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diff --git a/19100-h/19100-h.htm b/19100-h/19100-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5254cb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/19100-h/19100-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16077 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Covenants And The Covenanters, by Rev. James Kerr + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + .toc {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .toc .label {position: absolute; left: 70%; text-align: left;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 20%;} + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Covenants And The Covenanters, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Covenants And The Covenanters + Covenants, Sermons, and Documents of the Covenanted Reformation + +Author: Various + +Editor: James Kerr + +Release Date: August 22, 2006 [EBook #19100] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Jordan Dohms and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<center> +<span style="font-size:75%; color: gray">[Transcriber's Note: All items in the Errata have been corrected in the text, however the Errata has still been included for completeness.]</span><br/><br/> + +<a name="IMG1"></a> +<img src="images/1.png" alt="The Grassmarket, Edinburgh." /><br /> +<span style="font-size: 80%">[The Grassmarket, Edinburgh.]</span><br /> + +<br /> + +<h1>The Covenants</h1> +<h2>and</h2> +<h1>The Covenanters</h1> +<br /> + +<h3>Covenants, Sermons, and Documents<br /> +of<br /> +The Covenanted Reformation.<br /> +<i>With Illustrations.</i></h3> +<br /> + +<h3>Introduction on the National Covenants<br /> +by</h3> +<h2>Rev. James Kerr, D.D., Glasgow</h2> +<br /> + +<h4>EDINBURGH: R.W. HUNTER, GEORGE IV. BRIDGE.</h4> + + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h1>THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS.</h1> +<br /> +<img src="images/2.png" alt="Aird & Coghill Printers, Glasgow" /><br /> +</center> +<p> </p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFATORY_NOTE" id="PREFATORY_NOTE"></a>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> + + +<p>The Covenants, Sermons, and Papers in this volume +carry the readers back to some of the brightest periods +of Scottish history. They mark important events in that +great struggle by which these three kingdoms were +emancipated from the despotisms of Pope, Prince, and +Prelate, and an inheritance of liberty secured for these +Islands of the Sea. The whole achievements of the +heroes of the battlefields are comprehended under that +phrase of Reformers and Martyrs, "The Covenanted +Work of Reformation." The attainments of those stirring +times were bound together by the Covenants, as by rings +of gold.</p> + +<p>The Sermons here were the product of the ripe thought +of the main actors in the various scenes—men of piety, +learning, and renown. Hence, the nature, objects, and +benefits of personal and national Covenanting are exhibited +in a manner fitted to attract to that ordinance the minds +and hearts of men. The readers can well believe the +statement of Livingstone, who was present at several +ceremonies of covenant-renovation: "I never saw such +motions from the Spirit of God. I have seen more than +a thousand persons all at once lifting up their hands, and +the tears falling down from their eyes." In the presence +of the defences of the Covenants as deeds, by these +preachers, the baseless aspersions of novelists and +theologues fade out into oblivion.</p> + +<p>True Christians must, as they ponder these productions, +be convinced that the Covenanters were men of intense +faith and seraphic fervour, and their own hearts will +burn as they catch the heavenly flame. Members of the +Church of Christ will be stirred to nobler efforts for the +Kingdom of their Lord as they meditate on the heroism of +those who were the "chariots of Israel and the horsemen +thereof;" and they will behold with wonder that "to the +woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she +might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is +nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the +face of the serpent." And Statesmen will discover +how Princes, Parliaments, and Peoples united in the +hearty surrender of themselves to the Prince of the kings +and kingdoms of the earth; and will be aroused to +promote that policy of Christian Statesmanship which, +illustrating the purpose and will of God, the Father, shall +liberate Parliaments and nations from the bonds of false +religions, and assert for them those liberties and honours +which spring from the enthronement of the Son of Man, +as King of kings and Lord of lords.</p> + +<p>This volume of documents of olden times is sent out +on a mission of Revival of Religion, personal and +national, in the present times. It would do a noble work +if it helped to humble classes and masses, and led them +to return as one man to that God in covenant from +Whom all have gone so far away. A national movement, +in penitence and faith, for the repeal of the Acts Rescissory +and the recognition of the National Covenants would +be as life from the dead throughout the British Empire. +The people and rulers of these dominions shall yet +behold the brilliancy of the Redeemer's crowns; and shall, +by universal consent, exalt Him who rules in imperial +majesty over the entire universe of God. For, "The +seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in +heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become +the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."</p> + +<p>GLASGOW, <i>December, 1895.</i></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ERRATA" id="ERRATA"></a><i>ERRATA.</i></h2> + +<p>Page 29, line 8, instead of "1745," <i>read</i> 1712.</p> + +<p>Page 29, line 10, instead of "Crawfordjohn," <i>read</i> Auchensaugh, near +Douglas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">PAGE</span> </p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">5</span><a href="#PREFATORY_NOTE">PREFATORY NOTE</a>,</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">11</span><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS">THE NATIONAL COVENANTS—<i>Introduction</i></a>,</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label"> </span><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT1">THE NATIONAL COVENANT</a>—</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">39</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT2">THE NATIONAL COVENANT, OR CONFESSION OF FAITH</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">52</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT3">EXHORTATION TO LORDS OF COUNCIL</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">54</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT4">SERMON AT ST. ANDREWS. By Alexander Henderson</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">77</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT5">EXHORTATION AT INVERNESS. By Andrew Cant</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">83</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT6">SERMON AT GLASGOW. By Andrew Cant</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">109</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#SERMON_AT_EDINBURGH5">SERMON AT EDINBURGH. By Andrew Cant</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label"> </span><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT">THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT</a>—</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">131</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND">THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">136</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND1">ACT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">138</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND2">EXHORTATION AT WESTMINSTER. By Philip Nye</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">151</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND3">ADDRESS AT WESTMINSTER. By Alexander Henderson</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">159</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND4">SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. By Thomas Coleman</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">190</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND5">SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. By Joseph Caryl</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">228</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND6">SERMON AT LONDON. By Thomas Case</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">265</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND7">SERMON AT LONDON. By Thomas Case</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">303</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT1">ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS AND COMMONS</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">307</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND8">EXHORTATION BY THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">312</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND9">SERMON AT LONDON. By Edmund Calamy</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label"> </span><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS2">THE NATIONAL COVENANTS</a>—</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">349</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS3">CORONATION SERMON AT SCONE. By Robert Douglas</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">386</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#CHARLES_II_TAKING_THE_COVENANTS">CHARLES II, TAKING THE COVENANTS</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">398</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_ACTS_RESCISSORY">THE ACTS RESCISSORY</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">408</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_TORWOOD_EXCOMMUNICATION17">THE TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">412</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#ACT_AGAINST_CONVENTICLES18">ACT AGAINST CONVENTICLES</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">416</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#THE_SANQUHAR_DECLARATION19">THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">419</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#PROTESTATION_AGAINST_THE_UNION20">PROTESTATION AGAINST THE UNION</a>,</span></p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">434</span><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#SECESSION_FROM_THE_REVOLUTION_CHURCH21">SECESSION FROM THE REVOLUTION CHURCH</a>,</span></p></div> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>Illustrations.</h4><br /> + +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">Frontispiece</span><a href="#IMG1">THE GRASSMARKET, EDINBURGH</a>,</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">38</span><a href="#IMG2">GREYFRIARS CHURCH, EDINBURGH</a>,</p></div> +<div class="toc"><p><span class="label">130</span><a href="#IMG3">ST. MARGARETS AND THE ABBEY, WESTMINSTER</a>,</p></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANTS</h2> + + +<p>Every person who enters rightly into covenant with God is +on the pathway to gladness and honour. He comes into +sympathy with Him who from eternity made a covenant +with His chosen. He gives joy to Him who loves to see +His people even touch the hem of His garments, or eagerly +grasp His Omnipotent hand. The Spirit of God on the +heart of the believer draws him into the firmest attachment +to the Beloved. Under His gracious influence, the bonds of +prejudice against covenanting are as green withs and the +covenanter stands forth in liberty and in power. So also, +when the people of a kingdom together come into covenant +with the Lord. In the character of Israel as a covenanted +people, there shines out a special splendour. One of the +most brilliant events in Judah's chequered history is that in +which, in the days of the good king Asa, "they gathered +themselves together to Jerusalem and entered into a +covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all +their heart and with all their soul; and all Judah rejoiced +at the oath." More than any other nation of modern times, +the people of the British Isles resemble in their covenant +actings the people of Israel; and Scotland is the likest to +Judah. Certainly, Scotland's covenants with God were +coronets on Scotland's brow.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Scotland was a +moral waste. The Papacy, which had attained the zenith +of its power on the Continent, reigned in its supremacy +throughout the land. In Europe, indeed, there were some +oases in the desolation, but here there were "stretched out +upon the kingdom the line of confusion and the stones of +emptiness." The chaos was as broad and deep as that of +the Papal States before the time of Victor Emanuel. By +the presence of the Papacy, mind, conscience, heart, were +blasted; while ignorance, superstition, iniquity, increased +and prevailed. But the Lord that saw the affliction of Israel +in the land of the Pharaohs, was "the same yesterday"; and +His time of visitation was one of love. The first signs of +the coming deliverance were the martyr fires kindled to +consume those who were beginning to cry for liberty. The +heroic efforts and successes of the Reformers on the +Continent, in the presence of Papal bulls and inquisitions, +were a trumpet call to independence to the people of this +priest-cursed land; and many responded right nobly, ready +to stand amid the faggots at the stake rather than bear the +iron heel that bruised them.</p> + +<p>Those valiant men were led to bind themselves together +in "bands," or covenants, and together to God, in prosecution +of their aims. At Dun, in 1556, they entered into a +"Band" in which they vowed to "refuse all society with +idolatry." At Edinburgh, in 1557, they entered into "ane +Godlie Band," vowing that "we, by His grace, shall, with +all diligence, continually apply our whole power, substance, +and our very lives to maintain, set forward and establish the +most blessed Word of God." At Perth, in 1559, they entered +into covenant "to put away all things that dishonour His +name, that God may be truly and purely worshipped." At +Edinburgh, in 1560, they entered into covenant "to procure, +by all means possible, that the truth of God's Word may have +free passage within this realm." And these covenants were +soon followed by the Confession of Faith prepared by Knox +and five other Reformers, and acknowledged by the three +Estates as "wholesome and sound doctrine grounded upon +the infallible truth of God;" by an Act abolishing the +"jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome within this realme," +and forbidding "title or right by the said bishop of Rome +or his sect to anything within this realme," and by the first +General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Seven years +thereafter, 1569, the Parliament recognised, by specific Act, +the reformed Church of Scotland as "the only true and holy +kirk of Jesus Christ within this realm." The young Church +of Scotland was based on the Word of God, anti-papal, free, +reformed, and covenanting, and in that character acknowledged +by the State. "At this time," writes D'Aubigne, +"the reformed church was recognised and established by +the State—a triumph similar to that of Christianity when +under Constantine the religion of the Crucified One +ascended the throne of the Cæsars." In spite of the +vacillating policy of the King and Parliament, and their +repeated attempts to impose the order of bishops on the +Church, the reformation proceeded steadily, and a great +advance was reached by the National Covenant of 1580.</p> + +<p>This National Covenant, or Second Confession of Faith, +was prepared by John Craig, minister of Holyrood House. +Its original title was "Ane Short and Generall Confession of +the True Christiane Faith and Religione, according to God's +verde and Actis of our Perlamentis, subscryved by the +Kingis Majestie and his Household, with sindrie otheris, +to the glorie of God and good example of all men, att +Edinburghe, the 28 day of Januare, 1580, and 14 yeare of +his Majestie's reigne." The immediate occasion of this +memorable transaction was the discovery of a secret +dispensation from the Pope consenting to the profession of +the reformed religion by Roman Catholics, but instructing +them to use all their influence in promotion of the "ancient +faith." Though the King was still in sympathy to some +degree with the policy of Rome against the "new faith," he +could not dare to resist the indignation of the people against +Romish intrigues, and their demand for a national bond +as a means of defence. By the National Covenant, the +Covenanters declared their belief "in the true Christian +faith and religion, revealed by the blessed evangel, and +received by the Kirk of Scotland, as God's eternal truth and +only ground of our Salvation;" renounced "all kinds of +Papistry," its authority, dogmas, rites and decrees, and +pledged themselves to maintain "the King's majesty, in the +defence of Christ, against all enemies within this realm or +without." It was signed by the King and the Privy Council +and throughout the kingdom, and was subscribed again in +1590 and 1596. "The Kirk of Scotland," wrote Calderwood, +"was now come to her perfection and the greatest puritie +that ever she attained unto, both in doctrine and discipline, +so that her beautie was admirable to forraine kirks. The +assemblies of the sancts were never so glorious." This +period was the meridian of the first Reformation.</p> + +<p>But the time of Scotland's rest and joy was short indeed. +Ere the sixteenth century opened, the ecclesiastical edifice, +raised by Knox, the Melvilles and other reformers, was +almost in ruins. The monarch had been taught in his +youth the doctrine of the divine right of kings, and he was +now determined to assert it. Both church and state must +be laid in the dust before his absolute will. Both had been +delivered from a popedom on the banks of the Tiber, +now they will be confronted by a popedom on the banks +of the Thames; and the despotism of the Pope shall be +even exceeded by the despotism of the Prince. Scotland +is now to be the scene of a struggle with issues more +momentous than any ever waged on any field of battle. +Shall civil and religious liberty be saved from captivity by +tyrants on the throne? Shall free assemblies and free +parliaments be extinguished in the land that has, by its +people and its Parliament, abolished the authority of Rome +and taken its National Covenant with God? For nearly a +hundred years this conflict was destined to continue till, at +the Revolution Settlement, the divine right of kings was +banished the realm.</p> + +<p>Kingcraft forthwith commenced its work of demolition +and proceeded to deliver its blows in rapid succession. +Summoning to its aid Laud and other sycophantic +counsellors, it subtly resolved to lay its hand on the very +conscience of the church. Mitres were offered some of +her more prominent ministers, for Charles I. knew that +Presbyterianism is the friend of civil freedom, and that +Prelacy in the Church will more readily consent to despotism +in the State. The "Black Acts" were passed confirming +the "king's royal power over all states and subjects within +this realm," discharging all assemblies held "without our +Sovereign Lord's special licence and commandment," and +requiring ministers to acknowledge the ecclesiastical +superiority of bishops. The assembly was induced to adopt +a proposal for the appointment of a number of commissioners +to sit and vote in Parliament, become members of the Privy +Council, and Lords of Session; and such honours would +not readily be declined. Then came the Court of High +Commission, instituted for the purpose of compelling the +"faithful" ministers to acknowledge the bishops appointed +by the king—a court called into existence by royal +proclamation, "a sort of English Inquisition," writes Dr. +M'Crie, "composed of prelates, noblemen, knights, and +ministers, and possessing the combined power of a civil and +ecclesiastical tribunal." After this came the Act giving full +legal status to the "Anti-Christian hierarchy" of Episcopacy +in Scotland; the formal consecration of the first Scottish +prelates; the five articles of Perth; the Canons and Constitutions +Ecclesiastical—a complete code of laws for the Church +issued without any consultation with the representatives of +the Church; an Act charging all His Majesty's subjects to +conform to the order of worship prescribed by him, and the +Semi-Popish Book of Common Prayer and Administration +of the Sacraments which was imposed upon all +parishes and ministers. By these and other measures, the +sovereign impiously assumed that spiritual power which +belonged to Christ alone, as King and Head of the Church. +Here, in its worst form, was "the absolutism that had so long +threatened the extinction of their liberties; here was the +heel of despotism openly planted on the neck of their +Church, and the crown openly torn from the brow of Christ, +her only King."</p> + +<p>During all these years, the Reformers were resisting with +courage the assaults of the enemy. At times there were +secessions from their ranks when, under the bribes and +threats of prince and prelate, some ingloriously succumbed. +But, as Renwick said later in the struggle, "the loss of the +men was not the loss of the cause." The champions of the +Reformation, led by Andrew Melville, feared not to arraign +that monarch who once told his bishops that "now he had +put the sword into their hands they should not let it +rust." They tabled petitions, published protests, obtained +interviews, but all proved powerless to arrest the career of +those who were bent on the annihilation of the Church, +and the establishment on its ruins of the royal Supremacy. +In one of their protests, they call upon the Estates to +"advance the building of the house of God, remembering +always that there is no absolute and undoubted authority in +the world excepting the sovereign authority of Christ the +King, to whom it belongeth as properly to rule the Kirk +according to the good pleasure of His own will, as it +belongeth to Him to save the Kirk by the merit of His own +sufferings." The attempt to impose Laud's liturgy gave +opportunity for an outburst of the slumbering flame of +discontent. Janet Geddes flung a stool at the head of the +officiating Dean, and the tumult that ensued extended far +and wide. A tablet, recently erected to her memory in St. +Giles, states that "she struck the first blow in the great +struggle for freedom of conscience." The proclamation by +the Council of the State, condemning all meetings against +the Episcopal Canons and Service Book, brought the +Reformers accessions from all parts of the kingdom. Could +an oppressed people bear the tyranny longer? But, will they +take up arms and scatter carnage and blood throughout the +land? No, their weapons will not be carnal, but mighty +through God to the pulling down of strongholds. They +will go to the Covenant God of the kingdom, and they will +stand before Him, saying, "Thine are we, David, and on +thy side, thou son of Jesse." Scotland will renew her +covenant with God.</p> + +<p>The National Covenant of 1580 was produced. An +addition was made, in two parts. The part summarizing +the Acts of Parliament, condemning the papacy and ratifying +the confessions of the Church, was drafted by Warriston; that +with special religious articles for the time was by Henderson. +The spot chosen for the solemnities of the first +subscription was the Churchyard of Greyfriars, Edinburgh. +"The selection," writes the historiographer-royal for Scotland, +"showed a sound taste for the picturesque. The +graveyard in which their ancestors have been laid from time +immemorial stirs the hearts of men. The old Gothic +Church of the Friary was then existing; and landscape art +in Edinburgh has by repeated efforts established the opinion +that from that spot we have the grandest view of the +precipices of the Castle and the national fortress crowning +them. It seemed a homage to that elevating influence of +grand external conditions which the actors in the scene were +so vehemently repudiating." In that memorable spot the +Reformers gathered "the legitimate charters" of their nation +into one document and presented them before heaven. +Johnston unrolled the parchment in which these Scottish +charters were inscribed, and read them in a clear, calm +voice. "When he had finished, all was still as the grave. +But the silence was soon broken. An aged man of noble +air was seen advancing. He came forward slowly, and deep +emotion was visible in his venerable features. He took up +the pen with a trembling hand and signed the document. A +general movement now took place. All the Presbyterians +in the Church pressed forward to the Covenant and +subscribed their names. But this was not enough; a whole +nation was waiting. The immense parchment was carried +into the churchyard and spread out on a large tombstone +to receive on this expressive table the signature of the +Church. Scotland had never beheld a day like that." +"This," says Henderson, "was the day of the Lord's +power, in which multitudes offered themselves most +willingly, like dewdrops of the morning. This was, indeed, +the great day of Israel, wherein the arm of the Lord was +revealed—the day of the Redeemer's strength, on which the +princes of the people assembled to swear their allegiance to +the King of kings." Charles I. understood well the force +of that mighty movement when, on hearing of it, he said, +"I have no more power in Scotland than a Doge of +Venice." The renewal of that covenant, 28th February, +1638, was a thunderbolt against despotism in Scotland, +and the world over. "The chariots of God are twenty +thousand."</p> + +<p>The covenant was transcribed into hundreds of copies, +carried throughout the country from north to south and east +to west, and subscribed everywhere. The spirit that thrilled +the thousands filling and overflowing Greyfriars Church and +churchyard, spread with rapidity over the whole land. It +combined the "whole nation into one mighty phalanx of +incalculable energy." The last sparks of the King's fury burst +out in secret instructions to his followers to use all power +against the "refractory and seditious," and in a threat to +send his army and fleet to Scotland, but these soon died +away. The "refractory and seditious" king eventually +surrendered to the Covenanters, abolished courts, canons, +liturgies, and articles, and consented to the calling of a +General Assembly. This was the first free General Assembly +of the Church of Scotland for the last forty two years. It +was held in Glasgow, on 21st November, 1638; and its +work in the overthrow of Prelacy and the royal supremacy +and in the re-assertion of the spiritual independence of the +Church, was one of the most signal successes in the still +progressing conflict of the second Reformation.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Charles II. was endeavouring to secure the +recognition of his absolute monarchy in England. There +also he rigorously demanded submission to despotic claims. +By abolishing Parliaments, annulling charters, appointing +the star chamber, he introduced a reign of terror. In the +room of those legislative bulwarks of liberty, which the +nation had constructed through the skill and experience of +generations, a "grim tyranny," writes Dr. Wylie, "reared +its gaunt form, with the terrible accompaniments of star +chamber, pillory, and branding irons. It reminded one of +sunset in the tropics. There the luminary of the day goes +down at a plunge into the dark. So had the day of liberty +in England gone down at a stride into the night of tyranny." +The oppressed people turned to the Covenanters of Scotland +for sympathy and counsel. The negotiations resulted in +the preparation of an international league in defence of +religion and liberty. Against the banner of the King they +raised the banner of the Covenant. Alexander Henderson +drafted the new Bond. The document breathed the spirit +of the National Covenant of Greyfriars, condemned the +Papal and Prelatic system, pled for a constitutional monarchy, +and outlined a comprehensive programme for future efforts +in extending the principles of the Reformation. On +September 25, 1643, it was subscribed in St. Margarets +Church, Westminster. The members of Parliament in +England and the Westminster Assembly of Divines stood +with uplifted hands, and, as article after article was read, +they took this Oath to God. The Commissioners from +Scotland to the Westminster Assembly united with the +people of England in the solemnity of the day. Thus the +representatives of the two nations stood before the Lord. +This was the Solemn League and Covenant, "the noblest in +its essential features," writes Hetherington, "of all that are +recorded among the international transactions of the world." +The Parliament and Westminster Assembly issued instructions +for its subscription throughout the kingdom. The +classes and the masses in England, Scotland, and Ireland +received it with gladness. In the face of a despotism +unexampled in the history of these lands, high and low, +rich and poor, bowed themselves as one before the throne +of God. "For at that time day by day there came to +David to help him, until it was a great host like the host of +God." Through this League and Covenant, the people of +the British Isles were protected by Omnipotence, and were +as invincible against the despotic forces that assailed them +as were the white cliffs of their native shores against the +huge galleons of the invincible Armada.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"To Thine own people, with Thine arm,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou didst redemption bring;</span><br /> +To Jacob's sons and to the tribes<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of Joseph that do spring."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>These Covenants were prepared and subscribed in a +spirit of deep piety. But for the sterling spirituality of the +Reformers there would never have been a Covenanted +Reformation. The work of Covenanting is itself a lofty +spiritual exercise, and requires a people possessing much of +the Spirit of the living God. Every public act for the sake +of Christ should be the outcome of an impassioned devotion. +The reading of even the scant records of those times of +Covenanting, telling of the prayers, and tears, and love, and +courage of those who gave themselves to God, is fitted to +inspire the coldest heart with noblest emotions. Their +inward piety made them men of power, and enabled them +to bear down every barrier to the kingdom of their Lord +erected by the craft of prince and priest. It is when Israel +would call her Lord, Ishi, my Husband, that "the names of +Baalim would be taken out of her mouth and be remembered +no more." It was when the Christians of the Mearns had +communion at "the table of the Lord Jesus," ministered by +Knox, that they "banded themselves to the uttermost of +their power to maintain the true preaching of the Evangel +of Christ." The historian, Burton, describes the movement +that resulted in the subscription of the National Covenant +as the fruit of "a great religious revival," and the Reformation +as "the great revival." And Kirkton says, "I verily +believe there were more souls converted to Christ in that +short time than in any other season since the Reformation." +Their intense piety prepared the Covenanters for the +persecutions to follow and for crowns of martyrdom. In +and around their whole Covenanting procedure, there was +the atmosphere of a paradise of communion with God.</p> + +<p>These Covenants exhibited the great ecclesiastical breadth +of the Covenanters. The enthronement of the Word of +God over the Church was one of the commanding objects of +the Reformers. If only the Church would hear and honour +Christ, her King, speaking in that Word, then would she be +clothed with the sun, and have on her head a crown of +twelve stars. The Reformers resolutely set themselves to +apply the Word to the Church, in all her departments; she +must be such an institution as her Lord had instructed. +The will of priest, and prince, and presbyter, and people, +must be set aside in the presence of the will of her sole +Sovereign. The works of demolition and reconstruction +must go on together. Built according to the design of +her Lord, her bulwarks, and towers, and palaces shall +command the admiration of the world. The pattern was +not taken from Rome, nor "even from Geneva, but from +the blessed Word of God." No quarter shall be given to +hierarchy of Pope or prelate in the government of the +Church, to the "commandments of men" in the doctrine of +the Church, or to unscriptural rites in the worship of the +Church. So great was their success that the Reformers +could say that they "had borrowed nothing from the +border of Rome," and had "nothing that ever flowed from +the man of sin." Often the battle raged most fiercely +round the standard of the independence of the Church, +but ever the Covenanters emerged from the struggle +victorious. Valorously did they maintain that Christ +ought to "bear the glory of ruling His own kingdom, the +Church," and fearlessly they defied the monarchs in their +invasions of Messiah's rights. Besides, they were not +satisfied with the attainment of a united Church in their +own kingdom alone. They were filled with the spirit of the +Saviour's prayer, "That they all may be one." In the +present times, those who publicly contend for the reunion of +a "few scattered fragments" of the Reformed Church are +belauded as men of large hearts and liberal aims. The +Covenanters embodied in their Solemn League and +Covenant an engagement to "bring the Churches of God in +the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and +uniformity;" and they also subsequently included the +Churches on the Continent in their efforts for ecclesiastical +union. For the purposes of these ecclesiastical unions, the +Westminster Assembly sat for five years in Westminster, +after signing the Solemn League, and framed a basis for +union in the standards they produced—which still testify +that the members of that Assembly were in advance of +their times. Yes, the Covenanters were not narrow, +sectarian, bigoted; but large, liberal, Catholic.</p> + +<p>These Covenants were deeds of lofty imperial significance. +The reformation of the Church, however complete, would +have been a limited Reformation. There are two powers +ordained of God and both must be reformed. The +comprehensive aims of the Covenanters embraced both +State and Church. Their deeds were civil as well as +ecclesiastical. A Church thoroughly reformed and Christian +in a State unreformed and anti-Christian, would never have +satisfied the Reformers. The State also must be no longer +a vassal of the Pope, it must be a servant of the blessed +and only Potentate. God in His word here also as in the +Church must be joyfully granted the exclusive supremacy. +The Covenanters vowed to defend the King in the +defence and preservation of the reformed religion. They +secured the recognition of the Church by Parliament. The +members of Parliament themselves became Covenanters. +In short, Christianity pervaded and adorned the constitution +and administration of civil government in the United +Kingdom. The Covenanters were convinced that no power, +except that provided by the Word of God, could possibly +resist the arbitrary claims of the monarchs, secure the +safety of the State, and promote civil liberty in the land. +Religion in the realm of citizenship is the very crown of +any realm. In the face of the despotisms of Pope and +Monarch, it would not have been surprising had the +Covenanters invented and endeavoured to apply to the State +the modern theory of religious equality, which denies the +right of the State to even acknowledge the Prince of the +kings of the earth. If ever they dreamt of such a theory, +their thought of the supremacy of Jesus would make it +vanish as a dream. Much less would they ever admit the +possibility of deliverance by the theory of a concurrent +recognition of all religions, as this would lower a nation to +the position of heathenism with its "gods many," and would +soon involve the strongest empire in disaster. Papalism in +the State in the ascendancy, absolute Monarchism in the +State, Secularism in the State, Polytheism in the State—these +are four despotisms, and must be flung with detestation +out of all Christian lands. The State that is not on the +side of Christ, and Christ alone, is in antagonism to all the +moral forces of the universe. Its throne is against the +throne of the Highest. The Scottish Covenanters placed +the crown of the State on the Head of its rightful Monarch, +and so lifted their kingdom to imperial grandeur.</p> + +<p>There are some spots of this world that have secured +undying memorials, as they have been stages for the settlement +of questions of momentous importance in the destinies +of nations. There is Marathon in Greece, Waterloo in +France, Sadowa in Austria, and Trafalgar on the sea, but +probably the scenes associated with these pale in glory in +the presence of Greyfriars and Westminster, where nations +won unparalleled victories in the surrender of themselves to +their Covenant God. These two spots were the earthly +centres of spiritual movements of mighty magnitude, and +possess in the eyes of the God of Heaven and of the +principalities about His Throne a splendour not eclipsed by +any that ever shone on a battlefield. When the day of +millennial glory comes, the people of the new Era will not +look to the Sadowas and the Sedans, but to such spots as +these where the greatest heroes of the pre-millennial times +reflected millennial light and anticipated millennial triumphs. +For there, by an army without sword or spear, the absolutism +of Monarchies and the tyranny of Hierarchies were scattered +like chaff before the wind. As the Covenanters entered +into and rejoiced in their vows to God, the Imperialism of +King Jesus conquered the Imperialism which prince and +priest had been enforcing with rigour; and this Imperialism +shall be in the ascendancy yet the world over when the +empires of earth shall crown the Christ of God as King of +the Church and King of nations.</p> + +<p>But the Covenanters have scarce time to estimate and +enjoy the benefits of their conquests before a tempest burst +forth suddenly and threatened the destruction of all the +attainments of the past. In a moment of national infatuation +the Stuart dynasty was restored to the throne, and +Charles II. instantly proceeded to set up once more the +Dagon of the Royal Supremacy and enforce its recognition +by all his power. On two occasions he had subscribed the +Solemn League, and he had issued instructions in its favour, +professing warm admiration of both Covenants and of the +Reformation. But now the perjured monarch employed all his +craft and power to overthrow the whole Covenanted Reformation +in Church and State. Parliament, the slave of his +behests, passed the Act of Supremacy, giving legislative +sanction to all the rights he claimed. The Acts Rescissory +followed, declaring the Covenants unlawful and seditious +deeds, and repealing all Parliamentary laws in their favour. +Then came the abolition of Presbyterianism, Indulgences, the +restoration of Prelacy, the appointment of High Commission +Courts, the ejection of all ministers who would not obey the +royal mandates, and the erection of scaffolds. The monarch +seemed determined to extinguish every spark of liberty in +the kingdom. The reign of peace was supplanted by a +reign of terror. The Covenants were broken, burnt, +buried, by public orders. The Covenanters met to worship +God in the moorlands and dells, setting a watch for the +dragoons of Claverhouse. Thousands upon thousands of +the noblest patriots were imprisoned, tortured, mangled, +shot. At times their indignation burst forth through arms, +as at Rullion Green, Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge. Their +most brilliant victories were on the scaffold when they passed +triumphantly to the crown; for there was "a noble army" of +martyrs, from Argyle the proto-martyr of the "Killing times," +down to the youthful Renwick, last of the white-robed +throng. The ruin wrought by Charles I. in England "we +have likened," says Dr. Wylie, "to a tropical sunset, where +night follows day at a single stride. But the fall of Scotland +into the abyss of oppression and suffering under Charles II. +was like the disastrous eclipse of the sun in his meridian +height, bringing dismal night over the shuddering earth at +the hour of noon."</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The hills with the deep mournful music were ringing,<br /> +The curlew and plover in concert were singing;<br /> +But the melody died 'midst derision and laughter,<br /> +As the hosts of ungodly rushed on to the slaughter.<br /> +<br /> +"When the righteous had fallen and the combat had ended,<br /> +A chariot of fire through the dark cloud descended;<br /> +The drivers were angels on horses of whiteness,<br /> +And its burning wheels turned on axles of brightness.<br /> +<br /> +"On the arch of the rainbow the chariot is gliding;<br /> +Through the paths of the thunder the horsemen are riding;<br /> +Glide swiftly, bright spirits, the prize is before you,<br /> +A crown never fading, a kingdom of glory."<br /> +</p> + +<p>Throughout the long thirty years of persecution, the +decimated Covenanters still lived. The Banner for Christ's +Crown and Covenant was still waved by them through the +blood-stained land. Oftentimes they issued declarations +and protests against the tyranny of their oppressors, many +of which concluded with those inspiriting words at the close +of the last of them, "Let King Jesus reign and all His +enemies be scattered." The most famous of these papers +was the Sanquhar Declaration. On the 22nd of June, +1680, twenty horsemen rode into the burgh of Sanquhar, +and at the market cross read their declaration, in which +they "disowned Charles Stuart that has been reigning (or +rather tyrannizing as we may say) on the throne of Britain +these years bygone, as having any right, title to, or interest +in the said Crown of Scotland for government, as forfeited +several years since by his perjury and breach of Covenant +both to God and His Kirk, and usurpation of His Crown +and Royal Prerogatives therein." That courageous act of +those twenty patriots proclaimed the doom of the House +of Stuart.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Men called it rash, perhaps it was crime:<br /> +Their deed flashed out God's will, an hour before the time."<br /> +</p> + +<p>A few years afterwards, the nations of England and Scotland +endorsed the action of Richard Cameron and his +compatriots. The blood of Guthrie, and Cargill, and +MacKail had cried for vengeance, and the God of the +Covenanters hurled the Stuart dynasty from the throne. +"Alas! is it not true?" writes Carlyle in his <i>Heroes,</i> "that +many men in the van do always, like Russian soldiers, +march into the ditch of Schwiednitz, and fill it up with +their dead bodies, that the rear may pass over them dry-shod, +and gain the honour? How many earnest, rugged +Cromwells, Knoxes, poor peasant Covenanters, wrestling, +battling for very life, in rough, miry places, have to struggle +and suffer and fall, greatly censured, bemired, before a +beautiful Revolution of eighty-eight can step over them in +official pumps and silk stockings, with universal three-times-three!"</p> + +<p>The stedfast followers of the Covenanters expected that, +on the cessation of the persecution, there would be the +restoration of the whole Covenanted Reformation in Church +and State. But their just expectations were doomed to +bitter disappointment. Neither by Church nor State was +any proposal ever seriously entertained of renewing the +national Covenants with God, as at the commencement of +the Second Reformation. Instead, the Acts Rescissory +were permitted to remain on the Statute-book, and the +Covenants to lie under the infamy to which the King and +the Royalists had consigned them. The State exerted an +Erastian control of the Church, and the Church yielded +submission. Her standards were assigned her before she +met; her assemblies were summoned and prorogued at +the sovereign's pleasure; Presbyterianism was established, +not because it possessed a <i>jus divinum</i> but because the people +willed it; her government was controlled through the +admission into her ministry, by royal request, of many who +had accepted indulgences and were supporters of Prelacy. +The whole period of the Second Reformation was almost +annihilated by the settlement of the Church, not according +to the periods, 1638 and 1643, but according to 1592. The +Acts of the Assemblies of the Revolution Church never +once mention the Solemn League and Covenant. Ministers +who pled for its recognition exposed themselves to the +censures of their brethren. An attempt by the Church, +soon after the Revolution to assert the supremacy of Christ +and the Church's independence under Him, issued in the +dissolution of the Assembly by the royal Commissioner. +And this departure of the Church and State at the Revolution +was strikingly and sadly endorsed when, at the Union +with England, Scotland consented that the Prelatic +Establishment in England should be allowed to remain +"inviolable for ever." A few "stones had been gathered +from the wreck of the Reformation to be incorporated +with the new structure, but the venerable fabric itself was +left in ruins."</p> + +<p>Yes! the Revolution came but not the Reformation. +The sword was returned to its scabbard, but Church and +State did not return to their Covenant God. Into sympathy +and fellowship with institutions founded on principles +subversive of those they had vowed to maintain, the +faithful followers of the Reformers and Martyrs could not +enter. The banner for Christ's Crown and Covenant had +waved over the fields of Scotland when the storms of +persecution had raged most fiercely, and how could they +be justified in dropping it now when the God of Zion was +pleased to command a calm. The minority who thus +preserved an unbroken relationship with the pre-Revolution +and Martyr period continued to meet in "Societies" for +sixteen years, when they were joined by a minister—Rev. +John M'Millan—who was driven out of the Revolution +Church because of his testimony for the whole Covenanted +Reformation. Some years afterwards, another minister +espoused the cause then represented by Mr. M'Millan and +the United Societies, and this union resulted in the +constitution of the Reformed Presbytery. Two years +afterwards, in 1712, the members of the Reformed Presbyterian +Church engaged in the work of Covenant Renovation, +at Auchensaugh, near Douglas, in Lanarkshire. Since that time this +Church has had an unbroken history, excepting a disruption +in 1863, when a majority departed from her distinctive +position.</p> + +<p>But what is the bearing of Scotland's Covenanted +Reformation of three centuries ago, on the Scotland of the +present times? Has it no instruction for all times? Is +the whole prolonged struggle, with all its chequered scenes, +but a panorama on which spectators may gaze with but +passing emotions? Is it all but a story with interest, +however thrilling, for the study of the antiquarian? If so +then the whole contendings of Reformers and Covenanters +and Martyrs sink into insignificance indeed; they have been +assigned a magnitude far beyond their desert. If the +doctrines and principles for whose application in Church and +State they fought and suffered, were unscriptural, then let an +enlightened posterity bury with shame the story of their +warfare. Or, if they were of mere temporary importance, +then the Covenanters merit no higher admiration than that +accorded to those who, like the Armenians now in Turkey, +cry out against the oppressions of the civil power. But +these doctrines and principles were brought from the Word +of God and possess imperishable excellency. Their glory +was not temporal; it is eternal. And they shall yet undergo +a resurrection and receive universally a joyous recognition.</p> + +<p>The obligation of these national Covenants on the +British nation still has been oftentimes demonstrated by +indisputable arguments. The Word of God teaches in the +most pointed manner this principle of devolving Covenant +obligation. The God of Israel threatened His people with +chastisement for breaking the Covenant He had made with +their fathers four hundred years before. The Covenanters +themselves bound their posterity to God by express words +in their bonds. The renovation of Covenants at various +times proceeded on this principle. In the time of persecution, +the sufferers again and again declared that they and +others were bound by the vows of their fathers. "God +hath laid engagements upon Scotland," said Argyle on the +scaffold, "we are tied by Covenants to religion and +Reformation; and it passeth the power of all the magistrates +under heaven to absolve from the oath of God." The +scriptural character of their contents infers the perpetual +obligation of these Covenants. All who accept the +Scriptures as the Word of God, must renounce the errors +condemned by the Covenants and contend for the truths +those who subscribed them pledged themselves to maintain. +No Christian should ever dare to seek relief from the +claims of Christ; it is his honour to acknowledge and live +and die for them. These deeds were as national as any in +the statute-book and therefore they are obligatory still, for +the nation in its corporate character is the same now as +three hundred years ago. Their perpetual obligation may +be resisted, as it often is, on the plea that a people have no +right to bind posterity. But should such a plea be declared +valid, then society would be thrown into the wildest disorder +and temporal ruin would overtake millions. Heirs could +be justified in refusing to fulfil the instructions of testators; +young people could condemn the baptismal vows taken by +parents; governments and cabinets could tear up the +treaties of their predecessors; and the nation itself could +repudiate the national debt. Those who enter into the +possession of valuable estates, secured for them by the toil +and struggles of ancestry, do not renounce their estates +because they themselves were not consulted in the execution +of the title deeds. These deeds of the Covenanters, and the +heritage secured by them, were obtained through the noblest +sacrifices. They were deeds presented before the Throne, +and registered in the Court of heaven, and those who +repudiate them incur the risk of an awful forfeiture.</p> + +<p>The present conditions in Church and State throughout +the British Isles, force upon the minds of all who admire +the Reformation the facts that the doctrines and principles +of those Reformations are even now ignored and despised, +and that the systems which were cast out by the whole +nation through their Covenants are now in power. The +objects sought by the Covenants have not yet been +realized. In several sad respects, both Church and State +are in positions of acute antagonism to those great catholic +objects. An ecclesiastical supremacy in the British +sovereign rears its head over these Covenanted kingdoms; +for, as Blackstone writes, this supremacy is "an inherent +right of the British Crown." The "Anti-Christian" hierarchy +of Prelacy is implanted in the national constitution +and sustained by the whole prestige of the realm. Under +its lordly bewitchery, Erastianism prevails in the Established +Churches of the kingdom. The Oath of Allegiance +implicates all who take it in an acknowledgment of the +ecclesiastical supremacy of the sovereign as "by law +established," and this Oath must be taken by every member +of Parliament before he can sit and vote in the House, +under a penalty of five hundred pounds. The basis of +qualification for membership in Parliament has been so +much altered in recent times that Roman Catholics, +atheists, and now idolaters are admitted—changes +which have been demanded by the vast majority of the +non-established Churches, who are pleading for the exclusion +of religion from all State institutions. The Papacy, through +its various agencies, is in receipt of more than a million +and a quarter pounds annually from the national funds. A +wide-spread reaction in favour of the Romish religion is +going forward, and is being powerfully assisted by the +Romanizing movement in the Church of England, and the +Ritualistic in the Presbyterian Churches throughout the +kingdom.</p> + +<p>Had the two nations and their Churches adhered to +their National Covenants and the Solemn League and +Covenant, and to the formularies prepared by the international +Assembly at Westminster, the lovers of the +Covenanted Reformation would not have had these portentous +conditions to deplore to-day. Would their adherence +to those deeds and documents have done them any dishonour? +And would it not be to the lasting honour of +their posterity now, if a movement were originated and +carried through to reproduce with all possible fulness the +scenes of the past—another Greyfriars, Edinburgh, and +another St. Margarets, Westminster. But, even apart +from the historical aspect of the whole matter, the +question may, in the presence of these monstrous evils, be +pressed upon the attention and heart of all the people +throughout the land? What ought to be done to remove +these evils and avert the disaster which their continuance +must entail? What ought the British subject, if a patriot, +do, in the face of evils which threaten the ruin of his +kingdom? What ought the Protestant to do, in the presence +of a government and administration which are daily +advancing the court of Rome to power? What the Presbyterian, +who cannot take the Oath of Allegiance without +committing himself to the hierarchy of Prelacy? What +the Christian, in the presence of systems in imperial politics +which have already dethroned Christ and are hastening +to expel Him from all national institutions? Is there no +means by which the Christian citizen can exonerate himself +from national sins, and free himself of all responsibility for +national calamity? Must he still exercise his right to vote and +give his support to governments which, in the hands of both +political parties, are augmenting rather than diminishing the +existing evils? If the members of one political party +secede from that party, when changes they cannot accept +are welcomed to their programme, and henceforth refuse +them their support at the polling-booth, would it not be +proper that men, sensible of the utter inadequacy of the +performances of both parties to meet the evils under +which the nation lies, should stand aloof from both +government and opposition? The leading Unionists in +Ireland again and again declared that they could not +possibly enter into the proposed Parliament under Home +Rule which would be set up in Dublin, and their declarations +awakened universal sympathy. For reasons similar, +should not all Christian electors refuse to identify themselves +with a constitution and government which are based +on principles subversive of independence and liberty? +Protests against existing evils are not sufficient. Practical +political dissent is imperatively demanded in the interests of +patriotism and Christianity. If even one-tenth of the electors +in the United Kingdom prepared a paper of grievances, +setting forth the present dishonours done to Christ nationally, +and calling for the abandonment of all that is unscriptural +in the public policy, and the adoption of what is +scriptural and honouring to Christ, and accompany this +manifesto with a declaration that they cannot violate their +convictions by identifying themselves with the government +till reforms be conceded, would not such a movement touch +the mind and heart of the nation as no question in party +politics has done for generations? Their attitude of separation +would carry extraordinary dignity and power. And they +could plead too that the evils of which they complained +were abjured by the nation universally, when the National +Covenants were taken in Scotland, England, and Ireland, +and when Sovereigns and Members of Parliament again +subscribed them as a condition of the high offices to +which they were called. How could they loyally support +a Constitution now so opposite to the ancient Scriptural +and Covenanted Constitution of the realm? The Reformed +Presbyterian Churches of Scotland and Ireland are the only +Churches within the British Dominions that take this +position of political dissent. Their fathers took it at the +Revolution settlement, and they have maintained it all +through these centuries till now; and they have done so +not because they love the nation less, but Christ more. +If this position were assumed by larger numbers throughout +the land, who knoweth whether they would "not come to +the kingdom for such a time as this?" "Shall the throne +of iniquity have fellowship with Thee, that frameth mischief +by a law?" "Wherefore, come out from among them and +be ye separate, saith the Lord."</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Hope thou not, then, earth's alliance,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Take thy stand behind the cross;</span><br /> +Fear, lest by unblest compliance,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou transmute thy gold to dross.</span><br /> +Stedfast in thy meek endurance,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prophesy in sackcloth on;</span><br /> +Hast thou not the pledged assurance,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kings one day shall kiss the Son."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The popular acceptance of these doctrines and principles +by the State and the Churches at present, would imply a +vast mental upheaval—a vast moral revolution. But the +best hopes and wishes for the nation at large are that it will +come and come soon, and the present evils, however great, +must not be allowed to produce a pessimistic tone. Very +hopeless seemed the prospects before the first Reformation, +but that Reformation came. Very hopeless seemed the +prospects before the second Reformation, but that Reformation +came. And however dark the prospects now before +a third Reformation, that Reformation shall come! The +world is nearing the last stage of its history, as pointed +out by Daniel in the dream of the monarch of Babylon, +prior to the overwhelming and triumphant progress of the +stone-kingdom, cut out of the mountain. That immense image +of Nebuchadnezzar, in its gold and silver and brass and +iron, represented those four vast monarchies which, in their +successive periods, swayed the government of the world. +But in the fact that the image was in the form of a man, the +spirit that actuated these four empires of earth is strikingly +emphasized—the spirit of the idolatry of humanity. They +were all embodiments of the man-will: Babels for the +incarnation of heaven-daring human aspirations, and so +carried within even their colossal proportions the elements +of confusion and death. A similar lust of humanity for +supremacy characterises those Kingdoms, represented by +the ten toes of the image, into which the fourth Roman +monarchy parted. But soon now, therefore, must sound +out the last blast of the seventh trumpet, when the idolatry +of humanity in earth's kingdoms shall fall, and the spirit and +will of Christ pervade and beautify all the institutions, +ecclesiastical and imperial, of the world. Yes, the kingdom +"not in hands" shall shatter yet all the usurped rights +of the world-powers. There shall be a glorious reversal +of the disaster in Eden. That old Adamic principle +of a legislative sovereignty in man, which has convulsed +the nations for six thousand years, shall be utterly +renounced and crucified the world over. Ruin irreparable +shall befall the entire empire of Satan, who shall be +chained in his lake, as the pealing note of that trumpet +of God shall swell over all the earth. The throne of +God and the Lamb shall be erected by public consent +as the unifying source and centre for people, churches, +and empires. The whole world of humanity shall be +redeemed from sin and its curse, be animated by one +Spirit, and triumphant in one Lord.</p> + +<p>May not the true Christian, then, as he thinks of the +idolatrous form in the dream of the monarch of Babylon, +and looks in the watches of the night for the dawn, when +Christ Jesus his Lord shall be honoured throughout the +world, behold rising before his eyes in his dream another +colossal figure; and its head is gold, and its breasts and +arms gold, and its belly and thighs gold, and its legs and +feet and toes gold; yea all of it "is as the most fine +gold;" and the head representing the powers of the great +American Continents; the breast and arms, Asia; the belly +and thighs, Africa; the legs and feet, Europe, and the toes +the Isles of the Sea—the British Isles with the rest. And +the form of the great earth-filling figure is that of Jesus of +Nazareth, the Man of Jehovah's right hand. And lo! "I +saw heaven opened, and I heard as it were the voice of a +great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the +voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord +God Omnipotent reigneth."</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Come, then, and, added to Thy many crowns,<br /> +Receive yet one, the crown of all the earth,<br /> +Thou who alone art worthy! It was Thine<br /> +By ancient covenant, ere nature's birth;<br /> +And Thou hast made it Thine by purchase since<br /> +And overpaid its value with Thy blood.<br /> +Thy saints proclaim Thee King! And in their hearts<br /> +Thy title is engraven with a pen<br /> +Dipp'd in the fountain of eternal love."<br /> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT1" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT1"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT</h2> + +<center> +<span style="font-size: 80%"> +<a name="IMG2"></a> +<img src="images/3.png" alt="Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh." /><br /> +[Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.]</span></center><br /> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT2" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT2"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT</h2> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h3>THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.</h3> + + +<p><i>Subscribed at first by the King's Majesty and his household, in the year +of God 1580; thereafter by persons of all ranks in the year of God +1581, by Ordinance of the Lords of Secret Council, and Acts of the +General Assembly; subscribed again by all sorts of persons in the year +of God 1590. Secondly: And with Ordinance of the Lords of Secret +Council, and Acts of General Assembly, subscribed again by all sorts +of persons in the year of God 1590. Thirdly: And with Ordinance +of Council, at the desire of the General Assembly; with their general +bond for maintenance of the true religion, and of the Kings Majesty; +and now subscribed in the year of God 1638, by us, Noblemen, +Baronets, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons under +subscribed; and, together with a resolution and promise, for the +causes after expressed, to maintain the true, religion and King's +Majesty, according to the Confession aforesaid, and the Acts of +Parliament, the so much of which followeth:—</i></p> + +<p>We all and every one of us under-written, protest, That, +after long and due examination of our own consciences in +matters of true and false religion, we are now thoroughly +resolved in the truth by the Spirit and Word of God: and +therefore we believe with our hearts, confess with our +mouths, subscribe with our hands, and constantly affirm, +before God and the whole world, that this only is the true +Christian faith and religion, pleasing God, and bringing +salvation to man, which now is, by the mercy of God, +revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed +evangel; and is received, believed, and defended by many +and sundry notable kirks and realms, but chiefly by the Kirk +of Scotland, the King's Majesty, and three estates of this +realm, as God's eternal truth, and only ground of our +salvation; as more particularly is expressed in the Confession +of our Faith, established and publicly confirmed by sundry +Acts of Parliaments, and now of a long time hath been +openly professed by the King's Majesty, and whole body +of this realm both in burgh and land. To the which +Confession and Form of Religion we willingly agree in our +conscience in all points, as unto God's undoubted truth and +verity, grounded only upon His written Word. And therefore +we abhor and detest all contrary religion and doctrine; but +chiefly all kind of Papistry in general and particular heads, +even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of +God and Kirk of Scotland. But, in special, we detest and +refuse the usurped authority of that Roman Antichrist upon +the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civil magistrate, +and consciences of men; all his tyrannous laws made upon +indifferent things against our Christian liberty; his erroneous +doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word, the +perfection of the law, the office of Christ, and His blessed +evangel; his corrupted doctrine concerning original sin, our +natural inability and rebellion to God's law, our justification +by faith only, our imperfect sanctification and obedience to +the law; the nature, number, and use of the holy sacraments; +his five bastard sacraments, with all his rites, ceremonies, +and false doctrine, added to the ministration of the true +sacraments without the word of God; his cruel judgment +against infants departing without the sacrament; his absolute +necessity of baptism; his blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation, +or real presence of Christ's body in the elements, +and receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies of men; +his dispensations with solemn oaths, perjuries, and degrees +of marriage forbidden in the Word; his cruelty against the +innocent divorced; his devilish mass; his blasphemous +priesthood; his profane sacrifice for sins of the dead and +the quick; his canonization of men; calling upon angels +or saints departed, worshipping of imagery, relics, and +crosses; dedicating of kirks, altars, days; vows to creatures; +his purgatory, prayers for the dead; praying or speaking in +a strange language, with his processions, and blasphemous +litany, and multitude of advocates or mediators; his manifold +orders, auricular confession; his desperate and uncertain +repentance; his general and doubtsome faith; his satisfactions +of men for their sins; his justification by works, +<i>opus operatum</i>, works of supererogation, merits, pardons, +peregrinations, and stations; his holy water, baptizing of +bells, conjuring of spirits, crossing, sayning, anointing, +conjuring, hallowing of God's good creatures, with the superstitious +opinion joined therewith; his worldly monarchy, +and wicked hierarchy; his three solemn vows, with all his +shavellings of sundry sorts; his erroneous and bloody +decrees made at Trent, with all the subscribers or approvers +of that cruel and bloody band, conjured against the Kirk of +God. And finally, we detest all his vain allegories, rites, +signs, and traditions brought in the Kirk, without or against +the word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed Kirk; +to the which we join ourselves willingly, in doctrine, faith, +religion, discipline, and use of the holy sacraments, as lively +members of the same in Christ our head: promising and +swearing, by the great name of the LORD our GOD, that +we shall continue in the obedience of the doctrine and +discipline of this Kirk, and shall defend the same, according +to our vocation and power, all the days of our lives; under +the pains contained in the law, and danger both of body +and soul in the day of God's fearful judgment.</p> + +<p>And seeing that many are stirred up by Satan, and that +Roman Antichrist, to promise, swear, subscribe, and for +a time use the holy sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully, +against their own conscience; minding hereby, first, under +the external cloak of religion, to corrupt and subvert +secretly God's true religion within the Kirk; and afterward, +when time may serve, to become open enemies and +persecutors of the same, under vain hope of the Pope's +dispensation, devised against the Word of God, to his +greater confusion, and their double condemnation in the +day of the Lord Jesus: we therefore, willing to take away +all suspicion of hypocrisy, and of such double dealing +with God and His Kirk, protest, and call the Searcher of +all hearts for witness, that our minds and hearts do fully +agree with this our Confession, promise, oath, and subscription: +so that we are not moved with any worldly respect, +but are persuaded only in our conscience, through the +knowledge and love of God's true religion imprinted in +our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we shall answer to Him +in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed.</p> + +<p>And because we perceive that the quietness and stability +of our religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and +good behaviour of the King's Majesty, as upon a comfortable +instrument of God's mercy granted to this country, for the +maintaining of His Kirk and ministration of justice amongst +us; we protest and promise with our hearts, under the +same oath, hand-writ, and pains, that we shall defend His +person and authority with our goods, bodies, and lives, in +the defence of Christ His evangel, liberties of our country, +ministration of justice, and punishment of iniquity, against +all enemies within this realm or without, as we desire our +God to be a strong and merciful defender to us in the day +of our death, and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; to +whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all honour +and glory eternally. <i>Amen.</i></p> + +<p>Likeas many Acts of Parliament, not only in general +do abrogate, annul, and rescind all laws, statutes, acts, +constitutions, canons civil or municipal, with all other +ordinances, and practique penalties whatsoever, made in +prejudice of the true religion, and professors thereof; or +of the true Kirk, discipline, jurisdiction, and freedom +thereof; or in favours of idolatry and superstition, or of +the Papistical kirk: As Act 3, Act 31, Parl. 1; Act 23, +Parl. 11; Act 114, Parl. 12, of King James VI. That +Papistry and superstition may be utterly suppressed, +according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament, +repeated in the 5th Act, Parl. 20, King James VI. And +to that end they ordain all Papists and Priests to be +punished with manifold civil and ecclesiastical pains, as +adversaries to God's true religion preached, and by law +established, within this realm, Act 24, Parl. 11, King +James VI.; as common enemies to all Christian government, +Act 18, Parl. 16, King James VI.; as rebellers and +gainstanders of our Sovereign Lord's authority, Act 47, +Parl. 3, King James VI.; and as idolaters, Act 104, Parl. 7, +King James VI. But also in particular, by and attour the +Confession of Faith, do abolish and condemn the Pope's +authority and jurisdiction out of this land, and ordains the +maintainers thereof to be punished, Act 2, Parl. 1; Act 51, +Parl. 3; Act 106, Parl. 7; Act 114, Parl. 12, King James VI.: +do condemn the Pope's erroneous doctrine, or any other +erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the articles of the +true and Christian religion, publicly preached, and by law +established in this realm; and ordains the spreaders and +makers of books or libels, or letters or writs of that nature +to be punished, Act 46, Parl. 3; Act 106, Parl. 7; Act 24, +Parl. 11, King James VI.: do condemn all baptism conform +to the Pope's kirk, and the idolatry of the mass; and ordains +all sayers, wilful hearers and concealers of the mass, the +maintainers and resetters of the priests, Jesuits, trafficking +Papists, to be punished without any exception or restriction, +Act 5, Parl. 1; Act 120, Parl. 12; Act 164, Parl. 13; Act +193, Parl. 14; Act 1, Parl. 19; Act 5, Parl. 20, King James +VI.: do condemn all erroneous books and writs containing +erroneous doctrine against the religion presently professed, +or containing superstitious rites and ceremonies Papistical, +whereby the people are greatly abused, and ordains the +home-bringers of them to be punished, Act 25, Parl. II, +King James VI.: do condemn the monuments and dregs of +bygone idolatry, as going to crosses, observing the festival +days of saints, and such other superstitious and Papistical +rites, to the dishonour of God, contempt of true religion, +and fostering of great error among the people; and ordains +the users of them to be punished for the second fault, as +idolaters, Act 104, Parl. 7, King James VI.</p> + +<p>Likeas many Acts of Parliament are conceived for maintenance +of God's true and Christian religion, and the purity +thereof, in doctrine and sacraments of the true Church of +God, the liberty and freedom thereof, in her national, +synodal assemblies, presbyteries, sessions, policy, discipline, +and jurisdiction thereof; as that purity of religion, and +liberty of the Church was used, professed, exercised, +preached, and confessed, according to the reformation of +religion in this realm: As for instance, the 99th Act, Parl. 7; +Act 25, Parl. 11; Act 114, Parl. 12; Act 160, Parl. 13, of +King James VI., ratified by the 4th Act of King Charles. +So that the 6th Act, Parl. 1, and 68th Act, Parl. 6, of +King James VI., in the year of God 1579, declare the +ministers of the blessed evangel, whom God of His +mercy had raised up, or hereafter should raise, agreeing +with them that then lived, in doctrine and administration +of the sacraments; and the people that professed Christ, +as He was then offered in the evangel, and doth communicate +with the holy sacraments (as in the reformed kirks +of this realm they were presently administrate) according +to the Confession of Faith, to be the true and holy kirk +of Christ Jesus within this realm. And decerns and +declares all and sundry, who either gainsay the Word of +the evangel received and approved as the heads of the +Confession of Faith, professed in Parliament in the year +of God 1560, specified also in the first Parliament of King +James VI., and ratified in this present Parliament, more +particularly do express; or that refuse the administration of +the holy sacraments as they were then ministrated—to be +no members of the said Kirk within this realm, and true +religion presently professed, so long as they keep themselves +so divided from the society of Christ's body. And the +subsequent Act 69, Parl. 6, of King James VI., declares, +that there is no other face of kirk, nor other face of religion, +than was presently at that time by the favour of God +established within this realm: "Which therefore is ever +styled God's true religion, Christ's true religion, the true and +Christian religion, and a perfect religion;" which, by manifold +Acts of Parliament, all within this realm are bound to +profess, to subscribe the articles thereof, the Confession of +Faith, to recant all doctrine and errors repugnant to any of +the said articles, Acts 4 and 9, Parl. 1; Acts 45, 46, 47, +Parl. 3; Act 71, Parl. 6; Act 106, Parl. 7; Act 24, Parl. 11; +Act 123, Parl. 12; Acts 194 and 197, Parl. 14, of King +James VI. And all magistrates, sheriffs, &c., on the one +part, are ordained to search, apprehend, and punish all +contraveners: For instance Act 5, Parl. 1; Act 104, Parl. 7; +Act 25, Parl. 11, King James VI.; and that notwithstanding +of the King's Majesty's licences on the contrary, which are +discharged, and declared to be of no force, in so far as they +tend in any wise to the prejudice and hinder of the execution +of the Acts of Parliament against Papists and adversaries of +true religion, Act 106, Parl. 7, King James VI. On the +other part, in the 47th Act, Parl. 3, King James VI., it is +declared and ordained, Seeing the cause of God's true +religion and his Highness's authority are so joined, as the +hurt of the one is common to both, that none shall be +reputed as loyal and faithful subjects to our Sovereign Lord, +or his authority, but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders +of the same, who shall not give their confession +and make their profession of the said true religion: and +that they who, after defection, shall give the confession of +their faith of new, they shall promise to continue therein in +time coming, to maintain our Sovereign Lord's authority, +and at the uttermost of their power to fortify, assist, and +maintain the true preachers and professors of Christ's +religion, against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the +same; and namely, against all such, of whatsoever nation, +estate, or degree they be of, that have joined or bound +themselves, or have assisted, or assist, to set forward and +execute the cruel decrees of the Council of Trent, contrary +to the true preachers and professors of the word of God; +which is repeated, word by word, in the articles of pacification +at Perth, the 23rd of February, 1572; approved by +Parliament the last of April, 1573; ratified in Parliament +1587, and related Act 123, Parl. 12, of King James VI.; +with this addition, "That they are bound to resist all +treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against the true +religion, the King's Majesty, and the true professors."</p> + +<p>Likeas, all lieges are bound to maintain the King's +Majesty's royal person and authority, the authority of +Parliaments, without the which neither any laws or lawful +judicatories can be established, Acts 130 and 131, Parl. 8, +King James VI., and the subjects' liberties, who ought only +to live and be governed by the King's laws, the common +laws of this realm allenarly, Act 48, Parl. 3, King James I.; +Act 79, Parl. 6, King James IV.; repeated in the Act 131, +Parl. 8, King James VI.; which if they be innovated and +prejudged, "the commission anent the union of the two +kingdoms of Scotland and England, which is the sole act of +the 17th Parl. of King James VI., declares," such confusion +would ensue as this realm could be no more a free monarchy; +because, by the fundamental laws, ancient privileges, offices, +and liberties of this kingdom, not only the princely authority +of his Majesty's royal descent hath been these many ages +maintained, but also the people's security of their lands, +livings, rights, offices, liberties, and dignities preserved. And +therefore, for the preservation of the said true religion, laws, +and liberties of this kingdom, it is statute by the 8th Act, +Parl. 1, repeated in the 99th Act, Parl. 7, ratified in the +23rd Act, Parl. 11, and 114th Act, Parl. 12, of King James +VI., and 4th Act, Parl. 1, of King Charles I.—"That all +Kings and Princes at their coronation, and reception of +their princely authority, shall make their faithful promise by +their solemn oath, in the presence of the eternal God, that +enduring the whole time of their lives, they shall serve the +same eternal God to the uttermost of their power, according +as He hath required in His most holy Word, contained in the +Old and New Testament; and according to the same Word, +shall maintain the true religion of Christ Jesus, the preaching +of His holy Word, the due and right ministration of the +sacraments now received and preached within this realm, +(according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceding,) +and shall abolish and gainstand all false religion contrary to +the same; and shall rule the people committed to their +charge, according to the will and command of God revealed +in His foresaid Word, and according to the laudable laws and +constitutions received in this realm, nowise repugnant to the +said will of the eternal God; and shall procure, to the +uttermost of their power, to the Kirk of God, and whole +Christian people, true and perfect peace in all time coming: +and that they shall be careful to root out of their empire all +heretics and enemies to the true worship of God, who shall +be convicted by the true Kirk of God of the foresaid crimes." +Which was also observed by his Majesty, at his coronation +in Edinburgh, 1633, as may be seen in the order of the +coronation.</p> + +<p>In obedience to the commandment of God, conform to +the practice of the godly in former times, and according to +the laudable example of our worthy and religious progenitors +and of many yet living amongst us, which was warranted +also by Act of Council, commanding a general band to be +made and subscribed by his Majesty's subjects of all ranks; +for two causes: one was, For defending the true religion, as +it was then reformed, and is expressed in the Confession of +Faith above written, and a former large Confession established +by sundry acts of lawful General Assemblies and of +Parliaments, unto which it hath relation, set down in public +Catechisms; and which hath been for many years, with a +blessing from Heaven, preached and professed in this Kirk +and kingdom, as God's undoubted truth, grounded only upon +His written Word. The other cause was, For maintaining the +King's Majesty, his person and estate; the true worship of +God and the King's authority being so straitly joined, as that +they had the same friends, and common enemies, and did +stand and fall together. And finally, being convinced in our +minds, and confessing with our mouths, that the present and +succeeding generations in this land are bound to keep the +foresaid national oath and subscription inviolable,</p> + +<p>We Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, +and Commons under-subscribing, considering divers times +before, and especially at this time, the danger of the true +reformed religion, of the King's honour, and of the public +peace of the kingdom, by the manifold innovations and evils, +generally contained, and particularly mentioned in our late +supplications, complaints, and protestations; do hereby +profess, and before God, His angels, and the world, solemnly +declare, That with our whole hearts we agree, and resolve all +the days of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend +the foresaid true religion, and (forbearing the practice of all +novations already introduced in the matters of the worship +of God, or approbation of the corruptions of the public +government of the Kirk, or civil places and power of kirkmen, +till they be tried and allowed in free Assemblies and +in Parliament) to labour, by all means, to recover the purity +and liberty of the Gospel, as it was established and professed +before the foresaid novations. And because, after due +examination, we plainly perceive, and undoubtedly believe, +that the innovations and evils contained in our supplications, +complaints, and protestations, have no warrant of the Word +of God, are contrary to the articles of the foresaid Confession, +to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of +religion in this land, to the above-written Acts of Parliament; +and do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish +religion and tyranny, and to the subversion and ruin of the +true reformed religion, and of our liberties, laws, and estates; +we also declare, That the foresaid Confessions are to be +interpreted, and ought to be understood of the foresaid +novations and evils, no less than if every one of them had +been expressed in the foresaid Confessions; and that we are +obliged to detest and abhor them, amongst other particular +heads of Papistry abjured therein. And therefore, from the +knowledge and conscience of our duty to God, to our King +and country, without any worldly respect or inducement, so +far as human infirmity will suffer, wishing a further measure +of the grace of God for this effect; we promise and swear, by +the GREAT NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD, to +continue in the profession and obedience of the aforesaid +religion; and that we shall defend the same, and resist all +these contrary errors and corruptions, according to our +vocation, and to the uttermost of that power that God hath +put in our hands, all the days of our life.</p> + +<p>And in like manner, with the same heart, we declare +before God and men, That we have no intention nor desire +to attempt any thing that may turn to the dishonour of God, +or to the diminution of the King's greatness and authority; +but, on the contrary, we promise and swear, That we shall, +to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, +stand to the defence of our dread Sovereign the King's +Majesty, his person and authority, in the defence and +preservation of the foresaid true religion, liberties, and laws of +the kingdom; as also to the mutual defence and assistance +every one of us of another, in the same cause of maintaining +the true religion, and his Majesty's authority, with our best +counsel, our bodies, means, and whole power, against all +sorts of persons whatsoever; so that whatsoever shall be +done to the least of us for that cause, shall be taken as +done to us all in general, and to every one of us in particular. +And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer +ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever +suggestion, combination, allurement, or terror, from this +blessed and loyal conjunction; nor shall cast in any let or +impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as +by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good +ends; but, on the contrary, shall by all lawful means labour +to further and promote the same: and if any such dangerous +and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ, we, and +every one of us, shall either suppress it, or, if need be, shall +incontinent make the same known, that it may be timeously +obviated. Neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion, +combination, or what else our adversaries, from their craft +and malice, would put upon us; seeing what we do is well +warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned desire to maintain +the true worship of God, the majesty of our King, and the +peace of the kingdom, for the common happiness of +ourselves and our posterity.</p> + +<p>And because we cannot look for a blessing from God +upon our proceedings, except with our profession and +subscription we join such a life and conversation as +beseemeth Christians who have renewed their covenant with +God; we therefore faithfully promise for ourselves, our +followers, and all others under us, both in public, and in +our particular families, and personal carriage, to endeavour +to keep ourselves within the bounds of Christian liberty, and +to be good examples to others of all godliness, soberness, +and righteousness, and of every duty we owe to God and +man.</p> + +<p>And, that this our union and conjunction may be +observed without violation, we call the LIVING GOD, +THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS, to witness, who +knoweth this to be our sincere desire and unfeigned +resolution, as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the +great day, and under the pain of God's everlasting wrath, +and of infamy and loss of all honour and respect in this +world: most humbly beseeching the LORD to strengthen +us by His HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to bless our +desires and proceedings with a happy success; that religion +and righteousness may flourish in the land, to the glory of +GOD, the honour of our King, and peace and comfort of us +all. In witness whereof, we have subscribed with our hands +all the premises.</p> + +<p>The article of this Covenant within written and within +subscribed, which was at the first subscription referred to the +determination of the General Assembly, being now +determined, on the fifth of December, 1638, and hereby the +five articles of Perth, the government of the Kirk by bishops, +being declared to be abjured and removed, and the civil +places and power of kirkmen declared unlawful, we subscribe +according to the determination of the said lawful and free +General Assembly, holden at Glasgow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT3" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT3"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT: EXHORTATION TO THE LORDS OF COUNCIL.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></span></h2> + + +<p><i>May it please your Lordship,</i></p> + +<p>We, the ministers of the Gospel, conveened at this so +necessary a time do find ourselves bound to represent, as +unto all, so in special unto your lordship what comfortable +experience we have of the wonderful favour of God, upon +the renewing of the Confession of Faith and Covenant; +what peace and comfort hath filled the hearts of all God's +people; what resolutions and beginnings of reformation of +manners are sensibly perceived in all parts of the kingdom, +above any measure that ever we did find, or could have +expected; how great glory the Lord hath received hereby, +and what confidence we have (if this sunshine be not +eclipsed by some sinful division or defection) that God shall +make this a blessed kingdom, to the contentment of the +king's majesty, and joy of all his good subjects, according +as God hath promised in His good Word, and performed to +His people in former times: and therefore we are forced, +from our hearts, both to wish and entreat your lordship to +be partaker and promover of this joy and happiness by your +subscription, when your lordship shall think it convenient; +and in the mean time, that your lordship would not be +sparing to give a free testimony to the truth, as a timely and +necessary expression of your tender affection to the cause of +Christ, now calling for help at your hands. Your lordship's +profession of the true religion, as it was reformed in this land; +the national oath of this kingdom, sundry times sworn and +subscribed, obliging us who live at this time; the duty of a +good patriot, the office and trust of a privy councillor, the +present employment, to have place amongst those that are +first acquainted with his majesty's pleasure; the consideration +that this is the time of trial of your lordship's affection +to religion, the respect which your lordship hath unto your +fame, both now and hereafter, when things shall be recorded +to posterity; and the remembrance, that not only the eyes +of men and angels are upon your lordship's carriage, but +also that the Lord Jesus is a secret witness now to observe, +and shall be an open judge hereafter, to reward and confess +every man before His Father, that confesseth Him before +men: all of these, and each of them, beside your lordship's +personal and particular obligations to God, do call for no +less at your lordship's hands, in the case of so great and +singular necessity: and we also do expect so much at this +time, according as your lordship at the hour of death would +be free of the terror of God, and be refreshed with the +comfortable remembrance of a word spoken in season for +Christ Jesus, King of kings, and Lord of lords.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT4" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT4"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT ST. ANDREWS.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY ALEXANDER HENDERSON.</i><a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></h4> + +<p class="center"> +"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the<br /> +beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning; Thou hast the<br /> +dew of thy youth."—<i>Psalm</i> cx. 3.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>It is, beloved in the Lord, very expedient, and sometimes +most necessar, that we turn away our eyes from kings and +their greatness, from kirkmen and men of state, and that we +turn them towards another object, and look only to Jesus +Christ, who is the great king, priest, and prophet of His kirk. +The godly in former times, who were kings, priests, and +prophets themselves, used to do this, and that before Christ; +and mickle more is it required of us now in thir days, +seeing we live in troublesome times; for there is a comfort +that comes to the children of God that way. The first +part of this psalm expresses to us the threefold office of +Christ, and the second part of it expresses the valiant acts +our Lord Jesus does by these His three offices, but especially +by His Princely office; whilk indeed is His worst studied +office by many men in the world. We would, many of us, +willingly take Him for our prophet to teach us, and for our +priest to intercede for us, and be a sacrifice for our sins, but +when it comes to His Princely office, to direct us what we +should do, then we would be at that whilk seems best in our +own eyes.</p> + +<p>His Princely office is described unto us here three ways. +1. In relation to God Himself; "The Lord said unto my +Lord, Sit thou at My right hand." 2. In respect of His +enemies; "The Lord sall send the rod of thy strength out +of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies." Were +His enemies never so many, and never so despiteful against +Him, yet He sall rule in the midst of them. And indeed +this is a very admirable part of His kingly office, that even +in the midst of His enemies He sall have a kingdom for +Himself, in despite of them, and all that they can do or say +against it. 3. The third, wherein the glory of His kingly +office consists, is in thir words that I have read to you: and +that is in relation to, and in respect of the subjects of the +kingdom of Christ. And they are described here to be a +people belonging to Jesus Christ; to be a people on whom +God manifests His power; and they are a most willing people, +a people who count holiness to be their chiefest beauty. +And they are so marvellously multiplied, that it is a wonder +to consider of it: there is no more drops of dew will fall, nor +they will not fall any faster in a morning than the Lord will +multiply them, when He is pleased to do so. And although +the Lord sometimes multiply them in a secret manner, yet +still the multitude stands to be true.</p> + +<p>That the purposes may be the better tane up by you who +will take heed to them, consider of these parts in the words. +1. The persons of whom the Psalmist speaks here. "Thy +people." 2. The properties of these people in this day: +They sall be a willing people; a holy people; a people who +sall be miraculously multiplied. And so their properties is +willingness, holiness, and multiplication.</p> + +<p>Many proofs has been of the truth of this prophecy +since the beginning—that the Lord's people sall be willing +in the day of His power, in the beauties of holiness; from +the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth. +There were many evident proofs of the truth of this since +the beginning of the plantation of the gospel into the +world. And surely we know not a more evident and +notable proof of it than this same that is presently into this +land, nor think I that there be any who can show the +parallel of it. The Lord has made them willingly to offer +up themselves, and all that they have, for Him. And they +are a people of holiness; albeit it is true, indeed, many has +been brought to it from this quarter and that quarter of +the land, since the beginning, to be more holy than they +used to be. And if the multiplication of them be not +wonderful, I cannot tell what ye will tell me of that is more +wonderful; so that indeed it is a miracle to all who hear +of it. In the time while Christ was upon the earth there +were two sorts of miracles to be seen;—first, Christ made +the dumb to speak, the blind to see, the lame to walk, &c.: +this indeed was a great miracle. The second sort of +miracles was of him who did see these things wrought by +Christ, and yet for all that, did not believe in Him who did +work them. Even so there are two sorts of wonders in +this same time wherein we live;—first, how the Lord has +multiplied His people, and made them to be so many, +whereas, at the first, we thought them to be but very few; +secondly, we cannot but wonder at these who observes not +God's hand into it: and indeed we cannot but wonder that +any can be so blind that they observe not the very hand +and finger of God in the work. Ay, we who have been +witnesses to it, for the most part, we cannot but wonder at +the work of God in it. It has not been man's wit has +done the work, and multiply so, but only God has done it; +and we cannot tell how; but only we see that there are +numbers continually multiplied.</p> + +<p>I. "Thy people." Here is a note of property, and a note +of distinction. First, it is a note of property. They are +God's people—God has absolute right over a people, and +there is none who has any right over them but He alone. +It's true all people are under Him, but He calls not all His +people after this manner. All things are for God, and +subordinate to Him; the absolute power to rule and to +command these people is in God's hand, and He will not +give that power to any other over them: and He has good +reason so to do. 1. Because He was thinking upon His +people from all eternity; and there was none who did that +but only He. 2. He made us and fashioned us in time; +and neither any authority or magistrate did that. 3. Who is +it that provides means for their sustenance daily, and makes +these means effectual, but only the Lord? A man cannot +make one pyle (blade) of grass, or one ear of corn, to grow +for thy entertainment, but only the Lord: and when thou +hast gotten these things, it is the blessing of God that makes +them effectual. For when ye say the grace to your meat, +say ye it to man? No, ye say it only to God. So that +every way ye are God's people. And then, whilk is more, +and therefore we are bound to be His people, no man can +redeem the life of his brother, nor give a price sufficient for +his life, let be (let alone) for his soul, and yet the Lord, He +has redeemed us from hell, and from the grave; and +therefore we belong to Him. Then is it not the Lord who +enters in covenant with thee, and says, I will remember thy +sins no more? Then albeit all the world should remember +thy ill deeds, yet if the Lord remember them not, then thou +art blessed. It is He who says, I will write My laws in your +hearts, to lead you here: it is He who puts us in the estate +of grace while we are here, and so puts us in hope of glory +after this life. It is He who sall be our judge at that great +day. And so ye are the Lord's people, by way of property.</p> + +<p>And this was it that made the apostles so bold, when it +was alleged that they had done that whilk was not right: +they made the enemies themselves judges, and says, +"Whether it be right in your sight to obey God rather than +man, judge ye." As if they had said, It's true indeed we +are mickle obliged to man, but we are more obliged to God +than to all men; for what is it that man can do to us, +either good or ill, but God can do that als (also) and more? +And upon this ground, in the next chapter, they draw this +conclusion,—It behoveth us rather to obey God than man. +And so, first, they reason with the adversars themselves +upon it; and seeing that they could not deny it, upon that +they draw up their conclusion. I mark this for this end, +that whenever ye are enjoined to do anything by any man, +that then ye would not forget this dignity and power that +God has over you, and that ye are the people of Jesus +Christ; and therefore no man ought to enjoin anything to +be done by you, but that for the whilk he has a warrant +from God. There is a great controversy now about disobedience +to superiors, and the contempt of those who are +in authority; but there is not a word of that, whether God +be obeyed or not, or if He be disobeyed by any. Fy, that +people should sell themselves over to the slavery of man, +when the Lord has only sovereign power over them! I +would not have you to think that a whole country of people +are appointed only to uphold the grandeur of five or six +men. No, they are ordained to be magistrates for your +good. And sall we think that a ministry shines into a +land for the upholding of the grandeur of some few persons. +No, all these things are ordained for the good of God's +people; and, seeing that it is so, sall ye then make yourselves +like to asses and slaves, to be subject to all that +men pleases to impose upon you? No, no; try anything +that they impose upon you, before ye obey it, if it is +warranted by God or not; because God is the only superior +over you.</p> + +<p>2. Secondly. "Thy people." This also is a note of +distinction; for every people are God's people, but there is +a distinction among them. All people, it's true, are God's +people by right of creation: why therefore says he, <i>Thy</i> +people, and not <i>all</i> people? Because all people belong not +to Christ. God has authority over all indeed, but in a special +manner He enters into covenant with some. All people +who are subject to Him in His providence are not His +peculiar people, His royal nation, His holy priesthood, His +chosen generation, but only those of them who belong to +Christ; those are properly termed to be His people. And +we should remember of this, that those who are the people +of God, they have notable privileges; they have all things +that any people should have, and, whatever we should be, +they have that. Where any are the people of God, there +there is blessedness indeed, for they have His truth for their +security, they have His love for their comfort, His power for +their defence. The Lord God, He takes His people +into His bosom, and with every soul He does so, and says, +"I the Lord thy God enters in covenant with thee, and +renews the covenant that before I made with thee." And +then He lays a necessity upon thee, by His providence, that +thou must enter into covenant with Him; and then He says +to thee, "I will not remember thy sins any more; I know +they are heinous, great, and many, but because thou desires +that they should not be remembered, therefore I will not +remember them. And because when ye have renewed +your covenant with Me, ye will be aye in a fear to break it +again, therefore I will write My law in your hearts. And +so whatever I promise to you, I will perform it freely when +ye are in covenant with Me; and whatever ye promise to +Me, being in covenant with Me, I sall perform it for you +also, at least I sall give you strength to perform it." And +therefore to the end that ye may be perfectly blessed, enter +into a covenant with God; and without ye be in covenant +with Him, ye sall be in nothing but perpetual misery. I +would have all of you to think this to be your only health, +wealth, and peace, and your only glory in the world, to be +in covenant with God; and so that ye are the people of +God, I would not have you to count men to be rich and +glorious men by their estates in the world—that he can +spend so many chalders of victual yearly, or so many +thousand merks. O, a silly, beggarly glory is this! Naked +thou came into the world, and naked thou must go out of it +again. But see how mickle thou has of the knowledge of +Jesus Christ, how far thou art forward in the work of +repentance, faith, &c., and such good actions. Learn to set +your affections on things that are above, and testify it by +your actions.</p> + +<p>II. "In the day of Thy power." This is the time when +the people of God sall be willing, even in the day of His +power; that is, in the day of the power of Jesus Christ. +The day of His own resurrection from the dead was one +day of His power: He says, "I have power to lay down My +life, and I have power to take it again;" "Destroy this +temple, and I will build it up again in three days;" He +meant of the temple of His body: and indeed there was +none who could raise His dead body out of the grave, but +only Himself. A second day of His power sall be the day +of the resurrection of our bodies out of the dust. But there +is another day that is meant of here than any of these, and +that is the day of our first resurrection out of the grave of +sin, by the preaching of the gospel. And there is good +reason for it, why this should be called a day of His power. +First, because it is the power of Jesus Christ that brings +the purity of the gospel into a land; and we may indeed +say that it was only His power that brought the gospel into +this land. It had not authority then to countenance it, for +all those that were in authority were against it; and counsel +and policy, and all the clergy, and the multitude, all of them, +were against it; and yet, for all that, the Lord brought in +the purity of the gospel into this land, and established it +here against all these. Secondly, when the purity of the +gospel is into a land, it is only the power of God that +makes it effectual for turning of souls unto Himself, and +raising them out of the grave of sin, wherein they are so +fast buried. So when the Lord first sends the gospel, we +are lying into the grave of sin; and the devil, and the +world, and all these enemies they are watching the grave, +to see that we rise not out of it; and when we are +beginning to rise they are busy to hold us down. And think +not that we can rise, and lift up ourselves from so base to +so high ane estate, without the power of God. No, no. +Third. When the gospel is into a land, it is only the power +of Jesus Christ that makes it to continue, for if the Lord +make not the gospel to continue into a land, it will not stay +there. And there is no less power required either to bring +the gospel into a land, or to make it effectual, or to +make it to continue, than was required to raise the dead +body of Christ out of the grave, or will be required to +raise ours.