Discipline as well as Doctrine and worship That you would go on vigorously in the prosecution of your late Solemne League and Covenant and the Ordinance of both Kingdomes published January 20 1643 and particularly for the thorough suppression and rooting out of all Sects Schismes and erroneous doctrines destructive to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse and tending to libertinisme and disobedience to God and man That our Armies may be quickned to be more active follow opportunities which may be of unspeakable consequence That reproachers and scorners of godlinesse and conscience by nick-names may be questionable and severely punished by a law That you would be exceeding cautious of confiding in them about Treaties who keep no Faith That Arminianisme and Socinianisme the enemies to free grace and Romes Decoy-ducks to bring in Popery be timely throughly supprest That seandalous and Popish Magistrates that regard not the Execution of Justice be removed and approved just men fearing God and hating coveteousnesse and unrighteousnesse be placed in their roomes in all places That Contemners of your former good Orders be severely punished Wakes and unnecessiry Ale-houses and Play-houses the very nurcerics of vice and randevouz for all prophane wretches be suppressed That the joynt consent and happy concurrence of the Noble Peers with your House may be still continued Especially that they and you would use all possiole meanes and speed that His Royall Majestie may have a right understanding of your just desires and proceedings and would with the Prince be graciously pleased to returne to His Parliament All which I mention not to shew you what to do impute not such folly to your humble servant but in all humility to spread before your wisdoms what is by many thousands heartily desired humbly craved according as in your pious and deep wisdom shall seem most agreable to the rules of piety true Christian prudence and polity which surely will compleat the blessed work of Reformation begun make this a most slourishing Church and State amiable to our God glorious to our friends terrible to our enemies and make you and your Posterities renowned while this is a Nation And because your difficulties be very many and great therefore heare a word of encouragement from him who greatly honours you and your Assembly and whose duty it is ex efficio speciali to teach instruct exhort reprove c. The cause you are about is eminently good and of great importance God and all good men are on your side and though your adversaries be many mighty and politick yet God your Master whose work you are about is stronger and wiser then they all and one Jacob can do more with God for you then 400. Edowites can do against you And though our enemies should prevaile yet ten times * See my View of the Solemne League p 5. c. more yet cast not off your confidence in God but remember that when we are lowest then are we neerest deliverance and when our enemies are highest then are they neerest destruction And Honoured Worthies you have found God going along with you so scattering your enemies and furthering his worke even by their wicked plots and oppositions that you should now greatly dishonour God and the cause if you should suffer any thing to discourage you or make you feare the perfecting of the long and much desired work of Reformation in its due time only if Religion and the worship of God and the discipline of Jesus Christ be first setled then other evills how great soever will vanish away till then it cannot certainly be expected It is true it is not possible it should be done in a trice the greatnesse and exactnesse of the work the great deale of rubbish in the house of God both wretched persons and things and the great oppositions which great and good works meet with must of necessity make the work long Wherefore Noble Senators arme your selves with patience and resolution alwayes look as upon the work with one eye so at Gods glory and the publick good and upon Gods power wisdom goodnesse promise and faithfullnesse with the other regard not the person and face of any but Justice Gods glory and the Publike good and doubt not of a desired issue in due time which is the humble and hearty desire of him who is resolved to his utmost power and to the last breath God inabling by all means lawfull to maintain and defend the true reformed Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations the Kings Majesties Person and Royall Posterity and Legall Authority the power and Priviledges of Parliament together with their persons in all their just and good proceedings the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects c. And endeavour the Reformation of Religion c. according to our late solemn league and Covenant against the enemies of God the King and State and shall till death remain Your daily Oratour at the Throne of Grace THO. MOCKET THE Nationall Covenant DEUT. 29.9 Keep therefore the words of this Covenant and do them that ye may prosper in all that ye do THese words of Moses from God to the people of Israel contain a further reason of the exhortation delivered in the former Chapter of performing Obedience to Gods Commandments which Reason or Argument is two-fold First From the consideration of Gods great and wonderfull mercies and benefits vouchsafed unto them in their deliverance out of Aegypt ver 2.3.4 In their Journey in the