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A94152
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A pious president to both kingdomes for a sacred covenant. Being an abstractive exposition by way of paraphrase upon the tenth chapter of Nehemiah, the 28, and 29 verses / by Daniell Svvift, Minister of the gospell of Iesus Christ.
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Swift, Daniel.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing S6255; Thomason E71_3; ESTC R7337
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45,715
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58
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often rap out oathes against their sins and yet doe considering what they have done and what they should doe forthwith double both their sins and their Oathes If Israels Nobles first ordaine it take it and subscribe it she hath then good ground to accept it we have a faire call our Worthies are gone before us let their President be our encouragement they propound it to us and require the taking of it at our hands we shall resist authority in their publique call if we take not the Oath against our sins Gratum est deo qâ—um videt non sponte donuo confirmare votis nostris que ante c. 2 Chro. 15.15 Fourthly doe it cheerefully not unwillingly doe it freely in taking it expresse alacrity Forced service is not pleasing service constrained obedience neither with God nor man receives acceptance It is said of Iudah that they all rejoyced at this oath could we doe thus and sweare with all our hearts against our lusts seeking the Lord with our whole desires we should have more hope than wee yet have that God would bee found of us and that in stead of our feares and present distractions in respect of our bloudy warres he would give us rest round about us Fiftly if thou doe it doe it without any reservation take it against every sin and by it bind thy selfe to all the duties of Pietie whatsoever one dead flie spoiles the whole oyntment one sin reserved one duty left out and secretly excepted by thee will make thee guilty of perjury before the Lord. For tell me I appeal to thy conscience canst thou swearing to keep all Gods Statutes willingly commit the least sin or with selfe allowance omitt any duties and not falsifie thy oath Lastly be not onely resolved of the Lawfulnesse of it in respect of the authority that imposeth it and the subject matter of the same neither be thou onely perswaded of its necessity as it is a heavy weight to depresse thy corruptions and as it is a strong bar to keep in thy soule from stragling Dinah-like in the way of transgression but in taking it avoyd wavering for as whatsoever is not of faith is sin So a wavering minded man is unstable in all his wayes I oppose wavering to constancie be thou resolute ever to keep it resolve peremptorily with thy selfe never to be found guilty of the breach thereof Thus doe these Nobles thus doe these Israelites and thus observing these rules in thy oath for God and against thy sins thou shalt sweare in verity not falsely in judgment not rashly in righteousnes and not wickedly To walke in Gods Law THeir own fancies shal not now be the rule of their actions Observat Gods Statutes the Christians way the hethenish practises of wicked Idolaters shall not now be the helm with which they will steere the course of their lives their doings shall be such as will endure the touchstone it is to the Law and to the Testimony that they goe for direction And no marvaile for a conscionable walking according to Gods will and exact observance of his sacred Statutes is the christians way the Saints path and the onely high road that leades to eternall life I have gone astray saith David like a lost sheep seeke thy servant for I do not forget thy Commandements Psal 110.176 Peccare est deviare whilst men sin they straggle whilst they yield unto their vile affections they deviate from the Lords Statutes VVhich was given That which was given is still continued for as there is a freenesse so there is a constancy in all Gods mercies God is not as man that he should repent the gifts and calling of God are without repentance It was mercy not merit that brought her the Law the cause moving was in the bestower not the receiver she was as well as others in the bloud of her sins she before God cast an eye of pitty upon her Observat The Law an effect of Gods love unwashed unbathed unswadled as well as the Heathen The Law and the continuance of the Law is an effect of Gods love Because he affected her he chose her from amongst the Nations and further to testifie his love to her hee pluckt up the floud-gates and let forth the streames of the Law unto her that so shee might cleanse her selfe from all uncleanenes whatsoever He sheweth his World unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not knowne them Psal 147.19 20. By Moses the servant c. This title is as a glittering Diamond upon Moses breast it is not so base a thing as the world accounts it to bee the Lords servant Gods service is the Christians honour not his disgrace The Jewes doe not thus stile him in any disparagement their thus calling him tends wholly to his praise Socrates reports of Constantinus Valentinianus and Theodosius three renowned Emperours in their times that they called themselves Vassallos Christi the vassals of Jesus Christ Looke at it therefore as one of the fairest flowers in thy garden that God hath entertained thee into his worke glory not in thy wealth thy friends thy preferments that man onely hath the Crowne and the cause of daily rejoycing that can say unto God Lord I am thy servant Deo servire regnare est To observe and doe all c. GOds revealed Will is here set forth by foure severall termes Law Commandements Judgements Statutes it is a Law for it hath a legislative power to bind over the soule to exact obedience none may plead Ignoramus all are bound to looke that they have the knowledge of the same It is a command we are intrusted with it faithfully to observe it it is a statute for as it is prescribed and appointed so it containes the whole duties of our lives It is a judgement for as there is involved in it the judgement and judiciall sentence of Almighty God concerning its equity for our observance so it will judge us at the last day in case of contempt and negligence As it is a Law it is worthy to be read as it is a Command it is not to be slighted as it is a statute it must be the rule of our life And as it is a judgement we may see what it thinkes of our waies and what shall be our censure for the breach thereof There is none of all this but Israel seemes to take notice of and to witnesse the Universality of her respect she vowes and promiseth obedience unto all Christians must not be their owne Carvers they must not picke and chuse they must not take what they please Observat Gur obedience must bee universall and leave what they list in the worke of the Lord they must yeeld obedience and shew a like tender respect unto the all Commandements of Jehovah Was not this the lecture which Moses read unto his people when he told them If