</p> + +<p>I would have you consider here, that all times are not +alike, but there is a time of the Lord's power; that all +days are not alike, but there is a day of the Lord's power; +a time when the saints of God sall be weak, a time when +they sall be strong; a time when some sall rise up to +persecute the saints, a time when others sall rise up to help +them; a time when the Lord withholds His power, and a +time when He kythes (shews it); a time when the people +draws back from the Lord, and a time when they turn to +Him again. There has been a day of defection in this land +this time past, and now there is a time of the Lord's power +in bringing back this defection again: and indeed this very +instant time that now is is ane hour of that day of the +Lord's power, and I will shew you two or three reasons for +it. 1. The Lord did arise and manifested His power when +the enemies were become insolent, and when they had +determined that they would set up such a mode of worship +as they thought meet, and noways according to the pattern +shown upon the mount. And indeed the Lord, He uses +ordinarily to do this, that even when the enemies of His +people are become insolent, and they have determined that +they will do such a thing instantly, then He takes them in +their own snare. 2. To show that it is the Lord's power +only that works a work, He uses to begin at very small +beginnings; and so the Lord did in this same work;—He +began at first with some few, and these not honourable, and +yet now He has made it to cover the whole land through all +the quarters thereof. 3. This is also a note of the power +of God, that He has touched the hearts of people, that there +was never such a howling and a weeping heard amongst +them this long time as there is now; and yet it is not a +weeping for sorrow, but a weeping for joy. How oft has +there been preachings in the most part of the congregations +of this land this long time past, and yet people have never +found the power of it in working upon their hearts; and +yet within this short space, when the Lord has renewed His +covenant with them, and they with Him, He has displayed +His banner, and made His power known in working upon +the hearts of people. 4. In this the power of God is +manifestly to be seen in this work, that the Lord has made +all the devices and plots of the adversars, that they have +devised to further their own ends, to work contrair to these +ends, and to work for the good of His own work. And, +indeed, we may say that it has not been so mickle the +courage and wisdom of these, that has been for this cause, +that has brought it so far on, but the very plots and devices +of the adversars that they have devised for their own good. +This also is ane evident token of the Lord's power.</p> + +<p>And now since the Lord did arise when the enemies +were become insolent, since He began at so small beginnings +and has brought it so far, since the Lord has wrought so on +the hearts of people now, and since He has made all the +plots of the enemies to work against themselves, and for +His people, let us give this glory to God, and reverence Him, +and say that it is only by His power that the work is done, +and that He has been pleased to manifest Himself into the +work. Beloved, we may comfort ourselves in this, if all +this has been done by the power of God, then we need not +to fear the power of men; men can do nothing against God. +The Lord may indeed put His kirk to a trial, but He will not +suffer her to be overthrown by any. And indeed, any who +hears and knows what the enemies are doing here may see +that they are not fighting against men, but against God, and +that they are kicking against the pricks.</p> + +<p>III. Now, for the properties of thir people. The first +of them is <i>willing</i>. The Lord's people are a people of +willingness in the day of His power: and indeed thir three +go very well together, the people of God, the power of +God, and a willing people. When the power of God +works upon His people then He makes them to be a willing +people. And indeed, it is no small matter to see a people +willing in a good cause, for by nature we are unwilling, and +naturally we are not set to affect anything that is right, +except it be through hypocrisy. Our hearts they are +contrary to God; they are proud, disobedient, rebellious, +and he who sees and knows his own heart sees all this +to be in it; and he knows that it is the Lord who cries +upon him, in the day of His own power, and frames his +heart in a new mould, and makes it to be so nimble and +cheerful in any good work,—that albeit they had been +before running with all their speed to the devil, yet He makes +them to stand still in the way and look about them, and +consider what they have been doing, and then to turn about +again. Albeit thou were like to Paul, persecuting the +Church, yet He can then make a preacher of thee, and so +affright thee that thou sall not know where thou art, but +say, "Here am I, Lord:" and albeit thou were as unwilling +to go as the prophet Moses, yet He will make thee +to say, "Here am I, Lord, send me," and be as Elisha, +when Elias cuist (cast) his mantle about him, then he could +not stay any longer. And when Christ comes to Peter, +and calls upon them, they cannot stay any longer, but +incontinent they leave all and follows Him. I will not now +begin to make any large discourse of the invincible power +of God; I say no more of it now but only this for your +use. If ye kent this power of God, it would make you ready +and willing to give a confession to Him this day, and even +to confess Him before men, and to forsake all and follow +Him. Ye who are ignorant of the power of God, take heed +to this,—it is the Lord who commanded light to come out +of darkness, who must make you to see Christ; He who +takes His rod in His hand to beat down the hard and +humble the haughty heart, He must do this also. O if ye +felt this power of God, ye would think nothing to forsake +all and to follow Him. He has suffered more for us nor +we can suffer for Him; and if we suffered anything for +Him, He would not suffer any of us yet to be a loser at His +hand: but we cannot put Him to a trial.</p> + +<p>Now for this unwillingness of these people, it is well +expressed here. They are called a people of willingness. +And yet He thinks not this satisfactory, to call them a willing +people, but He calls them a people of willingness, a noble, +generous, high-minded people. And all this is to shew that +when the people of God is wakened up in the day of His +power, there is none who is able to express their willingness. +They are so willing that if they had a thousand minds they +would employ them all for Him, and if they had a thousand +faces, they would not let one of them look down, but they +would hold them all up for the Lord; if every hair in their +head were a man, they would employ them all in His +service. Their willingness, indeed, it cannot be expressed. +They cry to the Lord, because they think they cannot run +fast enough, "Draw me and I sail run after Thee:" they +are flying together, as the dowes does to the holes of the +rocks before a tempest come. In the Canticles, Christ says, +"My soul made Me as the chariots of My noble people;" +and, indeed, to see a people running through the land, to +meet together to keep communion with the Lord, this is the +best chariot that can be. And this willingness has been so +great at some times in the children of God that they have +fallen in a paroxysm, or like the fit of a fever, with it: as +it is Acts xvii. Paul's spirit was stirred in him, when he saw +the City of Athens given to so much base idolatry as to +worship the UNKNOWN GOD. And Lot, also, he had such a +fit as this; he vexed his righteous soul with the iniquities of +Sodom, that is, he tortured his soul with their sins, he never +saw them committing sin but it was a grief to him. And, +indeed, the children of God this while past have been grieved +and vexed to behold the sins that has been committed into +this same land. I insist upon this the rather because I would +wish from my heart that ye would be thus willing, and that +ye would be as forward for the glory and honour of God +as ever any was. And then, indeed, it should do good to +others also, when they should hear tell that the people of +St. Andrews were such a willing people. And, indeed, ye +have just reason to be willing now.</p> + +<p>1. Because it is God's cause ye have in hand, and it is +no new cause to us. It is almost sixty years old; it is no +less since this same Confession of Faith was first subscribed +and sworn to. And it has been still in use yearly to be +subscribed and sworn to in some parts, among some in this +land, to this day. And I think it would have been so in +all the parts of the land if men had dreamed of what was +coming upon us. Whatever is added to it at this time, it +is nothing but ane interpretation of the former part; and if +men will be willing to see the right, they may see that there +is nothing in the latter part but that whilk may be deduced +from the first. And in the making of a Covenant we +are not bound to keep only these same words that were +before, but we must renew it; and in the renewing thereof +we must apply it to the present time when it is renewed, as +we have done, renewed it against the present ills. For it is +not necessar for us to abjure Turkism or Paganism, because +we are not in fear to be troubled with that; but the thing +that we are in danger of is Papistry, and therefore we must +abjure that.</p> + +<p>2. A second reason to make you willing is, because this +matter concerns you in all things,—in your bodies, in your +estates, in your lives, your liberties, in your souls. I may +say, if in the Lord's providence this course had not been +taken, ye would have found the thraldom whereinto that +course, wherein ye were anes (once) going, would have +brought you to or (ere) now, even ye who are most averse +from it.</p> + +<p>3. A third reason to make you willing is, ye have the +precedency and testimony of the nobility in the land to it, +and of all sorts of persons, noblemen, barons, gentlemen, +burgesses, ministers, and commons; and wherefore, then, +should not ye be willing to follow their example? And +then, I may say, ye have the prayers of all the reformed +kirks in Europe for you, who have ever heard of the perturbations +that has been, and yet are, into this land. And, +moreover, beloved, whom have ye against you in this course? +All the atheists, all the papists, and all the profane rogues +in the country; they draw to that side, and it is only they +who hate this cause. And should not all these make you +willing to swear to it, and to hazard for it? And I may +say, if ye be but willing to hazard all that ye have, that +may be the heaviest distress that ever ye sall be put to. And +if so be that ye had been willing at first, the Lord would +have touched the king's heart, and made him willing also; +but because he is informed by some that the most part are +not willing, that is a great part of the cause why he is not +willing.</p> + +<p>The second property of God's people is holiness. "In +the beauties of holiness;" a speech that is borrowed from +the priest's garments under the law. Sometimes they were +broidered with gold, sometimes they were all white, especially +in the day of expiation. Not that ministers under the +New Testament should have such garments as these, for +these were representations to them, both of their inward +holiness and of their outward holiness, by (beyond) others; +but now all believers are priests as well as ministers are, and +therefore such garments as these are not necessar. Indeed, +if such garments as these had been necessar, then Christ +and His apostles had done great wrong to themselves, who +never used the like; and they had done great wrong to the +kirk also in not appointing such garments to be worn by +ministers. There be garments of glory in heaven, and +garments of grace in the earth; that party-coloured garment +spoken of in the Colossians, and this holiness whilk is +spoken of here. Concerning whilk we will mark two +things:—First, as people are a people of willingness in a +good cause, so they must also be a people of holiness, or +otherwise their willingness is only but for some worldly +respects: therefore, I would have you with willingness to put +on holiness. And, indeed, if we saw what holiness were, +we needed not to be persuaded to put it on, we would do +it willingly. For it has three parts in it—1. A purgation +from former filthiness. 2. A separation from the world. +If thou will be holy, then thou must be separate from the +world; thou must strive to keep thyself from those whose +garments are spotted with the flesh. 3. Holiness requires +devotion or dedication to the Lord. When there is +purgation from filthiness, separation from the world, and +dedication to the Lord, there there is holiness and nowhere +else.</p> + +<p>Now, is there any of you but ye are obleist (obliged) to +be holy? Ye say that ye are the people of the Lord. If +so be, then ye must have your inward man purged of sin, +and ye must stand at the stave's end against the corruptions +of the time, and ye must devote yourselves only to serve and +honour God. And your Covenant, that ye are to swear to +this day, oblishes you to this; and it requires nothing of +you but that whilk ye are bound to perform. And, therefore, +seeing this is required of you, purge yourselves within, +flee the corruptions of the time, eschew the society of those +whom ye see to be corrupt, and devote yourselves only to +the Lord. Yet this is not that we would obleish you to +perform everything punctually that the Lord requires of +you; there is none who can do that, but promise to the +Lord to do so, tell Him that ye have a desire to do so, and +join a resolution and a purpose, and say to Him, Lord, I +sall prease (earnestly endeavour) to do als far as I can. And, +indeed, there is no more in our covenant but this, that we +sall endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds of our +Christian liberty; and, albeit, none of you would swear to +this, ye are bound to it by your baptism. And, therefore, +think not that we are precisians, (or these who has set down +this covenant), seeing all of you are bound to do it.</p> + +<p>Secondly, "The <i>beauties</i> of holiness." Consider here +that as holiness is necessar for the saints of God, so all +God's courtiers they are full of beauty. God Himself is full +of beauty, and we have no power, beauty nor holiness but +in His power, beauty, and holiness. Holiness, it is the +beauty of the Son of God, Jesus Christ; and to Him it is +said in Esay, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty": and +the Holy Ghost has this style to be called Holy. And the +angels in heaven, they are clothed with holiness; and the +saints who are in heaven, this is the long white robes +wherewith they are clothed. And they who are begun to be +sanctified here, they strive to be more and more clad with +holiness. Beloved, I would have you to count this to be +your beauty, even holiness; for if ye have not this beauty, +then all your other beauty will degenerate in a bastard +beauty.</p> + +<p>Now follows the marvellous <i>multiplication</i> of thir people. +"From the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy +youth." The words are somewhat obscure even to the +learned ear, but look to the 133d Psalm, and there ye will +see a place to help to clear them. Always (however) observe +here, "from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew +of thy youth," that as in a May morning, when there is no +extremity of heat, the dew falls so thick that all the fields +are covered with it, and it falls in such a secret manner that +none sees it fall, so the Lord, in the day of His power, He +sall multiply His people, and He sall multiply them in a secret +manner; so that it is marvellous to the world, that once +there should seem to be so few or none of them, and then +incontinent He should make them to be through all estates.</p> + +<p>We have first to learn here, that the Kirk of God, she +has a morning; and in the morning the dew falls, and not +in the night, nor in the heat of the day. So it is not in the +night of defection, nor in the heat of the day of persecution, +when the Lord's people are multiplied, but it is in the +morning of the day. Beloved, I wish you may be a +discerning people, to know the Lord's seasons. Sall we be as +those, of whom our Saviour complains, who can discern the +face of the sky, but cannot discern the day of the Lord's +merciful and gracious visitation towards them? Men indeed +may be very learned and know things very well, and yet +in the meantime be but ignorant of this; for there are +sundry gifts bestowed upon men, and ilk are has not this +gift, to discern the Lord's merciful visitation. And therefore +happy are ye, albeit ye be not great in other gifts, if +so be that ye know this; for the Lord, He has some gifts +of His own bestowing allanerly (only), whilk He will bestow +upon the meanest, and yet He will deny them to the +proudest; even as the tops of the mountains, they will be +dry and have no dew, while as the valleys will be wet with +it. So those who exalts themselves high, and boasts +themselves of their other gifts, of their knowledge, learning, +experience, &c., the Lord will, for all that, ofttimes leave +them void of saving and sanctifying grace.</p> + +<p>"From the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of +thy youth." That is, as the dew is multiplied upon the +earth, so sall thy people be. This is are ordinar phrase in +Scripture. Hushai says to Absalom, "Convene the people +from Dan to Beersheba, and then we sall light upon David +as the dew lighteth upon the ground; and then there sall +not be left of him and of all the men that are with him so +much as one." And this phrase is well set down, Is. liv., +"Rejoice, O barren, and thou that didst not bear, break +forth into singing and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail +with child; for more are the children of the desolate than +the married wife." And therefore He uses this form of +speech, v. 2, "Enlarge thy tents, and let them stretch +the curtains of thy habitations; lengthen thy cords, and +strengthen thy stakes." And all these things are requisite +to be done when the people of God are multiplied thus.</p> + +<p>Let us observe here, if the Word of God continue in +this land, in the purity thereof, and the sacraments be +rightly administrate, the people of God will then multiply +exceedingly here. The chiefest city in this land, they are +forced to marvel where the people has been in former times +that are in it now, so that they cannot get kirks to contain +them. And they think, if the gospel continue in the purity +thereof, all the kirks that they are building, with the rest, +sall have enough ado to contain them. And it is a marvel +to consider how the Lord has multiplied His people, at this +time. This is not that we are to glory in multitudes, but +to let you see the great work of God, Who has multiplied +His people thus. And as it was at the beginning of the +plantation of the Christian religion, there was three thousand +converted at one preaching of the apostle, I will not say +that there has been three thousand converted at a preaching +here, but I may say this, that at one preaching there has +been some thousands wakened up, who had not been so for +a long time before. And will it not be a hard matter, +seeing that it is so, that Saint Andrews sall be as Gideon's +fleece; that all the kingdom about it sall be wet with the +dew of heaven, and it sall only be dry? Even so, will it +not be a shame, that all others sall be stirred up, and ye +not a whit stirred up in this day more than if there were +not such a thing? And, therefore, beloved, I would have +you to join yourselves with the rest of the people of God +in this cause.</p> + +<p>"Thy youth." That is, <i>thy young men</i>. Those that +are renewed by grace they are called young, albeit they +were never so old, because their age is not reckoned by +their first, but by their second birth. Ay, moreover, still +the older that the children of God grow in years, and the +weaker in the world, they grow younger and stronger in +grace. Secondly, they are called young, because of the +strength that they have to resist temptations. Before they +be renewed by grace and born again that way, they are like +bairns, that every temptation prevails with them; but then +they are as young men, who are able to resist temptations to +sin, so that sin gets not liberty to exercise dominion over them. +Thirdly, they are called young, because they will contend +with all their power and might for the faith. I would have +all of you to be young in these respects, and labour to get +ane evidence of your new birth by these, that ye are +growing in grace, gaining still more strength to resist +temptations, and by contending earnestly for the faith; even +be bold in this, especially in contending for the truth. +Strive for the truth, for, if ye anes lose it, ye will not get it so +easily again. And this same is the covenant of truth whilk +ye are to swear to; for as our Covenant is renewed, so also +it is exponed (explained) according as the exigencies of the +time requires, and it is applied to the present purpose.</p> + +<p>Beloved, I told you already that ye have no cause of +fear, for I avow and attest here before God, that what ye +do is not against authority, but for authority, let some men +who are wickedly disposed say what they will; but what +ye do is for authority. And I told you of the obligations +whereby authority are bound to this. And for the words +of it, because they are conceived in a terrible manner, ye +need not to stand in awe for this; and it were good that +ye should read them over again, and think upon this +wrath of God whilk we pray for to come upon us, if we do +intend anything against authority.</p> + +<p><i>Objection.</i> We have oblished ourselves by our subscription +already; what then needs us to obleish ourselves +over again by our oath? <i>Ans.</i> It's true, I grant, many of +you has subscribed it already, and so ye are bound; but +now ye are to swear also, that so through abundance of +bands to God ye may know yourselves to be the more +bound to Him. David says, I have purposed, I have +promised, I have sworn, and I sall perform Thy righteous +statutes. There be also here sundry Acts of Parliament, +that are all of them made within this same kingdom for the +maintainance of the true religion; and for thir, they speak +for themselves. And I would have these who say we do +anything against law and against our superiors, to see and +try if there be anything against them, and not all directly +for them.</p> + +<p>Beloved, I hope that it will not be necessar for us to +spend mickle time with you in removing of scruples. Good +things I know has over many objections against them from +the devil, the world, and our own ill hearts. And I know +some of them who are accounted the learnedst in the land, +have assayed their wits and used their pens to object against +this. But truly these who are judicious, they have +confessed that they have been greatly confirmed by that +whilk they have objected; and the reason of it was, because +they who were the most learned assayed themselves to see +what they could say, and yet when all was done, they had +nothing to say that was worth the hearing.</p> + +<p>For the first part of this Confession of faith, there is not +a word changed in it; and if so be that men had keeped +that part of it free of sinistrous glosses, and had applied it +according to the meaning of those who were the penners +thereof, there needed not to have such a thing ado as there +is now; but because they have put sinistrous glosses upon +it now and misapplied it, therefore it behoved to be +explained and applied to the present time.</p> + +<p>The first thing that ye swear to is, That with your whole +hearts ye agree and resolve, all the days of your life, +constantly to adhere unto and defend the true religion. +There is no scruple here. 2. That ye suspend and forbear +the practice of all novations already introduced in the +matters of the worship of God, or approbation of the corruptions +of the public government of the kirk, or civil places +and power of kirkmen, till they be tried and allowed in free +assemblies and in parliaments. Now, I know there be some +who make scruples here. How can we, say they, bind +ourselves to forbear the practice of that whilk Acts of +Assembly allows, and Acts of Parliament commands? <i>Ans.</i> +We do not herein condemn the Act as altogether unlawful, +whatever our judgment be of it, but this is all what we do. +Because such ills has followed upon these novations, therefore +we think it meet now to forbear the practice of them +till they be tried by Assembly and Parliament.</p> + +<p>And this is not a breach of the Act, when all is done. +Because the Act is not set down in the manner of a +command, but only as a counsel; for so the Act of the +pretended Assembly bears. The words is, "The Assemblie +thinks good," &c., "because all memory of superstition is +now past, therefore we may kneel at the communion." +Then, if there be any danger of superstition, by the very +words of the Act we may gather this, that we should not +kneel: and so they who practice now keep the letter of +the Act, but they who forbear keep the meaning thereof +more nearly than the practisers. 3. We promise and swear +against the Service-book, Book of Canons, and High Commission, +with all other innovations and ills contained in our +Supplications, Complaints, and Protestations. Now for the +Service-book, I find every one almost to be so inclined +willingly to quite (be done with) it. But let me attest your +own consciences, if it had gone on for a while, and been +read among you, as it was begun to be, if it had not been +as hard for you to have quat it as to quit the Articles of +Perth; and therefore, do not deceive yourselves, to let such +things be practised any more. It is a pitiful thing, that +those who are wise otherways should deceive themselves in +the matters of God's service and worship, and suffer others +to deceive them also. 4. Ye promise and swear, to the +uttermost of your power to stand to the defence of the +king's majesty, in the defence and preservation of true +religion: as also, every one of you to the mutual defence +of another in the same cause. Now there be a number +who says, that in this we come under rebellion against +the king, and we join in a combination against him, when +we join ourselves thus, every one for the defence of +another. I say no more of it but this. It is not disputed +here, ye see, whether it be lawful for subjects to take +up arms against their prince or not, whether in offence +or defence; but that we will maintain the true religion, and +resist all contrary corruptions, according to our vocation. +And every one of us oblishes ourselves for the defence of +another, only in maintaining the cause of true religion, +according to the laws and liberties of this kingdom. And +indeed, this is very reasonable to be done, albeit not asked +of; for when your neighbour's house is burning, ye will +not run to the king to speir (ask) if ye should help him or +not, before it come to your own; but ye will incontinent +put to your hand, both to help him, and to save your own +house. Ye may not say, neither, that because we may not +oppose against authority, that we may not oppose against +Papists or against Prelates; for that were to make ourselves +slaves to men. And the very law of nature binds every one +of us to help another, in a lawful manner, for a good cause. +5. Ye swear, because ye cannot look for a blessing from God +upon your proceedings, except that with your confession and +subscription ye join such a life as becomes Christians who +has renewed their covenant with God,—therefore ye promise +to endeavour at least, for yourselves and all that are under +you, to keep yourselves within the bounds of your Christian +liberty, and to be good ensamples to others in all godliness, +soberness, and righteousness, and of every duty we owe both +to God and man. And there is none who needs to skarre +(be frightened) at this; for we are not hereby to tie any to +the obedience of the law, but to the obedience of the Gospel: +and I am sure all are bound at least to please to (strive +after) this. And therefore I would have you to labour to +it; and when ye find that ye cannot get it done, then run +to Christ, and beseech Him to teach you to do it; and to +give you strength, according to His promise made in His +new covenant; and so ye sail give glory to God and get +good to your own souls. And, indeed, all of you are +obleist to amend your lives, and to live otherwise than ye +have done. And last of all, there is the <i>Attestation.</i></p> + +<p>Now, I hope all these things be so clear to you, that there +is not any scruple in any of your minds. And therefore, +that this work may be done aright, and may be accompanied +by the power of God, I would have all of you to bow your +knees before that great and dreadful Lord, and beseech +Him that He would send down the Holy Ghost, and the +power of His Spirit, to accompany the work, that so ye may +do it with all your hearts, to His glory and honour, and to +your comfort in Jesus Christ.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT5" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT5"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT:</h3> + +<h2>EXHORTATION AT INVERNESS.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY ANDREW CANT.</i><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h4> + + +<p>Long ago our gracious God was pleased to visit this nation +with the light of His glorious Gospel, by planting a vineyard +in, and making His glory to arise upon Scotland. A wonder! +that so great a God should shine on so base a soil! Nature +hath been a stepmother to us in comparison of those who +live under a hotter climate, as in a land like Goshen, or a +garden like Eden. But the Lord looks not as man: His +grace is most free, whereby it often pleaseth Him to +compense what is wanting in nature: whence upon Scotland +(a dark obscure island, inferior to many) the Lord did arise, +and discovered the tops of the mountains with such a clear +light, that in God's gracious dispensation, it is inferior to +none. How far other nations outstripped her in naturals, as +far did she out-go them in spirituals. Her pomp less, her +purity more: they had more of antichrist than she, she +more of Christ than they: in their reformation something +of the beast was reserved; in ours, not so much as a hoof. +When the Lord's ark was set up among them, Dagon fell, +and his neck brake, yet his stump was left; but with us, +stump and all was cast into the brook Kidron. Hence +king James his doxology in face of parliament, thanking +God who made him king in such a kirk that was far beyond +England (they having but an ill-said mass in English) yea, +beyond Geneva itself; for holy-days (one of the beast's +marks) are in part there retained, which (said he) to day are +with us quite abolished. Thus to a people sitting in +darkness, and in the shadow of death, light is sprung up. +Thus, in a manner, the stone that the builders refused is +become the head of the corner. The Lord's Anointed (to +whom the ends of the earth were given for a possession and +inheritance) came and took up house amongst us, strongly +established on two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, and well ordered +with the staves of beauty and bands, and borrowing nothing +from the border of Rome. Her foundation, walls, doors, +and windows were all adorned with carbuncles, sapphires, +emeralds, chrysolites, and precious stones out of the Lord's +own treasure. God Himself sat with His beauty and +ornaments therein, so that it was the praise and admiration +of the whole earth. Strangers and home-bred persons +wondered. Such was the glory, perfection, order, and unity +of this house, that the altar of Damascus could have no +peace, the Canaanite no rest, heresy no hatching, schism no +footing, Diotrephes no incoming, the papists no couching, +and Jezebel no fairding. Our church looked forth as the +morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as +an army with banners. Then God's tabernacle was amiable, +His glory filled the sanctuary, the clear fresh streams watered +the city of our God; the stoutest humbled themselves, and +were afraid. If an idiot entered the Lord's courts, so great +power sounded from Barnabas and Boanerges, the sons of +consolation and thunder, that they were forced to fall down +on their face, and cry, "This is Bethel, God is here."</p> + +<p>But alas! Satan envied our happiness, brake our ranks, +poisoned our fountains, mudded and defiled our streams; +and while the watchmen slept, the wicked one sowed his +tares: whence these divers years bygone, for ministerial +authority, we had lordly supremacy and pomp; for beauty, +fairding; for simplicity, whorish buskings; for sincerity, +mixtures; for zeal, a Laodicean temper; for doctrines, +men's precepts; for wholesome fruits, a medley of rites; +for feeders we had fleecers; for pastors, wolves and +impostors; for builders of Jerusalem, rebuilders of Jericho; +for unity, rents; for progress, defection. Truth is fallen in +the streets, our dignity is gone, our credit lost, our crown +is fallen from our heads; our reputation is turned to +imputation: before God and man we justly deserve the +censure of the degenerate vine; a backsliding people, an +apostate perjured nation, by our breaking a blessed +covenant so solemnly sworn.</p> + +<p>Yet, behold! when this should have been our doom, +when all was almost gone, when we were down the hill, +when the pit's mouth was opened, and we were at the +falling in, and at the very shaking hands with Rome; the +Lord, strong and gracious, pitied us, looked on us, and +cried, saying, "Return, return, ye backsliding people; +come, and I will heal your backslidings." The Lord hath +been so saving, and the cry so quickening, that almost all +of all ranks, from all quarters and corners, are awakened and +on foot, meeting and answering the Lord, saying, "Behold +we come unto Thee, for Thou art the Lord our God, other +lords besides Thee have had dominion over us, but by +Thee only will we make mention of Thy name." All are +wondering at the turn, and looking like them that dream, +and are singing and saying, "Blessed be the Lord who hath +not given us for a prey to their teeth; our souls are escaped +as a bird out of the snare of the fowler, the snare is broken, +and we are escaped: our help is in the name of the Lord +who made the heaven and the earth." Who thought to +have seen such a sudden change in Scotland, when all +second causes were posting a contrary course? when proud +men were boasting and saying, "Bow down that we may go +over;" and we laid our "bodies as the ground, and as the +streets to them that went over." But now, behold one of +God's wonders! So many of all ranks taking the honour +and cause of Christ to heart; all unanimously, harmoniously +and legally conjoined as one man in supplications, protestations +and declarations against innovations and innovators, +corruptions and corrupters. Behold and wonder! That +old covenant (once and again solemnly sworn and perfidiously +violated) is now again happily renewed, with such +solemnity, harmony, oaths and subscriptions, that I dare +say, this hath been more real and true in thee, O Scotland, +these few weeks bygone, than for the space of thirty years +before. I know Pashurs that went to smite Jeremiahs, are +become at this work Magor-missabib, terror round about; +Zedekiahs that went to smite Micaiahs, seek now an inner +chamber to hide themselves. Tobiah and Sanballat gnaw +their tongues, laugh and despise us, saying, "What is this +ye do? Will ye rebel against the king? Will ye fortify +yourselves? Will ye make an end in a day? Will ye +remove the stones out of the heaps of rubbish that is +burnt?" Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and +the rest of their companions, cease not to fill the ears of a +gracious prince with prejudice, saying, "Be it known to +thee, O king, if this city be built, and the walls thereof set +up again, that they will not pay toll, tribute or custom." +But to these we answer, "Let the king live, and let all his +enemies be confounded, let all that seek his damnation be +put to shame here and henceforth: but as for you, ye are +strangers, meddle not with the joy of God's people; ye +have no portion, right, nor memorial in God's Jerusalem." +If the begun work vex them, it is no wonder; it does +prognosticate the ruin of their kingdom, and that Haman, +who hath begun to fall before the seed of the Jews, +shall fall totally: the Lord is about to prune His vineyard, +and to drive out the foxes that eat the tender grapes; to +pluck up bastard plants, and to whip buyers and sellers out +of the temple. The Lord is about to strike the Gehazis +with leprosy, and to bring low the Simon Maguses who +were so high lifted up by Satan's ministry. The Lord is +calling the great ones to put too their shoulder, and help +His work; He hath been in the south, saying, "Keep not +back," and blessed be God, they have not. He hath now +sent to the north, saying, "Give up, bring My sons from +afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth:" +contend for the faith once delivered to Scotland.</p> + +<p>There is one Lord, one faith, one cause that concerns +all. Though this north climate be cold, I hope your hearts +are not, at least they should not be. The earth is the +Lord's and its fulness, the world and they that dwell +therein; the uttermost parts of the earth are given to Christ +for a possession; His dominion is from sea to sea, and +from the river to the ends of the earth. Come then, and +kiss the Son; count it your greatest honour to honour +Christ, and to lend His fallen truths a lift; come and help +to build the old wastes, that ye may be called the repairers +of the breach; and then shall all generations call you +blessed; then shall God build up your houses, as He did +to the Egyptian midwives, for their fearing God, and for +their friendship to His people Israel. Be not like the +nobles of Tekoa, of whom Nehemiah complained, that they +would not put their necks to the work of the Lord. Be +not like Meroz, whom the angel of the Lord cursed bitterly, +for not coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. +Neither be ye like these mockers and scorners, at the +renewing of the Lord's covenant in Hezekiah's days, but +rather like those whose hearts the Lord humbled and +moved. Be not like those invited to the king's supper, +who refused to come, and had miserable excuses, and +therefore should not taste of it. We hope better things of +you; God hath reserved and advanced you for a better +time and use: but if ye draw back, keep silence, and hold +your peace, God shall bring deliverance and enlargement to +His church another way; but God save you from the +sequel. Nothing is craved of you but what is for God and +the king; for Christ's honour, and the kirk's good, and the +kingdom's peace. God give to your hearts courage, wisdom +and resolution for God and the king, and for Christ and +His truths. <i>Amen.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT6" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANT6"></a><b>THE NATIONAL COVENANT</b></h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT GLASGOW.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></span></h2> + +<h4><i>By ANDREW CANT.</i></h4> + +<p class="center">"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who<br/> +made a marriage for his son: and he sent forth his servants<br/> +to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they<br/> +would not come," etc.—<i>Matt</i>. xxii. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.</p> + + +<p>I purpose not to handle this parable punctually, because it +stands not with the nature of a parable, neither will the time +suffer me so to do.</p> + +<p>The parable runs upon an evident declaration and clear +manifestation of God's sweetest mercies, in offering the +marriage of His Son, His own Son, His well-beloved Son, +the Son of His love, the Son of His bosom, the Son as good +as the Father, the Son as great and as glorious as the +Father, the Son whose generation none can declare. The +Father offers this His Son in marriage: 1. To the Jews, as +you have in the first seven verses of the parable. 2. To the +Gentiles, in the rest of the parable.</p> + +<p>1. To the Jews, not because of their worthiness; "But +even so, O Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." +This offer was the effect of no merit, neither of congruity nor +of condignity in the Jews; for they were like that wretched +and menstruous infant, Ezek. xvi. 3, 4, unswaddled, unwashen, +uncleansed, "lying in its blood, its navel not cut, nor salted +at all, nor swaddled at all, cast out in the open field, having +no eye to pity it."</p> + +<p>2. As for the Gentiles, ye may see what case they were in, +if ye read this same parable, Luke xiv. 20. "Go ye out into +the streets and lanes of the city, and call the poor, the lame, +blind and maimed," etc. Some were cripple, some poor and +blind, and withered, and miserable, and naked, and leper, +unworthy to come to our Lord's gates, let be to have +them opened wide to us; unworthy to be set down at His +table, let be to be admitted to His royal marriage feast, and +to get Christ our Lord to be our match, and to be the food +and cheer of our souls: and therefore let all souls, let all +pulpits, let all schools, let all universities, let all men, let all +women, let all Christians cry, grace, grace, grace, praise, +praise, praise, blessing, blessing, for evermore to the Lord's +free grace. Fy, fy, upon the man; fy, fy, upon the woman, +that is an enemy to the Lord's free grace. The fullest, and +the fairest, and the freest thing in heaven or earth is the free +grace of God, to our poor souls: "Not unto us, O Lord, +not unto us, but unto Thy name be the glory."</p> + +<p>At another occasion I handled the parable after a more +general manner, and propounded these points unto you: 1. Who +was this great king? 2. Who was the Son of this great +king?</p> + +<p>1. This great King is God Himself, "the King of kings, +and Lord of lords." Then for the Lord's sake, stand in awe +of Him, love Him and fear Him. And I charge you all here +before that great and dreadful Lord, that ye humble +yourselves under His mighty hand, and that ye prostrate +and submit yourselves under His almighty hand, and come +away as ye promised. Kiss the Son, and embrace Him, +and then shall wrath be holden off you; and a shower of +God's mercy shall come down upon you. Then the King +is God.</p> + +<p>2. The King's Son is Christ. Then there follows a dinner, +"I have prepared my dinner." Yea, I have a supper also, +for Luke says, He "prepared a great supper." I told you in +what respects it is great. 1. I told you it was great in +respect of the author of it, God. 2. I told you it was great +in respect of the matter of it. Ye know the matter of it, as +holy Scripture tells. Whiles it gets base, silly, simple names, +and is delineated and expressed under common terms: but +the most common term it gets is so considerable that our +case would not be good if it were wanting. Whiles 'tis +called "a feast of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the +lees well refined." Whiles it is called "gold." Whiles it is +called "fatlings, and a fatted and fed calf." Whiles 'tis +"honey and milk." Whiles it is called "oil and wine." +Whiles it is called the "bread of life." In a word, to tell you +what this feast is, it is this Christ and all His saving graces +freely given to thy soul. Then, 3. It is great in respect of +the manner of its preparation: I confess, this feast, though +prepared in silver, is often administered in earthen vessels, +and clay dishes: and, though it be mingled with butter and +honey, yet this makes the natural man, when he looks upon +it, not to think much of it, because he looks on the outside +of it only. But would to God your eyes were opened to see +the inside of it, and not to be like proud Naaman, who said, +"What better is this water of Jordan than the water of +Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus?" As some say, +What better is this feast than the feast we have at home? +As the man of God prayed for his servant, "Lord, open his +eyes that he may see;" and the Lord opened his eyes, and +he saw another sight, even the mountain full of horses and +flaming chariots of fire; so, I pray the Lord open all your +eyes, that ye may see the many differences between this +feast and all other feasts; for other feasts are but feasts for +the body, and they are but feasts for the belly; an Esau +may have them, a reprobate may feed upon them. These +are nothing else but the swine's husks, whereon the prodigal +fed for a time, and scarce could get them; but when he +came back again to his father's house, then he fed upon the +fatted calf; and then he got a feast, and then was there +plenty, then did his well run over, then was his cup to the +brim, and overflowing. O that ye knew your Father's +house, and the fatness, the fulness, the feast, and the plenty +that are there, ye would all hunger after it, and would then +say, alas! I have been feeding on husks too long, "now will +I arise and go to my father's house, where there is bread +enough." All the Lord's steps drop plenty and fatness. +4. I told you that this supper is a great feast in respect of +the great number that are called unto it. The poorest +thing in all the land is called unto it: the Jews are called, +the Gentiles are called, yea the poorest thing that is hearing +me is called; such as a great man would not look on, but +he would close the gates on such an one; a great man +would not deign himself to look on them in his kitchen; +yet come ye away to this feast, the King of kings has His +house open, and His gates patent, He has a ready feast, and +a room house, and fair open gates, and every body shall be +welcome that will come. "Whosoever thirsts; let him +come, and take of the water of life freely." And now +through all the nooks and corners of this kingdom of +Scotland, Christ is sending out His servants, and I am sent +out unto you this day, crying unto you, "Come away, His +oxen and fatlings are killed, His wine is drawn, and His +table furnished, and all things ready." 5. I told you it was +a great feast, in respect of the place where it is kept. +There are two dining-rooms:—(1) A dining-room above. +(2) A dining-room below. A dining-room above, that is +a high dining-room, that is a fair house, that is a trim +place. O the rivers of the Lord's consolations that run +there: I confess, in this lower dining-room of the church, +the waters come first to the ankles, then to the mid-leg, +then to the knees, then to the thigh, and then past wading; +but then shall ye get fulness, when ye come up to that dining-room. +And when ye come there, there shall be no more +hunger, no more thirst, there shall be no more scant nor +want, nor any more sour sauce in your feasts, neither any +more sadness, nor sorrowful days; but eat your fill, and +drink your fill. And many shall come from the east, and +from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and +shall sit down at the royal and rare covered table, with +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and get their fill to their +hungered—"When I awake (says David) I shall be filled +with Thy likeness." Poor soul, thou canst never get thy fill; +I wish to God thou got a sop and a drop to set thee by +till then. Indeed, if thou hadst a vessel, thou shouldst get +thy fair fill even in this life. And I dare say, if thou wouldst +seek, and seek on, and seek instantly, the Lord would one +day or other make thee drink of the new wine of the +gospel; He would give thee a draught, a fair draught, a +fill, a fair fill of the wine of His consolation, He would +make you suck the milk at the breasts of His consolation; +but He will aye keep the best wine hindmost, as He did at +the marriage of Cana. Therefore, poor thing, lift up thy head, +and gather thy heart; ere it be long thou shalt get a draught +of the best wine in thy Father's house, where there are many +mansions, and many dwelling-places. "I go (says Christ) +to prepare a place for you:" and He will come again, and +receive you to Himself, where ye shall drink abundantly of +the new wine of the gospel. <i>Lastly</i>, This supper is a great +one in respect of the continuance of it; it lasts not for one +day, but for ever; it lasts not for a hundred and four-score +days, but for ever, and evermore. Poor thing, who possibly +gets some blyth morning blinks in upon thy soul, and +possibly gets a taste of this cup in the morning, and long +ere even thou art hungering and thirsting again, and thou +wots not where to meet thy Lord, and all the thing thou +hast gotten is forgotten; in the day that He shall come, +then thou shalt feast constantly and continually in thy +Father's house, where thou shalt never want thy arms full, +thou shalt never want thy Lord out of thy sight, neither shall +thy Lord ever want thee, but He shall ever be with thee, +and thou with Him; thou shalt follow the Lamb whithersoever +He goes.</p> + +<p>"Behold I have prepared my dinner." All this feast +was for a marriage; and here is a wonder, a world's +wonder, a behold, which notes divers things: 1. Behold +it for an admiration. 2. Behold it for an excitation. 3. +Behold it for consolation. 4. Behold it for instruction. +Behold, and be awakened; behold, and be excited; behold, +and be comforted; behold, and admire; behold, and wonder, +that the King of heaven's Son will marry your soul! +Then behold, and come away to your own marriage; +behold, lost man shall get a Saviour, behold, the King's +Son will be a Saviour to a slave; behold, the King's Son +will drink the potion, and the sick shall get health; behold, +the King's Son will marry Himself upon thee! "I will +marry thee unto Me in faith and in righteousness." "Thou +that was a widow and reproached," like a poor widow that +has many foes, but few friends; yet, says the Lord, "Thou +shalt not remember the reproach of thy widow-hood any +more." Then behold, and come away to the marriage. Now, +"Who are these that are invited to the marriage?" I told +you, 1. The Jews are invited. 2. The Gentiles are invited; +yea, you are invited; I thank the bridegroom you are invited; +I shall bear witness of it, when I am gone from you, you are +invited. And I thank the Lord, I have more to bear witness +of; yea, that which comforts my soul, by all appearance +the greatest part of you are come in, and by all good +appearance ye have the wedding garment. I hope God has +a people among you; this I shall bear witness of, when I +am gone from among you; the greatest part has lent an ear; +the Lord bear it in upon your hearts with His own blessed +preference.</p> + +<p>1. "He sent His servants forth." He gives many a cry +Himself, and many a shout Himself. Is not that one of +God's cries, "Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and +laden, and I will ease you." O but that is a sweet word, +thou art a weary thing, with a sore load of sin upon the +neck of thy soul, and thou art like to sink under it, and +art crying, what will come of thee? He is bidding thee +come away, and get a drink of the marriage-wine to cheer +thy fainting spirit; and if thou be weary, He shall ease +thee.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> Alas! Sin hinders me, that I cannot come; sin is +so black and ugly upon me, and so heavy, that I cannot +come. <i>Ans.</i> "Come (says the Lord) I will reason with +you," that is, I will have your faults discovered, and I will +have you convicted of your faults; but when I have +reasoned with you, will I cast you away? Nay, but though +your sins were red as "crimson, they shall be made white +as snow or wool."</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> 2. Alas! but my sins are many, how can the +Lord look upon me or pardon me? <i>Ans.</i> "Let the +wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his +thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He +will abundantly pardon; for My ways are not your ways, +neither My thoughts your thoughts; but as the heaven +is high above the earth, so are My thoughts, (in pardoning) +higher nor yours" (in sinning). Come away, poor +thing, then, and get thy heart full of mercy; and because +such a fair offer is hard to be laid hold on, therefore +He goes to the market-cross, like an herald with a great O +yes, that all men there may be awakened. It is not little +that will awaken sleeping sinners, therefore He puts too an +O yes. "Ho, come every one that thirsteth, buy wine and +milk without money, and without price. Why do ye spend +your money for nought?" Ye have spent your strength +too long in vain; ye have been feeding on husks too long; +ye have forsaken mercy and embraced vanity too long. +Come away, and He "will make an everlasting covenant +with you, even the sure mercies of David."</p> + +<p>2. "He sent forth His servants." This is a great wonder, +that He calls on His servants, and sends them to them; +this is wonderful! He stood not on compliments, who +should be first in the play: ye would never have sought +Him, if He had not sought you; ye would never have +loved Him, if He had not loved you with the love of +Christ. I would say a comfortable word to a poor soul; is +there any soul in this house this day, that has chosen the +Lord for the love and delight of his soul? Thou wouldst +never have chosen Him, if that loving and gracious God +had not chosen thee. Is there any soul in this house this +day, that is filled with the love of Christ? Thou wouldst +never have loved Him if He had not loved thee first. Is +there any soul that is seeking unto Him in earnest? Be +comforted, He is seeking thee, and hast found thee, and +gart thee seek Him. I might produce scripture for all +these, but the points are plain.</p> + +<p>3. Lo, a greater wonder! "He sent forth His servants." +Ye would think, if any had wronged you, it were their part +to seek you, and not yours to seek them; or if any baser +than another had done a wrong, it beseemed him to be the +most careful to take pains, and seek to him whom he had +wronged. But behold here a wonder! The great God +seeking base man! the offended God seeking offending +man! And is this because He has need of you? Nay, +canst thou be a party for Him? Canst thou hold the field +against Him? Nay, "Shall the thing formed say to Him +that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?" Shall the +crawling worm and the pickle of small dust fight against +the King of kings? Art thou able to stand out against +Him, or pitch any field against Him? Nay, I tell thee, O +man, there is not a pickle of hair in thy head, but if God +arise in anger, He can cause it seem a devil unto thee, and +every nail of thy fingers, to be a torment of hell against +thee. O Lord of hosts, and King of kings, who can stand +out against Thee? And yet thou hast offended Him, and +run away from Him, and miskent Him, and transgressed +all His commandments, and hell, and wrath, and judgment +is thy portion which thou deservest, and yet the Lord is +sending out His servants, to see if they can make an agreement. +Then, for God's sake, think on this wonder: for all +this text is full of wonders, all God's works are indeed full +of wonders, but this is the wonder of wonders. We then +are God's ambassadors, I beseech you to be reconciled to +God. Should not ye have sought unto Him first, with +ropes about your necks, with sackcloth upon your loins, +and with tears in your eyes? Should not ye have lain at +His door, and scraped, if ye could not knock? And yet +the Lord hath sent me to you, and our faithful men about +here, crying, Come away to the marriage: Come away, I +will renew My contract with you; I will not give you a bill +of divorcement, but I will give My Son to you; and your +souls that are black and blae, I will make them beautiful. +Behold yet another wonder! When He has sent out other +servants, and they got a nay-say; yet He will not take a +nay-say. Ye know a good neighbour, when he has +prepared a dinner for another of his neighbours, sends out +his servants, intimating that all things are ready, the table +is covered, and dishes set on; if once warned, he refuses, +he might well send once or twice to him, but at last he +would take a displeasure, and not send again: but behold a +wonder! He sends out His servants, in the plural number. +But behold a great wonder! After one servant is abused, +He sends out others, and when they are slain, and spitefully +used by these who should have followed their call, and +come in; what does the Lord? Read the chapter before, +and ye shall see a great wonder; "He sent out His own +SON:" when Moses cannot do it, when the prophets +cannot do it, when John the Baptist cannot do it; well, +says the Lord, I will see if My Son can do it; I have not +a Son but one, and that is the Son of My love, and I +will make Him a man, and send Him down among +them, and see how they will treat Him: and when He +comes, they cry out, "There is the heir, let us kill him." +But behold a greater wonder! That after these servants +are abused, and spitefully handled; and after the Son Himself +is come, and has drunken of the same cup, after He +has died a shameful death, and after they had put their +hands on the heir; yet, when all is done, the Lord sends +servants upon servants, preachers upon preachers, apostles +upon apostles to call in the people of the Jews, to see if +they will marry His Son. Then behold and wonder at all +these wonders! and let all knees bow down before God. +Lord stamp your hearts with this word of God: God grant +you could be kind to Him, as He has been kind to you, +and testified the same, by putting salve to your soul, and +bringing it into the wedding.</p> + +<p>"He sent forth His servants." We may learn from this, +that we who are the brethren in the ministry must be +servants, and not lords. I wish at my heart, that we knew +what we are, and that we knew our calling, and what we +have gotten in trust; for we serve the best Master in the +world; but I'll tell you He is the strictest Master that can +be. I'll tell thee, O minister, and I speak it to thee with +reverence, and I speak it to myself, There is a day coming, +when thou must answer to God for what thou has got in +charge, thou must answer to God for all the talents thou +hast got, whether ten or two; for all have not got alike. +But, dear brethren, happy is the man, if he had but one +talent, that puts it out for his Lord's use; and Lord be +thanked, that He will seek no more of me than He has +given me. There are many things to discourage a faithful +minister; but yet this may encourage us, that we serve the +best Master, and that is a sure recompence of reward that is +abiding us. Indeed He has not sent us out to seek ourselves, +or to get gain to ourselves, He has not sent us out +to woo a bride to ourselves, or to woo home the lord to our +own bosom only: but He has sent us to woo a bride, and to +deck and trim a spouse for our Lord and Master. And ye +that are ministers of Glasgow ye shall all be challenged +upon this; whether or not ye have laboured to woo and +trim a bride for your Lord: but I know that you will be +careful to present your flocks as a chaste spouse to Him. +And we also that are ministers in landwart, we are sent out +for this errand, it matters not what part of the world we be +in, if we do our Master's service; and the day is coming +when thou must answer to God for thy parish, whether thou +hast laboured to present it as a chaste spouse to Christ. It +may gar the soul of the faithful minister leap for joy, when +he remembers the day of His Majesty's faithful meeting and +his, when he shall give up his accounts, and then it shall be +seen who has employed his talent well: then shall He say, +"Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been +faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many +things; enter thou into thy Master's joy." Or rather "Let +thy Master's joy enter into thee, and take and fill thy soul +with it." Many a sad heart has a faithful watchman; but +there is a day coming when he shall get a joyful heart. +But for whom especially is this joy reserved? It is even for +those "who convert many to righteousness; they shall shine +like the stars in the firmament, in the kingdom of their +Father." It is plain this belongs not to thee, O faithless +watchman. What hast thou been doing? Busking a bride +for thyself? Busking a bride for the Pope of Rome, the +bishop of Rome, even for antichrist? becking and bingeing +to this table and that altar, bringing in the tapistry of antichristian +hangings, and endeavouring to set the crown on +another man's head, nor Christ's? But thou that wilt not +set on the crown on His head, and labour to hold it on, +thou O preacher, the vengeance of God shall come upon +thee, the blood of souls shall be upon thee. Many a kirk-man +eats blood, and drinks blood; Lord deliver our souls +from blood-guiltiness. Dear brethren, let us repent, let us +repent: I trow we have been all in the wrong to the Bridegroom; +shame shall be upon thee that thinks shame to +repent. I charge you all, before the timber and stones of +this house, and before that same day-light that ye behold, +and that under no less pain nor the loss of the salvation of +your souls, that ye wrong not the Bridegroom nor his bride +any more. But we come to our point:</p> + +<p>We are servants and not lords. I see never a word in +this text, nay, nor in all the scripture that the Master of the +feast sent out lords to woo home his bride; He "sent out +His servants," but not His lords. Read all the Bible from +the beginning to the ending, you shall not find it. Daft +men may dispute, and by respect may carry it away; but +read all the Old and New Testament both, and let me see +if ever this lord prelate, or that lord bishop, was sent to woo +home his bride.</p> + +<p><i>Object</i>. 1. We have our prerogative from Aaron, from +Moses, from the apostles, from Timothy. <i>Ans</i>. I trow ye +be like bastard bairns that can find no father. So they +shall never be able to get a father, for man has set them up, +and man is their father.</p> + +<p><i>Object</i>. 2. Find we not the name of bishop under the +New Testament? <i>Ans</i>. Yes; but not the bishop of a +diocese, such as my Lord Glasgow, and my Lord St. +Andrew's; but we find a pastor or a bishop over a flock. +It is a wonderful matter to me, that men should think +to reason this way; for in the Old Testament there +is not an office, nor an office-bearer, but is distinctly +determined in the making of the tabernacle; there is +not a tackle, nor the quantity of it, not a curtain, nor +the colour thereof, not a snuffer, nor a candlestick, nor +a besom that sweeps away the filth, nor an ash-pan that +keepeth the ashes, but all are particularly set down; yet, ye +will not get a bishop, nor an archbishop, nor this metropolitan, +nor that great and cathedral man, no not within all +the Bible. The Lord pity them; for indeed I think them +objects of pity, rather than of malice. Christ is a perfect +king, and a perfect prophet. Thou canst never own Him +to be a perfect priest and king, that denies Him to be +perfect prophet; and a perfect prophet He can never be, +except He has set down all the offices and office-bearers +requisite for the government of His house; but so has He +done, therefore is He perfect.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> 3. But they will call themselves servants. <i>Ans.</i> 1. +The fox may catch a while the sheep, and the Pope may call +himself <i>servus servorum</i>, the servant of servants: and they +will call themselves brethren, when they write to us; +but they will take it very highly and hardly, if we call +them brethren, when we write back to them again: but men +shall be known by their fruits, and by their works, to be +what they are, and not what they call themselves. But if +they will be called servants and yet remain lords, let them +take heed that they be not such servants, as cursed Canaan +was, "a servant of servants shall he be." Take heed that +they be not serving men's wrath and vengeance, and not +servants "by the grace of God, and by the mercy of God," +as they style themselves. 2. Let them take heed that they +be not such servants as Gehazi was; he was a false servant, +he ran away after the courtier Naaman, seeking gifts, and +said his master sent him, when (God knows) his master sent +him not; at the time he should have been praying to the +Lord, to help his poor kirk and comfort her; the curse and +vengeance of God came upon him, and he was stricken with +leprosy for his pains; such servants are these men who now +sit down on their cathedral nests, labouring to make +themselves great like Gehazi: let them take heed that their +hinder end be not like his. 3. Let them take heed that they +be not such servants as Ziba was to Mephibosheth, who not +only took away what was his by right, but also went to the +king with ill tales of poor cripple Mephibosheth: such +servants are these who not only rob the church of her +privileges and liberties, but also run up to the king with lies +and ill tales of poor Mephibosheth, the cripple kirk of +Scotland. 4. Let them take heed that they be not such +servants as Judas was, an evil servant indeed; he sold his +Master for gain, as ill servants do. Or like these that strike +the bairns when they are not doing any fault: and they are +ill servants who busk their master's spouse with antichrist's +busking. Wo unto them, and the man who is the head of +their kirk, whose cross and trumpery they would put on the +Lord's chaste spouse. But if they will call themselves +servants, and yet remain lords, let them take heed that they +be not of this category that I have reckoned up. The Lord +make us faithful servants, and the Lord rid His house of +them.</p> + +<p>Time will not suffer me to go through the rest of the text, +only I will take a glance of some things which make for your +use at this time.</p> + +<p><i>Quest.</i> How are their servants treated? <i>Ans.</i> Some +of them get <i>nolumus</i> upon the back of their bill: some +of them are beaten, and spitefully used and slain. Dear +hearts, know ye not how Moses was used? how Aaron +and Jeremiah, &c., were used? how Zechariah was +slain between the porch and the altar? how Jeremiah was +smitten; and he that did it, got his name changed into +Magor Missabib, <i>terror round about</i>? Know ye not that +Zedekiah struck Micaiah; and how his threatenings against +him came to pass? Always we may learn from this, that +the Lord's best servants have been, and will be abused, and +spitefully used? This is a great sin lying upon Scotland, +England and Ireland. Many faithful servants in the three +kingdoms have been spitefully used; their cheeks burnt, +their noses ript up, their faces marked; some of them put +into a stinking prison, where they had not an hour's health, +and many of them rugged from their flocks, and their flocks +from them. Look over to the kingdom of Ireland, the +many desolate congregations that are there; many a dear +one there, that would have had a blyth soul, to have had +your last Sunday, or seen it, or to have assurance of such a +day before they come into Heaven. Pray for the peace of +Zion, and pity those poor things who would be content to +go from one sea-bank to the other, to be in your place +to-day. And truly the blood of these poor things is crying +for vengeance to light where it should light; for the blame +lies upon none but the proud prelates. If I would pose +you with this question, as you will answer to God, Who have +been the instruments of all this mischief? I am sure the +most ignorant among you can answer, None but the proud +beasts the prelates. The Lord give them repentance.</p> + +<p>I know not how you have handled your pastors in this town, +because I am but a stranger; but trow ye that two silly men +that came among you can do any thing, if your own pastors +had not laid the foundations: but, for God's sake, honour and +respect your pastors, I mean those of them that keep the +covenant of Levi. And ye that have broken it, and will not +come to renew it again, shame and dishonour will be upon +you for evermore. I have my message from the 2nd of +Malachi, "I will pour contempt upon them who have broken +the covenant of Levi." Therefore let pastors and people +enter both within this covenant; for it is the sweetest thing +in the world, to see pastors and a people going one way. +Therefore come away all of you unto the wedding, come +and subscribe the contract, put your heart and hand to it. +Blessed be God for what already ye have done.</p> + +<p>Some of the servants got a nay-say, and some of them +were beaten; hence we learn, that every minister will not be +beaten, nor will get the stroke to keep; but if a minister get +a nay-say, it will make him as sad as if he had gotten sore +strokes. If a minister get a nay-say that has been travailing +these many years in the ministry, and yet cannot get one +soul brought unto the Lord, that will make him as sad as +sore strokes will do. When an honest minister has laboured +many years painfully in the sweat of his brows, and has +never had another tune, but, Come away, come away unto +the marriage; and when he walks among them, and sees +never one coming in, nor never one that has on the wedding +garment, what will be the complaint of the poor man? +O then he will cry out with Isaiah, "Lord, who believes my +report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been made +naked? Lord, I have laboured in vain, and spent my +strength for nought." What will come of me, after so many +years' travail in the ministry? I have not brought forth one +child. The Lord forbid that ye our people break your +ministers' hearts. And as for you, brethren, be more +watchful over your flocks, be more busy in catechising and +exhorting them. And urge the duty of the covenant upon +them, and when they are on foot, hold them going; lead +them to the fountain and cock-eye. Lead them to the +well-spring; and make meikle of them; feed the Lord's +lambs, as Christ said to Peter, "If thou lovest Me, feed My +sheep; lovest thou Me? I say, feed My sheep." Minister, +lovest thou me? feed my bais'd sheep: lovest thou me? +feed my lambs. You must be feeders, and not fleecers; +pastors, but not wolves; builders, but not destroyers; and +come away, and help up the broken-down wall of Jerusalem. +For if one of you can bring timber here, another bring +mortar, a third bring stones, and make up a slap in Zion; +and I hope we that came here shall go home with blyth +news to our congregations, that we cannot say we have got a +cold welcome; so I hope ye will think it your greatest comfort, +and your greatest credit also. Venture in covenant with +God, and whosoever thou be, that wilt not enter in covenant, +we will have thy name, and we will pour out our complaints +before God for thee; for we that are ministers must be +faithful to our Master; and I take you all to witness, that +we have discharged our commission faithfully; and I hope +the blessing of the Lord shall be upon them that have given +us an invitation of this kind: and it may be your greatest +comfort, that now ye may go homely unto the Lord, being +formerly in covenant with Him; and your greatest credit +also, for ye never got such a credit, as to lend your Master's +honour a lift. We come to the excuses.</p> + +<p>"But they went their way, one to his farm, and another +to his merchandise." Luke is more large in this, and saith, +"I have bought a piece of ground, and must needs go +see it;" another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, +and I go to prove them;" and the third said, "I have +married a wife and therefore I cannot come." 1. We learn +here, that never a man refuses Christ but from some +by-respects, such as a farm, oxen, and marriage. I never +saw a man staying back from the covenant, but from +some by-respects; either some respect to the world, or to +men, or to the court, or such bastard by-respects to some +statesmen, or to a prelate, or to the King himself, who, we +trust, ere it be long, shall think them the honestest men that +came in soonest; therefore cast away all by-respects. The +apostle John includes their excuses under three different +expressions, "The pride of life," including the farm; "The +lust of the heart," including the merchandise; and "The lust +of the flesh," including the marriage. Therefore let every +soul that would love and follow Christ, deny himself, and lay +aside excuses. Deny thy own wit, will, and vanities, and +lay aside all by-respects, and I shall warrand thou shalt +come running, and get Christ in thy arms. 2. Is it a +respect to prelacy that hinders thee, O Scotland? cursed be +the day that ever they were born. 3. Is it a respect to the +novations already come into Scotland? I may say cursed +be these brats of Babel. It had been best to have rent +them at the beginning, for many woful days have they +brought on, and woful divisions have they brought in, and +woful backslidings have they occasioned. Therefore away +with these by-respects. 4. Is it a respect to the king? +The Lord bless our king. Says not the covenant enough for +the maintenance of the king? As for the word which they call +combinations, it reserves always the honour of God, and the +honour of the king; protesting, that we mind nothing that +may tend to the diminution of the king's greatness and +authority. Yea, I know no other means under heaven to +make many loyal subjects, but by renewing our covenant.</p> + +<p>I would have had the men that made these excuses +framing them another way; I would have had him that +married the wife, saying, My wife has married me; and he +that bought his oxen, saying, My oxen have bought me; +and he that went to his farm, saying, My farm has bought +me. And if ye will mark the words, ye will find them run +this way. 1. Marriage is lawful; but when a man beasts +himself in his carnal pleasures, then the wife marries the +man; "therefore let them that have wives, be as though +they had them not, and them that rejoice, as though they +rejoiced not." 2. Buying of farms is lawful, but when a +man becomes a slave to his own gain, it takes away the soul +of him, the farm buys the man; likewise husbandry is +lawful, but when a man yokes his neck under the world, it +trails and turmoils him so, that he cannot take on the yoke +of Jesus. 3. Thus also the merchandise buys the man. +Then, for Jesus Christ's sake, cast away all excuses, and +come away now, and marry Christ. 1. Away with thy +bastard pleasures. 2. Away with thy bastard cares, and +come away to Christ, and He shall season all thy cares. +3. Away with thy falsehood, thy pride, vanity, &c. Away +with thy corn, wine and oil, and come to Christ, and He +shall lift up His countenance upon thee. The Lord give +thee a blink of that, and then thou wilt come hopping +with all thy speed, like unto old Jacob, when he saw the +angels ascending and descending, then he ran fast, albeit +he was tired, and had got a hard bed, and a far harder +bolster the night before, yet he got a glorious sight, and his +legs were soupled with consolation, which made him run. +Lord blink upon thy lazy soul with His amiable countenance, +and then thou shalt rise and run, and thy fainting +heart will receive strength, when the Lord puts in His +hand by the key-hole of the door, and leaves drops of +myrrh behind Him, then a sleepy bride will rise and seek +her Beloved. But to our point.</p> + +<p>Marriage is lawful, merchandise is lawful, husbandry is +lawful, but never one of these is lawful when they hinder +thee from the Lord. Neither credit, pleasure, preferment, +houses nor lands are lawful, when they hinder thee from the +Lord's sweet presence. Jerome said well, "Though my old +father were hanging about my neck, and my sweet mother +had me in her arms, and all my dear children were sticking +about me, yet when my Lord Jesus called upon me, I would +cast off my old father, and throw my sweet mother under +foot, and throw away all my dear children, and run away to +my Lord Jesus." Lord grant, my beloved, that what ye +have heard of Christ may sink in your souls: and when ye +have seen poor things running here and there, to get a +prayer here, and a prayer there, and ye wonder what they +are seeking, they are seeking their Beloved; and if ye ask, +"What is their Beloved more than another?" They will +answer, my Beloved is the fairest and trimmest, and the +highest and honourablest in the world; He has the sweetest +eyes, the sweetest cheeks, the sweetest lips, and trimmest +legs and arms, "yea He is altogether lovely;" and then they +will be made to cry out, "O thou fairest among women, tell +us whither is thy Beloved gone, that we may seek Him with +thee?" O if we knew Him! Lord work upon you the +knowledge of Him. O what a business would you make to +be at Him! Lord grant that our ministry may leave a +stamp upon your hearts. Then had we gotten a rich purchase. +Would to God ye were like that marquis in Italy, +who fled from thence to Geneva, being persecuted by the +Jesuits; and when they followed him, and offered him +sums of gold, he answered, "Let those perish forever who +part with an hour's fellowship with Christ, for all the gold +under heaven." And sundry of the martyrs being at the +stake, having this and that offered to them, they had still +this word, None but Christ, none but Christ: and when +they were bidden, Have mind of your well favoured wife, +and your poor children; they answered, "If I had all the +money and gold in the world, I would give it to stay with my +wife and poor children, if it were but in a stinking prison; +but sweet Christ is dearer unto me than all." Then cast +away all excuse. Would to God we were like that woman, +when going to the stake; "I have borne many children, +(says she) and yet notwithstanding of all these pains, I +would suffer them all over again, for one hour's fellowship +with my Lord." Then come away, come away, cast away +all excuses, come away; as the Saviour says, "The storm is +past and over, the winter is away, the time of singing of +birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our +land; arise, my fair one, and come away." God be thanked, +there is a sad winter over Scotland's head, and our figs are +blossoming, and our trees are budding, and bringing forth +fruit, now is the turtle singing, and his voice is heard in our +land: now is Christ's voice heard, now is our Bridegroom +standing waiting on our way-coming; and here am I in His +name, crying unto you, Come away: here am I to honour +my Master: all honour be to Him for ever and ever. +Come away then, for the winter is going, the summer is +approaching, our vines are blossoming, in token of a fair +summer: arise, arise, and come away.</p> + +<p>Ver. 9. "Go ye, therefore, out to the highways:" as +if He would say, Well, I see the Jews will not come in; +"therefore go your ways and fetch in the Gentiles." Yet I +hope in God, there shall many of the Jews come in shortly. +They spake for you, when ye could not speak for yourselves; +they said, "We have a little sister, and she has no breasts; +what shall we do for her in the day she shall be spoken +for?" Now pray ye for them. Always they refused to +come in, as ye heard; and not being worthy, they would +not come to Him, to make them worthy.—Always, says +the Lord, go out, and call in the Gentiles to My table, My +Son may not want a wife: He is too great a king to want a +spouse, and My supper is too good cheer to be lost; therefore +go and fetch in the Gentiles. I thank the Lord +that ye are come in. I know not a town in the kingdom of +Scotland that is not come in, except one, and I am afraid +for the wrath of God to light on that shortly. Always God +hath His own time. But trow ye, that God will give that +honour to every one? Nay. I protest in my own silly +judgment (howbeit I cannot scance upon kings crowns) +that it were the greatest honour that ever king Charles got, +to subscribe the covenant. But trow ye that every minister +and every burgh will come in? Nay: if you will read the +history, 2 Chron. xxx. 10, you will see the contrary; when +Hezekiah was going to renew the covenant, and to keep the +passover, the holy text says, that numbers mocked, and +thought themselves over jelly to come in; but those whose +hearts the Lord had touched, they came in and kept the +blyth day. Indeed I was afraid once, that Christ would +have left old Scotland, and gone to new Scotland, and that +He would have left old England, and gone to new England: +and think ye not but He can easily do this? Has He not +a famous church in America, where He may go? Indeed +I know not a kingdom in all the world, but if their plots +had gone on, they had been at antichrist's shore ere now; +but all his limbs and liths, I hope shall be broken, and then +shall our Lord be great: therefore come away in with your +wedding garment, and ye that have not put it on, now put +it on, and come away to the marriage: and I thank the +Lord, that ye are prevailed with, by God's assisting of our +faithful brethren to bring you in; the Lord grant that ye +may come in with your wedding garment. It is but a +small matter for you to hold up your hand; and yet, I +suspect, some of you when it was in doing took a back-side. +I tell you that it is no matter of sport, to board with God: +therefore come away with your wedding garment; for the +Master of the feast sees you, and knows all that are come +to the marriage feast. I know you not, but my Master +knows you every one: He knows who came in on Sabbath +and who came in yesterday, and who will come in to-day, +and who are going to put on their wedding garment, and +cast away their duds. Away with your duds of pride, your +duds of greed and of malice; away with all these duds, and +be like the poor blind man in the gospel, who when he +knew that Christ called him, he cast his old cloak from him, +and came away; so do ye, cast aside all excuses, and come +to the wedding. And now with a word of the wedding +garment I will end.</p> + +<p>This wedding garment consists of three pieces: 1. There +is one piece of it looks to God, and that is holiness. 2. +There is another piece of it looks to ourselves, and that is +sobriety. 3. Another piece of it looks to our neighbour, +and that is righteousness.</p> + +<p>The first is holiness; I charge you to put it on: ye that +are the provost and bailies, I love you dearly, and all the +members of the town; gentlemen, and all gentlewomen, +and all of you I love you dearly; and therefore I charge +you all before God, in my last farewell unto you, to be +holy, according as ye have sworn in your covenant.</p> + +<p>2. Be sober. Howbeit I be a stranger, yet I like brotherly +love and Christian fellowship well; but drunkenness and +gluttony, feasting and carousing I hate, especially now when +the kirk of Scotland is going in dool-weed: therefore be +sober. 1. Be sober in your apparel; I think there is too +much of gaudy apparel among you. 2. Be sober in your +conceits. 3. Be sober in your judgments. 4. Be sober in +your self-conceiting. 5. Be sober in your speaking. 6. Be +sober in your sleeping. 7. Be sober in your lawful +recreations. 8. Be sober in your lawful pleasures: and +finally be sober in all respects; that it may be seen ye are +the people that have renewed your covenant.</p> + +<p>3. Be righteous. I know not if ye have false weights +and balances among you; but whether there be or not, I +give you all charge, who have sworn the covenant, to be +righteous.</p> + +<p>In a word, this wedding garment is Jesus Christ; "Put ye +on the Lord Jesus Christ." I cannot give you a better +counsel nor Christ gave to Martha; forget the many things, +and choose that one thing which is needful; and with David, +still desire that one thing, "To behold the beauty of the +Lord in His temple;" and with Paul, "Forget the things +that are behind, and press forward to the prize of the high-calling +thro' Jesus Christ." The Lord fill your hearts with +the love of Christ.</p> + +<p>If thou askest, What will this garment do to thee? I +answer, This garment serves, 1. For necessity. 2. For +ornament. 3. For distinction.</p> + +<p>1. For necessity. And this is threefold. 1. To cover thy +nakedness, and hide thy shame. 2. To defend thy body +from the cold of winter, and heat of summer. 3. For +necessity, to hold in the life of the body. So put on Jesus +Christ this wedding garment; and, 1. He shall cover the +shame of thy nakedness with the white linen of His +righteousness. 2. He shall defend thee when the wind of +trial begins to blow rough and hard, and when the blast of +the terrible One is arising, to rain fire and brimstone upon +the world; "Then He shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in +the day time from the heat, and a place of refuge for a covert +from storm and from rain." "A refuge from the storm, and +shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is +as a storm against the wall." When men are pursuing, He +shall be a brazen wall about thee; and when they pursue +thee, He shall keep thee in His bosom.</p> + +<p>2. A garment is for an ornament. Who is the best +favoured body; and the trimmest soul? Even the poor soul +that has put on the bridegroom Jesus: that soul is fair and +white, and altogether lovely, "There is no spot in it," +because the Lord hath put upon it, "Broidered work, +bracelets and ornaments."</p> + +<p>3. A garment is for distinction. There must be a +distinction among you, between you and the wicked world, +because ye have renewed your covenant with God: and this +distinction must not only be outwardly (for an hypocrite may +seem indeed very fair) but it must be by inward application. +I desire you all that are hearing me, not only to put it on, +but to hold it on: put it on, and hold it on; for it is not like +another garment, neither in matter, nor shape, nor in use, nor +in durance. I may not insist to handle it, but it is not like +other garments, especially it is not like a bridegroom's +garment, which he has on to-day, and off to-morrow. Therefore +I charge you all your days, to hold it on. Ay, that +which ye had on upon Sabbath last, and yesterday, and which +you have on this day, see that ye cast it not off to-morrow. +What heard you cried on Sabbath last, and yesterday, and +this day? Hosanna, hosanna. And wherefore cried ye +yesterday and this day, Hosanna, hosanna? Look that when +we are away, and your ministers not preaching to you, that +ye cry not, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." I fear that many +who last Sabbath, yesterday and this day, have been crying +Hosanna, hosanna, shall, long ere the next Sabbath, cry, +"Crucify Him, and hang Him up." But I charge you, O +sons of Zion, and ye daughters of Jerusalem, that your +tongues never cease in crying, Hosanna, till Christ come and +dwell in your soul.</p> + +<p>Ye that are masters of this college, if ye count me worthy +to speak to you, I would have you keep your garments +clean, and take heed that ye be not spotted with uncovenanted +spots. Ye that are scholars, take heed what sort of +learning and traditions ye drink in, and hold your garments +clean. We hear of too many colleges in the land, that are +spotted; but we hope in God that ye are yet clean: and +young and old of you, take all heed to your garments, that +they be white, and clean, and beautiful.</p> + +<p>For the Lord's sake, all ye that are hearing me, take heed +to your garments, but especially ye that have subscribed +your covenant, take heed to your garments; for blyth will +your adversaries be, to see any spot on them. And +therefore, for the Lord's sake, study to be holy; otherwise +papists will rejoice at it, and the weak will stumble at it: +and so ye will wound and bore the sweet side of Christ. +And therefore put on your wedding garment, hold it on, +and hold it clean; walk wisely and before the world.</p> + +<p>Now I commend you to Him Who is able to strengthen, +stablish and settle you: to Him be glory, honour and +dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<center> +<span style="font-size: 80%"> +<img src="images/4.png" alt="Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon" /><br /> +[Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon]</span></center><br /> + +<h3><a name="SERMON_AT_EDINBURGH5" id="SERMON_AT_EDINBURGH5"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANT:</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT EDINBURGH.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></span></h2> + +<h4><i>BY ANDREW CANT.</i></h4> + +<p class="center">"Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou<br /> +shalt become a plain, and he shall bring forth the head-stone<br /> +thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." —<i>Zech.</i> iv. 7.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>I perceive that God will have His temple built, which had +been long neglected; partly by the worldliness of the people, +who had greater care of their own houses, than of the house +of God; as appears by the prophet Haggai, chap. i. 3,4. He +reproves them for this fault, that they cared more for their +own houses than for the house of God; partly, because of +the great impediments and difficulties they apprehended in +the work. Yet God, having a purpose to have it builded, +sends His prophets to stir them up to the building of it. +As for impediments He promises to remove them all, and +assures them of this by Haggai and Zechariah; yea, He +shews to Zerubbabel and the people, that although impediments +were as mountains, yet they should be removed.</p> + +<p>I need not stand upon introductions and connections: +this verse I have read, shows the scope of the prophet; viz. +God will have His work going on, and all impediments +removed. These times require that I should rather insist +upon application to the present work of reformation in hand, +than to stand upon the temple of Jerusalem, which we know +well enough was a type of Christ's kirk, which in this land +was once built, but now hath been defaced by the enemies of +Christ: we have long neglected the re-edifying of it; partly, +men being given more to build their own houses, nor +the house of Christ; and partly, because of the great +impediments that have discouraged God's people to meddle +with it. Now, it hath pleased God to stir up prophets, +noblemen, and people of the land, to put their hands to +this work. And I think God saith to you in this text, +"Who art thou, O great mountain? thou shalt become a +plain."</p> + +<p>There are two parts in this text; 1. An impediment +removed, under the name of a mountain, "Who art thou, +O great mountain? before Zerubbabel, thou shalt become a +plain." 2. In the second part of the text, the work goeth +up, and is finished, the impediment being removed, "He +shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, +Grace, grace be unto it."</p> + +<p>But that ye may take up all that is to be said in order +and method; there are six steps in the text, three in the +mountain, impeding the work, and three in the work itself. +The three in the mountain are these; 1. It is a mountain +seen, "O great mountain!" 2. A mountain reproved, "Who +art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel." 3. A +mountain removed, "Thou shalt become a plain." The +three in the work are; 1. A work growing and going up. +2. A work finished, "He shall bring forth the head-stone +thereof." 3. A work praised, "He shall bring forth the +head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace be +unto it." I shall speak of all these, God willing, and apply +them to the time.</p> + +<p>As for the three in the mountain. 1. It is a mountain +seen; it is called a <i>great mountain</i>; under this are comprehended +all impediments and difficulties impeding the +building; all being taken together make up a great +mountain, which is unpassable; the enemies who impede +this work were this mountain: look and ye will see the +adversaries of Judah become a great mountain in the way of +that work.</p> + +<p>That ye may take up this mountain the better, I find that +kings are called mountains in Scripture; and good kings +are so called, for these three, 1. For their sublimity; as +mountains are high above the valleys, so are kings lifted up +in majesty above their subjects: some apply that place to +kings, "Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and +ye strong foundations of the earth." 2. They are called +mountains for their strength to guard their people. David +saith, "God hath made my mountain strong." 3. Good +kings are called mountains, by reason of their influence +for peace to the people: "The mountains shall bring +peace to the people, and the little hills by righteousness." +I find also, that the strong enemies of the church are +called mountains, because of the great impediments to the +kirk's building that are made by them, as ye may see in +Psalm cxliv.</p> + +<p>This mountain (that I may speak more plainly) is Prelacy, +which hath ever been the mountain in the way of our +reformation. It may be, some of you that hear me, are not +of my judgment concerning episcopacy; for my judgment, +I ever condemned it, as having no warrant for it to be in +Christ's house; yet I am sure, that all of you that are here +this day, will agree with me in this, that prelacy being +antichristian, is intolerable: but such is the prelacy of this +kirk, it is antichristian. I may easily prove, that amongst +many marks of antichrist, these two are most evident, false +doctrine and tyranny in government: where antichrist is, +there is tyrannical government, imposing laws upon the +consciences of God's people; where antichrist is, there is +idolatry, superstition and error; these two are clearly in our +prelacy: their idolatry, superstition, and error may be seen +in their service-book, their tyranny may be seen in their +book of canons. I think there are none here, but they may +see this mountain: no greater tyranny hath ever been used +by antichrist, than hath been used by our prelates, and +exercised upon this kirk.</p> + +<p>This mountain being seen by you all; I would have you +take a view of the quality of it. I find in Scripture, that the +enemies of the kirk being called mountains, are so called, +because of these three qualities: the first is in Psalm lxxvi. 4. +they are called "mountains of prey;" so called, because +from them the robbers rush down to the vallies, and prey +upon the passengers. The second is in Jer. li. 25, Babylon, +a great enemy to God's kirk, is called a "destroying +mountain;" the word in its own language, is called a +<i>pestiferous</i> mountain, (so called) because the pest destroys. +The third is in Isa. ii. 14, they are called "mountains of +pride;" compared with the twelfth verse, you will find +these mountains called "mountains of pride."</p> + +<p>Our mountain of prelacy hath all these three bad qualities: +1. It is a mountain from which they have, like robbers, +made a prey of the kirk of Christ. Tell me, I pray you, +and I appeal to your own consciences, who are my brethren, +if there be any privilege or liberty that ever Christ gave us, +but they have taken it from us, and made a prey of it. +2. This mountain is a pestiferous mountain; it hath been +the mountain that hath been as a pest, to infect the kirk of +Christ with superstition, heresy and error; and withal, it +hath been a destroying mountain; for they have destroyed +the fair carved work of our first reformation. 3. They are +mountains of pride; for greater pride cannot be, than there +is upon this mountain; they rule as tyrants over their +brethren, and as lords over God's inheritance.</p> + +<p>Ye that are noblemen are the natural mountains of this +kingdom, descended of noble predecessors who have been +as mountains indeed, defending both kirk and commonwealth. +These men were but low vallies, and now are +artificial mountains, made up by the art of man; at first, as +low as their brethren sitting there; but piece and piece, +they have mounted up; at first, commissioners for the kirk, +and then obtained vote in parliament, and then they usurped +all the liberties of the kirk benefices, and then constant +moderators to make up this mountain; and at last, the high +commission is given to make the mountain strong; it is like +to Daniel's tree. "The tree grew, and was strong;" and +from it, we that are ministers of Christ have our wreck.</p> + +<p>And let me speak to you noblemen, these artificial and +stooted mountains have over-topped you who are the natural +mountains; and if they have not done so, What means the +great seal then? and if way could have made for it, they +should have carried the white wand and privy-seal also: +and this is just with God, that they have over-topped you; +for every one of you came with your own shovel-ful, to +make up this mountain. It was thought expedient to +rear up this mountain, to command and bear down poor +ministers. Albeit, it is true, we have been borne down by +them; yet ye that are the high mountains, have not been +free from their hurt: it is very like to Jotham's parable, +"The trees of the forest will have a king over them; they +come to the olive-tree, and say, Be thou king over us: the +olive saith, I will not leave my fatness to be king: they +came to the fig-tree, and said, Be thou our king; the fig-tree +saith, I will not leave my sweetness to be king: they come +likewise to the vine, and say, Be thou our king; the vine +saith, I will not leave my strength to be king: they come to +the bramble and said, Be thou our king; then said the +bramble to the trees, If indeed ye anoint me king over you, +then come and put your trust under my shadow; and if not, +let fire come forth of the bramble, and devour the tall +cedars of Lebanon." The olive-trees of the ministry would +not leave the fatness of God's grace, wherewith they were +endued, to rule over the kirk: the fig-trees of the ministry +would not leave the sweet fruits of their ministry, to bear +rule in the kirk: the vines of the ministry would not leave +the strong consolations of God, whereby many souls were +comforted, to bear rule in the kirk: yet the brambles have +taken this, and ye helped to exalt them, upon condition to +trust under their shadow; and if fire hath not come forth +from these brambles upon the tall cedars of this land, I +leave to your own thoughts to judge. Always this is the +mountain which ye see all reared up this day, and standing +in the way of our reformation.</p> + +<p>2. The second thing in this great mountain is this, It is +a mountain reproved: "Who art thou, O great mountain? +before Zerubbabel." When he saith of Zerubbabel, it is not +only meant of Zerubbabel, but of the rest of God's people. +There, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of God's people +obeyed the voice of the Lord; and in the 14th verse, all +these are said to work in the house of the Lord: so under +Zerubbabel, all the rest of the people are comprehended; +even so in this work of ours, all that are joined to this work, +for the building of this work, are to be accounted workers; +and for them also is this mountain reproved, "Who art +thou, O great mountain?" Who art thou, who will impede +this work, or shall be able to impede it, seeing God will +have it forward. It is impossible for thee to impede it, in +these three respects: 1. In respect of the work itself. +2. In respect of the workers. 3. In respect of the impeders.</p> + +<p>1. In respect of the work itself. It is God's work; for +the house is His, and He is in it. The Lord saith, "Be +thou strong, Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and the remnant of +the people and work, for I am with you, saith the Lord of +hosts." If God be with a work, who is he that will let or +impede it? God is with this work of reformation, as ye +yourselves can witness; and by all our expectations this +mountain is shaken, and (God be praised) the difficulties +are not so unpassable as they were.</p> + +<p>2. No man is able to impede this work, in respect of the +workers. It is said, "that God stirred up the spirit of +Zerubbabel, and of Joshua, and of the people, and they came +and wrought in the house of the Lord." When God stirs up +men to do a good work, nothing on earth can stay it: I am +sure if ever God stirred up men to a good work, He hath +stirred us up to this, both noblemen, ministers and people. +Wherefore, "Who art thou, O great mountain" before God's +people, that thinks to impede such a work?</p> + +<p>3. In respect of the impeders: what are they but men, +and wicked men, as ye may see in the adversaries of the +Jews. Who are they that impede our work? Even men +that seek honour and preferment of this world, enemies to +religion, fighting against God; to whom, I may say that word +in Job, "Who hath hardened himself against God, and +prospered?" With one word more I will reprove this +mountain, and go forward.</p> + +<p>"Who art thou, O great mountain?" Wilt thou search +thyself who thou art: art thou of God's building or not? I +trow you are not <i>juris divini</i>, but <i>humani</i>; God nor Christ +hath never built thee: thou art only a hill of man's erecting; +knowest thou not that Zion, against which thou art, is a hill +of God's building. I will say to you then that word, "The +hill of God is a high hill, as the hill of Bashan: why leap ye, +ye hills? This is the hill that God desireth to dwell in; yea, +and will dwell in it forever." And think ye to prevail against +the people of Zion? She hath stronger mountains to guard +her than ye have, "As the mountains are round about +Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people, from +henceforth and forever."</p> + +<p>3. The third thing in this mountain, is, It is a mountain +removed, "Thou shalt become a plain;" that is, God shall +remove all impediments before Zerubbabel, and his people; +God is able to remove all that impedes His work; even the +mightiest enemies that oppose themselves to the work of God. +Ye may observe a fourfold power of God against these +mountains.</p> + +<p>1. A <i>determining power</i>, whereby He sets such bounds to +the greatest mountains, that ye see they fall not upon the +vallies, albeit they overtop them. The Lord hath set bounds +to the great kings in the world which they could not pass, +when they have set themselves against the Lord's people. +We may see an example of this in Sennacherib. "Therefore +thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall +not come up to this city, nor shoot an arrow against it, nor +come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it." Ye +are afraid of the king, that he come against you: fear not, +the Lord by His restraining power is able to keep him +back, that he shall not shoot so much as a bullet against +this city.</p> + +<p>2. God removes impediments by His <i>assisting power</i>, as +He promised to do before Cyrus. "I will go before thee, +and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces +the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the iron bars." Albeit +for any thing we see, there be brazen gates, and iron bars, +closing out a reformation: yet let not this discourage you; +God is with you by His assisting power to go before you, to +make all crooked places straight, and to break the brazen +gates, and to cut in sunder the iron bars.</p> + +<p>3. God hath a <i>changing power</i>, whereby He makes +mountains plain: how easy is it with God, to make the +highest mountain that impedes His work a plain? "The +king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters, +to turn it whithersoever He will." Lord make our mountains +thus plain.</p> + +<p>The 4th way how God removes mountains, is by an +<i>overthrowing power</i>: If there be no change yet, God will +bring it down. "Every one that is lifted up shall be +brought low."</p> + +<p>By this which hath been said, ye may understand how a +mountain may be made plain. God makes mountains +plains, either in mercy or in wrath. 1. In mercy, when He +takes a grip of the heart, and of a proud haughty heart, +makes it toward and plain: we have seen such a change by +experience. This work had many enemies at the beginning, +that impeded it, whom God hath taken by the heart, and +made plain; yea, He hath made them furtherers of the work.</p> + +<p>2. There is another way of making mountains plain, to +wit, making plain in wrath; when God overthrows the +mountains that stand up impeding His work. Assure +yourselves, if God bring not down this mountain we have +to do with, in mercy, He shall overthrow it in wrath, and +make it waste. That I may make this mountain more +plain, ye shall consider how it shall become a plain, and +how easily it may be made a plain.