Wildernesse v. 5 6. and in the confines of the promised Land v. 7 8. Secondly from their Faith given or promise of Obedience made unto God intimated in the word Covenant in this verse Upon these two Grounds Gods goodnesse to them and their promise to him Moses doth in this Chapter presse them to Obedience in these words Keep therefore the words of this Covenant and do them The words of this Covenant is the Articles and Conditions which the people were by vertue of this Covenant bound to perform unto God This Covenant that is That Covenant which the people of Israel by Gods appointment made with God in the Land of Moab vers 1. which is there said to be another Covenant beside or differing from that which he made with them in Horeb on Mount Sinai where the Covenant was given Exod. 20. not in substance for so it is the same with that but in respect of the persons with whom even all those of Israel who were then unborn or unfit to enter into Covenant with God v. 14 15. And 2. In respect of the place this being neer the border of Canaan in the Country on the out-side of Jordan And thirdly In respect of the manner of revealing Christ who is in this more clearly revealed then on Mount Sinai The Propositions or Points of Doctrine naturally arising from these words are two viz. Doctr. 1. That a Covenant once made must be faithfully observed Or Covenanters must keep touch with God 2. That
shall blot out his name from under heaven and the Lord shall separate him to evill out of all the Tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the Covenant that are written in this book of the Law Mark the grand reason of all this fierce anger of the Lord against such vers 25. Because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers For breaking of Covenant God caused Achan and all his to be stoned and burnt in the sire Iosh 7.11.15 and all Israel suffere I with him they could not stand before their enemies but were routed and smitten before th m. For this very thing Sauls breaking the Covenant made with the Gibionites though long before his time God punished all Israel with three yeers famine and in the end with the death of seven of Saith sons 2 Sam. 21. therefore also God rent the Kingdom from Solomon and gave ten Tribes to his servant Ieroboam 1 King 11 11. All these things give weight to this duty and the point in hand Thus we have seen it opened what a Covenant is what it is to keep it and how Also the point or duty cleerly proved That a Covenant once made may not be broken but must be carefully kept Thus of a Covenant in generall Now with the good leave of the great Assembly I will here take occasion to speak something concerning our Nationall Covenant Vow or Protestation in particular And here I will first set down the Protestation prudently commended to us by the Honorable House in these words I A. B. Do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and estate the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same Doctrine And according to the duty of my Allegiance His Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate As also the Power and Priviledges of Parliaments the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects and every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practice counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained And further that I shal in all just and honorable ways endeavor to preserve the union and peace betwixt the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland And neither for hope fear nor other respect shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation Touching this Nationall Covenant or Protestation we may here observe and consider 1. What we here promise and vow to maintaine and so what we here renounce 2. What it is to maintaine and defend the true Protestant Religion 3. Why for what ends we entred into this Protestation 4. How far this promise and Protestation doth bind us First What we here promise vow and protest viz. divers things which I conceive are in number 7. And the First is to maintaine and defend with our lives power and estate The true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrary to the same Doctrine I will not set downe the principall Doctrines of the true reformed Protestant Religion and the Anti. See M Ley his book entituled A comparison betwixt the late Oath c. Protestant or Popish Doctrines and Innovations which we here protest against I will only set downe some Arguments and Reasons why we should with our lives power and estates maintaine and defend the true reformed Protestant Religion in the generall and consequently every particular branch and part of it against all Popery and Popish Innovations and every part and parcell of Popery and they are these 1. Because God hath commanded it and every one ought to make conscience of the commands of God and to his uttermost power observe and keep them JVDE v. 3. It was needfull for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith viz. the Doctrine of faith which was once delivered to the Saints Not only contend but contend earnestly with all vehemency and intention of spirit with all our might To this purpose also is that of the Apostle to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me and 1 Cor. 16.13 Stand fast in the faith that is both in the doctrine and grace of faith And no lesse is pressed on us Levit. 