heare our cryes remove our grievances supply our wants settle our Religion and peace against the plots and doings of all publicke and private enemies of Church and State or our selves they beare the burden for us spend their time and strength imploy their gifts and engage their estates lives and all for us and therfore we are all deeply engaged to defend and maintaine them and all their just and honourable actions and sticke unto them to stand or fall with them therefore it is that very many thousands from most of the Counties in this Kingdome and Principality of Wales doe in their Petitions offer Themselves their Persons Lives and Estates to defend and maintain as the Kings Majesty so his Parliament in all their just proceedings for the publick good Thus we see there is great Reason why we should with our lives power and estates by all lawfull wayes and means maintaine and defend the true Reformed Protestant Religion the Kings Majesties royall Person Honour and Estate and the Parliament Those three cannot be separated without utter ruine or extreame danger to all three The Declaration of Parliament Jan. 17. 1641. Therefore whosoever goes about to separate and divide these the true Protestant Religion King and Parliament or doth give any councell or endeavour to set or maintaine division or dislike betweene the King and the Parliament is by both Houses of Parliament declared a publicke enemy of the State and peace of this Kingdome and shall be enquired of and proceeded against accordingly The Rebels in Ireland did most shamefully and impudently pretend and still doe in their Protestations and their Oath also to defend and maintaine the King and his Priviledges and Prerogative and yet notwithstanding their deepe vowes and solemn oaths they doe cleane contrary Can they possibly be thought to be and stand for the King that doe most barbarously destroy abuse and spoyle his best Subjects fire his Townes take his Castles Forts and Holds You may be assured that whatsoever the Papist and their adherents and abettours here do or may pretend they have the same spirit and principles and will doe as their brethren and confederates in Ireland have done if and so soon as they have power and opportunity It is a legall principle That the King is the head and the Parliament the representative body of the Kingdome so that he that goes about to divide these doth as he that cuts off the head from the body naturall or destroyes the body naturall and yet sayes he loves the head seekes to advance and honour the head I must therefore here say as our Saviour in another case These whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder It was the policy and advice of a Machivilian to subdue an enemy Divide regna divide them and you may easily overcome them and rule over them A Faggot or bundle of sticks while tyed together there is no breaking of them but take them a sunder and then you may easily breake them all one after another So here while these 3. concurre together we need not feare all the adversaries in the world the Pope Spaniard French Papists c. but if these be divided by the cursed plots of the enemies looke for nothing but ruine or extreme dangers of ruine And therefore it hath been and is the cursed endeavour of our Adversaries to divide betwixt these between us and our Religion and betweene the King and the Parliament and betwixt the Parliamentary houses themselves to oppose one the other and so betwixt the King and his faithfull and most loyall people and Subjects But let it ever be our indeavour to joyne and keep these together and the blessing of him who is the God of peace and unity will rest upon us Magna Charta Petition of Right and the Statutes therin specified Also his Royal Majesty both bin pleased divers times in his Declaratiōs graciously to promise all his good Subjects that he will rule according to the established lawes of the Land a most Princely profession Fourthly we vow and protest to defend and maintaine the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects such are these That no man may breake open another mans house chamber dore study trunkes chests imprison or arrest his person or ceaze on any of his goods but by authority of Law That no tallage or aid shall be laid had or levied by the King or his Heires in the Realme without the good-will and assent in Parliament That no person shall be compelled to make any Lones to the King against his will That none shall be charged by any charge or imposition called a Benevolence without consent in Parliament and such like And there is reason for it for these are the glory of free-borne Subjects and that which doth difference us from slaves and vassals take away our Liberties and bring in an Arbitrary power that the Rulers will and pleasure must stand for a Law and then wherein doe we differ from the veriest slaves in the world it therefore concernes us to defend and maintaine our lawfull Rights and Liberties even nature and common equity binds us to it So that were there no Protestation made and taken yet we are bound as we are Christians by vertue of our Baptisme to defend and maintaine the true Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations as Subjects to maintaine the King our dread Soveraignes Person Honour and Estate as good Common-wealths men the Power and Priviledges of Parliament and the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject Fifthly and marke it well we are here bound by our solemne promise c. with our lives c. to justifie Defend and maintaine every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever hée shall doe in the lawfull pursuance of the same And there is great Reason for this also that we should mutually defend each other for if any suffer in a common cause as the defence and maintenance of the true Religion the Kings Majesties Person Honour and Estate the Power and Priviledges of Parliament c. all suffer in him and therefore all and every one should stand for him So did the Grecians and Barbarians when they went with Cyrus against the Persians Suid. as for themselves The very Heathens would not be wanting to their Country but in a common cause were willing to doe or suffer any thing even the greatest dangers and Christianity should not make more slow but forward to all civill duties tending to the publicke good upon better and higher grounds then nature can afford viz. out of conscience to Gods command true Christian love to our Brethren and Country c. Sixthly under the like engagement we promise vow and protest To oppose and hinder and by all good wayes and meanes indeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practises councels plots conspiracies or otherwise doe the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained As for
troubles are to put us in mind of our Covenant with God Men will call for their debts All Covenants and promises are due debts to God therfore he will call for them Therefore it was that when Jacob forgate or neglected his vow at Bethel God put him in mind of it And of notwithstanding all threatenings afflictions troubles men will not remember to pay their debts performe their Covenant unto God here he will make such feele his torments hereafter God is most just and unpartiall that will not suffer breach of Covenant if unrepented to goe unpunished 5. Our promise and Covenant is made unto God who is faithfull as well as just and will keep Covenant with his Deut. 7.9 Know that the Lord thy God he is God the faithfull God which keepeth Covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his Commandements Psal 111.5 He is ever mindfull of his Covenant And if God keep Covenant with us it is most reasonable that we should keep Covenant with him Secondly consider the quality of our Covenant with some other circumstances not mentioned before all which adde weight to this duty and should quicken us to obedience As 1. Our Covenants and promises are due debts to God Now every honest man will be carefull to pay his debts to performe his Covenants and promises Psal 37.21 The wicked borroweth and payeth not againe that is makes no conscience of keeping his promises such a day I will repay it saith he but perfourmeth not But it is a sure note of a godly man to keep touch with God as it is a note of a sincere upright heart upon consideration to be willing to enter into Covenant with God to be bound to him so it is a note of an honest and good heart to be mindfull of his Covenant and carefull to performe with God 2. A Covenant is one of the deepest bonds that can be to tye us to God in obedience Gods omnipotency is tyed by an Oath and promises so that he cannot in respect of his Oath doe that which otherwise he might easily doe being omnipotent and surely it doth as deeply and strongly binde us to God to obey him as it bindeth him to keep promise with man It is one of the firmest and strongest tyes that can lye upon us and therefore we should be most carefull to performe our Covenant 3. Thinke also on the witnesses Our Covenant was made with God in the presence of Angels and men the whole Congregation then present and our owne consciences All men know that we have been baptized and many have seen us at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper where againe we renewed our Covenant and promise of obedience to God Now all these Angels Men that Table yonder Font will rise up in judgement against us one day if we doe not keep Covenant with God 4. It is a solemne Covenant it was not made rashly unadvisedly upon sudden flash and heate of affection but deliberately upon meditation after warning given and you bidden seriously to consider of it and the danger more especially of breaking our personall Covenant shewed Rash vowes and promises if lawfull and in our power doe binde much more such as are deliberate therefore Joshuah 9.19 the Covenant which Israel had made with the Gibeonites though gotten by fraud yet Joshuah and the Princes durst not breake it v. 19.20 All the Princes said unto the Congregation whose fingers itched to be 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 were 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 sore 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 personally 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