</p> + +<p>1. I see you looking up to the height of it, and ye are +saying within yourselves, How shall it come down? Ye +must not think that it will come down of its own accord; +God useth instruments to pull down. I find that God +hath made His own people instruments to pull down +such mountains: "Fear not, worm Jacob, and ye men +of Israel, I will help thee, saith the holy One and thy +Redeemer, behold I will make thee a new threshing instrument +having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and +beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff; thou +shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the +whirlwind shall scatter them." Mark these words, although +Jacob be a worm, despised by the great ones of the world, +yet God will make him a threshing instrument, to beat these +mountains in pieces. The professors of this land are +despised by the mountains; yet fear not, for the sharp +threshing instrument is made, I hope it shall beat the +mountains in pieces. We think them very high, but if we +had faith, that word would be verified. "Ye shall say to +this mountain, remove to yonder place, and it shall be +removed, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."</p> + +<p>But one is saying, I have not faith, that all that are +joined this day against the mountain shall continue. I +hope they shall continue, I hope they shall; but if they do +not, we trust not in men, that they shall bring down this +mountain, but in God, who hath said, "Behold I am +against thee, O destroying mountain, I will stretch out My +hand upon thee, I will roll thee down from the rocks, and +make thee a burnt mountain; they shall not take of thee a +stone for a corner, nor a foundation; thou shalt be desolate +for ever." This mountain ye see so exalted, although men +would hold it up, yet God will bring it down, and make it a +burnt mountain: even so, O Lord, do.</p> + +<p>2. In the second place consider how this mountain may +be made a plain: I told you it was but an artificial +mountain, a stooted mountain, standing upon weak pillars; +if ye would take a look of the whole frame of the +mountain, it stands upon two main pillars; and upon the +top of the mountain stands the house of Dagon, an house +of false worship, and take me the pillars from episcopacy, +and it shall fall; take episcopacy away, and the house of +Dagon shall fall. The two main pillars that prelacy stands +on are a civil and secular arm, and an ecclesiastical tongue, +so to speak.</p> + +<p>1. The <i>secular arm</i> is the authority of princes, which +have ever upholden that mountain: ye know secular princes +uphold antichrist, and prelacy in this land is upholden by +the secular power. 2. The second pillar I call <i>ecclesiastical</i>, +that is, prelacy in this land hath been upholden by the +tongues of kirkmen, preaching up this mountain, or, by +their pens, writing up this mountain: and these are the +two pillars whereupon our mountain of prelacy is stooted, +the secular power, and the tongues of kirkmen. Let +the king withdraw his power and authority from the +prelates, and they shall fall suddenly in dross; let kirkmen +and ministers withdraw their tongues and pens from +them, and our mountain (ere ye look about you) shall +become a plain. As these two stoot up this mountain, +so upon this mountain all false worship in the kirk is +built, even Dagon's house. "Lead me," says Samson, +"to the pillars that Dagon's house stands on, that I may be +avenged for my two eyes." The Philistines were never +more cruel to Samson in pulling out his eyes, than our +prelates would have been to us: they pressed to put out our +eyes, and ere ever we were aware, they thought to lead us +to Dagon's house, even to the tents of popery and idolatry. +Let us come to this main pillar of Dagon's house, and +apply all our strength to pull it down; that we may not only +be avenged for our eyes, which they have thought to pull +out, but also that the house of false worship, which is +erected upon this mountain, may fall to the ground.</p> + +<p>I hear some say, Minister, for all you are saying, the +mountain will not come down at this time; ye think +nothing but it will come down. I assure you, I would +have it down, but ye must not think us that silly, as to +think it will come down, because we have many for us; we +trust not in men, but in God; and if this be the time that +God will have it down, although ye should lay all your +hands about their head, they shall come down: it appears +they will come down, if there were no more but their pride, +avarice, cruelty, and loose living to pull them down, +especially when all these are come to height, as they are +come to in them. And so much for the mountain; ye see +we have reproved it, God remove it.</p> + +<p>I come now to the three in the work, the mountain being +removed, 1. It is a work growing and going up; "He +shall bring forth." 2. It is a work finished; "He shall +bring forth the head-stone thereof." 3. It is a work +praised; "He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with +shouting, crying, grace, grace, be unto it." We shall speak +of all these three shortly.</p> + +<p>1. It is a work going up; it was impeded, but now it is +going up. There is something here very considerable; the +work goes not up until the mountain be made a plain. The +mountain must not be pared or topped, but it must +altogether become plain, otherwise the work cannot go up, +the mountain of prelacy must not be pared nor topped, +something taken away, but it must be brought down wholly, +otherwise the work of Reformation cannot go on, neither +Christ's house go up.</p> + +<p>It will be said, What ails you? You shall have your +desires, but the estate of bishops must stand; it is +impossible to bring it down altogether; the king may not +want an estate, (truly a good one both to kirk and commonwealth) +ye shall have them brought within the old bounds +and caveats set down to them; they shall not hurt the kirk +any more. The Lord knows how loath I was to speak +from this place; but seeing God hath thrust me out, I must +speak the truth.</p> + +<p>I say to you these quarters are not to be taken, because +the mountain is not of God's making, but of man's; therefore +make it what ye will, God will be displeased with it; yea it +is impossible to set caveats to keep them. I appeal to all +your consciences, Is it possible to set caveats to their +pride and avarice? Their pride and avarice will break +through ten thousand caveats. I will clear this impossibility +by similitudes. Tell me, if a fountain in the town of Edinburgh +were poisoned, whether were it more safe to stop up the +fountain, than to set a guard to keep it, that none draw out of +it, for there is hope the poison would do no harm? There is no +man of a sound judgment, but he will think it more safe to +stop up the fountain, than to guard it: this prelacy is the +poisoned fountain, wherefrom the kirk of Christ hath been +poisoned with the poison of error and superstition. Now +the question is, Whether it be safer to stop it up than to +guard it? Surely it is safer to stop it up; for all the caveats +in the world will not keep the kirk unpoisoned, so long as it +remains. I will give you another similitude: If the town of +Edinburgh were (as many towns have been, and are) taken +and possest by cruel and obstinate enemies, who would +take all your liberties from you, would not suffer your +magistrates to judge, and would spoil you of your goods, +and use all the cruelty that could be devised against the +inhabitants, if God give you occasion to be free of such a +cruel and obstinate enemy: what would you do if this were +proponed to you? Why may not you suffer the enemy to +abide within the town? We shall take all their weapons +from them, they shall never hurt you any more. Would ye +not think it far better to put them out of the town altogether; +both because the inhabitants would be in fear, so +long as they were in the town, and because the town would +never be sure: for there might be traitors among yourselves, +who would steal in weapons for their hands; and so they +would bring you under the former tyranny, yea under a +greater. Even so it is in this case; the crudest and +greatest enemies that ever the kirk of Scotland saw are +those prelates; they have spoiled us of all our liberties, and +exercised intolerable tyranny over us. Now the Lord is +shewing a way how to be quit of them: consider the condition +offered. What ails you? May ye not let them abide +within the kirk: we shall take all their weapons from them; +as admission of ministers, excommunication, and that terrible +high commission; they shall never hurt you again. This is +but the counsel of man; the counsel of God is, to put them +out of the kirk altogether, otherwise the kirk can never be +secure; yea, I assure you, there are as many traitors among +ourselves, as would steal in the weapons again in their +hands; then shall our latter estate be worse than our first: +if our yoke be heavy under them now, it shall be heavier +then; if they chastise us now with whips, they shall chastise +us then with scorpions. I think I hear men speak like that +word, "Hew down the tree, cut down his branches, shake +off his leaves, scatter his fruits; nevertheless leave the +stump of his roots with a band of iron and brass." The +interpretation of that part of the vision is set down in the +26th verse; "Thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after +that thou hast known that the heavens bear rule." I hear +men say, Hew down the tree, cut off his branches, shake off +his leaves, scatter his fruits; ye shall be quit of all that; +but the stump must be left banded with iron. (If it were +till they knew God, it were something, but there is no +appearance of that.) Consider, O man, who saith that. +"No man, but the watcher, and the holy One, even He +that made Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom sure to him." If +God had made this estate sure to them, it would and should +stand; and if God would bind down the stump of it with +iron bands, we would never fear the growth of it, nor the fruit +of it; but seeing they are only bands to be laid on by men, +albeit the tree were hewed down, it would grow again in +all the branches of it, with all the leaves of its dignity, and +we should taste of the bitter fruit of it: ye that are covenanters, +be not deceived, if ye leave so much as a hillock of +this mountain in despite of your hearts it shall grow to a +high mountain, which shall fill both kirk and commonwealth. +If the kirk would be quit of the troubles of it, and if ye +would have this work of reformation going up, this mountain +must be made a plain altogether, otherwise the Spirit of +God saith, Ye shall never prosper.</p> + +<p>The second thing in this is a work finished; "He shall +bring forth the head-stone thereof." When a head-stone is +put on a house, the house is finished: ye who are reverend +fathers in the kirk, who have seen the work of our first +reformation, ye saw it going up, and brought to such a perfection, +that the cope-stone was put on; purity of doctrine, +and administration of sacraments, and sweetness of government, +whereby the kirk was ruled; but woe's us all, we see +with you now the roof taken off, the glorious work pulled +down, and lying desolate. Now, it hath pleased God to +turn again, and offer a re-edifying of this work, as He did +here to the people of this temple: seeing therefore the Lord +hath stirred up our spirits, to crave a re-edifying of Christ's +kirk, let us never take our hands from it, till Christ have +put the cope-stone on it.</p> + +<p>I hear some say, There is more ado ere that be done; ye +sing the triumph before the victory; ye will not see it go +up at leisure. Ye are deceived; we sing not the triumph +before the victory; some of us are afraid that it go not up +so suddenly. I must say to you, if it be God's work, (as it +is indeed) all the powers of the world shall never be able to +hinder the putting on of the cope-stone. Ay, but say ye, It +will be hindered; ere ye get the work forward, ye will find +the dint of the fire and sword. Let it be so, if God will +have it so, that will not impede the work: if our blood be +spilt in this cause, the cope-stone shall be put on with our +blood; for the kirk of God hath never prospered better nor +by the blood of saints. Fear not, beloved, this work, +whether it be done peaceably or with persecution, the cope-stone +shall be put on it. Ye know in the beginning of the +reformation, there was small likelihood that the work should +go up, and be finished, because of the great power that was +against it; yet the Lord brought it forward against all +impediments; and put the cope-stone on it: that same God +lives yet, and is as able to put the cope-stone on this work, +as He was then, if ye believe.</p> + +<p>The third thing in this work is a work praised; "He shall +bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, +grace, grace unto it." All ye that build and behold the +work, will love the work, and will all wish it well. He +alludes by appearance, who, when the foundation of a +common work is laid, rejoices, and when it is finished, +rejoices. Ye may see this clear in Ezra iii. 11: at the laying +of the foundation of this temple, the people shouted with a +great shout: if they did that at the laying of the foundation, +much more shall they do it at the bringing forth of the head-stone +thereof; as is said here, the words they cry, grace, grace. +The phrase comprehends under it these three things:</p> + +<p>1. A wish of the people of God, whereby they wish +prosperity to the work. Ye may see it was a common wish. +"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, As ye shall use this speech +in the land of Judah, and cities thereof, when I shall bring +again their captivity: the Lord bless thee, O habitation of +justice, and mountain of holiness."</p> + +<p>2. It comprehends under it a thanksgiving; the workers +give all praise to the work. When the builders laid the +foundation of the temple, they set the priests with their +trumpets, and the Levites with their cymbals, to praise the +Lord, after the ordinance of David: "They sang by +course, praising God, and giving thanks unto the Lord, +because He is good, and His mercy endureth forever."</p> + +<p>3. The third thing it comprehends under it, is a faithful +acknowledgment that the work is built and finished, by no +power and strength of men, but by the grace of God. Look +the verse preceding the text, and ye will find it thus, "Not +by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of +hosts:" ye may easily apply this. Our work that God is +bringing up, and will finish, should be a praised work, our +wishes should be to it: "The Lord bless thee, O habitation +of justice, and mountain of holiness." Our song of thanksgiving +should be in our mouths, "God is good, and His +mercy endureth forever."—Albeit it go up, let us not ascribe +any thing to ourselves, but let us ascribe all to the grace of +God; and this will stop all the mouths of disdainers, who +say, "Who are ye, who think to finish such a work?" We +answer, "It will be finished, not by might, nor by strength of +man, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts."</p> + +<p>There are three sorts looking to this work, and to the +going up of it: 1. Evil-willers. 2. Well-wishers. 3. Neutrals. +1. The evil-willers are Edom; and he was Jacob's brother; +yet in Psalm cxxxvii. he cries, "raze, raze this work to the +foundation." There is a number that is crying, raze, raze +this work to the foundation. 2. There is a second sort that +are well-wishers, crying, grace, grace be unto it. In those +former years, the shout of raze, raze, hath been louder than +grace, grace; but now, God be praised, the shout of grace, +grace, is louder than raze, raze. 3. There is a third sort +gazing upon this work, who dare not cry, raze, raze, because +they are borne down with grace, grace; they dare not cry +grace, grace, for fear of authority. What shall I say to these +neutrals? They are so incapable of admonition, that it will +be a spending of time to crave their concurrence to the +work. To whom shall I speak then? My text is an +apostrophe, if I may use one; that which I shall use first +is God's own words from Isaiah, "Hear, O heavens, hearken, +O earth, for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and +brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me."</p> + +<p>I will next turn me to strangers and foreigners. All ye of +reformed kirks (What! have I said strangers? These men +who are brought up in the kirk, are strangers from the +womb; but) ye are joined with us in a corporation; come +therefore with your fellow-feeling, let us hear your shouts +and cries of, grace, grace, be unto the Kirk of Scotland; +and let your wishes condemn these ungrateful neutrals, who +profess themselves children of this kirk, and yet will not +rejoice with us for the good of our mother.</p> + +<p>Now, ye have heard this text in all these six steps. +1. A mountain seen. 2. A mountain reproved and disdained. +3. A mountain to be removed. 4. A growing work. 5. To +be finished. 6. With great applause of all well-willers, +wishing grace unto the work. And seeing I have ado with +this great mountain; both with mountains that impede this +work, and all ranks of persons, removers of the work, I will +direct my speech to these with the apostrophe in the text.</p> + +<p>And first, To the mountains lying in the way of this +reformation: I rank them in two sorts, viz., prelates, and +upholders of prelates. O prelates, if I had hope to come +speed with you, I would exhort you in the name of Christ, +to lay down your worldly dignity, and help us to exalt the +kirk of Christ: but I fear ye have hardened yourselves so +against the truth, that nothing will prevail with you, except +ye keep your worldly monarchy; yet ye shall be forced to +take up my apostrophe, "O mountains of Gilboa, on whom +the anointed of the Lord is fallen, neither come dew nor +rain upon you." Ye are these mountains, upon whom +Christ and His Anointed have been slain; the dew and rain +of God's grace are not on you: ye may well receive fatness +from beneath, to make you great in this world; but from +above, ye are not bedewed with the grace of God, without +which, whatever your bodies be, ye have clean souls. +Under this curse I leave you, and turn to you, O great +mountains; great men, who are putting your shoulders to +hold up this mountain of prelacy; I beseech you, if ye have +any love to Christ, to take your shoulders, and help from +this pestiferous mountain the wreck of Christ's kirk. +And if exhortance will not prevail with you, I charge +you in the name of the great God, and His Son Jesus +Christ, to whom one day ye must give your account, that +ye in nowise underprop this mountain; the which if ye +obey, I am sure the Lord will bless you, and your +posterity; but if ye will not, though ye were never so high a +mountain in this kingdom, ye shall become a plain.</p> + +<p>In particular, I speak to all ranks of persons. O noblemen, +who are the high mountains of this kingdom, bow +your tops, and look on the kirk of Christ, lying in the +vallies, sighing, groaning, swooning and looking towards +you with pitiful looks: if the Sun of Righteousness hath +shined on you, let her have a shadow, as ye would have +God to be a shadow to you in the day of your distress.</p> + +<p>Barons and gentlemen, who are as the pleasant hills +coming from the mountains (I speak to you for the relation +that is betwixt you and the mountains, for by your descent +ye are hewn out of the mountains) my heart is glad to see +you lift your tops, as the palms of your hands reached to the +mountains, that they and ye may be as a shelter for the kirk +of Christ. I pray you separate not your hands from theirs, +till our work be brought forth with shouting.</p> + +<p>Burrows (Burghs), who are as the vallies God hath blessed +with the fatness of the earth, and the merchandise of the +sea; the mountains and hills are looking to you, and ye to +them: join yourselves in an inseparable union, and compass +the vineyard of Christ; be to her a wall of defence, +lest the wild beasts of the wood waste it, and the wild +beasts of the forest devour it.</p> + +<p>Ministers, and my faithful brethren in Christ, whose feet +are beautiful upon the mountains, say unto Zion, "Behold +thy God reigneth." I tell you, within these two years, an +honest man's feet were not beautiful upon the streets of +Edinburgh. We might have gone home to our houses +again, and shaken the dust off our feet for a conviction +against this unthankful generation; but now (God be +praised) they are beautiful, and we are comely in their eyes, +not for any thing in us, for we lay all down at the feet of +Christ; but because we are gone up upon mount Zion, and +as the Lord's messengers, have cried, "Behold thy God +reigneth." I pray you, if ye have any love to the kirk of +Christ, withdraw both your tongues and pens from this +mountain, and apply them against it; apply your wits, +engines, spirits, and all your strength to beat down this +mountain; yea, tread upon it, and use the sharp threshing +instruments which God hath put into your hands, and thresh +upon that mountain, till it be beaten small as the chaff.</p> + +<p>Shall I pass you that are commons? Truly my delight +hath not been so great upon this mountain, as to make me +overlook you. My good people, beloved in Christ, have ye +nothing to contribute for this work? Have ye not so much +power as the mountains and hills have? Or, have ye not +such substance as the vallies? Yet something ye have, give +it, and it will be acceptable, something against the mountain, +and something for the work. If ye have no more against +the mountain, let me have your tears, prayers, and strong +cries; I am sure there is as great value in them, as in the +rams' horns that blew down Jericho: send up your prayers, +and cry with the Psalmist, "Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and +come down, touch the mountains, and they shall smoke; +cast forth lightning, and scatter them; shoot out thine +arrows, and destroy them; send thine hand from above, and +deliver me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange +children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, their right hand is a +right hand of falsehood." As ye have your tears and +prayers against this mountain, lend me also what ye have for +the going up of this work: if ye have no more, let us have +your shouts and hearty crying, "grace, grace be unto it." +Time will not suffer me to speak any more, yet time shall +never bereave you or me of this. Let us all resolve +so long as our life is in, even to the last gasp, as God will +help us, that this shall be our last cry, Grace, grace be unto +this work of reformation in the kirk of Scotland.</p> + +<p>To this grace I recommend you, and close with that wish +of the Apostles in the New Testament. <i>The grace of God be +with you all</i>. Amen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<center> +<span style="font-size: 80%"> +<a name="IMG3"></a> +<img src="images/5.png" alt="The Grassmarket, Edinburgh." /><br /> +[St. Margarets and The Abbey, Westminster]</span></center><br /> + +<h2><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT:</h2> + + +<p><i>For Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness +of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of +Scotland, England, and Ireland; agreed upon by Commissioners +from the Parliament and Assembly of Divines in England, with +Commissioners of the Convention of Estates, and General Assembly +in Scotland; approved by the General Assembly of the Church of +Scotland, and by both Houses of Parliament and Assembly of Divines +in England, and taken and subscribed by them</i>, Anno 1643; <i>and +thereafter, by the said authority, taken and subscribed by all Ranks +in Scotland and England the same year; and ratified by the Act of +Parliament of Scotland</i>, Anno 1644: <i>And again renewed in Scotland, +with an Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all +Ranks</i>, Anno 1648, <i>and by Parliament</i> 1649; <i>and taken and subscribed +by</i> King Charles II. at Spey, June 23, 1650; and at Scoon, January +1, 1651.</p> + +<p>We Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, +Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all +sorts in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, +by the providence of GOD, living under one King, and +being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes the +glory of God, and the advancement of the kingdom of our +Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness +of the King's Majesty and his posterity, and the true +publick liberty, safety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein +every one's private condition is included: And calling to +mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, +attempts, and practices of the enemies of GOD, against +the true religion and professors thereof in all places, +especially in these three kingdoms, ever since the reformation +of religion; and how much their rage, power, and presumption +are of late, and at this time, increased and exercised, +whereof the deplorable state of the church and kingdom +of Ireland, the distressed estate of the church and kingdom +of England, and the dangerous estate of the church and +kingdom of Scotland, are present and public testimonies; +we have now at last, (after other means of supplication, +remonstrance, protestation, and sufferings,) for the preservation +of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and +destruction, according to the commendable practice of +these kingdoms in former times, and the example of GOD'S +people in other nations, after mature deliberation, resolved +and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn League +and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us +for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most High +GOD, do swear,</p> + +<p>I. That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, +through the grace of GOD, endeavour, in our several +places and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion +in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, +and government against our common enemies; the reformation +of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in +doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to +the Word of GOD, and the example of the best reformed +Churches: and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of +God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and +uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church-government, +directory for worship and catechising; that we, +and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith +and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst +of us.</p> + +<p>II. That we shall, in like manner, without respect of persons +endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, church-government +by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, +and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, +and all other ecclesiastical Officers depending on +hierarchy,) superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and +whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine +and the power of godliness, lest we partake in other men's +sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues; +and that the Lord may be one, and His name one, in the +three Kingdoms.</p> + +<p>III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality, and +constancy, in our several vocations, endeavour, with our +estates and lives, mutually to preserve the rights and +privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the +kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's +person and authority, in the preservation and defence of the +true religion, and liberties of the kingdoms; that the world +may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty, and +that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his +Majesty's just power and greatness.</p> + +<p>IV. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the +discovery of all such as have been or shall be incendiaries, +malignants, or evil instruments, by hindering the reformation +of religion, dividing the king from his people, or one of the +kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties +amongst the people, contrary to this League and Covenant; +that they may be brought to public trial, and receive +condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall +require or deserve, or the supreme judicatories of both +kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them +for that effect, shall judge convenient.</p> + +<p>V. And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between +these kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, +is, by the good providence of GOD, granted unto us, and +hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments; +we shall each one of us, according to our place and interest, +endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace +and union to all posterity; and that justice may be done upon +the wilful opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the +precedent article.</p> + +<p>VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in +this common cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the +kingdoms, assist and defend all those that enter into this +League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing +thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or indirectly, +by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be +divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and +conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, +or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality +in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of GOD, +the good of the kingdom, and honour of the King; but shall, +all the days of our lives, zealously and constantly continue +therein against all opposition, and promote the same, +according to our power, against all lets and impediments +whatsoever; and, what we are not able ourselves to suppress +or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may +be timely prevented or removed: All which we shall do as +in the sight of God.</p> + +<p>And, because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins and +provocations against GOD, and His Son JESUS CHRIST, as is +too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits +thereof; we profess and declare, before GOD and the +world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins, +and for the sins of these kingdoms; especially, that we have +not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel; +that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof; +and that we have not endeavoured to receive CHRIST in our +hearts, nor to walk worthy of Him in our lives; which are the +causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding +amongst us: and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, +and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power +and charge, both in public and in private, in all duties we +owe to GOD and man, to amend our lives, and each one to +go before another in the example of a real reformation; that +the Lord may turn away His wrath and heavy indignation, +and establish these churches and kingdoms in truth and +peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of +ALMIGHTY GOD, the Searcher of all hearts, with a true +intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that +great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed; +most humbly beseeching the LORD to strengthen us by His +HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to bless our desires and +proceedings with such success, as may be deliverance and +safety to His people, and encouragement to other Christian +churches, groaning under, or in danger of, the yoke of +antichristian tyranny, to join in the same or like association +and covenant, to the glory of GOD, the enlargement of the +kingdom of JESUS CHRIST, and the peace and tranquility of +Christian kingdoms and commonwealths.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND1" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND1"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE +CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.</h2> + +<p><i>At Edinburgh, August 17th, 1643, Sess.</i> 14.</p> + + +<p>The Assembly having recommended unto a committee, +appointed by them to join with the committee of the +honourable Convention of Estates, and the commissioners +of the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, +for bringing the kingdoms to a more near conjunction +and union, received from the aforesaid committees the +covenant after-mentioned, as the result of their consultations: +and having taken the same, as a matter of so public concernment +and of so deep importance doth require, unto +their gravest consideration, did with all their hearts, and +with the beginnings of the feelings of that joy, which +they did find in so great measure upon the renovation of +the National Covenant of this kirk and kingdom, all with +one voice approve and embrace the same, as the most +powerful mean, by the blessing of GOD, for the settling and +preserving the true protestant religion, with perfect peace in +his majesty's dominions, and propagating the same to other +nations, and for establishing his majesty's throne to all ages +and generations. And therefore, with their best affections, +recommended the same to the Hon. Convention of Estates, +that being examined and approved by them, it may be sent +with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that being +received and approven there, the same may be, with public +humiliation, and all religious and answerable solemnity, +sworn and subscribed by all true professors of the reformed +religion, and all his majesty's good subjects in both +kingdoms.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND2" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND2"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>EXHORTATION AT WESTMINSTER.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY PHILIP NYE.</i><a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></h4> + + +<p>A great and solemn work (Honourable and Reverend) this +day is put into our hands; let us stir up and awaken our +hearts unto it. We deal with God as well as with men, and +with God in His greatness and excellency, for by Him we +swear; and at the same time we have to do with God and +His goodness, Who now reacheth out unto us a strong and +seasonable arm of assistance. The goodness of God procuring +succour and help to a sinful and afflicted people (such +are we) ought to be matter of fear and trembling, even to all +that hear of it. We are to exalt and acknowledge Him this +day, Who is fearful in praises, swear by that name which is +holy and reverend, enter into a covenant and league that is +never to be forgotten by us nor our posterity, and the fruit I +hope of it shall be so great, as both we and they shall have +cause to remember it with joy; and such an oath as for +matter, persons, and other circumstances, the like hath not +been in any age or oath we read of in sacred or human +history, yet sufficiently warranted in both.</p> + +<p>The parties engaging in this league, are three kingdoms, +famous for the knowledge and acknowledgment of Christ +above all the kingdoms in the world; to swear before such +a presence should mould the spirit of man into a great deal +of reverence. What then to be engaged, to be incorporated, +and that by sacred oath, with such an high and honourable +fraternity? An oath is to be esteemed so much the more +solemn, by how much greater the persons are that swear +each to other; so in this business, where kingdoms swear +mutually.</p> + +<p>And as the solemnity of an oath is to be measured by the +persons swearing, so by the matter also that is to be sworn +to. God would not swear to the covenant of Works, He +intended not to honour it so much, it was not to continue, +it was not worthy of an oath of His; but to the Covenant of +Grace, which is the Gospel, He swears, and repents not of it. +God swears for the salvation of men, and of kingdoms: and +if kingdoms swear, what subject of an oath becometh them +better than the preservation and salvation of kingdoms, by +establishing the kingdom of a Saviour amongst them, even +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who is a Mediator and +Saviour for nations as well as particular persons?</p> + +<p>The end also is great and honourable, as either of the +former. "Two are better than one," saith He, Who knoweth +what is best, and from Whom alone every thing hath the +goodness it hath. Association is of divine offspring; not +only the being of creatures, but the putting of them together. +The cluster as well as the grape is the work of God. +Consort and harmony amongst men, especially amongst +saints, is very pleasing unto the Lord. If, when but two or +three agree and assent upon any thing on earth, it shall be +confirmed in heaven, and for this, because they gather +together in His name; much more when two or three +kingdoms shall meet, and consent together in His name, +and for His name, that God "may be one, and His name one +amongst them," and His presence amidst them. That +prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of +His own blessedness, "Father, that they may be one, as +Thou in Me." Unity among His churches and children +must needs therefore be very acceptable unto Him: for out +of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us, +the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us. +Churches and kingdoms are near to God, His patience +towards them, His compassions over them more than +particular persons sheweth it plainly. But kingdoms +willingly engaging themselves for His kingdom, His Christ, +His saints, the purity of religion, His worship and government, +in all particulars, and in all humility sitting down at +His feet to receive the law, and the rule from His mouth: +what a price doth He set upon such? Especially, when (as +we this day) sensible of our infirmity, and of an unfaithful +heart not steady with our God, but apt to start from the +cause, if we feel the knife or the fire; who bind ourselves with +cords, as a sacrifice to the horns of the altar; we invocate +the name of the great God, that His vows, yea, His curse +may be upon us, if we do not this; yea, though we suffer +for so doing, that is, if we endeavour not so far as the Lord +shall assist us by His grace, to advance the kingdom of the +Lord Jesus Christ here upon earth, and make Jerusalem +once more the praise of the whole world, notwithstanding +all the contradictions of men.</p> + +<p>What is this but the contents and matter of our oath? +What do we covenant? What do we vow? Is it not the +preservation of religion, where it is reformed, and the +reformation of religion, where it needs? Is it not the +reformation of three kingdoms, and a reformation universal, +in doctrine, discipline, and worship, in whatsoever the +word shall discover unto us? To practise is a fruit of +love; to reform, a fruit of zeal; but so to reform, will be a +token of great prudence and circumspection in each of +these churches: and all this to be done according to God's +word, the best rule, and according to the best reformed +churches, and best interpreters of this rule. If England +hath obtained to any greater perfection in so handling the +word of righteousness, and truths that are according to +godliness, as to make men more godly, more righteous: +and, if in the churches of Scotland any more light and +beauty in matters of order and discipline, by which their +assemblies are more orderly: or, if to any other church or +person, it hath been given better to have learned Christ in +any of His ways, than any of us, we shall humbly bow, and +kiss their lips that can speak right words unto us, in this +matter, and help us into the nearest uniformity with the +word and mind of Christ in this great work of Reformation.</p> + +<p>Honourable and reverend brethren, there cannot be a +more direct and effectual way to exhort and persuade the +wise, and men of sad and serious spirits (and such are you +to whom I am commanded to speak this day) than to let +into their understandings the weight, and worth, and great +importance of the work, they are persuaded unto. This +oath is such, and, in the matter and consequence of it, of +such concernment, as I can truly say, It is worthy of us; +yea, of all these kingdoms; yea, of all the kingdoms of the +world; for it is swearing fealty and allegiance unto Christ, +the King of kings; and giving up of all these kingdoms +which are in His inheritance, to be subdued more to His +throne, and ruled more by His sceptre, upon whose +shoulders the government is laid, and "of the increase of +whose government and peace there shall be no end." Yea, +we find this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it, +to have been the oath of the greatest angel that ever was, +who setting his feet upon two of God's kingdoms, the one +upon the sea, the other upon the earth, lifting up his hand +to heaven, as you are to do this day, and so swearing. The +effect of that oath you shall find to be this, "That the +kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord +and His Christ, and He shall reign forever." His oath was +for the full and final accomplishment, this of yours for a +gradual, yet a great performance towards it.</p> + +<p>That which the apostles and primitive times did so much +and so long pray for, tho' never long with much quietness +enjoyed; that which our fathers in these latter times have +fasted, prayed and mourned after, yet attained not; even +the cause which many dear saints now with God, have +furthered by extremest sufferings, poverty, imprisonment, +banishment, death, even ever since the first dawning of +reformation: that and the very same is the very cause and +work that we are come now, through the mercy of Jesus +Christ, not only to pray for, but swear to. And surely it +can be no other, but the result and answer of such prayers +and tears, of such sincerity and sufferings, that three +kingdoms should be thus born, or rather new-born in a day; +that these kingdoms should be wrought about to so great +an engagement, than which nothing is higher. For this +end kings reign, kingdoms stand, and states are upheld.</p> + +<p>It is a special grace and favour of God unto you, brethren, +(Reverend and Honourable) to vouchsafe you the opportunity, +and to put into your hearts, as this day, to engage +your lives and estates in matters so much concerning Him +and His glory. And if you should do no more, but lay a +foundation stone in this great work, and by so doing engage +posterity after you to finish it, it were honour enough: +but there may yet further use be made of you, who now are +to take this oath. You are designed as chief master-builders, +and choice instruments for the effecting of this settled peace +and reformation; which, if the Lord shall please to finish in +your hands, a greater happiness on earth, nor a greater +means to augment your glory and crown in heaven, you are +not capable of. And this, let me further add for your +encouragement, of what extensive good, and fruit in the +success of it, this very oath may prove to be, we know not. +God hath set His covenant like the heavens, not only for +duration, but like also for extension. The heavens move +and roll about, and so communicate their light, and heat, +and virtue, to all places and parts of the earth; so doth the +covenant of God; so may this gift be given to other covenants, +that are framed to this pattern. How much this +solemn league and oath may provoke other reformed +churches to a further reformation of themselves; what light +and heat it may communicate abroad to other parts of the +world, it is only in Him to define, to whom is given the +utmost ends of the earth for His inheritance, and worketh +by His exceeding great power great things out of small +beginnings.</p> + +<p>But however, this I am sure of, it is a way in all probability +most likely to enable us to preserve and defend our religion +against our common enemies; and possibly a more sure +foundation this day will be laid for ruining popery and +prelacy, the chief of them, than yet hath been led unto in any +age. For popery hath been a religion ever dexterous in +fencing and mounting itself by association and joint strength. +All sorts of professors amongst them are cast into fraternities +and brotherhoods; and these orders carefully united by +vow one with another, and under some more general notion +of common dependence. Such states also and kingdoms, +as they have thus made theirs, they endeavour to improve +and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to +other; witness of late years that <i>la sainte ligue</i>, the holy +league. It will not be unworthy your consideration, +whether, seeing the preservation of popery hath been by +leagues and covenant, God may not make a league or +covenant to be the destruction of it. Nay, the very rise of +popery seemeth to be after such a manner, by kings, that is +kingdoms assenting and agreeing perhaps by some joint +covenant (the text saith, "with one mind," why not then +with one mouth) to give their power and strength unto the +beast, and make war against the Lamb. For you read, +"the Lamb shall overcome the beast," and possibly with +the same weapons. He is the Lord of lords, and King of +kings, He can unite kings and kingdoms, and give them one +mind also to destroy the whore, and be her utter ruin. And +may not this day's work be a happy beginning of such a +blessed expedition?</p> + +<p>Prelacy, another common enemy, that we covenant and +swear against. What hath been, or what hath the strength +of it been, but a subtile combination of clergymen, formed +into a policy or body of their own invention, framing +themselves into subordination and dependence one upon +another; so that the interest of each is improved by all, and +a great power by this means acquired to themselves, as by +sad experience we have lately found. The joints and +members of this body, you know, were knit together by +the sacred engagement of an oath, the <i>Oath of Canonical +Obedience</i>, as they called it. You remember also, with what +cunning industry they endeavoured lately, to make this oath +and covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity, and +intended a more public, solemn and universal engagement; +than since Popery, this cause of theirs, was ever maintained +or supported by: and questionless, Ireland and Scotland +also must at last have been brought into this holy league +with England. But blessed be the Lord, and blessed be His +good hand, the parliament that, from the indignation of their +spirits against so horrid a yoke, have dashed out the very +brains of this project, and are now this day present before +the Lord, to take and give possession of this blessed +ordinance, even an oath and covenant, as solemn, and of as +large extent, as they intended theirs; uniting these three +kingdoms into such a league and happy combination, as will +doubtless preserve us and our reformation against them, +though their iniquity, in the mysteries of it, should still be +working amongst us. Come, therefore (I speak in the +words of the prophet) "let us join ourselves to the Lord," +and one to another, and each to all, "in a perpetual +covenant that shall not be forgotten."</p> + +<p>We are now entering upon a work of the greatest moment +and concernment to us, and to our posterity after us, that +ever was undertaken by any of us, or any of our forefathers +before us, or neighbouring nations about us; if the Lord +shall bless this our beginning, it will be a happy day, and we +shall be a happy people. An oath is a duty of the first +commandment, and therefore of the highest and noblest +order and rank of duties, therefore must come forth +attended with choicest graces, especially with these two, +humility and fear.</p> + +<p>Fear, not only of God, which ought to be in an eminent +measure. Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac, as if +he coveted to inherit his father's grace, as well as his father's +God: but also, fear of an oath, it being a dreadful duty, and +hath this peculiar, it is established by the oath of God, "I +have sworn, that unto Me every tongue shall swear." It is +made the very character of a saint, he fears an oath.</p> + +<p>Humility is another grace requisite. Set your hearts +before God in an humble obedient frame. "Thou shall fear +the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and swear by His name." +The apostle Paul was sensible of this engagement, even in +the very act of this duty. "I call God to witness, whom I +serve in my spirit:" although it be a work of the lips, yet the +heart, and the whole man must be interested, if we expect +this worship to be acceptable. "Accept the free-will offering +of my mouth, and teach me Thy judgments."</p> + +<p>Also it must be done in the greatest simplicity and +plainness of spirit, in respect of those with whom we +covenant; we call God as a witness betwixt us, who searcheth +the heart: "With Him is wisdom and strength, the deceived +and deceiver are His." He hath wisdom to discover, and +strength to punish, if our hearts be not upright to our +brethren in this matter. Let us be contented with this, that +the words of our covenant be bands; it may not be, so much +as in the desire of our hearts, that they should become snares, +no not to the weakest and simplest person that joineth with +us. On the whole work make your address unto God, as +Jacob did to his father Isaac, and let there be the like fear +and jealousy over your spirits. "My father peradventure +will feel me, and I shall seem to Him as a deceiver, and I +shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing."</p> + +<p>I take liberty with more earnestness to press this care upon +you, because I have observed oaths and covenants have +been undertaken by us formerly, and by the command of +authority, the fruit whereof, though great, yet answered not +our expectation; the Lord surely hath been displeased with +the slightness of our hearts in the work. I beseech you be +more watchful, and stir up your hearts with more industry +this day than ever before. As it is the last oath you are +likely to take in this kind, so it is our last refuge, <i>Tabula +post naufragium</i>. If this help us not, we are likely to +remain to our dying day an unhappy people; but if +otherwise, "You will indeed swear with all your hearts, and +seek the Lord with your whole desire, God will be found, +and give you rest round about."</p> + +<p>And having sworn, and entered into this solemn +engagement to God and man, make conscience to do +accordingly; otherwise it is better thou shouldst not vow. +As is said of fasting, "It is not the bowing down of the head +for a day;" so of this solemn swearing, It is not the lifting +up of the hand for a day, but an honest and faithful +endeavouring after the contents of this covenant, all our +days. A truce-breaker is reckoned up amongst the vilest of +Christians, so a covenant-breaker is listed amongst the worst +of heathens, but he that sweareth and changeth not, tho' +he swear to his hurt, that is, he that will keep his covenant +and oath, tho' the contents of it prove not for him, nay +possibly against him, yet he will keep it for his oath's sake, +such an one "shall have his habitation with the most High, +and dwell in His tabernacle." And as for you, reverend +brethren, that are ministers of the gospel, there is yet +another obligation will lie upon you: let us look to +ourselves, and make provision to walk answerable to this our +covenant, for the gospel's sake: it will reflect a great +aspersion upon the truth of the gospel, if we should be false +or inconstant in any word or purpose, tho' in a matter of less +consequence, as you can easily collect from that apology of +Paul. How much more in such a case as this is, if we +should be found to purpose, nay more, to vow, and covenant, +and swear, and all this according unto the flesh, and with us +there should be, notwithstanding all these obligations, yea, +yea, and nay, nay.</p> + +<p>That we may all, who take the covenant this day, be +constant, immoveable, and abound in this work of the Lord, +that we may not start aside, or give back, or go on +uncomfortably, there is a twofold grace or qualification to be +laboured after.</p> + +<p>1. We must get courage, spirits that are bold and +resolute. It is said in Haggai, that "the Lord stirred +up the Spirit of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and the +spirit of Joshua, the high priest, and the spirit of all the +remnant of the people, and they came and did work in the +house of the Lord." The work of God's house, reformation +work especially, is a stirring work: read history, you find +not any where, reformation made in any age, either in +doctrine or discipline, without great stir and opposition. +This was foretold by the same prophet, the promise is, +"He will fill His house with glory." But what goeth +before. "Yet once it is a little while, and I will shake the +heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land," that +is, all nations, as in the words following. This place is +applied to the removing Jewish rites, the moveables of +God's house. The like you find in the apostles' times, the +truth being preached, some believed, others did not. Here +beginneth the stir. Those that believed not, "took unto +themselves certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and +gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar;" +and when they had done so, complained of the brethren to +the rulers, as men that turn the world upside down. In +such a work therefore, men had need be of stout, resolute +and composed spirits, that we may be able to go on in the +main, and stir in the midst of such stirs, and not be amazed +at any such doings. It may possibly happen, that even +amongst yourselves, there will be outcries: Sir, you will +undo all, saith one; You will put all into confusion, saith +another; If you take this course, saith a third, we can +expect nothing but blood. But a wise statesman, like an +experienced seaman, knoweth the compass of his vessel, +and tho' it heave, toss, and the passengers cry out about +him, yet in the midst of all, he is himself, turneth not aside +from his work, but steereth on his course. I beseech you, +let it be seriously considered, if you mean to do any such +work in the house of God, as this is; if you mean to +pluck up what many years ago was planted, or to build +up what so long ago was pulled down, and to go thro' +with this work and not be discouraged, you must beg of +the Lord this excellent spirit, this resolute, stirring spirit, +otherwise you will be outspirited, and both you and your +cause slighted and dishonoured.</p> + +<p>2. On the other hand, we must labour for humility, +prudence, gentleness, meekness. A man may be very +zealous and resolute, and yet very meek and merciful: +Jesus Christ was a Lion, and yet a Lamb also; in one +place, He telleth them He cometh to send "fire on the +earth:" and, in another place, rebuketh His disciples "for +their fiery spirits." There was the like composition in +Moses, and in Paul; and it is of great use, especially in this +work of reformation. I have not observed any disputes +carried on with more bitterness in men's writings, and with +a more unsanctified heat of spirit, yea, and by godly men +too, than in controversies about discipline, church government, +ceremonies, and the like. Surely, to argue about +government with such ungoverned passions, to argue for +reformation with a spirit so unreformed, is very uncomely. +Let us be zealous, as Christ was, to cast out all, to extirpate +and root out every plant His heavenly Father hath not +planted; and yet let us do it in an orderly way, and with +the Spirit of Christ, whose servants we are. "The servant +of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt +to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose." +We solemnly engage this day our utmost endeavours for +reformation; let us remember this, that too much heat, as +well as too much coldness, may harden men in their ways, +and hinder reformation.</p> + +<p>Brethren, let us come to this blessed work with such a +frame of heart, with such a mind, for the present, with such +resolutions for the time to come; let us not be wanting to +the opportunity God hath put into our hands this day; and +then I can promise you, as the prophet, "Consider this day +and upwards, even from this day, that the foundation of the +Lord's work is laid, consider it, from this day will I bless you +saith the Lord." Nay, we have received, as it were, the +first fruits of this promise; for, as it is said of some men's +good "works, they are manifest before-hand." Even so +may be said of the good work of this day, it is manifested +before-hand. God hath, as it were before-hand, testified +His acceptance; while we were thinking and purposing this +free-will offering, He was protecting and defending our +army, causing our enemies, the enemies of this work, to +flee before us, and gave us a victory, not to be despised. +Surely this oath and covenant shall be Judah's joy, the +joy and comfort of this whole kingdom, yea, of all the +three kingdoms.</p> + +<p>Jesus Christ, King of the saints, govern us by His Spirit, +strengthen us by His power, undertake for us according as +He hath sworn, even the "oath which He sware to our +father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being +delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve Him +without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, +all the days of our life." Grant unto us also, that when +this life is finished, and we gathered to our fathers, there +may be a generation out of our loins to stand up in this +cause, that His great and reverend name may be exalted +from one generation to another, until He Himself shall +come, and perfect all His own wisdom: even so come +Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND3" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND3"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + + +<h2>ADDRESS AT WESTMINSTER.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></span></h2> + +<h4><i>BY ALEXANDER HENDERSON.</i></h4> + + +<p>Although the time be far spent, yet am I bold (honourable, +reverend, and beloved in the Lord) to crave your patience a +little. It were both sin and shame to us in this so acceptable +a time in this day, which the Lord hath made, to be silent +and to say nothing. If we should hold our peace, we could +neither be answerable to God, whose cause and work is in +hand, nor to this church and kingdom, unto which we have +made so large profession of duty, and owe much more; nor +to our native kingdom, so abundant in affection towards you; +nor to our own hearts, which exceedingly rejoice to see this +day. We have greater reason than the leprous men sitting +in a time of great extremity at the gates of Samaria, to say +one to another, "We do not well, this day is a day of good +tidings, and we hold our peace." It is true, the Syrians are +not yet fled; but our hope is through God, that the work +begun this day, being sincerely performed, and faithfully +pursued, shall put to flight, not only the Syrians and Babylonians, +but all other enemies of the church of God, of the +king's honour, and of our liberty and peace.</p> + +<p>For it is acceptable to God, and well pleasing in His +sight, when His people come willingly in the day of His +power (and how shall they not be willing in the day of His +power?) to enter into a religious covenant with Him, and +amongst themselves, whatsoever be the condition of the +people of God, whether in sorrow and humiliation before +deliverance, or in rejoicing and thanksgiving after deliverance. +This is it which the Lord waits for at their hands, +which they have been used to perform, and with which He +hath been so well pleased, that it hath been the fountain of +many deliverances and blessings unto them. When a +people begin to forget God, He lifteth up His hand against +them, and smiteth them: and when His people, humbled +before Him, lift up their hands, not only in supplication, +but in covenant before the most high God, He is pleased +(such is His mercy and wonderful compassion) first, to lift +His hand unto them, saying, "I am the Lord your God;" +as we have it three times in two verses of the 20th of +Ezekiel: and next He stretcheth out His hand against His +enemies and theirs. It is the best work of faith, to join in +covenant with God, the best work of love and Christian +communion, to join in covenant with the people of God; +the best work of the best zeal, to join in covenant for +reformation, against the enemies of God and religion; the +best work of true loyalty, to join in covenant for the +preservation of our king and superiors; and the best proof +of natural affection, (and to be without natural affection is +one of the great sins of the Gentiles) to join in covenant for +defence of our native country, liberties and laws: such as +from these necessary ends do withdraw, and are not willing +to enter into covenant, have reason to enter into their own +hearts, and to look into their faith, love, zeal, loyalty, and +natural affection.</p> + +<p>As it is acceptable to God, so have we for it the precedent +and example not only of the people of God of old, of the +reformed churches of Germany, and the low countries; but +of our own noble and Christian progenitors in the time of +the danger of religion, which is expressed in the covenant +itself. The defect was, they went not on thoroughly to +enter into a solemn covenant, an happiness reserved for this +time, which had they done, the corruptions and calamities +of these days might have been prevented. And if the Lord +shall be pleased to move, loose, and enlarge the hearts of +His people in his majesty's dominions to take this covenant, +not in simulation, nor in lukewarmness, as those that are +almost persuaded to be Christians, but as becometh the +people of God, it shall be the prevention of many evils and +miseries, and a means of many and rich blessings, spiritual +and temporal, to ourselves, our little ones, and the posterity +that shall come after us, for many generations.</p> + +<p>The near and neighbouring example of the church and +kingdom of Scotland, is in this case worthy of our best +observation. When the prelates there were grown by their +rents, and lordly dignities, by their exorbitant power over +all sorts of his majesty's subjects, ministers and others, by +their places in parliament, council, college of justice, +exchequer, and high commission, to a monstrous dominion +and greatness, and, like giants, setting their one foot on the +neck of the church, and the other on the neck of the state, +were become intolerably insolent. And when the people of +God, through their oppression in religion, liberties and laws, +and what was dearest unto them, were brought so low, that +they choose rather to die, than to live in such slavery, +or to live in any other place, rather than in their own +native country: then did the Lord say, "I have seen +the affliction of My people, and I have heard their groaning, +and am come down to deliver them." The beginnings were +small and contemptible in the eyes of the presumptuous +enemies, such as used to be the beginnings of the greatest +works of God; but were so seconded and continually +followed by the undeniable evidences of divine providence, +leading them forward from one step to another, that their +mountain became strong in the end. No tongue can tell +what motions filled the hearts, what tears were poured forth +from the eyes, and what cries came from the mouths of +many thousands in that land, when they found an unwonted +flame warming their breasts, and perceived the power of +God, raising them from the dead, and creating for them a +new world, wherein shall dwell religion and righteousness. +When they were destitute both of monies and munition, +which, next unto the spirit and arms of men, are the sinews +of war, the Lord brought them forth out of His hid +treasures, which was wonderful in their eyes, and matter of +astonishment to their hearts: when they were many times +at a pause in their deliberations, and brought to such +perplexity, that they knew not what to choose, or to do for +prosecuting the work of God, only their eyes were towards +Him; not only the fears and furies, but the plots also and +policies of the adversaries opened the way unto them, their +devices were turned upon their own heads, and served for +promoting of the work of God. The purity of their +intentions elevated above base and earthly respects, and the +constant peace of their hearts in the midst of many dangers, +did bear them out against the malicious accusations and +aspersions put upon their actions: all which were sensible +impressions of the good providence of God, and legible +characters of His work; which the church and kingdom +of England, exercised at this time with greater difficulty +than theirs, have in part already found; so shall the parallel +be perfected to their greater comfort in the faithful pursuing +of the work unto the end.</p> + +<p>Necessity, which hath in it a kind of sovereignty, and is a +law above all laws, and therefore is said to have no law, +doth mightily press the church and kingdom of Scotland at +this time. It is no small comfort unto them, that they have +not been idle, and at ease, but have used all good and +lawful means of supplications, declarations and remonstrances +to his majesty, for quenching the combustion in this kingdom: +and after all these, that they sent commissioners to +his majesty, humbly to mediate for a reconcilement and +pacification. But the offer of their humble service was +rejected from no other reason, but that they had no warrant +nor capacity for such a mediation; and that the intermixture +of the government of the church of England, with the civil +government of the kingdom, was such a mystery as could +not be understood by them. Although it be true, which +was at that time often replied, that the eighth demand of the +treaty, and the answer given thereunto, concerning the +uniformity of religion, was a sufficient ground of capacity; +and the proceedings of the houses of parliament against +episcopal government, as a stumbling block hindering +reformation, and as a prejudice to the civil state, was ground +enough for their information. The commissioners having +returned from his majesty without success, and the miseries +of Ireland, and the distresses of England, and the dangers +and pressures of the kingdom of Scotland, growing to greater +extremity; such as were intrusted with the public affairs of +the kingdom, were necessitate, according to the practice of +former times, his majesty having denied a parliament, to call +a convention of the estates, for considering of the present +affairs, and for providing the best remedies: which, immediately +upon their meeting, by the special providence of God, +did receive information of divers treacherous attempts of +papists, in all the three kingdoms, as if they had been called +for that effect. And by the same providence, commissioners +were sent from both houses of parliament, to consider with +the estates of the kingdom of Scotland, of such articles and +propositions, as might make the conjunction betwixt the two +nations more beneficial and effectual for the securing of +religion and liberty against papists and prelates, with their +adherents. Their consultations with the commissioners of +the General Assembly did in the end bring forth a covenant, +as the only means after all other had been essayed, for the +deliverance of England and Ireland out of the depths of +affliction, preservation of the church and kingdom of Scotland +from the extremity of misery, and the safety of our +native king and his kingdoms, from destruction and desolation. +This is the manifold necessity which nature, religion, +loyalty and love hath laid upon them.</p> + +<p>Nor is it unknown in this honourable, reverend and wise +audience, what errors and heresies in doctrine, what superstition +and idolatry in worship, what usurpation and tyranny +in government, what cruelty against the souls and bodies of +the saints have been set on foot, exercised and executed for +many generations, and now of late by the Roman church: +all which we hope, through the blessing of God upon this +work, shall be brought to an end. Had the Pope at Rome +the knowledge of what is doing this day in England, and +were this covenant written on the plaster of the wall over +against him, where he sitteth, Belshazzar-like in his sacrilegious +pomp, it would make his heart to tremble, his +countenance to change, his head and mitre to shake, his +joints to loose, and all his cardinals and prelates to be +astonished.</p> + +<p>When the reformed churches, which by their letters have +been exciting us to Christian communion and sympathy, in +this time of the danger of religion and distress of the godly, +shall hear of this blessed conjunction for uniformity in +religion, according to the Word of God, and the defence +thereof, it shall quicken their hearts against the heaviness of +oppressing sorrows and fears; and be no other than a +beginning of a jubilee and joyful deliverance unto them, +from the antichristian yoke and tyranny.</p> + +<p>Upon these and the like considerations, we are very +confident that the church and kingdom of Scotland will +most cheerfully join in this covenant; at the first motion +whereof, their bowels were moved within them. And to +give testimony of this our confidence, we who are Commissioners +from the General Assembly, although we have no +particular and express commission for that end (not from +want of willingness, but of foresight) offer to join our hearts +and hands unto it, being assured, that the Lord in His own +time will, against all opposition, even against the gates of +hell, crown it with a blessing from heaven. The Word of +God is for it, as you have been now resolved by the consent +and testimony of a reverend assembly of so many godly, +learned and great divines. In your own sense and experience, +upon seeking God in private or public, as in the evening +of a well spent Sabbath or day of fast and humiliation, +the bent and inclinations of your hearts will be strongest to +go through with this work. It is a good testimony that our +designs and ways are agreeable to the will of God, if we +affect them most when our hearts are farthest from the +world, and our temper is most spiritual and heavenly, and +least carnal and earthly. As the Word of God, so the +prayers of the people of God in all the reformed churches, +are for us. That divine providence also which hath maintained +this cause, and supported His servants in a marvellous +manner unto this day, and which this time past hath kept +things in an equal balance and vicissitude of success, will, +we trust, from this day forth, through the weight of this +covenant, cast the balance, and make religion and righteousness +to prevail, to the glory of God, the honour of our king, +the confusion of our common enemies, and the comfort and +safety of the people of God; which, may He grant who is +able to do above any thing that we can ask or think.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<center> +<span style="font-size: 80%"> +<img src="images/6.png" alt="Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon." /><br /> +[Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon.]</span></center><br /> + +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND4" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND4"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT WESTMINSTER.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY THOMAS COLEMAN.</i></h4> + +<p class="center"> +"For who is this, that engaged his heart to approach unto Me,<br /> +saith the Lord?"—<i>Jerem.</i> xxx. 21.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>Two things in this clause cause some obscurity: <i>First,</i> +The uncertainty of the subject. <i>Second,</i> The ambiguity of +one phrase.</p> + +<p>1. The uncertainty of the subject, or person of whom the +prophet speaks here: whether of Christ, by way of prophecy, +or of some particular person, by way of story, or indefinitely +of every one, by way of duty.</p> + +<p>2. The ambiguity of that phrase, <i>engaged;</i> which, +according to the variety of its signification, is or may be +variously rendered. <i>He adorned His heart; He applied +His heart; He directed His heart; He engaged His heart.</i></p> + +<p>Hereupon the sense becomes various.</p> + +<p>1. Who is he, <i>viz.</i> Christ, hath appointed his heart? Can +there be found a parallel to Christ in the world, that hath so +given himself up to God? made Him and His ways his +meat and drink, yea more than his ordinary food?</p> + +<p>2. Who hath fitted and adorned his heart? Is there any +that can adorn and prepare himself to approach unto God, +without God?</p> + +<p>3. To omit others of like nature: it may be true, that it +is chiefly spoken of Christ: the titles in the beginning of the +verse look this way; his noble One, his Ruler; but seeing +Christ is the head of the body, and one with His body, it +may secondarily, and by way of communication, be also +affirmed of His members; and to them we extend it.</p> + +<p>The clause therefore seems dependent, and as it is applied +to man, hath reference to that which is an act of God, and +seems to be a reason thereof. "I will cause him," saith God, +"to draw nigh, and he then shall approach; for who is this +that hath engaged his heart?" The force of which inference +may look two ways.</p> + +<p>1. Shewing the impossibility in man to begin the action: +"I will cause him to draw nigh; for who is this, that hath +engaged his heart?" Where is the man that can direct his +heart, approach to Me of himself, by his own power? Not +any, not one: "Without Me you can do nothing."</p> + +<p>2. Approving the endeavour to continue; I will cause him +to draw near, that he may approach, and stay with Me: he +doeth his best, according to his strength; "he engageth his +heart," I will help on with the work; "for who is this?" +Oh this is an excellent one; there are not many so; that any, +that this is so, is beyond expectation, worthy of commendation. +What an one is this? "Who is it that hath engaged," +tied, bound his heart from starting aside like a broken bow, +to approach to, and to continue with Me, saith the Lord?</p> + +<p>In the words (to proceed methodically and clearly) I offer +the sum of my thoughts, to be considered under four general +heads, or parts.</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 25%;">I. The opening of the phrases.<br /> +II. The propounding of the point.<br /> +III. The viewing of the duty.<br /> +IV. The encouragement to the practice.</p> + +<p>In and through these we shall walk, as travellers, who +speed their pace in those fields which yield no novelties, no +fruit, no delight, but where they meet with varieties to +delight the senses, fruitful places, green pastures to refresh +themselves and beasts, they rest themselves and bait: so in +some of these we shall only take and offer a taste, on others +insist, as God shall direct; wherein an engagement of the +attentions in the handling to me, may, through God's mercy, +beget an engagement of the heart to God in the applying of +them in order.</p> + + +<p><b>I.—<i>The opening of the phrases.</i></b></p> + +<p>For the fuller understanding of the prophet's drift, three +words or phrases in this short sentence are a little to be +cleared; for it containeth three parts: 1. An action of piety. +2. The object of this action. 3. The inquiry into both: +and these are expressed in so many several particles.</p> + +<p>1. The action of piety, engaging the heart. The heart +may prove loose and wandering without an engagement: +the engagement may be hypocritical and sinister, if it be +not of the heart; but the one implying stability, the other +sincerity, both together complete it as an action of piety.</p> + +<p>2. The object of this action, "to approach unto Me." Sin +may be the object pursued, and God may be beheld at a +distance: in this, we do not approach; in that, we approach +not to God; but either is needful. God abhors those that +approach to sin: He minds not those that look to Him at +their distance: except then thou approach, and approach +unto God, thy endeavour is either cold or cursed.</p> + +<p>3. The inquiry into both, who is this? into the act of +engagement, because it is not usual, into the part engaged, +because it is subtile; and what we seldom see, or groundedly +suspect, we have cause to inquire after.</p> + +<p>Of the first; this engagement is a degree of the heart's +motion towards any object, good and bad; for it was an +engagement, though a bad one, when more than forty men +bound themselves with an oath from eating and drinking, +till they had killed Paul. To this degree of engagement we +ascend by these steps, and the heart of man perfects a +motion towards God and good things thus gradually.</p> + +<p>1. By an inclination or hankering, a propensity in the +mind to this or that: this naturally is evil, and to evil; he +that follows his inclination goes wrong, the whole frame of +a man's disposition being continually ill-disposed. It is +called in scripture the speech or saying of the heart, and +used indifferently both of good and bad, yet with a notable +mark of diversity in the original, though translations mind +it not. Eight times in the Old Testament is this phrase, +"Said in his heart," used: four times by the wicked, and +as oft by the righteous; but constantly, whensoever a +wicked man useth it, as David's fool, Esau, Haman, Satan, +it is in his heart; when a good man, as Hannah, David, it is +to his heart; and teacheth: 1. That the heart and courses +of a wicked man are subject to his inclinations; they dictate +to him; they command, and he obeys. 2. But the +inclinations of a good man are subject to him; he dictates +to them, commands them as things subdued, and fit to +be kept under.</p> + +<p>Both these different inclinations, different, I say, in +respect of subject and object, are strengthened with nothing +more than the often reiteration of suitable acts; an evil +inclination with evil acts, a good with good. 1. Sin +gathereth strength by frequency of committing, and at last +becomes as natural as meat or sleep. "By following vanity, +they became vain." 2. A good inclination is furthered by +good actions; frequency in performance turns to a habit: +therefore the Jews, to habituate their heart to mourning, do +always, for the space of three days before the memorial of +the temple's desolation, in their public meetings, read +chapters of mourning; for (say they) three acts make a +habit. And hereupon it was: that Israel, above and before +other nations, became a blessed people; blessings being +even naturalized upon them by the holiness of the three +patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, immediately succeeding +one the other.</p> + +<p>2. By a desire, which is an inclination augmented and +actuated, carrying on the party to the thing desired, +grounded on, or inclined by some external enforcements. +This was in Paul, who by that relation to, and interest that +he had in, the Thessalonians, endeavoured abundantly with +much desire to see their face, which put him to the essay +once and again.</p> + +<p>3. A purpose, a determination to effect, to accomplish his +desire. I have purposed, saith David, "that my mouth shall +not transgress," which purposing, before it be taken up, +should be well grounded, and, when taken up, not lightly +altered. For see, how a change in such a purpose, put the +apostle to a serious apology; he was minded to have visited +them, he did not; he foresaw they might, they would tax +him of lightness, as either not minding, or not being master +of his own determinations, and so consequently his ministry, +and therein the gospel might be blemished: the fear of +which struck his heart, the prevention of which moved his +spirit, that both they might be satisfied and himself remain +without blame.</p> + +<p>4. A resolve, a purpose settled; Daniel was fully resolved, +he had laid this charge upon his heart, that he would not +defile himself with the king's meat.</p> + +<p>5. A tie or obligation, whereby the heart, otherwise shifty, +is bound to the work intended, sometime by a single +promise, sometime by an oath or vow, and sometime more +publicly by a solemn covenant. And this last and highest +degree is that which the prophet speaks, at least in this +sense I take it. This is that engagement of soul, whereby +a man prevents his starting aside: and this is that first +phrase that was to be opened.</p> + +<p>Of the second; "to approach unto Me."</p> + +<p>This is the object, and this approachment is threefold: +1. In his inward man. 2. In his outward man. 3. In +both. 1. In his inward man; in heart, by drawing close to +God, enjoying a sensible and blessed communion with Him, +which is comfortable in such a degree that, where it is felt, +it needs no bidding to make an engagement. 2. In his +outward man, in his person approaching to God in the +practice of all duties commanded; God in His ordinances +is powerfully present, man in their use stands within this +presence. 3. In both, in all his abilities approaching to +Him in managing His holy cause; and therefore holy, +because His. God walks in the midst of His people's +armies: when thy sons, O Zion, "are armed against thy +sons," O Greece, "the Lord God is seen over them." +These are those approachings of the saints to their God: +the first is their happiness, the second their duty, the third +their honour. It is a happy thing to enjoy God's comforts +in soul; it is our enjoined duty to obey Him in His ways, +and it is an honour to be found standing for the way of +righteousness.</p> + +<p>Of the third. The inquiry, "who is this?"</p> + +<p>Scripture questions are of several uses, hold forth several +senses; here it seems to be an approbation of the action +spoken of. Who is this? What one is this, that so carefully +engageth his heart? This is not ordinary among men, +nor of an ordinary degree in man; few move, fewer engage +themselves to move towards God. This approbation hath, +1. Its foundation in a duty: I approve this engaging, and +the man because he engageth. 2. Its direction from the +subject, heart. The engagement of the outward man may +have wrong principles: that it may be right, let the heart, +soul, inward parts, all that is within us be engaged to bless +His holy name. 3. Its limitation from the object, to +approach unto me: to engage the heart to sin, to the +creature, to vanity, is neither commendable, nor approvable; +but to close with God, to come to, stay with, and +act for Him, this is that which the prophet, and God in +the mouth of the prophet ever approves. And this brings +us to,</p> + + +<p><b>II.—<i>The propounding of the point, and that in these words.</i></b></p> + +<p>God observes with the eye of approbation, such as engage +and tie themselves to Him; He looks with an approving +eye upon this carefulness: for such an engagement of soul +is, 1. Needful. 2. Helpful; needful for the heart, helpful +to our graces.</p> + +<p>The needfulness is evident. The heart is slow and +subtile, backward and deceitful; except it be drawn with +the cords of such an engagement, it puts slowly forward; +and when thus drawn, it will fall quickly off. Days of +desolation beget resolves, times of terror produce engagements, +which the heart (the storm past) will wilily and +wickedly seek to evade. David suspected this cozenage in +himself, when he cries out, Oh! I have many good thoughts, +but a naughty heart; many holy purposes, but a deceitful +spirit: thou hast cause, as a Creator, not to believe the +tender of my obedience, nor as a just God, the promise of +submission; but I call to Thy mercy to give assistance. +"Be surety for Thy servant for good:" for the performance +of all good I promise. And Hezekiah in his sickness was +not without fear of this deceitfulness: "Oh Lord, I am +oppressed, undertake for me;" I shall never keep my word, +that word which my lips have spoken; and I have none +dare pass his word for me: "do thou, O Lord, undertake +for me."</p> + +<p>2. The helpfulness is undeniable; a heart from this +engagement may fetch renewed strength continually. This +engagement is a buckler of defence to arm us against +Satan's enticement, is armour of proof to withstand the +world's inducement; it makes us without fear or failing stand +upon our own ground, and renew our courage like the eagle. +Job was probably sometimes seduced with such foolish +persuasions, to courses not less foolish, but he yielded not: +what helped him? even his engagement: "I have made a +covenant with mine eyes, how then shall I look on a +maid?" Constancy in good is well-pleasing to God; "If +any draw back, His soul hath no pleasure in them." Whatsoever +then is needful for it, or helpful to it, He both +prescribes and approves. O let us engage our hearts to +this approachment, a duty enjoined, a sacrifice accepted.</p> + +<p>But there is one scripture that fully showeth the point, +and the truth of it in all particulars. Consider then. Three +things may seem necessary herein to be noted; the act, the +approbation, and the reason; and here we have them all.</p> + +<p>1. The act, engaging; or the persons, the engagers of +themselves. Thou hast avouched, set up God this day to +be thy God, not only in thy conscience by the act of faith, +but even by thy mouth thou hast uttered this, probably in +some solemn league and covenant. "Thou hast made to +say:" so much the Hebrew word imports.</p> + +<p>2. The approbation; and God answers thee accordingly, +He hath avouched, set up thee to be His people; particularly +to two privileges; 1. To be His peculiar people, the people +of His own proper possession, joined so high, united so +near, that they are admitted to a participation of many +heavenly privileges; the actions of the one being communicated +to the other; man's prayer is called God's, "I +will make them glad in the house of My prayer," God's +people called man's, Moses's people, Moses's law: so in +the law of God, and in his law, that is, the righteous man's +law. 2. To keep His commands: this seems rather to be +a duty than a prerogative, yet a prerogative it is for a +Christian to be holy, obedient, righteous: both directly, +and accidently. 1. Directly; the scripture teacheth so. +The fruit of a Christian's being made free from sin is unto +holiness. "If you will fear the Lord and serve Him" (these +are Samuel's words to the people) "and not rebel:" what +then? what shall we have? "Then shall you and your +king continue to follow the Lord." Solomon, setting down +the recompence of a righteous person, saith, his reward shall +be double, in himself, and in his posterity; in himself, "he +shall walk on in his integrity," in his posterity, "they shall +be blessed after him." 2. Accidently: holiness is a +privilege, as well as a duty; it is a reward, a benefit to him +who walks therein. It may, and oft doth daunt their +persecutors, that otherwise would have taken away their +lives. The heathens observe that the majestic presence +of a prince hath dashed the boldness, and so prevented +the execution of some villanous attempt by a base traitor +against their persons: and Christians know that the power +of holiness is able to dazzle the proudest spirits. Herod, +saith the text, "feared John," and so a long while did him +no hurt. And the emperor Adrian ceased his persecution +against the Christians of his time, when he understood of +their holiness of life. So true it is both ways, that the +punishment of sin is sin, and the reward of the command +is the command.</p> + +<p>Both these privileges are again repeated, and further are +evidenced in the following verse; "Thou art His peculiar +people, therefore will He make thee high above all nations, +in praise, name and honour, of more esteem than any; +and, thou keepest His commandments, and so He advanceth +thee to be a holy people unto the Lord thy God:" all this +evidenceth God's approbation of an engaging heart.</p> + +<p>3. The reason and ground of God's approving this act, +they are two. 1. Because the matter or duties, to which +by this bond the heart is tied, are such as God directly +observes with an approving eye. The particulars are three +here specified, and all elsewhere expressly subjected to this +eye of God. <i>1st</i>. Thou obligest thyself to walk in His +ways, in the practice of all the duties of the second table; +and upon such as depart from evil, and do good, upon such +righteous ones, the eyes of the Lord are fastened, not His +omniscient eye, but His protecting, blessing eye, that eye +the seeing whereof is of the same temper with the open ear +following: "His eye is upon the righteous, and His ear +open to their cry;" that eye which stands in opposition to +His face, which is against the wicked. <i>2d.</i> And to observe +His ordinances and judgments, reverently to practise all +the duties of the first table to God, and to such also God +casts His eye of respect: "The eye of the Lord is upon +those that fear Him, and that hope in His mercy." <i>3d.</i> +And to hearken to the means of both, to hear His voice: +"When I counsel thee and instruct thee in the way that +thou shouldst go, Mine eye is upon thee, both to keep thee +to it, and to bless thee in it." 2. Because this engagement +is a means to accomplish His promise: because thou hast +avouched God, God hath avouched thee, and will do as He +hath said, and again, as He hath said; the repetition +whereof seems to argue contentedness in God, in that, by +this avouchment, a way was opened for the accomplishment +of His promise. "God is well pleased for His righteousness +sake," delights, when He can evidence Himself to be +righteous and just, for the law and words of His mouth He +will magnify and make honourable in the faithfulness of +their accomplishment. Mercy, the acts of mercy please +Him. God finds in a righteous man rest of spirit, because +by him He sends down a full influence of His favour upon +the world. "If the world knew (say some Hebrew doctors,) +of what worth a righteous man was, they would hedge him +about with pearls." His life is beneficial to all, even in +some sort to God Himself; for by him mercy is shewn to +the world: his death therefore is of great consequence; +a greater affliction than those curses mentioned; "I will +make thy plagues wonderful; thy heavens shall be brass, +they shall distil no dew nor rain to water the earth; but I +will do a marvellous thing, a marvellous and strange, a good +man, a wise man shall be taken away; and I can send no +more blessings upon you:" There remains not a heart +engaged, to whom I delight to approach; whiles such were, +mine eye was satisfied with seeing good, my heart with +doing good; now the one is removed, the other stopped. +O where is he that engageth his heart to approach to his +God!</p> + + +<p><b>III.—<i>The examining of the Duty.</i></b></p> + +<p>This engagement being thus approved, and therefore to be +entered on; let us a little examine the duty, and mind two +things. 1. What particulars do engage us, by what acts or +thoughts doth the heart become engaged? And, 2. What +hinders this engagement, and stops our entrance thereupon?</p> + +<p>I. Several and many ways doth the heart become +engaged to God: no consideration can enter our hearts, no +occurrent happen in our lives, but it offers reasons enforcing +this duty. We are engaged to God by our being, by our +receiving, by our doing: mind either, and acknowledge thyself +engaged.</p> + +<p>1. Our being what we are, engageth us: <i>1st.</i> That we +are creatures, and so not forgotten in the everlasting night +of a not-being: that we are men, and not beasts; that we +are Christians, and not heathens; all are engagements. +<i>2d.</i> But our being thus and thus; men of gifts and parts: +placed in such callings; qualified with such endowments: +interested in such privileges: these are engagements indeed.</p> + +<p>2. What we have. <i>1st.</i> Every thing we have received +binds us; all the acts of God's providence over us; all the +effects of God's goodness to us: health, food, callings, +trades, friends, families, clothes, the service of the creatures; +sun, rain, fruits of the earth: all, all these are bonds. <i>2d.</i> +But especially, our more peculiar favours; inward experience +of His love, and fruition of soul-communion with Him: +Oh, who would not be engaged for this!</p> + +<p>3. What we do, even our own actions become our +obligations; and that which comes from us binds us. <i>1st.</i> +Our feeling prayers. Who dare practise what he prays +against? A prayer against the power of sin, obliges to walk +in the power of that prayer; neither will any lightly omit +what but late as an evil he hath confessed to God. <i>2d.</i> +But especially (which is our present work) our solemn +and serious vows, protestations, promises; our covenant in +baptism, our particular covenants entered into, upon the +apprehension of some approaching calamity, upon a day of +humiliation, at a piercing sermon, or soul-searching prayer +before a sacrament, or the like. If we have spoken with +our lips, we cannot go back, we are engaged.</p> + +<p>II. As for such things that may hinder, we should both +note and avoid. 1. Ignorance: "If thou knewest the gift +of God," saith Christ to the Samaritan woman: want of +praying comes from want of knowing. "Have you received +the Holy Ghost?" was Paul's question, but the reply was, +that could not be; we "have not so much as heard, whether +there be a Holy Ghost, or no." Have you engaged your +souls in a solemn league? Let this be our querry, and the +answer will be, We have not so much as heard, whether there +be such a duty, or no. Ignorance hinders this bond. 2. +Wretched profaneness, which slights and sets at nought +all duties, ordinary, extraordinary; such mind sin, and the +fulfilling thereof; and bind themselves to mischief with cords +of vanity; whilst in the mean time they are contented to sit +loose from God. 3. Wicked policy, both to avoid the +taking, and to evade the keeping: scruples of conscience +shall be pretended by such as know not what conscience +means. Scripture shall be alleged, by such as are little +versed therein; this sentence shall be thus explained: this +releasement shall be thus pretended: all is but seemingly +to stop the mouth of conscience, that saith, they must both +make and pay vows unto God. Yet the wilfully ignorant +will neglect it; the wretchedly profane will contemn it; the +wickedly politic will avoid it; so the heart shall be left to its +own swing, open to all corruption that breaks in like a flood. +For the prevention whereof, let us come on to</p> + + +<p><b>IV.—<i>Encouragements to the practice</i>.</b></p> + +<p>The point thus propounded, and in several particulars +described, wherein and whereby the soul may be engaged; +there is nothing remaining, but the practice of it, and that is +yours. Up then, and be doing; disoblige yourselves, and +be no longer servants to the world, to sin, to obey either in +the lusts thereof; but be ye bound to serve righteousness, +and the God of righteousness; for His service is perfect +freedom. In this encouragement to this work, that I might +do as much as I can, in this little time granted, and gained +for preparation and delivery; I would advise, exhort, resolve, +and so prevent irreverence, backwardness, and doubting; +that neither the ignorant may profane, nor the refractory +contemn, nor the scrupulous question this holy ordinance of +God, as unholy needless, ambiguous. Let this encouragement +then be received in words: 1. Cautionary. +2. Hortatory. 3. Satisfactory.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Cautionary</i>.—Let this great work be done judiciously, +cautiously, and as an ordinance of God. Take we heed +therefore, 1. To the manner. 2. To the matter. 3. To +the consequence.</p> + +<p>1. <i>To the manner</i>. See that it be done; 1. Cheerfully. +2. Religiously.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, Cheerfully and willingly; for so did the people of +Israel in their covenanting with God: "They swore unto +the Lord with a loud voice, with shoutings, and trumpets, +and music, and they rejoiced because of the oath." +God loves a cheerful giver, His heart is toward those that +willingly offer themselves to the work of the Lord. And +here, let me not conceal the mercy of the Lord to us, in the +work now in hand; for why should not the Lord have the +glory of all His favours? God hath directed our hearts to +this duty, cheered up our affections to this engagement. +Who almost sees not His hand in all this? This cheerfulness +and forwardness I now call for, I did, I do, I hope, I shall +see.</p> + +<p>1st. <i>I did see.</i> Which of us, brethren, hath not his heart +yet rejoicing, but even to think upon this work, this last +Monday in this place? Here was cheerfulness: who was +not glad to see it? Who was not encouraged to it? Here +was a willing people freely offering themselves to be bound +to the Lord. Here was rejoicing; 1. In the performance: +The like duty was never seen in our days within this land. +It was, I am persuaded, the very birth-day of this kingdom, +born anew to comfort and success; our hearts were then +so elevated, they are not settled yet. 2. For the performance +of such a duty, in such a manner, by such persons. +You might here have seen the Hon. House of Commons, +unanimously, with hearts and hands lifted up to the heavens, +swearing to the Most High God. Here might you have seen +our dear brethren, the noble and learned Commissioners +of Scotland, willingly coming into this covenant of truth, as +the representatives of, and a pledge for the whole kingdom. +Here might you have seen the grave and reverend Assembly +of Divines, forwardly countenancing others, willingly submitting +themselves to this bond of the Lord. What I then +saw, and now rehearse, most of you can attest. Ask your +fathers, consult with the aged of our times, whether ever +such a thing were done in their days, or in the days of their +fathers before them.</p> + +<p>2d, <i>I do see;</i> and believe the like now: I have ground +to be persuaded, that you also come with alacrity to this +service. 1. The order for the taking, honours you with this, +that you were desirous of yourselves, without compulsion, to +take this upon you: blessed therefore be you of the Lord, +and blessed be the Lord for you. 2. The fulness of this +present assembly, called only for this end, for this duty. +The nature of your persons. Nobles, knights, gentlemen, +submit themselves to the yoke of the Lord. Colonels, +captains, officers in the army, soldiers; even these also +stand not off from, but close to, and for this work in hand. +Those of the Scots nation within this city, by their willingness, +do give a check to this cavil raised by some, who have +nothing else to say, yet say this, perhaps the kingdom of +Scotland will not take it. We can instance in none, none +that I know here. The ministers of the Lord, that have +refuged themselves to this little sanctuary, both increase +and honour the number of them that swear, their own +callings, and themselves. All these, as they have forwardly +offered, so doubtless will earnestly repair, in their lot, the +breaches made in the Lord's house. Here is cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>3d, I hope, I shall see and hear, the next Lord's day, +or the next convenient time, all our people readily coming +into this bond; that so, both English and Scots, parliament +and assembly, nobility and city, may all rejoice together.</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> Religiously: godly works must be done in a +godly manner, that the act done for God's glory may be +sanctified with God's presence. With what serious humiliation, +and hearty prayers did Nehemiah begin this duty? +What a number of able men did Josiah collect together? +And how reverently did they read in the Scriptures, and +speak of the nature of the covenant? Both Nehemiah by +praying, and Josiah by reading, desired in this holy business +to approve themselves followers of holiness in the sight of +God. And at the last taking in this place, who was not +touched with that feeling prayer, made by that man of +God<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a>; that godly exhortation, which followed from another<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a>; +that pithy relation by that man of name<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>; that soul-affecting +thanksgiving, wherewith a godly doctor closed the day<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a>? +and, that no less piety and love of God might appear in you, +after you resolved upon the work; you desired that the +ordinance might be sanctified to you by the word of God +and prayer; you moved me to this employment, and got it +ordered accordingly: and now, I doubt not, but in the +action, you will do it with such reverence of God's majesty, +such awfulness of heart, that in lifting up your hands to the +most high God, He may be pleased to accept the sacrifice, +and make it comfortable. Thus to the manner.</p> + +<p>II. To the matter. For the matter, that it be lawfully +warranted by the Word of God. To examine these particularly, +in all and several parts thereof, were the work of a +volume, not of one sermon; that will be done by others: +but to do something, and what we may for this time; it is +not difficult to parallel from Scripture this covenant in all the +parts of it. The lawfulness of covenanting, I suppose not +questionable, as a furtherance and help to a spiritual +progress; we find it oft used: the New Testament affords +but rare instances, the church then in its infancy having +little occasion, and as little need of such combining, fasting +and days of prayer, which are of the same nature, we find +often; and the angel "lift up his hand, (a covenanting +gesture) and swore by Him that liveth," (a covenanting act,) +but the Old Testament is full. Take then this as granted, +and come to the particular materials, and in every part, for +every article, we can find an instance. The articles in this +covenant are six: the preamble sets forth, 1. The occasion; +their aim at God's glory, their enemies aim at their ruin. +2. The pattern; the commendable practice of those kingdoms, +and the example of churches in all ages. The +close containeth their resolution against all impediments +that may either stop the taking, or disable the keeping of +this league, their own sins. The body of the covenant +contains the articles; the lawfulness of which seems thus +to be warranted.</p> + +<p>The first is the reformation of the false, and the preservation +of the true worship of God, and the uniting of all the +kingdoms in that truth thus reformed. Such a covenant +took Asa, and his people. The first is for the reformation +of religion decayed. He purged away all the dross, +and removed all the defects. He repaired the altar of the +Lord, the main part of their ceremonial covenant. Then for +the uniting of the kingdoms in the embracing of this +truth. Asa gathered all Judah and Benjamin, this was his +own people, the subjects of one kingdom; and with them +the strangers, that is, the inhabitants of Ephraim, Manasseh, +and Simeon, these were the people of another land. So +here are the persons covenanting, the matter covenanted to. +The persons, the subjects, two several kingdoms; the matter, +reformation, and to seek the God of their fathers; to this +they all swear, like as the inhabitants of England, Scotland +and Ireland, meet all in one duty, even a covenant, and that +to one end, to seek and serve God in the purity of His ways, +after the purity of His will; to this, as Asa and his people, +we swear.</p> + +<p>The second is the extirpation of idolatry and wickedness, +and all things contrary to truth, not according to godliness, +the proper and perpetual matter of all covenants. So did +Asa, so did Joash, so did Josiah, so did Nehemiah. 1. Asa +took away all abominations. He was impartial, sparing +neither sin, place, nor person: not sin, he removed all +abominations; not place, from all places, towns of his +inheritance, and of his conquest; not person, he deposed +his mother, or rather grandmother from her state for her +idolatry. 2. Joash, or his covenanters. Indeed the people +of the land, (for such usually are most zealous) they +ruined the altars, house and all. They broke down all the +monuments of idolatry, all to pieces, thoroughly, to some +purpose, priest and all. They slew Matthan priest of Baal +with the sword. 3. Josiah purged the whole kingdom: +and Nehemiah with zeal, extirpated the strange wives +Here is a covenant that rooted out idolatry, popery, the +Baalistical prelate Matthan, and all his prelatical faction +the Chemarim, and all this, for this end, that the Lord +might be one, and His name one.</p> + +<p>The third is, the preservation of the liberties of the kingdom +and the king, for matters merely civil. Such was that +covenant that Jehoiada established, after their engagements +for spirituals to God. He made a covenant between the +king and people, that he should preserve their liberties, +they his authority, and both each other mutually.</p> + +<p>The fourth, for the discovery and punishment of malignants, +that increase or continue our division. Without a +covenant such a discovery did Mordecai make of Bigthan +and Teresh, the king's eunuchs. Such a discovery made +the Jews of Sanballat, and his fellows to Nehemiah. Josiah +was not without his informers. But with a covenant was +the punishment of such varlets settled. Whosoever would +not seek the Lord God of their fathers, should be slain +without sparing, be he whom he would be, small or great, +man or woman. For why should not every one value the +public above the private, the common good before his +own?