18.4 5. Deut. 4.40 and 5.32 33. and 6.3 17. and in very many other places Ye shall keep my statutes my iudgemonts my ordinances and commandements And if we cannot without drawing guilt on our soules breake the lawfull just and good commands of superiours how much lesss may we breake the righteous lawes of God 2. Our eternall salvation is built upon this There is no other Religion no other way or meanes in the world by which we can be saved Acts 4.12 1 Cor. 15. â— By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory or hold fast what I preached unto you If we deny renounce or forsake this never looke to goe to Heaven never hope to see the face of God with joy 3. Gods glory is greatly promoted and advanced hereby as by the deny all of the true faith or Religion he is greatly dishonoured it confirmes others in their idolatrous false or superstitious wayes and opens the mouths of the adversaries and wicked men to speake evill of and blaspheme the truth and good wayes of God 4. The true reformed Protestant Religion is the badge of the true Christian and true servants of God their Livery and Cognisance whereby they are distinguished from all I dolaters Pagans Mahumetans Papists and Jewes that still cleave to the Mosaicall Rights long since abolished by Christ Yea by the sincere embracing and profession hereof the true Christians and servants of God are distinguished from all hypocrites 5. The Gospell upon which the true reformed Protestant Religion which we professe and is established as the publick doctrine of this Church of England is undoubtedly built was confirmed by many miracles from Heaven and truly divine Look throughout the whole Book of God and see how many divine Ratifications there have been of the Gospell and consequently of the true Religion which we doe now publickly through Gods great mercy professe It is the same with that of the Apostles and people of God in those first primitive times and which our blessed Saviour himselfe taught professed and sealed with his bloud and this should be a great inducement to us to embrace maintain and defend it to the death 6. This hath been recommended to us by the
heare our cryes remove our grievances supply our wants settle our Religion and peace against the plots and doings of all publicke and private enemies of Church and State or our selves they beare the burden for us spend their time and strength imploy their gifts and engage their estates lives and all for us and therfore we are all deeply engaged to defend and maintaine them and all their just and honourable actions and sticke unto them to stand or fall with them therefore it is that very many thousands from most of the Counties in this Kingdome and Principality of Wales doe in their Petitions offer Themselves their Persons Lives and Estates to defend and maintain as the Kings Majesty so his Parliament in all their just proceedings for the publick good Thus we see there is great Reason why we should with our lives power and estates by all lawfull wayes and means maintaine and defend the true Reformed Protestant Religion the Kings Majesties royall Person Honour and Estate and the Parliament Those three cannot be separated without utter ruine or extreame danger to all three The Declaration of Parliament Jan. 17. 1641. Therefore whosoever goes about to separate and divide these the true Protestant Religion King and Parliament or doth give any councell or endeavour to set or maintaine division or dislike betweene the King and the Parliament is by both Houses of Parliament declared a publicke enemy of the State and peace of this Kingdome and shall be enquired of and proceeded against accordingly The Rebels in Ireland did most shamefully and impudently pretend and still doe in their Protestations and their Oath also to defend and maintaine the King and his Priviledges and Prerogative and yet notwithstanding their deepe vowes and solemn oaths they doe cleane contrary Can they possibly be thought to be and stand for the King that doe most barbarously destroy abuse and spoyle his best Subjects fire his Townes take his Castles Forts and Holds You may be assured that whatsoever the Papist and their adherents and abettours here do or may pretend they have the same spirit and principles and will doe as their brethren and confederates in Ireland have done if and so soon as they have power and opportunity It is a legall principle That the King is the head and the Parliament the representative body of the Kingdome so that he that goes about to divide these doth as he that cuts off the head from the body naturall or destroyes the body naturall and yet sayes he loves the head seekes to advance and honour the head I must therefore here say as our Saviour in another case These whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder It was the policy and advice of a Machivilian to subdue an enemy Divide regna divide them and you may easily overcome them and rule over them A Faggot or bundle of sticks while tyed together there is no breaking of them but take them a sunder and then you may easily breake them all one after another So here while these 3. concurre together we need not feare all the adversaries in the world the Pope Spaniard French Papists c. but if these be divided by the cursed plots of the enemies looke for nothing but ruine or extreme dangers of ruine And therefore it hath been and is the cursed endeavour of our Adversaries to divide betwixt these between us