owne house to minde himselfe so often as be goes in and out of his solemne vow and Covenant made to maintaine and defend with his life power and estate the tine 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 Vse But let us come to speake more particularly by way of Application 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 Baptime 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 God will raise them up againe remove such or such an evill they will become new men c. and yet afterward are as bad yet worse then before And may we not also say There be many who having taken the Protestation or Nationall Covenant yet are carelesse in keeping it yea willingly breake it by causing and fomenting division and dislike betwixt the King and his Parliament and good Subjects by opposing and hindering the removall of scandalous Images and Pictures some of which are most abominably evill and greatly abused by many in whose hearts they sticke faster then in the glasse-windowes or wals though we hoped otherwise till experience proves it to be true also by bowing towards if not to the pretended Altar or East c. I say no more but let every mans conscience be his owne Judge In civill contracts with men men will be ashamed that have any sparkes of ingenuity and common honesty in them if they breake their word and solemne promise with men and should we not much more for breaking Covenant with God If we had never received the Sacrament neither the one nor the other and so never entred into Covenant with God yet it were sinne to us and sinne is damnable to disobey God seeing we are all bound to yeeld obedience to God by vertue of our Creation preservation and sustentation to be his and only his to serve him and him only for ever but after Covenant with his Highnesse to sinne against him disobey his righteous and good commands for so they all are rebell against his Authority is much more grievous especially when withall we doe serve sinne and Satan Gods and our owne enemy It was a great aggravation of Judas sinne fore-prophesied Psalme 55. That he put forth his hand against such as were at peace with him and broke his Covenant ver 20. So it is a great aggravation of sinne for a man that is in Covenant with God to breake his Covenant and lift up the hand against God with whom he hath entred into tearmes and conclusions of peace to disobey God with whom he hath entred into Covenant to obey and observe him in all things To all such I may say as the Prophet Malachy to the Priests that brake their Covenant with God Mal. 2.10 Why doe ye deale treacherously every man by prophaning the Covenant of God And adde as he doth there ver 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doth this And as Jerem. 2.19 Thine owne wickednesse shall correct thee and thine owne backesliding shall reprove thee Know therefore and see that it is an evill thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my feare is not in thee saith the Lord. 2. Others there are that doe really enter into Covenant with God but seemingly breake it either out of ignorance infirmity want of watchfulnesse c. So doe all the godly all that truly feare God more or lesse though they often faile in their obedience yet it is not wilfully out of love and liking of sinne but out of ignorance weaknesse want of care c. but doe never so sinne as wholly and wilfully upon meditation to breake their Covenant with God 1 John 3.9 He that is borne of God sinneth not that is whosoever is regenerate and truly godly he doth not wittingly and willingly sinne he doth not love sinne and live and lie in sinne in the breach of Covenant as others doe the ground is because his seed abideth in him i.e. because grace
that I will keep thy righteous indgements So the Church and people of God even in the midst of great troubles and afflictions Psal 44.17 18 19. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our heart is not turned backe neither have our steps declined from thy way though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death 2. As godly so godlesse men have been carefull to keep Covenants and promises at least with men Pharaoh a Pagan King bids Joseph goe and performe his Oath which his father made him to sweare though it was a long and chargeable journey Gen. 50.6 And Herod incestuous Herod that made no conscience of incest and murder yet makes scruple of his Oath he would not breake his promise Mat. 14.9 The King was sorry never belesse for his Oathes sake You may observe it that many meere naturall men wholly destitute of the life of grace or any good conscience will notwithstanding be very punctuall in observing their Covenants and promises though to their owne dammage and hurt and should not this greatly shame men that have a name for Religion and would be thought to be some body among the faithfull to be found unfaithfull with God or men What I shall meere naturall worldly unbeleeving men in their kinde goe beyond the children and people of God be more mindfull of their promises and Covenants then the godly then Professors are of their promises to God Yea shall the very Pagans out-strip us Christians in their dealings with men Oh'l let us blush and be ashamed and repent and amend least the men of this world yea the Pagans rise up in judgement against us one day and condemne us Fourthly think of the great good that hereby will redound To God To Men. 1. To God It makes much for his glory It gives him the glory of his excellency that he is worthy of it of his power wisedome goodnesse and faithfulnesse that he can is able ready and will keep Covenant with us but Apostacy revolting breach of Covenant and falling off againe to former evill wayes and courses is most derogatory to Gods glory and dishonourable to his Majesty such a man doth in effect * Diabolum Demino prâ—ponit comparationem enim â—idetur egisse ut dicatur prenunciasse euÌ„ esse