A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness.
The context in which I best know the word "promissory" is that of "promissory note," those nasty red-on-white slips of paper contained in the boardgame "Life." I avoided them like the plague. I'd sooner go to the Poorhouse on the board than take any of those things. The very idea of all that interest due was galling.
So when the Confession likens vows and promissory oaths, I see red-on-white. A warning sign. This is a thing not to be undertaken lightly. Basically, one should treat a vow as an IOU. If you have any integrity at all regarding your monetary debts, apply that integrity to the words you speak when you make a promise.
Tomorrow: More on the character of oaths and vows.
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