governement sweet and could not part with it And because the Royall seed stood in her way shee cruellie destroyed them that shee might reigne with the greater freedome 2. Shee was earnest to set up a false worship even the worship of Baal which shee thought could not bee so well done as by cutting off the Royall race and getting the sole power in her hand that shee might doe what shee pleased The businesse you are about this day is not unlyke You are to invest a young King in the Throne in a verie troublesome tyme and wicked men have risen up and usurped the Kingdome put to death the late king most unnaturallie The lyke motives seeme to have prevayled with them 1. These men by falsehood and dissimulation have gotten power in their hands which to them is so sweet that they are unwilling to parte 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 bee in their hand 2. They have a number of damnable errours and a false worship to set up and intend to take away the Ordinances of CHRIST and Gogovernement of His Kirk All this cannot bee done unlesse they have the sole power in their hand and this they cannot have till the King and his posteritie bee cut off But I leave this and come to the present solemnitie There is a Prince to bee inthroned good Jehojada will have the Crowne put upon his head It may bee questioned Why they went about this Coronation in a tyme of so great hazard when Athaliah had reigned six yeares Had it not been better to have defate Athaliah and then to have crowned the King Two reasons may bee rendered why they delay not the Coronation 1. To crowne the King was a duetie they were bound to Hazard should not make men leave their duetie They did their duetie and left the successe to GOD 2. They crowned the young King to endeare the peoples affections to their own native Prince and to alienate their heartes from her that had usurped the kingdome If they had delayed the king being knowne to bee preserved it might have brought on not onlie compliance with her but also subjection to her governement by resting in it and being content to lay asyde the righteous heire of the Crowne The same is observed in our case and manie wonder that you should crowne the king in a dangerous tyme when the usurpers have such power in the Land The same reasons may serve to answer for your doing 1. It is our necessarie duetie to crowne the king upon all hazards and to leave the successe to GOD 2. It appeareth now it hath been too long delayed Delay is dangerous because of the compliance of some and treacherie of others If it shall bee delayed longer it is to bee feared that the most part shall sit downe under the shadow of the Bramble the destroying usurpers I come to the particular handling of the present Text and to speake from it to the present tyme I have read the 12. and 17. vers. Because of these two which meet together The crowning of a King and his renewing the Covenant Amongst manie particulars which may bee handled from the Text I shall confyne my selfe to these fyve 1. The Crowne Hee put the Crowne vpon his head 2. The Testimonie Hee gave him the Testimonie 3. The anoynting They anoynted him These three are in the 12. vers. As for that which is spoken of the peoples joy wee shall give it a touch when wee come to the peoples duetie 4. The Covenant between GOD and the king the people Jehojada made a Covenant between GOD and the King and the people that they should bee the LORDS People 5. The Covenant between the king and the people Between the King also and the people both in the 17. vers. First The Crowne is put upon his head A Crowne is the most excellent Badge of Royall Majestie To discourse on Crownes in a state way I shall leave unto States-men and lay onlie these three before you of the Crowne 1. In putting on of the Crowne it would bee well fastened For Kinges Crownes are often tymes tottering and this is a tyme wherein they totter There are two thinges that make Kinges Crownes to totter Great Sinnes and Great Commotions and Troubles take heed of both 1. There are manie sinnes upon our king and his familie Sinne will make the surest crown that ever men set on to totter The Sinnes of former kinges have made this a tottering Crowne I shall not insist here seing there hath been a solemn day of Humiliation through the Land on Thursday last for the sinnes of the Royall Familie I wish the LORD may blesse it and desyre the king to bee truelie humbled for his owne sinnes and the sinnes of his Fathers house which have been great Beware of putting on these sinnes with the Crowne For if you put them on all the well-wishers to a king in the three kingdomes will not bee able to hold on the Crown