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 * Greg. Nazian Orat. â—3 Father 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 this sinne for if one sinner destroyeth much good what will a multitude a million doe beside the privation of all that personall good fore-mentioned and the positive displeasure and evils which God inflicts on Covenant-breakers which oftentimes lights heavy on men in this world in their name estates bodies consciences See Lev. 26.15 c. and Deut. 28.15 to 68. there are 54. verses together of dreadfull plagues that God denounceth against Covenant-breakers one of which well set on by the hand of the Almighty is enough to breake the heart of the stoutest sinner Jerem. 11.2 3. saith God Heare ye the words of this Covenant Thus saith the Lord cursed bee the man that obeyeth not the words of this Covenant Neither doth breach of Covenant with God alwayes bring evill upon a mans selfe only but upon others also many times take one instance a Sam. 21. because Saul brake the Covenant which Joshuah and Israel made with the Gibeonites at their first comming into Canaan therefore God brought on all Israel a famine in the dayes of David for three yeares together There are divers things remarkeable here as 1. This Covenant was made not with Israel Gods owne people but with the Gibeonites who were otherwise designed to destruction with the rest of the Canaanites 2. It was not made in Sauls owne person but by his Predecessor and that 3. above three hundred and eighty yeares before Saul came to the Kingdome 4. It was with a good intention in Saul and out of his zeale for the children of Israel and Judah v. 2. Yet God plagued all Israel and Judah with a famine for that breach of Covenant no lesse then 3. yeares yeare after yeare The inference from hence is easie that every one may see what a grievous thing it is to breake Covenant with God Consider all these things weigh and ponder them well and seriously and the Lord worke them on your hearts and make them effectuall to quicken you and mee to this duty 2. Directions to further us in the duty Now if there be any soule that having entred into Covenant with God lately and all that have formerly done it in Baptisme who unfainedly desires and resolves to keep Covenant with God let him hearken to these directions following which may through the blessing of God not a little further him in the performance of this duty 1. Resolve upon it that it is a duty and it must be done Covenants must be kept and that you will set about it and are resolved to doe it Resolution will carry a man on far and help much as in all worldly undertakings so in spirituall and where a man is not resolved to goe on every little matter will take him off That is the first 2. Rid the heart of all it 's base lusts especially of it's bosome lusts labour to empty the soule of them Our lusts are like unto Sampsons lockes all the while Sampsons lockes were on no bonds would hold him but when they were cut off he could easily be bound so here while our strong lusts remaine in our hearts no bonds no promises or Covenants will hold us in obedience to God You may see this in the Jewes Jerem. 42.1 2 3. They came to the Prophet desired him to aske counsell of God for them what he will have them to doe and they promise very solemnely to doe it ver 5. and 6. They said to Ieremy The Lord be a true
of our nostrils under whose shadow we shall be preserved alive Lam 4.20 We are all bound by the sixth Commandement to preserve as our owne person so the person of our Neighbour though our inferiour much more his who is our Soveraigne and the Lords anointed who is worth ten thousand of us as the people said of King David 2 Sam. 18.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe pillar of the Common-wealth 2. His Honour dignity and Majesty that it may have it's due respect esteeme and reverence which belongs to it 1 Pet. 2.17 Feare God honour the King and that both inwardly reverencing him in the heart Eccles 10.20 and outwardly in speech gesture and action as Nathan and Bathsheba did Salomon 1 King 1.23 31. We ought by the sixth Commandement to maintaine the good esteeme and dignity of our Neighbour by all good and law full meanes much more the Kings 3. His Estate i.e. his just and lawfull revenue or maintenance The Apostle saith 1 Tim. 5.17 that they that rule well are worthy of double honour i.e. honour of maintenance as well as of esteeme and reverence much more he who is custos utriusque tabulae the Father of the Common-wealth and Soveraigne Patron of the publicke good whose care is for the whole Kingdome So Rom. 13.6 7. For this cause pay you tribute also for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their due tribute c. Thirdly We promise vow and protest with our liues power and estates to maintaine and defend the power and Priviledges of 〈◊〉 What these are we may in part see in their owne Declaration published Jan. 17th and some others of theirs published since And there is great reason why we should maintaine them in all their iust Rights and Priviledges 1. Because these are the most happy Constitutions and most effectuall for the publicke good that this or any Kingdome can have In his 3d speech in Parl 1641. Ian. 25. A Princely resolution Eatle of Strafford