Man is a dependent being. He has his existence from God; and every thing calculated to render life comfortable, is derived from the same source, Acts 17:28. 'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.'—This dependance necessarily supposes obligation to that being from whom he holds his all.
The rule whereby his relation to the Supreme Governor is regulated is the moral law. All its commands he is bound to obey. The substance of these is love to God and our neighbour.
To assist in the fulfillment of these important requisitions, God has instituted various auxiliary means, in the diligent use of which, the end is more likely to be obtained.
Among these we find vowing or covenanting unto God, solemnly injoined by his divine authority, Psalm 76:11. 'Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God.'
Vowing and covenanting are, in scripture, often used indiscriminately. They both imply an obligation which the vower or covenanter, imposes upon himself, by his own solemn act.
Vowing, however, may be considered as differing from covenanting, in this, that the former does not necessarily suppose more than one party coming under obligation; whereas the latter necessarily supposes two.
With respect to religious obligations, these terms may be, and often are, used indiscriminately.
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