and our Religion and betweene the King and the Parliament and betwixt the Parliamentary houses themselves to oppose one the other and so betwixt the King and his faithfull and most loyall people and Subjects But let it ever be our indeavour to joyne and keep these together and the blessing of him who is the God of peace and unity will rest upon us Magna Charta Petition of Right and the Statutes therin specified Also his Royal Majesty both bin pleased divers times in his Declaratiōs graciously to promise all his good Subjects that he will rule according to the established lawes of the Land a most Princely profession Fourthly we vow and protest to defend and maintaine the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects such are these That no man may breake open another mans house chamber dore study trunkes chests imprison or arrest his person or ceaze on any of his goods but by authority of Law That no tallage or aid shall be laid had or levied by the King or his Heires in the Realme without the good-will and assent in Parliament That no person shall be compelled to make any Lones to the King against his will That none shall be charged by any charge or imposition called a Benevolence without consent in Parliament and such like And there is reason for it for these are the glory of free-borne Subjects and that which doth difference us from slaves and vassals take away our Liberties and bring in an Arbitrary power that the Rulers will and pleasure must stand for a Law and then wherein doe we differ from the veriest slaves in the world it therefore concernes us to defend and maintaine our lawfull Rights and Liberties even nature and common equity binds us to it So that were there no Protestation made and taken yet we are bound as we are Christians by vertue of our Baptisme to defend and maintaine the true Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations as Subjects to maintaine the King our dread Soveraignes Person Honour and Estate as good Common-wealths men the Power and Priviledges of Parliament and the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject Fifthly and marke it well we are here bound by our solemne promise c. with our lives c. to justifie Defend and maintaine every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever hée shall doe in the lawfull pursuance of the same And there is great Reason for this also that we should mutually defend each other for if any suffer in a common cause as the defence and maintenance of the true Religion the Kings Majesties Person Honour and Estate the Power and Priviledges of Parliament c. all suffer in him and therefore all and every one should stand for him So did the Grecians and Barbarians when they went with Cyrus against the Persians Suid. as for themselves The very Heathens would not be wanting to their Country but in a common cause were willing to doe or suffer any thing even the greatest dangers and Christianity should not make more slow but forward to all civill duties tending to the publicke good upon better and higher grounds then nature can afford viz. out of conscience to Gods command true Christian love to our Brethren and Country c. Sixthly under the like engagement we promise vow and protest To oppose and hinder and by all good wayes and meanes indeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practises councels plots conspiracies or otherwise doe the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained As for
universally and constantly conscience cannot but justifie speake peace and so affourd comfort Psal 119 165. Great peace have they that keep thy Law and nothing shall offend them Gal. 6.16 As many as walke according to this rule peace be on them and mercy If we willingly breake Covenant conscience though it may for a time lye quiet and secure being lulled asleep c. yet it will cry out and then no peace no comfort to the wicked saith God Isa 57.21 3. It will be for our safety While we are with God and for God God will be for us and if God be with us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 God will be his protection who keeps Covenant with him Masters that have but a sparke of goodnesse in them will protect and maintaine their servants in all their lawfull undertakings for them Why because they are their servants in covenant with them so God will protect all his servants in all their doings according to his will and at his command because they are in covenant with him He that hath the Kings protection is kept safe from many arrest so he that keeps covenant with God hath his protection and thereby is kept safe from wicked men sinne Satan death and Hell that none of them can truly hurt him but rather their rage and endeavour shall turne to Gods praise and his childrens good 4. If we keep Covenant with God then God will blesse and prosper us We see it in this very Text Keep therefore that ye may prosper in all that ye doe So Deut. 7.12 13. Wherefore it shall come to passe if ye hearken to these judgements and keep and doe them that the Lord shall keep unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers and he will love thee blesse thee and multiply thee he will also blesse the fruit of thy wombe and the fruit of thy land thy corne and thy wine and thine oyle the increase of thy Kine and the flocks of thy Sheep and thou shalt be blessed above all people So Levit. 26.3 to 13. and Deutr. 