A Pious PRESIDENT To both KINGDOMES For a Sacred COVENANT Being an Abstractive Exposition by way of Paraphrase upon the tenth Chapter of Nehemiah the 28 and 29. Verses By DANIELL SVVIFT Minister of the Gospell of Iesus Christ Quidni dulce eruam ac salutare epulum Spiritus de sterili et insipida litera tanquam granum de palea de testa nucleum de osse medullam Bernard in Cant. sermo 73. Omnis panis nutrimentum assert ad salutem aegris autem saepe inutilis sic et omnis scriptura munda mundis Basil ad Chyl de solitaria vita Seene and allowed LONDON Printed by Mary Okes dwelling in little St. Bartholomewes 1643. To the Right Honourable Right worthy and religious Patriots of their Countrie Robert Earle of Essex Robert Earle of Warwick and Ferdinando Lord Fairfax renowned Instruments for disappointing and discouraging of the Romish and bloudy adversaries of Gods sacred Truth Right Honourable I Know you expect not flattering Titles for besides the dint of Divine displeasure this were but to despite you with seeming Honours I desire not with airy ambages to tickle your eares I am sure downe right truths make the deepest impression upon honest hearts neither doe I sound the trumpet of applause Heroicke actions are glorious encomiums Faithfulnesse to God the King and Country are the onely diademe of true Nobility I may lay my hand upon my mouth your owne workes shall praise you in the gates There be many Right Honourable in these times who care not to adventure their necks to advance themselves and matter not to hazard their soules to ruine the Church but as your Honours have publique spirits for the common good so I am perswaded Gods glory is your highest aimes and to approve your selves before him in all your understandings the chiefe endeavour of your soules Let them looke at worldly acclamations as pleasing cordialls It is your Crowne and will be the rejoycing of your hearts that you keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards his Saints they are deceived who so highly estimate a little Laud for hee onely whom God commendeth is approved without or against whom whosoever desires to be applauded shall not be defended when God judgeth him nor delivered when God condemneth him It is more then probable that nefarious wretches and prophane creatures by reproachfull speeches cast fire-brands in your Honours faces But what though Physitians make the best Triacle of venomous Serpents Jasons impostume was opened and so healed by his enemies sword in the warrs You are Wise Men I hope you will make better use of your foes then fooles of their friends their aspersions may prove doctrinall teaching you to keepe closer in a holy dependency unto your God I confesse you might be free from these durst you but abnegate or desert the Truth their revilings shall be your blessings they are nocent you innocent they are deceived they take you for such as you are not they have with the bellowes of Malignancy blowne up the coales of contention they have enforced you seeking by violence to depresse the power of godlinesse to take up armes in the defence of Christ and his indeered servants surely it is a double injury to beate men causelesly till they cry and then to beate them for crying by injury and oppression to kindle strife and then to cry out against it as Athaliah cryed out of treason offences will come but there is no woe denounced against the persons offended but against those by whom they come Ride on Noble Lords keepe your swords still girt about your thighs let nothing discourage you out-face the proud lookes of approaching adversaries their owne sparkes shall further their owne burning Gods wrath shall not end in your but in their destruction Your honours zeale for Religion love to your Countrey courage in the publique cause and mutuall agreement in an holy Covenant have hitherto spoke your sincerity declar'd your piety and made you exemplary to them that shall succeed you O now afresh pluck up your spirits quit your selves like Worthies in Israel Christ like a man of warre leades out your forces if our sins interrupt not our mercies the bloud of your enemies shall spring up to the horse bridles and a glorious victory shall be yours Pardon my boldnesse in speaking to your Honours accept of my Mite though it be small I hope when you try it you shall not finde it reprobate silver but currant coyne You have entred into an Oath it is for God the Gospell our Soveraigne the Kingdome and your selves I doubt not but you will set the Lord Jehovah in the prosecution of this sacred Covenant continually before your eyes and by your zeale provoke many adding fuell to the fire and oyle unto the flame of their endeavours The Lord prosper you in your great affaires cover your heads in the day of battell and goe forth before you in all your enterprizes against the Romish and Anti-christian Faction So praies he who remaines ever Your Honors humbly devoted D. S. October 16. 1643. To all that wish well to the Cause of God and the Gospell of Christ in the two famous Kingdomes of England and Scotland and in particular to his native Country-men in the County of Leceister D. S. wisheth a firme Union in a sacred Covenant with a godly peace as the glorious effect thereof in this life and eternall and everlasting peace in the life to come EXpect not Complements I am no Courtier they are not for Christians looke not that I should wind into your affection by Rhetoricall expressions or smooth Supparisi ations in the Preface my intention is otherwise viz to present unto you matter directory in the Treatise Brethren my prayer to God and hearts desire for you is that you may be sanctified in this life and saved in the life to come I beseech you cast your eyes upon Israels Oath and see zeale against impiety reflect upon her Nobles and behold forwardnesse to promote Gods glory looke upon her Clergy with her whole Commons and learne submission to a publique yet a pious injunction Let her Covenant be your President and her obedience your incouragement Your Worthies intend nothing but Loyalty to his Majesty and the continuall preservation of your safety helpe them with your prayers adhere to them in their sacred Vow let not your estates and lives be deare unto you for their sakes and see that you start not from them but stick to them lest you be found fighters against the Lord Defend his Majesties Royall person in authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes to the last drop of bloud in your veines that the world with your consciences may beare witnesse of your Loyalties and that you are no Traytors Maintaine the truth of God with the priviledges of Parliament though with the hazard of your lives And for the underminers of Church and State prosecute them untill