</p> + +<p>The fifth, the preservation of the union, and of the pacification +between the two kingdoms. This is the matter of all +civil leagues. Such a league made Isaac with Abimelech, +Jacob with Laban, David with Hiram. But chiefly such +a pacification doth God promise to make between Israel +and Judah. They should both live under one king, so +do the English and Scots: and both dwell in one land, +so do the English and Scots: they shall have the same +ministry and religion; so do labour the English and Scots: +and a pacification will God make between them, and that +by covenant, and such a covenant, as should never be +forgotten or broken; such a thing are we doing now, and +then God's sanctuary shall be placed among us, the sanctuary +of His presence, service, protection, which is our expectation +and our hope.</p> + +<p>Lastly, The firm adhering to this covenant, and continuance +in the same notwithstanding all opposition, +contradiction, dissuasion to the contrary whatsoever. All the +people stood to the covenant. This was Josiah's care not +only for himself, but for his people; "He made all that +were found in Judah and Benjamin to stand to it; so all his +days they turned not back from the Lord God of their +Fathers." This is the covenant, and this is a general view +of the general matter; this is according to the aim of those +that made it, take it, swear to it. Who but an atheist can +refuse the first? who but a papist the second? who but an +oppressor, or a rebel, the third? who but the guilty, the +fourth? who but men of fortune, desperate cavaliers, the +fifth? who but light and empty men, unstable as water, the +sixth? In a word, the duty is such, that God hath ordained; +the matter is such, as God approveth; the taking such, as +God observeth; and the consequences such, as God hath +promised. And in them stands my third caution, to which +I now come.</p> + +<p>III. To the consequences. For the consequences, and +issues that do or must follow upon the taking, be also +cautelous; take heed that after this heart-engagement to +God, none start back like a broken bow. See that you +neither, 1. Falsify the oath; or, 2. Profane the oath.</p> + +<p>I. Do not falsify the oath, making the actions of the +outward man contrary to this action of the heart. An oath +is one of the two immutable things, wherein it is impossible +that God should lie; not fitting, that man should. The +people's forementioned example teaches constancy, they +stood to it. The covenants ordinary epithet [everlasting] +implies continuance: neither can God, nor should man play +the children, say and unsay. All our covenants in Him +should be yea; not yea, and nay. If we prove loose, we +prove false, and lie unto God that made us. Take heed to +your covenant. This stone, these walls, these pillars, these +seats shall witness against you, that ye denied Him: to +falsify the engagement, is to deny our God; His power, His +revenging justice, His word, His presence, and the like; if +you wilfully falsify this oath wherewith you are bound, as +much as in you lies, you make God any thing but a God. +Keep truth and fidelity for ever.</p> + +<p>II. Do not profane it by a slight esteem, by an irreverent +taking, by an unholy life.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, By a slight esteem, as a matter of no moment. Can +that be a trifle, which is the fruit of the judicious consultations +of the agents of both kingdoms, as the only means to +perpetuate the union? Can that be a trifle, which was +produced by such, who had merely the glory of God before +their eyes as conducing much thereto? Can that be a trifle, +which is published as the main and sole preventive of all +the bloody plots of God's enemies against the truth? Can +that be a trifle, which is now cleaved to as a means more +effectual, and a degree above supplications, remonstrances, +protestations, to preserve ourselves, and our religion? All +this and more the preamble speaks.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>, By irreverent taking. It was resolved on after +mature deliberation. It is a lifting up of the hand to the +most high God, and a swearing by His name, and God's +name must not be taken in vain: such will God not hold +guiltless. But of this before.</p> + +<p><i>Third</i>, By an unholy life. Such a thing would mar all we +have done; though defiled with former sins, yet now sin +no more: our covenant forbids it: our state now stands thus. +Either by our sins we shall make a breach into our covenant, +or by our covenant make a breach from our sins. In the +close of the covenant, we resolve on the endeavour that +this covenant may have its desired fruit. We desire to be +humbled for our own sins, the land's sins, undervaluing the +gospel, neglecting the power, and purity of it, no endeavour +to receive Christ into our hearts, no care to walk worthy of +Him in our lives. Such and the like sins a godly covenanter +must shun, lest he profane it. Let us then prize it as an +effectual means of good, take it with a reverend fear of God, +honour it in holiness of life for ever. Let us both verify it, +and sanctify it by continuing to stand in it, by endeavouring +to live by it to God's glory, that this taken covenant may be +for the name, the honour, the praise of the great Jehovah +for ever.</p> + +<p>II. <i>Hortatory</i>. These cautions being observed; come all, +and let us enter into an everlasting covenant with the Lord; +come on, and let us engage our hearts unto our God: we +have a propensity to keep off; let a covenant keep us close: +our hearts would be wandering; let a covenant bind them. +Will you trust yourselves without a tie? Do you know +yourselves? Come to this work, with a heart, with a heart +lifted up, as well as a hand, as high as a hand; "Let us lift +up our hearts to our hands;" let the ardency of our affection +raise up our spirit to meet the Lord, to whom we adjoin +ourselves for ever. To you I cry, to whom the order speaks, +to every one of you I call, come engage your hearts.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, Nobles, both greater and lesser, think not the duty +below you, too mean for you. There is but one way to +heaven for all. Scorn not to join with inferiors in this +work. In Christ there is neither male nor female, no +respect of persons. The same way that the soul of the +poorest is refreshed, is the soul of the richest. Poor men +pray, and princes must pray; common men humble their +souls, and repent, and crowned kings must do so too. The +people of God, they walk aright, and all men, great and +small, must follow them alike: the eye of every ordinary +man must be towards the Lord. So as the tribes of Israel +are, and the same way must Tyre and Sidon look, though +they be very wise. No largeness of parts, greatness of place, +eminency in gifts, of wisdom, learning, wit, not amplitude of +rule, nor any high thoughts can exempt; but he must +subject himself to the condition and courses of the lowest +sort. Heaven regards not the goodliness of the person, +looks not as man looks; for God regards the heart.</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> Soldiers, for you also are engagers. This says, you +have a noble pattern; but I hope I may say, you outwrite +your copy. They came to John Baptist, and to the place, +where he baptized. You come to the presence of God, and +the place, where the heart is to be engaged. They came to +be directed what to do; you to do what has been directed. +Ride you on prosperously in this righteous truth. It lies +mainly upon you to be holy, yea, more than upon others. +Your adventures are more hazardous, your dangers more +probable; yea, your deaths perhaps more near. Therefore,</p> + +<p>1. You must remove from you wickedness, and wicked +men. Wickedness from your hearts, wicked men from your +armies. Let both your persons be holy, and your companies +holy. God Himself commands the former, the prophet +from God the latter. "When the host goeth forth, then, +and then chiefly, thou shalt keep thee from every evil +thing." When Judah's king marched out, assisted with +Israelitish auxiliaries, which were idolaters; let not (saith +the prophet) "the men of Israel go with thee, for God is +not with Israel:" if thou do, thou shalt not prosper. If +there were no evil sin in your hearts, no evil man in your +hosts, God would be with you, with a shout, even the Lord +with the sound of a trumpet.</p> + +<p>And 2. Your success depends on God's presence. +When thou seest multitudes of armies encircling thee, fear +not, for God is with thee, and God is with thee to save +thee; He walks with thee to fight for thee, and to prosper +thee. We shall be cast back, yea, quite off, if God go not +forth with our armies; or, in our armies; the word bears +either: when God goes not in our armies, rules not in our +hearts, lives, conversations, by holiness; then He goes not +forth with our armies by victory and success.</p> + +<p>3. The want of godly agents, to manage a godly cause, +a great lamentation. "Help, Lord, save, O God, for the +godly fail, and the faithful cease from among men:" were +there any such in being, they would bear rule with God, +and be faithful for the saints, their persons and prayers +would gain prevalency with God, their endeavours and +constancy would show fidelity to the saints, and then in +Judah, our land, would things go well: and as once Ezekiel +of the scarcity of fit governors to rule, so we of fit men to +fight, when corruption and looseness hath so possessed the +hearts, and lives of our men of war, that there remains no +sanctified and godly man to make a soldier; "This is a +lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation."</p> + +<p>4. What ground have we to expect good? When the +sons of darkness go to cast out the prince of darkness, is +this possible? Can Satan cast out Satan? It is a +satisfactory answer, that we rest in, and stops the mouths +of all not incurably blinded, when we hear of protestations, +and promises to maintain the protestant religion and laws +of the land; when we see, that the effecting of the one is +by the sword of papists, of the other, by the hand of +delinquents; except we should think, that man can (as +God) work happy ends by contrary means. For we say, +how can Satan cast out Satan? So to ourselves, 'tis not +very likely, that, if Satan keep the hold he hath of our +souls, you should dispossess him of that strong hold he +hath of our land. But you know so much, and therefore +by engaging your heart this day to God you first endeavour +to expel Satan out of your own consciences; and then shall +you see clearly to drive him from our kingdom.</p> + +<p><i>Third,</i> Our brethren of Scotland, come you, and enter +into this sure covenant. Lay the foundation of such an +eternal league and peace, that the sun shall never see +broken: all your countrymen, your kingdom are not here. +Let your forwardness to this work tell us, what they would +do, if they were. Some having nothing else to say, yet +cannot withhold to question, whether the Scots will enter +into it or no? As the question is without any ground, so +shall it be without any other answer for the present, than +this; all of that nation in town have been ready to this +great work. Can you instance in any that have been +backward to swear unto the Lord? If in none, then put +away prejudicate thoughts, and entertain in their place +earnest desires, that this covenant now by both kingdoms +entered into, may be like Ezekiel's sticks, which resembled +the divided houses of Judah and Israel; which, as the prophet +held them, became one in his hand. So this national +covenant taken into the hand of God's merciful approbation, +may this day, this year become one, and for ever remain +one: so that (as Israel and Judah after this typical union +in two sticks) England and Scotland after this religious +union in one covenant, may for ever be one people in this +island of Great Britain; and that one king may continue +king to them both; and that henceforth they may no more +be two peoples, nor divided into kingdoms; that our +religion be corrupted no more, as of late; but being +cleansed, we may be the Lord's people, and He may be +our God for ever: that Jesus Christ may bear rule, and +we both may have one ministry, and enjoy that truth, +which Christ, when He ascended up on high, gave as a +gift to men, during our days, and the days of our posterity; +we, and our sons, and our sons' sons, from this time forth, +and for evermore: that the Lord would plant His sanctuary +among us, and make these two people His dwelling-place +continually: that this covenant may be a covenant of peace, +and a covenant of truth, and a covenant for everlasting. +And let all that desire it, daily pray for it, and now express +it, and with cheerfulness of heart say, Amen, Amen.</p> + +<p><i>Fourth,</i> You, my brethren of the ministry, your hearts are to +be engaged too, that you also may gain God by the +engagement: be not you behind the very forwardest of +the Lord's people; you are not an inconsiderable party in +this land. The joy and happiness of Israel was because +of the Levites that waited, that were diligent in their +duties, and diligently attended upon the Lord. "I will +cause the horn of Israel to flourish, saith God:" by +what means? "I will give thee, Ezekiel, an open mouth." +That God may give you a heart to teach knowledge, come, +engage your hearts as a gift to God. O, saith Moses, "that +all the Lord's people were prophets!" O, say we, that all +this land's people had prophets, but prophets of the Lord, +that might feed them with wisdom and understanding, that +they all might know the Lord, from the greatest to the least +of them! But ah? Lord God, the eye of this kingdom is +distempered, dim, and dark; and then how great is this +darkness! our prophets have prophesied lies, and our priests +have pleaded for Baal, and they have rejected the word of +the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? Instead of +standing for God, they have stood against Him; and +instead of being the best, they are become the basest: the +prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. If God should +come, as once, to seek for a man, that should stand in the +gap, and make up the breach; among these He would find +the fewest: in this respect our state may be like that which +we find described. Christ comes to make a perfect +description of His church, and so consequently, a comfortable +expression of Himself to His church: and whereas +the eyes are the chiefest seat of beauty, and therefore +likeliest to be stood upon, he begins thus. "Turn away +thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me." By eyes, +understand the ministry; I come to speak comfortable +things to My people, but set away the ministers out of My +sight, for they have overcome My patience, and filled Me +with fury: now these being removed, the description doth +lovingly go on. Thy hair, thy young professors, are like +a flock of goats; thy teeth, thy civil officers, like a flock +of sheep; thy temples, thy ordinary and common Christians. +All right but the eyes, the eyes I cannot endure. But let +none of us provoke this complaint, nor hold off any longer +from the Lord that invites. What say you? Are you willing +to this engagement? Will you bind yourselves to the Lord? +Let me extend my speech to all, and dispatch the remains +of this point, and my meaning thus: that you may be +encouraged to engage, consider two things.</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> The seasonableness.</p> + +<p><i>Secondly,</i> The success of such engagements.</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> The seasonableness: there is a time for all purposes, +and every word and action is beautiful in his own time. A +public engagement is then seasonable, 1. When a land +hath been full of troubles: God by such troubles prepares +a people for Him in this duty. "I will cause you to pass +under the rod, and so I will bring you into the bond of +the covenant." And we know, we feel God hath chastised +us sore of late; but in them He hath not given us over to +death, that by them He might prepare us for Himself. +When a land hath been full of corruptions, and a shrewd +decay hath been in spirituals: by a covenant hath such a +people recovered themselves, and regained their God. After +the great apostasy by Athaliah, Jehoiada renewed their +interest by a covenant. When Manasses and his son had +suffered destruction from God, and advanced idolatry with +or above God; Josiah purged all by a covenant. Our +decays are evident, our corruptions destructive; our +covenant therefore seasonable. Come, let us engage our +hearts to approach to God. 3. When the enemy begins to +fall, and God begins to shine upon His own. Asa returning +from a victory, called his land to a covenant. When +Athaliah was slain, the league was sworn, by Joash and his +kingdom. Since this motion of a covenant is come among +us, God hath, as it were, begun to draw near, in the siege of +Gloucester raised, in the success at Newbery, gained. God is +worming out His and our adversaries, which He will do by little +and little, till they be consumed. The covenant is seasonable.</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> The success. Come and see the works of the +Lord, what wonders He hath wrought, when a people hath +thus bound themselves to be His. 1. A king injuriously +put from his right by an usurping hand, after such a covenant +was re-established, "He sat him down on the throne of the +kings." 2. A land miserably put from its peace, after +such a covenant, was re-settled, peace was re-obtained; and +that as a fruit of prayer, and so acknowledged, "Israel had +sworn, and sought God; God was found of them: and the +Lord gave them rest round about." 3. Religion craftily, +and wickedly put from its purity after such a covenant, was +reformed; after such a reformation continued. The +engagement being made, "all Josiah's days they returned +not back from the Lord God of their fathers." 4. Rebels +and rebellion, basely and bloodily backed and managed +against the Lord and His ways, against His people and +their practices; after such a covenant, have been overthrown +and subdued, "I will bring you into the bond of the +covenant." Then I will sever from among you the rebels; +I will chase them from their own land, and hinder that they +shall not enter into the land of Israel. The Lord give this +success concerning Ireland, sever out the rebels there from +true subjects; chase them from their own land; and yet +keep them from ever entering into our land, the land of the +inheritance of the Lord.</p> + +<p>Now these successful effects of covenanting well minded,</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> May hint to us a satisfactory reason, in case peace +comes not presently. God hath some more adversaries to +overthrow, to worm out; His sword hath not eaten flesh +enough; neither are His arrows drunk with blood yet; with +the blood of such earthly men, whom He hath appointed to +destruction. The hearts of the Philistines were so hardened, +that they never sought after peace, "For it came of the +Lord, to the intent that they might be utterly destroyed." +Who knows, whether our peace hath been denied; our +propositions cast out; our treaties fruitless, for such an end +as this? It was of the Lord, who hath a purpose to destroy +more. God lays afflictions on His people, and they +continue upon them; but in the mean space to quiet their +spirits, He teacheth them out of His law, that these troubles +must stay only "till a pit be digged for the wicked."</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> May encourage us to go on. You have now armour +of proof, such armour as is not ordinary, armed with a +covenant: Go, saith the angel to Gideon, in this thy might. +Go (say I, to every one) in this thy might, the strength of +this thy covenant, and the effect will be such, as is not +ordinary. When the Philistines perceived that the Israelites +had brought the ark of the covenant into the battle, they +cried out, "Woe unto us; for it hath not been so heretofore: +woe unto us; who shall deliver us out of the hands of these +mighty gods?" When your enemies shall perceive, that you +come armed with the armour of a covenant with God, I +hope they, struck with amazement, shall cry, "Woe unto +us; we were never so opposed before: woe unto us; who +shall deliver us out of the power of this mighty prevailer?" +If it will thus daunt, take it with you, be strong. Again, I +say, Go in the might thereof, and God shall prosper thee for +ever.</p> + +<p>III. <i>Satisfactory.</i> According to the condition of the +person, such is the nature of the objection. One out +of the malignity of his spirit, cavils against the work; +another out of tenderness of conscience, scruples the +taking. I shall briefly touch upon one or two, and wind +up all in a few words. The queries I have met with, +are such as these: two objections when I was designed +to this service, were sent me in writing, which, when +thoroughly viewed, I perceived nothing at all to concern +our case, or covenant.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> 1. Whether by any law, divine or human, may +reformation of religion be brought in by arms? <i>Ans.</i> 1. +What is this at all to the covenant, where there is no mention +of arms at all? 2. What is this to our present condition, +where reforming by arms is not at all the question? +For if reformation of religion be the case of our affairs; +then either the parliament are they that do it, or the +cavaliers: not the cavaliers, for they are on the defensive: +witness all their declarations. Not the parliament, for +then the cavaliers will be found fighters against religion, +and resisters of God. 3. I answer negatively, it is not. +The sword is not the means which God hath ordained to +propagate the gospel: "Go and teach all nations;" not, +go and subdue all nations, is our Master's precept.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> 2. Whether to swear to a government that shall be, +or to swear not to dissent from such a future government, +be not to swear upon an implicit faith? <i>Ans.</i> 1. This is +nothing to the covenant, neither can I see upon what ground +any should raise such an impertinent scruple. 2. It +is, he that so swears, swears upon an implicit faith: for +one reason against the articles of the prelates was, that they +forced us to swear to the homilies that shall be set out. +But these things are extravagant.</p> + +<p>Other objections by word of mouth have been propounded, +some whereof I will here touch upon.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> 1. One would make a stand at the phrase, [in our +callings,] as if some politic mystery were therein involved, +and would have it changed, [according to our callings, or +so far forth as they extend.] There is an identity in the +phrase, an action enjoined to be done in such a place, every +corner, as far as that place extends, is that place, and no +other. All is one.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> How if the parliament should hereafter see a convenience +in prelacy for this kingdom, were not this oath then +prejudicial, either to the parliament's liberty, or kingdom's +felicity? <i>Ans.</i> This objection supposes,</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> That the most wicked antichristian government +may be a lawful government in point of conscience.</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> That it is possible, that this prelatical government +may be convenient for a state or kingdom. When as +1. They have been burdensome in all ages; what opposites +in England have they been to our kings, till their interests +were changed? 2. All reformed religions in the world have +expelled them, as incompatible with reformation. 3. They +have set three kingdoms together by the ears, for the least, +and worst of causes, which now lie weltering in their own +blood, ready to expire. 4. Experience now shows, there is +no inconvenience in their want; either in Scotland, or in +England.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> But what, if the exorbitances be purged away, may +not I, notwithstanding my oath, admit of a regulated +prelacy? <i>Ans.</i> 1. We swear not against a government that +is not. 2. We swear against the evils of every government; +and doubtless many materials of prelacy must of necessity +be retained, as absolutely necessary. 3. Taking away the +exorbitances, the remaining will be a new government, and +no prelacy.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> For the discovery of all malignants, all that have +been; whether, if I have a friend, that hath been a malignant, +and is now converted, am I bound to discover him? <i>Ans.</i> +This his malignity, was either before the covenant, or since; +if before, no. For then this league had no being, and a +<i>non-ens</i> can have no contrariety. If since, the discovery +must be at the first appearance of malignity, whilst he +is so.</p> + +<p><i>Obj.</i> What if one make a party to uphold prelacy, whilst +it stands by law, must I oppose him, or discover him by +virtue of this oath? Doth the oath bind me to oppose +legal acts? <i>Ans.</i> i. Quer. Whether there be any particular +law for prelacy? 2. Quer. Whether the making a party be +legal? 3. Quer. Whether any thing, the extirpation of which +is sworn by an ordinance of parliament, can be said to stand +by law?</p> + +<p>These are some queries I have met with. I heartily wish +that the same tenderness of conscience in all things may be +seen, which if not, it will hardly be called a scruple of +tenderness, but a cavil of malignity. What now remains +but only prayers, that the great God of our judgments and +consciences, would so clear and satisfy our souls in these +leagues and bonds, that without reluctancy we may all +swear to God, and, having sworn, we may have a care to +keep the oath inviolable; that as once Israel, so all England +may rejoice because of the oath: and God may be established, +and His kingdom settled; that His presence may +dwell among men, and His protection among the sons of +men; that He may be near in our covenanting, found in +our prayers, and give us rest; and that we being engaged, +may live to Him, and not to others, henceforth and for +ever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND5" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND5"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT:</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT WESTMINSTER.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY JOSEPH CARYL.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></i></h4> + +<p class="center">"And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and<br/> +write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it." —<i>Nehemiah</i> ix. 38.</p> + + +<p>The general subject of this verse, is the special business of +this day. A solemn engagement to the Lord, and among +ourselves, in a sure covenant. Wherein we may consider +these five things.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, The nature of a covenant, from the whole.</p> + +<p><i>Secondly</i>, The grounds of a covenant, from those words, +"because of all this."</p> + +<p><i>Thirdly</i>, The property of a covenant, in that epithet, +Sure—"we make a sure covenant."</p> + +<p><i>Fourthly</i>, The parties entering into, and engaging themselves +in a covenant, expressed by their several degrees and +functions, Princes, Levites, priests. And were these all? +All whom this verse specifies, and enow to bring in all the +rest? Where the governors and the teachers go before in +an holy example, what honest heart will not follow? And +the next chapter shews us, all who were honest hearted, +following this holy example, verse 28: "And the rest of +the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, +the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves +from the people of the lands, unto the law of God, their +wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having +knowledge, and having understanding: They clave unto +their brethren, their nobles, and entered into," &c.</p> + +<p><i>Fifthly</i>, The outward acts by which they testified their +inward sincere consent, and engaged themselves to continue +faithful in that covenant: First, writing it. Second, sealing +to it. Third, (in the tenth chapter, ver. 29.) "They entered +into a curse." Fourth, "Into an oath, to walk in God's law, +which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to +observe to do all the commandments of the Lord their God, +with the statutes and judgments. And that they would not +give their daughters to the people of the land," &c: with +divers many articles of that covenant, tending both to their +ecclesiastical and civil reformation.</p> + +<p>I begin with the first point, the nature of a covenant. +Concerning which, we may receive some light from the +notation of the original words; 1. For a covenant. 2. For +the making of a covenant. The Hebrew <i>Berith (a covenant)</i> +comes from <i>Barah</i>, which signifieth two things: <i>First</i>, To +choose exactly, and judiciously. <i>Second</i>, To eat moderately, +or sparingly. And both these significations of the root <i>Barah</i>, +have an influence upon this derivative <i>Berith</i>, a covenant: +the former of these intimating, if not enforcing, that a +covenant is a work of sad and serious deliberation, for such +are elective acts. Election is, or ought to be made, upon +the rational turn of judgment, not upon a catch of fancy, +or the hurry of our passions.</p> + +<p>Now, in a covenant, there is a double work of election: +<i>First</i>, An election of the persons, between whom. <i>Second</i>, +An election of the conditions, or terms upon which the +covenant is entered. As God's covenant people are His +chosen people, so must ours. Some persons will not enter +into covenant, though invited; and others, though they +offer themselves, are not to be admitted. They who are +not fit to build with us, are not fit to swear with us. Some +offered their help to the Jews in the repair of the temple, +"Let us build with you, for we seek your God." But this +tender of their service was refused. "Ye have nothing to do +with us, to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves +together will build." What should we do with their hands +in the work, whose hearts, we know, are not in the work? +The intendment of such enjoining, must be either to build +their hay and stubble with our gold and silver, or else to +pull down by night what they build by day, and secretly +to undermine that noble fabric, which seemingly they +endeavoured to set up. We find in this book of Nehemiah, +that the persons combining in that covenant, were choice +persons. The text of the tenth chapter, sets two marks of +distinction upon them. <i>First</i>, "All they that separated +themselves from the people of the lands, unto the law of +God." <i>Second</i>, All "having knowledge, and having understanding." +Here are two qualifications, whereof one is +spiritual, and the other is natural. The plain English of +both may be this, "that fools and malignants, such as (in +some measure) know not the cause, and such as have no +love at all to the cause, should be outcasts from this +covenant." Such sapless and rotten stuff will but weaken, +if not corrupt this sacred band.</p> + +<p>The tenor of the covenant now tendered, speaks thus +respecting the persons. "We noblemen, barons, knights, +gentlemen, citizens, burgesses, ministers of the gospel, and +commons, of all sorts, in the kingdom of England, Scotland, +and Ireland." And doth not this indistinctly admit all, and +all, of all sorts? I answer, no. For the words following +in the preface, shew expressly, that only they are called to +it, who are of one reformed religion; which shuts out all +papists, till they return. And the articles pass them through +a finer sieve, admitting only such as promise, yea, and +swear, that through the grace of God, they will sincerely, +really, and constantly endeavour the preservation of the +reformed religion, against the common enemy in the one +kingdom, the reformation and extirpation of what is amiss +in the other two; as also, in their own persons, families, +and relations. They who do thus, are choice persons +indeed, and they who swear to do thus, are (in charity and +justice) to be reputed so, till their own acts and omissions +falsify their oaths. Thus our covenant makes an equivalent, +though not a formal or nominal election of the persons.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>, There must be a choice of conditions in a covenant; +as the persons obliged, so the matter of the obligation must +be distinct. This is so eminent in the covenant offered, +that I may spare my pains in the clearing of it; every +man's pains in reading of it, cannot but satisfy him, that +there are six national conditions about which we make +solemn oath, and one personal, about which we make a +most solemn profession and declaration, before God and the +world. And all these are choice conditions: such as may +well be held forth to be (as indeed they are) the results and +issues of many prayers, and serious consultations, in both +the kingdoms of England and Scotland. Conditions they +are, in which holiness and wisdom, piety and policy, zeal +for God in purging His church, and care for man in settling +the commonwealth, appear to have had (in a due subordination) +their equal hand and share.</p> + +<p>Thus much of a covenant, from the force of the word in +the first sense, leading us to the choice both of persons and +conditions.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>, The root signifies, to eat moderately, or so much +as breaks our fast. And this refers also to the nature of a +covenant, which is to draw men into a friendly and holy +communion, and converse one with another. "David +describes a familiar friend, in whom he trusted, to be one, +that did eat of his bread." And the apostle Paul, when he +would have a scandalous brother denied all fellowship in +church-covenant, he charges it thus, "With such a one, no +not to eat." Hence it was a custom upon the making up +of covenants, for the parties covenanting, soberly to feast +together. "When Isaac and Abimelech sware one to +another, and made a covenant; the sacred story tells us, +that Isaac made them a feast, and they did eat and drink." +A covenant is a binder of affection, to assure it, but it is a +loosner of affection, to express it. And their hearts are +most free to one another, which are most bound to one +another. How unbecoming is it, that they who swear +together, should be so strange as scarce to speak together? +That which unites, ought also to multiply our affections.</p> + +<p>Further, the word hints so to converse together as not +to sin together; for it signifies moderation in eating. As +if it would teach us, that at a covenant-feast, or when +covenanters feast, they should have more grace, than meat +at their tables: or if (through the blessing of God) their +meat be much, their temperance should be more. The +covenant yields us much business, and calls to action: +excess soils our gifts, and damps our spirits, fitting us for +sleep, not for work. In and by this covenant, we (who were +almost carried into spiritual and corporal slavery) are called +to strive for the mastery. Let us therefore (as this word and +the apostle's rule instruct us) "Be temperate in all things." +Intemperate excessive eaters will be but moderate workers, +especially in covenant-work. A little will satisfy their +consciences, who are given up to satisfy their carnal +appetites. And he who makes his belly his god, will not +make much of the glory of God.</p> + +<p>So much concerning the nature of a covenant, from the +original word; for a covenant, signifying both to chuse, and +to eat. We may take in some further light to discover the +things from the original word, which we translate "make"—"Let +us make a covenant."</p> + +<p>That word signifies properly to cut, to strike, or to slay. +The reason hereof is given, because at the making of solemn +covenants, beasts were killed and divided asunder, and the +covenant-makers went between the parts. When God made +that first grand covenant with Abraham, He said unto him, +"Take an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three +years old. And he took unto him all these, and divided +them in the midst, and laid all those pieces one against +another." "Behold, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp" +(which latter was the token of God's presence for the +deliverance of His people) passed between those pieces. +In Jeremiah we have the like ceremony in making a +covenant, "They cut the calf in twain, and passed between +the parts thereof." Upon this usage the phrase is grounded +of cutting or striking a covenant. Which ceremony had this +signification in it, that when they passed between those +divided parts of the slain beast, the action spake this curse +or imprecation, "Let him be cut asunder, let his members +be divided, let him be made as this beast, who violates the +oath of this covenant."</p> + +<p>From these observations about the words, we may be +directed about the nature of the thing: and thence collect +this description of a covenant. A covenant is a solemn +compact or agreement between two chosen parties or more, +whereby with mutual, free, and full consent they bind themselves +upon select conditions, tending to the glory of God, +and their common good.</p> + +<p>A covenant strictly considered, is more than a promise, +and less than an oath; unless an oath be joined with it, as +was with that in the text, and is with this we have now +before us. A covenant differs from a promise gradually, +and in the formalities of it, not naturally, or in the substance +of it. God made promises to Abraham, Gen. xii. and Gen. +xiii. but He made no covenant with him, till chap. xv. ver. +18. "In that day the Lord made a covenant with +Abraham." And the work of the Lord in that day with +Abraham, had not only truth and mercy in it, but state and +majesty in it. A covenant day, is a solemn day. As the +collection of many stars makes a constellation, so the collection +of many promises makes a covenant. Or, as in the first +of Genesis, "The gathering together of the waters, was by +the Lord called seas:" so we may call the gathering together +of promises, or conditions, a covenant. The Lord doth +(as it were) rally all the promises of mercy made to us, +which lie scattered up and down through the whole volume +of the scriptures, and puts them together into a covenant: +and we do (as it were) rally all the promises of duty which +we owe unto God, and to one another, and put them +together in a covenant. Such a bundle of duty is tied up +in this present covenant; what duty is there which we owe +to God, to His churches, or these commonwealths whereof +we make not promise, either expressly, or by consequence +in the compass of this covenant? And how great an +obligation to duly doth this contain, wherein there is an +obligation to every duty?</p> + +<p>Seeing then this covenant, being taken, carries in it so +great an obligation, it calls for great preparation before we +take it. A slightness of spirit in taking this covenant, must +needs cause a slightness of spirit in keeping it. All solemn +duties, ought to have solemn preparations; and this I think, +as solemn as any. A Christian ought to set his heart (as far +as he can through the strength of Christ) into a praying +frame, before he kneels down to prayer. And we ought to +set our hearts in a promising frame, before we stand up to +make such mighty promises. "Take heed how ye hear," is +our Saviour's admonition in the gospel; surely then we had +need take heed how we swear. "Let a man examine +himself (saith the apostle Paul) and so let him eat of that +bread, and drink of that cup;" let him come examined to +the sacrament: so I may say, "Let a man examine himself, +before he lift up his hand, or write down his name;" let him +come examined to the covenant.</p> + +<p>I shall briefly propose three heads of preparatory examination, +respecting our entrance into this covenant.</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> Examine your hearts, and your lives, whether or +no you are not pre-engaged in any covenant contrary to the +tenor and conditions of this covenant? If any such upon +inquiry be found, be sure you avoid it, before you engage +yourselves in this. A super-institution in this kind, is very +dangerous. Every man must look to it, that he takes this +covenant <i>(corde vacante)</i> with a heart emptied of all +covenants which are inconsistent with this. For a man to +covenant with Christ and His people for reformation, while +he hath either taken a covenant with others, or made a +covenant in his own breast against it, is desperate wickedness. +Or if upon a self-search, you find yourselves clear of +any such engagements, yet search further. Every man by +nature is a covenanter with hell, and with every sin he is at +agreement: be sure you revoke and cancel that covenant, +before you subscribe this. "If I regard iniquity in my +heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer;" that is, He will +not regard my prayers, (saith David). And if we regard +iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us covenanting; +that is, He will not regard our covenant. Woe be unto +those who make this league with God and His people, while +they resolve to continue their league with sin: which is (upon +the matter) a league with Satan. God and Satan will never +meet in one covenant. "For what communion hath light +with darkness? and what concord hath Christ and Belial?"</p> + +<p><i>Second,</i> Before you enter into this covenant with God, +consider of, and repent for this special sin, your former +breaches and failings in God's covenant. "We who were +sometimes afar off, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, +and strangers from the covenant of promise, are made nigh +by the blood of Jesus," even so nigh, as to be in covenant +with God. Some who pretend to this privilege, will be +found "Such as have counted the blood of the covenant to +be an unholy thing." And where is the man that walketh +so holily in this covenant as becomes him, and as it +requires? Labour therefore to have those breaches healed +by a fresh sprinkling of the blood of Christ upon your +consciences, before you enter this covenant: If you put this +new piece to an old garment, the rent will be made worse: +If you put this new wine into old bottles, the bottles will +break, and all your expected comforts will run out and be +lost. If you should not feel and search your own hearts, without +doubt the Lord will. "And if you be found as deceivers, +you will bring a curse upon yourselves, and not a blessing." +This is a covenant of amity with God: reconciliation must +go before friendship, you can never make friendship till +you have made peace, nor settle love, where hostility is +unremoved.</p> + +<p><i>Third,</i> Inquire diligently at your own hearts, whether +they come up to the terms of this covenant? You must +bid high for the honour of a covenanter, for a part in this +privilege. "Which of you," saith our Lord Christ to His +hearers, "intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, +and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish +it? Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not +able to finish it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, +saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish." +We are met this day to lay the foundation of one tower, and +to pull up the foundation of another; we are pulling up the +foundation of Babel's tower, and we are laying a foundation +for Zion's tower. We have seen some who have heretofore +done as much, but they have done no more; when they had +laid a foundation for those noble works in taking a solemn +oath and covenant, they have never moved a hand after +either to build or to pull down, unless it were quite cross to +their own engagements, for the pulling down of Zion's tower, +and the building of Babylon.</p> + +<p>And what was the reason of this stand, or contrary +motion? this surely was one, they did not gage their own +hearts before hand, neither did they sit down to count the cost +of such an undertaking. And therefore when they perceived +the charge to arise so high, they neither could finish, +nor would they endeavour it, but left the work before it +looked above the ground; and are justly become a mock +and a scorn and a reproach in Israel, these are the men that +began in a solemn covenant to build, but could not finish; +they had not stock enough either of true honour or honesty +(tho' their stock of parts and opportunities was sufficient) to +finish this work.</p> + +<p>Let us therefore sit down seriously and count the cost; +yea and consider whether we be willing to be at the cost. +To lead you on in this, my humble advice is, that you would +catechise your hearts upon the articles of this covenant. +Put the question to your hearts, and let every one say this +unto himself:</p> + +<p>Am I indeed resolved sincerely, really and constantly, +through the grace of God, in my place and calling, to +endeavour the preservation of the reformed religion in the +church of Scotland? The reformation of religion in the +kingdoms of England and Ireland?</p> + +<p>Am I indeed resolved in like manner, without respect of +persons, to endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy?</p> + +<p>Am I indeed resolved never to be withdrawn or divided +by whatsoever terror or persuasion from this blessed union +and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary +part, or to give myself to a detestable indifferency or neutrality +in this cause of God?</p> + +<p>Am I indeed resolved to humble myself for my own sins, +and the sins of the kingdom? to amend myself, and all in +my power, and to go before others in the example of a real +reformation?</p> + +<p>According to these hints, propose the question upon every +clause of this covenant. And then consider what the cost +of performing all these may amount to, and whether you are +willing to go to that cost.</p> + +<p>But it may be, some will say, what is this cost? I answer, +the express letter of the covenant tells you of one cost which +you must be constantly at, and that is sincere, real, and constant +endeavour. Pains is a price, I am sure real pains is. +The heathens said, "That their gods sold them all good +things for labour." The good things of this covenant are +sold at that rate; yea, this is the price which the true God +puts upon those things which He freely gives. To consent +to this covenant, to wish well to this covenant, to speak well +of this covenant, come not up to the price; you must do +these, and you must do more, you must be doing, so the +promise of every man for himself runs, I will through the +grace of God endeavour. Yet every endeavour is not current +money, payable as the price of this covenant: there must be +a threefold stamp upon it. Unless it bear the image and +superscription of sincerity, reality, and constancy, it will not +be accepted. For so the promise runs, "I will sincerely, +really, and constantly endeavour."</p> + +<p>Neither yet is this all. Such endeavours are virtually +money; but as this covenant calls also for money formally, +as the price of it, he that really endeavours after such ends, +as here are proposed, must not only be at the cost of his +pains, but also at the cost of his purse for the attainment of +them. He must open his hand to give and to lend as well +as to work and labour. Unless a man be free of his purse +as well as of his pains, he bides not up to the demands of +this covenant, nor pays up to his own promise when he +entered into it. Can that man be said really to endeavour +the maintenance of a cause while he lets it starve? or, to +strengthen it while he keeps the sinews of it close shut up? +Would he have the chariot move swiftly, who only draws +but will not oil the wheels? Know then and consider it +that the cost you must be at is both in your labours and in +your estates. The engagement runs to both these: and to +more than both these.</p> + +<p>The covenant engages us not only to do but to suffer, +not only to endeavour but to endure. Such is the tenor of +the sixth article where every man promises for himself that +he will not suffer himself to be withdrawn from this blessed +Union by any terrors. If not by any terror, then not by +any losses, imprisonments, torments, no, nor by death, that +king of terrors. You see, then, that the price of this +covenant may be the price of blood, of liberty, and of life. +Sit down and consider. Are you willing to be at this cost +to build the tower? Through the goodness of God in +ordering these great affairs, you may never come actually +to pay down so much, haply, not half so much, but +except you resolve (if called and put to it by the real +exigencies of this cause) to pay down the utmost farthing, +your spirits are too narrow and your hearts too low for +the honour and tenor of this covenant. If any shall +say these demands are very high and the charge very +great, but is a part in this covenant worth it? Will it +quit cost to be at so great a charge? Wise men love +to see and have somewhat for their money; and when +they see they will not stick at any cost so the considerations +be valuable.</p> + +<p>For the answering and clearing of this, I shall pass to the +Second point which holds forth the grounds of a covenant +from those words of the text, "And because of all this." +If any one shall be troubled at the "All this" in the price, +I doubt not but the "All this" in the grounds will satisfy +him. Because of all this, we make a sure covenant. +Here observe:</p> + +<p>1. A covenant must be grounded on reason: we must +shew the cause why. God often descends, but man is +bound, to give a reason of what he doeth. Some of God's +actions are above reason, but none without reason. All our +actions ought to be level with reason and with common +reason, for it is a common act. That which men of all +capacities are called to do, should lie in the reach of every +man's capacity. Observe:</p> + +<p>2. A covenant must be grounded on weighty reason; +there must be much light in the reason (as was shewed +before) but no lightness. "Because of all this" saith the +text. There were many things in it, and much weight in +every one of them.</p> + +<p>And the reasons, in their proportion, must at least be as +weighty as the conditions. Weighty conditions will never be +balanced with light reasons. If a man ask a thousand +pounds for a jewel, he is bound to demonstrate that his +jewel is intrinsically worth so much, else no wise man will +come up to his demands. So when great things are +demanded to be paid down by all who take part in this +covenant, we are obliged to demonstrate and hold forth an +equivalent of worth in the grounds and nature of it. Hence +observe</p> + +<p>3. That the reasons of a covenant must be express, +"Because of all this." <i>This</i> is demonstrative. Here's the +matter laid before you, consider of it, examine it thoroughly. +This is fair dealing, when a man sees why he undertakes, +and what he may expect, before he is engaged. And so +may say, "Because of this, and this, because of all this," I +have entered into the covenant.</p> + +<p>But what were the particulars that made up the gross sum +of all this? I answer, those particulars lie scattered +throughout the chapter, the attentive reader will easily find +them out; I shall in brief reduce them unto two heads. +1. The defection and corruptions that were crept in, or openly +brought in among them. 2. The afflictions, troubles, and +judgments that either were already fallen, or were feared +would further fall upon them.</p> + +<p>The former of these causes is laid down in the 34 and 35 +verses of this chapter. "Neither have our kings, our princes, +our priests, nor our fathers kept Thy law, nor hearkened to +Thy commandments, and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou +didst testify against them. For they have not served Thee +in Thy kingdom, and in Thy great goodness."</p> + +<p>The latter of these reasons is contained in the 36 and 37 +verses. "Behold, we are servants this day; and for the +land which Thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit +thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it." +The close of all is, we are in great distress. From this +narrative of the grounds, the making of a covenant is +inferred as a conclusion, in the immediate subsequent words +of the text, "because of all this." As if he had said, +"because we are a people who have so departed from the +laws and statutes of our God, and are so corrupted both in +worship, and in practice; because we are a people so +oppressed in our estates, and liberties, and so distressed by +judgments and afflictions: therefore, because of all this, we +make a sure covenant."</p> + +<p>And if we peruse the records of the holy Scripture, we +shall find, that either both these grounds conjoined, or one +of them, are expressed as the reasons at any time inducing the +people of God, to enter into the bond of a covenant. This +is evident in Asa's covenant, 2 Chron. xv. 12, 13. In +Hezekiah's, 2 Chron. xxix. 10. In Josiah's, 2 Chron. xxxiv. +30, 31. In Ezra's, chap. x. 3. To all which, I refer the +reader for satisfaction. And, from all consenting with this in +the text, I observe:</p> + +<p>That when a people are corrupted or declined in doctrine, +worship, and manners; when they are distressed in their +liberties, livelihoods, or lives; then, and at such a time they +have warrantable and sufficient grounds to make and engage +themselves (as their last and highest resort for redress) in the +bonds of a sacred solemn covenant.</p> + +<p>What engagement can be upon us, which these reasons do +not reach and answer? The liberty of our persons, and of +our estates, is worth much; but the liberty of the gospel +and purity of doctrine and ordinances, are worth much more. +Peace is a precious jewel, but who can value truth? The +wise merchant will sell all that he hath with joy to buy this, +and blesses God for the bargain.</p> + +<p>And because of all this, we are called to make a covenant +this day. Truth of doctrine and purity of worship were +going, and much of them both were gone. The liberty of +our persons, and property of our estates, were going, and +much of them both were gone; we were at once growing +popish and slavish, superstitious and servile; we were in +these great distresses, "And because of all this we make a +covenant this day." That these are the grounds of our +covenant, is clear in the tenor of the covenant. The +preamble whereof speaks thus:</p> + +<p>"We calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, +conspiracies, attempts, and practices of the enemies of God, +against the true religion and professors thereof, in all places, +especially in these three kingdoms, ever since the reformation +of religion; and how much their rage, power and +presumption are of late, and at this time increased and +exercised, whereof the deplorable estate of the church and +kingdom of Ireland, the distressed estate of the church and +kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the +church and kingdom of Scotland, are present and public +testimonies: we have now at the last, for the preservation +of ourselves, and our religion, from utter ruin +and destruction, after mature deliberation resolved and +determined to enter into a mutual and solemn league and +covenant."</p> + +<p>So then, if we be asked a reason of our covenant, here +are reasons, clear reasons, easy to the weakest understanding, +yea, open to every man's sense. Who amongst us hath not +felt these reasons? and how many have smarted their proof +unto us? And as these reasons are so plain, that the most +illiterate and vulgar understandings may conceive them; so +they are so weighty and cogent, that the most subtile and +sublime understandings cannot but be subdued to them; +unless, because they are such masters of reason, they have +resolved to obey none. And yet where conscience is indeed +unsatisfied, we should rather pity than impose, and labour +to persuade, rather than violently to obtrude. Now seeing +we have all this for the ground of a covenant, let us cheerfully +and reverently make a sure covenant, which is the +third point in the text, the property of this covenant: we +make a sure covenant.</p> + +<p>In the Hebrew, the word covenant is not expressed. The +text runs only thus, we make a sure one, or a sure thing. +Covenants are in their own nature and constitution, things +of so much certainty and assurance, that by way of +excellency, a covenant is called, a sure one, or an assurance. +When a sure one is but named, a covenant must be +understood. As, the "Holy One" is God, and the "Holy +One and the Just," is Christ. You may know whom the +Holy Ghost means, when He saith "The Holy One and the +Just." So the sure one, is a covenant. You may know what +they made, when the Holy Ghost saith, they made a sure +one. Hence observe, that</p> + +<p>A well grounded covenant is a sure, a firm, and an +irrevocable act. When you have such an <i>all this</i>, (and such +you have) as is here concentrated in the text, to lay into, or +for the foundation of a covenant, the superstruction is +<i>æternitati sacrum</i>, and must stand for ever.</p> + +<p>A weak ground is but a weak obligation; and a sinful +ground is no obligation. There is much sin in making a +covenant upon sinful grounds, and there is more sin in +keeping of it. But when the preservation of true religion, +and the vindication of just liberties meet in the groundwork, +ye may swear and not repent; yea, if ye swear, ye +must not repent. For because of all such things as these, +we ought (if we make any, and that we ought) to make a +sure covenant.</p> + +<p>The covenant God makes with man is a sure covenant. +Hence called a "Covenant of salt," because salt preserves from +perishing and putrefaction. The covenant of God with +man about temporal things, is called a "Covenant of Salt, +and a covenant forever." For tho' His covenant about +temporal things (as all temporals must) hath an end of termination, +yet it hath no end of corruption: time will conclude it, +but time cannot violate it. But as for His covenant about +eternal things, that, like eternity, knows not only no end of +corruption, but none of termination. "Altho' my house (saith +gasping David) be not so with God; yet He hath made with +me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for +this is all my salvation, and all my desire, altho' He make it +not to grow." And what is it that makes the covenant of +God with man thus sure? sure not only in itself, but (as the +apostle speaks) to all the seed. Is it not this, because it +hath a strong foundation, a double, impregnable foundation? +<i>First</i>, His own free grace. <i>Second</i>, The blood of Christ; +which is therefore also called, the blood of the covenant. +Because of all this, this all, which hath an infinity in it, +the Lord God hath made with us a sure covenant.</p> + +<p>Now, as the stability and everlastingness of God's covenant +with His elect, lies in the strength of the foundation, "His +own love, and the blood of His Son:" so the stability and +firmness of our covenant with God, lies in the strength of +this foundation, the securing of the gospel, and the asserting +of gospel-purity in worship, and privileges in government; +the securing of our lives, and the asserting of our common +liberties. When at any time ye can question, and, from the +oracles of truth, be resolved, that these are sufficient grounds +of making a covenant, or that these are not ours, ye may +go, and unassure the covenant which ye make this day.</p> + +<p><i>Application.</i> Let me therefore invite you in the words of +the prophet Jeremiah, "Come let us join ourselves to the +Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall never be forgotten." +And do not these look like the days wherein the prophet +calls to the doing of this? "In those days, and at that +time, saith the Lord." What time, and what days were +those? the beginning of the chapter answers. "The word +that the Lord spake against Babylon, declare ye among +the nations, and publish, and set up a standard, publish +and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bell is confounded, +Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, +her images are broken in pieces: for out of the north there +cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land +desolate." Then follows, "In those days and at that time +saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come. And they +shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward saying, +Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual +covenant that shall not be forgotten."</p> + +<p>Are not these the days, and this the time (I speak not of +time to a day, but of time and days) wherein the Lord +speaks against Babylon, and against the land of the +Chaldeans: wherein He saith, "Declare among the nations, +and publish, and set up the standard." Are not these the +days, and this the time, when out of the north there cometh +up a nation against her? As face answers face in the water, +so do the events of these days answer, if not the letter, yet +much of the mystery of this prophecy. There seems +wanting only the work which this day is bringing forth, and +a few days more (I hope) will bring unto perfection, the +joining of ourselves in a perpetual covenant, never to be +forgotten. It is very observable, how the prophet, as it +were, with one breath saith, "Babylon is taken." And, +"Come let us join ourselves in covenant." As if there were +no more in it but this, take the covenant, and ye take +Babylon. Or, as if the taking of a covenant were the ready +way, the readiest way to take Babylon. Surely at the report +of the taking of this sure covenant, we in our prayer-visions +(as the prophet Habakkuk), "May see the tents of Cushan +in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian tremble." +Or, as Moses in his triumphant song, "The people shall +hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants +of Palestina. The dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the +mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; +the inhabitants of Canaan (who are now the inhabitants of +Babylon) shall melt away. The towers of Babylon shall +quake, and her seven hills will move. The great mountain +before our Zerubbabel, will become a plain, and we shall +bring forth the head-stone (of our reformation) with shouting, +crying, grace, grace unto it." Why may we not promise to +ourselves such glorious effects (and not build these castles +in the air) when we have laid so promising a foundation, +this sure covenant, and have made a perpetual covenant, +never to be forgotten?</p> + +<p>The three things I shall propose, which this covenant will +bring in, as facilitating contributions to so great a work:</p> + +<p>1. This covenant will distinguish men, and separate the +precious from the vile. In the twentieth chapter of Ezekiel, +the Lord promiseth His people, after this manner, "I will +cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into +the bond of the covenant." The phrase of causing to pass +under the rod, is an allusion to shepherds, or the keepers of +cattle, who when they would take special notice of their +sheep or cattle, either in their number to tithe them, or in +their goodness to try them, they brought them into a fold, +or some other inclosed place, when letting them pass out +at a narrow door, one by one, they held a rod over them, to +count or consider more distinctly of them. This action was +called a "passing of them under the rod," as Moses teaches +us, "And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, +even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be +holy unto the Lord." The learned Junius expounds that +text in Ezekiel by this in Leviticus, giving the sense thus, +"As if the Lord had said, I will prove and try the whole +people of Israel, as a shepherd doeth his flock, that I may +take the good and sound into the fold of My covenant, and +cast out the wicked and unsound." Which interpretation +is not only favoured, but fully approved, in the words +immediately following, "I will bring you into the bond of +the covenant, and I will purge out from among you the +rebels, and them that transgress against Me."</p> + +<p>A covenant is to a nation, as a fan to the floor, which +purges away the chaff and purifies the wheat. It is like the +furnace to the metal, which takes away the dross and shews +you a refined lump. It is a Shibboleth, to distinguish +Ephraimites from Gileadites. And who knows not how +great an advantage it is for the successful carrying on of any +honourable design, to know friends from enemies, and the +faithful from false brethren? Some have thought it +unpolitical to set-a-foot this covenant, lest it should discover +more enemies than friends, and so holding out to the view +more than otherwise can be seen, the weakness of a party +may render them, not only more obnoxious, but more +inconsiderable.</p> + +<p>To this I answer, in a word, invisible enemies will ever +do us more hurt than visible; and if we cannot deliver +ourselves from them, when they are seen and known, +doubtless unseen and unknown, they will more easily, tho' +more insensibly devour us. And I verily believe, we have +already received more damage and deeper wounds from +pretended friends, than from professed and open enemies. +The sad stories of Abner and Amasa inform us, that there +is no fence against his stroke, who comes too near us, who +stabs while he takes us aside to speak kindly to us, who +draws his sword, while he hath a kiss at his lips, and art +thou in health, my brother, at his tongue. Let us never +think ourselves stronger, because we do not know our +weakness; or safer, because we are ignorant of our danger. +Or that our real enemies and false friends will do us less +hurt, because they are less discovered. I do not think, +that a flock ever fared the better, because the wolves that +were amongst them, went in sheep's clothing. Rather will +our knowledge be our security, and the discovery which this +covenant makes, help on both our deliverance and our +business. For as, possibly, this covenant may discover +those who are faithful to be fewer, than was supposed before +this strict distinction from others; so it will certainly make +them stronger than they were before, by a stricter union +among themselves. And this is</p> + +<p>2. The second benefit of this covenant, which I shall +next insist upon. As it doth separate those who are +heterogeneal, so likewise it will congregate and embody +those who are homogeneal. And therefore it cannot +but add strength unto a people; for whatsoever unites, +strengthens. A few united, are stronger than a scattered +multitude. Tho' they who subscribe this covenant should +be, comparatively, so few, as the prophet speaks, "That a +child may write them;" yet this few thus united are +stronger than so many scattered ones, as exceed all +arithmetic, whom (as John speaks,) "No man can number." +Cloven tongues were sent, to publish the gospel, but not +divided tongues, much less divided hearts: the former +hindered the building of Babel, and the latter, tho' tongues +should agree, will hinder the building of Jerusalem. Then +a work goes on amain, when the undertakers, whether they +be few or many, all speak and think the same thing. A +people are more considerable in any work, because they are +one, than because they are many. But when many and one +meet, nothing can stand before them. So the Lord God +observed, when "He came down to see the city and the +tower, which the children of men builded." And the Lord +said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one +language: and this they begin to do; and now nothing will +be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." +Men may do as much as they can think, while they all +think and do as one; and not only can such do great +things, if let alone; but none can let them in doing what +they intend; so saith the Lord, "They have begun to do, +and nothing will be restrained from them, which they have +imagined." Nothing could restrain, or let them from their +work, but His power, who "will work, and none can let it." +Thus it is apparent that union is our strength. And it is +as apparent that this covenant, through the blessing of God +upon it, will be our union. To unite, is the very nature of +a covenant. Hence it is called "the bond of the covenant, +I will bring you into the bond of the covenant," saith the +Lord. Junius and some others render it, I will bring you +<i>(ad exhibitionem fœderis)</i> to the giving or tendering of the +covenant: deriving the word from <i>Masar</i>, signifying, to +exhibit or deliver. Whence (to note that in passage) the +traditionary doctrine among the Jews is called <i>Masora</i>, or +<i>Masoreth</i>. Others (whom our translators fellow, and put +the former sense, delivering, in the margin) others, I say, +deriving the word from <i>Asar</i> to bind, render it the bond of +the covenant.</p> + +<p>And this covenant is the bond of a twofold union. +<i>First</i>, It unites us of this kingdom among ourselves, and +this kingdom with the other two. <i>Second</i>, It makes a special +union of all those who shall take it holily and sincerely +throughout the three kingdoms with the one-most God. +Weak things bound together, are strong, much more then, +when strong are bound up with strong: most of all, when +strong are bound up with Almighty. If in this covenant, +we should only join weak to weak, we might be strong. +But, blessed be God, we join strong, as creatures may be +accounted strong, with strong. The strong kingdoms of +England and Ireland, with the strong kingdom of Scotland. +A threefold cord twisted of three such strong cords, will not +easily, if at all, be broken. They which single, blessed be +God, have yet such strength, how strong may they be when +conjoined? as the apostle writes, "I speak after the manner +of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh:" so I speak +now after the manner of men, concerning the strength of +our flesh, outward means, in these kingdoms. For as the +apostle Peter speaks in like phrase, tho' to another occasion, +"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some +men count slackness:" so I may say, no man, no kingdoms, +are strong to any purpose, as the Lord counts strength.</p> + +<p>And therefore, I reckon this the least part of our +strength, that these three strong kingdoms will be united by +this covenant. Nay, if this were all the strength, which this +union were like to make, I should reckon this no strength at +all. Wherefore, know that this covenant undoubtedly is, +and will be a bond of union between strong and Almighty: +between three strong nations, and an Almighty God. This +covenant engages more than man, God also is engaged; +engaged, through His free grace, in His power, wisdom, +faithfulness, to do us good, and much good, tho' in and of +ourselves unworthy of the least, unworthy of any good.</p> + +<p>All this considered, this covenant will be our strength: +our brethren of Scotland have, in a plentiful experience, +found it so already. This covenant, thro' the blessing of God +upon their councils and endeavours, hath been their Samson's +lock, the thing in fight, wherein their strength lieth. And +why should not we hope, that it will be ours; if we can be +wise, as they, to prevent or overcome the flattering +enticements of those Delilahs who would lull us asleep in +their laps, only for an opportunity to cut or shave it off? +Then indeed, which God forbid, we should be but weak like +other men, yea, weaker than ourselves were before this lock +was grown, having but the strength of man; God utterly +departing from us, for our falseness and unfaithfulness in this +covenant.</p> + +<p>3. This covenant observed will make us an holy people, +and then, we cannot be an unhappy people. That which +promotes personal holiness, must needs promote national +holiness. The consideration that we are in the bonds of a +covenant, is both a bridle to stop us from sin, and a spur to +duty. When we provoke God to bring evil upon us, He +stays His hand by considering His covenant. "I will +remember My covenant, saith the Lord, which is between Me, +and you; and every living creature of all flesh; and the +waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." +As if the Lord had said, It is more than probable, that I +shall quickly see as much cause, "all flesh corrupting all +their ways before Me," to drown the world with a second +deluge, as I did for the first: the foulness of the world, will +quickly call for another washing. But I am resolved, never +to destroy it by water again; for, "I will remember My +covenant." Hence also in the second book of the +Chronicles, chap. xxi. where the reign and sins of Jehoram +are recorded; such sins as might justly put a sword into the +hand of God to cut him off root and branch; howbeit, saith +the text, "The Lord would not destroy the house of David, +because of the covenant that He had made with David, and +as He promised to give a light to him, and to his sons +forever." Now, as the remembrance of the covenant on His +part, stays the hand of God from smiting; so the +remembrance of the covenant on our part, will be very +effectual to stay our hands, and tongues, and hearts from +sinning. A thought of that will damp and silence our lusts +and passions, when they begin to move or quest within us: +it will also break the blow of Satan's temptations, when he +assaults us. The soul in such cases will answer, True, I am +now as strongly tempted to sin as ever, I have now as +fair an opportunity to commit sin as ever, I could now be false +to, and desert this cause with as much advantage, upon as +fair hopes and promises as ever: O! but I am in covenant, +I remember my covenant, I will not, I cannot do it; and so +he falls a praying against the temptation: yea, he begs +prayers of others, that he may be strengthened against, and +overcome it. I read you an instance of this effect. Before the +sermon, a paper is sent to this congregation, containing this +request: "One who through much passion oftentimes +grievously offends the Majesty of God by cursing and +swearing, and that since his late taking the covenant, +desires the prayers of this congregation, that his offence may +be pardoned, and that he may be enabled to overcome that +temptation from henceforwards." This is the tenor of that +request, to a letter and a tittle, and therein you see how the +remembrance of the covenant wrought. Probably this +party (whosoever he was) took little notice of, or was little +troubled at the notice of these distempers in himself before; +least of all sought out for help against them. And I have the +rather inserted this to confute that scorn which, I hear, some +have since put upon that conscientious desire. As if one had +complained, that since his swearing to the covenant he could +not forbear swearing, and that this sacred oath had taught +him profane ones. But what holy thing is there which +swine will not make mire of, for themselves to wallow in? +I return; and I nothing doubt, but that this covenant, +wherein all is undertaken through the grace of Christ, will +make many more gracious who had grace before, and turn +others, who were running on amain in the broad way, from +the evil and error of their ways, into the way which is called +holy, or into the ways of holiness. Every act wherein we +converse with an holy God, hath an influence upon our +spirits to make us holy. The soul is made more holy in +prayer, tho' holiness be not the particular matter of the +prayer: a man gets much of heaven into his heart, in praying +for earthly things, if he pray in a spiritual manner; and the +reason is because, in prayer, he hath converse with, and +draws nigh to God, whatsoever lawful thing he prays about. +And the same reason carries it in covenanting, tho' it were +only about the maintenance of our outward estates and +liberties, forasmuch as therein we have to do with God. +How much more then will holiness be increased through this +covenant which, in many branches of it, is a direct covenant +for, and about holiness? And if we improve it home to this +purpose, for the subduing of those mystical Canaanites, those +worst and indeed most formidable enemies, our sinful lusts: +if we improve it for the obtaining of more grace, and the +making of us more holy: tho' our visible Canaanites should +not only continue unsubdued by us, but subdue us; though +our estates and liberties should continue, not only +unrecovered, but quite lost; tho' we should neither be a +rich, nor a free, nor a victorious people; yet if we are an +holy people, we have more than all these, we have all, He is +ours, "Who is all in all." So much of the first general part +of the application.</p> + +<p>The second is for admonition and caution, in three or +four particulars.</p> + +<p>1. Take heed of "profaning this covenant," by an unholy +life. Remember you have made a covenant with heaven; +then do not live as if you had made a "covenant with hell +or were come to an agreement with death," as the prophet +Isaiah characters those monsters of profaneness. Take +heed also of "corrupting this covenant," by an unholy gloss. +Wo be unto those glossers that corrupt the text, pervert the +meaning of these words: who attempt to expound the +covenant by their own practice, and will not regulate their +practice by the covenant. The apostle Peter speaks of +Paul's writings, "That in them some things are hard to be +understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable +wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own +destruction." We may fear, that tho' the text of this +covenant be easy to be understood, yet some (who, at least +think themselves learned), and whom we have found not +only stable but stiffened in their own erroneous principles +and opinions, will be trying their skill, if not their malice, to +wrest, or, as the Greek imports, to torture and set this +covenant upon the rack, to make it speak and confess a +sense never intended by the composers, or proposers of it: +and whereof (if but common ingenuity be the judge) it +never will, nor can be found guilty. All that I shall say to +such is that in the close of the verse quoted from the +apostle Peter, let them take heed such wrestings be not +(worst to themselves, even) to their own destruction.</p> + +<p>2. Take heed of delaying to perform the duties of this +covenant. Some, I fear, who have made haste to take the +covenant, will take leasure to act it. It is possible, that a +man may make too much haste (when he swears, before he +considers what it is) to take an oath; but, having taken it +upon due consideration, he cannot make too much haste to +perform it. "Be not rash with thy mouth," saith the +preacher. That is, do not vow rashly, but, "When thou +vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it: for He hath +no pleasure in fools (slow performance is folly); pay that +which thou hast vowed." Speedy paying (like speedy +giving) is double payment; whereas slow payment is no +payment or as bad as none, for it is foolish payment. A +bond, if I mistake not, is presently due in law, if no day be +specified in the bond. It is so I am sure in this covenant; +here is no day set down, and therefore all is due the same +day you take it. God and man may sue this bond presently +for non-payment: the covenant gives no day, and therefore +requires the next day, every day. It is not safe to take day +for payment, when the obligation is <i>in terminis de præsenti</i>, +and none is given.</p> + +<p>3. Take heed of dallying with this covenant. It is more +than serious, a sacred covenant. It is very dangerous +jesting with edged tools. This covenant is as keen as it is +strong. Do not play fast and loose with it, be not in and +out with it; God is an avenger of all such: He is a +jealous God, and will not hold them guiltless, who thus +take His name in vain. They who swear by, or to the +Lord, and swear by Malcham, are threatened to be cut off. +To be on both sides, and to be on no side; neutrality and +indifferency differ little, either in their sin or danger.</p> + +<p>4. Above all, take heed of apostatizing from, or an utter +desertion of, this covenant. To be deserted of God, is the +greatest punishment, and to desert God, is the greatest sin. +When you have set your hands to the plough, do not look +back: remember Lot's wife. Besides the sin, this is, <i>First</i>, +Extremely base and dishonourable. It is one of the brands +set upon those Gentiles whom "God had given up to a +reprobate mind, and to vile affections," that they were +covenant breakers. And how base is that issue which is +begotten between, and born from vile affections, and a +reprobate mind? where the parents are such, it is easy to +judge what the child must be. <i>Second</i>, Besides the sin and +the dishonour, this is extremely dangerous and destructive. +We are said in the native speaking, to cut a covenant, or to +strike a covenant, when we make it; and if we break the +covenant when we have made it, it will both strike and cut +us, it will kill and slay us. If the cords of this covenant do +not bind us, the cords of this covenant will whip us; and +whip us, not as with cords, but as with scorpions. The +covenant will have a quarrel with, and sends out a challenge +unto such breakers of it, for reparation. And (if I may so +speak) the great God will be its second. As God revenges +the quarrel of His own covenant, so likewise the quarrel of +ours. He hath already "Sent a sword to revenge the +quarrel of His covenant." He will send another to revenge +the quarrel of this upon the wilful violators of it. Yea, +every lawful covenant hath a curse always waiting upon it, +like a marshal or a sergeant, to attack such high contemners +of it. It was noted before from the ceremony of killing, +dividing, and passing between the divided parts of a beast, +when covenants were made, that the imprecation of a curse +upon the covenanters was implied, in case they wilfully +transgressed or revolted from it. Let the transgressors of, +and revolters from this covenant, fear and tremble at the +same curse, even the curse of a dreadful division: "That +God will divide them and their posterity in Jacob, and +scatter them in our Israel; yea, let them fear, that God will +rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased +as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a +rolling wind before the whirlwind. This is (their portion, +and) the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them +that rob us." And if so, is not their lot fallen in an +unpleasant place? have they not a dreadful heritage? to be +under any curse is misery enough; but to be under a +covenant curse, is the greatest, is all misery. For as the +blessings we receive are most sweet, when they pass to us +through the hands of a covenant; a mercy from a promise +is far better than a mercy from bare Providence, because +then it is sprinkled with the blood of Christ: so on the +other side, the curse which falls upon any one is far more +bitter when it comes through a covenant, especially an +abused, a broken covenant. When the fiery beams of God's +wrath are contracted into this burning glass, it will burn as +low as hell, and none can quench it. That alone which +quenches the fire of God's wrath is the blood of Christ. +And the blood of Christ is the foundation of this covenant. +Not only is that covenant which God hath made with us +founded in the blood of Christ, but that also which we +make with God. Were it not by the blood of Christ, we +could not possibly be admitted to so high a privilege. +Seeing then the blood of Christ only quenches the wrath of +God, and this blood is the foundation of our covenant, how +shall the wrath of God (except they repent, return and +renew their covenant) be quenched towards such violators +of it? And, as our Saviour speaks upon another occasion, +"If the light which is in them be darkness, how great is that +darkness?" So, I say, if that which is our friend turn upon +us as an enemy, how great is that enmity; and if that +which is our mercy be turned into wrath, how great +is that wrath, and who can quench it? It is said of +good king Josiah, that when he had made a covenant +before the Lord, "he caused all that were present in +Jerusalem, and in Benjamin, to stand to it." How far he +interposed his regal authority, I stay not to dispute. But +he caused them to stand to it; that is openly to attest, and +to maintain it. Methinks the consideration of these things, +should reign over the hearts of men, and command in their +spirits, more than any prince can over the tongues or bodies +of men, to cause them to stand to this covenant. Ye that +have taken this covenant, unless ye stand to it, ye will fall +by it. I shall shut up this point with that of the apostle, +"Take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may +be able to withstand in the evil day, and, when ye have done +all, to stand," (Eph. vi. 13). Stand, and withstand, are +the watchword of this covenant, or the impress of every +heart which hath or shall sincerely swear unto it.</p> + +<p>For the helping of you to stand to this covenant, I shall +cast in a few advices about your walking in this covenant, +or your carriage in it, which, if followed, I dare say, through +the mercy of the Most High, your persons, these kingdoms, +and this cause, shall not miscarry.</p> + +<p>1. Walk in holiness and uprightness. When God renewed +His covenant with Abraham, He makes this the preamble of +it, "I am the Almighty God, walk before Me, and be thou +perfect, and I will make My covenant between Me and +thee." As this must be a covenant of salt, in regard of +faithfulness; so there must be salt in this covenant, even +the salt of holiness and uprightness. The Jews were +commanded in all their offerings to use salt; and that is +called the salt of the covenant, "Every oblation of thy +meat-offering shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt +thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to +be lacking." What is meant by salt on our parts, +is taught us by Christ Himself, "Have salt in yourselves, +and have peace one with another." Which I +take to be parallel in sense with that of the apostle, +"Follow peace with all men and holiness." As salt, the +shadow of holiness, was called for, in all those Jewish +services; so holiness, the true substantial salt, is called +for in all ours. As then it was charged, "Let not the +salt of the covenant of thy God be lacking:" so now +it is charged, "Suffer not the salt of thy covenant +with God and His people to be lacking." Seeing we +have made a covenant of salt, that is, a sure covenant, +let us remember to keep salt in our covenant. Let +us add salt to salt, our salt to the Lord's salt, our salt +of holiness to His salt of faithfulness, and we shall not +miscarry.</p> + +<p>2. Walk steadily or stedfastly in this covenant. Where +the heart is upright and holy, the feet will be steady. +Unstedfastness is a sure argument of unsoundness, as well +as a fruit of it. "Their heart was not right with Him; +neither were they stedfast in His covenant." As if He +had said, would you know the reason why this people were +so unstedfast? It was, because they were so unsound. +"Their heart was not right with Him." We often see the +diseases of men's hearts breaking forth at their lips, and at +their finger ends, in all they say or do.</p> + +<p>God will be steady to us; why should not we resolve to +be so to Him? and this covenant will be stedfast and +uniform unto us, why should not we resolve to be so too, +and in this covenant? The covenant will not be our +friend to-day, and our enemy to-morrow, do us good +to-day, and hurt to-morrow, it will not be the fruitful this +year, and barren the next; but it is our friend to do us +good to-day, and ever. It is fruitful and will be so for +ever. We need not let it lie fallow, we cannot take +out the heart of it, tho' we should have occasion to +plough it, and sow it every year. Much less will this +covenant be so unstedfast to its own principles, as to +yield us wheat to-day, and cockle to-morrow, an egg to-day, +and to-morrow a scorpion; now bread, and anon a +stone; now give us an embrace, and anon a wound; now +help on our peace, and anon embroil us; now prosper +our reformation, and anon oppose, or hinder it; strengthen +us this year, and weaken us the next. No, as it will never +be barren, so it will ever bring forth the same fruit, and +that good fruit; and the more and the longer we use it, the +better fruit. Like the faithful wife, "It will do us good, +and not evil, all the days of its life." It is therefore, not +only sinful, but most unsuitable and uningenuous, for us to +be up and down, forward and backward, liking and disliking, +like that double minded man, "Unstable in all our ways," +respecting the duties of this covenant.</p> + +<p>3. Walk believingly, live much in the exercise of faith. +As we have no more good out of the covenant of God, than +we have faith in it; so no more good out of our own, than +(in a due sense) we have faith in it. There is as much +need of faith, to improve this covenant, as there is of +faithfulness. We live no more in the sphere of a covenant, +than we believe. And we can make no living out of it but +by believing. All our earnings come in here also, more by +our faith, than by our works. Let not the heart of God be +straitened, and His hand shortened by our unbelief. +Where Christ marvelled at the unbelief of a people, consider +what a marvel followed: Omnipotence was as one weak. +"He could do no mighty works among them." Works less +than mighty will not reach our deliverances or procure our +mercies. The ancient worthies made more use of their +faith, than to be saved, and get to heaven by it. "By faith +the walls of Jericho fell down. By faith they subdued +kingdoms, wrought righteousness, (or exercised justice) +stopped the mouths of lions. By faith they quenched the +violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of +weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, +turned to flight the armies of the aliens." We have Jerichos +to reduce, and kingdoms to subdue, under the sceptre and +government of Jesus Christ: we have justice to execute, +and the mouths of lions to stop: we have a violent fire to +quench, a sharp edged sword to escape, Popish alien armies +to fight with; and we (comparatively to these mighty works) +are but weak. How then shall we out of our weakness +become strong, strong enough to carry us through these +mighty works, strong enough to escape these visible dangers? +If we walk and work by sense, and not by faith? And if +we could get through all these works and dangers without +faith, we should work but like men, not at all like Christians, +but like men in a politic combination, not in a holy covenant. +There's not a stroke of covenant work (purely so called) can +be done without faith. As fire is to the chemist, so is faith +to a covenant people. In that capacity, they can do +nothing for themselves without it; and they have, they can +have, no assurance that God will. Seeing then we are in +covenant, we must go to counsel by faith, and to war by +faith; we must pull down by faith, and build by faith; we +must reform by faith, and settle our peace by faith. Besides, +to do a work so solemn and sacred, and then not to believe +and expect no fruit; yea, then to believe and expect +answerable fruit, is a direct taking of God's name in vain, +and a mock to Jesus Christ. And if we mock Christ by +calling Him to a covenant, which we ourselves slight, as a +thing we expect little or nothing from: "He will laugh at +our calamity," and "mock when our fear cometh." Wherefore +to close, "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be +established," no, not by this sure covenant. But, "believe +in the Lord your God, in covenant, so shall you be +established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper."</p> + +<p>4. Walk cheerfully. So it becomes those that have God +so near them. Such, even in their sorrows, should be like +Paul, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." The (as) notes +not a counterfeiting of sorrow, but the overcoming of +sorrow. On this ground David resolves against the fear of +evil, tho' he should see nothing but evil; "Tho' I walk in +the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for +Thou art with me." In a covenant, God and man meet; +He is with us who is more than all that are against us: and +when He is with us, who can be against us? For then all +things, and all persons, even while (to the utmost of their +skill and power) they set themselves against us, work for us; +and should not we rejoice? If we knew that every loss +were our gain, every wound our healing, every disappointment +our success, every defeat our victory, would we not +rejoice? Do but know what it is to be in covenant with God; +and be sad, be hopeless, if you can. It is to have the +strength and counsels of heaven engaged for you; it is to +have Him for you, "Whose foolishness is wiser than men, +and whose weakness is stronger than men." It is to have +Him with you, "who doeth according to His will in the +army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, +and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, what doest +thou?" It is to have Him with you, "who frustrateth the +tokens of the liars, and maketh the diviners mad, who +turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge +foolish." It is to have Him with you, before whom "the +nations are as the drop of a bucket, and as the dust of the +balance, who taketh up the isles as a very little thing." In +a word, it is to have Him with you, "who fainteth not, +neither is weary; there is no searching of His understanding. +He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have +no might, He increaseth strength." This God is our God, +our God in covenant; "This is our beloved and this is our +Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." And shall we not +rejoice? Shall we not walk cheerfully? Tho' there be +nothing but trouble before our eyes, yet our hearts should +live in those upper regions, which are above storms and +tempests, above rain and winds, above the noise and +confusions of the world. Why should sorrow sit clouded in +our faces, or any darkness be in our hearts, while we are in +the shine and light of God's countenance? It is said, +"That all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn +with all their heart:" If we have sworn heartily, we shall +rejoice heartily. And for ever banish base fears, and killing +sorrows from our hearts; and wipe them from our faces. +They, who have unworthy fears in their hearts, give too fair +an evidence that they did not swear with their hearts.</p> + +<p>5. Walk humbly and dependently; rejoice, but be not +secure. Trust to God in covenant, not to your covenant. +Make not your covenant your Christ; no, not for this +temporal salvation. As a horse trusted to, is a vain thing +to save a man, so likewise is a covenant trusted to; neither +can it deliver a nation by its great strength: tho' indeed the +strength of it be greater than the strength of many horses. +"In vain is salvation hoped for from this hill, or from a +multitude of mountains," heaped up and joined in one by +the bond of this covenant. Surely in the Lord our God, +our God in covenant, is the salvation of England. We +cannot trust too much in God, nor too little in the creature; +there is nothing breaks the staff of our help, but our leaning +upon it. If we trust in our covenant, we have not made it +with God, but we have made it a god; and every god of +man's making, is an idol, and so nothing in the world: you +see, pride in, or trust to this covenant will make it an idol, +and then in doing all this, we have done nothing; for "an +idol is nothing in the world." And of nothing, comes +nothing. By overlooking to the means, we lose all; and by +all our travail shall bring forth nothing but wind: it will +not work any deliverance in the land. Wherefore, "rest +not in the thing done, but get up, and be doing," which is +the last point, and my last motion about your walking in +covenant.</p> + +<p>6. Walk industriously and diligently in this covenant. +You were counselled before to stand to the covenant, but +take heed of standing in it. Stand, as that is opposed to +defection; but if you stand as that is opposed to action, +you are at the next door to falling. A total neglect is little +better than total apostasy.</p> + +<p>We have made a perpetual covenant, never to be forgotten, +as was shewed out of the prophet. It is a rule, that words +in scripture, which express only an act of memory, include +action and endeavours. When the young man is warned to +"remember his Creator in the days of his youth," he is also +charged to love, and to obey Him. And while we say, this +covenant is never to be forgotten; we mean, the duties of +it are ever to be pursued, and, to the utmost of our power, +fulfilled. As soon as it is said that Josiah made all the +people stand to the covenant; the very next words are, +"and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the +covenant of God, the God of their fathers." They stood to +it, but they did not, like those, "stand all the day idle;" +they fell to work presently. And so let us. Having laid +this foundation, a sure covenant, now let us arise and +build, and let our hands be strong. Do not think that all +is done, when this solemnity is done, It is a sad thing to +observe how some, when they have lifted up their hands, +and written down their names, think presently their work is +over. They think, now surely they have satisfied God and +man for they have subscribed the covenant.</p> + +<p>I tell you, nay, for when you have done taking the +covenant, then your work begins. When you have done +taking the covenant, then you must proceed to acting the +covenant. When an apprentice has subscribed his name, +and sealed his indentures, doth he then think his service is +ended? No, then he knows his service doth begin. It is +so here. We are all sealing the indentures of a sacred +and noble apprenticeship to God, to these churches and +commonwealths; let us then go to our work, as bound, +yet free. Free to our work, not from it; free in our work, +working from a principle of holy ingenuity, not of servility, +or constraint. The Lord threatens them with bondage and +captivity, who will not be servants in their covenant, with +readiness and activity. "I, saith the Lord, will give the +men that have transgressed My covenant, which have not +performed the words of the covenant, which they had made +before Me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed +between the parts thereof; the princes of Judah, and the +princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all +the people of the land, which passed between the parts of +the calf, I will even give them into the hand of their +enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and +their dead bodies shall be meat to the fowls of the air, and +the beasts of the earth." Words that need no rhetoric to +press them, nor any comment to explain them: they are so +plain, that every one may understand them; and so severe, +that every one, who either transgresses, or performs not, +who doeth any thing against, or nothing for the words of this +covenant, hath just cause to tremble at the reading of them: +I am sure, to feel them will make him tremble. Seeing +then our princes, our magistrates, our ministers, and our +people, have freely consented to, written, and sworn this +covenant; let us all in our several places, be up and doing, +that the Lord may be with us; not sit still and do nothing, +and so cause the Lord to turn against us.</p> + +<p>You that are for consultation, go to counsel; you that are +for execution, go on to acting; you that are for exhorting +the people in this work, attend to exhortation; you that are +soldiers, draw your swords; you that have estates, draw +your purses; you that have strength of body, lend your +hands; and all you that have honest hearts, lend your +prayers, your cries, your tears, for the prosperous success of +this great work. And the Lord prosper the works of all our +hands, the Lord prosper all our handy-works. <i>Amen.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND6" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND6"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT LONDON.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY THOMAS CASE</i><a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></h4> + +<p class="center">"And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the<br/> +quarrel of My covenant."—<i>Lev.</i> xxvi. 25.</p> + + +<p>Since covenant-violation is a matter of so high a quarrel +as for the avenging whereof, God sends a sword upon a +church or nation: for which, it is more than probable, the +sword is upon us at this present, it having almost devoured +Ireland already, and eaten up a great part of England also, +let us engage our council, and all the interest we have in +heaven and earth, for the taking up of this controversy; let +us consider what we have to do, what way there is yet left +us, for the reconciling of this quarrel, else we, and our +families, are but the children of death and destruction: +this sword that is drawn, and devoured so much Christian +protestant flesh already, will, it is to be feared, go quite +thro' the land, and, in the pursuit of this quarrel, cut +off the remnant, till our land be so desolate, and our cities +waste, and England be made as Sodom and Gomorrah, in +the day of the fierce anger of Jehovah.</p> + +<p>Somewhat I have spoken already in the former use, to +this purpose viz. "To acknowledge our iniquities that we +have transgressed against the Lord our God." To get our +hearts broken, for breaking the covenant; to lay it so to +heart, that God may not lay it to our charge. But this +looks backward. Somewhat must be done, <i>de futuro</i>: for +time to come: that may not only compose the quarrel, but +lay a sure foundation of an after peace between God and +the kingdom. And for that purpose, a mean lies before us; +an opportunity is held forth unto us by the hand of divine +wisdom and goodness, of known use and success among +the people of God in former times; which is yet to me a +gracious intimation, and a farther argument of hope from +heaven, that God has not sworn against us in His wrath, +nor sealed us up a people devoted to destruction, but hath +yet a mind to enter into terms of peace and reconciliation +with us, to receive us into grace and favour, to become our +God, and to own us for His people; if yet, we will go forth +to meet Him, and accept of such honourable terms as +shall be propounded to us: and that is, by renewing our +covenant with Him; yea, by entering into a more full and +firm covenant than ever heretofore. For, as the quarrel was +raised about the covenant, so it must be a covenant more +solid and substantial, that must compose the quarrel, as +I shall show you hereafter. And that is the service and the +privilege that lies before us; the work of the next day. So +that, me-thinks, I hear this use of exhortation, which now +I would commend unto you speaking unto us in that +language; "Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in a +perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." It is the +voice of the children of Israel, and the children of Judah, +returning out of captivity. "The children of Israel shall +come, they, and the children of Judah together; seeking the +Lord," whom they had lost, and inquiring the way to Zion; +from whence their idolatry and adulteries had cast them +out; themselves become now like the doves of the valley, +mourning and weeping, because they had perverted their +way, and forgotten the Lord their God. "Going and +weeping they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. They +shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward." And +if you inquire when this should be? The fourth verse tells +you, in those days. And if you ask again, what days those +are? Interpreters will tell us of a threefold day, wherein +this prophecy or promise is to be fulfilled; that is, the +literal or inchoative, evangelical or spiritual, universal or +perfect day.</p> + +<p>The first day is a literal or inchoative day, here prophesied +of, and that is already past, past long since; viz., +in that day wherein the seventy years of the Babylonian +captivity expired; then was this prophecy or promise +begun in part to be accomplished: at what time the +captivity of Judah, and divers of Israel with them, upon +their return out of Babylon, kept a solemn fast at the +river "Ahava, to afflict their souls before their God." +There may you see them going and weeping, "to seek +of Him a right way for them, and their little ones." +There you have them seeking the Lord, and inquiring +the way to Zion with their faces thitherward. And when +they came home, you may hear some of their nobles +and priests, calling upon them to enter into covenant; +so Shechaniah spake unto Ezra, the princes, and the +people, "We have sinned against the Lord, ... yet +now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now +therefore let us make a covenant with our God." And +so you may find the Levites calling the people to confess +their sins with weeping and supplications, in a day of +humiliation, and at the end of it, to write, and swear, and +seal a covenant with "the Lord their God." This was the +first day wherein this prophecy began to be fulfilled, in +the very letter thereof.