and keepe it from tottering yea from falling LORD take away the Controversie with the Royall Familie that the Crowne may bee fastened sure upon the kinges head without falling or tottering 2. Troubles and Commotions in a kingdome make crowns to totter A Crowne at the best and in the moste calme tymes is full of trouble which if it were well weighed by men there would not bee such hunting after Crownes I read of a great man who considering the trouble and care that accompanied a Crowne sayd Hee would not take it up at his foote though hee might have it for taking Now if a Crowne at the best bee so full of troubles what shall one thinke of a Crowne at the worst when there are so great commotions wherein the Crowne is directlie aimed at Surelie it must bee a tottering Crown at the least especiallie when former sinnes have brought on these Troubles As the remedie of the former is true Humiliation and turning unto GOD So the remedie of the latter is Psal. 21. 3. speaking of Davids Crowne Thou settest a Crowne of pure golde vpon his head GOD set on Davids Crowne and therefore it was setled not-with-standing of manie troubles Men may set on crownes and they may bee throwne off agayne But when GOD setteth them on they will bee fast Enemies have touched the Crowne of our king and casten it off in the other kingdome and have made it totter in this kingdome Both the king who is to bee crowned and you who are to crowne him should deale earnestlie with GOD to set the crowne on the kinges head and to keepe it on agaynst all the commotions of this cruell generation 2. A king should esteeme more of the people hee reigneth over then of his crowne Kings use to bee so taken up with their crownes that they despyse their people I would have a king following CHRIST the king of his people
who sayeth of them Is 62. 3. Thou shalt bee a Crowne of glorie in the hand of the LORD and a Royall Diademe in the hand of thy GOD CHRIST accounteth His people his Crowne and Diademe So should a king esteeme the people of the LORD over whom hee ruleth to bee his Crowne and Diademe Take away the people and a Crowne is but an emptie symbole 3. A king when hee getteth his crowne on his head should thinke at the best it is but a fading crowne All the crownes of kinges are but fading crownes Therefore they should have an eye upon that Crowne of glorie that fadeth not away 1. Pet. 5. 4. And upon a Kingdome that cannot bee shaken Hebr. 12. 28. That crowne and kingdome belongeth not to kinges as kinges but unto believers and a believing king hath this comfort that when hee hath endured a whyle and been tryed hee shall receave the Crowne of Lyfe which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him The second thing in this Solemnity is the Testimonie by this is meant the Law of GOD so called because it testifieth of the Mynde and Will of GOD It was commanded Deut. 17. 18. 19. When the king shall sit upon the Throne of his kingdome hee shall wryte him a copie of the Book of the Law and it shall bee with him that hee may reade therein all the dayes of his lyfe The king should have the TESTIMONIE for these three maine uses 1. For his information in the wayes of GOD Deut. 17. 19. This use of the kinges having the Book of the Law is expressed that hee may lèarne to feare the LORD his GOD The reading of other books may doe a king good for governement but no book will teach him the way to salvation but the Booke of GOD CHRIST biddeth Search the Scriptures for in thom yee thinke to have aeternall lyfe and they testifie of Mee John 5. 39. Hee is a Blessed man who meditateth in the Law of the LORD day and night Psal. 1. 1. 2. King DAVID was well acquainted here-with as appeareth Ps. 119. Kinges should bee well exercised in Scripture It is reported of Alphonsus king of Arragon that hee did reade the BIBLE fourteene tymes with glosses there-upon I recommend to the king to take some houres for reading holie Scripture It will bee a good meane to make him acquaynt with GODS Mynd and with CHRIST a Saviour 2. For his direction in governement kinges reade bookes that they may learne to governe well which I condemne not but all the bookes a king can reade will not make him governe to please GOD as this Booke I know nothing that is good in governement but a king may learne it out of the Booke of GOD For this cause IOSHUA is commanded IOS. 1. 8. That the Booke of the Law shall not depart out of his mouth and hee is commanded to Doe according to all that is written there-in Hee should not onlie doe himselfe that which is written in it but doe and governe his people according to all that is written in it King DAVID knew this use of the Testimonie who sayd Psal. 119. 