in his days Now if either of these have been sufficient cause to renew Covenant with God have not we had and have we not still the same cause or like He must needs be either a child or of no observation that remembers not what the case and condition of these three Kingdoms was a few years ago and how we were under not only sensible wrath by plague and other outward evils but more insensible and not so visibly observed by all that is in a manner bought and sold and betrayed into the hands of Rome by such treacherous Trustees as who especially in our own Land had the chief power delegated to them upon the prevention of which by Gods mercy arms were taken up between the Kingdoms and after a short pacification renewed again which occasioned that bloody civil War among our selves that bloody Antichristian Inhumane Butchery and Massacre of the poor Protestants in Ireland intended to have been followed home to our doors also in Scotland and England by which means all three Kingdoms were in great hazard to have lost besides lives and goods our Religion Laws Liberties By the combination of enemies Now the combination of all sorts of Malignants Papists Athiests Prophane cold and luke-warm Protestants against the sincerer sort and against the Parliament was thought ground and cause sufficient to unite and enter into a most solemn League and Covenant according to God and as in the presence of the Almighty with hands lift up to him for Reformation and defence of Religion the honor and happiness of the King the Peace and safety of the three Kingdoms and to joyn with all their power in the defence of this cause against the common enemies c. After the example of divers godly Kings of Judah c. Yea for this our Nation to seek God by solemn monethly and other occasional humliations Our need of keeping our National Covenant by fasting and prayer And as this our Covenanting was then so occasioned is there not still the same cause to continue the union and inviolably and in conscience to keep close to our Covenant unless we will say our own turns now are served by it and that it is to be looked upon as an Almanack out of date which if we should generally so think to me argues that such entered into Covenant not in a religious but only civil and politick respect which if I have any sence or judgment in matters of that nature should be an horrible prophanation of the holy Name of God and a dallying with holy things to the just provocation of Gods displeasure who is a party in it against the violators of the same But is there indeed no further use of that our so solemn a Covenant Have we not still the same common Enemies Are not our dangers and causes of fear as great now as ever Is not Religion for the truth purity and power of it in as much danger as ever Do not such as are Enemies to both and all the Kingdoms hope if not seek to divide us Are not their hopes and our fears occasioned by the jealousies mistrusts and mâ—â—prisions we have one of another which if God be not merciful and chief counsellors on both sides wise for prevention may break out into a new and greater flame Howsoever we have less cause now then ever to be secure whether we look homeward or outward to other forraign Nations and more cause to maintain the union of the Kingdoms and to keep inviolably and stick close to God and our Covenant and to look upon our conscionable keeping of it as a strong â—edg to keep us under God safe from forraign and domestique Enemies and in the purity of our Religion and Worship against the licentious doctrines and practise of the times Lastly Then seeing our fears are not yet over 4 Use Examination but that though in the South and West of England storms are calmed and all in a manner done there and that for the present Clouds seem again to be gathering especially in the North What cause we have to fear the return of the sword from the Malignant and ill-effected party there howsoever the Return of the Sword from what coast soever not without just cause doubted and feared It will concern us wisely to consider and enquire into the true causes thereof for a timely prevention seeing prevention is ever better then medicine and Repentance is but the fruit of Improvidence I will enquire no further then my Text gives the occasion Our careless keeping of our solemn Covenant The Army of the King of Babylon was threatned to return and indeed did return to Jerusalem fought against it took it and burnt it with fire and made the Cities of Judah desolate But what is given as the special cause of it They were long and often threatned for many of their other sins but that here mentioned is That whereas they had made a Covenant before the Lord in the house which is called by his name they turned and polluted his name Verses 15 16 -18 22. transgressed his Covenant and not performed the words of the Covenant which they had made before him We then see and have seen what an heynous sin and how grievously punished is the sin of Breach of Covenant when made before God and according to his Will and when men perform not all the very words of it It was punished in Judah and Jerusalem with the taking and burning of the City and in Israel or Samaria as partly also in Iudah with the loss of their King or of their Kingly Government I will cause to cease the Kingdom of the house of Israel Hosea 1.4 10 3 4. And elsewhere now they shall say we have no King and why Because we feared not the Lord What then should a King do to us They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant These two together made their misery compleat and both of them the fruit of this sin Now for us of this our Nation we might doubtless be much more secure and in safer condition both in regard of our peace and also Government if our Covenant both with God as we are Christians and with our neighbour Nation as we are under one King were on all hands Application both entered into without such opposition made against it or more conscionably zealously and better kept by such as have entered into the same of both Nations First 1 To sâ—ch as sâ— mâ—dâ— rends to our naâ—onal Covenant For us who have so solemnly entered into this League as with God so one with another If as by a new act in this bloody Tragedy war come upâ—n our stage again or that old enmity between the Nations return that God send an evil Spirit or that a fire break out to the hazard and hurt of both Nations as once between Abimelech and the men of Shechem which God in mercy avert and turn from us