</p> + +<p>The second day is the evangelical day, wherein this +promise is fulfilled in a gospel or spiritual sense; namely, +when the elect of God, of what nation or language soever, +being all called the Israel of God, as is prophesied, "One +shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself +by the name of Jacob, ... and surname himself by +the name of Israel." I say, when these in their several +generations and successions shall turn to the Lord their +God, either from their Gentilism and paganism, as in their +first conversion to Christianity; as Tertullian observes +after the resurrection of Christ, and the mission of the +Holy Ghost; <i>Aspice exinde universas nationes ex veragine +erroris humani emergentes ad Dominum Deum, et ad +Dominum Christum ejus.</i> From that day forward, you +might behold poor creatures of all nations and languages, +creeping out of their dark holes and corners of blindness +and idolatry, and betaking them to God and His Son Jesus +Christ, as to their Law-giver and Saviour; or else turning +from Antichristian superstition, and false ways of worship, as +in the after and more full conversion of churches or persons +purging themselves more and more, from the corruptions +and mixtures of popery and superstitions, according to the +degree of light and conviction, which should break out upon +them, and asking the way to Zion, <i>i.e.</i>, the pure way of +gospel worship, according to the fuller and clearer manifestations +and revelations of the mind of Christ in the gospel. +This was fulfilled in Luther's time, and in all those after +separations which any of the churches have made from +Rome, and from those relics and remains of superstition +and will-worship, wherewith themselves and the ordinances +of Jesus Christ have been denied.</p> + +<p>The third day wherein this prophecy or promise is to be +made good, is that universal day, wherein both Jew and +Gentile shall be converted unto the Lord. That day of the +restitution of all things, as some good divines conceive when +"ten men out of all languages of the nations, shall take +hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go +with you; for we have heard that God is with you." And +to what purpose is more fully expressed in the former verses, +answering the prophecy in the text. "Thus saith the Lord of +Hosts, it shall come to pass, that there shall come people, +and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of +one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily +to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts; +I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall +come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to +pray before the Lord."</p> + +<p>This I call the universal day, because, as you see, +there shall be such an abundance of confluence of cities, +and people, and nations, combining together in an holy +league and covenant, to seek the Lord. And a perfect day, +because the mind and will of the Lord shall be fully revealed +and manifested to the saints, concerning the way of worship +and government in the churches. The new Jerusalem, <i>i.e.</i> +the perfect, exact, and punctual model of the government of +Christ in the churches, shall then be let down from Heaven. +"The light of the moon being then to be as the light of the +sun, and the light of the sun sevenfold, as the light of seven +days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of His +people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."</p> + +<p>By what hath been spoken, you may perceive under +which of these days we are: past indeed the first, but not +yet arrived at the third day; and therefore under the +second day, that evangelical day; yet so, as if all the three +days were met together in ours, while it seems to me, that +we are upon the dawning of the third day: and this +prophecy falling so pat, and full upon our times, as if we +were not got beyond the literal; a little variation will do it. +The children of Israel, and the children of Judah: Scotland +and England, newly coming out of Babylon, antichristian +Babylon, papal tyranny and usurpations, in one degree or +other, going and weeping in the days of their solemn +humiliations, bewailing their backslidings and rebellions, to +seek the Lord their God, to seek pardon and reconciliation, +to seek His face and favour, not only in the continuance, +but in the more full and sweet influential manifestations +of His presence among them; and to that end, asking the +way to Zion with their faces thitherward; that is, inquiring +after the pure way of gospel worship, with full purpose of +heart; that when God shall reveal His mind to them, they +will conform themselves to His mind according to that +blessed prophecy and promise, "He will teach us of His +ways, and we will walk in His paths." And that they may +make all sure, that they may secure God and themselves +against all future apostasies and backslidings, calling one +upon another, and echoing back one to another: "Come, +let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant +that shall not be forgotten."</p> + +<p>You see by this time I have changed my text, tho' not +my project; to which purpose I shall remember that, in the +handling of these words, I must not manage my discourse, +as if I were to make a new entire sermon upon the text, but +only to improve the happy advantages it holds forth, for the +pursuit and driving on of my present use of exhortation. +Come, let us join. To this end therefore, from these words, +I will propound and endeavour to satisfy these three +queries, 1. What? 2. Why? 3. How?</p> + +<p>I. What the duty is, to which they mutually stir up one +another?</p> + +<p>II. Why, or upon what considerations?</p> + +<p>III. How, or in what manner this service is to be +performed? And in all these you shall see what proportion +the text holds with the times. The duty in our text, with +the duty in our hands, pressing them on still in an exhortatory +way.</p> + +<p>For the first. What the duty is?</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> You see that in the text; it is to join themselves to +the Lord, by a solemn covenant; and so is that which we +have now in our hands, to join ourselves to the Lord by a +covenant; how far they correspond, will appear in the +sequel. This is the first and main end of a covenant +between God and His people, as I have shewed you, +"to join themselves to the Lord. The sons of the stranger +that join themselves to the Lord, and take hold of His +covenant."</p> + +<p>This, I say, is the first and main end of the covenant in +the text: the second is subordinate unto it; namely, to +inquire the way to Zion, <i>i.e.</i>, to inquire the way and manner, +how God would be worshipped; that they might dishonour +and provoke Him no more, by their idolatries and superstitions, +which had been brought in upon the ordinances of +God, by the means of apostate kings, and priests, and +prophets, as in Jeroboam's and Ahab's reigns, and for which +they had been carried into captivity.</p> + +<p>And such is the covenant that lies before us: in the first +place, as I say, to join ourselves to the Lord, to be knit +inseparably unto Him, that He may be our God, and we +may be His people. And in the next place, as subservient +hereunto, to ask the way to Zion; to inquire and search by +all holy means, sanctified to that purpose, what is that pure +way of gospel worship; that we and our children after us +may worship the God of spirits, the God of truth, in spirit, +and in truth. In spirit opposed to carnal ways of will-worship, +and inventions of men; and in truth, opposed to +false hypocritical shews and pretences, since the Father +seeks such to worship Him.</p> + +<p>Now, that this is the main scope and aim of this covenant +before us, will appear, if you read and ponder it with due +consideration; I will therefore read it to you distinctly, this +evening, besides the reading of it again to-morrow, when you +come to take it; and when I have read it, I will answer the +main and most material objections, which seem to make it +inconsistent with these blessed ends and purposes. Attend +diligently while I read it to you.</p> + +<p>(The covenant was then read.)</p> + +<p>This brethren, is the covenant before us; to which God +and His parliament do invite us this day; wherein the ends +propounded lie fair to every impartial eye.</p> + +<p>The first article in this covenant, binding us to the +reformation of religion; and the last article, to the reformation +of our lives. In both, we join ourselves to the Lord, +and swear to ask and receive from His lips the law of this +reformation. Truly, this is a why, as well as a what, (that I +may a little prevent myself) a motive of the first magnitude. +Oh! for a people or person to be joined unto the Lord; to be +made one with the most high God of heaven and earth, +before whom and to whom we swear, is a privilege of +unspeakable worth and excellency. "Seemeth it (said +David once to Saul's servants) a small thing in your eyes, to +be son-in-law to a king," seeing I am a poor man? Seemeth +it, may I say, a small thing to you, for poor creatures to be +joined, and married, as it were, to the great God, the living +God; who are so much worse than nothing, by how much +sin is worse than vanity? yea, to be one with Him as +Christ saith in that heavenly prayer of His; as He and His +Father are one. "That they may be one, as Thou Father +art in Me, and I in Thee; that they also may be one +in us." And again, "that they may be one, even as +we are one." Yea, perfect in one; not indeed, in the +perfection of that unity, but in unity of that perfection; not +made perfect in a perfection of equality, but of conformity.</p> + +<p>This is the fruit of a right managed covenant; and the +greatest honour that poor mortality is capable of. Moses +stands admiring of it. You may read the place at your +leisure. But, against this blessed service and truth, are +there mustered and led up an whole regiment of objections, +under the conduct of the father of lies; though some of +them may seem to have some shadow of truth; and therefore +so much the more carefully to be examined. I shall +deal only with some of the chief commanders of them, if +they be conquered the rest will vanish of their own accord.</p> + + +<p class="center">OBJECTIONS PROPOUNDED AND ANSWERED.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> 1. If this were the end of this service, yet it were +needless: since we have done it over and over again, in our +former protestations and covenants; and so this repetition +may seem to be a profanation of so holy an ordinance, by +making of it so ordinary, and nothing else, but a taking of +God's name in vain. To this I answer.</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> 1. It cannot be done too oft; if it be done +according to the law and order of so solemn an ordinance. +2. The people in the text might have made the same +objection; it lay as strong against the work, to which they +encourage one another: for surely, this was not the first +time they engaged themselves to God by way of covenant; +but having broken their former covenants, they thought it +their privilege, and not their burden to renew it again, and +to make it more full, stable, and impregnable than ever; +"a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten"; which +hints 3. And that is, there was never yet so full and +strict a covenant tendered to us since we were a people. +Former covenants have had their defect and failings, like +the best of God's people: but I may say of this in reference +to other covenants, as Solomon of his good house-wife, in +reference to other women; "Other daughters have done +well, but thou hast exceeded them all." Other covenants +have done well, but this hath exceeded them all; like Paul +among the apostles, it goes beyond them all, though it +seems to be born out of due time. Now, if your leases and +covenants among men be either lame or forfeited; need +men persuade you to have them renewed and perfected? +Of how much greater concernment is this, between God +and us, O! ye of little faith? 4. You receive the sacrament +of the Lord's supper once a month, and some will not be +kept off, tho' they have no part, nor portion in that +mystery, say the ministers of Christ what they can; and +the sacrament is but the seal of the covenant; consider +it, and be convinced.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> 2. But secondly, it is objected there be some +clauses in this covenant, that serve rather to divide us +farther from God, than join us nearer to Him; as binding us to +inquire the way to Zion of men rather than of God; to receive +the law of reformation from Scotland, and other churches, +and not from the lips of the great prophet of the churches.</p> + +<p>In the article, we swear first to maintain the religion, as it +is already reformed in Scotland, in doctrine, government, +and discipline; wherein, first, the most shall swear they +know not what; and secondly, we swear to conform ourselves +here in England, to their government and discipline +in Scotland which is presbyterial, and for ought we know, as +much tyrannical, and more antichristian than that of prelacy, +which we swear to extirpate; yea, some have not been afraid +to call it the Antichrist that is now in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> 1. To whom I first answer, beseeching them in +the bowels of compassion, and spirit of meekness, to take +heed of such rash and unchristian censures, least God hear, +and it displease Him; and they themselves possibly be found +to commit the sin and incur the woe of them that "call evil +good, and good evil." 2. Whereas they object that many +shall swear they know not what, the most being totally +ignorant of the discipline of Scotland, and very few understanding +it distinctly. I would have these remember and +consider two examples in Scripture the one of king Josiah, +the other of the women and children in Nehemiah's time. +Josiah (as the text tells us) not being above eight years of +age, "While he was yet young, began to seek after the Lord +God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began +to purge Judah and Jerusalem." And this purging and +reformation he did by covenant, wherein he swore, to "walk +after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, and His +testimonies, and His statutes." Which surely, at that age, +we cannot conceive he did distinctly and universally understand; +no more could all the men, their wives and their +sons, and their daughters, that took the covenant (in +Nehemiah's time) understand all things in particular to +which that covenant did bind them; since they did enter +into a curse, and an oath, not only to refuse all intermarriages +with the heathen, but also to walk in God's law, +which was given by Moses, and to observe and do all the +commandments of the Lord, and His judgments, and His +statutes.</p> + +<p>Surely there were in this multitude, not an inconsiderable +number that were not acquainted with all the moral precepts, +judicial laws, and ceremonial statutes, which God commanded +the people by the hand of Moses.</p> + +<p>There be two things I know, that may be replied against +these instances. 1. That of those women and children +in Nehemiah, it is said in the same place, they were of +understanding, "Every one having knowledge, and having +understanding; they clave unto their brethren, their nobles, +and entered into a curse." 2. That there is a great difference +between the laws and statutes to which they swore, and +this government and discipline to which we swear in this +covenant. Those laws and statutes were ordained immediately +of God Himself; and therefore being infallibly right, +unquestionably holy, and just, and good, Josiah and the +people might lawfully swear observance to them with an +implicit faith; but not so in a government and discipline set +up by man, by a church, be it never so pure and holy: +for their light being but a borrowed light, and they not +privileged with an infallible Spirit (as the apostles) their +resolutions and ordinances may be liable to mistake and +error; and therefore, to swear observance to them by an +implicit faith, is more than comes to their share, and as +unwarrantable as it is unsafe for a people or person to do, +who are yet ignorant or unsatisfied in the whole, or in any +particular.</p> + +<p>To these objections I rejoin: <i>first</i>, that that description +of the covenanters in Nehemiah, that "they were of +understanding, and knowledge," supposeth not a distinct +actual cognizance of every particular ordinance, judgment, +statute, and provision, in all the three laws, moral, judicial, +ceremonial, in every one that took the covenant; that being +not only needless but impossible; but it implies only a +capacity to receive instruction and information in the things +they swore unto, tho' at present they were ignorant of many +of the severals contained in that oath. And so far this rule +obtains among us; children that are not yet come to understanding, +and fools, being not admitted to this service, +as not capable of instruction.</p> + +<p><i>Answ</i>. 2. To the second (tho' more considerable) yet the +answer is not very difficult: for,</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, We do not swear to observe that discipline, but +to preserve it: I may preserve that, which in point of +conscience I cannot observe, or not, at least, swear to +observe. <i>Second</i>, We swear to preserve it, not in opposition +to any other form of government that may be found agreeable +to the Word, but in opposition against a common enemy, +which is a clause of so wide a latitude, and easy a digestion, +as the tenderest conscience need not kick at it; this +preservation relating not so much to the government, as to +the persons or nation under this government; not so much +to preserve it as to preserve them in it, against a prelatical +party at home, or a popish party abroad, that should attempt +by violence to destroy them, or to force another government +upon them, that should be against the Word of God; under +which latitude, I see not but we might enter into the like +covenant with Lutherans, or other reformed churches, whose +government, discipline, and worship, is yet exceedingly +corrupted with degenerate mixtures.</p> + +<p><i>Third</i>, Neither in the preservation of their government, +nor in the reformation of ours, do we swear to any thing of +man's; but to what shall be found to be the mind of Christ. +Witness that clause, article 1: "According to the word of +God:" so that upon the matter, it is no more than Josiah +and the people in Nehemiah swore to; namely, "what shall +appear to be the statutes and laws which Christ hath left in +His Word, concerning the regimen of His church?"</p> + +<p><i>Fourth</i>, Nay, not so much; for we are not yet called to +swear the observation of any kind of government, that is or +shall be presented to us, but to endeavour the reformation +of religion in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, +according to the Word of God.</p> + +<p>In the faithful and impartial search and pursuit whereof, +if Scotland, or any of the reformed churches, can hold us +forth any clearer light than our own, we receive it not as +our rule, but as such an help to expound our rule, as Christ +Himself hath allowed us. In which case, we are bound to +kiss not the lips only, but the very feet of them that shall +be able to shew us "the way to Zion."</p> + +<p>So that still, it is not the voice of the churches but of +Christ in the churches, that we covenant to listen to, in this +pursuit; that is to say, that we will follow them, as they +follow Christ: and when all is done, and a reformation +(through the assistance and blessing of the Lord Jesus +Christ, that great king and prophet of His church) resolved +on according to this rule thus interpreted, under what +notion or obligation the observation of it shall be commended +to us, <i>sub judice lis est</i>, it is yet in the bosom and breast of +authority; we are as yet called to swear to nothing in this +kind. So much in reference to the instances.</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> 3. I answer further to the satisfying of this second +doubt, that by this covenant, we are bound no more to +conform to Scotland, than Scotland to us: the stipulation +being mutual, and this stipulation binding us not so much to +conform one to another, as both of us to the Word; wherein, +if we can meet, who would not look upon it, as upon the +precious fruit of Christ's prayer: "That they might be one, +as we are one?" and the beauty and safety of both nations, +and of as many of the churches as the Lord our God shall +persuade to come into this holy and blessed association?</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> 3. A third objection falls upon the second article +or branch of this covenant; wherein it is feared by some, +that we swear to extirpate that which, for ought we know, +upon due inquiry, may be found the way to Zion, the way +of evangelical government, which Christ and His apostles +have set up in the church.</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> Where lies that, think you? In what clause or +word of the article? Who can tell? Surely not in popery; +or if there be any that think that the way, I would wish +their persons in Rome, since their hearts are there already. +Is it in superstition? Nay, superstition properly consisteth +in will-worship, "teaching for doctrine the traditions of +men;" this cannot be the way to Zion, which Christ hath +chalked out to us in His word. No more can heresy, which +is the opposition to sound doctrine; nor schism, which is +the rent of the church's peace; nor profaneness, the poison +of her conversation. None but superstitious heretics, +schismatics, profane persons, will call these the way to +Zion; nor these neither, under the name and notion of +superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness; for the heretic +will not call his doctrine heresy; nor the superstitious, his +innovation superstition; nor the schismatic, his turbulent +practices schism; nor lastly, the profane person, his lewdness +profaneness; tho' they love the thing, they hate the +name.</p> + +<p>And this, before we go further, occasions another objection, +which you must give me leave both to make and +answer in a parenthesis, and then I will return.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> How can we swear the extirpation of these, since, +who shall be judge? While some will be ready to call that +schism and superstition, which is not; and others deny that +to be heresy, superstition, schism, which is?</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> 1. To which I answer, By the same argument, we +ought not to covenant against popery and drunkenness, +sabbath-breaking, nor any other sin whatsoever, there being +nothing so gross but it will find some friends to justify, and +plead for it; which if we shall not condemn till all parties +be agreed on the verdict, we shall never proceed to judgment, +while the world stands. 2. The word must be the +rule and the judge, say men what they please, <i>pro</i> or <i>con</i>. +3. And if the matter be indeed so disputable, that it lies +not in my faculty to pronounce sentence, I have my +dispensation to suspend, till the world determine the +controversy.</p> + +<p>I now return; if then in none of these, the doubt must +of necessity lie in that word prelacy. And is that indeed +the way of gospel government? Is that it indeed which +bears away the bell of <i>jure divino</i>? What is it then that +hath destroyed all gospel order, and government and +worship, in these kingdoms, as in other places of the +Christian world, even down to the ground? Hath it +not been prelacy? What is it that hath taken down +a teaching ministry, and set up in the room a teaching-ceremony? +Is it not prelacy? What is it that hath +silenced, suspended, imprisoned, deprived, banished, +so many godly, learned, able ministers of the gospel; yea, +and killed some of them with their unheard of cruelties, and +thrust into their places idol, idle shepherds; dumb dogs +that cannot bark (unless it were at the flock of Christ; so +they learned of their masters, both to bark and bite too) +greedy dogs that could never have enough, that did tear out +the loins and bowels of their own people for gain, heap +living upon living, preferment upon preferment; swearing, +drunken, unclean priests, that taught nothing but rebellion +in Israel, and caused people to abhor the sacrifice of the +Lord: Arminian, popish, idolatrous, vile wretches, such as, +had Job been alive, he would not have set with the dogs of +his flock; who, I say, brought in these? Did not prelacy? +What hath hindered the reformation of religion all this +while in doctrine, government, and worship? Prelacy, a +generation of men they were, that never had a vote for +Jesus Christ; yea, what hath poisoned and adulterated +religion in all these branches, and hath let in popery and +profaneness upon the kingdom like a flood, for the raising +of their own pomp and greatness, but prelacy? In a word, +prelacy it is, that hath set its impure and imperious feet, one +upon the church, the other upon the state, and hath made +both serve as Pharaoh did the Israelites, with rigour. +Surely, their government hath been a yoke which neither +we nor our fathers were able to bear.</p> + +<p>Now, that which hath done this, and a thousand times +more violence and mischief to Christ and His people, than +the tongue or pen of man is able to express; can that be +the way of or to Zion? Can that be the government of +Christ and His Church?</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> Aye, but there be that will tell us, these have +been the faults of the persons, and not of the calling?</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> 1. So cry some indeed, that ye like the men, as well +as their calling, and would justify the persons as well as the +office, but that their wickedness is made so manifest that +impudency itself cannot deny it. But is it indeed only the +fault of the men, not of the calling? What meant then that +saying of queen Elizabeth, "That when she had made a +bishop, she had spoiled a preacher?" Was it only a jest? +2. And I wish we had not too just cause to add, the man +too. Surely of the most of them we may say, as once +Arnobius spake of the Gentiles, <i>apud vos optimi censentur +quos comparatio pessimorum sic facit</i>. Give me leave to vary +it a little: he was a good bishop, that was not the worst +man; but if there were some of a better complexion, who +yet, <i>apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto</i>, were very rarely +discovered in their episcopal see; yet, 3. Look into their +families, and they were for the most part the vilest in the +diocese, a very nest of unclean birds; and, 4. If you had +looked into their courts and consistories, you would have +thought you had been in Caiaphas' hall, where no other +trade was driven but the crucifying of Christ in His +members. 5. But fifthly, produce me one in this last +succession of bishops (I hope the last) that had not his +hands imbrued more or less in the blood of the faithful +ministry, (I say not ministers, but ministry) produce a man +amongst them all, that durst be so conscientious as to lay +down his bishoprick, rather than he would lay violent hands +upon a non-conforming minister, though he had failed but +in one point of their compass of ceremonies, when their +great master, the pope of Canterbury, commanded it, although +both for life, learning, and orthodox religion, their consciences +did compel them to confess with Pilate, "we find no +fault in this just person." I say, produce me such a bishop +amongst the whole bunch, in this latter age, and I will +down on my knees, and ask them forgiveness. Oh! it was +sure a mischievous poisoned soil, in which, whatsoever +plant was set did hardly ever thrive after. 5. But yet +further, was not the calling as bad as the men? You may +as well say so of the papacy in Rome, for surely the prelacy +of England, which we swore to extirpate, was the very same +fabric and model of ecclesiastical regimen, that is in that +Antichristian world; yea, such an evil it is that some +divines, venerable for their great learning, as well as for +their eminent holiness, did conceive sole episcopal jurisdiction +to be the very seat of the beast, upon which the fifth +angel is now pouring out his vial, which is the reason that +the men of that kingdom "gnaw their tongues for pain, and +blaspheme the God of heaven."</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> Aye, but it is therefore pleaded further against +this clause, that although it may be prelacy with all its +adjuncts and accidents of archbishops, chancellors, and +commissaries, deans, &c., may have haply been the cause +of these evils that have broken in upon us, and perhaps +Antichristian; yet should we therefore swear the extirpation +of all prelacy, or episcopacy whatsoever; since there may +be found perhaps in scripture an episcopacy or prelacy, +which, circumcised from these exuberant members and +officers, may be that government Christ hath bequeathed +His church in the time of the gospel?</p> + +<p><i>Answ.</i> Now we shall quickly close this business. For, +1. It is this prelacy, thus clothed, thus circumstanced, +which we swear to extirpate; read else the clause again, +prelacy, that is, church government by archbishops, bishops, +their chancellors. Not every, or all kinds of prelacy; not +prelacy in the latitude of the notion thereof. 2. And +secondly, let us join issue upon this point, and make no +more words of it; if there be an episcopacy or prelacy +found in the Word, as the way of gospel-government, which +Christ hath bequeathed the churches, and this be made +appear, we are so far from swearing to extirpate such a prelacy, +as that rather we are bound by virtue of this oath to +entertain it, as the mind and will of Jesus Christ. And +this might suffice to warrant our covenanting to extirpate +this prelacy, save that only.</p> + +<p>Yet some seem conscientiously to scruple this in the last +place. <i>Object.</i> That they see not what there is to warrant +our swearing, to extirpate that which is established by +the law of the land, till the same law have abolished it. +To which I answer, 1. If the law of the land had +abolished it, we need not swear the extirpation of it. 2. In +this oath, the parliaments of both kingdoms go before us, +who, having the legislative power in their hands, have also +<i>potestatem vitæ et necis,</i> over laws, as well as over persons, +and may as well put to death the evil laws that do offend +against the kingdom and the welfare of it, as the evil +persons that do offend against the laws. 3. Who therefore, +thirdly, if they may lawfully annul and abolish laws that +are found to sin against the law of God, and the +good of the kingdom may as lawfully bind themselves by +an oath, to use the uttermost of their endeavours to annul +and abolish those laws; their oath being nothing else but a +solemn engagement to endeavour to perform what they +have warrantably resolved upon; and with the same equity +may they bind the kingdom to assist them in so doing. 4. +Which is all that the people are engaged to by this +covenant. Not to outrun the parliament in this extirpation, +but to follow and serve them in it, by such concurrence as +they may expect from each person in their stations and +callings; for that clause, expressed in the first and third +article, is to be understood in all.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> If it be yet objected, that the members of parliament +have, at one time or other, sworn to preserve the laws; +and therefore to swear to endeavour the extirpation of +prelacy, which is established by law, is to contradict their +own oath and run the hazard of perjury: it is easy for +any one to observe and answer. 1. That by the same +argument, neither may king and parliament together change +or annul a law, though found destructive to the good of the +kingdoms, since his majesty, as well as his subjects, are +bound up under the same oath at his coronation. 2. But +again, there is a vast difference between the members of +parliament, simply considered in their private capacities, +wherein they may be supposed to take an oath to maintain +the laws of the land; and that public capacity of a parliament, +whereby they are judges of those laws, and may, as I +said before, endeavour the removal of such as are found +pernicious to the church or state, and make such as will +advantage the welfare of others; his majesty being bound +by his coronation-oath, to confirm these laws, which the +commons shall agree upon and present unto his majesty.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> Aye, but it seems this objection lies full and +strong upon them that stand in their single private stations. +I answer, that if there be any such oath, which yet I have +never seen nor heard of, unless the objection mean that +clause in the late parliament protestation, wherein we vow +and protest to maintain and defend the lawful rights and +liberties of the subject; surely, neither in that nor this, +do we swear against a lawful endeavour to get any such +laws or clause of the law repealed and abolished, which is +found a wrong, rather than a right, and the bondage, rather +than the liberty of the subject, as prelacy was. Had we +indeed taken the bishop's oath, or the like, never to have +given our consent to have the government by episcopacy +changed or altered, we had brought ourselves into a woful +snare; but, blessed be God, that snare is broken, and we are +escaped; while, in the mean time without all doubt, the +subject may as lawfully use all lawful means to get that law +removed, which yet he hath promised or sworn to obey, +while it remains, when it proves prejudicial to the public +safety and welfare; as a poor captive, that hath peradventure +sworn obedience to the Turk, (while he remains in his +possession) may notwithstanding use all fair endeavours for +an escape or ransom. Or a prentice that is bound to obey +his master; yet, when he finds his service turned into a +bondage, may use lawful means to obtain his freedom.</p> + +<p>But once more to answer both objections; it is worth +your inquiry, whether the plea of a legal establishment of +this prelacy, sworn against in this covenant, be not rather a +tradition, than any certain or confessed truth. Sure I am, +we have it from the hands of persons of worth and honour; +the ablest secretaries of laws and antiquities in our kingdom, +that there is no such law or statute to be found upon the +file, among our records. Which assertion, if it cannot find +faith, we will once more join issue with the patrons or +followers of this prelacy, upon this point, that when they +produce that law or statute which doth enact and establish +prelacy, as it is here branched in the article, we will then +give them a fuller answer, or yield the question.</p> + +<p>To conclude therefore, since this prelacy in the article, +this many headed monster of archbishops, bishops, their +chancellors and commissaries, deans, deans and chapters, +archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending +on that hierarchy, is the beast, wherewith we fight in this +covenant, which hath been found so destructive to church +and state; let us not fear to take this sword of the covenant +of God into our hands, and say to this enemy of Christ, as +Samuel said once to Agag, (at what time he said within +himself, "surely the bitterness of death is past") "As thy +sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be +childless among women." So hath prelacy flattered itself, +finding such a party to stand up on its side among the +rotten lords and commons, the debauched gentry, and +abased people of the kingdom: "Surely the bitterness of +death is past." "I sit as a queen, and shall not know widow-hood, +or loss of children." In the midst of this security +and pride, the infallible forerunners of her downfall, let us +call her forth, and say, as thy sword, prelacy, hath made +many women childless, many a faithful minister peopleless, +houseless and libertyless, their wives husbandless, their +children and their congregations fatherless, and pastorless, +and guideless; so thy mother, papacy, shall be made +childless among harlots, your diocese bishopless, and your +sees lordless, and your places shall know you no more. +Come, my brethren, I say, and fear not to take this Agag, +(prelacy, I mean, not the prelates) and hew it in pieces +before the Lord.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> 4. A fourth and main objection that troubles +many, is, that in the following article there are divers things +of another nature that should fall within the compass of +such a covenant, as that which the text holds forth, "to +join ourselves to the Lord." There be state-matters, and +such too, as are full of doubt, and perhaps of danger, to be +sworn unto. I shall answer, first, the general charge, and +then some of the particulars which are most material. In +general, I answer, there is nothing in the body of this +covenant which is not either purely religious, or which lies +not in a tendency to religion, conducing to the securing +and promoting thereof. And as, in the expounding the +commandments, divines take this rule, that that command +which forbids a sin, forbids also all the conducibles and +provocations to that sin, all the tendencies to it: and that +command which enjoins a duty, enjoins all the mediums +and advancers to that duty; circumstances fall within the +latitude of the command: so in religious covenants, not +only those things which are of the substance and integrals +of religion, but even the collaterals and subserviences that +tend either to the establishing or advancing of religion, may +justly be admitted within the verge and pale of the covenant. +The cities of refuge had their suburbs appointed by God, as +well as their habitations, and even they also were counted +holy. The rights and privileges of the parliaments, and the +liberties of the kingdom, mentioned in the third article; +they are the suburbs of the gospel, and an inheritance +bequeathed by God to nations and kingdoms, and, under +that notion, holy. Concerning which a people may lawfully +reply to the unjust demands of emperors, kings, or states, +as Naboth once to Ahab, when demanded to yield up his +vineyard to his majesty: "God forbid, that I should give +the inheritance of my father." These be the outworks of +religion, the lines of communication, as I may so say, for +the defence of this city; which the prelates well knew, and +therefore you see, it was their great design first, by policy to +have surprised, and, when that would not do, then, by main +strength of battle, to storm these outworks: well knowing, +that if they once had won these, they should quickly be +masters also of the holy city, religion itself, and do what +they listed. And, therefore, the securing of these must of +necessity be taken into the same councils and covenant with +religion itself.</p> + +<p>This premised in general, we shall easily and apace +satisfy the particular scruples and queries as I go.</p> + +<p>1. <i>Scruple.</i> The most part that swear this covenant are +in a great degree, if not totally, ignorant what the rights +and privileges of the parliament, and the liberties of the +kingdoms are, and how can they then swear to maintain +they know not what?</p> + +<p>1. By the same argument no man, or very few, might +lawfully swear to maintain the king's prerogatives in the +paths of allegiance and supremacy; nor the king himself +swear to maintain the liberties of the subject, as he doth in +his oath at his coronation. 2. But there is hardly any +person so ignorant but knows there are privileges belonging +to the parliaments, and liberties belonging to the subject. +3. And that it is the duty of every subject, according to his +place and power, to maintain these; so that, in taking of +this covenant, we swear to do no more than our duty binds +us to; in which there is no danger, tho' we do not in every +point know how far that duty extends in every branch and +several thereof. 4. In swearing to do my duty, whether to +God or man, if I be ignorant of many particulars, I oblige +myself to these two things. 1. To use the best means to +inform myself of the particulars. 2. To conform myself to +what I am informed to be my duty. Which yet, in the case +in hand, doth admit of a further latitude, namely, that +which lies in the very word and letter of this article (as in +most of the rest) in our several vocations; which doth not +bind every one to the same degree of knowledge, nor the +same way of preservation: as for example, I do not conceive +every magistrate is bound to know so much, no, +nor to endeavour to know so much, as parliament-men; +nor every member of parliament so much as judges; +nor ministers so much as the lawyers; nor ordinary people +so much as ministers; nor servants so much as masters; +nor all to preserve them the same way; parliament-men by +demanding them, lawyers by pleading, judges by giving the +sense and mind of the law, ministers by preaching, magistrates +by defending, people by assisting, praying, yielding +obedience. All, if the exigencies arise so high, and the +state call for it, by engaging their estates and lives, in case +they be invaded by an unlawful power. And in case of +ignorance, the thing we bind ourselves to is this, that if at +any time any particular shall be in question, what the +parliament shall make appear to be their right or the +liberty of the subject, we promise to contribute such +assistance for the preservation or reparation thereof, as the +nature of the thing, and wisdom of the state shall call for at +our hands, in our several places.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Scruple.</i> But some are offended, while they conceive +in the same article, that the clause wherein we swear the +preservation and defence of the king's person and authority, +doth lie under some restraint, by that limitation; in the +preservation and defence of the true religion, and the +liberties of the kingdom. To which we reply. 1. It +maintains him as far as he is a king: he may be a man, but +sure no king, without the lists and verge of religion and +laws, it being religion and laws that make him a king. 2. +It maintains his person and estate, as far as his majesty +himself doth desire and expect to be defended; for, sure +his justice cannot desire to be defended against, but in the +preservation of religion and laws; and his wisdom cannot +expect it, since he cannot believe that they will make +conscience of defending his person, who make no conscience +of preserving religion and the laws; I mean, when the +ruin of his person and authority may advance their own +cursed designs. They that, for their ends, will defend +his person and authority against religion and liberties of the +kingdom, will with the same conscience defend their own +ends against his person and authority, when they have +power in their hands. The Lord deliver his majesty from +such defenders, by what names or titles soever they be +called. 3. Who doubts but that religion and laws, (wherein +the rights and liberties of kingdoms are bound up) are the +best security of the persons and authority of kings and +governors? And the while kings will defend these, these +will defend kings? It being impossible that princes should +suffer violence or indignity, while they are within the +munition of religion and laws; or if the prince suffer, these +must of necessity suffer with him. 4. I make a question, +whether this limitation lie any more upon the defence of the +king's person and authority, than it doth upon the rights +and privileges of parliaments, and the liberties of the +kingdom, since there is no point or stop in the article to +appropriate it more to the defence of the king's person and +authority, than to the preservation of the rights and privileges +of the parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms? 5. +And lastly, this clause is not to be understood exclusive, as +excluding all other cases wherein the kingdoms stand +bound to preserve his majesty's person and authority, but +only as expressing that case wherein the safety of his person +and authority doth most highly concern both king and +kingdoms, especially at such a time as this is, when both are +so furiously and implacably encountered by a malignant +army of desperate parricides, papists, and their prelatical +party.</p> + +<p>These objections answered, and difficulties removed, we +proceed to the examining of the rest of the particulars, in +the following articles.</p> + +<p>The discovery of incendiaries or malignants that have +been, or shall be, to which the fourth article binds us: +doth it not lie also in a necessary tendency to the +securing and preserving of this covenant inviolable with +the most high God, in point of reformation? For can +we hope a thorough reformation, according to the mind +of Christ, if opposers of reformation may escape scot-free, +undiscovered and unpunished? Or, can we indeed love +or promote a reformation, and in the mean time countenance +or conceal the enemies of it? This is clear, yet it +wants not a scruple, and that peradventure which may +trouble a sincere heart.</p> + +<p><i>Object.</i> It is this, having once taken this oath, if we +hear a friend, or brother, yea, perhaps a father, a husband, +or a wife, let fall a word of dislike of the parliament, or +assembly's proceedings in either kingdom; or that discovers +another judgment, or opinion; or a word of passion unadvisedly +uttered, and do not presently discover and complain +of it, we pull upon ourselves the guilt or danger of perjury, +which will be a mighty snare to thousands of well affected +people.</p> + +<p>To which I answer. 1. The objection lays the case +much more narrow than the words of the article, which +distinguisheth the incendiary or malignant, which is to be +discovered by a threefold character, or note of malignity. +<i>First,</i> Hindering the reformation of religion. <i>Secondly,</i> +Dividing the king from his people, or one kingdom from +another. <i>Thirdly,</i> Making any faction or parties amongst +the people, contrary to the league and covenant. Now, +every dislike of some passage in parliament or assembly's +proceedings; every dissent in judgment and opinion; every +rash word or censure, that may possibly be let fall through +passion and inadvertency, will not amount to so high a +degree of malignity as is here expressed, nor consequently +bring one within the compass of this oath and covenant. +A suitable and seasonable caution or conviction may suffice +in such a case.</p> + +<p>2. But, suppose the malignity to arise to that height here +expressed in any of the branches thereof; I do not conceive +the first work this oath of God binds us to, is to make a +judicial discovery thereof; while, without controversy, our +Saviour's rule of dealing with our brethren in cases of offence +is not here excluded; which is, 1. To see what personal +admonition will do; which, toward a superior, as husband, +parent, master, or the like, must be managed with all wisdom +and reverence. If they hear us, we have made a good day's +work of it; we have gained our brother; if not, then the rule +directs us yet. 2. In the second place, to take with us two +or three more; if they do the deed, thou mayest sit down +with peace and thankfulness. 3. If, after all this, the +party shall persist in destructive practices to hinder reformation, +to divide the king from his people, or one kingdom +from another; or lastly, to make factions or parties among +the people; be it the man of thine house, the husband of +thy youth, the wife of thy bosom, the son of thy loins: +"Levi must know neither father nor mother," private relations +must give way to public safety; thou must with all faithfulness +endeavour the discovery, thine "eye must not pity nor +spare." It is a case long since stated by God Himself; and +when complaint is made to any person in authority, the +plaintiff is discharged, and the matter rests upon the hands +of authority. Provided, notwithstanding, that there be, in +the use of all the former means, that latitude allowed which +the apostle gives in case of heresy; "A first and second +admonition." This course, not only the rule of our Saviour +in general, but the very words of the covenant itself, doth +allow, for, though the clause be placed in the sixth article, +yet it hath reference to all, viz., "What we are not able ourselves +to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make +known." So that, if the malignity fall within our own or our +friends' ability to conquer, we have discharged our duty to +God and the kingdoms, and may sit down with comfort in +our bosoms.</p> + +<p>That which remains in the other two articles, I cannot see +how it affords any occasion of an objection; and the reference +it hath to the reformation and preservation of religion, +is easy and clear to any eye, that is not wilfully blind; +the preservation of peace between the two kingdoms, in +the fifth article, being the pillar of religion; for how can +religion and reformation stand, if any blind malignant +Samson be suffered to pull down the pillars of peace and +union? Besides, it was a branch of that very covenant in +the text, as well as of that in our hands. The children of +Israel and Judah, which had a long time been disunited, +and in that disunion had many bloody and mortal skirmishes +and battles, now at length by the good hand of God upon +them, take counsel to join themselves, first one to another, +and then both unto God. Let us "join ourselves," and then +to "the Lord, in a perpetual covenant." Surely, not only +this copy in the text, but the wormwood and the gall of our +civil combustions and wars, which our souls may have in +remembrance to our dying day, and be humbled within us, +may powerfully persuade us to a cheerful engagement of +ourselves, for the preservation of a firm peace and union +between the kingdoms, to all posterity.</p> + +<p>And lastly, as peace is the pillar of religion, so mutual +assistance and defence of all those that enter into this league +and covenant, in the maintaining and pursuance thereof, +(mentioned in that sixth and last article) is the pillar of that +peace, <i>divide et impera</i>; desert one another, and we expose +ourselves to the lusts of our enemies. And who can object +against the securing of ourselves, and the state, against a +detestable indifferency or neutrality, but they must, <i>ipso facto</i>, +proclaim to all the world that they intend before-hand to +turn neutrals or apostates?</p> + +<p>To conclude, therefore, having thus examined the several +articles of the covenant, and the material clauses in those +articles; and finding them to be, if not of the same nature, +yet of the same design with the preface and conclusion; the +one whereof, as I told you, at the entrance, obligeth us to +the reformation of religion; the other, of our lives, as serving +to the immediate and necessary support and perfecting of +these blessed and glorious ends and purposes: I shall need +to apologise no further in the vindicating and asserting of +this covenant before us. Could we be so happy, as to bring +hearts suitable to this service: could we set up such aims +and ends as the covenant holds forth; the glory of God, the +good of the kingdoms, and honour of the king, to which, +this covenant, and every several part thereof, doth +humbly prostrate itself, all would conspire to make us +and our posterity after us, an happy and glorious people to +all generations.</p> + +<p>To them that object out of conscience, these poor resolutions +may afford some relief, if not satisfaction; or, if these +slender endeavours fall short of my design, and the reader's +desires herein, I shall send them to their labours, who have +taken more able and fruitful pains in this subject. To them +that object out of a spirit of bitterness and malignity, +nothing will suffice. He that is resolved to err, is satisfied +with nothing but that which strengthens his error. And +these I leave to such arguments and convictions, which the +wisdom and justice of authority shall judge more proper; +while I proceed to the second query propounded, for the +managing of this use of exhortation; Why? Or, upon what +considerations we may be persuaded to undertake this +service? To enter into this holy covenant.</p> + +<p>And the first motive that may engage us hereunto is the +consideration, how exceedingly God hath been dishonoured +among us, by all sorts of covenant-violation, as hath been +formerly discovered at large; in the avenging whereof, the +angel of the covenant stands, as once at the door of +paradise, with a flaming sword in his hand, ready to cut us +off, and cast us out of this garden of God—this good land +wherein He hath planted us thus long. I may say unto you +therefore, concerning ourselves, as once Moses in another +case, concerning Miriam; "If her father had but spit in her +face, should she not be ashamed?" If our father had but +spit in our face by some inferior correction, should we not +be ashamed? Ought we not to be greatly humbled before +Him? How much more, when "He hath poured out upon +us the fury of His wrath, and it hath burned us; and the +strength of battle, and it hath set on fire round about?" +Should we not lay it to heart, and use all means to pacify +the fierceness of His anger, lest it burn down to the very +foundations of the land, and none be able to quench it?</p> + +<p>Yea, secondly, a wonderful mercy, and an high favour we +may count it from God, that yet such a sovereign means is +left us for our recovery and reconciliation. Infinite +condescension and goodness it is in our God that, after so +many fearful provocations by our unhallowed and treacherous +dealing in the covenant, He will vouchsafe yet to have any +thing to do with us, that He will yet trust or try us any more, +by admitting us to renew our covenant with His Majesty, +when He might in justice rather say unto us, as to the +wicked, "What have you to do, that you should take My +covenant into your mouths, seeing you hate instruction, and +cast My words behind you?" Certainly, had man broken +with us, as oft as we have broken with God, we should never +trust them any more, but account them as the off-scouring +of mankind, the vilest, the basest that ever trode upon +God's ground; and yet that after so many unworthy +and treacherous departures from our God, after so much +unfaithfulness and perfidiousness in the covenant, (such as +it is not in the capacity of one man to be guilty of towards +another) that God should say to us, as once to His own +people, "Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; +yet return to Me, saith the Lord:" Oh, wonder of free +grace! Oh, might this privilege be offered to the apostate +angels, which kept not the covenant of their creation, nor +consequently their first estate, and to the rest of the damned +souls in hell! Would God send an angel from heaven to +preach unto them a second covenant, upon the laying hold +whereon, and closing wherewith, they might be received +into grace and favour; how would those poor damned +spirits bestir themselves! what rattling of their red-hot +chains! what shaking of their fiery locks! In a word, +what an uproar of joy would there be in hell, upon such +glad tidings! how many glorious churches, as Capernaum, +Bethsaida, the seven churches of Asia, with others in latter +times, who have for their covenant-violation been cast down +from the top of heaven, where once they sat in the beauty +and glory of the ordinances, to the very bottom of hell, a +dark and doleful condition; and God hath never spoken +such a word of comfort, nor made any such offer of +recovery, and reconciliation unto them, as He hath done to +us unto this day? "Surely He hath not dealt so with +any people." Let it be our wisdom, and our thankfulness, +to accept of it, with both hands; yea, both with hands and +hearts. If God give us hearts suitable to this price that +is in our hands, covenanting hearts, as He gives us yet +leave and opportunity to renew our covenant, it will be to +me a blessed security that we are not yet a lost people; +and a new argument of hope, that He intends to do +England good. If neglected and despised, whether this +may not be the last time that ever England shall hear from +God, I much doubt, unless it be in such a voice as that is, +"I would have healed England, and she will not be +healed; because I would have purged thee, and thou art +not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness +any more, till I have caused My fury to rest upon thee." +The Lord forbid such a thing: "for, how shall we escape, +if we neglect so great salvation?"</p> + +<p><i>Thirdly,</i> We may be mightily encouraged to this +service, in as much as it is prophesied of, as the great duty +and privilege of gospel-times. You see the evangelical day, +is one of those days wherein this prophecy and promise +must be fulfilled. And it is the same privilege and happiness +which was prophesied of, under the type of the sticks made +one, in the hand of the prophet Ezekiel, (Ezek. xxxvii. +16. 22.) For, though in the literal sense, it be to be +understood, as it is expressed, of the happy reunion of that +unhappy divided seed of Jacob, Joseph and Ephraim, +Israel and Judah; yet in a gospel sense, it is to be applied +to the churches of Jesus Christ, in the latter days, which +tho' formerly divided and miserably torn by unnatural +quarrels, and wars, yet Christ, the King of the Church, hath +a day wherein He will make them one in His own hand: +the great and gracious design which we humbly conceive +Christ hath now upon these two nations, England and +Scotland, even after all their sad divisions and civil +discords, to make them one in His right hand, to all +generations. And this gives me assurance, that the work +shall go on and prosper, yea, prosper gloriously, it having a +stronger foundation to support it than heaven and earth, for +they are upheld but by a word of power. But this work, +which is called the new heavens and the new earth, is +upheld by a word of promise; for "we, according to His +promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein +dwells righteousness." I say, by a word of prophecy and +promise, which, it seems, is stronger than God Himself; +for His word binds Him, so that He can as soon deny +Himself, as deny His promise. There shall be therefore an +undoubted accomplishment of these things, which are told +us from the Lord. God will find, or make a people, who +shall worship Him in this holy ordinance; and upon whom +He will make good all the mercy and truth; all the peace +and salvation which is bound up in it: only therefore let me +caution and beseech you, not to be wanting to yourselves +and your own happiness: "Judge not yourselves unworthy +of such a privilege," nor "reject the counsel of God against +your own souls; sin not against your own mercies," by +withdrawing yourselves from this service, or rebelling against +it. "God will exclude none, that do not exclude themselves." +Yea, further, this seems to speak an argument of +hope, that the calling of the Jews, and the fulness of the +Gentiles, is not far behind; inasmuch as God begins now +to pour out His promise in the text upon the churches, in +a more eminent manner than ever we, or our fathers, saw +it in a gospel sense: and, surely, gospel performance must +make way for that full and universal accomplishment thereof, +which shall unite "Israel and Judah, Jew and Gentile, in +one perpetual covenant unto the Lord, that shall never be +forgotten." The gospel day is nothing else but the dawning +of that great universal day in the text, wherein God will +make one glorious Church of Jew and Gentile; the day star +whereof is now risen in our horizon: so that I am humbly +confident that the same shores shall not bound this +covenant, which bound the two now covenanting nations; +but, as it is said of the gospel, so it will be verified of this +gospel covenant; "The sound thereof will go into all the +earth, and the words of it to the ends of the world." There +is a spirit of prophecy that doth animate this covenant, +which will make it swift and active; swift to run: "His +word runs very swiftly." And active, to work deliverance +and safety not only to these two kingdoms, but to all other +Christian churches groaning under, or in danger of, the yoke +of Antichristian tyranny, whom God shall persuade to join +in the same, or like association and covenant. So that, +me-thinks, all that travail with the Psalmist's desire "of seeing +the good of God's chosen, and rejoicing in the gladness of +His nation, and glorying with His inheritance," will certainly +rejoice in this day, and in the goodness of God which hath +crowned it with the accomplishment of such a precious +promise as here lies before us: while none can withdraw +from, much less oppose, this service, but such as bear evil +will to Zion, and would be unwilling to see the ruin and +downfall of Antichrist, which this blessed covenant doth so +evidently threaten.</p> + +<p><i>Fourthly</i>, This hath been the practice of all the churches +of God, before and since Christ; after their apostasies, and +captivities for those apostasies, and recoveries out of these +captivities, the first thing they did was to cement themselves +to God, by a more close, entire, and solemn covenant +than ever. Nehemiah, Ezra, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Josiah, +will all bring in clear evidences to witness this practice. +This, latter churches have learned of them, Germany, +France, Scotland. But what shall I need to mention the +churches, whenas the God of the churches took this course +Himself; who, when He pleases to become the God of any +people or person, it is by covenant; as with Abraham, +"Behold, I make a covenant with thee." And whatever +mercies He bestows upon them, it is by covenant. All the +blessings of God's people are covenant blessings: to wicked +men, God gives with His left hand, out of the basket of +common providence; but to His saints, He dispenseth with +His right hand, out of the ark of the covenant. "I will +make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure +mercies of David."</p> + +<p>Yea, which is yet more to our purpose, when the first +covenant proved not, but miscarried, not by any fault that +was in the Covenant-Maker, no, nor simply in the covenant +itself; for, if man could have kept it, it would have given +him life; I say, when it was broken, God makes a new +covenant with His people. "Not according to the covenant +which I made with their fathers, which My covenant they +brake.... But this shall be the covenant, ... I will +put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their +hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be My people." +Because they could not keep the first covenant, God made +a second that should keep them. Oh! that while we are +making a covenant with our God, He would please to make +such a covenant with us; so would it be indeed a "perpetual +covenant, that should not be forgotten." Well, you see +we have a covenanting God, a covenant-making God, and a +covenant-renewing God; be we "followers of God, as dear +children:" let us be a covenanting people, a covenant making, +a covenant-renewing people; and as our God, finding fault +with the first, let us make a "new covenant, even a perpetual +covenant, that shall never be forgotten."</p> + +<p>A <i>fifth</i> motive to quicken us to this duty, may be even the +practice of the Antichristian state and kingdom; popery +hath been dexterous to propagate and spread itself by this +means. What else have been all their fraternities and +brotherhoods, and societies, but so many associations and +combinations politic, compacted and obliged, by oaths and +covenants, for the advancing of the Catholic cause, whereby +nations and kingdoms have been subdued to the obedience of +the Roman mitre? And prelacy (that whelp) hath learned this +policy of its mother papacy (that lioness) to corroborate and +raise itself to that height, we have seen and suffered by these +artifices; while, by close combinations among themselves, +and swearing to their obedience, all the inferior priesthood, +and church-officers, by ordination engagements and oaths of +canonical obedience, a few have been able to impose their +own laws and canons, upon a whole kingdom; yea, upon +three kingdoms, it being an inconsiderable company, either +of ministers or people (the Lord be merciful to us in this +thing) that have had eyes to discover the mystery of iniquity, +which these men have driven; and much more inconsiderable, +that have had hearts to oppose and withstand their +tyranny and usurpations. And why may not God make use +of the same stratagem to ruin their kingdom, which they +used to build it? Yea, God hath seemed to do it already, +while in that place where they cast that roaring canon, and +formed their cursed oath, for the establishing their Babel +prelacy, with its endless perpetuity. In the very same +place hath this covenant been debated and voted, once, and +a second time, by command of public authority, for the +extirpation of it root and branch, and the casting of it out +for ever, as a plant which "our heavenly Father hath not +planted." And who knows, but this may be the arrow of +the Lord's deliverance, which, as it hath pierced to the very +heart of prelacy, so it may also give a mortal wound to the +papacy itself, of which it will never be healed by the whole +college of physicians (the Jesuits), who study the complexion +and health of that Babylonian harlot.</p> + +<p>In the sixth and last place, the good success this course +hath found in the churches, may encourage us with much +cheerfulness and confidence to undertake this service. It +hath upon it a <i>probatum est</i>, from all that ever conscientiously +and religiously used this remedy. It recovered the +state and church of the Jews, again and again, many a time, +when it was ready to give up the ghost; it recovered and +kept a good correspondency between God and them, all the +time it was of any esteem and credit amongst them. It +brings letters of testimonial with it, from all the reformed +churches; especially from our neighbour nation and church +of Scotland, where it hath done wonders in recovering that +people, when all the physicians in Christendom had given +them over. It is very remarkable. God promiseth to +bring them "into the bond of the covenant;" and in the +next verse it follows, "and I will purge out the rebels from +among you." There is an [and] that couples this duty, and +this mercy together; "I will bring you into the bond," +"And I will purge out." The walls of Jericho have fallen +flat before it. The dagon of the bishop's service-book +broke its neck before this ark of the covenant. Prelacy +and prerogative have bowed down, and given up the ghost +at its feet. What a reformation hath followed at the heels +of this glorious ordinance! and truly, even among us, as +poorly and lamely, and brokenly, as it hath been managed +among us. I am confident, we had given up the ghost +before this time, had it not been for this water of life. +Oh! what glorious success might we expect, if we did make +such cheerful, such holy, such conscientious addresses, +as become the law of so solemn an ordinance! truly, +could I see such a willing people in this day of God's +power, as are here in the text, encouraging and engaging +one another, in an holy conspiracy; "Come, let us join +ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual covenant;" I have +faith enough to promise and prophesy to you in the name +of the Lord, and in the words of His servant Haggai, "From +this very day I will bless you." And that you may know +of what sovereignty this ordinance is; take notice of this, +that this is the last physic that ever the church shall take or +need; it lies clear in the text; for it is an everlasting +covenant; and therefore the last that ever shall be made. +After the full and final accomplishment of this promise and +duty, the church shall be of so excellent a complexion, that +"the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that +dwell therein, shall be forgiven their iniquity." The Lord +make it such physic to us for Christ's sake.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND7" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND7"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT LONDON.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY THOMAS CASE.</i></h4> + + +<p>I come now to the third query, how? And this inquiry +divides itself into two branches—How to (I.) Acceptation +and (II.) Perpetuity? For the satisfying of both which, I +will fetch as much as may be out of the text, that so you +may yet further behold what proportion there is between +the duty there, and that which lies before us this day.</p> + +<p>In the first place, we must inquire how this duty may be +so managed, that God may accept of us in the doing of +it? How to acceptation?</p> + +<p>Now, in the general, we must know that this service, being +an ordinance of God, must be undertaken and managed +with an ordinance frame of heart, <i>i.e.</i> according to the laws +and rules of divine worship; and by how much the more +sacred and solemn this ordinance is, by so much the +more ought we to call up and provoke the choicest, and +heavenliest of those affections and dispositions of spirit, +wherewith we make our addressments to the holy things of +God.</p> + +<p>In particular, <i>First</i>, We are to come to this service, with +the most ponderous advisedness, and most serious deliberation +of judgment, that may be. It is one of those grand +qualifications which God Himself calls for to an oath. +"Thou shalt swear in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness." +In truth for the matter, and that we have already +examined in the former sermon in righteousness, in reference +to the keeping of the oath (of which hereafter) and in +judgment, in respect of the taking or making of the oath, +the thing which we are now about, that we should well +consider what we do. And indeed, if at any time, and in +any undertaking, that advice be useful, "Ponder the path +of thy feet," "And keep thy foot when thou enterest into the +house of God;" then certainly it is most seasonable, when +a people or person draw near to make or renew their +covenant with the most high God. And it seems, in the +latter of those two Scriptures now quoted, the Holy +Ghost doth principally refer to this duty of making +vows and covenants with God; the second verse doth +intimate such a business, "Be not rash with thy +mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything +before God." To utter what? The fourth verse +is express, "when thou makest a vow unto God." So +that it is clear, the purpose of the Holy Ghost in that +place is, as in all our holy services, so especially in this of +vows, to caution all the people of God, when they draw +near to utter their vows unto the Lord, to manage it with +the greatest deliberation, and solidness of judgment that is +possible; to sit down and consider with ourselves before +hand, with whom we have to deal? What we have to do? +Upon what warrant? By what rule? To what end? +"The lame and the blind," God's soul hates for a sacrifice, +The lame affections, and the blind ignorant judgment. +And well He may; for certainly, they that do not swear in +judgment, will not, cannot swear in righteousness; they that +do not make their vows in judgment, will not, cannot pay, +or perform them in righteousness. He that swears he +knows not what, will observe he cares not how. Incogitant +making, will end in unconscionable breaking of covenant; +and, if need be, in a cursed abjuration of it; for rash +swearing is a precipice to forswearing. And therefore, if +any of you have not well weighed this service, or be any +ways unsatisfied, in whole, or in parts, I advise you to +forbear, till your judgments be better informed. "Whatsoever +is not of faith, is sin." Provided, that this be not done +merely in a pretence to evade and elude this service, to +which God and the two nations call you, as here in the +text. "Come, let us join." Take heed of casting a mist +of willing prejudice and affected ignorance, before your own +eyes; such the apostle speaks of, to no other purpose, but +that your own malignity may steal away in that mist +undiscovered; for be sure, your sin will find you out. An +ingenious ignorance and truly conscientious tenderness, is +accompanied with an ingenuous and conscientious use of +all means, for information and satisfaction; and to such, I +make no question, the ministers of Christ will be ready to +communicate what light they have, for resolving doubts, +removing scruples, and satisfying conscience, whensoever +you shall make your addresses for that purpose. In the +mean time, if there be any that, under pretence of +unsatisfiedness, do shun the duty and information too; they +will be found, but to mock God and authority; to whose +justice and wisdom therefore I must leave them. God tells +His people, when He joins Himself to them, "I will marry +thee to Myself, in righteousness, and judgment." How in +judgment? Because God considers what He does, when +He takes a people or person to Himself; not that God +chuseth for any wealth or worth in the creature, faith +foreseen, or works foreseen; but that finding it (on the +contrary) poor and beggarly, and undone, and foreseeing +what it is like to prove, crooked and froward, unteachable +and untractable; He sits down to speak after the manner of +men, and considers, what course to take, and what it is like +to cost Him, to make them such a people, as He may +delight in, and then consulting with His treasures, and +finding He hath wherewithal to bear their charges, and to +bring about His own ends; He resolves to take them, and +marry them to Himself, whatsoever it cost Him. The +result of such a consultation you may read, dropped from +God's own pen, "And I said, how shall I put thee among +the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly +heritage of the hosts of nations?" Here is God's wise +deliberation on the matter: "how shall I put thee?" That +is, how shall I do this? But I must do it to Mine own +dishonour; for I see before-hand what thou wilt prove; +thou wilt be the same that ever thou wast; as idolatrous, as +adulterous, as unstable, as backsliding as ever. It is not a +pleasant land, a goodly heritage, that will make thee better. +Well, after some pause, God was resolved what to do: and +I said, hear His resolution, "Thou shalt call Me, my +Father, and shalt not turn away from Me:" that is, as if He +had said, I will take this course with thee, I will first give +thee the heart of a child, "thou shalt call Me, Father:" and +then I will give thee the inheritance of a child, "a goodly +heritage." And when I have done; I will not leave thee to +thyself, but I will knit thee to Myself, by an indissoluble +union. "I will put My Spirit into thee." "And thou +shalt not turn away from Me." There is God's wise +resolution; He resolves to do all Himself, and then He is +sure it will not fail His expectation; He undertakes it. +"Thou shalt call Me, my Father, and shalt not turn away +from Me." Thus God, when He marrieth His people to +Himself, doeth it in judgment. Now therefore, "be ye +followers of God, as dear children." And since you come +now about the counterpart of the same work; namely, to +join or marry yourselves to God, do it in judgment. Consider +well what you do; and, among other things, since you +are so poor, and nothing in yourselves, as you have seen in +the opening of this precious Scripture; bethink yourselves +where you will have strength and sufficiency, to make good +this great and solemn engagement with your God. But of +this more hereafter.</p> + +<p><i>Secondly,</i> See that you come to this service with a +reverential frame of spirit, with that holy fear and awe, +upon your hearts, as becomes the greatness and holiness of +that God, and that ordinance, with whom you have to do; +remembering that you are this day to swear before God, by +God, to God: either of which, singly considered, might +justly make us fear and tremble; how much more may +this threefold cord bow and bind our hearts down in an +humble, and holy prosternation? It is said of Jacob, "He +sware by the fear of his father Isaac." Jacob in his oath +chooseth this title of fear, to give unto God, to shew with +what fear he came; but to swear by this God, what should +we do; when, as I say, we come to swear by Him, and to +Him? Surely, when He is so especially the object of our +oath, He should then especially be the object of our fear. +The consideration of that infinite distance between God +and us, may wonderfully advantage us towards the getting +of our hearts into this holy posture. Great is that distance +that is between a king and a beggar; and yet, there +is but creature and creature; greater is that distance +between heaven and earth; and yet these, but creature +and creature; and yet, greater is the distance between +an angel and a worm; and yet still, there is but creature +and creature. But now, the distance that is between +God and us, is infinitely wider; for behold, there is the +"Mighty, Almighty Creator, before whom all the nations +are but as a drop of a bucket, and the small dust of +the balance." And the poor nothing creature, "vanity, +and altogether lighter than vanity." And yet, this is not +all; yea, this is the shortest measure of that distance, +whereof we speak; the distance of Creator and the creature; +lo, it is found between God and the angels in heaven, and +the "spirits of just men made perfect;" in respect whereof, +the Psalmist saith of God, "He humbleth Himself to +behold the things that are in heaven." It is a condescension +for that infinitely glorious being, who dwells in Himself, +and is abundantly satisfied in the beholding of His own +incomprehensible excellencies, to vouchsafe to look out of +Himself, and behold the things that are in heaven; the +best of those glorious inhabitants that stand round about +His throne; who therefore, conscious of that infinite +distance wherein they stand, make their addresses with the +greatest self-abasements, "covering their faces, and casting +themselves down" upon those heavenly pavements. But, +behold! upon us, poor wretches, that dwell here below, in +these houses of clay, there is found that which widens this +distance beyond all expression or apprehension; sin sets us +farther beneath a worm, than a worm is beneath an angel. +I had almost said (bear with the expression, I use it, +because no other expression can reach it) sin sets us as +much beneath our creatureship, as our creatureship sets us +beneath the Creator. Surely there is more of God to be +seen in the worst of a creature, than there is of a creature to +be seen in the best of sin; there is nothing vile and base +enough under heaven, to make a simile of sin.</p> + +<p>And now, therefore, if it be such a condescension for the +great God to behold the things that are in heaven, how +infinite condescension is it, to behold the sinful things that +are on earth! and if sinless saints, and spotless angels do +tender their services, which yet are as spotless as their +persons, with such reverential deportment; what abhorrency +and self-annihilation can be sufficient to accompany our +approaches to this God of holiness, in such high and holy +engagements, in whom, when God looks out of Himself, He +can behold nothing besides our creatureship, of our own, but +that which His soul hates! "Let us therefore have grace, +whereby we may serve God acceptably," in this so excellent +an ordinance, "with reverence and godly fear; for our +God is a consuming fire." The acceptable serving of God, +is with reverence and godly fear. The Lord teach us to +bring fear, that so we may find acceptation.</p> + +<p>Again, <i>Thirdly,</i> to that end, labour to approve +yourselves to God in this service, in the uprightness and +sincerity of your hearts. The want of this, God lays oft +to the charge of the Israelites, as in other duties, so +especially in this, which is now before us, "They lied to +Him with their tongues: for their heart was not right with +Him; neither were they stedfast in His covenant." And +this stood between them and their acceptance: God tells the +prophet Ezekiel as much; "Son of man, these men have set +up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling-block of +their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at +all by them?" They come with their hearts full of their +lusts; so many lusts, so many idols; and for this God +refuseth to be inquired of by them: "should I be inquired +of?" is as much as, "I will not be inquired of." It is +a denial with disdain; "should I?" Or, if they be so +impudent to inquire, He will not answer; or if He give +them an answer, it shall be a cold one; He will give them +their answer at the door; better none; "I will answer them +according to the multitude of their idols," <i>i.e.</i> according to +the merit of their idolatry: they bring the matter of their +own damnation with them, and they shall carry away nothing +else from Me, but the answer or obsignation of that damnation. +Oh! it is a dangerous thing, to bring the love of any +sin with us to the ordinances of God, "If I regard iniquity +in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer." And so +may we say to our own souls; if I regard iniquity, the Lord +will not accept my person, He will not regard my covenant. +If God see anything lie nearer our hearts than Himself, He +will scorn us, and our services. If, therefore, you would be +accepted, "out with your idols;" cast out the love of sin, +out of your hearts; and be upright with your God in this +holy undertaking. It is the main qualification in the text, +"they shall inquire the way to Zion, with their faces +thitherward," <i>i.e.</i>, in sincerity, with uprightness of spirit, +with the full set and bent of their souls: as it is said of +Christ, when He went to His passion; "He stedfastly set +His face to go up to Jerusalem." He went with all His +heart to be crucified; with a strong bent of spirit. Beloved, +we are not going to "crucifying work," (unless it be to +crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts) but to +marriage work; "to join ourselves to the Lord, in an everlasting +covenant." Let us do it "with our faces Zion-ward;" +yea, let us stedfastly set our faces reformation-ward +and heaven-ward, and God-ward, and Christ-ward, with +whom we enter covenant this day. A man may inquire the +way to Zion, with his face towards Babylon; a people or +person may enter covenant with God, with their hearts +Rome-ward, and earth-ward, and sin-ward, and hell-ward. +Friends, look to your hearts. "Peradventure, said Jacob, +my father will feel me, and I shall seem to him as one +that mocks, and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a +blessing." Without all peradventure, may we say, our +Father will feel us; for He searcheth all hearts, and understandeth +the imagination of the thoughts. If we be found +as they that mock, shewing much love with our mouths, +while our hearts are far from Him, we shall bring a curse +upon ourselves; yea, and upon the kingdoms also, and not +a blessing. It is reported to the honour of Judah, in the +day of their covenanting with their God; "they had sworn +with all their heart, and with their whole desire." And +their success was answerable to their sincerity; for so it +follows, "And the Lord was found of them, and gave them +rest round about." Oh! that this might be our honour and +happiness in this day, of our lifting up our hands to the +most high God, that God might not see in us a double +heart, an heart and an heart, as the Hebrew expresses it, <i>i.e.</i> +one heart for God, and another for our idols; one heart for +Christ, and another for Antichrist,: but He might see us +a single, upright hearted people, without base mixtures and +composition; for He loves truth, <i>i.e.</i> sincerity, in the inward +parts; that He finding such sincerity as He looks for, we +also might find such success as we look for; safety and +deliverance to both the nations; yea, that both in respect +of our sincerity and success, that might be made good upon +us that is spoken to the eternal honour of that good king +Hezekiah, "And in every work that he began in the service +of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments +to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and +prospered." Universal sincerity is accompanied with +universal prosperity; in all he did, he was upright, and in all +he did, he prospered. Brethren, whatever you want, be +sure you want not sincerity; let God see you fully set in +your hearts to take all from sin, and to give all to Jesus +Christ; me-thinks I hear God saying unto us, "according +to your uprightness, so be it unto you."</p> + +<p>In the <i>Fourth</i> place, if you would be accepted by God +in this holy service, labour to make God your end. It is your +pattern in the text, "they shall go and seek the Lord;" it +was not now "howling upon their beds for corn and wine," +as formerly; of which God says, "they cried not unto Me," +<i>i.e.</i>, they did not make God the end of their prayers; as +elsewhere God tells them: "When ye fasted and mourned +in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, +did ye fast to Me, even unto Me?" In seventy years, +they kept sevenscore fasts in Babylon; and yet, amongst +them all, they kept not one day unto God; for though the +duty looked upon God, they that did the duty did not look +upon God; that is, they did not set up God, as their chief +end, in fasting and praying: they mourned not so much for +their sin, as for their captivity; or, if for their sin, they +mourned for it not so much as God's dishonour, as the +cause of their captivity; they were not troubled so much, +that they had by their sins walked contrary to God, as that +God, by His judgments, had "walked contrary to them." They +fasted and prayed, rather to get off their chains than to get +off their sins; to get rid of the bondage of the Babylonians, +than to get rid of the servitude of their own base lusts. +But now, blessed be God, it was otherwise: "the children of +Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together" +to what end? "They shall seek the Lord," <i>i.e.</i> they shall +seek God for Himself, and not only for themselves; "going +and weeping;" why? Not so much that He hath offended +them, as that they have offended Him; for their sins, more +than for their punishments; so it is more distinctly reported, +"A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications +of the children of Israel; because they have perverted +their way, and have forsaken the Lord their God." They +had forgotten God before, not only in their sins, but in +their duties; "they cried not to Me; they fasted not to +Me; not at all unto Me." But now they remember the +Lord their God; they seek His face; they labour to atone +Him; yea, they seek Him to be their Lord, as well as their +Saviour; to govern them, as well as to deliver them; +"they ask the way to Zion;" they require as well, and +more, how they should serve Him, as that He should save +them. "The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, +the Lord is our king, He will save us." Beloved Christians, +let us write after this copy, and in this great business we +have in hand, let us seek God, and seek Him as a fountain +of holiness, as well as a fountain of happiness. Take we +heed of those base, low, dung-hill ends, which prevailed +upon the Shechemites to enter into covenant with the +God of the Hebrews, "shall not their cattle and substance +be ours?" Let the two nations, and every +soul in both the nations, that lift up the hand to the most +high God, in this holy league and covenant, take heed +of, and abhor such unworthy thoughts, if they should be +crowding in upon this service, and say unto them, as once +Christ to Peter, "get thee behind me, Satan; thou savourest +not the things that be of God, but the things that be of +men." You may remember how it fared with Hamor, and +his son Shechem, and their people, to whom they propounded +these base ends. God did not only disappoint them of their +ends, but destroy them for them; their aims were to get the +Hebrews' substance and cattle; but they lost their own, with +lives to boot; "For it came to pass on the third day, when they +were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, came +upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And the sons +of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city; they +took their sheep, and their oxen, and all their wealth." A +most horrid and bloody treachery and cruelty in them, +which stands as a brand of infamy upon their foreheads to +this day; but a most just and righteous censure from God, +and a caution to all succeeding generations, of prostituting +heavenly and holy ordinances to earthly and sensual ends. +Oh! let it be our "admonition, upon whom the ends of the +world are come, to the end, that we may not tempt God, as +they also tempted." For, if God so much abhorred, and so +severely punished these worldly respects in the men of the +world; if God was so angry with poor purblind heathen, +who had no other light for their guide, but the glimmering +light of nature; how will His anger not only kindle, but +flame in the avenging of such baseness upon Christians, a +people of His own, who have the glorious light of the gospel +of Jesus Christ, to discover to them higher and heavenly +ends and references? So that such a kingdom, people, or +person, that should dare to bring such base carnal ends, to +so spiritual and divine a contract, should be made a monument +of the wrath and vengeance of divine justice; and +while they propound to themselves safety, or riches, or +greatness, from such an excellent ordinance, God makes it +by a strange but a righteous hand, an occasion of misery +and ruin to them and their posterity, to many generations.</p> + +<p>Christians, labour to set up God in this day and duty, +wherein you engage yourselves so nigh unto Him; and if +you would have heavenly blessings, see that you propound +and pursue heavenly ends and aims; lest, while you come +to make a covenant with God, you commit idolatry against +Him. Whatsoever we make our ultimate and highest end, +we make our God. If therefore you cannot make God your +sole, your only end, yet be sure you make Him your +choicest, your chiefest end; keep God in His own place; +and let all self-respects whatsoever vail to His glory, according +to that great rule, "whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever +ye do, do all to the glory of God."</p> + +<p><i>Fifthly,</i> To do this business to acceptation, we must do +it cheerfully: as God loves a cheerful giver, so He loves +a cheerful hearer, a cheerful petitioner, and a cheerful +covenanter; and you have it in the text too, "come let us;" +there is their readiness and cheerfulness to the work; as it +was that for which the apostle doth commend his Macedonians +in another service. "This they did, not as we hoped, +but first gave themselves to the Lord." So these, they give +themselves to God of their own accord, "come let us." Oh! +that the ministers of the Gospel might have occasion to +make the same boast of you, concerning this solemn ordinance +before you, that they might say and rejoice, that you +were a people, "that gave yourselves to the Lord," and +unto the work of reformation, not by a Parliamentary fear, +or by our ministerial compulsions; but, above our hopes, and +beyond our expectations; of your own accord. See what a +wonder, not only of cheerfulness, but of joy and triumph, is +recorded of the Jews in king Asa's time, in their taking of +the covenant. "They sware unto the Lord with a loud +voice, and with shouting; and with trumpets, and with +cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had +sworn with all their hearts." There was indeed a severe +mulct, a capital censure enacted, against those that should +refuse, and reject this ordinance. "They should be put to +death, whether great or small, whether man or woman." A +very grievous censure; but it seems there was neither need, +nor use for it; "for all Judah rejoiced at the oath;" the +people looked upon this service, not as their pressure, but +as their privilege; and therefore came to it, not with +contentedness only, but an holy triumph, and so saved the +magistrate and themselves the labour and charges of +executing that sentence on delinquents. Oh! that this +may be your wisdom and honour; that whatever penalty +the honourable Parliaments of either nation, shall in their +wisdom think fit to proportion to the grievous sin of +rebelling against this covenant of the Lord; (and it seems +by the instance before, that whatsoever penalty they shall +ordain less than death, will not be justice only but moderation) +I say, whatever it shall be, it may be rendered useless +and invalid by the forwardness and rejoicings of an obedient +people; that all England, as well as Scotland, would rejoice +at the oath, and swear with all their hearts. For certainly it +will not be so much our duty as our prerogative, as I have +shewed you before, to enter into covenant with God and +His people. It is the day of God's power: the Lord make +you a "willing people." And, as a testimony of this willingness +and joy, imitate the people here in the text, and stir up +one another, and provoke one another to this holy service. +"Let us join ourselves to the Lord." They express their +charity, as well as their joy; they would not go to Zion +alone; they call as many as they meet with them; "come +let us join ourselves to the Lord." Oh, that this might be +your temper! It is the very character of the evangelical +church; as both Isaiah and Micah have described it; +their words be the same. "Many people shall go and +say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of +the Lord." Oh! that while neutrals and malignants do +discourage one another, and set off one another, and embitter +one another's spirits; God and His ministers might find you +encouraging each other, and provoking one another, and +labouring to oil one another's spirits, to this (as other) +Gospel duty and prerogative; God could not choose, but be much +pleased with such a sight. I might have made this a +distinct qualification, but for brevity's sake, I couch it under +this head. I come to the last. If you would be accepted, +bring faith with you to this service: and that in a fourfold +reference; 1. God. 2. The ordinance. 3. Ourselves. 4. +Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> In reference unto God; "for he that will come to +God," in any ordinance, "must believe that God is and +that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." +There is nothing God takes better at His people's hand, +than when they come with their hearts as full of good +thoughts of God as ever they can hold; such as, "Lo, this +is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save +us; we have waited for Him, we will be glad, and rejoice +in His salvation." "He will save," "we will be glad," <i>i.e.</i>, +God will undoubtedly give us occasion of gladness and +triumph in His praises. Oh, sweet and blessed confidence +of divine goodness! how well doth this become the children +of such a father, who hath styled Himself the Father of +mercies? Good thoughts of God do mightily please, and +even engage God to shew mercy to His people. "Let us +therefore come with boldness to the throne of grace;" even +in this ordinance also, "that we may obtain mercy, and +find grace to help us in this time of our need."</p> + +<p><i>Secondly,</i> Let us bring faith in reference to the duty; as +we are to believe well of God, so we are to believe well of +the duty, that it is an ordinance wherein God will be +sanctified, and found of them that seek Him. It is not +enough, that we seek Him in His ordinance, but that we +believe it to be His ordinance. "Whatever is not of faith, +is sin;" He speaks not of a faith that doth justify the +person; but of a faith that doth justify the performance; +that is, a thorough conviction of conscience, that the work, +whatsoever it is, is such that the word will bear me out in +it, such as God Himself doth approve. To do doubtfully, +is to do sinfully; an ignorant person cannot please God.</p> + +<p><i>Thirdly,</i> Bring faith in reference to your own persons; +believe that God will accept of them in this ordinance; +whatever your success shall be in regard of the kingdom, +yet you shall find acceptance in regard of your persons: so +the church. "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth, and worketh +righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways." +When a people or person can say, as the church in another +place, "In the way of Thy judgments, have we waited for +Thee, O Lord; the desire of our soul is to Thy name, and +to the remembrance of Thee," God will not stay till they +come unto Him, but He will meet them half-way; "thou +meetest him," like the father of the prodigal, while they are +yet half-way, He will see, and run, and meet, and fall upon +their neck; and while they weep at His feet, tears of contrition; +He will weep over their necks, the tears of compassion: +Oh! stir up yourselves, and engage your faith to believe, +and expect a gracious entertainment. If God see you +coming in the integrity and uprightness of your hearts, to +enter into covenant with God, to take Him as your God, +and to give up yourselves to be His people, to take away all +from sin, and to give all to Jesus Christ; He will certainly +take it well at your hands, and say unto you, "come, my +people, and welcome; I will be your God, and you shall be +my people;" which that you may not miss of,</p> + +<p>In the <i>fourth</i> place, come believingly, in reference to +Jesus Christ; be sure you bring a Christ with you; for "He +hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Come without a +Christ, and go without acceptance.</p> + +<p>The day of atonement among the Jews was called the day +of expiation; and the word <i>kippurim</i> is derived from an +Hebrew root, that signifies to cover; and so the day of +atonement was as much as to say, "the day of covering; +the covering of nakedness: and the covering of sin." +"Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, and +whose sin is covered." In which very name of the day, the +ground or reason is held forth, why it was called a day of +atonement, because it was a day of covering: wherein Christ +was typified, Who is the "the covering of the saints; the +long white robes of His righteousness" covering both their +persons and performances; so that the nakedness of neither +doth appear in the eyes of His Father; "He hath beheld +no iniquity in Jacob, neither hath seen perverseness in +Israel." Why? Not because there was no "iniquity in +Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel," for there was hardly any +thing else; but because their iniquity and perverseness were +hid from His eyes, being covered with the mantle of His +Son's righteousness, the Messiah, which He had promised, +and they so much looked for. Let us therefore in this +service, as in all, "put on the Lord Jesus." That as Jacob +in the garments of his elder brother Esau, so we in the garments +of our elder brother Jesus, may find acceptance and +obtain the blessing. And thus much be spoken concerning +the first branch of this third query, how to acceptation?</p> + +<p>I come now to the Second branch of it, and that is, How +to perpetuity? Or, how may we perform this service so +that it may be "an everlasting covenant, that may never be +forgotten?" To that end, take these few brief directions, +and I have done.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, Labour to come to this service with much soul-affliction +for former violation of the covenant, either in +refusing, or profaning, or breaking thereof: the foundations +must be laid low, where we would build for many generations. +In what deep sorrows had you need to lay the foundations +of this covenant, which you would have stand to eternity, +that it may be "an everlasting covenant." This you have +in the text; "they shall seek the Lord, going and weeping;" +weeping in the sense of their former rebellions and +apostasies, whereby they forfeited their faith, and brake +their covenant with the Lord their God; and it was no +ordinary slight business they made of it. "A voice was +heard upon the high places, weeping and supplication." +They were not a few silent tears: no, they "lift up their +voices and wept," as was said of Esau. They cried so +loud, that they were heard a great way off. "A voice was +heard upon the mountains;" and it was as bitter, as it was +loud; "a great mourning, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon +in the valley of Megiddon," when all Judah, Jerusalem, +Jeremiah the prophet, and all the singers, bewailed the +death of their good king Josiah, with a grievous lamentation, +"and made it an ordinance forever." Oh! that as we +have their service in hand, so we had their heads and their +hearts, to manage it with rivers of tears, for our former +vileness: that we could weep this day together, and afterward +apart, as it is prophesied, "Every family apart, and +our wives apart;" yea, and every soul apart, that we have +dealt so evilly with so good a God, so unfaithfully with so +faithful a God; that we could put our mouths in the dust, +and smite upon our thigh, and be ashamed and confounded, +for all the wickedness we have committed against God and +His covenant, in any, or all these ways. Such a posture +God will see us in, before He will shew us "the way to +Zion;" before He will reveal to us the model and platform +of reformation; for so was His charge to Ezekiel, "If they +be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the +forms of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings +out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms +thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms +thereof, and all the laws thereof, and write it in their sight." +Surely, this blessed prophecy hath an eye upon our times, +for this is one of those days, as I told you before, wherein +God will make good these gracious words unto His people; +and God hath called together His Ezekiels, His ministers, +to "shew the house," <i>i.e.</i>, the form and pattern of the +evangelical house or church, unto the house of England and +Scotland. "Shew the house to the house of Israel, that +they may be ashamed." That is, shew them the outside +thereof, shew them "that there is such a house," which +they never yet beheld with their eyes, that they may be +humbled and ashamed of their former idolatries. And +thus do our Ezekiels tell us, there is a way of gospel +government, of such beauty and excellency, as our eyes +never yet beheld, nor the eyes of our forefathers; to the +end, that we may be ashamed of all our former idolatries +and superstitions, our monstrous mixtures of popery and +will-worship in the ordinances of Christ; and that we have +not sooner inquired after the mind of Christ, how He will +be worshipped in His house; but now, unless we be +ashamed, <i>i.e.</i>, deeply and thoroughly humbled, for all that +we have done unworthy of Christ and His worship, and the +covenant of our God, we shall never see the inside, that is, +the laws and the ordinances, and the forms of this house, +which are both various and curious; for so the variety and +repetition of the words imply. The prophets are not to +reveal these unto us, unless we be ashamed; God will either +withdraw them from us, or, which is worse, withdraw Himself +from them; so that our eyes shall never behold the +Lord in the beauty of holiness; we shall not be admitted to +see the beauty and glory of such a reformation, as our souls +long for. And as God will see us in this posture, before He +reveal to us the model and platform of reformation; so also, +till we be in such a posture of deep humiliation, for our +former abominations, we shall never be stedfast and faithful +in the covenant of God. Till our hearts be throughly +broken for covenant-breach, we will not pass much for +breaking covenant, upon every fresh temptation. Yea, till +that time we be humbled, not for a day only, and so forth: +but unless we labour to maintain an habitual frame of godly +sorrow upon our hearts for our covenant-violations, shall +we ever be to purpose conscientious of our covenant? A +sad remembrance of old sins is a special means to prevent +new. When every solemn remembrance of former vileness, +can fetch tears from our eyes, and blood from our hearts, +and fill our faces with an holy shame, the soul will be holily +shy of the like abominations, and of all occasions and +tendencies thereunto: "Remembering mine affliction and +my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath +them still in remembrance, and is humbled within me." +When old sins cost dear, new sins will not find an easy +entertainment. When old sins are new afflictions, when +the remembrance of them is as wormwood and gall, the +soul will not easily be bewitched to drink a new draught of +that poisoned cup any more. Christian, believe me, or thou +mayest find it by experience too true, when thou hast forgot +old sins, or canst remember them without new affliction of +soul, thou art near a fall; look to thyself, and cry to God +for preventing grace. There will be great hopes we shall +be faithful in our new covenant, when we come with a +godly sense and sorrow for our abuse of old, and labour +to maintain it upon our spirits.