meliorem cujus rursus esse maluerit Fert c. 5. de â—aenit preferre the Devill before God for he seemes to have compared and weighed them together and trying both at length pronounceth him to be the better whom he chuseth againe to serve 2. To men and the good is either Nationall or Personall Nationall to keep Covenant with God tends much to the good of the whole Land and Nation There are great designes now on foot for the good of the Church and State The Adversaries are many mighty extreame malicious and exceeding busie have most desperate and damnable designes against both also the * Especially in Iuly August 1641. when this was preached hand of God the plague and * The small Poxe c to this day in many places sweeping away very many other devouring diseases are rife in the great City and in divers parts of this Kingdome Now the conscionable performance of our Covenant with God and particularly of our Nationall Covenant will be the most probable meanes under Heaven to maintaine the true Protestant Religion to suppresse and in time root out Popery disappoint the enemies of this Church and State further the great and long desired worke of Reformation and conduce much to the honour peace safety welfare and prosperity both of King and Kingdome of Church and State and the salvation of soules Againe we have prayed and doe pray for the publicke health safety peace and prosperity and who is now likely to prevaile with God but they that truly endevour to keep Covenant with him Hos 7.14 They have not cryed unto me with their heart when they howled upon their beds They came before God in their troubles cryed mightily unto him fasted prayed yet all this God esteemed but as the howling of a dog What was the reason verse 13. They have fled from me they have transgressed against me A Father cares not for the howling of a dog so long as the childe cryes not he regards more the teares and cryes of one childe then the howling of 20. dogs wicked men in the Scripture phrase are dogs swine traytors Rebels to the Majesty of Heaven and Earth and therefore are not regarded by him but the prayers of them that are faithfull in his Covenant may doe much good Prov. 15.8 The sacrifice which is also accompanied with prayer and so both the sacrifice and prayers of the wicked is abomination to the Lord but the prayer the single prayer of the upright is his delight their prayers may doe much good for a Nation both to remove and prevent evils and procure good What is a Parliament an Army a posture of defence without this though they be all of great use 'T is notable to this purpose which we have Job 42.7 8. faith God to Eliphaz My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends but goe to my servant Job and my servant Job shall pray for you for him will I accept It is the prayers of faithfull Covenanters that doe prevaile with God for themselves and others 2. Personall the good that will redound to our selves is great and manifold 1. It will be for our credit All the Countrey cryes out against him that hath no care of his Covenant or promise Sancti quidem honesti pro positi ditatio magna ruina est retr Chris that makes no conscience of his word such a man was hatefull to the very Pagans but they commended him that was carefull to keep touch what a blot then and descredit is it not to keep Covenant with God to promise and promise againe and againe but performe nothing Deut. 4.5 6. saith Moses to Israel I have taught you Statutes and Judgements as the Lord my God hath commanded me Keep therefore and doe them for this is your wisedome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall heare all those Statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and an understanding people What were these Statutes but the Articles and conditions of the Covenant which we must observe So Isay 56.4 5. Thus saith the Lord to the Eunuches that keep my Sabboth and take hold of my Covenant Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my wals a place and a name better then of sonnes and of daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off 2. It will make for our peace and comfort Conscience tels us we should keep Covenant with God that tyes and moves to duty Now if we endeavour to doe it truly sincerely
universally and constantly conscience cannot but justifie speake peace and so affourd comfort Psal 119 165. Great peace have they that keep thy Law and nothing shall offend them Gal. 6.16 As many as walke according to this rule peace be on them and mercy If we willingly breake Covenant conscience though it may for a time lye quiet and secure being lulled asleep c. yet it will cry out and then no peace no comfort to the wicked saith God Isa 57.21 3. It will be for our safety While we are with God and for God God will be for us and if God be with us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 God will be his protection who keeps Covenant with him Masters that have but a sparke of goodnesse in them will protect and maintaine their servants in all their lawfull undertakings for them Why because they are their servants in covenant with them so God will protect all his servants in all their doings according to his will and at his command because they are in covenant with him He that hath the Kings protection is kept safe from many arrest so he that keeps covenant with God hath his protection and thereby is kept safe from wicked men sinne Satan death and Hell that none of them can truly hurt him but rather their rage and endeavour shall turne to Gods praise and his childrens good 4. If we keep Covenant with God then God will blesse and prosper us We see it in this very Text Keep therefore that ye may prosper in all that ye doe So Deut. 7.12 13. Wherefore it shall come to passe if ye hearken to these judgements and keep and doe them that the Lord shall keep unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers and he will love thee blesse thee and multiply thee he will also blesse the fruit of thy wombe and the fruit of thy land thy corne and thy wine and thine oyle the increase of thy Kine and the flocks of thy Sheep and thou shalt be blessed above all people So Levit. 