p. 50 | Violation of Vows

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1865

Violation of Vows.

The readiness with which the covenant vows are violated, whatever may be their character is absolutely astonishing. The baptismal vow, the vow of class connection and church fellowship, the vows extorted by sickness and trial, or evoked by gratitude, all are alike heedlessly passed by, like the breath that uttered them, as a thing of naught! But is there error here? Does God regard our vows as such trifling things? Do we, when we make them, consider them of so little consequence? Nay, the earnestness of soul feeling is in them; alas! that it should ever drivel away to such perilous results.

"Vow and pay unto the Lord your God" is the direction of Scripture. It is solemn trifling with one's self, thus to forget his vows. Setting aside all spiritual considerations, its mental consequence is disastrous in the extreme. He who habitually violates his vows to God, so loses his self-respect and confidence in the power of his own resolutions, that subsequent promises will be made with so much doubtfulness as not to be half sincere. Besides, he who can habitually lie to God, will most certainly be at least sometimes careless of the truth with reference to his fellow-men. It is sowing seed that will produce an abundant harvest, but it will be a gleaning of remorseful sighs. "Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High."