</p> + +<p><i>Secondly</i>, If you would have this covenant to be a +perpetual covenant, labour to see old scores crossed; do not +only mourn for thy covenant-unfaithfulness; but labour to +get thy pardon written and sealed to thee in the blood of +the covenant. There is virtue enough in the blood of the +covenant, to expiate the guilt of thy sins against the +covenant. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you +shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your +idols, will I cleanse you." Their sins of idolatry, were sins +especially against their covenant; idolatry being the violation +of the marriage-knot, between God and a people; yet +even from them doth God promise to cleanse them, +upon their repentance and conversion. The blood of the +covenant, compared to water for the cleansing virtue +thereof, should cleanse them from their covenant defilements. +"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all +sin." "Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet, +return again to me, saith the Lord." It is a mighty +encouragement to renew our covenants with God, that He is +so ready to pardon the breach of old; and the sense of this +pardon is a mighty engagement and strengthening, to keep +our new covenants. Oh! for God to say to a poor soul, +"be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." "And I +have blotted out thy sins as a cloud, and thy transgressions +as a thick cloud." All thy unkindnesses and unfaithfulnesses, +thy treacherous dealings against the covenant, shall +be forgotten; they shall do thee no harm. This will +mightily strengthen the hands, and fortify the heart, and +even make it impenetrable and impregnable against all +the solicitations and importunities of old temptations: +see a notable instance of this, "I will heal their backslidings, +I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned +away from him." "I will be as the dew to Israel." "His +branches shall spread." "They that dwell under His +shadow shall return." What follows these gracious promises? +Why, Ephraim shall say, "What have I to do any more with +idols?" He that before was so inseparably joined to idols, +that he could not be divorced from them; "Ephraim +is joined to idols." All the blows that God gave him, +tho' God should have beaten him to pieces, as he +himself afterward confessed, could not beat him off from +his idols; insomuch, that God at length gave him over, as +an hopeless child. "Ephraim is joined to idols, let him +lone." Yet, no sooner doth this Ephraim hear of a pardon, +and of the love of God to him, but the bonds between him +and his idols are dissolved, and away he thrusts them with +indignation. Ephraim shall say, "What have I to do with +idols?" Or as the prophet Isaiah expresseth it, "Ye shall +defile the covering of the graven images of silver, and the +ornament of thy molten images of gold; thou shalt cast +them away as a menstruous cloth, thou shalt say unto it, get +thee hence." And thus it is with a people, or a person, +when once "God sheds abroad His Spirit in their hearts," +and makes them "hear joy and gladness," in speaking, or +sealing, a pardon upon their souls; they that before were +joined to their idols, drunkenness, uncleanness, covetousness, +pride, ways of false worship, old superstitious customs, +and ceremonies, and the like; so that there was no parting +of them; or those who had long been grappling and conflicting +with their strong corruptions and old temptations, and +in those conflicts had received many a foil, and got many +a fall to the wounding of their consciences, and cutting deep +gashes upon their souls; now they stand up with a kind of +omnipotence among them, no temptation is able to stand +before them; they say to their idols, whether sinful +company, or sinful customs, "get ye hence, and what have +I to do any more with idols?" What have I to do with +such and such base company? What have I to do with +such base filthy lusts? "I am my beloved's, and my +beloved is mine." Christ is mine, and I am His. The +reason of it is, because pardon begets love; "she loved +much, because much was forgiven her." And love begets +strength: "for love is as strong as death": yea, stronger +than sin or death; "They loved not their lives to the death," +and "I count not my life dear," says Paul, when once +the man had tasted of the free grace of God in the pardon +of his sins, "who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, +and injurious." He could find in his heart, not only to lay +down a lust, but to lay down his life too for Jesus Christ: +"for whose sake, (saith he), I have suffered the loss of all +things; and I count not my life dear, so that I might finish +my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received +of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of +God."</p> + +<p>My beloved Christians, if you would be faithful in the +covenant of God, into which you are now entering, sue out +your pardon for what is past; yea, entreat the Lord, not +only to give a pardon, but to speak a pardon, and seal a +pardon upon your hearts; and never give the Lord rest, +till the Lord have given rest to your souls. "The joy of +the Lord is your strength."</p> + +<p><i>Thirdly</i>, If you would make an unchangeable covenant, +with an unchangeable God, come furnished with and maintain +upon your hearts, an abundant measure of self-distrust; +labour to be thoroughly convinced of your own nothingness +and disability. "By his own strength shall no man prevail." +Surely, thine own treachery may inform thee, and thine own +backslidings may convince thee, to confess with Jeremiah, +"O Lord, I know (I know it by sad experience) the way of +man is not in himself: It is not in man that walketh to direct +his steps." Staupitius confessed to Luther, that he thought in +his very conscience he had above a thousand times renewed +his covenant with God, and as many times broken it: a sad +confession, and yet how many among us may take up the +like lamentation! Be convinced of it, I beseech you, and +maintain the sense of this conviction upon your spirits. Say +oft within yourself, I am nothing, worse than nothing. This +treacherous heart of mine will betray me into the breach of +my covenant, if the Lord leave me to myself, I shall one +day fall by the hand of my corruptions. He that walks +tremblingly, walks safely.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Fourth</i> place, be often renewing your resolutions. +It was the exhortation of that good man to the new converts +at Antioch, where they were first called Christians, "that +they should cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart." +This covenant, I have shewed you, is the ordinance whereby +you cleave unto the Lord, the joining ordinance. Oh! do +it with full purpose of heart, and be often putting on fresh +and frequent resolutions, not to suffer every base temptation +of Satan, every deceitful, or malignant solicitation of the +world, every foolish and carnal suggestion of the flesh, to +bribe and seduce you from that fidelity which you swear +this day to Jesus Christ and the kingdoms. A well grounded +resolution is half the work, and the better half too; for he +that hath well resolved, hath conquered his will; and he +that hath conquered his will, hath overcome the greatest +difficulty: no such difficulty in spiritual things, as to prevail +with one's own heart. With these cords, therefore, of well +bottomed resolutions, be oft binding yourselves to your +covenant, as once Ulysses did himself to his mast, that you +may not be bewitched by any Syrenian song of the flesh, +world, or the devil, to violate your holy covenant, and +drown yourselves in a sea of perdition. And to that end, it +would not be altogether useless, to fix your covenant in +some place of your houses, or bed-chamber, where it may +be oftenest in your eyes, to admonish you of your religious +and solemn engagements, under which you have brought +your own souls. The Jews had their "phylacteries, or +borders upon their garments," which they did wear also +upon their heads, and upon their arms; which, tho' they +abused afterward, not only to pride, making them broader +than their first size or pattern, in ostentation and boasting +of their holiness, our Saviour condemns in the scribes +and pharisees. And to superstition, for they used them as +superstitious helps in prayer, which they coloured under a +false derivation of the word in the Hebrew, yet God indulged +them in this ceremony, as an help for their memories, to +put them in remembrance to keep the law of the Lord. +And God Himself seems to use this art of memory, as it +were, when, comforting His people, He tells them, "behold +I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands, thy walls +are continually before Me."</p> + +<p>I must confess, the nature of man is very prone to abuse +and pervert such natural helps to idolatry and superstition. +This instance of the Jews, wretchedly improving their +phylacteries to superstitious purposes, their idolizing of the +brazen serpent; and thereby of a cure, turning it into a +plague, a snare, with the like, are sufficient testimonies. +And we see how the papists have abused and adulterated +the lawful use of natural mediums, to the unlawful use of +artificial mediums of their own inventions; images and +crucifixes, first to help their memories, and stir up their +devotions in their prayers, and then to pray unto them, as +mediums of divine worship. The more cautious had +Christians need be in the use of those mediums, which either +God hath ordained by special command for the help of our +memories, and stirring up of our graces, as the visible +elements in the sacraments; or such natural advantages, +which moral equity allows us for the help of our understandings +and memories in spiritual concernments; such is +this, we are now speaking of; it being the same with the +use of books and tables. Tertullian tells us of a superstitious +custom among the ancient Christians, that they were +wont to set up images over their doors and chimneys, to +keep witches when they came into their houses from +bewitching their children; and so by a little kind of witchcraft, +prevented witchcraft. But surely, to set up this +covenant, where we might often see and read what engagements +we have laid upon our souls, (and I could heartily +wish Christians would do it at least once a week) it will be +an innocent and warrantable spell, to render the witchery of +the flesh, world, and devil, fruitless and ineffectual upon our +spirits, while the soul may say with David, "Thy vows are +upon me, O God: I will render praise unto Thee."</p> + +<p>But <i>Fifthly</i>, consider often and seriously, who it is that +must uphold your resolutions; even He that upholds heaven +and earth: no less power will do it; "for you are kept by +the power of God through faith unto salvation." It is God +that first gives the resolution, and then must uphold, and +bring it into act; "It is God that worketh in you, both to +will and to do of His good pleasure," and therefore labour, I +beseech you, to do these two things.</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, Put all your resolutions into the hands of prayer: +David was a man of an excellent spirit, full of holy resolves. +"I will walk in mine integrity," "And I will keep Thy +testimonies." And again, "I have sworn, and I will perform +it, that I will keep Thy righteous judgments." And yet +again, "do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee?" "I +hate them with a perfect hatred." A thousand such sweet +resolutions doth that precious servant of God breathe out all +along the Psalms; and yet so jealous the holy man is of +himself, that he never trusts himself with his own resolutions; +and therefore shall you find him always clapping a +petition upon a resolution, as in the quoted places. "I will +walk in mine integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful unto +me. I will keep Thy testimonies, oh! forsake me not +utterly." Though Thou hast let me fall fearfully, suffer +me not to fall finally. And so when he had said, "I have +sworn, and will not repent," he presently adds (within a +word or two), "quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy +word." And again, "accept, I beseech Thee, the free-will +offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments." +God must teach him, as to make, so to make good +the free-will offerings of his mouth, <i>i.e.</i>, his promises and +vows. And so, when he had made that appeal to God, "do +not I hate them that hate Thee, Lord?" he presently +betakes himself to his prayers, "search me, O God, and +know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see +if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way +everlasting." Mark, I pray, "search me, try me, know my +heart, know my thoughts, see whether there be any wicked +way, lead me." He will neither trust himself for what he is, +nor for what he shall be; "try me," he dares not trust his own +trial: "lead me," he dares not trust his own resolutions: +such a sweet holy jealousy of himself doth he breathe forth, +with all his heavenly purposes and resolutions. Oh! all you +that would make an everlasting covenant with God, imitate +holy David, upon every holy resolution, clap an earnest +petition, say, I will reform my life; oh! redeem me, and +be merciful unto me. I will set up Christ in my heart, I +will labour to walk worthy of Him in my life: oh! forsake +me not utterly, Lord; leave me not to myself, I have sworn, +and am utterly purposed in all my duties I owe to God and +man, to amend my life, and to go before others in the +example of a real reformation. O Lord, teach me Thy +judgments: quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy word. +Thy vows are upon me, that I will, according to my +place and calling, endeavour to preserve reformation in +Scotland, to procure reformation in England; that I will +in like manner endeavour the extirpation of popery and +prelacy; to preserve the rights and liberties of parliaments; +discover incendiaries; endeavour the preservation of peace +between the two kingdoms; defend all those that enter into +this league and covenant, that I will never make defection to +the contrary part, or to give myself to a detestable indifferency +or neutrality. And this covenant I have made in the +presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a +true intention to perform the same, as I shall answer at that +great day. But now, add with David, "Search me, O God, +and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see +if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the +way everlasting." In a word, put your covenant into +frequently renewed resolutions: resolutions into prayer, and +prayer, and all into the hands of God. It is God that must +gird thee with strength, to perform all thy vows. This, the +close of this blessed covenant, into which we enter this day, +doth teach us. "Humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen +us by His Spirit; for this end, and to bless our desires +and proceedings." And the covenant in the text, was +surely inlaid with prayer, while they engage themselves +to seek the Lord, not only to shew them the way to Zion, +but to give them strength to walk in that way.</p> + +<p>Let it be your wisdom and piety, my brethren, to imitate +both; oh pray, and be much in prayer, and be often in +prayer: pray daily over the covenant; as you this day lift +up your hands to swear to the most high God in this +covenant, so lift up your hands every day to pray to that God +for grace to keep this covenant. Let sense of self-insufficiency +keep open the sluice of prayer, that that may let fresh streams +of strength every day into your souls, to make good your +vows; when you be careless to pray over the covenant, you +will be careless to keep the covenant; when you cease to pray, +you will cease to pay. If you will be watchful in praying over +your vows, prayer will make you watchful in paying your +vows. If you will be faithful in crying to God, God will be +faithful in hearing and helping. Pray therefore, pray over +every good purpose and resolution of heart towards the +covenant of God which conscience shall suggest, or the +Spirit of God shall breathe into your bosoms, at this present +or any time hereafter; as David once prayed over that good +frame of spirit, which he observed in his people; what time +they offered so willingly and liberally to the preparing for the +house of God; "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of +Jacob, our fathers, keep this for ever, in the imagination of +the thoughts of the heart, and prepare their heart unto Thee." +To every command, God is pleased to add a promise; so +that what is a command in one place, is a promise in +another. "Circumcise the foreskin of your heart." But it is +a promise, "The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, +and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord." Again, "make +you a new heart." So saith the word of command: "a new +heart will I give you:" so speaks the word of promise. +Once more, "little children abide in Him," that is the +command. Which in the immediate verse before is a +gracious promise, "you shall abide in Him." Divers more +such instances I could give you; and why thus? Surely, the +command teacheth us our duty, the promise our weakness and +insufficiency to perform that duty. The command finds +us work; the promise finds us strength: the command is to +keep us from being idle; the promise to keep us from being +discouraged. Well, let us imitate God, and, as He couples +a command and a promise, so let us couple a resolution and +a petition. As God seconds and backs His command with +His promise, so let us second and back our promises with +our prayers; the one in sense of our duty, the other in +sense of our weakness; by the one, to bring our hearts up +to God: by the other, to bring God down to our hearts: +resolve and petition, promise and pray, and the Lord +"prepare your heart to pray, and cause His ear to hear."</p> + +<p><i>Secondly</i>, Since God only must uphold your desires, walk +continually as in His presence; stability is only to be found +in the presence of God; so far we live an unchangeable life, +as we walk and live in the presence of an unchangeable God. +The saints in Heaven know no vicissitudes, or changes +in their holy frame and temper of spirit, because they are +perfected in the beholding of His face; "with whom is no +variableness, nor shadow of changing:" and so far as the +saints on earth can keep God in their presence so far +the presence of God will keep them. "I have set the Lord +always before me; and because He is at my right hand, +therefore I shall not be moved," sang David of himself +literally, and in the person of Christ typically: the privilege +was made good to both, so far as either made good the duty. +David, according to his degree, and proportion of grace, +set God before him, placed Him on his right hand; and so +long as he could keep God's presence, the presence of God +kept him; it kept him from sin, "I have kept myself from +mine iniquity." How so? Why, "I was upright before Him," +in the former part of the same verse. So long as he walked +before God, in God's presence; so long he walked upright, +and kept himself from his iniquity; or rather God's presence +kept him: and, as it kept him from sin, so it kept him from +fear also; "tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of +death, I will not fear." Mark what he saith, though he +walk, not step; and walk through, not step across; and +through, not a dark entry, or a churchyard in the night-time, +but a valley, a large, long, vast place; how many miles +long I know not; and this not a valley of darkness only, +but of death, where he should see nothing but visions of +death, and not bare death, but the shadow of death: the +shadow is the dark part of the thing; so that the shadow +of death, is the darkest side of death; death in its most +hideous and horrid representations; and yet behold, when +he comes out at the farther end, and a man would have +thought to have found him all in a cold sweat, his hair +standing upright, his eyes set in his head, and the man +beside himself. Behold, I say, he doth not so much as +change colour, his hand shakes not, his heart fails not; as +he went in, he comes out; and though he should go back +again the same way, he tells you, "I will not fear." How +comes this to pass? How comes the man to be so undaunted? +Why, he will tell you in the very same verse, +speaking to God, "For Thou art with me." God's presence +kept him from fear, in the midst of death and horror. Thus +it was, I say, with David, while he could keep God in his +presence, he was immoveable, impregnable; you might as +soon have stirred a rock, as stirred him, "I shall not be +moved." Indeed, so long as he was upon the rock, he was +as immoveable as the rock itself; but alas! sometime he +lost the sight of his God, and then he was like other men; +"Thou didst hide Thy face from me, and I was troubled." +When God hid His face from him, or he hid his eyes from +God; then how easily is he moved? Fear breaks in, "I +shall one day fall by the hand of Saul." Sin breaks in, yea, +one sin upon the heels of another; the adulterous act, upon +the adulterous look, and murder upon adultery, as you +know in that sad business of Uriah the Hittite; once off +from his Rock, and he is as weak as dust, not able to stand +before the least temptation of sin or fear; and therefore as +soon as he comes to himself again, he cries, "Oh! lead me +to the Rock that is higher than I;" to my Rock, Lord, to +my Rock. But now, the Lord Jesus, the antitype of David +here in this Psalm, because he made good this, (duty shall +I call it?) "For in Him dwelt the fulness of the God-head +bodily." To Him therefore was this privilege made good +perfectly in the highest degree; for tho' He had temptations +that never man had, and was to do that which never man +did; and to suffer that which never man suffered; the +contradiction of sinners; the rage of hell; and the wrath of +God: yet, because He set the Lord always at His right +hand; yea, indeed was always at the right hand of God; +therefore He was not moved, but overcame even by +suffering.</p> + +<p>Beloved, you see where stability in covenant is to be had; +even in the presence of God. Labour, I beseech you, to +walk in His presence, and to set Him always at your right +hand; behold, it shall keep you, so that you shall not be +moved; or, if you be moved, you shall not be removed; if +you stumble you shall not fall; or, if you fall, you shall +not fall away; you shall rise again. There is a double +advantage in it. <i>First</i>, It will keep your hearts in awe; he +that sets God in his presence, dares not sin in His presence: +"God sees," will make the heart say, "How shall I do this +great evil, and sin against God?" <i>Secondly</i>, There is joy in +it; "In Thy presence is fulness of joy." It is true, in its +proportion of grace, as well as of glory; and joy will +strengthen and stablish, as I shewed you before, "The joy +of the Lord is your strength." As long as the child is in its +father's eye, and the father in its eye, it is secure. "Because +thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the +Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee." +It will hold as well in the evils of sin, as in the evils of +punishment: well, the Lord make you know these precious +truths in an experimental manner. I have held you too +long; but the business requires it. Remember, I beseech +you, it is God that must uphold your desires and resolutions; +and therefore, 1. Be much in prayer. And, 2. Set yourselves +in the presence of God. He lives unchangeably that +lives in the unchangeable God.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Sixth</i>, and last place, if thou wouldst make an everlasting +covenant with God, that shall never be forgotten, +look up to Jesus Christ, go to Jesus Christ. He must help, +and He must strengthen, and He must keep thee, or else +thou wilt never be able to "keep thy covenant;" hear Him, +else, "without me ye can do nothing." And as Christ +speaks thus in the negative; so you may hear the +apostle speaking by blessed experience in the affirmative; +"I can do all things through Jesus Christ, Who strengtheneth +me." Observe, I pray, "Without Me ye can do nothing. +Through Christ I can do all things." Nothing, all things. +There is a good deal of difference between two men; take +one without Christ, and, be his parts never so excellent, his +resolutions never so strong, his engagements never so sacred, +"he can do nothing;" unless it be to "break his covenant +and vows," as Samson brake his cords like threads scorched +with the fire; and, take the other with a Christ standing by +him, and be he in himself never so weak and mean, unlearned +and ungifted, lo, as if he were clothed with omnipotency, +"he can do all things," he can subdue such corruptions, +conquer such temptations, perform such duties, and in such +a manner, do such things, suffer such things, (and in all +these keep his covenant with God) as to other men, and to +himself before, were so many impossibilities; he could not +before, now He can. Nothing before, all things now. All +things fit for an unglorified saint to do; all things God +expects from him; all things in a gospel sense; all things +comparatively to other men, and to himself, when he was +another man. See, I beseech you, how without a Christ, and +thro' a Christ, makes one man differ from another; yea, and +from himself, as much as can and cannot; all things and +nothing; impotency and omnipotency, "Without me ye can do +nothing." "Through Christ I can do all things." If therefore +you would make a covenant with Eternity to eternity, study +Christ more than ever, labour to "know nothing but Jesus +Christ, and Him crucified." And therein these two things,</p> + +<p><i>First,</i> Labour to get interest in Christ. Interest is the +ground of influence; union the fountain or spring of communion; +so Christ, "as the branch cannot bear fruit of +itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye +abide in Me." There you have the truth and the simile +of it; no fruit from Christ, without being and abiding in +Christ; there is truth: illustrated and proved by the vine +and the branch; there the simile, which is prosecuted and +enlarged by our Saviour.</p> + +<p>And, as all communion ariseth from union, so look what +the union is, such is the communion; Christ was filled with +the fulness of God because united to God; the saints receive of +the fulness of Christ, because united to Christ. "I in them, +and Thou in Me." Only here is the difference. Christ's +union with His Father was personal, infinite, and substantial, +and therefore the communications were answerable, "For +God gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him." But the +saints' union with Christ, being of an inferior nature; their +communications also are proportional; yet such as serve +poor creatures to all blessed saving purposes. And therefore +with Paul, labour to "be found in Christ," that so you may +know experimentally the power of His resurrection, and the +fellowship of His sufferings. All the power and virtue that +are in Jesus Christ, are only for them that are in Him, as the +branch in the root, as the members in the body.</p> + +<p>Christ is called the covenant of God. "I will give thee +for a covenant of the people." As Calvin well expounds it, +<i>sponsor fœderis</i>, the surety or undertaker of the covenant, +of that second new covenant, between God and His people, +not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also. A surety on both +sides: the surety of God's covenant to them; "For all the +promises of God are in Him, yea, and in Him, Amen." He +sees them all made good to the heirs of promise. And +Christ again is the surety of their covenant unto God; for +He undertakes to make good all their covenants, and vows, +and promises unto God. "Those that Thou gavest Me, I +have kept," saith Christ. "And I live (saith Paul), yet not +I, but Christ liveth in me." So that it is Christ who makes +the covenant good on both sides, as God's to His people, so +His people's to God; and so it follows in that place of +Isaiah, "I have given thee for a covenant to the people, to +establish the earth;" establishment must come from Christ, +the undertaker, the surety of the covenant; as He paid the +debt for the time past, so He must see the articles of the +covenant kept for the time to come. For want of such an +undertaker or surety, the first covenant miscarried: It was +between God and the creature, without a mediator; and so +the creature changing, the covenant was dissolved; but the +second, God meant should not miscarry, and therefore puts +it into sure hands; "I have laid help upon One that is +mighty," speaking of Christ, and "I will give Thee for a +covenant to the people." God hath furnished Christ wherewithal +to be a surety; to make good His covenant to His +people, and their covenant to Him.</p> + +<p>But now, He hath this stock of all-sufficiency for none but +these that are His members, He actually undertakes for +none but those that are actually in Him; "These that +Thou hast given Me I have kept." He keeps none but +them whom the Father hath given Him; given Him so as +to be in them, and they in Him. "I in them, they in Me." +Well, if thou wouldst be unchangeable in thy covenant, get +interest in Christ who is the covenant; the unchangeable +covenant; "The Amen, the faithful and true witness." +"Yesterday and to-day, and the same for ever." Get +interest, "count all things loss and dung, that thou mayst +win Christ, and be found in Christ." Yea, do not only +labour to get interest, but prove thy interest. Take not up +a matter of so infinite concernment upon trust: all that thou +dost covenant to God, and that God doth covenant to +thee, depends upon it; and therefore, "work it out with +fear and trembling, and give all diligence to make it sure +unto thy soul." Study evidences, and be content with +none but such as will bear weight in the "balance of the +sanctuary;" such as the word will secure; such as to which +the word will bear witness, that they are inconsistent with any +Christless man or woman, whatsoever; and pray with unwearying +supplications that God will not only give thee +interest, but clear thy interest, and seal up interest upon thy +soul and thee, to the day of redemption.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>, study influence when in Christ, then hast thou +right to draw virtue from Christ, for behold, all the +fulness that dwells in Christ is thine; all that life, and +strength, and grace, and redemption, that is held forth in +the promise, it is all laid up in Christ, as in a magazine; +and by virtue of thy interest in, and union with the Lord +Jesus, it is all become thine. Hence you hear the believing +soul making her boast of Christ, as before, for righteousness +so also for strength. "In the Lord have I righteousness +and strength." As righteousness for acceptance, so strength +also for performance of such duties, as God in His covenant +doth require and expect at the believer's hands: I have no +strength of mine own, but in Christ I have enough; "In the +Lord I have righteousness and strength." Christ is the +lord-keeper, or lord high steward, or lord treasurer; to +receive in and lay out, for and to all that are in covenant +with the Father. And this is one main branch of God's +covenant with the Redeemer, that He gives out to the heirs +of promise, wherewithal to "keep their covenant with God;" +so that they never depart from Him. "As for Me, this is +My covenant with them, saith the Lord, My Spirit that is +upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, +shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of +thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the +Lord, from henceforth and for ever." These be the words +of God the father to the Redeemer, concerning all His +spiritual seed; "the Redeemer shall come to Zion." And +that Spirit, and these words of life and grace which were +upon the Redeemer, must be propagated to all His believing +seed; by virtue whereof, their covenant with God, shall in +its proportion be like God's covenant with them (for indeed +the one is but the counterpart of the other) unchangeable, +everlasting. "I will make an everlasting covenant with +them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; +but I will put My fear in their hearts, and they shall not +depart away from Me."</p> + +<p>Now therefore, my brethren, since there is enough in +Christ, study how to draw it out: indeed it will require a +great deal of holy skill to do it; it requires wisdom to draw +out the excellencies of a man: "Counsel in the heart of a +man is deep, but a man of understanding will draw it out." +It is a fine art to be able to pierce a man, that is like a +vessel full of wine, and set him a running; but to draw out +influence and virtue from the Lord Jesus is one of the most +secret hidden mysteries in the life of a Christian: indeed +we may complain, "the well is deep, and we have nothing +to draw withal." But labour to get your bucket of faith, +that you may be able to "draw water out of this well of +salvation." Labour by vital acts of a powerful faith; set to +work in meditation and prayer, to draw virtue and influence +from Jesus Christ; the mouth of prayer, and the breathings +of faith from an heart soakt and steept in holy meditations, +applied to Jesus Christ, will certainly (tho' perhaps +insensibly) draw virtue from Him. Behold, faith drew virtue +from Christ by a touch of His garments: shall it not much +more draw out that rich and precious influence, by applying +of Him in the promises, and in His offices unto our souls? +Consider, O Christian, whoever thou art, even thou that +art in Christ, consider, God hath not trusted thee with grace +enough before hand, for one month, no, not for a week, a day; +nay, thou hast not grace enough before hand for the performance +of the next duty, or the conquering of the next +temptation; nor for the expediting thyself out of the next +difficulty; and why so? But that thou mayest learn to live +by continual dependence upon Jesus Christ, as Paul did, +"The life that I now live in the flesh, I live it by the faith +of the Son of God." Paul lived by fresh influence drawn +from Christ by faith, every day and hour; study that life, it +is very mysterious, but exceeding precious. Had we our +stock before hand, we should quickly spend all, and prove +bankrupts: God hath laid up all our treasure of "wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification, and redemption in Jesus Christ," +and will have us live from hand to mouth, that so we might +be safe, and God's free grace be exalted: "It is of faith, that +it might be by grace, to the end your promise might be sure +to all the seed." Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of this +heavenly calling, look up to Jesus Christ, who is the covenant +of His Father, and your covenant; lo, He calls you. "Look +unto Me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth." Surely +they are worthy to perish, who will not bestow a look upon +salvation: oh, look humbly, and look believingly, and look +continually; look for interest, look for influence, look for +righteousness, look for strength; and let Jesus Christ be all +in all to thy soul: thou wilt never be any thing, nor do any +thing in Christianity, till thou comest to live in and upon +Jesus Christ, and Him only: humbly entreat the Lord, and +give Him no rest, that He will make a covenant with thee +in Christ, which shall keep thee, and then thou wilt be able +to keep thy covenant: look up to Christ for covenant grace, +to keep covenant-engagement, and so shalt thou do this +service in a gospel sense, to acceptation, to perpetuity.</p> + +<p>I have now done with these three queries; What? Why? +How? How to (1) Acceptation? and (2) Perpetuity? I +know much more might be added, but the work to which +we are to address ourselves, will take up much time; the +Lord set home what hath been spoken.</p> + +<p>Only give me leave to tell you thus much in a word, for +the close of all; as this covenant prospers with us, so we are +like to prosper under it; the welfare of the kingdom and +of thy soul, is bound up now in this covenant: for I +remember what God speaks of the kingdom of Israel, brought +into covenant now with the king of Babylon, to serve him, +and to be his vassals; that "by keeping covenant it should +stand." And the breaking of that covenant was the breaking +of Zedekiah and his whole family and kingdom. Now was +covenant-breach, or fidelity the foundation of stability or +ruin to that kingdom, which was struck, but with a dying +man; how much more is the rise and fall of this kingdom; +yea, of these two kingdoms, bound up in the observation +or forfeiture of this covenant, which we make this day with +the living God? You that wish well to the kingdoms, that +would not see the downfall and ruin thereof; be from +henceforth more conscientious of your covenant, than ever +heretofore; for surely, upon the success of this covenant +we stand or fall; as we deal with the covenant, God will +deal with us; if we slight the covenant, God will slight +us; if we have mean thoughts of the covenant, God will +have mean thoughts of us; if we forget the covenant, +God will forget us; if we break the covenant, we may +look that God shall break these two nations, and break +us all to pieces; if we reject it, God will reject us; if we +regard our covenant, God will regard His covenant, and +regard us too; if we remember the covenant, God will +remember His, and remember us; if we keep the covenant, +the covenant will keep us, and our posterity for ever.</p> + +<p>There are a people of whom I hear God speaking gracious +words. "Surely they are My people, children that will not +lie." My people, Mine by covenant; I have brought them +into the bond of the covenant; I have made My covenant +with them, and they have made their covenant with Me: +and they be children that will not lie; I know they will deal +no more as a lying and treacherous generation with Me, but +will be a faithful people in their covenant; and I will be a +faithful God unto them; "I will be their Saviour, they will +serve Me, and I will save them."</p> + +<p>Now the Lord make us such a people unto Him, children +that will not lie, and He be such a God to us; He be our +Saviour, a Saviour to both kingdoms, and every soul that +makes this covenant; to save us from sin, and to save us +from destruction; to save us from our enemies without, and +to save us from our enemies within; to save us from the +devil, and to save us from the world, and to save us from +ourselves; to save us from the lusts of men, and to save us +from our own lusts; to save us, and to save our posterity: +to save us from Rome, and save us from hell; to save us +from wrath present, and from wrath to come; to save us +here, and to save us hereafter; to save us to Himself in +grace, and to save us with Himself in glory, to all eternity, +for Christ's sake, Amen, and Amen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT1" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND_COVENANT1"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT:</h3> + +<h2>AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS AND +COMMONS,</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Issued February 2, 1644.</i></p> + + +<p>Whereas a covenant for the preservation and reformation +of religion, the maintenance and defence of laws and liberties, +hath been thought a fit and excellent means to acquire +the favour of Almighty God towards the three kingdoms of +England, Scotland and Ireland; and likewise to unite them, +and by uniting, to strengthen and fortify them against the +common enemy of the true reformed religion, peace and +prosperity of these kingdoms: and whereas both houses of +parliament in England, the cities of London and Westminster, +and the kingdom of Scotland, have already taken +the same; it is now ordered and ordained by the Lords and +Commons in Parliament, that the same covenant be solemnly +taken in all places throughout the kingdom of England, and +dominion of Wales. And for the better and more orderly +taking thereof, these directions ensuing are appointed and +enjoined strictly to be followed.</p> + + +<p><i>Instructions for the taking of the Solemn League and +Covenant throughout the Kingdom.</i></p> + +<p>1. That the speakers of both Houses of Parliament do +speedily send, to the lord general, and all other commanders +in chief, and governors of towns, forts, castles, and +garrisons; as also to the earl of Warwick, lord high admiral +of England, true copies of the said Solemn League and +Covenant, to the end it may be taken by all officers and +soldiers under their several commands.</p> + +<p>2. That all the knights and burgesses now in parliament, +do take special care, speedily to send down into their several +counties (which are, or shall hereafter be under the power of +the parliament) a competent number of true copies of the +said league and covenant, unto the committees of parliament +in their several counties; and that the said committees +do within six days at the most disperse the said copies to +every parish-church or chapel in their several counties, to be +delivered unto the ministers, church-wardens, or constables +of the several parishes.</p> + +<p>3. That the said committees be required to return a +certificate of the day when they received the said copies, as +also the day they sent them forth, and to what parishes they +have sent them; which certificate they are to return to the +clerk of the parliament, appointed for the commons' house, +that so an account may be given of it, as there shall be +occasion.</p> + +<p>4. That the several ministers be required to read the +said covenant publicly unto their people, the next Lord's +day after they receive it, and prepare their people for it, +against the time that they shall be called to take it.</p> + +<p>5. That the said league and covenant be taken by the +committees of parliament, in the place where they reside, +and tendered also to the inhabitants of the town, within +seven days after it comes to the said committee's hands.</p> + +<p>6. That the said committees after they have taken it +themselves, do speedily disperse themselves through the +said counties, so as three or four of them be together, on +days appointed, at the chief places of meeting, for the +several divisions of the said counties: and summon all the +ministers, church-wardens, constables, and other officers +unto that place, where, after a sermon preached by one +appointed by the committee for that purpose, they cause the +same minister to tender the league and covenant unto all +such ministers, and other officers, to be taken and subscribed +by them, in the presence of the said committees.</p> + +<p>7. That the said committees do withal give the said +ministers in charge, to tender it unto all the rest of their +parishioners the next Lord's day, making then unto their +said parishioners some solemn exhortation, concerning the +taking and observing thereof: and that the said committees +do also return to the several parishes, the names of all such +as have taken the covenant before them, who yet shall also +subscribe their names in the book or roll with their neighbours, +in their several parishes: and if any minister refuse +or neglect to appear at the said summons, or refuse to take +the said covenant before the committee, or to tender it to +his parish, that then the committees be careful to appoint +another minister to do it in his place.</p> + +<p>8. That this league and covenant be tendered to all men, +within the several parishes, above the age of eighteen, as +well lodgers as inhabitants.</p> + +<p>9. That it be recommended to the earl of Manchester, to +take special care, that it be tendered and taken in the +university of Cambridge.</p> + +<p>10. That for the better encouragement of all sorts of +persons to take it, it be recommended to the assembly of +divines, to make a brief declaration, by way of exhortation, +to all sorts of persons to take it, as that which they judge +not only lawful, but (all things considered) exceeding +expedient and necessary, for all that wish well to religion, +the king and kingdom, to join in, and to be a singular +pledge of God's gracious goodness to all the three kingdoms.</p> + +<p>11. That if any minister do refuse to take, or to tender +the covenant, or any other person, or persons, do not take +it the Lord's day that it is tendered, that then it be tendered +to them again the Lord's day following, and if they still +continue to refuse it, that then their names be returned by +the minister that tenders it, and by the church-wardens, or +constables, unto the committees, and by them to the house +of commons, that such further course may be taken with +them, as the houses of parliament shall see cause.</p> + +<p>12. That all such persons as are within the several +parishes, when notice is given of the taking of it, and do +absent themselves from the church at the time of taking it, +and come not in afterwards, to the minister and church-wardens +or other officers, to take it in their presence before +the return be made, be returned as refusers.</p> + +<p>13. The manner of the taking it to be thus; "The +minister to read the whole covenant distinctly and audibly +in the pulpit, and, during the time of the reading thereof, the +whole congregation to be uncovered, and at the end of his +reading thereof, all to take it standing, lifting up their right +hands bare, and then afterwards to subscribe it severally by +writing their names, (or their marks, to which their names +are to be added) in a parchment roll, or a book, whereinto +the covenant is to be inserted, purposely provided for that +end, and kept as a record in the parish."</p> + +<p>14. That the Assembly of Divines do prepare an exhortation +for the better taking of the covenant: and that the said +exhortation, and the declaration of the kingdoms of England +and Scotland, joined in the armies for the vindication and +defence of their religion, liberties and laws, against the +popish, prelatical and malignant party, and passed the thirty +of January last, be publicly read, when the covenant is +read, according to the fourth and fifth articles: and that a +sufficient number of the copies of the said declaration be +sent by the persons, appointed to send the true copies of +the said covenant, in the first and second articles.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND8" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND8"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT:</h3> + +<h2>EXHORTATION BY THE WESTMINSTER +ASSEMBLY.</h2> + + +<p>If the power of religion or solid reason, if loyalty to the +king and piety to their native country, or love to themselves +and natural affection to their posterity, if the example of +men touched with a deep sense of all these, or extraordinary +success from God thereupon, can awaken an embroiled, +bleeding remnant to embrace the sovereign and only means of +their recovery, there can be no doubt but this solemn league +and covenant will find, wheresoever it shall be tendered, a +people ready to entertain it with all cheerfulness and duty.</p> + +<p>And were it not commended to the kingdom by the +concurrent encouragement of the honourable Houses of +Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, the renowned city of +London, multitudes of other persons of eminent rank and +quality in this nation, and the whole body of Scotland, who +have all willingly sworn and subscribed it, with rejoicing at +the oath, so graciously seconded from heaven already by +blasting the counsels, and breaking the power of the enemy +more than ever; yet it goeth forth in its own strength, with +such convincing evidence of equity, truth and righteousness, +as may raise in all (not wilfully ignorant, or miserably +seduced) inflamed affections to join with their brethren in +this happy bond, for putting an end to the present miseries, +and for saving of both king and kingdom from utter ruin, +now so strongly and openly laboured by the popish faction, +and such as have been bewitched and besotted by that +viperous and bloody generation.</p> + +<p>For what is there almost in this covenant, which was not +for substance either expressed, or manifestly included in +that solemn protestation of May 5th, 1641, wherein the +whole kingdom stands engaged until this day? The sinful +neglect whereof doth (as we may justly fear) open one floodgate +the more to let in all these calamities upon the +kingdom, and cast upon it a necessity of renewing covenant, +and of entering into this.</p> + +<p>If it be said, the extirpation of prelacy, to wit, the whole +hierarchical government (standing, as yet, by the known laws +of the kingdom) is new and unwarrantable: this will appear +to all impartial understandings, (tho' new) to be not only +warrantable, but necessary; if they consider (to omit +what some say, that this government was never formally +established by any laws of this kingdom at all) that the very +life and soul thereof is already taken from it by an act +passed in this present parliament, so as (like Jezebel's +carcase of which no more was left but the skull, the feet, +and the palms of her hands) nothing of jurisdiction remains, +but what is precarious in them, and voluntary in those who +submit unto them: that their whole government is at best +but a human constitution, and such as is found and +adjudged by both houses of parliament, (in which the +judgment of the whole kingdom is involved and declared) +not only very prejudicial to the civil state, but a great +hindrance also to the perfect reformation of religion. Yea, +who knoweth it not to be too much an enemy thereunto, +and destructive to the power of godliness, and pure +administration of the ordinances of Christ? Which moved +the well-affected, almost throughout this kingdom, long since +to petition this parliament (as hath been desired before, even +in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and of king James) for a +total abolition of the same. Nor is any man hereby bound +to offer any violence to their persons, but only in his place +and calling, to endeavour their extirpation in a lawful way.</p> + +<p>And as for those clergymen, who pretend that they (above +all others) cannot covenant to extirpate that government, +because they have (as they say) taken a solemn oath to +obey the bishops, <i>in licitis et honestis:</i> they can tell, if they +please, that they that have sworn obedience to the laws of +the land, are not thereby prohibited from endeavouring by +all lawful means the abolition of those laws, when they +prove inconvenient or mischievous. And if yet there should +any oath be found, into which any ministers or others have +entered, not warranted by the laws of God and the land, in +this case they must teach themselves and others, that such +oaths call for repentance, not pertinacity in them.</p> + +<p>If it be pleaded, That this covenant crosseth the oaths +of supremacy and allegiance; there can be nothing further +from truth; for, this covenant binds all and more strongly +engageth them to "preserve and defend the king's majesty's +person, and authority, in the preservation and defence of +the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms."</p> + +<p>That scruple, That this is done without the king's consent, +will soon be removed, if it be remembered, that the protestation +of the fifth of May, before-mentioned, was in the same +manner voted and executed by both houses, and after (by +order of one house alone) sent abroad to all the kingdom, +his majesty not excepting against it, or giving any stop to +it, albeit he was resident in person at Whitehall.</p> + +<p>Thus Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra x. Neh. ix.) drew all the +people into a covenant without any special commission from +the Persian monarchs (then their sovereigns) so to do, albeit +they were not free subjects, but vassals, and one of them the +servant of Artaxerxes, then by conquest king of Judah also.</p> + +<p>Nor hath this doctrine or practice been deemed seditious +or unwarrantable, by the princes, that have sat upon the +English throne, but justified and defended by Queen +Elizabeth of blessed memory, with the expense of much +treasure and noble blood, in the united provinces of the +Netherlands combined not only without, but against the +unjust violence of Philip, king of Spain; king James followed +her steps, so far as to approve their union, and to enter into +a league with them as free states; which is continued by +his majesty now reigning, unto this day; who both by his +expedition for relief of Rochel in France, and his strict confederacy +with the prince of Orange, and the states general, +notwithstanding all the importunity of Spain to the contrary, +hath set to his seal that all that had been done by his royal +ancestors, in maintainance of those who had so engaged and +combined themselves, was just and warrantable.</p> + +<p>And what had become of the religion, laws, and liberties +of our sister nation of Scotland, had they not entered into +such a solemn league and covenant at the beginning of the +late troubles there? Which course however it was at first, +by the popish and prelatic projectors, represented to his +majesty, as an offence of the highest nature, justly deserving +chastisement by the fury of a puissant army; yet when the +matter came afterwards in cool blood to be debated, first by +commissioners of both kingdoms, and then in open parliament +here, (when all those of either house, who are now +engaged at Oxford, were present in parliament, and gave +their votes therein) it was found, adjudged and declared by +the king in parliament, that our dear brethren of Scotland had +done nothing but what became loyal and obedient subjects, +and were by act of parliament publicly righted in all the +churches of this kingdom, where they had been defamed.</p> + +<p>Therefore, however some men, hoodwinked and blinded +by the artifices of those Jesuitical engineers, who have long +conspired to sacrifice our religion to the idolatry of Rome, +our laws, liberties and persons to arbitrary slavery, and our +estates to their insatiable avarice, may possibly be deterred +and amused with high threats and declarations, flying up +and down on the wings of the royal name and countenance, +now captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts, to +proclaim all rebels and traitors who take this covenant; yet, +let no faithful English heart be afraid to join with our +brethren of all the three kingdoms in this solemn league, +as sometimes the men of Israel, although under another king, +did with the men of Judah, at the invitation of Hezekiah.</p> + +<p>What though those tongues set on fire by hell do rail and +threaten? That God who was pleased to clear up the +innocency of Mordecai and the Jews, against all the malicious +aspersions of wicked Haman to his and their sovereign, so +as all his plotting produced but this effect, that (Esther ix.) +"When the king's commandments and decree drew near to +be put in execution, and the enemies of the Jews hoped to +have power over them, it was turned to the contrary, and the +Jews had rule over them that hated them, and laid hands +on such as sought their hurt, so as no man could withstand +them;" and that same God, who, but even as yesterday +vouchsafed to disperse and scatter those dark clouds and +fogs, which overshadowed that loyal and religious kingdom +of Scotland, and to make their righteousness to shine as +clear as the sun at noon-day, in the very eyes of their +greatest enemies, will doubtlessly stand by all those who, +with singleness of heart, and a due sense of their own sins, +and a necessity of reformation, shall now enter into an +everlasting covenant with the Lord, never to be forgotten, +to put an end to all those unhappy and unnatural breaches +between the king and such as are faithful in the land; +causing their "righteousness and praise to spring forth +before all the nations," to the terror and confusion of those +men of blood, the confederate enemies of God and the king, +who have long combined, and have now raked together the +dregs and scum of many kingdoms, to bury all the glory, +honour and liberty of this nation in the eternal grave of +dishonour and destruction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND9" id="THE_SOLEMN_LEAGUE_AND9"></a>THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.</h3> + +<h2>SERMON AT LONDON.</h2> + +<h4><i>BY EDMOND CALAMY.</i><a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></h4> + +<p class="center">"Truce-breakers (or covenant-breakers)."—2 <i>Tim.</i> iii. 3.</p> + + +<p>In the beginning of the chapter, the apostle tells us the +condition that the church of God should be in, in the last +days. "This know also, that in the last days perilous +times shall come." In the second verse, he tells us the +reason why these times should be such hard and dangerous +times; "for men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous," +&c. The reason is not drawn from the miseries and +calamities of the last times, but from the sins and iniquities +of the last times. It is sin and iniquity that make times +truly perilous. Sin, and sin only, takes away God's love +and favour from a nation, and makes God turn an enemy +to it. Sin causeth God to take away the purity and power +of His ordinances from a nation. Sin makes all the +creatures to be armed against us, and makes our own +consciences to fight against us. Sin is the cause of all the +causes of perilous times. Sin is the cause of our civil wars. +Sin is the cause of our divisions. Sin is the cause why men +fall into such dangerous errors. Sin brings such kinds of +judgments, which no other thing can bring. Sin brings +invisible, spiritual, and eternal judgments. It is sin that +makes God give over a nation to a reprobate sense. Sin +makes all times dangerous. Let the times be never so +prosperous, yet if they be sinful times, they are times truly +dangerous. And if they be not sinful, they are not dangerous, +though never so miserable. It is sin that makes +afflictions to be the fruits of God's avenging wrath, part of +the curse due to sin, and a beginning of hell. It is sin, and +sin only, that embitters every affliction. Let us for ever +look upon sin through these scripture spectacles.</p> + +<p>The apostle, in four verses, reckons up nineteen sins, as +the causes of the miseries of the last days. I may truly call +these nineteen sins, England's looking-glass, wherein we +may see what are the clouds that eclipse God's countenance +from shining upon us; the mountains that lie in the way to +hinder the settlement of church-discipline: even these nineteen +sins, which are as an iron-whip of nineteen strings, +with which God is whipping England at this day; which +are as nineteen faggots, with which God is burning and +devouring England. My purpose is not to speak of all +these sins; only let me propound a divine project, how to +make the times happy for soul and body. And that is to +strike at the root of all misery, which is sin and iniquity: +to repent for and from all these nineteen sins, which are +as the oil that feeds and increases the flame that is now +consuming of us. For, because men are lovers of themselves, +<i>usque ad contemptum Dei et republicæ</i>; because men +drive their own designs, not only to the neglect, but +contempt of God and the commonwealth. Because men +are covetous, lovers of the world, more than lovers of +God. Because they are proud in head, heart, looks and +apparel. Because they are unthankful, turning the mercies +of God into instruments of sin, and making darts with God's +blessings to shoot against God. Because men are unholy +and heady, and make many covenants, and keep none. +Because they are (as the Greek word <i>diaboloi</i> signifieth) +devils, acting the devil's part, in accusing the brethren, and +in bearing false witness one against another. Because they +have a "form of godliness, denying the power thereof." +Hence it is that these times are so sad and bloody. These +are thy enemies, O England, that have brought thee into +this desolate condition! If ever God lead us back into the +wilderness, it will be because of these sins. And therefore, +if ever ye would have blessed days, you must make it your +great business to remove these nineteen mountains, and +repent of these land-devouring and soul-destroying abominations.</p> + +<p>At this time, I shall pick out the first and tenth sin to +speak on. The first is, <i>Self-love;</i> which is placed in the +forefront, as the cause of all the rest. Self-love is not only +a sin that makes the times perilous, but it is the cause of all +these sins that make the times perilous; for, because men +are lovers of themselves, therefore they are covetous, +proud, unholy. The tenth sin is, <i>Truce-breakers</i>, and, for +fear lest the time should prevent me, I shall begin with this +sin first.</p> + +<p>The tenth sin then is truce-breakers; or, as Rom. i. 31., +"Covenant-breakers." The Greek word is <i>aspondoi</i>, which +signifieth three things; <i>First</i>, Such as are <i>fœderis nescii</i>, as +Beza renders it; or, as others, <i>infœderabilis</i>; that is, such as +refuse to enter into covenant. Or, <i>Secondly</i>, Such as are +<i>fœdifragi, qui pacta non servant</i>, as Estius hath it, or <i>sine +fide</i>, as Ambrose; that is, such as break faith and covenant. +Or, <i>Thirdly</i>, Such as are <i>implacabilis</i>; or, as others, <i>sine +pace</i>; that is, such as are implacable, and haters of peace. +According to this threefold sense of the word, I shall +gather these three observations.</p> + +<p>Doctrine 1. That to be a covenant-refuser is a sin that +makes the times perilous.</p> + +<p>Doct. 2. That to be a covenant-breaker is a sin that +makes the times perilous.</p> + +<p>Doct. 3. That to be a peace-hater, or a truce-hater, is a +sin that makes the times perilous.</p> + +<p>Doct. 4. That to be a covenant refuser is a sin that +makes the times perilous; to be <i>fœderis nescius</i>, or +<i>infœderabilis</i>. For the understanding of this, you must +know that there are two sorts of covenants, there are +devilish and hellish covenants, and there are godly and +religious covenants. First, There are devilish covenants, +such as Acts xxiii. 12, and Isa. xxviii. 15, such as the +holy league, as it was unjustly called in France, against the +Huguenots, and that of our gun-powder traitors in England. +Now, to refuse to make such covenants is not to make the +times perilous, but the taking of them makes the times +perilous. Secondly, There are godly covenants, as Psal. +cxix. 106, and as 2 Chron. xv. 14: and such as this is +which you are met to take this day. For you are to swear +to such things which you are bound to endeavour after, +though you did not swear. Your swearing is not <i>solum +vinculum</i>, but <i>novum vinculum</i>, is not the only, but only a +new and another bond to tie you to the obedience of the +things you swear unto; which are so excellent and so +glorious, that if God gave those that take it a heart to keep +it, it will make these three kingdoms the glory of the world. +And as one of the reverend commissioners of Scotland said, +when it was first taken in a most solemn manner at Westminster, +by the parliament and the assembly, "That if the +pope should have this covenant written upon a wall over +against him sitting in his chair, it would be unto him like +the hand-writing to Belshazzar, causing his joints to loose, +and his knees to smite one against another." And I may +add, that if it be faithfully and fully kept, it will make all +the devils in hell to tremble, as fearing lest their kingdom +should not stand long. Now then, for a man to be an anti-covenanter, +and to be such a covenant-refuser, it must needs +be a sin that makes the times perilous.</p> + +<p>And the reasons are, 1. Because you shall find in scripture, +That when any nation did enter into a solemn religious +covenant, God did exceedingly bless and prosper that +nation after that time, as "That thou shouldst enter into +covenant with the Lord thy God, that He may establish +thee to-day for a people to Himself, and that He may be +unto thee a God." And therefore to be a covenant-refuser, +is to make our miseries perpetual. 2. Because it is the +highest act of God's love to man, to vouchsafe to engage +Himself by oath and covenant to be his God; so it is the +highest demonstration of man's love to God, to bind himself +by oath and covenant to be God's. There is nothing +obligeth God more to us, than to see us willing to tie and +bind ourselves unto His service: and therefore, they that in +this sense are anti-covenanters are sons of Belial, that +refuse the yoke of the Lord, that say, "Let us break His +bands asunder, and cast away His cords, from us;" such as +<i>oderunt vincula pietatis</i>, which is a soul-destroying, and a +land-destroying sin. 3. Because that the union of +England, Scotland and Ireland, into one covenant, is the +chief, if not the only preservative of them at this time. You +find in our English chronicles, that England was never +destroyed, but when divided within itself. Our civil divisions +brought in the Romans, the Saxons, Danes and Normans; +but now the anti-covenanters divide the parliament within +itself, and the city within itself, and England against +itself; they are as stones separated from the building, +which are of no use to itself, and threaten the ruin +of the building. Jesus Christ is called in Scripture, +the "Corner-stone," which is a stone that unites the two +ends of the building together. Jesus Christ is a stone of +union: and therefore they that sow division, and study +unjust separation, have little of Jesus Christ in them. When +the ten tribes began to divide from the other two tribes, they +presently began to war one against another, and to ruin one +another: the anti-covenanter, he divides and separates and +disunites. And therefore he makes perilous times.</p> + +<p>My chief aim is at the second doctrine,</p> + +<p>Doctrine 2. That for a covenant-taker to be a covenant-breaker, +is a sin that makes the times perilous. For the +opening of this point, I must distinguish again of covenants. +There are civil, and there are religious covenants; a civil +covenant is a covenant between man and man; and of this +the text is primarily, though not only, to be understood. +Now, for a man to break promise and covenant with his +brother, is a land-destroying, and a soul-destroying abomination. +We read, 2 Sam. xxi., that because Saul had broken +the covenant that Joshua made with the Gibeonites, God +sent a famine in David's time, of three years' continuance, to +teach us that, if we falsify our word and oath, God will +avenge covenant-breaking, though it be forty years after. +Famous is that text in Jeremiah. Because the princes and +the people brake the covenant which they had made with +their servants, though but their servants, God tells them, +"Because ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming +liberty every one to his brother.... Behold, I proclaim +liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, +and to the famine: and I will make you to be removed into +all the kingdoms of the earth." We read also, that God +tells Zedekiah, because he brake the covenant he had made +with the king of Babylon, that therefore, "He would recompense +upon his head the oath that he had despised, and the +covenant that he had broken, and would bring him to +Babylon, and plead with him there for the trespass which he +had trespassed against the Lord." David tells us, that it is +a sin that shuts a man out of heaven. The Turkish history +tells us of a covenant made between Amurath, that great +Turk, and Ladislaus, king of Hungary, and how the pope +absolved Ladislaus from the oath, and provoked him to +renew the war: in which war the Turk, being put to the +worst, and despairing of victory, pulls out a paper which he +had in his bosom, wherein the league was written, and said, +"O Thou God of the Christians, if Thou beest a true God, +be avenged of those that have, without cause, broken the +league made by calling upon Thy name." And the story +says, that after he had spoken these words, he had, as it +were, "a new heart, and spirit put into him and his soldiers," +and that they obtained a glorious victory over Ladislaus. +Thus God avenged the quarrel of man's covenant. The like +story we read of Rudolphus, duke of Sweden, who, by the +pope's instigation, waged war with Henry IV., emperor of +Germany, to whom he had sworn to the contrary. But, in +the fight it chanced that Rudolphus lost his right hand, and +falling sick upon it, he called for it and said, "Behold this +right hand with which I subscribed to the emperor, with +which I have violated my oath, and therefore I am rightly +punished." I will not trouble you with relating that gallant +story of Regulus, that chose rather to expose himself to a +cruel death, than to falsify his oath to the Carthaginians. +The sum of all is, if it be such a crying abomination to +break covenant between man and man; and if such persons +are accounted as the off-scouring of men, not worthy to live +in a Christian, no, not in a heathen commonwealth: if it be +a sin that draws down vengeance from heaven; much more +for a man to enter into covenant with the great Jehovah, +and to break such a religious engagement: this must needs +be a destroying and soul-damning sin. And of such religious +covenants I am now to speak.</p> + +<p>There are two covenants that God made with man, a +covenant of nature, and a covenant of grace. The covenant +of nature, or of works, was made with Adam, and all mankind +in him. This covenant Adam broke, and God presently +had a quarrel against him for breaking of it. And, to avenge +the quarrel of the covenant, he was thrust out of paradise, +and there was a sword also placed at the east end of the +garden of Eden, to avenge covenant-breaking. And by +nature we are all children of wrath, heirs of hell, because of +the breach of that covenant. And therefore we should +never think of original sin, or of the sinfulness and cursedness +of our natural condition, but we should remember what +a grievous sin covenant-breaking is.</p> + +<p>But, after man was fallen, God was pleased to strike a +new covenant, which is usually called a covenant of grace, +or of reconciliation. This was first propounded to Adam +by way of promise, "The seed of the woman shall bruise +the serpent's head." And then to Abraham by way of +covenant, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the world be +blessed." And then to Moses by way of testament. It is +nothing else but the free and gracious tender of Jesus Christ, +and all His rich purchases to all the lost and undone sons of +Adam, that shall believe in Him: or as the phrase is, "That +shall take hold of the covenant." Now you must know that +baptism is a seal of this covenant, and that all that are +baptised do, sacramentally at least, engage themselves to +walk before God, and to be upright; and God likewise +engages Himself to be their God. This covenant is likewise +renewed when we come to the Lord's Supper, wherein we +bind ourselves, by a sacramental oath, unto thankfulness to +God for Christ. Add further, that besides this general +covenant of grace, whereof the sacraments are seals, there are +particular and personal, and family and national covenants. +Thus, Job had his covenant; and David. And when he +came to be king, he joined in covenant with his people to +serve the Lord. Thus Asa, Jehoiada, Josiah, and others. +Thus the people of Israel had not only a covenant in +circumcision, but renewed a covenant at Horeb and Moab, +and did often again and again bind themselves to God by +vow and covenant. And thus the churches of Christ. +Christians, besides the vows in baptism, have many personal +and national engagements unto God by covenant, which are +nothing else but the renovations and particular applications +of that first vow in baptism. Of this nature is that you are +to renew this day.</p> + +<p>Now give me leave to shew you what a sword-procuring +and soul-undoing sin, this sin of covenant-breaking is; and +then the reason of it. Famous is that text, "And I will send +My sword, which shall avenge the quarrel of My covenant." +The words in the Hebrew run thus, "I will avenge the +avengement," which importeth this much, that God is at +open war and at public defiance with those that break His +covenant: He is not only angry with them, but He will be +revenged of them. "The Lord hath a controversy with all +covenant-breakers." "The Lord will walk contrary to them." +First, God takes His people into covenant, and then He tells +them of the happy condition they should be in, if they did +keep the covenant; but if they did break covenant, He tells +them, "that the Lord will not spare him; but the anger of +the Lord and His jealousy shall smoke against that man, and +all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon +him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under +heaven, and the Lord shall separate him. And when the +nation shall say, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto +the land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? +Then shall men say. Because they have forsaken the +covenant of the Lord God of their fathers." This was the +sin that caused God to send His people Israel into captivity, +and to remove the candlestick from the Asian churches. It +is for this sin, that the sword is now devouring Germany, +Ireland, and England. God hath sent His sword to avenge +the quarrel of His covenant.</p> + +<p>The reasons why this sin is a God-provoking sin, are, +First, because that, to sin against the covenant is a greater +sin than to sin against a commandment of God, or to sin +against a promise, or to sin against an ordinance of God. +1. It is a greater sin than to break a commandment of God; +for the more mercy there is in the thing we sin against, the +greater is the sin. Now there is more mercy in a covenant +than in a bare commandment. The commandment tells us +our duty, but gives no power to do it. But the covenant of +grace, gives power to do what it requires to be done. And +therefore, if it be a hell-procuring sin to break the least of +God's commandments, much more to be a covenant breaker. +2. It is a greater sin than to sin against a promise of God; +because a covenant is a promise joined with an oath. It is +a mutual stipulation between God and us: and therefore, if +it be a great sin to break promise, much more to break +covenant. 3. It is a greater sin than to sin against an +ordinance, because the covenant is the root and ground of +all the ordinances. It is by virtue of the covenant that we +are made partakers of the ordinances: the word is the book +of the covenant, and the sacraments are the seals of the +covenant. And if it be a sin of an high nature to sin against +the book of the covenant, and the seals of the covenant, +much more against the covenant itself. To break covenant, +is a fundamental sin; it razeth the very foundation of +Christianity, because the covenant is the foundation of all +the privileges, and prerogatives, and hopes of the saints of +God: and therefore we read that a stranger from the +covenant is one "without hope." All hope of heaven is cut +off, where the covenant is willingly broken. To break +covenant is an universal sin, it includes all other sins. By +virtue of the covenant, we tie ourselves to the obedience of +God's commandments, we give up ourselves to the guidance +of Jesus Christ, we own Him for our Lord and King; all +the promises of this life, and that which is to come, are +contained within the covenant. The ordinances are fruits +of the covenant: and therefore they that forsake the +covenant, commit many sins in one, and bring not only +many but all curses upon their heads. The sum of the first +argument is, "If the Lord will avenge the quarrel of his +commandments," if God was avenged upon the stick-gatherer +for breaking the Sabbath, much more will he be +avenged upon a covenant-breaker. If God will avenge the +quarrel of an ordinance; if they that reject the ordinances +shall be punished, "of how much sorer punishment shall +they be thought worthy, that trample under their feet the +blood of the covenant?" If God was avenged of those +that abused the ark of the covenant, much more will He +punish those that abuse the Angel of the covenant.</p> + +<p>The Second reason why covenant-breaking is such a land +destroying sin is, because it is a solemn and serious thing to +enter into covenant with God; a matter of such great weight +and importance, that it is impossible but God should be +exceedingly provoked with these that slight it, and disrespect +it. The vow in baptism is the first, the most general, and +the solemnest that any Christian took, saith Chrysostom; +wherein he doth not only promise, but engage himself by +covenant in the sight of God, and His holy angels, to be the +servant of Jesus Christ; and therefore God will not hold +him guiltless, that breaks this vow. The solemnity and +weightiness of covenant-taking consisteth in three things. +1. Because it is made with the glorious majesty of heaven +and earth, who will not be trifled and baffled withal; and +therefore, what Jehoshaphat said to his judges, "Take +heed what ye do: for ye judge not for men, but for the +Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now, +let the fear of the Lord be upon you," the like I may say +to every one that enters into covenant this day; "Take +heed what ye do; for it is the Lord's covenant, and there is +no iniquity with the Lord: wherefore now, let the fear of +the Lord be upon you; for our God is a holy God, He is +a jealous God, He will not forgive your transgressions, nor +your sins." 2. Because the articles of the covenant are +weighty, and of great importance. In the covenant of grace, +God engageth Himself to give Christ, and with Him all +temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings, and we engage +ourselves to be His faithful servants all our days. In this +covenant, we oblige ourselves to do great matters, that +nearly concern the glory of God, the good of our souls, +and the happiness of the three kingdoms. And in such +holy and heavenly things, which so nearly concern our +everlasting estate, to dally and trifle must needs incense +the anger of the great Jehovah. 3. The manner used +both by Jews, heathens and Christians in entering into +covenant, doth clearly set out the weightiness of it, +and what a horrible sin it is to break it. The custom +among the Jews, will appear by divers texts of scripture. +It is said, "And I will give the men that have transgressed +my covenant, which they had made before me, when they +cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof." +The words they used when they passed between the parts, +were "So God divide me, if I keep not covenant." +Nehemiah took an oath of the priests, and shook his lap, +and said, "So God shake out every man from his house, +and from his labour, that performeth not this promise; even +thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation +said, Amen." Abraham divided the heifer, and she-goat, +and a ram. "And when the sun was down, a smoking +furnace, and a burning lamp, passed between these pieces." +This did represent God's presence, saith Clemens Alexandrinus, +and as if God should say, "Behold, this day I +enter into covenant with thee, and if thou keepest covenant, +I will be as a burning lamp to enlighten, and to comfort +thee: but if thou breakest covenant, I will be like a +smoking furnace to consume thee." Thus also Moses +makes a covenant with Israel, and offers sacrifices, and takes +the blood of the sacrifices and divides it, and half of it he +sprinkles upon the altar, (which represents God's part) and +the other half he sprinkles upon the people, as if he should +say, "As this blood is divided, so will God divide you, if +ye break covenant." This was the custom among the +Jews, amongst the Romans. Sometimes they make +covenants by taking a stone in their hands, and saying, "If +I make this covenant seriously and faithfully, then let the +great Jupiter bless me; if not so, let me be cast away from +the face of the gods, as I cast away this stone." This was +called <i>jurare per Jovem lapidem.</i> All these things are not +empty notions and metaphorical shadows, but real and +substantial practices; signifying unto us, that God will and +must (for it stands with His honour to do it) divide and +break them in pieces that break covenant with Him. This +day you are to take a covenant by the lifting up of your +hands unto the most high God, which is a most emphatical +ceremony, whereby we do as it were call God to be a +witness and a judge of what we do, and a rewarder or +revenger, according as we keep or break this covenant. If +we keep it, the lifting up of our hands will be as an evening +sacrifice; if we break it, the lifting up our hands will be +as the lifting up of the hands of a malefactor at the bar, and +will procure woe and misery, and wringing of hands at the +great day of appearing.</p> + +<p>The Third reason why God will be avenged of those that +are covenant-breakers, is: Because that a covenant is the +greatest obligation and the most forcible claim that can be +invented to tie us to obedience and service. God may +justly challenge obedience without covenanting, by virtue of +creation, preservation and redemption: He hath made us, +and, when lost, He hath purchased us with His blood. But +being willing more abundantly to manifest His love, that we +be the more fastened to Him, He hath tied Himself to us, +and us to Him, by the strong bond of a covenant: as if +God should say, Oh ye sons of men! I see you are rebellious +and sons of Belial, and therefore, if it be possible, I will +make sure. I will engage you unto Me, not only by +creation, preservation and redemption, but also by the right +of covenant and association. I will make you Mine by +promise and oath. And surely he that will break these +bonds is as bad as the man possessed with the devil in the +gospel, whom no chains could keep fast. When we enter +into covenant with God, we take the oath of supremacy, +and swear unto Him, that He should be our chief lord and +governor, and that we will admit of no sovereign power or +jurisdiction, but that God shall be all in all. We likewise +take the oath of allegiance, to be His servants and vassals, +and that He shall be our supreme in spirituals and temporals. +Now, for a Christian that believes there is a God, to break +both these oaths of allegiance and supremacy, it is cursed +treason against the God of heaven, which surely God will be +avenged of. Amongst the Romans, when any soldier was +pressed, he took an oath to serve the captain faithfully, and +not to forsake him, and he was called <i>miles per sacramentum</i>. +Sometimes one took an oath for all the rest, and the others +only said, the same oath that A.B. took, the same do I. +And these were called <i>milites per conjurationem</i>. And when +any soldier forsook his captain, he had the martial law +executed upon him. Thus it is with every Christian: he is +a professed soldier of Christ, he hath taken press-money, he +hath sworn and taken the sacrament upon it to become the +Lord's, he is <i>miles per sacramentum</i>, and <i>miles per conjurationem</i>: +and if he forsake his captain and break +covenant, the great Lord of Hosts will be avenged of him, +as it is written, "Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the +words of the covenant." To break covenant is a sin of +perjury, which is a sin of an high nature; and if for oaths +the land mourneth, much more for breach of oaths. To +break covenant is a sin of spiritual adultery; for by +covenanting with God, we do as it were, "join ourselves in +marriage to God," as the Hebrew word signifieth. Now, to +break the marriage knot is a sin for which God may justly +give a bill of divorce to a nation. To break covenant is a +sin of injustice; for by our covenant we do enter, as it +were, into bond to God, and engage ourselves as a creditor +to his debtor; now the sin of injustice is a land-destroying +sin.</p> + +<p>The Fourth reason why God must needs be avenged on +those that are covenant-breakers, is, It is an act of the highest +sacrilege that can be committed. For, by virtue of the +covenant, the Lord lays claim to us as His peculiar inheritance. +"I sware unto thee, and entered into covenant with +thee, and thou becamest Mine." "I will be their God, and +they shall be My people." It is a worthy observation, that +in the covenant there is a double surrender, one on God's +part, and another on our part. God Almighty makes a +surrender of Himself, and of his Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Behold, saith God, I am wholly thy God; all My +power, and mercy, and goodness, all is thine; My Son is +thine, and all His rich purchases; My Spirit is thine, and all +His graces: this is God's surrender. On our part, when we +take hold of the covenant, we make a delivery of our bodies +and souls into the hands of God; we choose Him to be our +Lord and Governor, we resign up ourselves into His hands. +Lord, we are Thine at Thy disposing: we alienate ourselves, +and make a deed of gift of ourselves, and give Thee lock +and key of head, heart, and affections. This is the nature +of every religious covenant, but especially of the covenant +of grace. But now, for a Christian to call in, as it were, +his surrender, to disclaim his resignation, to steal away +himself from God, and lay claim to himself after his +alienation; to fulfil his own lusts, to walk after his own +ways, to do what he lists, and not what he hath covenanted +to do, and so to rob God of what is His: this is the highest +degree of sacrilege, which God will never suffer to go +unpunished. And surely if the stick-gatherer, that did but +alienate a little of God's time; and Ananias and Sapphira, +that withheld but some part of their estate: and if Belshazzar +for abusing the consecrated vessels of the temple, +were so grievously punished; how much more will God +punish those that alienate themselves from the service of +that God to whom they have sworn to be obedient? It is +observed by a learned author, of the famous commanders of +the Romans, that they never prospered after they had +defiled and robbed the temple of Jerusalem. First, Pompey +the Great, went into the <i>sanctum sanctorum</i>, a place never +before entered by any but the high-priest, and the Lord +blasted him in all his proceedings, "that he that before that +time wanted earth to overcome, had not at last earth enough +to bury him withal." The next was Crassus, who took away +10,000 talents of gold from the temple, and afterward died, +by having gold poured down his throat. The third was +Cassius, who afterwards killed himself. If then God did +thus avenge Himself of those that polluted His consecrated +temple; much more will He not leave them unpunished, +that are the living temples of the Holy Ghost, consecrated +to God by covenant, and afterwards proving sacrilegious, +robbing God of that worship and service, which they have +sworn to give Him.</p> + +<p>The Fifth reason why this sin makes the times perilous, +is; Because covenant-breakers are reckoned amongst the +number of those that have the mark of reprobation upon +them. I do not say that they are all reprobates, yet I say, +that the apostle makes it to be one of those sins which are +committed by those that are given up "to a reprobate +mind." The words are spoken of the heathen, and are to +be understood of covenants made between man and man; +and then the argument will hold <i>a fortiori</i>. If it be the +brand of a reprobate to break covenant with man, much +more a covenant made with the great Jehovah by the lifting +up of our hands to heaven.</p> + +<p>The Last reason is, because it is a sin against such infinite +mercy. It is said, "Which my covenant they brake, +although I was an husband unto them;" that is, although +I had chosen them for my spouse, and married myself unto +them with an everlasting covenant of mercy, and entailed +heaven unto them, yet they have broken my covenant. +This was a great provocation. Thus, "When thou wast in +thy blood, and no eye pitied thee, to have compassion upon +thee, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live: +Yea, I said unto thee, Live." It is twice repeated. As if +God should say, "Mark it, O Israel, when no eye regarded +thee, then I said unto thee, Live." Behold, saith God, +"Thy time was the time of love." Behold, and wonder at +it. "And I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy +nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into covenant +with thee, saith the Lord, and thou becamest Mine." +And yet for all this, thou has sinned grievously against Me. +"Wo, wo unto thee, saith the Lord God."</p> + +<p>There is a fivefold mercy in the covenant, especially in +the covenant of grace, that makes the sin of covenant-breaking +to be so odious.</p> + +<p>1. It is a mercy that the great God will vouchsafe to +enter into covenant with dust and ashes. As David saith +in another case, "Is it a light thing to be the son-in-law of +a king?" So may I say, "Is it a light matter for the Lord +of heaven and earth to condescend so far as to covenant +with His poor creatures, and thereby to become their +debtors, and to make them, as it were, His equals?" +When Jonathan and David entered into a covenant of +friendship, though one was a king's son, the other a poor +shepherd, yet there was a kind of equality between them. +But this must be understood warily, according to the text. +"Blessed be God, who hath called us unto the fellowship +of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." He is still our Lord, +though in fellowship with us. It is a covenant of infinite +condescension on God's part, whereby He enters into a +league of friendship with His people.</p> + +<p>2. The mercy is the greater, because this covenant was +made after the fall of Adam. After we had broken the first +covenant, that the Lord should try us the second time, is not +only an act of infinite goodness of God, but of infinite mercy. +There is a difference between the goodness and the mercy of +God. Goodness may be shewed to those that are not in +misery: but mercy supposeth misery. And this was our +condition after the breach of the first covenant.</p> + +<p>3. That God should make this covenant with man, and +not with devils.</p> + +<p>4. This sets out the mercy of the covenant, because it +contains such rare and glorious benefits, and therefore it is +called a covenant of life and peace. "An everlasting +covenant even the sure mercies of David." It is compared +to the waters of Noah, Isa. liv. 6. Famous are those two +texts; Exod. xix. 5, 6; Jer. xxxii. 40, 41—texts that hold +forth strong consolation. By virtue of the covenant, +heaven is not only made possible, but certain to all +believers, and certain by way of oath. It is by virtue of the +covenant that we call Him Father, and may lay claim to +all the power, wisdom, goodness and mercy, that are in God. +As Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, to whom he was +joined in covenant, "I am as thou art, my people as thy +people, my horses as thy horses:" so doth God say to all +that are in covenant with Him, "My power is thine, My +holiness is thine." By virtue of this covenant, whatsoever +thou wantest, God cannot deny it thee, if it be good for thee. +Say unto God, Lord, Thou hast sworn to take away my heart +of stone, and to give me a heart of flesh, Thou hast sworn to +write Thy law in my heart, Thou hast sworn to circumcise +my heart, Thou hast sworn to give me Christ, to be my king, +priest and prophet. And God cannot but be a covenant-keeper. +By virtue of this covenant, God cannot but accept of +a poor penitent sinner, laying hold upon Christ for pardon. +In a word, we may challenge pardon and heaven by our +covenant. God is not only merciful but just to forgive us; +we may challenge heaven through Christ, out of justice. And</p> + +<p>5. That the condition of the covenant on our part should +be upon such easy terms, therefore it is called a covenant of +free grace, and all that God requires of us is to take hold of +this covenant; to receive this gift of righteousness; to take all +Christ, as He is tendered in the covenant; and, that which +is the greatest consolation of all, God hath promised in His +covenant to do our part for us. Therefore it is called a +testament, rather than a covenant. In the New Testament, +the word <i>diatheke</i>, is always used by the apostle, and not +<i>syntheke</i>. Heaven is conveyed into the elect by way of +legacy. It is part of God's testament, to write His law in our +hearts, and to cause us to walk in His ways. Put these +together, seeing there is such infinite mercy in the covenant. +A mercy, for God to enter into covenant with us, to do it +with us, and not the angels; with us fallen, with us upon, +such easy terms, and to make such a covenant that contains +so many, and not only so but all blessings here and +hereafter, in the womb of it. It must needs be a land-destroying, +and soul-destroying sin, to be a covenant-breaker.</p> + +<p>The use and application of this doctrine is fourfold. +1. Of information. If it be such a land-destroying sin to +be a covenant-breaker, let us from hence learn the true +cause of all the miseries that have happened unto England +in these late years. The womb out of which all our +calamities are come—England hath broken covenant with +God, and now God is breaking England in pieces, even as +a potter breaks a vessel in pieces. "God hath sent His +sword to avenge the quarrel of His covenant," as Christ +whipped the buyers and sellers out of the temple, with whips +made of the cords which they had brought to tie their oxen +and sheep withal. A covenant is a cord to tie us to God; +and now God hath made an iron whip of that covenant +which we have broken asunder, to whip us withal.</p> + +<p>We are a nation in covenant with God, we have the books +of the covenant, the Old and New Testament; we have the +seals of the covenant, baptism, and the Lord's supper; we +have the messengers of the covenant, the ministers of the +Gospel; we have the angel of the covenant, the Lord Jesus +Christ, fully, freely, and clearly set out before us in the +ministry of the word: but alas! are not these blessings +amongst us, as the ark was amongst the Philistines, rather +as prisoners, than as privileges, rather <i>in testimonium et +ruinam, quam in salutem</i>; rather for our ruin, than for our +happiness? May it not be said of us, as reverend Mulin +said of the French protestants, "While they burned us (saith +he) for reading the scriptures, we burned with zeal to be +reading of them; now with our liberty is bred also negligence +and disesteem of God's word." So is it with us, +while we were under the tyranny of bishops; Oh! how +sweet was a fasting day? How beautiful were the feet of +them that brought the gospel of peace unto you? How +dear and precious were God's people one to another? But +now, how are our fasting days slighted and vilified? How +are the people of God divided one from another, railing upon +(instead of loving) one another? And is not the godly +ministry as much persecuted by the tongues of some that +would be accounted godly, as heretofore by the bishop's +hands? Is not the Holy Bible by some rather wrested +than read? Wrested, I say, by ignorant and unstable souls, +to their own destruction? And as for the seals of the +covenant, 1. For the Lord's supper, how oft have we spilt +the blood of Christ by our unworthy approaches to His +table? And hence it is, that He is now spilling our blood; +how hard a matter is it, to obtain power to keep the blood +of Christ from being profaned by ignorant and scandalous +communicants? And can we think, that God will be easily +entreated to sheath up His bloody sword, and to cease shedding +our blood? 2. For the sacrament of baptism; how cruel are +men grown to their little infants, by keeping of them from +the seal of entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and +making their children to be just in the same condition with +the children of Turks and Infidels? I remember, at the +beginning of these wars there was a great fear fell upon +godly people about their little children, and all their care +was for their preservation and their safety; and for the +continuance of the gospel to them. But now, our little +children are likely to be in a worse condition than ever. +And all this is come upon us as a just punishment of our +baptismal covenant-breaking. And as for Jesus Christ, who +is the angel of the covenant: are there not some amongst us +that ungod Jesus Christ? And is it not fit and equal that +God should unchurch us and unpeople us? Are there not +thousands that have sworn to be Christ's servants, and yet +are in their lives the vassals of sin and Satan? And shall +not God be avenged of such a nation as this? These +things considered, it is no wonder our miseries are so great, +but the wonder is that they are not greater.</p> + +<p>2. An use of examination. Days of humiliation ought +to be days of self-examination. Let us therefore upon such +a day as this, examine, whether we be not amongst the +number of those that make the times perilous, whether we +be not covenant-breakers? Here I will speak of three +covenants; 1. Of the covenant we have made with God in +our baptism. 2. Of the covenant we have made with God +in our distresses. 3. And especially of this covenant you +are to renew this day.</p> + +<p>1. Of the covenant which we made in baptism, and +renew every time we come to the Lord's supper, and upon +our solemn days of fasting. There are none here, but I may +say of them, "the vows of God are upon you." You are +<i>servi nati, empti, jurati</i>, you are the born, bought, and +sworn servants of God, you have made a surrender of yourselves +unto God and Christ. The question I put to you is +this: How often have you broken covenant with God? It +is said, "The sinners in Zion are afraid; who shall dwell +with everlasting torments? Who shall dwell with devouring +fire?" When God comes to a church-sinner, to a sinner +under the Old Testament, much more to a Christian sinner, +a sinner under the New Testament, and layeth to his charge +his often covenant-breaking, fearfulness shall possess him, +and he will cry out, "Oh! woe is me, who can dwell with +everlasting burnings? Our God is a consuming fire, and +we are as stubble before Him; who can stand before +His indignation? Who can abide in the fierceness of +His anger? When His fury is poured forth like fire, +and the rocks are thrown down before Him. Who can +stand?" Of all sorts of creatures, a sinful Christian +shall not be able to stand before the Lord, when He comes +to visit the world for their sins. For when a Christian sins +against God, he sins not only against the commandment but +against the covenant. And in every sin he is a commandment-breaker, +and a covenant-breaker. And therefore, +whereas the apostle saith, "tribulation and anguish upon +every soul that sinneth: but first upon the Jews," I may +add, first, upon the Christian, then upon the Jew, and then +upon the Grecian, because the covenant made with the +Christian is called a better covenant: and therefore his sins +have a higher aggravation in them. There is a notable +passage in Austin, in which he brings in the devil thus +pleading with God, against a wicked Christian at the day of +judgment. Oh! Thou righteous Judge, give righteous +judgment; judge him to be mine who refused to be Thine, +even after he had renounced me in his baptism; what had +he to do to wear my livery? What had he to do with +gluttony, drunkenness, pride, wantonness, incontinency, and +the rest of my ware? All these things he hath practised, +since he renounced the devil and all his works. Mine he is, +judge righteous judgment; for he whom Thou hast not +disdained to die for, hath obliged himself to me by his sins.</p> + +<p>Now, what can God say to this charge of the devil's, but +take him, devil, seeing he would be thine; take him, +torment him with everlasting torments. Cyprian brings in +the devil thus speaking to Christ in the great day of +judgment. I have not (saith the devil) been whipped, +and scourged, and crucified, neither have I shed my blood +for those whom Thou seest with me; I do not promise them +a kingdom of heaven, and yet these men have wholly consecrated +themselves to me and my service. Indeed, if the +devil could make such gainful covenants with us, and bestow +such glorious mercies upon us as are contained within the +covenant, our serving of Satan and sin might have some +excuse. But, whereas his covenant is a covenant of bondage, +death, hell, and damnation; and God's covenant is a +covenant of liberty, grace, and eternal happiness, it must +needs be a sin inexcusable to be willingly and wilfully such +a covenant-breaker.</p> + +<p>2. Let us examine concerning the vows which we have +made to God in our distresses; in our personal distresses, +and our national distresses. Are we not like the children of +Israel, of whom it is said, "When He slew them, then they +sought Him, and they returned and inquired early after +God. Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth. +For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they +stedfast in His covenant." Are we not like little children +that, while they are being whipped, will promise any thing; +but, when the whipping is over, will perform nothing? Or +like unto iron that is very soft and malleable while it is in the +fire, but, when it is taken out of the fire, returns presently to +its former hardness? This was Jacob's fault: he made a +vow when he was in distress, but he forgot his covenant, +and God was angry with him, and chastised him in his +daughter, Dinah, and in his two sons, Simeon and Levi; and +at last God Himself was fain to call him from heaven to +keep covenant; and after that time God blessed Jacob +exceedingly. We read of David, that he professes of himself, +"That he would go to God's house, and pay the vows +which his lips uttered, and his mouth had spoken, when he +was in trouble." But, how few are there that imitate David +in this thing.</p> + +<p>3. Let us examine ourselves concerning this Solemn League +and Covenant which we are to renew this day. And here I +demand an answer to this question. Quest. Are we not +covenant-breakers? Do we not make the times perilous by +our falsifying of our oath and covenant with God? In our +covenant we swear to six things.</p> + +<p>1. "That we will endeavour to be humbled for our own +sins, and for the sins of the kingdom:" But where shall +we find a mourner in England for his own abominations, +and for the abominations that are committed in the midst +of us? It is easy to find a censurer of the sins of the land, +but hard to find a true mourner for the sins of the land.</p> + +<p>2. We swear "that we will endeavour to go before one +another in the example of a real reformation." But who +makes conscience of this part of the oath? What sin hast +thou left, or in what one thing hast thou reformed since thou +didst take this covenant? We read, "That they entered +into a covenant to put away their wives and children by +them," which was a very difficult and hard duty, and yet they +did it. But what bosom-sin, what beloved sin, as dear to +thee as thy dear wife and children, hast thou left for God's +sake, since thou tookest this oath? I read, That the people +took an oath to make restitution, which was a costly duty, +and yet they performed it. But alas! where is the man +that hath made restitution of his ill-gotten goods since he +took this covenant? I read, that king Asa deposed his +mother Maachah, her even, from being queen, after he +had entered into covenant: and that the people, after they +had sworn a covenant, brake in pieces all the altars of Baal +thoroughly. But where is this thorough reformation. We +say, we fight for a reformation, but I fear lest in a little +time, we fight away our reformation. Or, if we fight it not +away, yet we should dispute it away. For all our religion +is turned into questions, in so much that there are some +that call all religion into question, and in a little while +will lose all religion in the crowd of questions. There +was a time not many years ago, when God did bless our +ministry in the city, to the conversion of many people +unto God; but now there are many that study more to gain +parties to themselves, than to gain souls to God. The great +work of conversion is little thought on, and never so few, if +any at all, converted as in these days wherein we talk so +much of reformation. And is this to keep covenant with God?</p> + +<p>3. We swear "to endeavour to amend our lives, and +reform not only ourselves, but also those that are under our +charge." But where is that family reformation? Indeed +I read of Jacob that when he went to perform his vow and +covenant, he first reformed his family. And that Joshua +resolved, and performed it, "for himself and his family to +serve the Lord." And so did Josiah. And oh! that I could +add, And so do we. But the wickedness committed in our +families proclaims the contrary to all the world. What +noblemen, what aldermen, what merchants, families, are +more reformed since the covenant than before? We speak +and contend much for a church-reformation, but how can +there be a church-reformation, unless there be a family-reformation? +What though the church-worship be pure, +yet if the worshippers be impure, God will not accept of +the worship? And if families be not reformed, how will +your worshippers be pure?