26.3 to 13. and Deutr. 28.1 to 15. view them over there are great things promised outward blessings to them that keep Covenant with God Excellent also is that place Deut. 4.40 Thou shalt keep his Statutes and his Commandements saith Moses That it may goe well with thee and with thy children after thee c. Psal 103.17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting from everlasting predestination to everlasting glorification but upon whom upon them that seare him to them that keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandements to doe them Brethren here are great things promised and we all desire to have them to live and prosper and be ever blessed why here is the way to keep Covenant with God me thinks all this should much inflame the worldly mans affections to enter into and keep Covenant with God seeing such things are promised to them that doe so 5. If we keep Covenant with God then God will keep Covenant with us if we faulter with God and breake Covenant with him then will he breake Covenant with us and most justly may he doe so Deut. 7.12 It shall come to passe if ye will hearken to these statutes and judgements the Articles of the Covenant on our part to God and keep and doe them That then the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the Covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers Deut. 8.18 Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God what is it to remember God but to thinke of our Covenant of obedience to him and doe it and marke what followes That he may establish his Covenant which he sware unto thy fathers So psal 25 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth i.e. all the passages of his providence are out of love for good and shall certainly be made good be performed but to whom to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Brethren would you have God to keep Covenant with you then see that you keep Covenant with him 6. Know that whosoever doth keep Covenant with God them will God owne for his peculiar ones Exod. 19.5 6. Now therefore if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then shall ye be a peculiar people to me above all people Beloved this is a great matter that God here promises That if we will indeed keep Covenant with him then we shall be his peculiar ones as much beloved as highly esteemed of God as a most choice treasure is of men that God the great God of Heaven and Earth should so love esteeme and account of a man a poore weake mortall sinfull man this is wonderfull yet this you see he promiseth to all that keep Covenant with him 7. And for the future God promises great matters and will certainly make them all good to all those that keep Covenant with him they shall have Heaven life eternall immediate communion with and a full fruition of himselfe who is the only alsufficient independent good We have his owne word for it Lev. 26.11 12. and he cannot deny himselfe Therefore a faithfull man that keeps Covenant with God is a happy man a rich man indeed not so much in re as in spe in a present possession as in future reversion and sure promises God himselfe Christ Heaven glory life eternall all is his If a man have a bond of a hundred or a thousand pounds from sure men we say and that truly he is so rich so a faithfull godly man is as rich as the promises Heaven and eternall life yea God and Christ and all is his and therefore he cannot but be most happy who doth now in part and shall fully enjoy him who is all in all If a man had all the creatures all the glory pleasure and comforts of them all yet that all were nothing in comparison of God all without him could not content the minde of man but God himselfe will fully satisfie it which results from all the former 8. It will also be a point of wisedome to keep Covenant with God Deut. 4.5 6. Behold I have taught you Statutes and Judgements the Articles of the Covenant betwixt God and us keep therfore and do them for this is your Wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the Nations c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith a * Father Greg. Nazian Orat. 53. Let a promise made by a vow or Covenant be perfected by performance for it is the part of fooles to faile Oh! my brethren how should the consideration of this so great and manifold good inflame our hearts to this duty That is the 4th motive the benefit Fifthly on the other side thinke of the great evils that will follow upon the wilfull breach of Covenant with God God is greatly dishonoured Religion the peace safety and welfare of the Land is extreamely endangered according to the greatnesse and generallity of