by converting and turning us both to him whom can we for our parts blame or what may probably be thought the cause thereof unless it be that we have not performed the words much less the matter of the Covenant which we made before the Lord. Did we not all and each one of us for himself Main articles of 〈◊〉 not observed by us with hands lifted up to the most high God swear and Covenant to endeavour as the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies So 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 How is it that the very words in this last clause and some others being otherwise plain enough will not be understood much less performed as if some Monster were hid in them Why is not the Reformation in seven years perfected or Discipline established made free and authorized though often ordered and ordained And have we not in like manner covenanted to endeavour without respect of persons the extirpation as of Popery Prelacy Superstition so of Heresie Schism Prophaness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness c. But to consider how Heresie Schism and Licentiousness both of doctrine and lâ—fe grow and increase almost beyond number being also many of them so abominable blasphemous dishonorable to God The increase of Schiâ—m Heresies c. pernicious to mens souls and that even since we would seem humbled in solemn manner for the increase and growth of Errors to see how these and how looseness of life also are connived at in some and unpunished in all or most For my part I must profess it amazeth me and strikes astonishment in my heart wondring at the patience of God as not able almost to conceive any reason why God doth not from heaven visibly and remarkably shew his vengeance not only on the Hereticks Schismaticks and prophane Libertines themselves but on such as have more power given them of God to restrain at least such evils then they use or then they will use Not restrained whereby at least a secret and implicite if not open toleration is allowed to all sorts to think hold spread and practise what every one pleaseth and that without any visible or real endeavours to restrain them The theam is too large unpleasant to dilate on Only I wil say referring to what * Mr Newcâ—men and Mâ— Case in their Sermons others have said in this kind and charged home upon the Parliament in their Applications to them more fully that all my wit and charity cannot extend so far as to conceive there can be any true zeal of Godsglory hearty love to the truth of God or to the true establishment thereof or yet any true Christian charity to mens souls if such a general toleration be permitted as is feared Neither shall I ever wonder or complain if God bring upon the Nation as great judgments as any he hath brought upon others in like case or unheard of and new plagues for such reviving of old Heresies and broaching of new being especially so winked at to say no more Secondly 2 To such as stand out against it For such as yet are professed enemies to this national Covenant who commonly are such as are loose enough in their Covenant with God as Christians I wonder what peace they can expect from God whilest either they joyn not in so needful a contract as the times are and side not with God and his cause and people against sin the world flesh and devil as yet by Baptism they seemed to covenant with him and against Antichristian doctrine discipline and devotion and also practises or that they oppose and fight against those that have so covenanted They may remember how Irelands Parliament declaring themselves against the covenanters in Scotland had the sword at their heels presently in the breaking out of that hellish barbarous popish Rebellion and Missacre there and what hath befaln that party in England which seconded them to their power by taking up Arms against the contents of that Covenant or what those may yet expect who persist in that enmity still or otherwise retract or would make themselves free of that their Obligation and Vow For us all of both parties I say only this I wish 3 To all of both parties that as we have still cause to expect greater evils so the true cause were not specially found in our breach of Covenant with God and man 〈◊〉 have heard how with other evils it threatens change of Government The Kingdom threatned 〈◊〉 cease and brought upon Israel and then upon Iudah a ceasing of the Kingdom when they shall say We have no King Now when should they say this and why I take it is not so much meant of Zedekiah 2 Kings 24.15 16 1â— and 15 〈◊〉 when he was carryed away captive into Babylon as of the King of Israel namely King Hoshea the last King of the ten tribâ—s And why because he kept not Covenant with him 2 King 17.1 2 3 4 c. after whom was no appearance of any royal Government as partly was in Iudah presently after the captivity and in the times long after till Christ their spiritual King came but if we refer it to Manasseh the last Kinâ— of Iudah then the words may relate to that his Covenant in this 34 of â—eremy which he turned from and that caused the return of the Babylonish army as we have heard I make no application only the Lord give grace and wisdom to all of this our Nation of all sorts that our averseness to or looseness in our keeping our Vows with God and man bring not like evils upon us Amen FINIS