</p> + +<p>4. We swear to endeavour "to bring the churches of God +in the three kingdoms to the nearest uniformity in religion +confession of faith, form of church government, directory for +worship, and catechising." But are there not some that write +against an uniformity in religion, and call it an idol? Are +there not many that walk professedly contrary to this clause +of the covenant? There are three texts of scripture +that people keep quite the contrary way. The first is, +"Take no thought what ye shall eat; take no thought for +to-morrow." And most people take thought for nothing +else. The second is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God +and His righteousness;" and most people seek this last of all. +The third text is, "Labour not for the meat that perisheth, +but for the meat that endureth for ever;" and most people +labour not for the meat that endureth for ever, but for the +meat that perisheth. As these three texts are kept, so do +many people keep this part of the oath; for there were +never more divisions and differences in the church, never +more deformity, and pleading against uniformity, than now +there is.</p> + +<p>5. We swear "to endeavour the extirpation of popery, +prelacy, superstition, heresy, and schism." And yet, notwithstanding, +there are some that have taken the oath that +contend earnestly for a toleration of all religions.</p> + +<p>6. We swear "against a detestable indifferency and neutrality +in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God." +And yet how many are there amongst us like unto Gallio, +that care not what becomes of the cause of God, so they may +have peace and quiet? That will not be the backwardest of +all, and yet will be sure not to be too forward; for fear lest, +if the times turn, they should be noted amongst the chief of +the faction? That are very indifferent which side prevail, so +they may have their trading again? That say as the +politicians say, That they would be careful not to come too +near the heels of religion, lest it should dash out their brains: +and as the king of Arragon told Beza, That he would wade +no further into the sea of religion, than he could safely return +to shore. In all these six particulars, let us seriously search +and try our hearts, whether we be not among the number of +those that make the times perilous.</p> + +<p>The third use is for humiliation. Let the consideration of +our covenant-breaking be a heart-breaking consideration to +every one of us this day: let this be a mighty and powerful +argument to humble us upon this day of humiliation. There +are five considerations that are exceedingly soul-humbling, if +God bless them to us.</p> + +<p>1. The consideration of the many commandments of God, +that we have often and often broken. 2. The consideration +of the breaking of Jesus Christ for our sins, how He was +rent and torn for our iniquities. 3. The consideration of +the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the wine in +the sacrament, which is a heart-breaking motive and help. +4. The broken condition that the kingdoms of England, +Scotland, Ireland, and Germany, are in at this time. 5. +The many vows and covenants that we have broken; our +sacrament-covenants, our fasting-covenants, our sick-bed +covenants; and especially the consideration of our often +breaking our national covenant, which you come this day to +renew. This is a sin in folio, a sin of a high nature: and if +ever God awaken our conscience in this life, a sin that will lie +like a heavy <i>incubus</i> upon it. A greater sin than to sin against +a commandment, or against an ordinance. A sin not only of +disobedience, but of perjury; a sin of injustice, of spiritual +adultery, a sin of sacrilege, a sin of great unkindness, a sin +that not only makes us disobedient, but dishonest; for we +account him a dishonest man, that keeps not his word. A +sin that not only every good Christian, but every good +heathen doth abhor; a sin that not only brings damnation +upon us, but casteth such an horrible disgrace and reproach +upon God, that it cannot stand with God's honour not to be +avenged of a covenant-breaker. Tertullian saith, "That +when a Christian forsakes his covenant, and the colours of +Christ, and turns to serve as the devil's soldier, he puts an +unspeakable discredit upon God and Christ." For it is as +much as if he should say, "I like the service of the devil +better than the service of God." And it is just as if a +soldier that hath waged war under a captain, and afterwards +forsakes him, and turns to another; and after that, leaves +this other captain, and turns to his former captain. This is +to prefer the first captain before the second. This makes God +complain, "What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, +that they have gone far from Me?" And, "Hath any +nation changed their god, which yet are no gods? But +My people have changed their glory for that which doth not +profit." Basil brings in the devil insulting over Christ, and +saying, "I never created nor redeemed these men, and yet +they have obeyed me and contemned Thee, O Christ, even +after they have covenanted to be Thine." And then he +adds, "I esteem this honouring of the devil over Jesus Christ +at the great day, to be more grievous to a true saint than all +the torments in hell." A saying worthy to be written in +letters of gold. Seeing then that covenant-breaking is so +great an abomination, the Lord give us hearts to be humbled +for this great abomination this day. And this will be a +notable preparation to fit you for the renewing of your +covenant. For we read, that Nehemiah first called his +people to fast before he drew them unto a covenant: according +to which pattern, you are here met to pray and humble +your souls for your former covenant-breaking; and then to +bind yourselves anew unto the Lord our God. As wax, +when it is melted, will receive the impression of a seal, +which it will not do before: so will your hearts, when melted +into godly sorrow for our sins, receive the seal of God +abidingly upon them which they will not do when hardened +in sin.</p> + +<p>Is every man that sins against the covenant to be +accounted a covenant-breaker, and a perjured sacrilegious +person? By no means. For, as every failing of a wife doth +not break covenant between her and her husband, but she +is to be accounted a wife, till she, by committing adultery, +break the covenant: so, every miscarriage against the covenant +of grace, or against this national covenant doth not +denominate us, in a gospel account, covenant-breakers: but +then God accounts us, according to His gospel, to break +covenant when we do not only sin, but commit sin against +the covenant; when we do not only sin out of weakness, +but out of wickedness; when we do not only fail, but fall +into sin; when we forsake and renounce the covenant; when +we deal treacherously in the covenant, and enter into league +and covenant with those sins which we have sworn against; +when we walk into anti-covenant paths, and willingly do +contrary to what we swear; then are we perjured, and +unjust, and sacrilegious, and guilty of all those things +formerly mentioned.</p> + +<p>The fourth use presents unto you a divine, and therefore +a sure project to make the times happy; and that is, let all +covenant-takers labour to be covenant-keepers. It hath +pleased God, to put it in your hearts to renew your +covenant, the same God enabled you to keep covenant. It +is said, "The king made a covenant before the Lord. +And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and +Benjamin to stand to it. And the king stood by a +pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord. And all the +people stood to the covenant." This is your duty, not only +to take the covenant, but to stand to the covenant; and to +stand to it maugre all opposition to the contrary, as we +read, "And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord +God of their fathers. That whosoever would not seek the +Lord God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small +or great, whether man or woman." For it is not the taking, +but the keeping of the covenant, that will make you happy. +God is styled, "A God keeping covenant." O that this +might be the honour of this city! That we may say of it, +London is a city keeping covenant with God. Great and +many are the blessings entailed upon covenant-keepers. +"Now, therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep +My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me, +above all people: for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be +unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." "All +the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as +keep His covenant." There are three covenants, I shall +persuade you in a special manner to stand to.</p> + +<p>1. The covenant you made with God in baptism. A +Christian (saith Chrysostom) should never step out of doors, +or lie down in his bed, or go into his closet, but he should +remember the time when he did renounce the devil and all +his works. Oh, let us not forget that which we ought +always to remember! Let us remember to keep that +covenant, as we ever desire God should remember us in +mercy at the great day.</p> + +<p>2. The covenant we make with God in our afflictions. +Famous is that passage of Pliny in one of his epistles, to +one that desired rules from him how to order his life aright; +I will (saith he) give you one rule, which shall be instead of +a thousand: That we should persevere to be such, when we +are well, as we promise to be when we are sick. A sentence +never to be forgotten: the Lord help us to live accordingly.</p> + +<p>3. The covenant which you are to take this day. The +happiness or misery of England doth much depend upon +the keeping or breaking of this covenant. If England keep +it, England by keeping covenant shall stand sure. If +England break it, God will break England in pieces. If +England slight it, God will slight England. If England +forsake it, God will forsake England, and this shall be +written upon the tomb of perishing England, "Here lieth +a nation that hath broken the covenant of their God." +Remember what you have heard this day, that it is the brand +of a reprobate to be a covenant-breaker, and it is the part of +a fool to vow and not to pay his vows. And God hath no +delight in the sacrifice of fools. "Better not to vow, than +to vow and not to pay." It is such a high profanation of +God's name, as that God cannot hold a covenant-breaker +guiltless; it is perjury, injustice, spiritual adultery, sacrilege. +And the very lifting up of our hands this day, (if you do not +set heart and hand on work to keep covenant) will be a +sufficient witness against you at the great day. We read +"that Jacob and Laban entered in covenant, and took a +heap of stones, and they called the place Mizpah, the Lord +watch between me and thee," and made them a witness, and +said "this heap is a witness." "The God of Abraham judge +betwixt us." Such is your condition this day. You enter +into covenant to become the Lord's, and to be valiant for +His truth, and against His enemies, and the very stones +of this church shall be witness against you, if you break +covenant; the name of this place may lie called Mizpah. +The Lord will watch over you for good, if you keep it, and +for evil if you break it; and all the curses contained in the +book of the covenant shall light upon a willing covenant-breaker. +The Lord fasten these meditations and soul-awakening +considerations upon your hearts. The Lord give +you grace to keep close to the covenant and a good conscience, +which are both lost by breaking covenant.</p> + +<p>There are four things I shall persuade you unto in +pursuance of your covenant. 1. To be humbled for your +own sins, and for the sins of the kingdom; and more +especially, because we have not, as we ought, valued the +inestimable benefit of the gospel, that we have not laboured +to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of +Him in our lives, which are the causes of other sins and +transgressions so much abounding amongst us. Gospel sins +are greater than legal sins, and will bring gospel curses, which +are greater than legal curses. And therefore let us be +humbled according to our covenant, for all our gospel +abominations. 2. You must be ambitious to go before one +another in an example of real reformation. You must +swear vainly no more, be drunk no more, break the Sabbath +no more. You must remember what David says. "But +unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to take +My covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, +and castest My words behind thee." To sin willingly, after +we have sworn not to sin, is not only to sin against a +commandment, but to sin against an oath, which is a double +iniquity, and will procure a double damnation. And he +that takes a covenant to reform, and yet continueth +unreformed, his covenant will be unto him as the bitter +water of jealousy was to the woman guilty of adultery, which +made her belly to swell, and thigh to rot. 3. You must be +careful to reform your families, according to your covenant, +and the example of Jacob and Joshua, and the godly kings +fore-mentioned. 4. You must endeavour, according to your +places and callings, to bring the churches of God in the +three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction, and uniformity +in religion. O blessed unity! how comes it to pass, that +thou art so much slighted and contemned? Was not unity +one of the chief parts of Christ's prayer unto His Father, +when He was here upon the earth? Is not unity amongst +Christians one of the strongest arguments to persuade the +world to believe in Christ? Is it not the chief desire of the +holy apostles, that we "should all speak the same things, and +that there should be no division amongst us?" Is not unity +the happiness of heaven? Is it not the happiness of a city, +to be at unity with itself? "Is it not a good and pleasant +thing for brethren to dwell together in unity?" How comes +it to pass then that this part of the covenant is so much +forgotten? The Lord mind you of it this day; and the +Lord make this great and famous city, a city of holiness, and +a city of unity within itself: for if unity be destroyed, purity +will quickly also be destroyed. The church of God is <i>Una</i>, +as well as <i>Sancta</i>; it is but one church, as well as it is a holy +church. And "Jesus Christ gave some to be apostles, etc. +till we all come to the unity of the faith." The government +of Christ is appointed for keeping the church in unity, +as well as purity. These things which God hath joined +together, let no man put asunder. That government which +doth not promote unity as well as purity, is not the +government of Christ. Oh, the misery of the kingdom +where church divisions are nourished and fomented! +A kingdom or church against itself, cannot stand. +"Would it not be a sad thing, to see twelve in a family, and +one of them a Presbyterian, another an Independent, +another a Brownist, another an Antimonian, another an +Anabaptist, another a Familist, another for Prelatical +government, another a Seeker, another a Papist, and the +tenth, it may be, an Atheist, and the eleventh a Jew, and +the twelfth a Turk? The Lord in His due time heal our +divisions, and make you His choice of instruments, according +to your places, that the Lord may be one, and His +name one in the three kingdoms.</p> + +<p><i>Quest.</i> But some will say, "How shall I do to get up my +heart to this high pitch, that I may be a covenant-keeper?" +I will propound these three helps. 1. Labour to be always +mindful of your covenant, according to that text, "God +is always mindful of His covenant." It was the great sin +of the people of Israel, that they were unmindful of the +covenant. They first forgot the covenant, and afterwards +did quickly forsake it. He that forgets the covenant, must +needs be a covenant-breaker. Let us therefore remember +it, and carry it about us as <i>quotidianum argumentum</i>, and +<i>quotidianum munimentum</i>. 1. Let us make the covenant a +daily argument against all sin and iniquity; and when we +are tempted to any sin, let us say, "I have sworn to forsake +my old iniquity, and, if I commit this sin, I am not only a +commandment-breaker, but an oath-breaker. I am perjured. +I have sworn to reform my family, and therefore I will not +suffer a wicked person to tarry in my family; I have sworn +against neutrality and indifferency, and therefore I will be +zealous in God's cause." 2. Let us make this covenant a +daily muniment and armour of defence, to beat back all the +fiery darts of the devil: when any one tempts thee by +promise of preferment to do contrary to thy covenant, or +threatens to ruin thee for the hearty pursuing of thy covenant, +here is a ready answer, "I am sworn to do what I do, +and, if I do otherwise, I am a perjured wretch." This is a +wall of brass, to resist any dart that shall be shot against +thee for well-doing, according to thy covenant. Famous is +the story of Hannibal, which he told king Antiochus, when +he required aid of him against the Romans, "When I was +nine years old (saith he) my father carried me to the altar, +and made me take an oath to be an irreconcilable foe to the +Romans. In pursuance of this oath, I have waged war +against them thirty-six years. To keep this oath, I +have left my country, and am come to seek aid at your +hands, which, if you deny, I will travel all over the +world, to find out some enemies to the Roman state." +If an oath did so mightily operate in Hannibal; let the +oath you are to take this day work as powerfully upon +you; and make your oath an argument to oppose +personal-sins and family sins, and to oppose heresy, schism, +and all profaneness; and to endeavour to bring the +church of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction +and uniformity. And let this oath be armour-proof +against all temptations to the contrary. And know +this one thing, that if the covenant be not a daily argument +and muniment against sin, it will become, upon your breaking +of it, a daily witness against you, as the book of the law was, +and an "everlasting shame and reproach" unto you and +yours. 2. Let us have high thoughts of the covenant. +Actions and affections follow our apprehensions. If thy +judgment be belepered with a corrupt opinion about the +covenant, thy affections and actions will quickly be belepered +also: and therefore you ought to endeavour, according to +your places, that nothing be spoken or written that may +tend to the prejudice of the covenant. 3. You must take +heed of the cursed sin of self-love, which is placed in the +forefront, as the cause of all the catalogue of sins here +named; "Because men are lovers of themselves, therefore +they are covetous," etc., and therefore they are covenant-breakers. +A self-seeker cannot but be a covenant-breaker: +this is a sin you must hate as the very gates of hell.</p> + +<p>And this is the second sin I promised in the beginning of +my sermon to speak on: but the time, and your other +occasions will not permit. There is a natural self-love, and +a divine self-love, and a sinful self-love. This sinful self-love +is, when we make ourselves the last end of all our +actions, when we so love ourselves, as to love no man but +ourselves, according to the proverb, "Every man for himself." +When we pretend God and His glory, and the +common good, but intend ourselves, and our own private +gain and interest; when we serve God upon politic +designs. Where this sinful self-love dwells, there dwells +no love to God, no love to thy brother, no love to church or +state. This sinful self-love is the caterpillar that destroyeth +church and commonwealth. It is from this sinful self-love +that the public affairs drive on so heavily, and that church-government +is not settled, and that our covenant is so much +neglected. Of this sin, I cannot now speak; but, when God +shall offer opportunity, I shall endeavour to uncase it you. +In the meantime, the Lord give you grace to hate it as hell +itself.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS2" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS2"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANTS.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<center> +<span style="font-size: 80%"> +<img src="images/7.png" alt="Fac-simile of old Title page of following Ceremony." /><br /> +[Fac-simile of old Title page of following Ceremony.]</span></center><br /> + + +<h3><a name="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS3" id="THE_NATIONAL_COVENANTS3"></a>THE NATIONAL COVENANTS</h3> + +<h2>CORONATION SERMON AT SCONE.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></span></h2> + +<h4><i>BY ROBERT DOUGLAS.</i></h4> + + +<p class="center">And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon<br/> +him; and gave him the testimony, and they made him king<br/> +and anointed him, and they clapped their hands, and said, God<br/> +save the king.</p> + +<p class="center">And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king,<br/> +and the people, that they should he the Lord's people; between<br/> +the king also, and the people.—<i>2 Kings</i> xi, 12, 17.</p> + +<p>In this text of Scripture you have the solemn enthronizing of +Joash, a young king, and that in a very troublesome time; +for Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, had cruelly murdered +the royal seed, and usurped the kingdom by the space of six +years. Only this young prince was preserved by Jehosheba, +the sister of Ahaziah, and wife to Jehoiada, the high priest, +being hid with her in the house of the Lord, all that time.</p> + +<p>Good interpreters do conjecture, though Joash be called +the son of Ahaziah, that he was not his son by nature, but +by succession to the crown. They say, that the race of +Solomon ceased here, and the kingdom came to the posterity +of Nathan, the son of David, because, 'tis said, "the house +of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom;" which +they conceive to be for the want of children in that house, +and because of the absurdity and unnaturalness of the fact, +that Athaliah, the grandmother, should have cut off her son's +children. I shall not stand on the matter, only I may say, +if they were Ahaziah's own children, it was a most unnatural +and cruel act for Athaliah to cut off her own posterity.</p> + +<p>For the usurpation, there might have been two motives. +<i>First</i>, It seemeth when Ahaziah went to battle, Athaliah was +left to govern the kingdom, and, her son Ahaziah being slain +before his return, she thought the government sweet, and +could not part with it, and because the royal seed stood in +her way, she cruelly destroyed them, that she might reign with +the greater freedom. <i>Secondly</i>, She was earnest to set up a +false worship, even the worship of Baal, which she thought +could not be so well done, as by cutting off the royal race, +and getting the sole power in her hand, that she might do +what she pleased.</p> + +<p>The business you are about this day, is not unlike: +you are to invest a young king in the throne, in a very +troublesome time, and wicked men have risen up and +usurped the kingdom, and put to death the late king most +unnaturally. The like motives seemed to have prevailed with +them. <i>First</i>, These men by falsehood and dissimulation, +have gotten power in their hands, which to them is so sweet, +that they are unwilling to part with it; and because the king +and his seed stood in their way, they have made away the +king, and disinherited his children, that the sole power might +be in their hand. <i>Secondly</i>, They have a number of damnable +errors, and a false worship to set up, and intend to take +away the ordinances of Christ, and government of His kirk: +all this cannot be done, unless they have the sole power in +their hands, and this they cannot have until the king and +his posterity be cut off. But I leave this, and come to the +present solemnity; there's a prince to be enthroned, good +Jehoiada will have the crown put upon his head.</p> + +<p>It may be questioned why they went about this coronation +in a time of so great hazard, when Athaliah had reigned six +years. Had it not been better to have defeated Athaliah, and +then to have crowned the king? Two reasons may be +rendered why they delay the coronation. (1) To crown the +king was a duty they were bound to. Hazard should not +make men leave their duty; they did their duty, and left the +success to God. (2) They crowned the young king, to +endear the people's affections to their own native prince, +and to alienate their hearts from her that had usurped the +kingdom. If they had delayed (the king being known to +be preserved), it might have brought on not only compliance +with her, but also subjection to her government, by +resting in it, and being content to lay aside the righteous +heir of the crown.</p> + +<p>The same is observed in our case; and many wonder +that you should crown the king in a dangerous time, when +the usurpers have such power in the land. The same reasons +may serve to answer for your doing. (1) It is our necessary +duty to crown the king upon all hazards, and to leave the +success to God. (2) It appeareth now it hath been too long +delayed. Delay is dangerous, because of the compliance of +some, and treachery of others. If it shall be delayed longer, +it is to be feared that the most part shall sit down under the +shadow of the bramble, the destroying usurpers.</p> + +<p>I come to the particular handling of the present text: +and, to speak from it to the present time, I have read the +twelfth and seventeenth verses, because of these two which +meet together in the crowning of a king, and his renewing +the covenant. Amongst many particulars which may be +handled from this text, I shall confine myself to these five, +1. The crown, "He put the crown upon his head." 2. The +testimony, "He gave him the testimony." 3. The anointing, +"They anointed him." These three are in the twelfth verse. +As for that which is spoken of the people's joy, we shall give +it a touch when we come to the people's duty. 4. The +covenant between God and king and the people; "Jehoiada +made a covenant between God and the king and the people, +that they should be the Lord's people." 5. The covenant +between the king and the people; "between the king also +and the people."</p> + +<p>I. The First thing is the crown is put upon his head. A +crown is the most excellent badge of royal majesty. To +discourse on crowns in a state way, I shall leave unto statesmen, +and lay only these three before you of the crown.</p> + +<p>I. In putting on of the crown, it should be well fastened, +for kings' crowns are oftentimes tottering, and this is a time +wherein they totter. There are two things which make +kings' crowns to totter, great sins, and great commotions and +troubles; take heed of both.</p> + +<p>1. There are many sins upon our king and his family: +sin will make the surest crown that ever men set on to totter. +The sins of former kings have made this a tottering crown. +I shall not insist here, seeing there hath been a solemn day +of humiliation thro' the land on Thursday last, for the sins of +the royal family; I wish the Lord may bless it; and desire +the king may be truly humbled for his own sins, and the +sins of his father's house, which have been great; beware of +putting on these sins with the crown; for if you put them +on, all the well-wishers to a king in the three kingdoms will +not be able to hold on the crown, and keep it from tottering, +yea, from falling. Lord, take away the controversy with the +royal family, that the crown may be fastened sure upon the +king's head, without falling or tottering.</p> + +<p>2. Troubles and commotions in a kingdom make crowns +to totter. A crown at the best, and in the most calm times, +is full of troubles; which, if it were well weighed by men, +there would not be such hunting after crowns. I read of a +great man who, considering the trouble and care that +accompanied the crown, said, "He would not take it up at +his foot, though he might have it for taking." Now, if a +crown at the best be so full of troubles, what shall one +think of a crown at the worst, when there are so great +commotions, wherein the crown is directly aimed at? Surely +it must be a tottering crown at the best, especially when +former sins have brought on these troubles. As the remedy +of the former is true humiliation, and turning unto God; +so the remedy of the latter, speaking of David's crown, +"Thou settest a crown of pure gold upon his head." God +set on David's crown, and therefore it was settled, notwithstanding +of many troubles. Men may set on crowns, and +they may throw them off again; but when God setteth them +on, they will be fast. Enemies have touched the crown of +our king, and cast it off in the other kingdom, and have +made it totter in this kingdom. Both the king who is to +be crowned, and you who are to crown him, should deal +earnestly with God, to set the crown on the king's head, +and to keep it on against all the commotions of this cruel +generation.</p> + +<p>II. A king should esteem more of the people he reigneth +over, than of his crown. Kings used to be so taken up +with their crowns, that they despise their people. I would +have a king following Christ the King of His people, +who saith of them, "Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the +hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy +God." Christ accounteth His people, His crown and +diadem; so should a king esteem the people of the Lord, +over whom he ruleth, to be his crown and diadem. Take +away the people, and a crown is but an empty symbol.</p> + +<p>III. A king, when he getteth the crown on his head, should +think, at the best it is but a fading crown. All the crowns +of kings are but fading crowns: therefore they should have +an eye upon that "crown of glory that fadeth not away." +And upon a "kingdom that cannot be shaken." That +crown and kingdom belongeth not to kings as kings, but +unto believers; and a believing king hath this comfort, that +when "he hath endured a while, and been tried, he shall +receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to +them that love Him."</p> + +<p>II. The Second thing in this solemnity is the testimony. +By this is meant the law of God, so called, because it +testifieth of the mind and will of God. It was commanded, +"When the king shall sit upon the throne of his kingdom, +he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, and it shall +be with him, that he may read therein all the days of his +life." The king should have the testimony for these three +uses. 1. For his information in the ways of God. This +use of the king's having "the book of the law" is expressed, +"That he may learn to fear the Lord his God." The reading +of other books may do a king good for government, but no +book will teach him the way to salvation, but the book of +God. Christ biddeth "search the scriptures; for in them +ye think ye have eternal life, and they testify of Me." He is +a blessed man, "who meditateth in the law of the Lord day +and night." King David was well acquainted herewith. +Kings should be well exercised in scripture. It is reported +of Alphonsus, king of Arragon, that he read the Bible +fourteen times with glosses thereupon. I recommend to +the king to take some hours for reading the Holy Scriptures; +it will be a good means to make him acquainted with God's +mind, and with Christ as Saviour. 2. For his direction in +government. Kings read books that may teach them to +govern well, but all the books a king can read will not make +him govern to please God, as this book. I know nothing that +is good in government, but a king may learn it out of the +book of God. For this cause, Joshua is commanded "that +the book of the law shall not depart out of his mouth;" and he +is commanded "to do according to all that is written therein." +He should not only do himself that which is written in it, +but do, and govern his people according to all that is written +in it. King David knew this use of the testimony, who said, +"Thy testimonies are my delight, and my counsellors." The +best counsels that ever a king getteth are in the book of God: +yea, the testimonies are the best and surest counsellors; +because altho' a king's counsellors be never so wise and trusty, +yet they are not so free with a king as they ought: but the +scriptures tell kings very freely, both their sins and their +duty. 3. For preservation and custody. The king is <i>custos +utriusque tabulæ</i>, the keeper of both tables. Not that he +should take upon him the power, either to dispense the +word of God, or to dispense with it: but that he should +preserve the word of God and true religion, according to the +word of God, pure, entire, and uncorrupted, within his +dominions, and transmit them so to posterity; and also be +careful to see his subjects observe both tables, and to punish +the transgressors of the same.</p> + +<p>III. The Third thing in this solemnity is the "anointing +of the king." The anointing of kings was not absolutely +necessary under the Old Testament, for we read not that all +the kings of Judah and Israel were anointed. The Hebrews +observe that anointing of kings was used in three cases. +1. When the first of a family was made king, as Saul, David. +2. When there was a question for the crown, as in case of +Solomon and Adonijah. 3. When there was an interruption +of the lawful succession by usurpation as in the case of +Joash. There is an interruption, by the usurpation of +Athaliah, therefore he is anointed. If this observation hold, +as it is probable, then it was not absolutely necessary under +the Old Testament; and therefore far less under the New.</p> + +<p>Because it may be said that in our case there is an +interruption by usurpation, let it be considered that the +anointing under the Old Testament was typical; although +all kings were not types of Christ, yet the anointing of +kings, priests and prophets, was typical of Christ, and His +offices; but, Christ being now come, all those ceremonies +cease: and, therefore, the anointing of kings ought not to be +used in the New Testament.</p> + +<p>If it be said, anointing of kings hath been in use amongst +christians, not only papist but protestant, as in the kingdom +of England, and our late king was anointed with oil, it +may be replied, they who used it under the New Testament +took it from the Jews without warrant. It was most in use +with the bishops of Rome, who, to keep kings and emperors +subject to themselves did swear them to the Pope when +they were anointed, (and yet the Jewish priests did never +swear kings to themselves.) As for England, although the +Pope was cast off, yet the subjection of kings to bishops was +still retained, for they anointed the king and swore him to +the maintenance of their prelatical dignity. They are here +who were witnesses at the coronation of the late king; the +bishops behoved to perform that rite; and the king behoved +to be sworn to them. But now by the blessing of God, +popery and prelacy are removed: the bishops as limbs of +Antichrist are put to the door; let the anointing of kings +with oil go to the door with them, and let them never come +in again.</p> + +<p>The anointing with material oil maketh not a king the +anointed of the Lord, for he is so without it; he is the +anointed of the Lord who, by divine ordinance and appointment +is a king. God called Cyrus His anointed; yet we +read not that he was anointed with oil. Kings are anointed +of the Lord, because, by the ordinance of the Lord, their +authority is sacred and inviolable. It is enough for us to +have the thing, tho' we want the ceremony, which being laid +aside, I will give some observations of the thing.</p> + +<p>1. A king, being the Lord's anointed, should be thinking +upon a better unction, even that spiritual unction wherewith +believers are anointed. "The anointing ye have received +of Him abideth in you." And "He that hath anointed us, +is God, who hath also sealed us." This anointing is not +proper to kings, but common to believers: few kings are so +anointed. A king should strive to be a good Christian, and +then a good king: the anointing with grace is better than +the anointing with oil. It is of more worth for a king to be +the anointed of the Lord with grace, than to be the greatest +monarch of the world without it.</p> + +<p>2. This anointing may put a king in mind of the gifts, +wherewith kings should be endowed, for discharge of their +royal calling. For anointing did signify the gifts of office. +It is said of Saul, when he was anointed king; "God gave +him another heart." And "The Spirit of God came upon +him." It is meant of a heart for his calling, and a spirit of +ability for government. It should be our desire this day, +that our king may have a spirit for his calling; as the +spirit of wisdom, fortitude, justice and other princely +endowments.</p> + +<p>3. This anointing may put subjects in mind of the sacred +dues of the authority of a king. He should be respected as +the Lord's anointed. There are diverse sorts of persons +that are enemies to the authority of kings; as 1. Anabaptists, +who deny there should be kings in the New Testament: they +would have no kings nor civil magistrates. 2. The late +Photinians, who speak respectfully of kings and magistrates, +but they take away from them their power, and the exercise +of it in the administration of justice. 3. Those who rise +against kings in open rebellion, as Absalom and Sheba, who +said, "What have we to do with David, the son of Jesse? To +your tents, O Israel." 4. They who do not rebel openly, yet +they despise a king in their heart, like these sons of +Belial, who said of Saul, after he was anointed king, "Shall +this man save us? And they despised him, and brought +him no presents." All these meet in our present age. 1. +Anabaptists, who are against the being of kings, are very +rife. You may find, to our great grief, a great number of +them in that army, that hath unjustly invaded the land, who +have trampled upon the authority of kings. 2. These are +also of the second sort, who are secretly Photinians in this +point, they allow of kings in profession; but they are against +the exercise of their power in the administration of justice. +3. A third sort are in open rebellion, even all that generation +which are risen up not only against the person of a king, but +against kingly government. 4. There is a fourth, who +profess they acknowledge a king; but despise him in their +heart, saying "Shall this man save us?" I wish all had +David's tenderness, whose heart did smite him, when he did +but cut off the lap of Saul's garment, that we may be far +from cutting off a lap of the just power and greatness which +God hath allowed to the king, and we have bound ourselves +by covenant not to diminish.</p> + +<p>I have gone through the three particulars contained in +verse 12. I come to the other two, in verse 17, which +appertain also to this day's work; for our king is not only to +be crowned, but to renew a covenant with God, and His +people; and to make a covenant with the people. +Answerable hereto, there is a twofold covenant in the words, +one between God, and the king, and the people: God being +the one party, the king and the people, the other; another +between the king and the people, the king being the one +party, and the people the other.</p> + +<p>The covenant with God is the fourth particular propounded, +to be spoken of. The sum of this covenant, ye +may find in Josiah's renewing the covenant, "to walk after +the Lord, and keep His commandments and testimonies, +with all the heart, and to perform the words of the covenant." +The renewing of the covenant was after a great defection +from God, and the setting up of a false worship. The king +and the people of God bound themselves before the Lord, +to set up the true worship, and to abolish the false. Scotland +hath a preference in this before other nations. In time of +defection, they have renewed a covenant with God, to reform +all; and because the king, after a great defection in the +families, is to renew the covenant, I shall mention some +particulars from the league and covenant.</p> + +<p>1. We are bound to maintain the true reformed religion, +in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, established +in this kingdom, and to endeavour the reformation of +religion in the other two kingdoms, according to the word of +God, and the example of the best reformed kirks. By this +article, the king is obliged, not only to maintain religion as +it was established in Scotland, but also to endeavour the +reformation of religion in his other kingdoms. The king +would consider well, when it shall please God, to restore +him to his government there, that he is bound to endeavour +the establishment of the work of reformation there, as well +as to maintain it here.</p> + +<p>2. According to the second article, the king is bound +without respect of persons, to extirpate popery, prelacy, +superstition, heresy, schism, and profaneness, and whatsoever +shall be found contrary to sound doctrine, and the +power of godliness. And therefore popery is not to be +suffered in the royal family, nor within his dominions; +prelacy once plucked up by the root, is not to be permitted +to take root again; all heresy and error whatsoever must be +opposed by him, to the uttermost of his power; and by the +covenant, the king must be far from toleration of any false +religion within his dominions.</p> + +<p>3. As the people are bound to maintain the king's person +and authority, in the maintenance of the true religion, +and liberties of the kingdom: so the king is bound +with them, to maintain the rights and privileges of the +parliament and the liberties of the subjects, according to +the third article.</p> + +<p>4. We are bound to discover, and to bring unto condign +punishment, all such as have been, or shall be, incendiaries, +malignants, or evil instruments, in hindering the reformation +of religion; dividing the king from the people, or one of the +kingdoms from another, or making any faction, or parties +amongst the people. Hereby the king is bound to have an +eye upon such, and neither allow of them nor comply with +them; but to concur according to his power, to have them +censured and punished, as is expressed in the fourth article.</p> + +<p>I shall sum up all in this, that a king, in entering into +covenant with God, should do as kings did of old, when +they entered in covenant; they and their people went on in +the work of reformation, as appeareth here. "And all the +people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it +down," &c. And godly Josiah, when he entered in covenant, +made a thorough reformation. There is a fourfold +reformation in scripture, and contained in the league and +covenant. 1. A personal reformation. 2. A family reformation. +3. A reformation of judicatories. 4. A reformation +of the whole land. Kings have had their hand in all the +four; and therefore I recommend them to our king.</p> + +<p>1. A personal reformation. A king should reform his +own life, that he may be a pattern of godliness to others; +and to this he is tied by the covenant. The godly reformers +of Judah were pious and religious men. A king should not +follow Machiavelli's counsel, who requireth not that a prince +should be truly religious, but saith, "that a shadow of it, +and external simulation, are sufficient." A devilish counsel; +and it is just with God to bring a king to the shadow of a +kingdom, who hath but the shadow of religion. We know +that dissembling kings have been punished of God; and let +our king know that no king but a religious king, can please +God. David is highly commended for godliness; Hezekiah +a man eminent for piety; Josiah, a young king, commended +for the tenderness of his heart, when he heard the law of the +Lord read; he was much troubled before the Lord, when he +heard the judgments threatened against his father's house, +and his people. It is earnestly wished that our king's heart +may be tender and truly humbled before the Lord, for +the sins of his father's house, and of the land; and for the +many evils that are upon that family, and upon the kingdom.</p> + +<p>2. A family reformation. The king should reform his +family, after the example of godly kings. Asa, when he +entered in covenant, spared not his mother's idolatry. +The house of our king hath been much defiled by idolatry. +The king is now in covenant, and to renew the covenant, let +the royal family be reformed; and, that it may be a religious +family, wherein God will have pleasure, let it be purged, not +only of idolatry, but of profanity and looseness, which hath +abounded in it. Much hath been spoken of this matter; +but little hath been done in it. Let the king and others, +who have charge in that family, think it lieth upon them, as +a duty, to purge it. And if ye would have a family well +purged, and constitute, take David for a pattern, in the +purgation and constitution of his, "The froward heart, +wicked persons, and slanderers, he will have far from him: +but his eyes are upon the faithful of the land, that they may +dwell with him." If there be a man better than another in +the land, he should be for the king, and his family: ye may +extend his reformation to the court. A profane court is +dangerous for a king. It hath been observed as a provoking +sin in England, which hath drawn down judgment upon king +and court, as appeareth this day. It is to be wished that +such were in the court, as David speaketh of in that psalm. +Let the king see to it, and resolve with David, "That he who +worketh deceit, shall not dwell within his house: and he who +telleth lies, shall not tarry in his sight."</p> + +<p>3. Reformation in judicatories. It should be carefully +seen to, that judicatories be reformed; and that men, fearing +God and hating covetousness, may be placed in them. A +king in covenant, should do as Jehoshaphat did. "He set +judges in the land, and said, take heed what ye do; ye judge +not for men, but for the Lord, who is with you in judgment: +wherefore now, let the fear of the Lord be before you."</p> + +<p>4. The reformation of the whole land, the king's eye +should be upon it. "Jehoshaphat went out through the +people, from Beersheba to mount Ephraim; and brought +them back to the Lord God of their fathers." Our land +hath great need of reformation; for there is a part of it that +hath scarce ever yet found the benefit of reformation, they +are lying without the gospel. It will be a good work for a +covenanted king, to have a care that the gospel may be +preached through the whole land. Care also should be taken, +that they who have the gospel may live suitably thereto. If +a king would be a thorough reformer, he must be reformed +himself, otherwise he will never lay reformation to heart. +To make a king a good reformer, I wish him these qualifications, +according to the truth and in sincerity, wherewith they +report Trajan the emperor to have been endued; he was, +1. Devout at home. 2 Courageous in war. 3. Just in his +judicatures. 4. Prudent in all his affairs. True piety, +fortitude, justice and prudence, are notable qualifications in +a prince who would reform a kingdom, and reform well.</p> + +<p>I come now to the fifth and last particular; and that is +the covenant made between the king and the people: when +a king is crowned and received by the people, there is a +covenant or mutual contract between him and them, containing +conditions, mutually to be observed: time will not +suffer to insist upon many particulars. I shall only lay before +you these three particulars. 1. It is clear from this covenant, +that a king hath not absolute power to do what he pleaseth: +he is tied to conditions by virtue of a covenant. 2. It is +clear from this covenant, that a people are bound to obey +their king in the Lord. 3. I shall present the king with +some directions for the right government of the people who +are bound to obey.</p> + +<p>1. It is clear, that the king's power is not absolute, as +kings and flattering courtiers apprehend; a king's power is +a limited power by this covenant; and there is a threefold +limitation of the king's power. 1. In regard of subordination. +There is power above his, even God's power, whom he is +obliged to obey; and to whom he must give an account of +his administration, (and yesterday ye heard that text, "by +Me kings reign.") Kings have not only their crowns from +God, but they must reign according to His will. He is +called the "Minister of God;" he is but God's servant. I +need not stay upon this; kings and all others will acknowledge +this limitation. 2. In regard of laws, a king is sworn +at his coronation, to rule according to the standing received +laws of the kingdom. The laws he is sworn to, limit him +that he cannot do against them, without a sinful breach of +this covenant between the king and the people. 3. In regard +of government, the total government is not upon a king. +He hath counsellors as a parliament or estates in the land, +who share in the burden of government. No king should +have the sole government: it was never the mind of those +who received a king to rule them, to lay all government +upon him, to do what he pleaseth, without controlment. +There is no man able alone to govern all. The kingdom +should not lay that upon one man, who may easily miscarry. +The estates of the land are bound in this contract to bear +the burden with him.</p> + +<p>These men who have flattered kings to take unto themselves +an absolute power, to do what they please, have +wronged kings and kingdoms. It had been good that kings, +of late, had carried themselves so, as this question of the +king's power might never have come in debate; for they +have been great losers thereby. Kings are very desirous to +have things spoken and written, to hold up their arbitrary and +unlimited power; but that way doth exceedingly wrong them. +There is one, a learned man, I confess, who hath written a +book for the maintenance of the absolute power of kings, +called <i>Defensio Regis</i>, whereby he hath wronged himself in +his reputation, and the king in his government. As for the +fact, in taking away the life of the late king, (whatever was +God's justice in it) I do agree with him to condemn it, as a +most unjust and horrid act, upon their part who did it: but +when he cometh to speak of the power of kings, in giving +unto them an absolute and unlimited power, urging the +damnable maxim, <i>quod libet licet</i>, he will have a king to do +what he pleaseth, <i>impune</i>, and without controlment. In this, +I cannot but dissent from him.</p> + +<p>In regard of subordination some say, that a king is +accountable to none but God. Do what he will, let God +take order with it; this leadeth kings to atheism, let them +do what they please, and to take God in their own hand: +in regard of laws, they teach nothing to kings but tyranny: +and in regard of government, they teach a king to take an +arbitrary power to himself, to do what he pleaseth without +controlment. How dangerous this hath been to kings, is +clear by sad experience. Abuse of power and arbitrary +government, hath been one of God's great controversies with +our king's predecessors. God in His justice, because power +hath been abused, hath thrown it out of their hands: and +I may confidently say that God's controversy with the kings +of the earth is for their arbitrary and tyrannical government.</p> + +<p>It is good for our king to learn to be wise in time, and +know that he receiveth this day a power to govern, but a +power limited by contract; and these conditions he is bound +by oath to stand to. Kings are deceived who think that +the people are ordained for the king; and not the king for +the people; the Scripture sheweth the contrary. The king +is the "minister of God for the people's good." God will +not have a king, in an arbitrary way, to encroach upon the +possessions of subjects, "A portion is appointed for the +prince." And it is said, "My princes shall no more oppress +My people; and the rest of the land, shall they give unto +the house of Israel, according to their tribes." The king +hath his distinct possessions and revenues from the people; +he must not oppress and do what he pleaseth, there must be +no tyranny upon the throne.</p> + +<p>I desire not to speak much upon this subject. Men have +been very tender in meddling with the power of kings; yet, +seeing these days have brought forth debates concerning the +power of kings, it will be necessary to be clear in this matter. +Extremities would be shunned. A king should keep within +the bounds of the covenant made with the people, in the +exercise of his power; and subjects should keep within the +bounds of this covenant, in regulating that power. Concerning +the last, I shall propound these three to your consideration.</p> + +<p>1. A king, abusing his power to the overthrow of religion, +laws and liberties, which are the very fundamentals of this +contract and covenant, may be controlled and opposed; and +if he set himself to overthrow all these by arms, then they +who have power, as the estates of a land, may and ought to +resist by arms: because he doth, by that opposition, break +the very bonds, and overthroweth all the essentials of this +contract and covenant. This may serve to justify the proceedings +of this kingdom against the late king, who, in an +hostile way, set himself to overthrow religion, parliaments, +laws and liberties.</p> + +<p>2. Every breach of covenant, wherein a king falleth, after +he hath entered into covenant, doth not dissolve the bond of +the covenant. Neither should subjects lay aside a king for +every breach, except the breaches be such as overthrow the +fundamentals of religion, and of the covenant with the +people. Many examples of this may be brought from scripture. +I shall give but one. King Asa entered solemnly into +covenant with God and the people. After that, he falleth +in gross transgressions and breaches. He associated himself +and entered into league with Benhadad, king of Syria, an +idolater; he imprisoned Hanani, the Lord's prophet, who +reproved him, and threatened judgment against that association, +and at that same time he oppressed some of the +people: and yet, for all this, they neither laid him aside, +nor accounted him an hypocrite.</p> + +<p>3. Private persons should be very circumspect about that +which they do in relation to the authority of kings. It is +very dangerous for private men, to meddle with the power +of kings, and the suspending them from the exercise thereof. +I do ingenuously confess that I find no example of it. The +prophets taught not such doctrine to their people, nor the +apostles, nor the reformed kirks. Have ever private men, +pastors or professors, given in to the estates of a land as +their judgment, unto which they resolve to adhere, that +a king should be suspended from the exercise of his +power? And, if we look upon these godly pastors, who +lived in king James's time, of whom one may truly say, more +faithful men lived not in these last times: for they spared not +to tell the king his faults, to his face: yea, some of them +suffered persecution for their honesty and freedom, yet we +never read nor have heard, that any of these godly pastors +joined with other private men, did ever remonstrate to +parliament or estate as their judgment, that the king should +be suspended from the exercise of his royal power.</p> + +<p>II. It is clear from this covenant, that people should obey +their king in the Lord: for, as the king is bound by the +covenant to make use of his power to their good; so, they +are bound to obey him in the Lord in the exercise of that +power. About the people's duty to the king, take these +four observations.</p> + +<p>1. That the obedience of the people is in subordination +to God; for the covenant is first with God, and then with +the king. If a king command any thing contrary to the will +of God—in this case, Peter saith, "it is better to obey God, +than man." There is a line drawn from God to the people, +they are lowest in the line: and have magistrates inferior +and supreme above them, and God above all. When the king +commandeth the people that which is lawful, and commanded +by God, then he should be obeyed; because he standeth +in right line under God, who hath put him in his place. But +if he command that which is unlawful, and forbidden of God, +in that he should not be obeyed to do it; because he is out +of his line. That a king is to be obeyed with this subordination, +is evident from scripture; take one place for all. At +the beginning, ye have both obedience urged to superior +powers, as the ordinance of God, and damnation threatened +against those who resist the lawful powers.</p> + +<p>It is said by some, that many ministers in Scotland would +not have king JESUS, but king Charles to reign. Faithful +men are wronged by such speeches. I do not understand +these men. For, if they think that a king and JESUS are +inconsistent, then they will have no king: but I shall be +far from entertaining such thoughts of them. If they think +the doing a necessary duty for king Charles is to prefer his +interest to Christ's, this is also an error. Honest ministers +can very well discern between the interest of Christ, and of +the king. I know no minister that setteth up king Charles, +with prejudice to Christ's interest.</p> + +<p>There are three sorts of persons who are not to be allowed +in relation to the king's interest, 1. Such as have not been +content to oppose a king in an evil course, (as they +might lawfully do) but contrary to covenant vows and +many declarations, have cast off kings and kingly government. +These are the sectaries. 2. These who are so +taken up with a king, as they prefer a king's interest +to Christ's interest; which was the sin of our +engagers. 3. They who will have no duty done to a king, +for fear of prejudicing Christ's interest. These are to be +allowed, who urge duty to a king in subordination to Christ.</p> + +<p>I shall desire that men may be real, when they make +mention of Christ's interest; for these three mentioned +profess and pretend the interest of Christ. The sectaries +cover their destroying of kings with Christ's interest; whereunto, +indeed, they have had no respect, being enemies to +His kingdom. And experience hath made it undeniable. +The engagers alleged they were for Christ's interest; but +they misplaced it. Christ's interest should have gone +before, but they drew it after the interest of a king, which +evidenced their want of due respect to Christ's interest. As +for the third, who delay duty for fear of preferring the king's +interest to Christ's, I shall not take upon me to judge their +intentions. I wish they may have charity to those who +think they may do duty to a king in subordination to Christ, +yea, that they ought and should do duty, whatever men's +fears be of the prejudice that may follow.</p> + +<p>If to be against the suspending of the king from the +exercise of his power, and to be for the crowning of the +king, according to the public faith of the kingdoms, he +first performing all that kirk and state required of him in +relation to religion, and civil liberties: if this be, I say, to +prefer a king to Christ, let all men that are unbiassed, be +judges in the case. We shall well avow, that we crown a +king in subordination to God and his interest, in subordination +to Christ's, which we judge, not only agreeable to the +word of God, but also, that we are bound expressly in the +covenant, to maintain the king in the preservation and +defence of the true religion, and liberties of the kingdom, +and not to diminish his just power and greatness.</p> + +<p>2. That the covenant between God and the king and the +people, goeth before the covenant between the king and the +people; which sheweth, that a people's entering covenant with +God doth not lessen their obedience and allegiance to the +king, but increaseth it, and maketh the obedience firmer: because +we are in covenant with God, we should the more +obey a covenanted king. It is a great error to think, that +a covenant diminisheth obedience, it was ever thought +accumulative. And indeed true religion layeth strict ties +upon men in doing of their duty. "Wherefore ye must +needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience' +sake." A necessity to obey is laid upon all. Many subjects +obey for wrath, but the godly obey for conscience' sake.</p> + +<p>3. That a king covenanted with God should be much +respected by his subjects. They should love him. There +is an inbred affection in the hearts of the people to their +king. In the 12th verse it is said, that "the people clapped +their hands for joy, and said, God save the king." They +had no sooner seen their native king installed in his kingdom, +but they rejoiced exceedingly, and saluted him with wishes +of safety. Whatever be men's affections, or respects, this +day, to our king, certainly it is a duty lying on us both to +pray for, and rejoice in his safety. The very end that God +hath in giving us kings maketh this clear. "That we may +live under them in godliness and honesty." And therefore, +prayers and supplications are to be made for all kings; even +for those that are not in covenant; much more for these +that are in covenant. Ye are receiving this day a crowned +covenanted king, pray for saving grace to him, and that God +would deliver him and us, out of the hand of these cruel +enemies, and bless his government, and cause us to live a +quiet and peaceable life under him in all godliness and +honesty.</p> + +<p>4. That as the king is solemnly sworn to maintain the +right of the subjects against enemies, and is bound to hazard +his life, and all that he hath for their defence: so, the people +are also bound to maintain his person and authority, and to +hazard life, and all that they have, in defending him.</p> + +<p>I shall not take the question in its full latitude, taking in +what a people are bound to in pursuing of a king's right in +another nation, which is not our present question. Our +question is, what a people should do when a kingdom is +unjustly invaded by a foreign enemy, who seeketh the overthrow +of religion, king and kingdom. Surely, if men be +tied to any duty to a king and kingdom, they are tied in this +case. I have two sorts of men to meet with here, who are +deficient in doing this covenanted duty: 1. These who do +not act against the enemy. 2. These who do act for the +enemy. 1. The first I meet with, are they who act not, but +lie by, to behold what will become of all: three sorts of men +act not for the defence of an invaded kingdom; 1. Those +who withdraw themselves from public councils, as from +parliament or committee of estates: this withdrawing is not +to act. 2. These act not who, upon an apprehension of the +desperate state of things, do think that all is in such a +condition, by the prevailing of the enemy, that there is no +remedy: and therefore that it is best to sit still; and see how +things go.</p> + +<p>They who do not act upon scruple of conscience. I shall +ever respect tenderness of conscience; and I wish there be +no more but tenderness. If there be no more, men will +strive to have their consciences well informed.</p> + +<p>They may be supposed to scruple upon one of these +grounds: 1. To act in such a cause, for the king's interest; +sure I am, this was not a doubt before, but all seemed to +agree to act for the king's interest, in subordination to Christ's, +and this day there is no more sought. We own the king's +interest only in a subordination to Christ's. Or, 2. To join +with such instruments as are enemies to the work of God. +Our answer to the estates' query resolves that such should not +be entrusted: but we do not count these enemies who profess +repentance, and declare themselves solemnly to be for the +cause and the covenant, and evidence their willingness to +fight for them. If it be said their repentance is but +counterfeit, we are bound to think otherwise in charity, till +the contrary be seen: no man can judge of the reality of +hearts: for we have now found by experience, that men who +have been accounted above all exception have betrayed their +trust. If any who have not yet repented of their former +course shall be intrusted, we shall be sorry for it; and +plainly say, that it ought not to be.</p> + +<p>But I think there must be more in this, that men say they +cannot act. For myself, I love not that word in our case; +it is too frequent, he cannot act, and he cannot act. I fear +there be three sorts of persons lurking under this covert. +1. Such as are pusillanimous, who have no courage to +act against the enemy; the word is true of them, they +cannot act because they dare not act. 2. Such as are selfish +men, serving their idol credit: he hath been a man of +honour, and now he feareth there will be no credit to fight +against this prevailing enemy: therefore he cannot act, and +save his credit. Be who thou wilt that hast this before thee, +God shall blast thy reputation. Thou shalt neither have +honour nor credit, to do a right turn in God's cause. 3. +Such as are compilers, who cannot act, because they have a +purpose to comply. There are that cannot act in an army, +but they can betray an army by not acting; there are that +cannot act for safety of a kingdom, but they betray it by +not acting. In a word, there are who cannot join to act +with those whom they account malignants (I speak not of +declared and known malignants; but of such as have been, +and are, fighting for the cause; yet by them esteemed +malignants), but they can join with sectaries, open and +declared enemies to kirk and kingdom. I wish subjects, who +are bound to fight for the kingdom, would lay by that phrase +of not acting, which is so frequent in the mouth of compliers, +and offensive to them, who would approve themselves +in doing duty for endangered religion, king and kingdom.</p> + +<p>That men may be the more clear to act, I shall offer to +your consideration some passages of Scriptures, about those +who do not act against a common enemy.</p> + +<p>1. There are many reproved for lying still while an enemy +had invaded the land: as Reuben, with his divisions: +Gilead, Dan, and Asher seeking themselves, are all reproved +for not joining with the people of God, who were willing to +jeopard their lives against "a mighty oppressing enemy." +But there is one passage concerning Meroz, which fitteth +our purpose, "The angel of the Lord said, Curse ye Meroz, +curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; they came not to +the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the +mighty." What this Meroz was, is not clear: yet all +interpreters agree that they had opportunity and power to +have joined with, and helped the people of the Lord, and it +is probable they were near the place of the fight. They are +cursed for not coming to the help of the Lord's people. +This may be applied to those in the land, who will not help +the Lord against the mighty.</p> + +<p>2. Another passage you have. Reuben and Gad having +a multitude of cattle, and having seen the land of Gilead, +that it was a place for cattle, they desire of Moses and the +princes, that the land may be given them, and they may +not pass over Jordan. Moses reproveth them in these +words, "Shall your brethren go to war; and shall ye sit +still? Wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children +of Israel?" Reuben and Gad make their apology, showing +that they have no such intention to sit still, only they desire +their wives and little ones may stay there: they themselves +promise to go over Jordan, armed before Israel, and not to +return before they were possessed in the land. Then Moses +said unto them, "If you do so, then this shall be your possession. +But, if ye do not so, behold, ye have sinned against +the Lord, and be sure your sins will find you out."</p> + +<p>I may apply this to them that cannot act; will ye sit +still, when the rest of your brethren are to hazard their lives +against the enemy? We have reason to reprove you. If +Moses, that faithful servant of God, was still jealous of +Reuben and Gad, even after their apology and promise to +act—for he saith, "If ye do not so"—have not honest and +faithful servants of God, ground to be jealous of their +brethren who refuse to act? Let them apologize what +they will; for their not acting, I say, they sin against the +Lord, and their sins shall find them out. It will be clearly +seen, upon what intention they do not act.</p> + +<p>3. A third passage. Saul hath David enclosed, that he +can hardly escape. In that very instant there cometh a +messenger to Saul, saying, "Haste thee, and come; for the +Philistines have invaded the land." At the hearing of this +message, "Saul returned from pursuing after David, and +went against the Philistines." It is true, the Lord did +provide for his servant David's escape, by this means: +but, if ye consider Saul, he took it not so. Nothing +moved him to leave this pursuit but the condition of +the land, by the invading of an enemy. Three things +might have moved Saul to stay and pursue David. 1. +He hath him now in a strait, and hath such advantage, +that he might have thought not to come readily by +the like. 2. That altho' the Philistines be enemies, yet +David is the most dangerous enemy; for he aimeth at no +less than the crown. It were better to take conditions +off the enemy, than to suffer David to live, and take the +crown. 3. He might have said, if I leave David at this time +and fight with the Philistines, and be beaten, he will get a +power in his hand to undo me and my posterity. These +may seem strong motives; but Saul is not moved with any +of them. The present danger is the Philistines invading +the land, and this danger is to be opposed, come of the +danger from David what will. As if Saul had said, I will +let David alone, I will meet with him another time, and +reckon with him: now there is no time for it, the Philistines +are in the land, let us make haste against them. I wish that +many of our countrymen had as great a love to their country, +and as public a spirit for it, as this profane king had, then +there would not be so many questions for acting, as men +make this day.</p> + +<p>The objections I have been touching are in men's +thoughts and heads. First, some say, now the malignants +are under, for this enemy is their rod. It is best to put +them out of having any power: yea, there are some who +would more willingly go to undo these, whom they account +malignants, than against the common enemy, who are wasting +the land. If they had Saul's resolution, they would say, the +Philistines are in the land, let them alone, we will reckon +with them at another time; we will now go against the +common enemy.</p> + +<p>They have also the second objection, the malignants are +more dangerous enemies than the sectaries. I shall not +now compare them to equal distance, and abstract from the +present danger: but I shall compare them to the present +posture of affairs. I am sure the sectaries having power +in their hands, and a great part of the land in their +possession, are far more dangerous than malignants, who +have no power for the present: and therefore, the resolution +should be, the sectaries have invaded the land, and are +destroying it, let us go against them.</p> + +<p>3. The third observation weigheth much with many. +The malignants, being employed to fight for their country, +may get such power in their hands as may hurt the cause. +For answer: 1. The resolution given the query of the +estates provideth against that, for therein is a desire that no +such power should be put in their hand. 2. This fear +goeth upon a supposition, that they do not repent their +former course. This is an uncharitable judgment. We are +bound to be more charitable of men professing repentance, +for with such we have to do only. And, to speak a word by +the way to you who have been in a malignant course. Little +good is expected from you, I pray you be honest, and +disappoint them. I wish you true repentance, which will +both disappoint them, and be profitable to yourselves. 3. I +desire it may be considered, whether or not, fear of +a danger to come from men, if they prevail against the +common enemy, being only clothed with a capacity +to fight for their country, be an argument against +rising to oppose a seen and certain danger, coming from an +enemy, clothed with power, and still prevailing. I conceive, +it ought to be far from any, to hinder men to defend their +country in such a case. I confess, indeed, the cause which +we maintain hath met with many enemies, who have been +against it, which requireth much tenderness; therefore men +are to be admitted to trust, with such exceptions as may keep +them out who are still enemies to the cause of God, have +not professed repentance, renounced their former courses, +and declared themselves for cause and covenant. I doubt +not, but it shall be found, that the admitting such to fight in +our case as it standeth, is agreeable to the word of God, and +is not against the former public resolutions of kirk and state.</p> + +<p>The second sort of persons we are to meet with, are such +as act for the enemy, against the kingdom. If they be +cursed who will not come out to help the Lord against the +mighty; what a curse shall be upon them, who help the +mighty against the Lord, as they do who act for the enemy? +Three ways is the enemy helped against the cause and people +of God.</p> + +<p>1. By keeping correspondence with them, and giving them +intelligence; there is nothing done against kirk or state, but +they have intelligence of it. A baser way hath never been +used in any nation. Your counsels and purposes are made +known to them. If there be any such here (as I fear they +be), let them take this to them, they are of these who help +the mighty against the Lord, and the curse shall stick to them.</p> + +<p>2. By strengthening the enemies' hands with questions, +debates and determinations, in papers tending to the +justifying of their unjust invasion. Whatever have been +men's intentions in taking that way, yet the thing done by +them, hath tended to the advantage of the enemy, and hath +divided these who should have been joined in the cause, to +the great weakening of the power of the kingdom, and this, +interpretatively, is to act for the mighty against the Lord.</p> + +<p>3. By gross compliance with the enemy, and going into them, +doing all the evil offices they can, against their native +kingdom. If Meroz was cursed for not helping, shall not +these perfidious covenant-breakers and treacherous dealers +against a distressed land be much more accursed, for +helping and assisting a destroying enemy, so far as lieth in +their power? These words may be truly applied to them +who are helping strangers, enemies to God, His kirk, and +religion, "Both he that helpeth, shall fall; and he that is +holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fall together."</p> + +<p>III. The third particular about this covenant remains to +be spoken of; <i>to wit</i>, Some directions to the king, for the +right performing of his duty, whereof I shall give seven.</p> + +<p>1. A king, meeting with many difficulties in doing of duty, +by reason of strong corruption within and many temptations +without: he should be careful to seek God by prayer, for +grace to overcome these impediments, and for an understanding +heart to govern his people. Solomon, having in +his option to ask what he would, he asked an understanding +heart, to go out and in before his people; knowing that the +government of a people was a very difficult work, and needed +more than ordinary understanding. A king hath also many +enemies (as our king hath this day), and a praying king is a +prevailing king. Asa, when he had to do with a mighty +enemy, prayed fervently and prevailed. Jehoshaphat was +invaded by a mighty enemy, He prayed and did prevail. +Hezekiah prayed against Sennacherib's huge army and +prevailed. Sir, you have many difficulties and oppositions to +meet; acquaint yourself with prayer, be instant with God, and +He will fight for you. Prayers are not in much request at +court; but a covenanted king must bring them in request. +I know a king is burthened with multiplicity of affairs, and +will meet with many diversions; but, sir, you must not be +diverted. Take hours, and set them apart for that exercise: +men being once acquainted with your way, will not dare to +divert you. Prayer to God will make your affairs easy all +the day. I read of a king, of whom his courtiers said, "He +spoke oftener with God, than with men." If you be frequent +in prayer, you may expect the blessing of the Most High +upon yourself, and upon your government.</p> + +<p>2. A king must be careful of the kingdom which he hath +sworn to maintain. We have had many of too private a +spirit, by whom self-interest hath been preferred to the +public; it becometh a king well to be of a public spirit, to +care more for the public than his own interest. Senates and +states have had mottoes written over the doors of their +meeting-places. Over the senate house of Rome was written, +<i>Ne quid respublica detrimenti capiat</i>. I shall wish this may +be written over your assembly-houses; but there is another +which I would have written with it, <i>Ne quid ecclesia detrimenti +capiat</i>. Be careful of both; let neither kirk nor state suffer +hurt; let them go together. The best way for the standing +of a kingdom is a well constitute kirk. They deceive kings +who make them believe that the government of the kirk—I +mean presbyterial government—cannot suit with monarchy. +They suit well, it being the ordinance of Christ, rendering +unto God what is God's, and unto Cæsar what is Cæsar's.</p> + +<p>3. Kings who have a tender care of the kirk are called +nursing fathers. You should be careful that the gospel may +have a free passage through the kingdom; and that the +government of the kirk may be preserved entire according +to your solemn engagement. The kirk hath met with +many enemies, as papists, prelates, malignants, which I +pass as known enemies: but there are two sorts more, +who at this time should be carefully looked on. 1. Sectaries, +great enemies to the kirk, and to all the ordinances of +Christ, and more particularly to presbyterial government, +which they have, and would have, altogether destroyed. +A king should set himself against these, because they +are enemies, as well to the king as to the kirk, and +strive to make both fall together. 2. Erastians, more +dangerous snares to kings than sectaries; because kings +can look well enough to these, who are against themselves, +and their power, as sectaries, who will have no king. But +erastians give more power to kings than they should have, +and are great enemies to presbyterial government; for they +would make kings believe that there is no government but +the civil, and derived from thence, which is a great wrong to +the Son of God, who hath the government of the kirk +distinct from the civil, yet no ways prejudicial to it, being +spiritual, and of another nature. Christ did put the +magistrate out of suspicion, that His kingdom was not +prejudicial to civil government, affirming, "My kingdom +is not of this world." This government, Christ hath not +committed to kings, but to the office-bearers of His house, +who, in regard of civil subjection, are under the civil power +as well as others; but, in their spiritual administration, they +are under Christ, who hath not given unto any king upon +earth the dispensation of spiritual things to His people.</p> + +<p>Sir, you are in covenant with God and His people, and +are obliged to maintain presbyterial government, as well +against erastians as sectaries. I know this erastian humour +aboundeth at court. It may be, some endeavour to make +you encroach upon that for which God hath punished your +predecessors. Be who he will that meddleth with this +government to overturn it, it shall be as heavy to him as the +burthensome stone to the enemies of the kirk. "They are +cut in pieces, who burden themselves with it." 3. A king +in covenant with the people of God, should make much of +these who are in covenant with him, having in high +estimation the faithful ministers of Christ, and the godly +people of the land. It is rare to find kings lovers of faithful +ministers and pious people. It hath been the fault of our +own kings to persecute the godly. 1. Let the king love the +servants of Christ, who speak the truth. Evil kings are +branded with this, that they contemned the prophets. +When Amaziah had taken the gods of Seir, and set them up +for his gods, a prophet came to him and reproved him; +unto whom the king said, "Who made thee of the king's +council? Forbear, lest thou be smitten." This contempt of +the prophet's warning is a forerunner of following destruction. +Be a careful hearer of God's word; take with reproof; +esteem of it, as David did, "It shall be an excellent oil, +which shall not break my head." To make much of the +faithful servants of Christ, will be an evidence of reality. +2. Let the king esteem well of godly professors. Let piety +be in account. It is a fault very common, that pious men, +because of their conscientious and strict walking, are hated +by the profane, who love to live loosely: it is usual with +profane men to labour to bring kings to a distaste of the +godly; especially when men who have professed piety have +become scandalous, whereupon they are ready to judge all +pious men to be like them; and take occasion to speak evil +of piety. I fear at this time, when men who have been +commended for piety, have fallen foully and betrayed their +trust, that men will take advantage to speak against the +godly of the land; beware of this, for it is Satan's policy to +put piety out of request: let not this move any; fall who +will, piety is still the same, and pious men will make conscience +both of their ways and trust; remember, they are +precious in God's eyes who will not suffer men to despise +them, without their reward. Sir, let not your heart be from +the godly in the land, whatever hath fallen out at this time: +I dare affirm, there are very many really godly men who, by +their prayers, are supporting your throne.</p> + +<p>4. A king should be careful whom he putteth in places of +trust, as a main thing for the good of the kingdom. It is a +maxim, that trust should not be put in their hands who +have oppressed the people, or have betrayed their trust. +There is a passage in a story meet for this purpose: one +Septimus Arabinus, a man famous, or rather infamous, for +oppression, was put out of the Senate, but re-admitted about +this time; Alexander Severus being chosen to the empire, +the Senators did entertain him with public salutations and +congratulations. Severus, espying Arabinus amongst the +senators, cried out, <i>O numina! Arabinus non solum vivit, +sed in senatum venit</i>. Ah! Arabinus not only liveth, but he +is in the senate. Out of just indignation, he could not +endure to see him. As all are not meet for places of trust +in judicatures, so all are not meet for places of trust in +armies. Men should be chosen who are godly, and able for +the charge.</p> + +<p>But there are some who are not meet for trust. 1. They who +are godly, but have no skill or ability for the places. A +man may be a truly godly man who is not fit for such place; +and no wrong is done to him nor to godliness, when the +place is denied to him. I wonder how a godly man can +take upon him a place, whereof he hath no skill. 2. They +who have neither skill nor courage, are very unmeet; for, if +it be a place of never so great moment, faint-heartedness will +make them quit it. 3. They who are both skilful and stout, +yet are not honest, but perfidious and treacherous, should +have no trust at all. Of all these we have sad experience, +experience which should not move you to make choice of +profane and godless men, by whom a blessing is not to be +expected, but it should move you to be wary in your choice; +I am confident such may be had, who will be faithful for +religion, king and kingdom.</p> + +<p>5. There hath been much debate about the exercise +of the king's power; yet he is put in the exercise of his +power, and this day put in a better capacity to exercise it by +his coronation. Many are afraid that the exercise of his +power shall prove dangerous to the cause, and indeed I +confess there is ground of fear, when we consider how this +power hath been abused by former kings: therefore, Sir, +make good use of this power, and see that you rather keep +within bounds, than exceed in the exercise of it. I may very +well give such a counsel as an old counsellor gave to a king +of France; he, having spent many years at court, desired to +retire into the country for enjoying privacy fit for his age; +and, having obtained leave, the king his master required him +to sit down, and write some advice of government, to leave +behind him, which he out of modesty declined: the king +would not be denied, but left with him pen and ink and a +sheet of paper; he, being alone, after some thoughts, wrote +with fair and legible characters in the head of the sheet, +<i>modus</i>; in the middle of the sheet, <i>modus</i>; and in the foot +of the sheet, <i>modus</i>; and wrote no more in all the paper, +which he wrapped up and delivered to the king; meaning +that the best counsel he could give him, was, that he should +keep temper in all things. Nothing more fit for a young +king than to keep temper in all things. Take this counsel, +Sir, and be moderate in the use of your power. The best +way to keep power, is moderation in the use of it.</p> + +<p>6. The king hath many enemies, even such as are enemies +to his family and to all kingly government; and are now in +the bowels of this kingdom, wasting and destroying; bestir +yourself, according to vows and oaths that are upon you, to +be active for the relief of Christ's kingdom, borne down by +them, in all the three kingdoms; and for the relief of this +kingdom grievously oppressed by them. We shall earnestly +desire that God would put that spirit upon our king, now +entered upon public government, which He hath put upon +the deliverers of His people from their cruel oppressors.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the king's behaviour to enemies, one thing +I cannot pass. There is much spoken of a treaty with this +enemy: I am not of the judgment of some, who distinguish +a treaty before invasion and after invasion, and say, treatying +is very lawful before invasion; because it is supposed +that there is a little wrong done; but after invasion, when a +kingdom is wronged and put to infinite losses, then they say +a treaty is to be shunned; but in my judgment, a treaty may +be lawful after invasion and wrongs sustained; the end of +war is peace, neither should desire of revenge obstruct it, +providing it be such a treaty and peace as is not prejudicial +to religion, nor to the safety of the kingdom, nor to the +undoubted right of the king, nor to the league and covenant, +whereunto we are so solemnly engaged.</p> + +<p>But, I must break off this treaty with a story related in +Plutarch. The city of Athens was in a great strait, wherein +they knew not what to do. Themistocles in this strait said +he had something wherein to give his opinion, for the +behoof of the state, but he thought it not fit to deliver himself +publicly. Aristides, a man of great trust, is appointed +to hear him privately, and to make an account as he thought +meet. When Aristides came to make his report to the +senate, he told them that Themistocles' advice was indeed +profitable, but not honest, whereupon the people would not +so much as hear it. There is much whispering of a treaty, +they are not willing to speak publicly of it: hear them in +private, and it may be the best advice shall be profitable, +but not honest. If a treaty should be, let it be both profitable +and honest, and no lover of peace will be against it.</p> + +<p>7. Seeing the king is now upon the renewing of the covenants, +it should be remembered that we enter into covenant, +according to our profession therein, with reality, sincerity, +and constancy, which are the qualifications of good covenanters. +Many doubt of your reality in the covenant, let +your sincerity and reality be evidenced by your stedfastness +and constancy; for many have begun well, but have not +been constant. In the sacred history of kings, we find a +note upon kings according to their carriages: one of three +sentences is written upon them. 1. Some kings have this +written on them, "He did evil in the sight of the Lord." +They neither begin well, nor end well; such an one was +Ahaz, king of Judah, and divers others in that history. 2. +Others have this written on them, "He did that which +was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect +heart." Such an one was Amaziah king of Judah. He was +neither sincere nor constant: when God blessed him with +victory against the Edomites, he fell foully from the true +worship of God, and set up the gods of Edom. 3. A third +sentence is written upon the godly kings of Judah, "He did +right in the sight of the Lord, with a perfect heart." As +Asa, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, and Josiah, they were both +sincere and constant. Let us neither have the first nor the +second, but the third written upon our king, "He did right +in the sight of the Lord, with a perfect heart." Begin well, +and continue constant.</p> + +<p>Before I close, I shall seek leave to lay before our young +king, two examples to beware of, and one to follow. The +two warning examples, one of them is in the text, another in +our own history.</p> + +<p>The first example is of Joash. He began well, and went +on in a godly reformation all the days of Jehoiada; but, it +is observed, "That after the days of Jehoiada, the princes of +Judah came, and did obeisance to the king, and he hearkened +unto them." It appeareth, they had been lying in wait till +the death of Jehoiada; and took the opportunity to destroy +the true worship of God, and set up false worship, flattering +the king for that effect: for it is said, "They left the house +of the Lord, and served groves and idols;" and were so far +from being reclaimed by the prophet of the Lord that was +sent unto them, that they conspired against Zechariah, the +son of Jehoiada, who reproved them mildly for their idolatry, +and stoned him with stones, and slew him at the king's +commandment. And it is said, "Joash remembered not +the kindness that Jehoiada his father had done to him, but +slew his son." Sir, take this example for a warning. You +are obliged by the covenant to go on in the work of +reformation. It may be, some great ones are waiting their +time, not having opportunity to work for the present, till +afterward they may make obeisance, and persuade you to +destroy all that hath been done in the work of God, these +divers years. Beware of it; let no allurement or persuasion +prevail with you, to fall from that which this day you bind +yourself to maintain.</p> + +<p>Another example I give you, yet in recent memory, of +your grandfather, king James. He fell, to be very young, in a +time full of difficulties: yet there was a godly party in the land +who did put the crown upon his head. And when he came +to some years, he and his people entered into a covenant +with God. He was much commended by godly and faithful +men, comparing him to young Josiah standing at the altar, +renewing a covenant with God; and he himself did thank +God that he was born in a reformed kirk, better reformed +than England: for they retained many popish ceremonies: +yea better reformed than Geneva; for they keep some holy +days; charging his people to be constant and promising +himself to continue in that reformation, and to maintain the +same. Notwithstanding of all this, he made a foul defection: +he remembered not the kindness of them who had held the +crown upon his head; yea he persecuted faithful ministers +for opposing that course of defection: he never rested till +he had undone presbyterial government and kirk assemblies, +setting up bishops, and bringing in ceremonies, against +which formerly he had given large testimony. In a word, +he laid the foundation whereupon his son, our late king, +did build much mischief to religion, all the days of his life. +Sir, I lay this example before you the rather because it is +so near you, that the guiltiness of the transgression lieth upon +the throne and family, and it is one of the sins for which +you have professed humiliation very lately. Let it be laid +to heart, take warning, requite not faithful men's kindness +with persecution; yea, requite not the Lord so, who hath +preserved you to this time, and is setting a crown upon your +head. Requite not the Lord with apostasy and defection +from a sworn covenant: but be stedfast in the covenant, as +you would give testimony of your true humiliation for the +defection of these that went before you.</p> + +<p>I have set up these two examples before you, as beacons +to warn you to keep off such dangerous courses, and shall +add one for imitation, which, if followed, may happily bring +with it the blessing of that godly man's adherence to God. +The example is of Hezekiah, who did that "which was right +in the sight of the Lord." It is said of him, "He trusted in +the Lord God of Israel, and he clave unto the Lord, and +departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments." +And "The Lord was with him, and he prospered +whithersoever he went forth."</p> + +<p>Sir, follow this example, cleave unto the Lord, and depart +not from following Him, and the Lord will be with you, and +prosper you, whithersoever you go. To this Lord, from +whom we expect a blessing upon this day's work, be glory +and praise for ever. Amen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHARLES_II_TAKING_THE_COVENANTS" id="CHARLES_II_TAKING_THE_COVENANTS"></a>CHARLES II. TAKING THE COVENANTS.</h2> + + +<p>Sermon being ended, prayer was made for a blessing upon +the doctrine delivered. The king began to renew the +covenants. First the National Covenant and then the +Solemn League and Covenant were distinctly read. After +the reading of these covenants, the minister prayed for grace +to perform the contents of the covenants, and for faithful +stedfastness in the oath of God: and then (the ministers, +commissioners of the General Assembly, desired to be +present, standing before the pulpit) he administered the +oath unto the king, who, kneeling and lifting up his right +hand, did swear in the words following.</p> + +<p>"I Charles, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, +do assure and declare, by my solemn oath, in the presence +of Almighty God, the searcher of hearts, my allowance and +approbation of the National Covenant, and of the Solemn +League and Covenant above written, and faithfully oblige +myself to prosecute the ends thereof in my station and +calling; and that I for myself and successors, shall +consent and agree to all acts of parliament enjoining +the national covenant and the solemn league and +covenant, and fully establishing presbyterial government, the +directory for worship, confession of faith, and catechisms, in +the kingdom of Scotland, as they are approven by the General +Assemblies of this Kirk, and Parliament of this kingdom; +and that I shall give my royal assent, to acts and ordinances +of parliament passed, or to be passed, enjoining the same +in my other dominions: and that I shall observe these in my +own practice and family, and shall never make opposition to +any of these, or endeavour any change thereof.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>After the king had thus solemnly sworn the National +Covenant, the League and Covenant, and the King's Oath, +subjoined unto both, being drawn up in a fair parchment; +the king did subscribe the same, in presence of all.</p> + +<p>Thereafter the king ascended the stage, and sitteth down +in the chair of state. Then the lords, great constable, and +marshal, went to the four corners of the stage, with the lion +going before them; who spoke to the people these words, +"Sirs, I do present unto you the king CHARLES, the rightful +and undoubted heir of the crown, and dignity of this realm: +this day is by the parliament of this kingdom appointed for +his coronation; and are you not willing to have him for +your king, and become subject to his commandments?"</p> + +<p>In which action, the king's majesty stood up, showing +himself to the people, in each corner; and the people +expressed their willingness, by cheerful acclamations in +these words, "God save the king, CHARLES the Second."</p> + +<p>Thereafter the king's majesty, supported by the constable +and marshal, cometh down from the stage, and sitteth down +in the chair, where he heard the sermon. The minister, +accompanied with the ministers before-mentioned, cometh +from the pulpit toward the king, and requireth, if he was +willing to take the oath, appointed to be taken at the +coronation? The king answered, he was most willing.</p> + +<p>Then the oath of coronation, as it is contained in the +eighth act of the first parliament of king James, being read +by the lion, the tenor whereof followeth:</p> + +<p>"Because that the increase of virtue, and suppressing of +idolatry, craveth, that the prince and the people be of one +perfect religion; which of God's mercy is now presently +professed within this realm: therefore it is statuted and +ordained, by our sovereign lord, my lord regent, and +three estates of this present parliament: that all kings, +princes, and magistrates whatsoever, holding their place, +which hereafter at any time shall happen to reign, and +bear rule over this realm, at the time of their coronation, +and receipt of their princely authority, make their +faithful promise, in the presence of the eternal God; that, +enduring the whole course of their lives, they shall serve the +same eternal God to the uttermost of their power, according +as He hath required in His most holy Word, revealed and +contained in the New and Old Testaments; and, according +to the same words, shall maintain the true religion of Christ +Jesus, the preaching of His holy Word, and due and right +ministration of the sacraments now received and preached +within this realm: and shall abolish and gainstand all false +religions, contrary to the same: and shall rule the people +committed to their charge, according to the will and +command of God, revealed in His foresaid Word, and +according to the loveable laws and constitutions received +in this realm, no ways repugnant to the said Word of the +eternal God; and shall procure to the uttermost of their +power, to the kirk of God and whole Christian people, +true and perfect peace, in time coming. The rights and +rents, with all just privileges of the crown of Scotland, to +preserve and keep inviolated: neither shall they transfer, +nor alienate the same. They shall forbid and repress, in +all estates and degrees, rife oppression, and all kind of +wrong: in all judgments they shall command and procure +that justice and equity be keeped to all creatures, without +exception, as the Lord and Father of Mercies, be merciful +unto them: and out of their lands and empire they shall +be careful to root all heretics, and enemies to the true +worship of God, that shall be convict by the true kirk +of God, of the foresaid crimes; and that they shall +faithfully affirm the things above written by their solemn +oath."</p> + +<p>The minister tendered the oath unto the king, who, +kneeling and holding up his light hand, swore in these +words, "By the Eternal and Almighty God, who liveth and +reigneth for ever, I shall observe and keep all that is +contained in this Oath."</p> + +<p>This done, the king's majesty sat down in his chair and +reposeth himself a little.</p> + +<p>Then the king riseth from his chair, and is disrobed by +the lord great chamberlain, of the princely robe wherewith +he entered the kirk, and is invested by the said +chamberlain, in his royal robes.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the king being brought to the chair on the +north side of the kirk, supported as formerly; the sword was +brought by Sir William Cockburn of Langtown, gentleman +usher from the table, and delivered to lion king of arms; +who giveth it to the lord great constable, who putteth the +same in the king's hand, saying, "Sir, receive this kingly +sword, for the defence of the faith of Christ, and protection of +His kirk, and of the true religion, as it is presently professed +within this kingdom, and according to the national covenant +and league and covenant, and for executing equity and +justice, and for punishment of all iniquity and injustice."</p> + +<p>This done, the great constable receiveth the sword from +the king, and girdeth the same about his side.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the king sitteth down in his chair, and then +the spurs were put on him by the earl Marshall.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, Archibald, Marquiss of Argyle, having taken +the crown in his hands, the minister prayed, to this purpose:</p> + +<p>"That the Lord would purge the crown from the sins +and transgressions of them that did reign before him; that +it might be a pure crown; that God would settle the crown +upon the king's head: and, since men that set it on were +not able to settle it, that the Lord would put it on, and +preserve it." And then the said Marquiss put the crown +on the king's head.</p> + +<p>Which done, the lion king of arms, the great constable +standing by him, causeth an herald to call the whole noblemen, +one by one, according to their ranks, who, coming +before the king, kneeling, and with their hand touching the +crown on the king's head, swore these words, "By the +Eternal and Almighty God, who liveth and reigneth for +ever; I shall support thee to my uttermost." And when +they had done, then all the nobility held up their hands +and "swore to be loyal and true subjects, and faithful to the +crown."</p> + +<p>The earl Marshall, with the lion, going to the four corners +of the stage, the lion proclaimeth the obligatory oath of the +people; and the people, holding up their hands all the time, +did swear, "By the Eternal and Almighty God, who liveth +and reigneth for ever, we become your liege men, and truth +and faith shall bear unto you, and live and die with you +against all manner of folks whatsoever, in your service, +according to the National Covenant, and Solemn League +and Covenant."</p> + +<p>Then did the earls and viscounts put on their crowns, +and the lion likewise put on his. Then did the lord +chamberlain loose the sword wherewith the king was girded, +and drew it, and delivered it drawn into the king's hands; +and the king put it into the hands of the great constable, to +carry it naked before him. Then John, earl of Crawford +and Lindsay, took the sceptre, and put it in the king's right +hand, saying, "Sir, receive this sceptre, the sign of royal +power of the kingdom, that you may govern yourself right, +and defend all the Christian people committed by God +to your charge, punishing the wicked, and protecting the +just."</p> + +<p>Then did the king ascend the stage, attended by the +officers of the crown, and nobility, and was installed in the +royal throne by Archibald, Marquiss of Argyle, saying, +"Stand, and hold fast from henceforth the place whereof +you are the lawful and righteous heir, by a long and lineal +succession of your fathers, which is new delivered unto you +by authority of Almighty God."</p> + +<p>When the king was set down upon the throne, the +minister spoke to him a word of exhortation as followeth.</p> + +<p>"Sir, you are set down upon the throne in a very difficult +time, I shall therefore put you in mind of a scriptural +expression of a throne. "It is said, Solomon sat on +the throne of the Lord." Sir, you are a king, and a +king in covenant with the Lord; if you would have the +Lord to own you to be His king, and your throne to be +His throne, I desire you may have some thoughts of this +expression.</p> + +<p>1. "It is the Lord's throne. Remember you have a King +above you, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who +commandeth thrones. He setteth kings on thrones, and +dethroneth them at His pleasure: therefore take a word +of advice; be thankful to Him who hath brought you +through many wanderings to set you upon this throne. +Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and learn to serve Him +with fear who is terrible to the kings of the earth.</p> + +<p>2. "Your throne is the Lord's throne, and your people +the Lord's people: let not your heart be lifted up above +your brethren. They are your brethren, not only flesh of +your flesh, but brethren by covenant with God. Let your +government be refreshing unto them as the rain upon the +mown grass.</p> + +<p>3. "Your throne is the Lord's throne. Beware of making +His throne a throne of iniquity: there is such a throne, +which frameth mischief by a law; God will not own such a +throne, it hath no fellowship with Him. Sir, there is too +much iniquity upon the throne by your predecessors, who +framed mischief by a law, such laws as have been destructive +to religion, and grievous to the Lord's people; you are +on the throne, and have the sceptre, beware of touching +mischievous laws therewith: but, as the throne is the Lord's +throne, let the laws be the Lord's laws, agreeable to His +word, such as are terrible to evil-doers, and comfortable to +the godly, and a relief to the poor and oppressed in the +land.