in his last speech on the Scaffold And this his Royall Maiesty himselfe hath most Princely professed That often Parliaments are the fittest meanes to keep correspondency between his Maiesty and his people and that He will alwayes maintaine their Priviledges as his owne Prerogative and their persons as the persons of his dearest children Yea this was acknowledged and professed by the Earle of Strafford a little before his death I did alwayes thinke the Parliaments of England were the happiest Constitutions that any Kingdome or any Nation lived under and under God the meanes of making King and People happy Parliaments are as one saith truly the glory safety and sinewes of our Nation the priviledges whereof if once impeached farwell all that is glorious in free Subjects These have been secunda Tabula post naufragium the only meanes to save a sinking state the refuge of the oppressed The want and breach of which was a maine cause of all our miseries of late yeares and is now in a manner the only meanes of recovery 2. In these our welfare Lawes and Liberties and the comfortable enioyment of all we have is involved we stand or fall with them if they be broken and destroyed we all extreamely suffer and perish with them if they be kept and preserved we prosper and Horrish therefore great reason we should endeavour what in us lyeth to defend and maintaine the power and Priviledges of Parliament 3. They are persons chosen and intrusied by our selves to 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 Perliament 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 endcavour to set or maintaine division or dislike betweene the King and the Parliament is by both Houses of Parliament declared a publieke 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
man vow a vow unto the Lord or sweare an Oath to binde his soule with a bond hee shall not breake his word he shall doe according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth And if promises and vowes touching things voluntary and of a far lesse and inferiour nature made onely by a mans selfe alone doe so strongly binde that God may justly and * Iust è exigitur ad solvendum qui non cogitur al vovendum Bern. in Ep. will require it of him and punish him accordingly for breach of promise in ease he performe not how much more doth such a solemne vow and Protestation as this is made to God in a thing of this nature which Religion and reason binds us to observe though there were no Protestation made nor ever thought of how much more I say doth this binde us and will God punish the wilfull contemners or breakers of it Wherefore brethren you who have taken this Protestation or Nationall Covenant and have therein implicitly called God to witnesse and be your Judge to take vengeance on you if you performe not your vow and Covenant to God be sure the hand of God will follow you if which I hope I shall never see and heare of you endeavour not to performe your Protestation and Covenant according to promise but wilfully breake it and much more if also any should wittingly and willingly endeavour to hinder others that endeavour to keep their Covenant and doe wilfully disturbe them in their duty of maintaining the true Reformed Protestant Religion or opposing and removing in a legall way any part of Popery or Popish Innovations protested against suppese Images and scandalous Popish Pictures Crucifixes and the like And let such a man be sure that if he performe not his part but wilfully breake it oppose and hinder others yet God will performe his part God will bring the curse upon him which he hath implicitly wished in his Protestation in the presence of Almighty God as he did bring on the Jewes the curse which they wished to themselves Mat. 27.25 And we know it hath layne heavily upon that Nation above sixteene hundred yeares When Zedekiah had broken his Covenant with the King of Babylon see what the Lord saith of him Ezek. 17.15 16. Shall he prosper or shall he escape that doth such things or shall he breake the Covenant and be delivered As I live saith the Lord God surely mine Oath which he hath despised and my Covenant which he hath broken even it will I recompence upon his owne head v. 19. We have solemnely covenanted and promised vowed and protested to God the King of Heaven to maintaine the true Religion oppose all Popery and Popish Innovations to the King on earth to maintaine his Royall Person Honour and Estate to the Parliament to maintaine and defend their power and Priviledges c. And we may be sure that man shall not escape that wilfully breaketh his Covenant but the hand of God will find him out either here to his conversion repentance and salvation or hereafter to his condemnation Wherefore brethren I beseech you all and I hope and perswade my selfe you will consider what you have promised in the presence of Almighty God and doe your best and heartiest endeavour to keep your Protestation Oh let not any person draw guilt on his owne soule by a wilfull breach or carelesse neglect of his Protestation I could therefore wish that every good Subject would have and set up a Copy of the Protestation in his owne house to minde himselfe so often as he goes in and out of his solemne vow and Covenant made to maintaine and defend with his life power