24. Thy Testimonies are my delight and my Counsellours The best Counsells that ever a king getteth are in the Booke of GOD Yea the Testimonies are the best surest Counsellours Because although a kinges Counsellours bee never so wyse and trustie yet they use not to bee so free with a king as they ought But the Scriptures will tell kinges verie freelie both their sinne and their duetie 3. For preservation and custodie The king is Custos vtriusque Tabulae The keeper of both Tables Not that hee should take upon him the power either to dispense the Word of GOD or to dispense with it But that hee should preserve the Word of GOD and true Religion according to the Word of GOD pure intier and uncorrupted within his Dominions and transmit them so to posteritie And also bee carefull to see his Subjectes observe both Tables and to punish the transgressours of the same The third thing in this Solemnitie is the anoynting of the king The anoynting of kings was not absolutelie necessarie under the Old Testament for wee reade not that all the kinges of IUDAH and ISRAEL were anoynted The HEBREWES observe that anoynting of kinges was used in three cases 1. When the first of a Familie was made king as SAUL DAVID 2. When there was a question for the Crowne as in the case of SOLOMON and ADONIâ—AH 3. When there was an interruption of the lawfull succession by usurpation as in the case of IOASH there is an interruption by the usurpation of ATHALIAH therefore hee is anoynted If this Observation holde as it is probable then it was not absolutelie necessarie under the OLD TESTAMENT and therefore farre lesse under the NEW Because it may bee sayd That in our case there is an interruption by usurpation Let it bee considered That the Anoynting under the OLD TESTAMENT was typicall Although all kinges were not types of CHRIST yet the Anoynting of kinges Priests and Prophets was typicall of CHRIST and His Offices But CHRIST being now come all these Ceremonies ceasse And therefore the Anoynting of kinges ought not to bee used in the NEW TESTAMENT If it bee sayd Anoynting of kinges hath been in use amongst Christians not onlie Papistes but PROTESTANTS as in the kingdome of ENGLAND and our late king was anoynted withoyle It may bee replyed They who used it under the NEW TESTAMENT tooke it from the Jewes without warrand It was most in use with the Bishops of Rome who to keepe Kinges and Emperoures subject to themselves did sweare them to the Pope when they were anoynted and yet the Jewish priests did never sweare kinges to themselves As for ENGLAND although the Pope was casten off yet the subjection of kings to Bishops was still retayned for they anoynted the king and sware him to the mayntenance of their praelaticall dignitie They are here who were witnesses at the CORONATION of the late king The Bishops behoved to performe that rite and the king behoved to bee sworne to them But now by the Blessing of GOD Poperie and Praelacie are removed The Bishops as limmes of Antichrist are put to the doore Let the Anoynting of kinges with oyle goe to the doore with them and let them never come in agayne The anoynting with materiall oyle maketh not a king the Anoynted of the LORD for hee is so without it Hee is the ANOYNTED of the LORD who by Divine Ordinance and appoyntment is a King Is 45. 1. GOD calleth CYRUS His anoynted yet wee reade not that hee was anoynted with oyle Kinges are the Anoynted of the LORD because by the Ordinance of the LORD their authoritie is sacred and inviolable It is enough for us to have the thing though wee want the Ceremonie which being layd asyde I will give some Observations of the thing 1. A King being the LORDS anoynted should bee thinking upon a better
all that are in Covenant If you break that Covenant being so solemnly sworn All these who have touched your Crown sworn to support it shall not be able to hold it on but GOD will shake it off turn you from the Throne And ye Noble-men who are assistant to the putting on of the Crown setting the King upon the Throne if yee shall either assist or advyse the King to break the Covenant over-turne the Work of GOD hee shall shake you out of your possessions and emptie you of all your glorie Another passage I offer to your serious consideration Jer. 34. 8. After that Zedekiah had promised to proclaime libertie to all the LORDS People who were servants entered in a Covenant hee his Princes to let them goe free and according to the Oath had let them goe Afterwards they caused the servants to returne and brought them into subjection vers. 11. What followeth upon this breach vers. 15. 