. We
hav nreViOuSlV shown that in the Divine
purpose there is an age Of restitution Just IN
advance of US, the blessings Of which the
Scriptures assure will be for all the fami-
lies Of the earth. ACTS 3:1s-2l) But We re-
mind you that the high calling, the election
of this gospel age. guarantees to those VINO
make the VOW OF conservation 10 the LORD ana
who perform 1t faithfully a still greater bless
ing than earthly restitution and heavenly
spiritual nature with glory, honor and immor-
taiitv and participation in the Divine nature
God is now justifying believers through faith
in order to give them an opportunity to con-
secHate themselves. to make their VOWS unto
the Lord and to show their love and loyalty
by keeping these VOWS. In view OF this VINO
will say that God has not attached great
blessing to this vow Of consecration-to all
those who present themselves in sacrifice to
HOW vows MAY ASSIST.
The will is the proper ruler Of human life.
but the fact is that great many people are
without this ruler and guide as respects the
higher things Of life. Early in life the will
usually decides for name and honor and
wealth to be secured as honestly ana as
easily possible.
The will represents the sentiment Of our
strongest or preponderatinR characteristics CT
mental qualities. In a majority Of people
these are not the highest qualities or the
mird but rather the lowest. Selfishness,
quisitiveness, combatitiveness. destructiveness
and animal passion lie at the base Of the
brain and are usually persstently cultivated.
encouraged and Rratified. with merely certain
limitations of decency, honesty. respectability,
associating with them as venere.
A phrerological examination OF the heac
shows other higher and nobler qualities 4
the mind in every case but with many the
upper stories Of the mind are comparatively
unfurnished and Unoccupied. The owner Of
the frame lives almost continually in the
cellar why is this so? Because the lower
organs have to do with the necessities CT
every day life. And the owner or the brain
often finds it inconvenient to consult the
higher elements of his organism, because
these usually through conscience would be
inclined to reprove his course Of life. His
Justice would frequently forbid commercial
transactions which his lower nature desires
to nut through His benevoencc, his spirit
uality his veneration for God and His word,
# allowed to speak, would thwart his selfish
plans and resolutions.
What such a man needs to do Is 70 make
vow to himself that he will seek to live in
harmony with his own cOnyictions-that he viii
not allow the baser qualities Of his nature to
The nohlest and best sentiments of which he
is possessed. We suggest that this vow be TO
himself because IL could not. be vow to God
Gods law commands his best and, in living
according to any other standards he Is living
i'm violation to the divine law written in his