and estate the true Reformed Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations the Kings Majesties person the power and Priviledges of Parliament c. Yea all of you have in Baptisme solemnely engaged your selves to God to beleeve in him love him feare him serve and obey him in all his righteous commands to defend his blessed truth and the professors of it and consequently to oppose what in you lyeth by all lawfull meanes all Popery and Popish Rites and Ceremonies and whatsoever is contrary to his blessed word and will Thus every mothers childe of us stands engaged to God and be sure thou canst not wilfully breake Covenant with God and escape unpunished But let us come to speake more particularly by way of Application Vse to bring all home to our selves to worke as on the head by information so on the heart and affections by application that the whole man may be put upon the conscionable practise of the duty which is the end of preaching And seeing a Covenant once made may not be broken but carefully kept and performed this may serve to reprove to humble and to exhort First for Reprehension and that of two sorts wherein blaming others I desire to chide and be humbled my selfe 1. Such as seemingly make or enter into Covenant with God but doe really breake it So doe all that having been baptized doe not live answerably Circumcision is called a Covenant Gen. 17. because it doth necessarily presuppose and seale the Covenant Now Baptisme is in the roome thereof yet how many breake it yea how few doe indeed keep that Covenant or that doe in good earnest endeavour to keep it Many very many of them have also renewed that Covenant at the Lords Supper re-engaged their soules againe to God and yet goe on still in the wayes of sinne and Satan In the Covenant we all engage our selves to leave all sinne beleeve all divine truths revealed to us and live holily in obedience to all his righteous and good Commandements yet where almost shall we find a man or woman truly endeavouring to keep Covenant with God The Word Sacrament signified of old the Souldiers Oath betwixt the Captaine and the common souldier which now is by long use applyed only to this Ordinance of God and so we give God the hand in the Lords Supper It is a Covenant with God wherein we doe all as it were sweare promise all faithfull service to him to be wholly at his command and not to serve sinne and Satan any longer The very act of receiving or being baptized imports no lesse and binds us to the duty and so doth the Lords Supper Yet where almost is the man or woman that makes conscience of keeping his Covenant with God Doth not almost every one run on still in his owne wayes serve himselfe and his lusts sinne and Satan as if he had never entred into Covenant with God or made any promise of obedience and so adde unfaithfulnesse in breaking his Covenant with God Yea observe it and we shall see many so farre from keeping Covenant with God that they grow worse afterward then they were before they came to the Sacrament so how many are there who lying on their sicke bed or in some great trouble or feare promise and seriously vow that if
doing with the Gibeonites we have sworne unto them by the Lord God of Israel now therefore we may not touch them but this we will doe unto them we will let them live lest wrath be upon us because of the Oath which we have sworne unto them 5. The frequency of renewing our Covenant should make us more carefull of keeping promise with God Our Covenant hath been renewed againe and againe so often as we have been at the Lords Table and received the Sacrament been at publicke or private Fasts and dayes of humiliation for in all those we doe if not expresly yet implicitly and interpretatively renew our Covenant with God but if we had never but once in all our life time at Baptisme only engaged our selves to God in Covenant yet wore we firmely bound to obedience much more being so often renewed It is a grievous thing to thinke that a man should promise and promise againe and again and still breake all 6. The equity of the duty should make us more mindfull of keeping Covenant with God Is it not a most reasonable thing that God should be beleeved loved feared served obeyed Is it not a most reasonable thing that sinne should be left abhorred detested Are not all his Commandements most just righteous and good so as no Lawes of men in all the world are comparable unto them Deut. 4.8 What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day See Rom. 7.12 That even that Commandement that hit him full on the fore wounded him at the heart stroke at his bosome lusts and discovered him to be but a dead man yet even that Commandement is holy just and good and therefore we should be unjust unhonest unreasonable if we should refuse to obey or willingly breake it Againe God hath made a Covenant with us we expect he should performe with us every one would have God faithfull to him and keep Covenant with him and is it not then a most equall thing that we should also keep Covenant with God So is it not a most equall iust and reasonable thing that we should maintaine and defend the true Protestant Religion the Kings Person Honour and Estate the Power and Priviledges of Parliament c. Let me report it to every mans conscience whether