Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-05-07
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

II. Russell preached at the Brooklyn
Tabernacle today. taking as his text the
words. Il will pay my vows unto the
Lord now I'm the presence of all his
people. | will take the cup of saliva
ton, and call upon the name Of the
Lord psalm cxvi, IA, 49,. He said:
No less than ten times does the
Prophet David refer to his VOWS to the
Lord; the propriety of SO doing and
his appreciation OF the responsibilities
thus incurred and his determination to
fulfill his vows. The word Vow Is
rarely used today except In respect TO
clerical vows, baptismal vows. mar
rage vows. The word rOp has TO
considerable extent been superseded
by the word promise and other words
which signify an obligation to the
Lord, u covenant or agreement, as, for
instance. we speak OF our covenants
with the Lord. meaning our vows or
obligations. The word conservation Is
frequently used TO express this thought
of avowed obedience and sacrifice to
the Lord and his cause. Thus when
st. Paul writes, Il beseech you there
fore, brethren, by the mercies OF God.
that We present your bodies living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.
which Is your reasonable service" he
is exhorting US to consecration-to an
avowal OF fidelity to the Lord. to the
extent OF death. Much is said 10 the
Scriptures respecting the making of
such conservation vows to the Lord.
The Scriptures contain severe warn
ings against the making OF vows TO
the Lord careleSSly. assuring Us that II
would be better 20 make no VOW at all
than 10 vow and to fail 20 perform 10
The extent OF our ability. Ii is In bar
mony with this. that our Lord fore
warns Us 10 sit down first and count
the cost OF diScipleShip, so that there
may be no falling back or even looking
back subsequently. He declares. Hethat
puts his hand to the pillow and then looks
back, regrettIng his covenant or vow of
sacrifice. win not be accounted worthy
OF share in the Kingdom. The Scrip
lures abound with celebrations that
we take heed to promise the Lord
nothing that we Will not fulfill to the
best OF our ability. Permit me To
quote you some OF these In instances
when thou shalt VOW q VOW unto
the Lord, thy God. thou shalt not
slack TO pay IT: for the Lord thy God
will surely require It Of thee at will
be sin In thee to ignore IT. -" That
which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt
keep and perform, even a freeioiH Of
fering unto the Lord thy Cod Deu-
teronomy xiii, 21-23).
When thou vowest n vow unto God.
dpfnr N 70 ho IotI
pleasure in fools: pay that which thou
hast vowed Better is 1t that thou
shouldst not VOW. than that thou
shouldst vow and not pay 1.-THE vowl"
(Ecclesiastes v. 4, 81.
Praise waiteth for thee, o God. I'm
Sion: and unto thee shall the VOW be
performed. . thou that heareth pray
or, unto thee shall all flesh come
psalm XIV, i, y.
Vow, and pay unto the Lord your
God: let all that be round about him
bring presents unto him that ought to
be feared" psalm lxxvi, I'D.
MY praise shall be OF thee In the
great congregation: will pay my VOWS
before them that fear him" psalm
xii. 22-20.
1Ou ludnkSSlNlQR, AOO
pay thy vows unto the Most High: and
lthen] call upon me in the day OF
trouble; will deliver thee. and thou
shalt glorify me. But unto the wicked
covenant breakers. vow breakers |
God saith. What has thou ta do To de.
clare my statutes, or that thou shouldst
take my covenant into thy mouth 2
Seeing that thou latest instruction.
and easiest my words behind thee
psalm !. 14-IO.
THY VOWS are upon me, o God
VIII render praises unto thee. For
thou hast delivered my soul from
death; wilt thou not deliver my feet
from fallingT psalm lvi. il, 13)
81 Will abide In thy tabernacle for
ever; will trust In the covert Of thy
wings. For thou. o God, hast heard
my vows: thou hast given me the her
itage OF those that fear thy name. ..
SO will ! sing praise unto thy name
foreyer. that | may daily perform my
vows" psalm Xxi, 49,.
Il will pay thee my vows. which my
lips have uttered. and my mouth hath
spoken, when I was In trouble" psalm
Xvi. 18Th
Proper Vows Valuable.
As We have seen from the foregoing
illustra lions a roo represents promise
or covenant with God, respecting some
matter not strictly called for by Divine
Law. That is to say. whatever is de-
handed OF us by Justice Is an obiiga
ton. and could not properly be consid
cred sacrifice or conservation, such
as the word VOW would imply. 1t Is
for this reason that specific VOWS are
not outlined and commanded I'm the
Scriptures. The entire decalogue is
commanded: love for God and for our
neighbor to the fullest extent Is com
mGnded; but the VOW is merely sgO-
0ested as possibility to those DESTROYS
or making an offering or sacrifice to
the Lord Similarly the Divine Law
which commands that the human na-
ture be restrained from sin and be
obedient to every law OF righteousness,
does NOT command that we shall conse.
crate our lives 10 the extent OF sacri-
ncing them, even In the Divine service. |
A thing demanded and commanded
cannot be sacrifice. Thus the Apos- |
tie, when urging upon all believers con- |
secrauon, does not command IL, nor |
even hint penalty upon those who do
not consecrate. He merely urges. say |
Ing, IL beseech you, therefore. breth- !
rem, by the mercies OF God, that We pre- |
sent your bodies n living sacrifice. holy. |
acceptable unto God, which Is your
reasonable service" Whoever accepts
the Apostles suggestion sacrifices his