16. Ye were now turned had done right in my sight in proclaiming libertie but yee turned made them servants again And therefore vers. 18. 19. 20. 21. I will give the men who have transgressed My Covenant who have not performed the wordes 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 lyfe even Zedekiah and his Princes If the breach of a Covenant made for the Libertie of Servants was so punished what shall bee the punishment of the breach of a COVENANT for Religiō the liberty of the people of GOD There is nothing more terrible to King and Princes then to be given into the hand of enemies that seek their lyfe If yee would escape this judgement Let King and Princes keep their Covenant made with GOD Your enemies who seeke your lyfe are in the Land if yee breake the COVENANT it may bee feared GOD give you over unto them as a prey But if yee keepe COVENANT it may bee expected GOD will keepe you out of their hands Let not the place ye heard opened bee forgotten for in it yee have an exemple of Divine Iustice agaynst Joash and the Princes for breaking that COVENANT 2. CHRON. 24. 23. The Princes who intised to that Breach are destroyed and in the 24. vers. it is sayd The armie of the Syrians came with a small companie of men and the LORD delyvered a verie great hoste in their hand because they had forsaken the LORD GOD of their fathers So they executed judgement agaynst Joash And vers. 25. His owne servantes conspired agaynst him and slew him on his bed c. The Conspiracie of Servants or Subjects against their king is a wicked course But GOD in His Righteous Iudgement suffereth Subjects to conspire and rebell agaynst their Princes because they rebell against GOD And Hee suffereth Subjects to break the Covenant made with a king because hee breaketh the Covenant made with GOD I may say freely that a chief cause of the judgement upon the kings house hath been the Grand-fathers breach of Covenāt with GOD the fathers following his steps in opposing the work of GOD his Kirk within these kingdoms They broke Covenant with GOD and men have broken Covenant with them Yea most cruellie and perfidiouslie have invaded the Royall Familie and trodden upon all Princelie Dignitie Bee wyse by their exemple You are now sitting upō the Throne of the kingdom your Nobles about you there is one above you even JESVS the King of Sion 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 agaynst His Cause I assure you the Contraversie is not ended between GOD and your familie But will be carried on to the further weakening if not the over-throw of it But if you shall keep this Covenant and befriend the KINGDOM of CHRIST It may bee from this day GOD shall begin to doe you good Although your estate bee verie weake GOD is able to rayse you and make you reigne maugre the opposition of all your enemies And how-so-ever it shall please the LORD to dispose you shall have peace toward GOD through CHRIST the MEDIATOR As for you who are Nobles and Peeres of the Land your share is great in this day of Coronation yee have come and touched the Crowne and sworne to support it yee have handled the Sword and the Scepter and have set down the King upon his Throne 1. I charge you to keepe your Covenant with GOD and see that yee never bee moved your selves to come agaynst it in anie head or article thereof and that yee give no counsell to the king to come against the Doctrine Worship Government Discipline of the Kirk established in this Land as ye would eschew the judgement of Covenant breakers If the King ye who are engaged to support the Crowne conspire together against the Kingdome of CHRIST both yee that doe support hee that is supported will fall together I presse this the more because it is a rare thing to see a king great men for CHRIST In the long Catalogue of kings which yee have heard recited this day they will bee found few who have beene for CHRIST 2. I charge you also because of your many Oathes to the king That you keep them inviolablie Bee faythfull to him according to your Covenant The Oathes of GOD are upon you if directlie or indirectlie yee doe anie thing agaynst his Standing GOD by whom yee have sworne will bee avenged upon you for the breach of His Oath And now I will shut up all with one word more to You SIR You are the only Covenanted king with GOD His People in the world many have obstructed Your entrie in it Now seing the LORD hath brought You in over all these Obstructions Only observe to doe what is contayned therein and it shall prove an happie tyme for You and Your House And because You are entered in tymes of great Difficultie wherin smal strength seemeth to remain with You in the eyes of the world for recovering Your just power and greatnesse Therefore take the Counsell which David when he was a-dying gave to his sonne Solomon 1. King 2. 2. 3. Bee strong and show thy selfe a man and keep the Charge of the LORD thy GOD to walke in His Wayes and keepe His Commandements that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whether-so-ever thou turnest thy selfe After this Exhortation the Minister closed the whole Action with Prayer and the xx PSALM being sung hee dismissed the people with the Blessing Then did the Kinges Majestie descend from the Stage with the Crown upon his head and receaving agayn the Scepter in his hand returned with his whole Trayn in solemn manner to his Palace the Sword being carried before him FINIS