all the things protested be not just and reasonable I may adde this also the riches of Gods mercy in giving leave and making way for us to come before him againe and renew our Covenant with his Highnesse and his readinesse to renew his Covenant with us againe with the whole Nation after all our revoltings and backsliding and perfonally with our selves in the Sacrament setting to his Seale For former miscarriages God might have discarded us and cast us off for ever and never have been intreated of us any more but seeing the Lord is pleased to continue our lives and give us another call to approach before him offering to renew and seale his Covenant with us if so be that now we will come in unto him be cordiall and deale sincerely and faithfully with his Majesty for the future how should this move us to be ever mindfull to performe Covenant with him who is so good and gracious to us as he is Thirdly looke on the examples of others that have gone before us both godly and godlesse men 1. Godly men We reade of David swearing and truly endeavouring to keep Covenant with God Psal 119.106 I have sworne and will performe it that I will keep thy righteous iudgements 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 nevert helesse 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! 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! 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 Is 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 Domino praeponit comparationem enim videtur egisse ut dicatur pronunciasse eū esse meliorem cujus rursus esse maluerit Tert c 5. de Paenit 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 July August 1641. when this was preached hand of God the plague and * The small Poxe c. to this day in many places svveeping avvay 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
Jerusalem who were too many of them making a Captain and turning back again into misticall Egypt which Covenant gave the rise to this ensuing plaine unpollished discourse fitted and intended only for a country Auditory where it is a commendation to speake in the most plain and vulgar terms which in all humility I present unto you worthy Patriots not as Patrons Homo sum errare possum haereticus esse nolo for if it be the truth of God as I trust it is he is the Patron of it and will defend it if any errour be found in it I disclaim it and think the work it self too slenderly performed for so judicious persons as you are known to be but only as his hand full of water to a great * Artaxerxes Prince the widdows mite a little goats hair as a Testimony of my humble observance and thankfull acknowledgement of the unweatied labours continuall care and zealous endeavours of the Noble Peers and your selves for the publick good as also for the particular favour of divers worthy Members of your House towards my self And surely if it may seem good to your grave wisdomes to procure and adde these things to all the rest which are humbly desired by very many thousands To out dumb and scandalous Ministers setle able godly Pastors over every Congregation in England and Waies and comfortably provide for them who many of them especially in these evill times lye under much discouragement and distraction through a miserable incompetency And provide That Priests and Jesuits be quite banished the Land That Papists be fully disarmed and considerable persons be fully secured and all the Laws duly executed upon them That Notorious offenders in Church Common-wealth whatsoever they be the Achans that hinder the endeavour of Joshua and Israel be censured and punished according to the qualitie of their crimes That Idolatry and Superstition especially the abominable Masse be totally rooted out of this Kingdom for what peace so long as the whordomes of Jezabell remains in this Land That evill Councellors Rome Iezabel mysticall Revel 2.20 and 18.5 the raisers and fomenters of the great troubles and distempers of the Kingdom and of the absence of His Royall Majestie from His Parliament c. which all good Subjects are greatly greived to heare be removed from His Royall Person That distressed Ireland whose condition is much to be lamented be speedily relieved with an ample supply where as here the blood of many thousand soules cry to Heaven for vengeance and to you for help against the mighty That the peace of the Kingdom that the power and priviledges of Parliament the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject be firmly setled That considerable places be fully secured by approved men so trading quickned to the relief of many thousands that now languish greatly under want That the blessed work of Reformation with all good speed go on be perfected Vnnecessary things and Ceremonies be removed That the Hyerarchy if it may be proved to be the root of much evil in Church State may be eradicated and a Church-government setled according to the rule of Gods word That the Sacrament by some good provision may be kept frō being polluted by unworthy persons and all Ignorant persons be compelled to learn the grounds of the true Protestant Religion That all scandalous Pictures and Images and all other Monuments and Reliques of Idolatry and Superstition and particularly Crosses by the high wayes and in such like places be