28.1 to 15. view them over there are great things promised outward blessings to them that keep Covenant with God Excellent also is that place Deut. 4.40 Thou shalt keep his Statutes and his Commandements saith Moses That it may goe well with thee and with thy children after thee c. Psal 103.17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting from everlasting predestination to everlasting glorification but upon whom upon them that seare him to them that keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandements to doe them Brethren here are great things promised and we all desire to have them to live and prosper and be ever blessed why here is the way to keep Covenant with God me thinks all this should much inflame the worldly mans affections to enter into and keep Covenant with God seeing such things are promised to them that doe so 5. If we keep Covenant with God then God will keep Covenant with us if we faulter with God and breake Covenant with him then will he breake Covenant with us and most justly may he doe so Deut. 7.12 It shall come to passe if ye will hearken to these statutes and judgements the Articles of the Covenant on our part to God and keep and doe them That then the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God what is it to remember God but to thinke of our Covenant of obedience to him and doe it and marke what followes That he may establish his Covenant which he sware unto thy fathers So psal 25 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth i.e. all the passages of his providence are out of love for good and shall certainly be made good be performed but to whom to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Brethren would you have God to keep Covenant with you then see that you keep Covenant with him 6. Know that whosoever doth keep Covenant with God them will God owne for his peculiar ones Exod. 19.5 6. Now therefore if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then shall ye be a peculiar people to me above all people Beloved this is a great matter that God here promises That if we will indeed keep Covenant with him then we shall be his peculiar ones as much beloved as highly esteemed of God as a most choice treasure is of men that God the great God of Heaven and Earth should so love esteeme and account of a man a poore weake mortall sinfull man this is wonderfull yet this you see he promiseth to all that keep Covenant with him 7. And for the future God promises great matters and will certainly make them all good to all those that keep Covenant with him they shall have Heaven life eternall immediate communion with and a full fruition of himselfe who is the only alsufficient independent good We have his owne word for it Lev. 26.11 12. and he cannot deny himselfe Therefore a faithfull man that keeps Covenant with God is a happy man a rich man indeed not so much in re as in spe in a present possession as in future reversion and sure promises God himselfe Christ Heaven glory life eternall all is his If a man have a bond of a hundred or a thousand pounds from sure men we say and that truly he is so rich so a faithfull godly man is as rich as the promises Heaven and eternall life yea God and Christ and all is his and therefore he cannot but be most happy who doth now in part and shall fully enjoy him who is all in all If a man had all the creatures all the glory pleasure and comforts of them all yet that all were nothing in comparison of God all without him could not content the minde of man but God himselfe will fully satisfie it which results from all the former 8. It will also be a point of wisedome to keep Covenant with God Deut. 4.5 6. Behold I have taught you Statutes and Judgements the Articles of the Covenant betwixt God and us keep therfore and do them for this is your Wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith a * Father Greg. Nazian Orat. 53. Let a promise made by a vow or Covenant be perfected by performance for it is the part of fooles to faile Oh! my brethren how should the consideration of this so great and manifold good inflame our hearts to this duty That is the 4th motive the benefit Fifthly on the other side thinke of the great evils that will follow upon the wilfull breach of Covenant with God God is greatly dishonoured Religion the peace safety and welfare of the Land is extreamely endangered according to the greatnesse and generallity of
that I will keep thy righteous indgements So the Church and people of God even in the midst of great troubles and afflictions Psal 44.17 18 19. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our heart is not turned backe neither have our steps declined from thy way though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death 2. As godly so godlesse men have been carefull to keep Covenants and promises at least with men Pharaoh a Pagan King bids Joseph goe and performe his Oath which his father made him to sweare though it was a long and chargeable journey Gen. 50.6 And Herod incestuous Herod that made no conscience of incest and murder yet makes scruple of his Oath he would not breake his promise Mat. 14.9 The King was sorry never belesse for his Oathes sake You may observe it that many meere naturall men wholly destitute of the life of grace or any good conscience will notwithstanding be very punctuall in observing their Covenants and promises though to their owne dammage and hurt and should not this