THE FORM AND ORDER OF THE CORONATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland As it was acted and done at SCOONE The first day of Ianuarie 1651. 1. CHRON 29. 23. Then Solomon sate on the Throne of the Lord as King in stead of David his father and prospered and all Israel obeyed him PROV. 20. 8. A King that sitteth in the Throne of Judgement scattereth away all evill with his eyes PROV. 25. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall bee established in Righteousneâ—â—… ABERDENE Imprinted by James Brown 1651. Hollars Habits or the Nobility in their Creation Robes The Original Plates Engrav'd by W. Hollar 1664. The Creation Robe of the Prince of Wales Printed for John Beâ—lâ—â—… at 〈◊〉 in Cernhill CAROLUS Secundus Dei Gratia Anglioe Scotioe Francioe et Hibernioe Rex Fidei Defensor etc. Aspice â—uem Reducem Pictas Patientia Pâ—â—sum DAVIDI CAROLUM fecit 〈◊〉 parem Regius en etiam Psaltes cui Musica Temple Et Châ—rus Câ—â—tus sic placuere Secri Hujus ut auspiâ—iâ—s merito jungantur in â—â—um Hymnus Iessiadae Maeonidaeq Meles A Herâ—â—â—â—â—… CORONATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland Done at SCOONE The first day of Ianuarie 1651. FIrst the Kings Majestie in a Princes Robe was conducted from his Bed-chamber by the Constable on his right hand and the Marishall on his left hand to the Chamber of Presence and there was placed in a Chaire under a cloath of State by the Lord of Angus Chamberlaine appointed by the King for that day and there after a little repose the Noble-men with the Commissioners of Barons and Burroughes entered the Hall and presented themselves before his Majestie There-after the Lord Chancellour spoke to the King to this purpose Sir Your good Subjects desyre You may bee crowned as the righteous and lawfull Heire of the Crowne of this Kingdome that You would maintain Religion as it is presently professed and established conforme to the Nationall Covenant League Covenant and according to Your Declaration at Dumfermling in August last Also that You would bee Graciouslie pleased to receave them vnder Your Highnesse Protection to governe them by the lawes of the Kingdome and to defend them in their Rights Liberties by Your Royall Power offering themselves in most humble manner to Your Majestie with their Vowes to bestow Land Lyfe and what else is in their power for the maintenance of Religion for the safetie of Your Majesties Sacred Person and maintenance of Your Crowne which they intreate Your Majestie to accept and pray ALMIGHTIE GOD that for many years You may happilie enjoy the same The King made this answer I doe esteeme the affections of my good People more then the Crownes of manie Kingdomes and shall bee readies by GODS Assistance to bestow my Lyfe in their Defence Wishing to live no longer then I may see Religion and this Kingdome flowrish in all happinesse There-after the Commissioners of Burroughes and of Barones and the Noble-men accompanied his Majestie to the Kirk of Scoone in order rank according to their qualitie two and two The Spurres being carried by the Earle of Eglinton Next The Sword by the Earle of Rothes Then the Scepter by the Earle of Craufurd and Lindesay And the Crown by the Marques of Argyle immediately before the King Then came the King with the great Constable on his right haÌ„d and the great Marishall on his left hand his train being carried by the Lord Ereskine The Lord Montgomery The Lord Newbottle and the Lord Machlene four Earles eldest sonnes under a Canopie of Crimson Velvet supported by six Earls sonnes to wit The Lord Drummond The Lord Carnegie The Lord Ramsay The Lord Iohnston The Lord Brechin The Lord Yester and the six carriers supported by six Noble-mens sonnes Thus the Kings Majestie entereth the Kirk The Kirk being fitted and prepared with a Table Whereupon the Honours were layed and a Chaire set in a fitting place for his Majesties hearing of Sermon over against the Minister another Chaire on the other syde where hee sat when hee receaved the