according to a former order of Queen Eliz. injunction abollished Injunct 23. which occasion much Superstition especially in these parts by reason of the ignorance of very many chiefly when they carry their dead by any of them That whereas there is a great cry and grievous charge against the Liturgie of the Church and the Vsers of it that it cannot be lawfully used yea that it is Superstitious Antichristian Idolatrous and what not whereby the consciences of many good and well-affected people are much troubled if it may be proved if not yet that whatsoever shall be proved to be either Superstitions unlawfull and may give just offence to tender consciences or unnecessary your grave wisdom with the advice of the learned and godly Divines would be pleased with all convenient speed to remove it and provide that the people might have a sure rule to walke by in their worship of God that their minds may be setled and consciences quieted to a cheerfull obedience which would be a great inducement to many to joyne with us who otherwise I feare will hardly ever be perswaded That Arminianisme and Socinianisme the enemies to free grace and Romes Coy-ducks to bring in Popery be truly and thoroughly supprest That Church Papists the most dangerous enemies and underminers of Church and State may by some good provision be discovered That You would procure that scandalous and Popish Magistrates that regard not the Execution of Justice be removed and approved just men fearing God and hating covetousnes and unrighteousnesse be placed in their rooms That Contemners of your former good Orders be punished Wakes and unnecessary Alehouses and Playhouses the very nurseries of vice and randevouz for all prophane wretches be suppressed That the joynt consent and happy concurence of the Noble Peers with your House may be still continued Especially that they and you would use all possible means 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 reside neerer 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 and humbly craved according as in your pious and deepe wisdom shall seem most agreeable to the rules of piety true christian-prudence and policy which surely will compleat the blessed worke of Reformation begun make this a most flourishing 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 officio 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 worke you are about is stronger and wiser then they all and one Jacob can do more with God for you then 400. Edomites can do against you 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
See M Ley his book entituled A comparison betwixt the late Oath c. I will not set downe the principall Doctrines of the true reformed Protestant Religion and the Anti-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 Innobations 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 iudgements 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 lesse 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. 15.2 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 denyall 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 Idolaters 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 prefesse 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 bloud of all the Martyrs of our blessed Saviour himselfe of his Apostles and Disciples they all suffered for this they loved not their lives unto the death they willingly suffered the losse of all for and in the defence of it and sealed it with their bloud stucke to it to the death and so recommended it to us as a most precious jewell and rich treasure much better then life it selfe and surely this should much animate us to sticke close to our Religion the true Reformed Protestant Religion to the death seeing we have so many thousands yea hundred thousands that have dyed in the defence and cause of it 7. This hath hitherto and will ever preserve us As it is our Religion for which we are maligned hated and plotted against by the Papists and other Adversaries of the truth so it is that or rather God because of that that hath hitherto preserved us in spight of all the Devils in Hell and wicked men on earth and all their hell-bred desperate plots and malignant designes against it and us that we have been and still are preserved to the admiration even of the enemies themselves And this will ever preserve and protect us if we sticke close unto it we have Gods word for it Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the earth to try them that dwell upon the earth And if we deny or forsake this never looke to prosper the promises even of temporall blessings are made on this condition that we sticke close to it See Deutr. 