</p> + +<p>4. "The Lord's throne putteth you in mind whom you +should have about the throne. Wicked counsellors are not +for a king upon the Lord's throne; Solomon knew this, +who said, 'Take away the wicked from before the king, and +his throne shall be established in righteousness:' and 'A +king upon the throne scattereth away all evil with his +eyes.'</p> + +<p>5. "The Lord's throne putteth you in mind, that the +judgment on the throne should be the Lord's. Take the +exhortation, 'Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, +that sittest upon the throne, thou and thy servants and thy +people, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver +the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressors, and do no +wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless nor the +widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye +do this thing indeed, then shall there enter by the gates of +this house kings sitting upon the throne of David. But, if +ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the +Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.' And 'I +will prepare destroyers against thee.'</p> + +<p>"Sir, destroyers are prepared for the injustice of the +throne. I entreat you to execute righteous judgment, if ye do +it not, your house will be a desolation; but, if ye do that +which is right, God shall remove the destroyers: and you +shall be established on your throne; and there shall yet be +dignity in your house, for your servants, and for your people.</p> + +<p>"Lastly, If your throne be the throne of the Lord, take +a word of encouragement against throne adversaries. Your +enemies are the enemies of the Lord's throne: make your +peace with God in Christ, and the Lord shall scatter your +enemies from the throne; and He shall magnify you yet in +the sight of these nations, and make the misled people +submit themselves willingly to your government.</p> + +<p>"Sir, If you use well the Lord's throne on which you are +set, then the two words in the place cited, spoken of +Solomon sitting on the throne of the Lord, 'He prospered +and all Israel obeyed him,' shall belong unto you; your +people shall obey you in the Lord, and you shall prosper in +the sight of the nations round about."</p> + +<p>Then the lord chancellor went to the four corners of the +stage, the lion king of arms going before him, and proclaimed +his majesty's free pardon to all breakers of penal statutes, +and made offer thereof: whereupon the people cried, "God +save the king."</p> + +<p>Then the king, supported by the great constable and +marshall, and accompanied with the chancellor, arose from +the throne, and went out at a door prepared for the purpose, +to a stage; and sheweth himself to the people without, who +clapped their hands, and cried with a loud voice a long +time, "God save the king."</p> + +<p>Then, the king returning, and sitting down upon the +throne, delivered the sceptre to the Earl of Crawford and +Lindsay, to be carried before him: thereafter the lion king +of arms rehearsed the royal line of the kings upward to +Fergus the First.</p> + +<p>Then the lion called the lords one by one who, kneeling +and holding their hands betwixt the king's hands, did swear +these words, "By the Eternal and Almighty God, who +liveth and reigneth for ever, I do become your liege man, +and truth and faith shall bear unto you, and live and die with +you, against all manner of folks whatsoever in your service, +according to the National Covenant and Solemn League +and Covenant."</p> + +<p>And every one of them kissed the king's left cheek.</p> + +<p>When these solemnities were ended, the minister, standing +before the king on his throne, pronounced this blessing:</p> + +<p>"The Lord bless thee, and save thee; the Lord hear thee +in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend +thee; the Lord send thee help from the sanctuary and +strengthen thee out of Zion. Amen."</p> + +<p>After the blessing was pronounced, the minister went to +the pulpit and had the following exhortation, the king +sitting still upon the throne.</p> + +<p>Ye have this day a king crowned, and entered into covenant +with God and His people; look, both king and people, +that ye keep this covenant; and beware of the breach of it. +That ye may be the more careful to keep it, I will lay a few +things before you.</p> + +<p>I remember when the Solemn League and Covenant was +entered into by both nations. The commissioners from +England being present in the East kirk of Edinburgh, a +passage was cited out of Nehemiah, which I shall now again +cite. Nehemiah requireth an oath of the nobles and people, +to restore the mortgaged lands, which they promise to do; +after the oath was tendered, he did shake his lap, and said, +"So God shake out every man from his house, and from +his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be +he shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, +Amen."</p> + +<p>Since that time, many of those who were in the covenant, +are shaken out of it; yea, they have shaken off the covenant, +and laid it aside. It is true, they are prospering this day, +and think that they prosper, by laying aside the covenant; +but they will be deceived. That word spoken then shall +not fall to the ground; God shall shake them out of their +possession, and empty them for their perfidious breach of +the covenant.</p> + +<p>The same I say to king and nobles, and all that are in +covenant; if you break that covenant, being so solemnly +sworn, all these who have touched your crown, and sworn +to support it, shall not be able to hold it on; but God will +shake it off, and turn you from the throne: and ye noblemen, +who are assistant to the putting on of the crown, and +setting the king upon the throne, if ye shall either assist, or +advise the king to break the covenant, and overturn the +work of God, He shall shake you out of your possessions, +and empty you of all your glory.</p> + +<p>Another passage I offer to your serious consideration. +After that Zedekiah had promised to proclaim liberty to all +the Lord's people, who were servants, and entered into a +covenant, he and his princes let them go free, and according +to the oath had let them go; afterwards they caused the +servants to return, and brought them into subjection. What +followeth upon this breach? "Ye were now turned, and +had done right in My sight, in proclaiming liberty; but ye +turned, and made them servants again." And therefore, "I +will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who +have not performed the words of the covenant, which they +made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed +between the parts thereof; I will even give them into the +hands of their enemies, into the hand of them that seek +their life, even Zedekiah and his princes."</p> + +<p>If the breach of the covenant made for the liberty of +servants was so punished, what shall be the punishment of +the breach of a covenant for religion, and the liberty of the +people of God? There is nothing more terrible to kings +and princes than to be given into the hand of enemies that +seek their life: if ye would escape this judgment, let kings +and princes keep their covenant made with God: your +enemies who seek your life, are in the land; if ye break the +covenant, it may be feared God will give you over unto +them as a prey: but, if ye keep the covenant, it may be +expected God will keep you out of their hands.</p> + +<p>Let not the place ye heard opened, be forgotten, for in it +ye have an example of divine justice against Joash and the +princes, for breaking that covenant. The princes who enticed +to that breach, are destroyed: and it is said, "The army of +the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the +Lord delivered a very great host into their hand;" because +they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers: so they +executed judgment against Joash. "His own servants conspired +against him and slew him on his bed."</p> + +<p>The conspiracy of servants or subjects against their king +is a wicked course: but God in His righteous judgment +suffereth subjects to conspire and rebel against their princes, +because they rebel against God: and He suffereth subjects +to break the covenant made with a king, because he breaketh +the covenant made with God. I may say freely, that a chief +cause of the judgment upon the king's house hath been the +grandfather's breach of covenant with God, and the father's +following his steps in opposing the work of God, and His +kirk within these kingdoms; they broke covenant with God, +and men have broken covenant with them: yea, most +cruelly and perfidiously have invaded the royal family and +trodden upon all princely dignity.</p> + +<p>Be wise by their example: you are now sitting upon the +throne of the kingdom, and your nobles about you. There +is One above you, even Jesus, the King of Zion; and I as +His servant, dare not but be free with you: I charge you, +Sir, in His name, that you keep this covenant in all points; +if you shall break this covenant and come against His +cause, I assure you the controversy is not ended between +God and your family: but will be carried on to the further +weakening, if not the overthrow of it: but if you shall +keep this covenant, and befriend the kingdom of Christ, +it may be from this day God shall begin to do you good. +Although your estate be very weak, God is able to raise +you, and make you reign, maugre the opposition of all +your enemies: and howsoever it shall please the Lord to +dispose, you shall have peace toward God, through Christ +the Mediator.</p> + +<p>As for you who are nobles and peers of the land, your +share is great in this day of coronation; ye have come and +touched the crown, and sworn to support it; ye have handled +the sword and the sceptre, and have set down the king upon +his throne.</p> + +<p>1. I charge you to keep your covenant with God; and +see that ye never be moved yourselves to come against it in +any head, or article thereof; and that ye give no counsel +to the king to come against the doctrine, worship, government +and discipline of the kirk, established in this land, as +ye would eschew the judgment of covenant-breakers. If the +king and ye who are engaged to support the crown, conspire +together against the kingdom of Christ, both ye that do +support and he that is supported will fall together. I press +this the more, because it is a rare thing to see a king and +great men for Christ. In the long catalogue of the kings, +which ye have heard recited this day, they will be found +few who have been for Christ.</p> + +<p>2. I charge you also, because of your many oaths +to the king; that you keep them inviolable. Be +faithful to him, according to your covenant. The oaths +of God are upon you; if, directly or indirectly, ye do +anything against his standing, God, by whom ye have +sworn, will be avenged upon you for the breach of His oath.</p> + +<p>And now, I will shut up all with one word more +to you. Sir, you are the only covenanted king with +God and His people in the world; many have obstructed +your entry in it: now, seeing the Lord hath brought +you in over all these obstructions, only observe to do +what is contained therein; and it shall prove an happy +time for you and your house. And because you are entered +in times of great difficulty, wherein small strength seemeth +to remain with you in the eyes of the world, for recovering +your just power and greatness; therefore take the counsel +which David when he was dying gave to his son Solomon, +"Be strong, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge +of the Lord thy God: to walk in His ways, and keep His +commandments; that them mayest prosper in all that thou +doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself."</p> + +<p>After this exhortation, the minister closed the whole action +with prayer; and, Psalm xx. being sung, he dismissed +the people with the blessing.</p> + +<p>Then did the king's majesty descend from the stage with +the crown upon his head; and, receiving again the sceptre +in his hand, returned with the whole train, in a solemn +manner, to his palace, the sword being carried before him.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_ACTS_RESCISSORY" id="THE_ACTS_RESCISSORY"></a>THE ACTS RESCISSORY.</h2> + +<h4>FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CHARLES II.</h4> + +<p class="center">January, 1661.—7.—"<i>Act concerning the League and Covenant and<br/> +discharging the renewing thereof without his Majesties Warrand<br/> +and approbation.</i></p> + + +<p>"Forasmuch as the power of Armes, and entering into, +and making of Leagues and Bonds, is an undoubted +privilege of the Crown, and a proper part of the Royal Prerogative +of the Kings of this Kingdom, and that in recognisance +of His Majesties just Right, the Estates of Parliament +of this His most ancient Kingdom of Scotland, have declared +it high Treason to the Subjects thereof, of whatsoever +number, lesse or more, upon any pretext whatsoever, to rise, +or continue in Armes, or to enter into Leagues and Bonds, +with Forraigners, or among themselves, without His Majesties +special Warrand and Approbation, had and obtained thereto, +and have Rescinded and Annulled all Acts of Parliament, +Conventions of Estates, or other Deeds whatsoever, +contrary to, or inconsistent with the same; And whereas +during these troubles, there have occurred divers things, in +the making and pursuance of Leagues and Bonds, which +may be occasion of jealousie in and betwixt his Majesties +Dominions of Scotland, England, and Ireland. Therefore +and for preventing of all scruples, mistakes or jealousies that +may hereafter arise upon these grounds, The King's Majesty +with advice and consent of His Estates of Parliament, doth +hereby Declare, that there is no Obligation upon this +Kingdom by Covenant, Treaties or otherwise, to endeavour +by Armes a Reformation of Religion in the Kingdom of +England, or to meddle with the publick Government and +Administration of that Kingdom. And the King's Majesty +with advice and consent foresaid, doth Declare, That the +League and Covenant, and all Treaties following thereupon, +and Acts or Deeds that do, or may relate thereto, are not +obligatory, nor do infer any obligation upon this Kingdom, +or the Subjects thereof, to meddle or interpose by Armes, or +any seditious way, in any thing concerning the Religion and +Government of the Churches of England and Ireland, or in +what may concern the Administration of His Majesties +Government there. And further, His Majesty, with advice +and consent of his Estates, doth hereby Discharge and +Inhibite all His Majesties Subjects within this Kingdom, +that none of them may presume upon any pretext of any +Authority whatsoever, to require the renewing or swearing of +the said League and Covenant, or of any other Covenants, or +publick Oaths concerning the Government of the Church or +Kingdom, without His Majesties special Warrand and +Approbation; And that none of His Majesties Subjects offer +to renew and swear the same, without His Majesties +Warrand, as said is, as they will be answerable at their +highest peril."</p> + + +<h4>SAME PARLIAMENT.—<i>15.—"Act Rescinding and Annulling the<br/> +pretended parliaments in the years 1640, 1641, etc.</i></h4> + +<p>"The Estates of Parliament, considering that the Peace +and Happiness of this Kingdom, and of His Majesties good +subjects therein, doth depend upon the Safetie of His +Majesties Person, and the maintenance of His Royal +Authority, Power, and Greatness: And that all the miseries, +confusions, and disorders which this Kingdom hath groaned +under, these twenty-three years, have issued from, and been +the necessarie and natural products of these neglects, contempts, +and invasions, which, in and from the beginning of +these troubles, were upon the specious (but false) pretexts +of Reformation (the common cloak of all rebellions) offered +unto the Sacred Person and Royal Authority of the King's +Majesty, and His Royal Father of blessed memory. And +notwithstanding, that by the Sacred Right, inherent to the +Imperial Crown (which His Majesty holds immediatelie from +God Almightie alone) and by the ancient constitution and +fundamental Laws of the Kingdom; the power of convocating +and keeping Assemblies of the Subjects; the power of +Calling, Holding, Proroguing and Disolving of Parliaments, +and making of Laws; the power of entering into Bonds, +Covenants, Leagues and Treaties; the power of raising +Armes, keeping of Strengths and Forts are Essential parts, +and inseparable privileges of the Royal Authoritie and Prerogative +of the Kings of this Kingdom: Yet, such hath +been the madness and delusion of these times, that even +Religion itself, which holds the Right of Kings to be Sacred +and Inviolable, hath been pretended unto, for warrand of +these injurious Violations and Incroachments, so publickly +done and owned, upon and against His Majesties just +Power, Authority and Government; By making and keeping +of unlawful Meetings and Convocations of the People; By +entering into Covenants, Treaties and Leagues; By seizing +upon, and possessing themselves of His Majesties Castles, +Forts and Strengths of the Kingdom: and by Holding of +Pretended Parliaments, making of Laws, and raising of +Armes for the maintaining of the same; and that not only +without warrand, but contrary to His Majesties express +Commands. And although the late King's Majesty, out of +His meer grace and respects to this His native Kingdom, +and the peace and quiet of His people, and for preventing +the consequences which such bad example and practice +might occasion, to the disturbance of the peace of his other +Kingdoms, was pleased in the year, one thousand six hundred +and forty one, to come into this Countrey, and by his own +presence, at their pretended Parliaments and other wayes, +to comply with, and give way to, many things neerly concerning +the undoubted Interest and Prerogative of the +Crown, expecting that such unparalleled Condescentions +should have made His Subjects ashamed of their former +miscariages, and the very thoughts thereof, to be hatefull to +them and their posteritie for ever. Yet, such was the +prevalencie of the spirit of Rebelion that raged in manie for +the time, that not content with that peace and happiness +which, even above their desires, was secured to them: nor +of these manie Grants of honour and profit, by which His +Majestie endeavoured to endear the most desperat of them +to their duty and obedience, they then, when His Majesty +had not left unto them anie pretence or shaddow of anie +new desire to be proposed, either concerning themselves or +the Kingdom, did most unworthilie engage to subvert His +Majesties Government, and the publick peace of the Kingdom +of England: For which purpose, having joined in a +League with some there, they, for the better prosecution of +the same, did assume unto themselves the Royal Power, +kept and held Parliaments at their pleasure; by the pretended +Authoritie of which, they laid new exactions upon the people +(which in one month did far exceed what ever by the Kings +Authoritie had been raised in a whole year) levied Armes, +sent out Edicts, requiring obedience unto their unlawful +demands; and with all manner of violence pursued such as +out of duty to His Majesties Authoritie opposed them by +fines, confinements, imprisonment, banishment, death, and +forfeiture of their property; and with their Armie thus +raised, invaded His Majesties Kingdom of England, and +joyned with such as were in Arms against His Majestie +there. And thus maintaining their usurped power, and +violently executing the same against all Law, Conscience, +Honour and Humanity, have made themselves +instruments of much loss, shame and dishonour to their +native Countrey, and have justly forfeited anie favour they +might have pretended to, from His Majesties former concessions. +And forasmuch as now it hath pleased Almighty +God, by the power of His own right hand, so miraculously +to restore the Kings Majestie to the Government of his +Kingdoms, and to the exercise of His Royal Power, and +Soveraigntie over the same, The Estates of Parliament do +conceive themselves obliged, in discharge of their dutie and +conscience to GOD and the Kings Majestie, to imploy all +their Power and interest, for vindicating His Majesties +Authoritie from all these violent invasions that have been +made upon it, and so far as possible to remove out of the +way everything that may retain anie remembrance of these +things, which have been so injurious to His Majestie and +His Authoritie, so predjudicial and dishonourable to the +Kingdom, and destructive to all just and true interests within +the same. And considering that, besides the unlawfulness +of the Publick Actings during the troubles, most of the Acts +in all and every of the Meetings of these pretended Parliaments, +do highly encroach upon, and are destructive of that +Sovereign Power, Authority, Prerogative, and Right of +Government, which by the law of GOD, and the ancient Laws +and Constitutions of this Kingdom, doth reside in, and +belong unto, the Kings Majestie, and do reflect upon the +honour, loyaltie, and reputation of this Kingdom; or are +expired, and serve only as testimonies of disloyaltie and +reproach upon the Kingdom, and are unfit to be any longer +upon Record. Therefore the Kings Majestie and Estates of +Parliament do hereby Rescind and Annull the pretended +Parliaments, kept in the years one thousand six hundred +and fourty, one thousand six hundred and fourty one, one +thousand six hundred and fourty four, one thousand six +hundred and fourty five, one thousand six hundred and +fourty six, one thousand six hundred and fourty seven, and +one thousand six hundred and fourty eight, and all Acts and +Deeds past and done in them, and Declares the same +to be henceforth void and null. And His Majesty, being +unwilling to take any advantage of the failings of His +Subjects during these unhappy times, is resolved not to +retain any remembrance thereof, but that the same shall be +held in everlasting oblivion: and that all difference and +animosities be forgotten, His good subjects may in a happy +union, under His Royal Government, enjoy that happiness +and peace, which His Majestie intends, and really wisheth +unto them as unto himself, doth therefore, by advice and +consent of His Estates of Parliament, grant His full assurance +and indemnity to all persons that acted in, or by virtue +of the said pretended Parliaments, and other Meetings +flowing from the same, to be unquestioned in their Lives or +Fortunes, or any Deed or Deeds done by them in their said +usurpation, or by virtue of any pretended Authority derived +therefrom, excepting alwayes such as shall be excepted in a +general Act of Indemnity, to be past by His Majestie in +this Parliament. And it is hereby declared that all Acts, +Rights and Securities, past in any of the pretended Meetings +above written, or by virtue thereof, in favours of any +particular persons for their civil and private interests shall +stand good and valid unto them, untill the same be taken +into further consideration, and determined in this, or the +next Session of this Parliament."</p> + + +<h4>SECOND SESSION OF FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CHARLES II.</h4> + +<p class="center">Edinburgh, May, 1662.—<i>Act for preservation of His Majesties +Person, Authority and Government.</i></p> + + +<p>The Estates of Parliament, taking into their consideration +the miseries, confusions, bondage and oppressions, this +Kingdom hath groaned under since the year, one thousand +six hundred and thirty seven years, with the causes and +occasions thereof: Do, with all humble duty and thankfulness, +acknowledge His Majesties unparrallel'd grace and goodness, +in passing by the many miscarriages of His Subjects, and +restoring the Church and State to their ancient Liberties, +Freedom, Rights and Possessions; and the great Obligations +thereby lying upon them to express all possible care and zeal +in the preservation of His Majesties person, (in whose +honour and happinesse consisteth the good and welfare of +His people) and in the security and establishment of His +Royal Authority and Government, against all such wicked +attempts and practices for the time to come. And, since the +rise and progress of the late troubles did, in a great measure, +proceed from some treasonable and seditious positions +infused into the people. That it was lawfull to Subjects for +Reformation, to enter into Covenants and Leagues, or to +take up Arms against the King, or those Commissionated by +Him, and such-like: And that many Wilde and rebellious +courses were taken and practised in pursuance thereof, by +unlawful meetings and gatherings of the people, by mutinous +and tumultuous petitions, by insolent and seditious Protestations +against His Majesties Royal and just commands, by +entering into unlawfull Oaths and Covenants, by usurping +the name and power of Council Tables and Church Judicatories, +after they were by His Majesty discharged, by +treasonable Declarations, that His Majesty was not to be +admitted to the exercise of His Royal power, untill He +should grant their unjust desires and approve their wicked +practices, by rebellions rising in Arms against His Majestie +and such as had Commission from Him; And by the great +countenance, allowance and encouragement given to these +pernicious courses by the multitude of seditious Sermons, +Libels, and Discourses, preached, printed and published in +defence thereof: And considering that as the present age is +not full freed of those distempers; so posterity may be apt +to relapse therein, if timous remeed be not provided. +Therefore the King's Majestie and Estates of Parliament do +Declare that these positions, That it is lawfull to Subjects, +upon pretence of Reformation, or other pretence whatsoever, +to enter into Leagues and Covenants, or to take up arms +against the King; or that it is lawfull to subjects, pretending +His Majestys Authority, to take up Arms against His person +or those Commissionated by Him, or to suspend Him from +the exercise of his Royal Government, or to put limitations +upon their due obedience and allegiance, Are Rebellious +and Treasonable, And that all these Gatherings, Convocations, +Petitions, Protestations, and Erecting and keeping of +Council-tables, that were used in the beginning, and for +carrying on, of the late troubles, were unlawful and seditious: +And particularly, that these Oaths, whereof the one was +commonly called The National Covenant, (as it was sworn +and explained in the year one thousand, six hundred and +thirty-eight, and thereafter) and the other entituled, A Solemn +League and Covenant, were, and are in themselves unlawful +Oaths, and were taken by, and imposed upon, the Subjects +of this Kingdom, against the fundamental laws and liberties +of the same; and that there lyeth no obligation upon any of +the Subjects from the saids Oaths, or either of them, to +endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in +Church or State; And therefore Annuls all Acts and +Constitutions, Ecclesiastical or Civil, approving the said +pretended National Covenant or League and Covenant, or +making any interpretations of the same or either of them. +And also, it is hereby Declared by His Majesty and Estates +of Parliament, That the pretended assemblie kept at Glasgow +in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty eight, was +in itself (after the same was by His Majestie discharged, +under the pain of Treason) an unlawfull and seditious +Meeting; and that all Acts, Deeds, Sentences, Orders, or +Decreets past therein, or by vertue of any pretended Authority +from the same, were in themselves from the beginning, are +now, and in all time coming, to be reputed unlawful, void +and null; And that all Ratifications or Confirmations of the +same, past by whatsoever Authority or in whatsoever +Meetings, shall from henceforth be void and null. Likeas, +His Majesty and Estates of Parliament, reflecting on the +sad consequences of these rebellious courses, and being +carefull to prevent the like for the future, have therefore +Statute and Ordained, and by these presents Statutes and +Ordains, that, if any person or persons shall hereafter Plot, +contrive or intend destruction to the King's Majesty, or any +bodily harm tending to death or destruction, or any restraint +upon his Royal Person, or to deprive, depose, or suspend +Him from the stile, Honour and Kingly Name of the +Imperial Crown of this Realm, or any others His Majesties +Dominions, or to suspend him from the exercise of His +Royal Government, or to levy War or take up Arms against +His Majesty or any commissionated by Him, or shall entice +any strangers or others to invade any of His Majesties +Dominions; and shall by writing, printing, preaching or +other malicious and advised speaking, express or declare +such their Treasonable intentions, every such person or +persons, being upon sufficient probation legally convicted +thereof, shall be deemed, declared and adjudged Traitors, +and shall suffer forfeiture of life, honour, lands, and goods as +in cases of high Treason. And further, it is by His Majesty +and Estates of Parliament Declared, Statute and Enacted, +That if any person or persons shall, by Writing, Printing, +Praying, Preaching, Libelling, Remonstrating, or by any +malicious and advised speaking, express, publish, or declare +any words or sentences to stir up the people to the hatred or +dislike of His Majesties Royal Prerogative and Supremacy +in causes Ecclesiastick, or of the Government of the Church +by Archbishops and Bishops as it is now settled by Law, or +to Justifie any of the deeds, actings, practices or things +above-mentioned and declared against by this present Act: +that every such person or persons so offending, and being, as +said is, Legally convicted thereof, are hereby declared +incapable to enjoy or exerce any place or imployment, Civil, +Ecclesiastical, or Military, within this Church and Kingdom, +and shall be lyable to such further pains as are due by the +Law in such cases; Provided alwayes, that no person be +processed for any of the offences aforesaid, contained in this +Act, (other than these that are declared to be high Treason) +unless it be by order from His Majesty, or by order of His +Privy Council for the time; neither shall they incur any of +the penalties above-mentioned, unless they be pursued within +eight Months after the offence committed, and sentenced +thereupon within four Months after the intenting of the +Process. And it is also Declared, that if His Majesty grant +His pardon to any person convicted for any of the offences +contained in this present Act; after such pardon, the party +pardoned shall be restored to all intents and purposes, as if +he had never been pursued nor convicted any thing in this +Act to the contrary, notwithstanding.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TORWOOD_EXCOMMUNICATION17" id="THE_TORWOOD_EXCOMMUNICATION17"></a>THE TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>After public worship, Mr. Cargill proceeded thus:—We +have now spoken of excommunication, of the nature, +subject, causes, and ends thereof. We shall now proceed +to the action itself, being constrained by the conscience of +our duty, and by zeal for God, to excommunicate some of +those who have been the committers of such great crimes, +and authors of the great mischiefs of Britain and Ireland, +but especially those of Scotland. In doing this, we shall +keep the names by which they are ordinarily called, that +they may be better known.</p> + +<p>I, being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority +and power from Him, do, in His name and by His Spirit, +excommunicate and cast out of the true Church, and deliver +up to Satan, Charles II., king, etc., and that upon the +account of these wickednesses:—</p> + +<p>1st, For his high contempt of God, in regard that after he +had acknowledged his own sins, his father's sins, his mother's +idolatry, and had solemnly engaged against them in a +declaration at Dunfermline, the 16th of August, 1650, he +hath, notwithstanding all this, gone on more avowedly in +these sins than all that went before him.</p> + +<p>2ndly, For his great perjury in regard that, after he had +twice at least solemnly subscribed that covenant, he did so +presumptuously renounce, and disown, and command it to +be burnt by the hands of the hangman.</p> + +<p>3rdly, Because he hath rescinded all the laws for establishing +that religion and reformation engaged unto in that +covenant, and enacted laws for establishing its contrary; +and also is still working for the introduction of Popery into +these lands. And</p> + +<p>4thly, For commanding armies to destroy the Lord's +people, who were standing in their own just defence, and +for their privileges and rights, against tyranny, and oppression +and injuries of men, and for the blood he hath shed on +fields, and scaffolds, and seas, of the people of God, upon +account of religion and righteousness (they being willing in +all other things to render him obedience, if he had reigned +and ruled according to his covenant and oath), more than +all the kings that have been before him in Scotland.</p> + +<p>5thly, That he hath been still an enemy to, and persecutor +of, the true Protestants; a favourer and helper of the Papists, +both at home and abroad; and hath, to the utmost of his +power, hindered the due execution of the laws against them.</p> + +<p>6thly, For his bringing guilt upon the kingdom, by his +frequent grants of remissions and pardons to murderers +(though it is in the power of no king to pardon murder, +being expressly contrary to the law of God), an indulgence +which is the only way to embolden men to commit murders, +to the defiling of the land with blood. And</p> + +<p>Lastly, To pass by all other things, his great and dreadful +uncleanness of adultery and incest, his drunkenness, his +dissembling both with God and men, and performing his +promises, where his engagements were sinful. Next,</p> + +<p>By the same authority, and in the same name, I excommunicate +and cast out of the true Church, and deliver up +unto Satan, James, Duke of York, and that for his idolatry +(for I shall not speak of any other sin but what hath been +perpetrated by him in Scotland), and for setting up idolatry +in Scotland to defile the Lord's land, and for his enticing +and encouraging to do so. Next,</p> + +<p>In the same name, and by the same authority, I excommunicate +and cast out of the true Church, and deliver up +unto Satan, James, Duke of Monmouth, for coming unto +Scotland at his father's unjust command, and leading armies +against the Lord's people, who were constrained to rise, +being killed in and for the worshipping of the true God, and +for refusing, that morning, a cessation of arms at Bothwell +Bridge, for hearing and redressing their injuries, wrongs and +oppressions. Next,</p> + +<p>I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same +name, excommunicate and cast out of the true Church, and +deliver up unto Satan, John, Duke of Lauderdale, for his +dreadful blasphemy, especially for that word to the Prelate +of St. Andrews, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make +thine enemies thy footstool;" his atheistical drolling on the +Scriptures of God, and scoffing at religion and religious +persons; his apostasy from the covenants and reformation, +and his persecuting thereof, after he had been a professor, +pleader, and presser thereof; for his perjury in the business +of Mr. James Mitchell, who being in Council gave public +faith that he should be indemnified, and that, to life and +limb, if he would confess his attempt on the Prelate; and +notwithstanding this, before the Justiciary Court, did give +his oath that there was no such act in Council; for his +adultery and uncleanness; for his counselling and assisting +the king in all his tyrannies, overturning and plotting against +the true religion; for his gaming on the Lord's day, and +lastly for his usual and ordinary swearing. Next,</p> + +<p>I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same +name, excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, and +deliver up to Satan, John, Duke of Rothes, for his perjury +in the matter of Mr. James Mitchell; for his adulteries and +uncleanness; for his allotting of the Lord's day to his +drunkenness; for his professing and avowing his readiness +and willingness to set up Popery in this land at the king's +command: and for the heathenish, and barbarous and +unheard of cruelty (whereof he was the chief author, contriver, +and commander, notwithstanding his having engaged +otherwise), to that worthy gentleman, David Hackstoun of +Rathillet, and lastly, for his ordinary cursing, swearing, and +drunkenness. And,</p> + +<p>I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same +name, excommunicate, and cast out of the true Church +and deliver up to Satan, Sir George M'Kenzie, the King's +Advocate, for his apostasy in turning into a profligacy of +conversation, after he had begun a profession of holiness; +for his constant pleading against, and persecuting unto the +death, the people of God, and for alleging and laying to +their charge things which in his conscience he knew to be +against the word of God, truth and right reason, and the +ancient laws of this kingdom; for his pleading for sorcerers, +murderers, and other criminals, that before God and by the +laws of the land ought to die, and for his ungodly, erroneous, +fantastic, and blasphemous tenets printed in his pamphlets +and pasquils. And,</p> + +<p>Lastly, I do by virtue of the same authority, and in the +same name, excommunicate, and cast out of the true +Church, and deliver up to Satan, Dalziell of Binns, for his +leading armies, and commanding the killing, robbing, +pillaging and oppressing of the Lord's people, and free +subjects of this kingdom; for executing lawless tyrannies +and lustful laws; for his commanding to shoot one Findlay +at a post at Newmills, without any form of law, civil or +military (he not being guilty of anything which they themselves +accounted a crime); for his lewd and impious life, led +in adultery and uncleanness from his youth, with a contempt +for marriage, which is an ordinance of God; for all his +atheistical and irreligious conversation, and lastly, for his +unjust usurping and retaining of the estate of that worthy +gentleman, William Mure of Caldwell, and his other +injurious deeds in the exercise of his power.</p> + +<p>Now I think, none that acknowledge the word of God, +can judge these sentences to be unjust; yet some, it may be, +to flatter the powers, will call them disorderly and informal, +there not being warning given, nor probation led. But for +answer: there has been warning given, if not with regard +to all these, at least with regard to a great part of them. +And, for probation, there needs none, their deeds being +notour and public, and the most of them such as themselves +do avow and boast of. And as the causes are just, so, being +done by a minister of the Gospel, and in such a way as the +present persecution would admit of, the sentence is just, and +there is no king, nor minister on earth, without repentance +of the persons, can lawfully reverse these sentences upon +any such account. God being the Author of these ordinances +to the ratifying of them, all that acknowledge the +Scriptures of truth, ought to acknowledge them. Yet perchance, +some will think that though they be not unjust, yet +that they are foolishly rigorous. We shall answer nothing +to this, but that word which we speak with much more +reason than they that first used it, "Should he deal with our +sister, as with an harlot?" Should they deal with our God +as an idol? Should they deal with His people as murderers +and malefactors, and we not draw out His sword against +them?</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_AGAINST_CONVENTICLES18" id="ACT_AGAINST_CONVENTICLES18"></a>ACT AGAINST CONVENTICLES.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>Forasmuch as the assembling and convocating of his +majesty's subjects, without his majesty's warrant and +authority, is a most dangerous and unlawful practice, +prohibit and discharged by several laws and acts of +parliament, under high and great pains: and that notwithstanding +thereof, diverse disaffected and seditious persons, +under the specious but false pretences of religion and +religious exercises, presume to make, and be present at +conventicles and unwarrantable meetings and conventions +of the subjects, which are the ordinary seminaries of +separation and rebellion, tending to the prejudice of the +public worship of God in the churches, to the scandal of +the reformed religion, to the reproach of his majesty's +authority and government, and to the alienating of the +hearts and affections of the subjects from that duty and +obedience they owe to his majesty, and the public laws of +kingdom. For the suppressing and preventing of which for +the time to come, his majesty, with advice and consent of +his estates of parliament, hath thought fit to statute and +enact, likeas they do hereby statute and command, that no +outed ministers who are not licensed by the council, and no +other persons not authorized, or tolerate by the bishop of +the diocese, presume to preach, expound scripture, or pray in +any meeting, except in their own houses, and to those of +their own family; and that none be present at any meeting, +without the family to which they belong, where any not +licensed, authorized, nor tolerate as said is, shall preach, +expound scripture, or pray: declaring hereby, all such who +shall do in the contrary, to be guilty of keeping of conventicles; +and that he, or they, who shall so preach, expound, or +pray, within any house, shall be seized upon and imprisoned, +till they find caution, under the pain of five thousand merks, +not to do the like thereafter, or else enact themselves to +remove out of the kingdom, and never return without his +majesty's license; and that every person who shall be found +to have been present at any such meetings, shall be <i>toties +quoties</i>, fined according to their qualities, in the respective +sums following, and imprisoned until they pay their fines, +and further, during the council's pleasure, viz., each man or +woman, having land in heritage, life-rent, or proper wadset, +to be lined in a fourth part of his or her valued yearly rent; +each tenant labouring land, in twenty-five pounds Scots; +each cottar, in twelve pounds Scots, and each serving man, +in a fourth part of his yearly fee: and where merchants or +tradesmen do not belong to, or reside within burghs royal, +that each merchant or chief tradesman be fined as a tenant, +and each inferior tradesman as a cottar: and if any of the +persons above-mentioned shall have their wives, or any of +their children living in family with them, present at any +such meeting, they are therefore to be fined in the half of +the respective fines aforesaid, consideration being had to +their several qualities and conditions. And if the master or +mistress of any family, where any such meetings shall be +kept, be present within the house for the time, they are to +be fined in the double of what is to be paid by them, for +being present at a house conventicle. And it is hereby +declared, that magistrates of burghs royal are liable, for +every conventicle to be kept within their burghs, to such +fines as his majesty's council shall think fit to impose; and +that the master or mistress of the house where the conventicle +shall happen to be kept, and the persons present thereat, +are to relieve the magistrates, as the council shall think fit +to order the same; it being notwithstanding free to the +council to fine the inhabitants of burghs for being present +at conventicles within or without burghs, or where their +wives or children shall be present at the same.</p> + +<p>And further, his majesty understanding that divers +disaffected persons have been so maliciously wicked and +disloyal, as to convocate his majesty's subjects to open +meetings in the fields, expressly contrary to many public +laws made thereanent, and considering that these meetings +are the rendezvouses of rebellion, and tend in a high +measure to the disturbance of the public peace, doth +therefore, with advice and consent foresaid, statute and +declare, that whosoever, without license or authority foresaid, +shall preach, expound scripture, or pray, at any of those +meetings in the field, or in any house where there be more +persons than the house contains, so as some of them be +without doors (which is hereby declared to be a field +conventicle) or who shall convocate any number of people +to these meetings, shall be punished with death, and +confiscation of their goods. And it is hereby offered and +assured, that if any of his majesty's good subjects shall seize +and secure the persons of any who shall either preach or +pray at these field-meetings, or convocate any persons +thereto, they shall, for every such person so seized and +secured, have five hundred merks paid unto them for their +reward, out of his majesty's treasury, by the commissioners +thereof, who are hereby authorised to pay the same; and +the said seizers and their assistants are hereby indemnified +for any slaughter that shall be committed in the apprehending +and securing of them. And, as to all heritors and others +aforesaid, who shall be present at any of these field-conventicles, +it is hereby declared, they are to be fined, +<i>toties quoties,</i> in the double of the respective fines appointed +for house conventicles; but prejudice of any other punishment +due to them by law as seditious persons and disturbers +of the peace and quiet of the kirk and kingdom.</p> + +<p>And, seeing the due execution of laws is the readiest +means to procure obedience to the same; therefore, his +majesty, with consent and advice foresaid, doth empower, +warrant, and command all sheriffs, stewarts of stewartries, +lords of regalities, and their deputes, to call before them, +and try all such persons who shall be informed to have kept, +or been present at, conventicles within their jurisdictions, +and to inflict upon these who shall be found guilty, the +respective fines exprest in this act; they being always +countable to the commissioners of his majesty's treasury, for +the fines of all heritors within their bounds. And his +majesty, for the encouragement of the said sheriffs, stewarts, +and lords of regalities, to be careful and diligent in their +duties therein, doth allow to themselves all the fines of any +persons within their jurisdictions, under the degree of +heritors; and requires the lords of his majesty's privy +council to take exact trial of their care and diligence herein; +and if the sheriffs, stewarts, and bailiffs, be negligent in +their duties, or if the magistrates within burghs shall be +negligent in their utmost diligence, to detect and delate to +the council all conventicles within their burghs, that the +council inflict such censures and punishments upon them as +they shall think fit. And the lords of his majesty's privy +council are hereby required to be careful in the trial of all +field and house-conventicles kept since the first day of +October, one thousand six hundred and sixty-nine, and +before the date hereof, and that they punish the same +conform to the laws and acts of state formerly made thereanent. +And lastly, his majesty, being hopeful that his +subjects will give such cheerful obedience to the laws as +there shall not be long use of this act, hath therefore, with +advice foresaid, declared that the endurance thereof shall +only be for three years, unless his majesty shall think fit +that it continue longer.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SANQUHAR_DECLARATION19" id="THE_SANQUHAR_DECLARATION19"></a>THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></span></h2> + +<p>It is not amongst the smallest of the Lord's mercies to +this poor land that there have been always some who have +given their testimony against every course of defection, (that +many are guilty of) which is a token for good, that He doth +not as yet intend to cast us off altogether, but that He will +leave a remnant in whom He will he glorious, if they, through +His grace, keep themselves clean still, and walk in His way +and method, as it has been walked in and owned by Him in +our predecessors of truly worthy memory, in their carrying +on of our noble work of reformation in the several steps +thereof, from popery, prelacy, and likewise Erastian +supremacy, so much usurped by him, who (it is true so far +as we know) is descended from the race of our kings, yet he +hath so far deborded from what he ought to have been, by +his perjury and usurpation in Church matters, and tyranny +in matters civil, as is known by the whole land, that we have +just reason to account it one of the Lord's great +controversies against us, that we have not disowned him and +the men of his practices, (whether inferior magistrates or any +other) as enemies to our Lord and His crown, and the true +Protestant and Presbyterian interest in thir lands, our Lord's +espoused bride and Church. Therefore, although we be for +government and governors such as the Word of our God and +our Covenant allows, yet we for ourselves and all that will +adhere to us as the representatives of the true Presbyterian +Kirk and Covenanted nation of Scotland, considering the +great hazard of lying under such a sin any longer, do by thir +presents disown Charles Stuart, that has been reigning (or +rather tyrannizing as we may say) on the throne of Britain +these years bygone, as having any right, title to, or interest +in, the said Crown of Scotland for government, as forfeited +several years since, by his perjury and breach of covenant +both to God and His Kirk, and usurpation of His crown and +royal prerogatives therein, and many other breaches in +matters ecclesiastic, and by his tyranny and breach of the +very <i>leges regnandi</i> in matters civil. For which reason we +declare, that several years since he should have been +denuded of being king, ruler, or magistrate, or of having any +power to act, or to be obeyed as such. As also, we, being +under the standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, Captain of +Salvation, do declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper, +and all the men of his practices, as enemies to our Lord +Jesus Christ and His cause and covenants; and against all +such as have strengthened him, sided with, or any wise +acknowledged him in his tyranny, civil or ecclesiastic, yea, +against all such as shall strengthen, side with, or any wise +acknowledge any other in the like usurpation and tyranny, +far more against such as would betray or deliver up our free +reformed mother-kirk unto the bondage of antichrist, the +Pope of Rome. And by this we homologate that testimony +given at Rutherglen, the 29th of May, 1679, and all the +faithful testimonies of these who have gone before, as also of +these who have suffered of late. And we do disclaim that +Declaration published at Hamilton, June, 1679, chiefly +because it takes in the king's interest, which we are several +years since loosed from, because of the foresaid reasons, and +others, which may after this (if the Lord will) be published. +As also we disown, and by this resent the reception of the +Duke of York, that professed papist, as repugnant to our +principles and vows to the Most High God, and as that +which is the great, though not alone, just reproach of our +Kirk and nation. We also by this protest against his +succeeding to the crown; and whatever has been done, or +any are essaying to do in this land (given to the Lord), in +prejudice to our work of reformation. And to conclude, we +hope after this none will blame us for, or offend at our +rewarding these that are against us as they have done to us +as the Lord gives opportunity. This is not to exclude any +that have declined, if they be willing to give satisfaction +according to the degree of their offence.</p> + +<p><i>Given at Sanquhar, June 22nd, 1680.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PROTESTATION_AGAINST_THE_UNION20" id="PROTESTATION_AGAINST_THE_UNION20"></a>PROTESTATION AGAINST THE UNION.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>It will, no doubt, be reputed by many very unseasonable +to protest at this time, against this Union, now so far +advanced and by their law established; but the consideration +of the superabundant, palpable and eminent sins, hazards, +and destructions to religion, laws, and liberties that are in it, +and natively attend it, is such a pressing motive, that we +can do no less, for the exoneration of our consciences in +shewing our dislike of the same, before the sitting down of +the British Parliament, lest our silence should be altogether +interpreted, either a direct or indirect owning of, or +succumbing to the same: and though, having abundantly +and plainly declared our principles formerly, and particularly +in our last declaration, May 21, 1703, against the then +intended Union; and waiting for more plain discovery of +dissatisfaction with, and opposition unto this abominable +course, by these of better capacitie, yet being herein so far +disappointed in our expectations of such honourable and +commendable appearances, for the laudable laws, and antient +constitutions of this kingdom, both as to sacred and civil +concerns, all these appearances, whither by addresses or +protestations being so far lame and defective, as that the +resolutions and purposes of such have never been fairly and +freely remonstrat to the contrivers, promoters and establishers +of this Union. The consideration of which, and the +lamentable case and condition the land already is, and may +be in, by reason of the same, hath moved us, after the +example and in imitation of the cloud of witnesses who +have gone before us, to protest against the same, as being +contrar to the Word of God, and repugnant to our former +Union with England in the terms of the Solemn League and +Covenant.</p> + +<p>And whereas it hath been the good will and pleasure of +Almighty God, to grant unto this nation a glorious and +blessed reformation of the true Christian religion, from the +errors, idolatry, and superstition of popery and prelacy, and +there withall to bless us with the power and purity of heavenly +doctrine, worship, discipline, and government in the Church +of God, according to His will revealed in the Holy Scriptures; +and to let us have all this accompanyed and attended with +many great and singular blessings, in the conversion and +comfort of many thousands, and in reforming and purging +the land from that gross ignorance, rudeness and barbarity, +that once prevailed among us. Wherefore our zealous and +worthy forefathers, being convinced of the benefit and +excellency of such incomparable and unvaluable mercies, +thought it their duty, not only by all means to endeavour +the preservation of these, but also to transmit to posterity a +fair <i>depositum</i> and copy in purity and integrity, and as a fit +expedient and mean to accomplish and perfect the same, +they entered into the National Covenant (no rank or degree +of persons, from the highest to the lowest excepted) wherein +they bound themselves to defend the reformation of religion +in every part and point of the same, with their lives and +fortunes to the outmost of their power, as may be seen +in the National Covenant of this Church and kingdom, +which was five times solemnly sworn.</p> + +<p>Likeas the Lord was so pleased to bless our land, and to +beautify it with His presence, that our neighbour nations of +England and Ireland, who beheld this, and were groaning +under and likeways aiming at the removal and abolishing +of popery and prelacy, had sought and obtained assistance +from this nation to help them in their endeavours for that +end, and had been owned of God with success, they likeways +thought it fit to enter into a most Solemn League and +Covenant with this Church and kingdom for reformation +and defence of religion, wherein, with their hands lifted up +to the most High God, they do bind and oblige themselves to +maintain, preserve and defend, whatever measure and degree +of reformation they had attained unto, and mutually to +concurr, each with another with their lives and fortunes in +their several places and callings, in opposition to all the +enemies of the same, as may be seen at large in the Solemn +League and Covenant. By means of which, these nations +became (as it were) dedicated and devoted to God in a +peculiar and singular manner, above all other people in the +world and that by an indisolvable and indispensable obligation +to perform, observe and fulfill the duties sworn too, +and contained therein, from which no power on earth can +absolve us. And so to prosecute and carry on the ends of +the same, and to evidence our firm adherance to it, with the +outmost of our endeavours, in opposition to every thing +contradictory or contrar unto or exclusive of these our +sacred vows. We have from time to time for these several +years bypast, emitted and published several declarations and +publick testimonies against the breaches of the same, as is +evident not only from our declarations of late, but also from +all the wrestlings and contendings of the faithful in former +times, all which we here adhere to, approve of, and homologate, +as they are founded upon the Word of God and are +agreeable thereto.</p> + +<p>And in this juncture to perpetuat and transmit to posterity +the testimony of this Church, and to acquit ourselves as +faithful to God, and zealous for the concerns of religion, +and every thing that's dear to us as men and Christians. +We here testify and protest against the prompters to, +promoters or establishers of, and against every thing that +hath tended to the promoting, advancing, corroborating, or +by law establishing such a wicked and ruining Union; and +hereby we also declare against the validity of the proceedings +of the late Parliament with reference to the carrying on, and +establishing the said Union; and that their acts shall not be +look't upon as obligatory to us, nor ought to be by posterity, +nor any way prejudicial to the cause of God, and the +covenanted work of reformation in this Church, nor to the +beeing, liberty, and freedom of Parliaments, according to +the laudable and antient pratique of this kingdom, the which +we do not only for ourselves, but also in the name of all +such as shall join or concurr with us in this our protestation, +and therefore we Protest.</p> + +<p>In regard, That the said Union is a visible and plain +subversion of the fundamental antient constitutions, laws +and liberties of this kingdom, which we as a free people +have enjoyed for the space of about two thousand years, +without ever being fully conquered, and we have had singular +and remarkable stepts of Providence preventing our utter +sinking, and preserving us from such a deludge and overthrow, +which some other nations more mighty and opulent +than we, have felt, and whose memory is much extinct: +while by this incorporating Union with England in their +sinful terms, this nation is debased and enslaved, its antient +independency lost and gone, the parliamentary power +dissolved which was the very strength, bulwork and basis of +all liberties and priviledges of persons of all ranks, of all +manner of courts and judicatories, corporations and societies +within this kingdom; all which, now, must be at the disposal +and discreation of the British Parliament, (to which, by this +Union, this nation must be brought to full subjection) and +furder the number of peers, who have many times ventured +their lives for the interest of their country, having reputation +and success at home and were famous and formidable +abroad: and the number of barons and burrows famous +sometime, for courage and zeal for the interest of their +country (and, more especially in our reforming times) all +these, reduced to such an insignificant and small number in +the Brittish Parliament, we say, (as is also evident from +the many protestations given in to the late Parliament +against this Union) how far it is contrary to the honour, +interest, foundamental laws, and constitutions of this kingdom, +and a palpable surrender of the soveraignity, rights +and priviledges of the nation; and how by this surrender of +parliament and soveraignity the people are deprived and +denuded of all security, as to any thing that's agreed to by +this Union, and all that's dear to them, is daily in danger to +be encroached upon, altered or subverted by the said Brittish +Parliament, managed intirely by the English, who seldom +have consulted our well-fare, but rather have sought opportunity +to injure us, and are now put in a greater capacity +with more ease to act to our prejudice: and poor people to +be made lyable to taxes, levies and unsupportable burdens, +and many other imminent hazards and impositions, all which +we here protest against.</p> + +<p>As also that which is little considered (tho' most lamentable), +how the foundamental constitutions should be altered, +subverted, and overturned, not only, <i>renitente and reclamante +populo,</i> but also by such men, who, if the righteous and +standing laws of the nation were put in execution, are +uncapable of having any vote or suffrage in any judicatory; +seeing the Covenants National and Solemn League, which +had the assent and concurrence of the three estates of +Parliament, and the sanction of the civil law, cordially +and harmoniously assenting to, complying with, and coroborrating +the acts and canons of ecclesiastick courts in +favour of these covenants, whereby they became the foundation +whence any had right to reign or govern in this land, +and also became the foundation, limitation, and constitution +of the government and succession to the crown of this +realm, and the qualification of all magistrats supreame, and +subordinate, and of all officers in church, state, or army, and +likewise the ground and condition of the peoples obedience +and subjection, as may be seen in the acts, laws, and +practise of these times: witness the admission of Charles II. +to the government, <i>Anno</i> 1651. From all which it is +evident how blind such men have been, who not only +have enslaved the nation, but have rendered themselves +unfamous by such an open and manifest violation of these +solemn and sacred vows to the most High God, to the +obligation of which they as well as the rest of the land, are +indispensibly bound.</p> + +<p>But ah! when we mention these Covenants, how notorious +and palpable is the breach of, and indignity done to these +solemn vows by this sinful Union, by means whereof they +come to be buried in perpetual oblivion, and all means for +prosecuting their ends are so blockt up by this incorporating +Union with England, as that what ever is or may be done +or acted contrair thereunto, or in prejudice thereof by any +of the enemies of the same, cannot be remeided in a due +and impartial exercise of church discipline, and execution of +the laws of the land against such transgressors. And if we +would open our eyes and consider a little with reference to +our national Covenant, we may clearly see that this incorporating +Union is directly contrar to that particular oath +and vow made to God by us in this kingdom, which we are +obliged to fulfill and perform in a national state and +capacity, as we are a particular nation by ourselves, distinct +in the constitution of our government and laws from these +of England, and from all others: But now when we cease to +be a particular nation, we being no way distinct from that of +England (which is the very genuine and inevitable effect of +this Union) how then can we keep our national vows to +God, when we shall not be a particular nation, but only (by +means of this incorporating Union) made a part of another +nation, whose government is manag'd, as is very well +known, in many things directly contrar to what is contained +in this national Covenant of this land; though we have +charity to believe, there shall multitudes be found in the +land who will grant and acknowledge themselves bound to +the observation of that oath by an indispensibility, which no +power on earth can disolve.</p> + +<p>And what a palpable breach is this wicked Union of our +Solemn League and Covenant, which was made and sworn +with uplifted hands to the most High God, for purging and +reforming His house in these three nations from error, heresie, +superstition and profaneness, and whatever is contrar to +sound and pure doctrine, worship, discipline, and government +in the same: And so it involves this nation in most fearful +perjury before God, being contrar to the very first article of +the Covenant wherein we swear to contribute our outmost +endeavours in our several places and callings to reform +England in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government; +but by this Union both we and they are bound up for ever +from all endeavours and attempts of this nature, and have +put ourselves out of a capacity to give any help or assistance +that way; But on the contrar they came to be hardened in +their deformation, impious and superstitious courses. And +how far contrar to the second article, where we solemnly +abjure prelacy for ever, when by this Union, prelacy comes +for ever to be established and settled on the surest and +strongest foundations imaginable, as is evident from the +ratification of the articles in the English Parliament, with +the exemplification of the same in the Scots Parliament, +where the prelatick government in England is made a +foundamental article of the Union: so it is also impossible +for us to fulfill the other part of that article, where we +forswear schism, which a legal tolleration of errors will infer +and fix among us, as the native result and inevitable consequence +of this Union; and how far this is contrar to the +Word of God, and to our covenants, any considering person +may decern. As to the third article, any may see how +far it is impossible for us to preserve the rights, liberties, +and priviledges of Parliament and kingdom, when +divested both of our Parliaments and liberties in a distinct +national way, or yet as according to the same article, where +we are obliged to maintain and defend the king, his +majesty's person and government in defence and preservation +of the true religion; how can it be supposed, that we +can answer our obligation to this part of the Covenant, when +a corrupt religion is established, as is by this Union already +done, when prelatick government is made a foundamental +thereof. And it is a clear breach of the fourth article of the +Solemn League and Covenant, where we swear to oppose all +malignants and hinderers of reformation and religion, and +yet by this Union, the prelats, who themselves are the very +malignants and enemies to all further reformation in religion +are hereby settled and secured in all their places of power +and dignity, without the least appearance or ground of +expectation of any alteration for ever.</p> + +<p>How offensive and displeasing unto God this accursed +Union is, may be further evident by its involving this land +in a sinful conjunction and association with prelats, malignants, +and many other enemies to God and Godliness, and +stated adversaries to our reformation of religion and sworn-to +principles in our Covenants National and Solemn League, and +particularly as this Union imbodys and units us in this land +in the strickest conjunction and association with England, a +land so deeply already involved in the breach of Covenant, +and pestered with so many sectaries, errors and abominable +practices, and joins us in issue and interest with these that +are tollerators, maintainers and defenders of these errors, +which the Word of God strictly prohibits, and our sacred +Covenants plainly and expressly abjures. And further, how +far and deeply it ingages this land in a confedracy and +association with God's enemies at home and abroad in their +expeditions and counsels; a course so often prohibeted by +God in His word, and visibly pleagued in many remarkable +instances of providences, as may be seen both in sacred and +historical records, and the unlawfulness thereof, on just and +scriptural grounds, demonstrate by famous divines, even of +our own Church and nation, and set down as a cause of +God's wrath against this Church and kingdom. And how +detestable must such an Union be, whose native tendency +leads to wear off, from the dissenting party in England, all +sight, sense, consideration and belief of the indispensibility +of the Solemn League, and hardening enemies in their +opposition to it, and these of all ranks in the habitual breach +of it: yea also, how shamefully it leads to the obliterating +and extinguishing all the acts of parliaments and assemblies +made in favours of these covenants and reformation, +especially between 1638 and 1649 inclusive. And not only +so, but to a trampling on all the blood of martyrs during +the late tyrannical reigns, and a plain burying of all the +testimonies of the suffering and contending party in this +land, in their firm, faithful and constant adherance to the +covenanted work of reformation, and their declarations, +protestations, and wrestlings against all the indignities done +unto, and usurpations made upon the royal crown and +prerogative of the Mediator, and all the priviledges and +instrinsick rights of this Church; we say, not only burying +these in perpetual oblivion by this cope-stone of the land's +sins and defections, but also opposing and condemning +these as matters of the least concern and trivial, as not +being worthy of the contending and suffering for, whereby +these who ventured their lives and their all, may be reputed +to have dyed as fools, and suffered justly.</p> + +<p>We cannot here omit also to declare and testify against +the constitution of the British Parliament, not only upon the +consideration of the foresaid grounds and reasons, but also +upon the account of the sinful mixture and unlawful admission +of bishops and churchmen, to have a share in the +legislative power, or in any place in civil courts or affairs, +and thereto act or vote forensically in civil matters, a thing +expressly forbidden and discharged by Christ the only Head +and Lord of His own house, whose Kingdom, as Mediator, +is not of this world, but purely spiritual; and so the officers +in His house must be spiritual; so that the civil power of +Church men is a thing inconsistent and incompatible with +that sacred and spiritual function. Upon which consideration, +how palpable a sin will it be to subject to, or accept +of any oath that may be imposed by the said British Parliament, +for the maintenance and support of such an Union, or +for recognoseing, owning and acknowledging the authority +of the said Parliament, and that because of our swearing, +and promising subjection to the said Parliament, we do +thereby homologate the foresaid sinful constitution, and +swear, and promise subjection to the bishops of England +who are a considerable part of that Parliament, and so we +shall be bound and oblidged to maintain and uphold them +in their places, dignities, and offices, which is contrar to the +Word of God and our covenants, while the very first article +of the Solemn League oblidges us to endeavour the reformation +of the religion in the kingdom of England, in doctrine, +worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word +of God, as well as in Scotland. And it is very well known +that the government of bishops is not according to the +Word of God, but contrar to it, and likeways contrar the +second article of the Solemn League whereby we are obliged +to the extirpation of prelacy, that is, church government by +archbishops, bishops, &c., which we will be obliged by such an +oath to maintain and defend. And besides, from the consideration +of the person that by the patrons and establishes +of this Union, and by the second article of the Union itself, +is nominated and designed to succeed after the decease of +the present Queen Anne, in the government of these nations, +to wit the Prince of Hanover, who hath been bred and +brought up in the Luthren religion, which is not only +different from, but even in many things contrar unto that +purity, in doctrine, reformation, and religion, we in these +nations had attained unto, as is very well known. Now, the +admitting such a person to reign over us, is not only contrar +to our Solemn League and Covenant, but to the very Word +of God itself; requiring and commanding one from among +their brethren, and not a stranger who is not a brother, to be +set over them: whereby undoubtedly is understood, not +only such who were of consanguinity with the people of the +land, but even such as served and worshipped the God of +Israel; and not any other, and that in the true and perfect +way of worshipping and serving Him, which He Himself +hath appointed, as they then did, to which this intended +succession is quite contrary. And besides this, he is to be +solemnly engaged and sworn to the prelats of England, to +maintain, protect, and defend them in all their dignities, +dominion, and revenues, to the preventing and excluding all +reformation out of these nations for ever.</p> + +<p>And upon the like and other weighty reasons and considerations +(as popish education, conversation, etc.) We +protest against, and disown the pretended Prince of Wales +from having any just right to rule or govern these nations, +or to be admitted to the Government thereof: and whereas +(as is reported) we are maliciously aspersed by these who +profess themselves of the Presbyterian perswasion, especially +the Laodicean preachers, that we should be accessory to the +advancement of him whom they call the Prince of Wales to +the throne of Britain: Therefore to let all concerned be fully +assured of the contrary, We protest and testifie against all +such so principled to have any right to rule in thir lands, +because we look upon all such to be standing in a stated +opposition to God and our covenanted work of reformation. +Not that we contemn, deny or reject civil government and +governours (as our former declared principles to the world +make evident) but are willing to maintain, own, defend and +subject to all such governours as shall be admitted according +to our Covenants, and laws of the nation, and act in +defence of our covenanted work of reformation, and in +defence of the nations ancient liberties and priviledges, +according to the laudable laws and practique of this +kingdom.</p> + +<p>And further, We cannot but detest, abominate and abhor, +and likeways protest against the vast and unlimitted +tolleration of error and sectaries, which, as a necessary and +native consequence of this Union, will inevitably follow +thereupon, and whereby a plain and patent way is laid open +for these errors, which will certainly have a bad influence +upon all the parts, pieces, and branches of the reformation, +both in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, yea +even upon the most momentuous and fundamental articles +of the Christian faith: For hereby Anabaptists, Erastians, +Socinians, Arminians, Quakers, Theists, Atheists, and Libertines +of all kinds, with many others (which abound and swarm +in that land) will come crouding and thronging in among us, +venting and vomiting up their damnable and hellish tenets +and errors to the destruction of souls, and great dishonour of +God in many respects, and that without any check or control +by civil authority, as is evident from the present practice of +England, as having gotten full and free libertie for all this +by means of this accursed Union. How then ought not +every one to be affrayed, when incorporating themselves with +such a people so exposed to the fearful and tremendous +judgments of God, because of such gross impieties and +immoralities (not that our land is free of such hainous +wickednesses as may draw down a judgment, but there these +evils are to a degree) for what unparalelled, universal, +national perjury is that land guilty of, both toward God and +man (though there were no more) by the breach of the +Solemn League and Covenant that they once made with +this nation, for the defence and reformation of religion: but +also what abominable lasciviousness, licentiousness, luxury, +arrogancy, impiety, pride and insolence, together with the +vilest of whoredoms, avowed breach of Sabbath, and most +dreadful blasphemies, yea, the contempt of all that's sacred +and holy; gets liberty to reign and predomine without +check or challenge, so that joining with such people, cannot +but expose us, as well as them, to the just judgment of +God, while continuing in these sins.</p> + +<p>And here we cannot pass by the unfaithfulness of the +present ministers (not that we judge all of them to be cast +in the same ballance) who at the first beginning of this work +seemed to be so zealously set against it, and that both in their +speeches, sermons and discourses (which was duty). But +yet in a very little after flinched from, and became generally +so dumb, silent, indifferent or ambiguous to the admiration +of many, so that people knew not what to construct.</p> + +<p>But from what cause or motive they were so influenced, +they know best themselves: Sure their duty both to God +and man was, to shew and declare how shameful, hurtful, +and highly sinful this course was as so circumstantiat. And +if ministers faithfulness and zeal to the concerns of Christ +had led them to such freedom and plainness, as was duty +in such a matter, and had discovered how contrary this +Union was to the fundamental laws and sworn principles, by +all probability they might have had such influence as to +stop such an unhallowed and unhappy project. But it seems +their policy hath utwitted their piety, their pleasing of Man +in conniving at, if not complying with their design that was +carried on, hath weighed more with them, than the pleasing +of God, in their witnessing and testifying against it. (But +to say no more) by the negligence of ministers on the one +hand, and the politicks of statesmen on the other hand, this +wicked and naughty business has been carryed on and +accomplished, to the provocking of God, enslaving the +nation, and bringing the same under manifest perjury and +breach of Covenant. But how to evite the judgments +pronunced against such, we know not, but by returning to +their first love, taking up their first ground, and standing to +sworn Covenants, solemnly unto God, and adhereing to the +cause of God, and the faithful testimonies of this Church, +and seeking back unto the old path, abandoning and +shaking off and forsaking all these God-provoking and land-ruining +courses; we say, We know and are perswaded, there +can be no mean to retrive us in this land, but by unfeigned +repentance, and returning unto Him from whom we have +so deeply revolted. And among the politicks of this Age, +it could not but be reckoned the wisdom of the nation, if +ever they get themselves recovered out of the snare, to +animadvert upon all such, as have had any hand in the +contriving or manadging it, as being enemies both to God +and their country; which course, if it had been taken in +former times, with such who were enemies to religion and +liberty, it would have deterred such from being so active in +this fatal stroak.</p> + +<p>Upon these and many more weighty considerations, plain +and demonstrable evils in this complex mass of sin and +misery, all the true lovers of Zion who desire to be found +faithful to God, to their vows and sworn principles, and who +seek to be found faithful in their generation and duty of the +day: and all such, who desire, love and respect the honour, +independency, liberty and priviledge of their native countrey, +especially in such a juncture, when long threatned judgments +are so imminent, and religion and liberty as it were, in their +last breathing, will easily find it to be their bound duty (as +they would not conspire with adversaries to religion and +liberty) to show no favour or respect, and give no encouragement +or assistance that may tend to the upholding or +supporting this Union; but that it is their duty and concernment +(as well as ours) to testify and declare against the +same, and to concurr with their utmost endeavours to stop +and hinder the same, and to deny their accession to, connivance +at, or complyance with any thing that may tend to +the continuing such an unsupportable yoke upon themselves +or their posterity.</p> + +<p>And now to draw this, our protestation, to a conclusion, +we heartily invite, and in the bowels of our Lord Jesus +Christ intreat all in both nations, who tender the glory +of God, the removing the causes of His wrath, indignation +and imminent judgments upon us, and who desire +the continuance of His tabernacle, gospel ordinances, and +gracious presence among us, and seek and contend earnestly +for the faith once delivered to the saints; and labour to +follow the footsteps of these who throu' faith and patience +inherit the promise, the noble cloud of witnesses who have +gone before us; we say, we heartily invite and intreat +such to consider their ways, and to come and join in a +harmonious, zealous, and faithful withstanding all and +every thing that may be like a hightning, or cope-stone +of our defections, and particularly to join with us +(according to our reformation, Covenants, Confession of +Faith, and testimonies of our Church, as agreeable to the +sacred and unerring rule of faith and manners, the Holy +Scriptures) in this our protestation and testimony. And +for these effects, we desire that this our protestation may be +a standing testimony to present and succeeding ages, against +the sinfulness of this land-ruining, God-provoking, soul +destroying and posterity-enslaving and ensnaring Union, +and this <i>ad futurum rei memoriam</i>. And to evite the brand +and odium of passing the bounds of our station, and that +this our protestation may be brought to the view of the +world; we have thought fit to publish and leave a copy of +the same at Sanquhar by a part of our number, having the +unanimous consent of the whole so to do.</p> + +<p><i>Given on the 2nd day of October, 1707</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SECESSION_FROM_THE_REVOLUTION_CHURCH21" id="SECESSION_FROM_THE_REVOLUTION_CHURCH21"></a>SECESSION FROM THE REVOLUTION CHURCH.<span style="font-size: 75%"><a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></span></h2> + + +<p>We, Mr. John Mackmillan, present minister of the Gospel +at Balmaghie, and Mr. John Mackneil, Preacher of the +Gospel, being most odiously and invidiously represented to +the world as schismaticks, separatists and teachers of +unsound and divisive doctrine, tending to the detriment +of Church and State, and especially by Ministers with +whom we were embodied, while there remained any hope +of getting grievances redressed. Therefore, that both Ministers +and Professors may know the unaccountableness of +such aspersions, let it be considered that this backsliding +Church (when we with others might have been big with +expectations for advancement in Reformation) continued in +their defections from time to time, still, as occasion was +given, evidencing their readiness to comply with every new +backsliding course, instance that of the Oath of Alledgance, +and Bond of Assurance to the present Queen; which additional +step to the former gave occasion and rise to our +unhappy contentions and divisions. And now at this time, +for the glory of God, the vindication of truth and of ourselves +(as conscience and reason obligeth us), to make +evident to the world the groundlesness of these aspersions +and calumnies as renters and dividers, and particularly +in the commissions late odious and malicious lybel, wherein +are contained many gross falsehoods, such as swearing +persons not to pay cess, and travelling throw the country +with scandalous persons in arms, which, as they are odious +culumnies in themselves, so they will never be proven by +witnesses: and, as to our judgment anent the cess, we reckon +it duty in the people of God to deny and withhold all +support, succour, aid, or assistance that may contribute to +the upholding or strengthening the man of sin, or any of +the adversaries of truth, (as the Word of God instructs us) +or for supporting any in such a way, as tending to the +establishing the kingdom of Satan, and bringing down the +kingdom of the Son of God, in a course tending this way, +how deeply these nations are engadged (contrar to the +Word of God and our indispensible oaths and covenants, +whereby these lands were solemnly devoted to God) is too +palpable and plain, especially in the sinful terms of the late +God provoking, religion destroying, and land ruining union: +we judge it most necessary to give to the world a brief and +short account of our principles in what we own or disown +(referring for larger, more ample information, to several +protestations and testimonies given by some of the godly +heretofore at different times and places) and hereby that +truth may be vindicated and our consciences exonered.</p> + +<p>We declare to the world our hearty desire to embrace +and adhere to the written Word of God, contained in the +Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as the only +and compleat rule and adequat umpire of faith and manners, +and whatever is founded thereupon, and agreeable thereunto; +such as our Confession of Faith; Larger and Shorter +Catechisms; Directory for Worship; Covenants National +and Solemn League; the acknowledgment of sin and +engagement to duties; causes of God's wrath, and the +ordinary and perpetual officers of Christ's appointment, as +pastors, doctors, elders and deacons, and the form of +Church government, commonly called Presbyterian.</p> + +<p>Next, we declare our firm adherence to all the faithful +contendings for truth, whether of old or of late, by ministers +and professors, and against whatever sinful courses, whether +more refined or more gross, and particularly the public resolutions +Cromwel's usurpation, the toleration of sectaries, and +heresies in his time, and against the sacraligious usurpation +and tyranny of Charles II., the unfaithfulness of ministers and +professors in complying with him, and accepting his indulgences +first and last. And in a word to everything agreeable +to the matter of this our testimony, as it is declared in +page 25 and 26 of the Informatory Vindication; printed +<i>Anno</i> 1687.</p> + +<p>Likeways, we declare our adherence unto the testimony +against the abominable toleration granted by the Duke of +York, and given in to the ministers at Edinburgh, by that +faithful minister and now glorified martyr, Mr. James +Renwick, January 17, 1688. And to whatever wrestlings or +contendings have been made, or testimonies given against +the endeavours of any in their subtle and sedulous striving +to insinuate and engadge us in a sinful confederacy with a +malignant interest and cause, contrar to the Word of God, +our Solemn League and Covenant, and testimony of this +Church.</p> + +<p>Next, we bear testimony against persons being invested +with royal power and authority in thir covenanted lands, +without a declaration of their hearty complyance with, and +approbation of the National and Solemn League and +Covenant and engadgment to prosecute the ends thereof, +by consenting to and ratifying all acts and laws made in +defence of these Covenants, agreeable to the Word of God, +and laudable acts and practise of this kirk and kingdom in +our best times.</p> + +<p>Moreover, we bear testimony against all confederacies and +associations with popish prelats and malignants, contrary to +the Word of God and our solemn engadgments. The +magistrats adjourning and dissolving of assemblies, and not +allowing them time to consider and exped their affairs: their +appointing them dyets and causes of Fasts, particularly that +in January 14: and the Thanksgiving Aug. 26, <i>Anno</i> 1708, +which is a manifest encroachment upon, and destructive to +the priviledges of this Church: their protecting of curats in +the peaceable exercise of their ministry, some in kirks, others +in meeting houses, yea, even in the principal city of the +kingdom, if qualified according to law by swearing the +Oath of Alledgance. Their not bringing unto condign punishment +enemies to the Covenant and cause of God, but +advancing such to places of power and trust: all which we +here bear testimony against.</p> + +<p>Next, we bear testimony against lukewarmness and +unfaithfulness in ministers anent the corruptions and +defections the Church was guilty of in the late times, not +yet purged and removed by censures, and other ways, as was +duty. And their not leaving faithful and joint testimonies +against all the encroachments made upon the Church by +the civil powers, since the year 1690. And we bear testimony +against the settling the constitution of this Church, +according as it was established in the year 1592. And the +ministers not testifying against this deed, seems to import +a disowning all the reformation attained to betwixt 1638 and +1649 inclusive. At least cowardice in not daring to avouch +the same, or their being ashamed to own it, because many +famous and faithful acts of assemblies, especially about the +year 1648, would have made them lyable to censure, even +to the length of silencing and deposition; for their defection +and unfaithfulness during the late times, of the lands +apostasie. Particularly, the weakning the hands and +discouraging the hearts of the Lord's suffering people, by +their bitter expressions, and aspersions cast on them for +their zeal and tenderness, which would not allow them to +comply with a wicked, arbitrary and bloody council as many +of them did. Their not renewing the Covenant buried for +upwards of fifty years by the greatest part of the land, +contrar to the former practise of this Church, especially +after some grosser steps of defection. Their receiving of +perjured curats into ministerial communion, without covenant +tyes and obligations and evident signs of their repentance, +contrary to the former practise of this Church. Their +receiving some lax tested men, and curates, elders, into kirk +offices, without some apparent signs at least of their repentance +in a publick appearance, contrar to the former practise +of this Church in such like cases, evident by the Acts of +the Assemblies. Their not protesting formally, faithfully +and explicitly against the magistrate adjourning and dissolving +of Assemblies, and recording the same, contrar to the +practise of this Church in our reforming times. We are not +concerned to notice the protestation of some few persons at +particular times, seeing their precipitancy and rashness in +this matter, (as they accounted it) was afterward apologized +for; and that it was not the deed of the Assembly. Their +not asserting in any explicit and formal act the divine right +of Presbytry, and the instrinsick power of the Church, +though often desired by many privat Christians, and some +several members, their not confirming and ratifying the +Acts of the Assemblies that were made in our best times +for strengthening and advancing the work of reformation, +contrar to the former practise of this Church. Their +admitting in many places, ignorant and scandalous persons +to the Lord's table, contrar to the Acts of former Assemblies: +Their not protesting against the present sinful confederacy +with papists, malignants, and other enemies of religion and +godliness; contrar to the Word of God, and former practise +of this Church: their offensive partiality in their respective +judicatories as to some particular members, where, the +more lax and scandalous are overlooked and past by, and +the more faithful and zealous are severely dealt with and +handled, contrar to the rule of equity and the former practise +of this Church: Their refusing and shifting to receive and +redress the people's just and great grievances, and little +regard had to prevent the giving offence to the Lord's +people, and small endeavours to have these things removed +that are stumbling and offensive to them, contrar to the +Apostle's rule and practise, who became all things to all +Men that by all means he might save some: their not +declaring faithfully and freely against the sins of the land +former and latter, without respect of persons, contrar to that +express precept, "Set the trumpet to thy mouth, and show +My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob +their sin."</p> + +<p>Lastly, we bear testimony against Ministers sinful and +shameful silence, when called to speak and act by preaching +and protesting against this unhallowed Union, which, as it is +already the stain, so we swear it will prove the ruin and +bain of this poor nation; though some of them, we grant, +signified their dislike thereof, before and about the time it +was concluded, yet there was no plain and express protestation, +faithfully and freely given in to the Parliament, shewing +the sinfulness and danger of this cursed Union, being contrar, +not only to the honour, interest, and fundamental laws, +and constitutions of the kingdom, and a palpable surrender +of the sovereignty, rights and priviledges of the nation, but +also a manifest breach of our Solemn League and Covenant, +which was made and sworn with uplifted hands to the most +high God, for purging and reforming the three nations from +error, heresy, superstition and prophaneness, and whatever is +contrar to sound doctrine, the power of godliness, and the +purity of worship, discipline and government in the same. +And so it involves this nation into a most fearful perjury +before God, being contrar to the first article of the Covenant, +wherein we swear to contribute with our outmost endeavours, +in our several places and callings, to reform England in +Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government; But by +this Union we are bound up for ever from all endeavours +and attempts of this nature, and have put ourselves out of +all capacity to give any help or assistance that way, as ye may +see more fully in the late protestation against the Union, +published at Sanquhar, October 22, 1707.</p> + +<p>Let none say, That what we have done here flows from +ambition to exalt ourselves above others, for as we have great +cause, so we desire grace from the Lord, to be sensible of +what accession we have with others in the land, to the +provoking of His Spirit, in not walking as becomes the +Gospel, according to our Solemn Engagements, neither +proceeds it from irritation or inclination (by choice or +pleasure) to discover our mother's nakedness or wickedeness, +or that we love to be of a contentious spirit, for our witness +is in heaven (whatever the world may say) that it would be +the joy of our hearts, and as it were a resurrection from the +dead, to have these grievances redressed and removed, and +our backsliding and breaches quickly and happily healed, +but it is to exoner consciences by protesting against the +defections of the land, especially of Ministers: and seeing +we can neither with safety to our persons, nor freedom in +our consciences, compear before the Judicatories, while these +defections are not acknowledged and removed, so we must, +so long decline them, and hereby do decline them, as +unfaithful judges in such matters: in regard they have, in so +great a measure, yielded up the priviledges of the Church +into the hands and will of her enemies, and carried on a +course of defection contrar to the Scriptures, our Covenants, +and the acts and constitutions of this our Church. And +hereby we further protest and testify against whatever they +may conclude, or determine, in their ecclesiastick courts by +acts, ratifications, sentences, censures, &c., that have been, +or shall be made or given out by them, and protest that the +same may be made void and null, and not interpreted as +binding to us or any who desire firmly to adhere to the +Covenanted work of Reformation.</p> + +<p>But let none look upon what we have here said, to be +a vilipending or rejecting of the free, lawful, and rightly +constitute courts of Christ, for we do acknowledge such to +have been among the first most effectual means appointed +of God for preserving the purity and advanceing the power +of reformation in the Church of Christ; the sweet fruits +and blessed effects whereof, this Church hath sometimes +enjoyed, and which we have been endeavouring and seeking +after, and are this day longing for.</p> + +<p>We detest and abhorr that principle of casting off the +ministry, wherewith we are odiously and maliciously +reproached by these who labour to fasten upon us the +hateful names of schismaticks, separatists, despisers of the +Gospel: but, herein as they do bewray their enmity to the +cause we own, so till they bring in their own principles and +practices, and ours also, and try them by the law and +testimony, the measuring line of the sanctuary, the Word of +God, and the practice of this Church, when the Lord +keeped house with, and rejoiced over her as a bridegroom +over his bride, they can never prove us schismaticks or +separatists from the kirk of Scotland upon the account of +our non-union with the backslidden multitude, ministers +and others.</p> + +<p>Finally, that we may not be judged by any, as persons of +an infallible spirit, and our actions above the cognisance of +the judicatories of Christ's appointment: we appeal to the first +free, faithful and rightly constitute Assembly in this +Church, to whose decision and sentence in the things, +lybelled against us we willingly refer ourselves, and crave +liberty to extend and enlarge this our Protestation, Declinature, +and Appeal as need requires.</p> + +<p class="right"> +JO. MACKMILLAN.<br /> +JO. MACKNEIL.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>BALMAGHIE MANSE, <i>Sept. 24th, 1708</i>.</p> + +<h5><a name="THE_CHIEFEST_AMONG_TEN_THOUSAND" id="THE_CHIEFEST_AMONG_TEN_THOUSAND"></a>"THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND."</h5> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> +<h5><a name="AIRD_COGHILL_PRINTERS_GLASGOW" id="AIRD_COGHILL_PRINTERS_GLASGOW"></a>AIRD & COGHILL PRINTERS, GLASGOW.</h5> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES:</h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> This Exhortation was prepared by "Reverend Ministers of the Gospel," +who met at Edinburgh, February, 1638, and "sent to every one of the Lords +of Council severally," inviting them to subscribe the Covenant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Aberdeen, Crail and St. Andrews were the only burghs in Scotland that +had no Commissioners at the renewing of the National Covenant in +Edinburgh. Henderson was appointed to proceed to St. Andrews to +secure its approval of the movement, and his mission resulted in complete +success. This sermon was preached there about the end of March, 1638.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The author of this "Discourse and Exhortation" and of the two +Sermons that follow, was ordained minister of Pitsligo, and in 1664 was +inducted to St. Nicholas' Church, Aberdeen. Part of the inscription on +his tombstone is, "A Boanerges and Barnabas: a Magnet and Adamant." +He was a member of the Assembly at Glasgow, 1638. This Exhortation +was at the renewing of the National Covenant at Inverness, 25th +April, 1638.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> This sermon was delivered in 1638, immediately after the Renovation +of the National Covenant and Celebration of the Lord's Supper.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> This sermon was preached at a "General Meeting" in Greyfriars +Church, Edinburgh, on 13th June, 1638, after the Renovation of the +Covenant. In Erskine's edition, Black-Fryar is a misprint for Gray-Fryar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Mr. Nye was an Independent and a distinguished member of the +Westminster Assembly. This Exhortation was given to the House of +Commons and the "Reverend Divines" of the Westminster Assembly +before they took the Solemn League and Covenant, and was published by +order of the House of Commons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> This Address was given to the House of Commons and the Westminster +Assembly before taking the Covenant and was published by order +of the House of Commons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Mr. White.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Mr. Nye.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Mr. Henderson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Dr. Gouge.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Mr. Caryl was a member of the Westminster Assembly. This Sermon +was given at Westminster "at that Publick Convention (ordered by the +Honourable House of Commons) for the taking of the Covenant, by all +such of all Degrees as wilfully presented themselves, upon Friday, October +6, 1643." The House of Commons thanked Caryl for the Sermon and +ordered its publication.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Mr. Case, a member of the Westminster Assembly, gave this sermon +and the one that follows, at the taking of the Covenant in Milk Street +Church, London; the former on Saturday evening, 30th September, 1643, +and the other on 1st October, on "the Sabbath-day in the morning," +immediately before the Covenant was taken. Both sermons, together with +one on the Fast, 27th September, wore dedicated to the Commissioners +from the Church of Scotland to the Westminster Assembly.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> This Sermon was delivered by Rev. Edmond Calamy, a member of the +Westminster Assembly, on January 14, 1645, "before the then Lord Mayor +of the City of London, Sir Thomas Adams; together with the Sheriffs, +Aldermen, and Common Council of the said City, being the day of their +taking the Solemn League and Covenant, at Michael Basenshaw, London."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> The coronation of Charles II. took place at Scone, 1st January, 1651. +In the "chamber of presence," the nation's representatives invited the +King to accept the crown; to which the King replied: "I do esteem +the affections of my good people more than the crown of many Kingdoms, +and shall be ready, by God's assistance, to bestow my life in their defence, +wishing to live no longer than I may see religion and this kingdom flourish +in all happiness." Thereafter, they proceeded to the "Kirk of Scoon, in +order and rank, and according to their quality." The "King first settles +himself in his chair for hearing of sermon. All being quietly composed +unto attention, Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator of the Commission of the +General Assembly, after incalling on God by prayer, preached the following +sermon." After the Sermon, the king took the National Covenant and the +Solemn League and Covenant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> This second coronation oath is inserted in the 15th act of parliament, +and in the parliament, Feb. 7th, 1649; and is, with the first coronation +oath following, insert and approven in the declaration of the General +Assembly 27th July, 1649.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> At Torwood, Stirlingshire, September 1660, Donald Cargill pronounced +this sentence of Excommunication against Charles II.; the Dukes of York, +Monmouth, Lauderdale, and Rothes; Sir George M'Kenzie, the King's +Advocate; and Dalziell of Binns.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> There were several acts for the suppression of field preachings. This +one was prepared by Archbishop Sharpe and issued in 1670.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> On June 22nd, 1680, this Declaration was read by Richard Cameron at +Sanquhar, amid the breathless silence of the inhabitants who flocked to the +spot. It marked "an epoch," writes Burton, "in the career of the +Covenanters."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> The faithful followers of the Reformers and Martyrs, who could not +identify themselves with the Church and State at the Revolution, maintained +their separate existence and testimony through their "Societies," and they +prepared and published this paper against the Union with England. Its +full title is "The Protestation and Testimony of the United Societies of the +witnessing Remnant of the anti-Popish, anti-Prelatic, anti-Erastian, anti-Sectarian, +true Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland, against the sinful +incorporating Union with England and their British Parliament, concluded +and established, May, 1707."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> The Rev. John Mackmillan, minister of Balmaghie, endeavoured for +years to convince the Established Church that the Church had submitted +at the Revolution to invasions of her independence by the State, and to +persuade her to return to the attainments of the Reformation. Bitter +opposition to his efforts led to his secession from the Church, after tabling +this "Protestation, Declinature and Appeal." Mr. John Mackneil joined +in the Declinature. A tablet in memory of Mr. Mackmillan has been +recently erected in Balmaghie Church by his great-great-grandson, Dr. +John Grieve, Glasgow. Part of the inscription is, "A Covenanter of the +Covenanters: a Father of the Reformed Presbyterian Church: a Faithful +Minister of Jesus Christ."</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Covenants And The Covenanters, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 19100-h.htm or 19100-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/0/19100/ + +Produced by Jordan Dohms and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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