Crown before which there was a Bench decently covered as also Seats about for Noble-men Barons and Burgesses And there being also a Stage in a fit place erected of 24 foot square about four foot high from the ground covered with Carpets with two stairs one from the West and another to the East upon which great Stage there was another little Stage erected some two foot high ascending by two steps on which the Throne or Chaire of State was set The Kirk thus fittingly prepared The Kings Majesty entereth the same accompanied as aforesayd and first setteth himselfe in his Chaire for hearing of Sermon All being quyetlie composed unto attention Master ROBERT DOWGLAS Moderator of the Commission of the Generall Assemblie after incalling upon GOD by Prayer preached the following SERMON SERMON Preached at Scoone Jan. first 1651. At the CORONATION of CHARLES the SECOND King of Scotland England France and Ireland By Master ROBERT DOWGLAS Minister of Edinburgh Moderator of the Commission of the Generall Assemblie 2. KING 11. vers. 12. 17. And hee brought foorth the Kinges sonne and put the Crowne vpon him and gave him the Testimonie and they made him King anointed him they clapt their hands said God save the King And Jehojada made a Covenant betweene the Lord and the King and the people that they should bee the Lordes people betweene the King also and the people IN this TEXT of SCRIPTURE you have the solemne enthroning of Ioash a young King and that in a very troublesome tyme for Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah had cruelly murthered the Royall seed and usurped the Kingdome by the space of sixe yeares Only this young Prince was preserved by Jâ—hâ—sheba the sister of Ahaziah and wyfe to Jehojada the high Priest being hid with her in the house of the LORD all that tyme Good Interpreters doe conjecture though Joash bee called the sonne of Ahaziah that hee was not his sonne by nature but by succession to the Crowne They say that the race of Solomon ceassed here and the Kingdome came to the posteritie of Nathan the sonne of David Because 2. Chron. 22. 9. It is sayd The house of Ahaziah had no power to keep the Kingdome which they conceave to bee for the want of children in that house And because of the absurditie and unnaturallnesse of the fact That Athaliah the Grand-mother should have cut off her sonnes children I shall not stand upon the matter Onlie I may say if they were Ahaziah his own children it was a most unnaturall and cruell fact for Athaliah to cut off her owne posteritie For the usurpation there might have been two motives 1. It seemeth that when Ahaziah went to battell Athaliah was left to governe the Kingdome and her sonne Ahaziah being slaine before his returne shee thought the
to live and take the Crowne 3. Hee might have sayd If I leave DAVID at this tyme and fight with the Philistines and bee beaten hee will get a power in his hand to undoe mee and my posteritie These may seeme strong motives But SAUL is not mooved with anie of these The present danger is the Philistines invading the Land and this danger is to bee opposed come of the danger from DAVID what will As if SAUL had sayd I will let DAVID alone I will meet with him at another tyme and reckon with him now there is no tyme for it the Philistines are in the Land let us make haste agaynst them I wish that manie of our Countrey-men had as great love to their Countrey and as publick a spirit for it as this prophane king had then there would not bee so manie questions for acting as men make this day The Objections I have been touching are in mens thoughts and heads 1. Some say Now the Malignants are under for this Enemie is their rod It is best to put them out of having anie power yea there are some who would more willinglie goe to undoe these whom they accompt Malignants nor agaynst the common Enemie who are wasting the Land If they had SAULS resolution they would say The Philistines are in the Land Let them alone wee will reckon with them at another tyme wee will now goe agaynst the common Enemie They have also the second Objection The Malignants are more dangerous Enemies then the Sectaries I shall not now compare them at aequall distance and abstract from the present danger But I shall compare them in the present posture of effaires I am sure the Sectaries having power in their handes and a great part of the Land in their possession are farre more dangerous then Malignants who have no power for the present And therefore the resolution should bee The Sectaries have invaded the Land and are destroying it Let us goe agaynst them 3. The third Observation weigheth much with manie The Malignants being imployed to fight