5.32 33. and 6.17 and Chap. 28. Rev. 1.3 So that if either we regard the command of God or the glory of God or our owne temporall or eternall good of soule or body we must maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations we must sticke close to it and maintaine our Religion unlesse we will lose soule body our estates and all at least the true comfort of all And what doe we protest against is it not Popery and Antichristianisme a doctrine containing many positions blasphemous against God and Jesus Christ and destructive to all Christian Magistrates Kingdomes Common-wealths a Doctrine to use the words of learned Master Bolton in his Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse most false and accursed from Heaven and is ever attended with this inseparable curse that it will plague the Kingdome that nourisheth it and pay it home at length with a witnesse except some right round and resolute course be taken in the meane time to root it out as in conscience policy reason and Religion it ought to be which if once effected would cut the thread of the Papists hopes for ever making a party or faction here cut the throat of all plots against the Kings person crush the Popes heart for any probability or possibility of ever re-establishing or erecting his accursed tyranny in this Island again and preventing such most bloudy barbarous and unheard of usage or butchery rather as there hath been of late and still is in Ireland Secondly We promise vow and protest with our lives power and estates to maintaine and defend as we are by our Allegiance bound his Majesties Royall Person Honoor and Estate Rom. 13.1 2. And there is great reason for it Of each severally 1. His Royall Person because as the Jewes said of Josiah he is the breath
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 Fourthly we vow and protest to defend and maintaine the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects such are these Magna Charta Petition of Right and the Statutes therin specaified Also his Royal Maj. sty hath bin pleased divers times in his Declaratiōs graciously to promise all his good Subjects that he will rule according to the established lavves of the Land a most Princely profession 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 wherean 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 Baptisine 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 thery person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoeber 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 forcs practises councels plots conspiracies or other wise doe the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained As for instance if which God forbid we should see or know any person that should rise up against the King or Parliament wilfully infringe their just and good orders and priviledges or indeavour to set or maintaine division or dis-affection betweene the King and Parliament or betwixt the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland be his pretence as Papists and Popish persons want not excuses and colourable pretences he is declared a publick enemy of the State and peace of the Kingdome See the Declar. of Parl. Ian. 17. 1641. and we are by this Protestation bound by all lawfull means to bring such a person to condigne punishment So againe doe we see or heare any seeking wittingly and wilfully to disgrace suppresse or bring into contempt the true Reformed Protestant Religion or to vent and advance Popery or Popish Innovations within this Realme to set up any woodden stone or painted Image Crosse or other scandalous resemblances we are by vertue of this Protestation bound by all lawfull meanes and wayes according to the rules of Christian wisdome and prudence to bring that person or persons to condigne punishment for his demerits And we have warrant for this in the word of God Hushai the Archite did prevent the dangerous plot against David and discovered it to him 2 Sam. 17.7 8 15. c. Mordecai discovered treason against Ahasuerus Hest. c. 6. Yea the very Pagans would doe thus endeavour to bring to deserved punishment those that were enemies to their Idoll gods Religion King Country or publick-wealth And Gods word requires this of us Pro. 24.21 22. My sonne feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change that is to bring in any Doctrine worship or discipline or any thing contrary to the true Religion or word of God and the wholesome and good Lawes of the Land especially such as are fundamentall for their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Yea in case of seducing from the true to false Religion or worship of God as is well observed by a godly * M. I. G. Divine it is cleare that we must bring any to pumshment how neare or deare so ever unto us See Deut. 13.6 7 8 9 10. If thy Brother the sonne of thy mother or thy sonne or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosome entise thee saying let us goe and serve other gods Thou shalt not consent unto them nor hearken unto them neither shall thy eye pitty them Our love to God and the true Religion ought to over-rule our affections to our friends and naturall Parents in the flesh much more our affections towards others which our Saviour confirmes Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of one and he that loveth Son or Daughter more then me a not worthy of me And in case of the publicke-weale if any person be an enemy to it and will not be reclaimed our affection to our Country and the Common-wealth must over-rule naturall and private affection even to such as are neare and deare unto us and Cicero an Heathen determines this among other cases Cicero de Ossi 〈◊〉 3. That if a mans owne Father would betray his Country and do any thing that tends to the apparent ruine of the Common-wealth he must not keepe silence but preferre the safety of his Country before a Father and indeavour to hinder him or