greatly shame men that have a name for Religion and would be thought to be some body among the faithfull to be found unfaithfull with God or men What I shall meere naturall worldly unbeleeving men in their kinde goe beyond the children and people of God be more mindfull of their promises and Covenants then the godly then Professors are of their promises to God Yea shall the very Pagans out-strip us Christians in their dealings with men Oh'l let us blush and be ashamed and repent and amend least the men of this world yea the Pagans rise up in judgement against us one day and condemne us Fourthly think of the great good that hereby will redound To God To Men. 1. To God It makes much for his glory It gives him the glory of his excellency that he is worthy of it of his power wisedome goodnesse and faithfulnesse that he can is able ready and will keep Covenant with us but Apostacy revolting breach of Covenant and falling off againe to former evill wayes and courses is most derogatory to Gods glory and dishonourable to his Majesty such a man doth in effect * Diabolum Demino prâ—ponit comparationem enim â—idetur egisse ut dicatur prenunciasse euÌ„ esse meliorem cujus rursus esse maluerit Fert c. 5. de â—aenit preferre the Devill before God for he seemes to have compared and weighed them together and trying both at length pronounceth him to be the better whom he chuseth againe to serve 2. To men and the good is either Nationall or Personall Nationall to keep Covenant with God tends much to the good of the whole Land and Nation There are great designes now on foot for the good of the Church and State The Adversaries are many mighty extreame malicious and exceeding busie have most desperate and damnable designes against both also the * Especially in Iuly August 1641. when this was preached hand of God the plague and * The small Poxe c to this day in many places sweeping away very many other devouring diseases are rife in the great City and in divers parts of this Kingdome Now the conscionable performance of our Covenant with God and particularly of our Nationall Covenant will be the most probable meanes under Heaven to maintaine the true Protestant Religion to suppresse and in time root out Popery disappoint the enemies of this Church and State further the great and long desired worke of Reformation and conduce much to the honour peace safety welfare and prosperity both of King and Kingdome of Church and State and the salvation of soules Againe we have prayed and doe pray for the publicke health safety peace and prosperity and who is now likely to prevaile with God but they that truly endevour to keep Covenant with him Hos 7.14 They have not cryed unto me with their heart when they howled upon their beds They came before God in their troubles cryed mightily unto him fasted prayed yet all this God esteemed but as the howling of a dog What was the reason verse 13. They have fled from me they have transgressed against me A Father cares not for the howling of a dog so long as the childe cryes not he regards more the teares and cryes of one childe then the howling of 20. dogs wicked men in the Scripture phrase are dogs swine traytors Rebels to the Majesty of Heaven and Earth and therefore are not regarded by him but the prayers of them that are faithfull in his Covenant may doe much good Prov. 15.8 The sacrifice which is also accompanied with prayer and so both the sacrifice and prayers of the wicked is abomination to the Lord but the prayer the single prayer of the upright is his delight their prayers may doe much good for a Nation both to remove and prevent evils and procure good What is a Parliament an Army a posture of defence without this though they be all of great use 'T is notable to this purpose which we have Job 42.7 8. faith God to Eliphaz My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends but goe to my servant Job and my servant Job shall pray for you for him will I accept It is the prayers of faithfull Covenanters that doe prevaile with God for themselves and others 2. Personall the good that will redound to our selves is great and manifold 1. It will be for our credit All the Countrey cryes out against him that hath no care of his Covenant or promise Sancti quidem honesti pro positi ditatio magna ruina est retr Chris that makes no conscience of his word such a man was hatefull to the very Pagans but they commended him that was carefull to keep touch what a blot then and descredit is it not to keep Covenant with God to promise and promise againe and againe but performe nothing Deut. 4.5 6. saith Moses to Israel I have taught you Statutes and Judgements as the Lord my God hath commanded me Keep therefore and doe them for this is your wisedome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall heare all those Statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and an understanding people What were these Statutes but the Articles and conditions of the Covenant which we must observe So Isay 56.4 5. Thus saith the Lord to the Eunuches that keep my Sabboth and take hold of my Covenant Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my wals a place and a name better then of sonnes and of daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off 2. It will make for our peace and comfort Conscience tels us we should keep Covenant with God that tyes and moves to duty Now if we endeavour to doe it truly sincerely