for their Countrey may get such power in their hand as may hurt the Cause For answer 1. The Resolution given to the Quaere of the Estates provydeth agaynst that for therein is a desyre that no such power should bee put in their hand 2. This feare goeth upon a supposition that they doe not repent their former course This is an uncharitable judgement Wee are bound to bee more charitable of men professing repentance for with such wee have to doe onlie And to speake a word by the way to you who have been upon a malignant course Little good is expected from you I pray you bee honest and disappoynt them I wish you true repentance which will both disappoynt them and bee profitable to your selves 3. I desyre it may bee considered whether or not feare of a danger to come from men if they praevayle agaynst the common enemie being onlie cloathed with a capacitie to fight for their Countrey Bee an argument agaynst rysing to oppose a seene and certayne danger comming from an Enemie cloathed with power and still praevayling I conceave it ought to bee farre from anie to hinder men to defend their Countrey in such a case I confesse indeed The Cause which wee mayntayne hath met with manie enemies who have beene agaynst it which requyreth much tendernesse Therefore men are to be admitted to trust with such exceptions as may keepe them out who are still Enemies to the CAUSE of GOD have not professed repentance renounced their former courses and declared themselves for Cause Covenant I doubt not but it shall bee found that the admitting of such to fight in our case as it standeth is agreeable to the Word of GOD and is not agaynst the former Publicke Resolutions of KIRKE and STATE The second sort of persons wee are to meet with are such as act for the Enemie agaynst the Kingdome If they bee cursed who will not come out to helpe the LORD agaynst the Mightie What a curse shall bee upon them who helpe the Mightie agaynst the LORD as they doe who act for the Enemie Three wayes is the Enemie helped agaynst the Cause and People of GOD 1. By keeping correspondence with them and giving them intelligence There is nothing done in KIRKE or STATE but they have intelligence of it A baser way hath never been used in anie Nation Your Counsells and Purposes are made knowne to them If there bee anie such here as I fear they bee let them take this to them They are of these who helpe the Mightie agaynst the LORD and the curse shall sticke to them 2. By strengthening the Enemies handes with questions debates and determinations in papers tending to the justifying of their injust invasion What ever have been mens intētions in taking that way yet the thing done by them hath tended to the advantage of the Enemie and hath divyded these who should have been joyned in the Cause to the great weakening of the power of the kingdome and this interpretativelie is to act for the Mightie agaynst the LORD 3. By grosse complyance with the Enemie and going in to them doing all the evill Offices they can agaynst their Native Kingdom If Meroz was cursed for not helping shall not these perfidious Covenant-breakers and treacherous dealers agaynst a distressed Land bee much more accursed for helping and assisting a destroying Enemie so farre as lyeth in their power Is. 31. 3. May bee truelie applyed to them who are helping Strangers Enemies to GOD His Kirk and Religion Both hee that helpeth shall fall and hee that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fayle together III. The third particular about this COVENANT resteth to bee spoken of to wit Some Directions to the King for the right performing of his duetie whereof I shall give seven 1. A King meeting with manie difficulties in doing of duetie by reason of strong corruption within and manie tentations without Hee should bee carefull to seeke GOD by Prayer for grace to over-come these impedimentes and for an understanding heart to govern his people SOLOMON having in his option to aske what hee would hee asked an understanding heart to goe out and in before his people Knowing that the governement of a people was a verie difficile worke and needed more then ordinarie understanding A KING also hath many enemies as our King hath this day and a praying King is a prevayling King ASA when hee had to doe with a mightie enemie 2. CHRON. 14. prayed ferventlie and prevayled IEHOSHAPHAT was invaded with a mightie enemie 2. CHRON. 20. hee prayed and did prevayle HEZEKIAH prayed agaynst Sennaheribs hudge armie and prevayled 2. CHRON. 32. Sir You have many difficulties oppositions to meet with acquaint your selfe with PRAYER bee instant with GOD Hee 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