Church Psal 44 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 back neither have our steps or goings declined from thy way 3. Be we then exhorted 3 use Exhortation to renew Covenant with God as others have done upon like grounds if not to enter yet to keep or renew our Covenants made with God and with one another in the presence and sight of God We have as good cause thus to do as ever nation had and the same or like occasions What moved King Asa with Iudah and many of Israel solemnly to Covenant with God and one with another and that upon the forfeiture of life if any kept it not 1. Was it not a mercy and a great deliverance 2 Chron. 15. 2 Chron. 15.10 11 12. for which thus they would shew their thankfulness bind themselves to a through Reformation 1. By occasion of mercies and great deliverances Now comes England behind in mercies of this nature or doth it not go before all other Nations in remarkable deliverances Asa was delivered from a mighty Army of the Ethiopians and Israel from Aegypt for which he renews and they are called to enter into Covenant with the Lord and urged to keep it and that because of such deliverance and mercies as Exod. 19.1 2. c. 5. c. 20.2 Already received I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt Thou shalt have no other Gods before me c. The remembrance of which mercy is urged by Ioshuah to make them renew and firmly to keep Covenant with God Iosh 24.2 3 -6.7 c. 14 15.-25.26 Now our deliverances have been from spiritual enemies also as from spiritual Aegypt as from the tyranny of Antichrist that spiritual Pharaoh and from spiritual Babylon and from Popery by a child King Edward and a woman Queen Elizabeth which when Iudah was delivered temporally made them resolve saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant c. Isai 50.5 Since we have been miraculously delivered both from spiritual and bodily bondage as from the Popish Spanish Navy in 1588. from the Popish powder plot Anno 1605 and especially from late designs of the Popish and Malignant party and for the discovery and prevention of plots against Parliament and City tending to the utter subversion of Religion and of our Liberties which occasioned the National Covenant between England and Scotland and their joyning in Arms for the Vindication and Defence of their Religion Liberties and Laws against the Popish Prelatical and Malignant party as in their Declaration they have published Besides many no less then an hundred successes deliverances or victories obtained one after another without interruption till the power of the Adversary was wholly broken in remembrance whereof have we not as much cause as ever any had to make keep and renew Covenant with God and among our selves Especially if withall we consider other hoped mercies and the benefits of keeping our Covenant firm with God and with our neighbour-Kingdoms for thus we become strong yea invincible God and good men being in league with us we shal in the end at least be the more prevalent party such a cord is not easily broken Otherwise being divided from God by breach of Covenant made with him or in his name Other good redounding hence by unbelief and impenitency and among our selves by Faction Schisms c. we shall surely in the end fall Thus also the unsound are discovered and we know our enemies at least whom to suspect and to put no trust in Otherwise invisible enemies are most dangerous When once the Lord causeth us to pass under the Rod and brings us into the bond of the Covenant then saith he Ezâ—k 20 37 38. I will purge out from among you the Rebels them that transgress against me Yea the best come thus to be more purged at least to walk more closely with God in all good conscience of our duty whereas till we bind or take our selves bound fast to God by Covenant whether made directly with him as a party or with others in him as a witness or both we walk more loosly and carelesly ready to break with God and man upon small occasions As one being with a Master upon tryal and before he be bound to his Trade by Indenture is reâ—dy to break away without fear of any penalty I wish these our loose times made not this good we should not then play fast and loose as we do both with God and man 2. Another ground or cause of covenanting with God 2 Former corruptions to be covenanted against and of keeping it we find to be when a land or people hath been polluted with Idolatry and Superstition and hath been kept in ignorance of the true God his pure Worship his Laws and Word in a lawless liberty of sinning transgressing his Sabbaths c. For which see 2 Chron. 15 3.-8.-16 Nehem. 9.34 35 -38 with cap. 10.29 30 31. c. Ezra 10.2 3. c. 2 Chron. 23 3.-16 with 17. 29 5 6 -10. 34.21 -25 31. And have not we then like cause Have we not declined and been corrupted in doctrine worship and manners Gods Sabbath turned to play-day Masks and Plays instead of afternoon Sermons and that even at Court And were we not almost quite grown not only slavish but prophane Popish and Superstitious And was not this one ground at least of our covenanting namely to restore Religion to her purity Preface to the Covenant and to preserve her in it and keep it fromâ—â—tter ruin How can we else be thankful for our freedom from such corruptions but by keeping firmly our Covenant with God of a more pure and holy worship and walking with him Lastly Evils inflicted and evils feared or threatned 3 Evils 1. Felâ— have occasioned a new covenanting with God 1. Inflicted as we have seen Nehem. 9.36 37 with 38. So in King Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29.8 9 with 10. He exhorting the Levites and recounting the evils which for sin befel Judah and Ierusalem for Loe our Fathers have faln by the sword c Now saith he it is in mine heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel that his sierce wrath may turn away from us 2. So for feared wrath 2 Feared King Iosiah having read in the book of the Covenant what wrath was due to such sins as his people were guilty of and Huldah having Prophesied the Destruction of Jerusalem 2 Chron. 34 29 30 31. though respited in his days he gathered together all the Elders of Jerusalem and Judah Priests Levites and people and read in their ears all the words of that book and made a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and to keep his Commandments with all his heart c. This turned away wrath