to go fight for them and their party against the King and his party which did oppose those ends But afterward you might see apparently that it was not from his evill Councell alone but it was from himselfe which did appear by his refusal to hearken to those many Petitions Declarations Remonstrances and other proffers made unto him from time to time Nay when his evill Councell was taken away he came not to his Parliament but did flye to the Scots Nay when he was in Prison and after notwithstanding they did condescend to a Treaty upon tearmes of disadvantage yet he held still to his principles which had they yeelded unto they had not onely lost the Cause for which so much blood and treasure yea innocent blood of Saints was shed and that in abundance but in all liklyhood they had brought themselves and the Kingdoms into a greater and worser bondage then before And besides they had broken their Covenant in so doing And afterwards when it did appeare that many in Parliament did act so as was against your fore-named ends and did side in yeelding to the King and his party then the Army was bound if it were in their power and so all that had taken the Coven went are likewise bound so far as their power did reach to apprehend them and bring them to their tryal that they might receive condigne punishment and that by their Covenant So as if it appeare that the Parliament still sitting the Army and godly party of the Kingdom did desire and act no other ways then fâ—r the glory of God in the Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdome and in discharge of their Covenant then they are so farre from deserving blame for what they have done as they deserve incouragement and commendations for what they have done And that they have so done may be seen and judged the better we will set down the Covenant at large which is as followeth I. THat you shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God in your severall places and callings endeavour the preservation of the Reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion and Confession of Faith Forme of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechising that we and the posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavor the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy that is Church Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Arch Deacons and al other inferiour Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godâ—inesse least we be partakers of other mens sins and in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall vocations indeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Priviledges of Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdome And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion and the liberties of the Kingdome that the World may bear witnesse with our consciences of our true Loyalty and that wee have no thoughts nor intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and Greatnesse IIII. We shal with al faithfulnesse endeavor the discovery of all such as have bin or shal be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any parties for faction among the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may bee brought to publicke tryall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreame Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happines of a blessed peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Progenitours is by the good Providence of God granted to us and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the former Article VI. We shall according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuance thereof and shal not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by what ever combination perswasion or terror to be divided from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God and the good of these Kingdomes and honor of the King but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able of our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely removed or prevented All which we do as in the sight of God Thus you have the Covenant at large that nothing may be hid but it may appeare to the Readers view now let us come to consider what may be the true meaning of it as might be in the minds of all that understand the nature of a Covenant that tooke it for every such person I suppose will observe the rule set downe by the Lord which is Thou shall sweare in truth righteousnesse and judgement and according to that let us looke seriously at the meaning of it and so much the rather because many that I suppose doe really seeke the good of the Kingdome are much stumbled about it fearing it is broken by those that have beene the most eminent Actors for the Kingdomes good and partly because those who should bee Incouragers of them that have so acted whose word goes far cry out against for the breach of Covenant and make it one of their strong holds 1. In the first branch first there is a promise and ingagement to maintaine the Scots in that Reformation in Religion in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Govâ—rnment which is exercised and practised among them
brought forth according to that maner and then if the King should then all those in Parliament that did side with him and endeavour to preserve him in that way and give him power so to doe in part or in whole must needs be dealt withall after the same manner or else the Covenant could not be kept and preserved 6. The Covenant bindes not onely to doe all this in your owne persons but to assist and defend all those that have taken the Covenant in their endeavours to maintaine it as aforesaid and this you will doe all the daies of your lives zealously and constantly against all opposition with all your power and if you cannot doe it your selves you will reveale it and that timely to those that may that so you may not be prevented of that great end you aimed at the glory of God the true priviledges of Parliament and the true liberties of the Kingdome and it must needs be thus or else another party that regard none of all these must pretend the Covenant that did maintaine the King and all other in their way which I hope you would abhor And now let us see whether the Parliament now sitting and the Army have broken this Covenant in this sense or not or whether they have not kept it and give me leave to joyn both together for they are both ingaged a like in what have beene done because allowed and approved of by both 1. And first they have defended the Scots against their Enemies and that notwithstanding their deserts to the contrary and did set them in such a posture as they might freely act their Reformed Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and have opposed them in the breach of Covenant which they did in many particulars according as the Covenant did binde them Also the Lord hath made them instrumentall so to act as that they have brought England into such a posture as they may have liberty to act freely in such a Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as is according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and are about to set Ireland in the same condition and would be glad if Scotland would doe the like and they have opposed all those that have acted the contrary so far as in them lies according to this first branch of the Covenant 2. They have done as much as in them lies to extirpate Popery and Prelacie that is to say Government by Arch-bishops Bishops c. so that Hierarchy is to be abolished and for any thing is yet done they may endeavour to doe the like to all that shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse which is according to the second branch of the Covenant 3. They have with their estates and lives endeavoured to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament in their acting for the glory of God and the priviledges of the Kingdome and they have stood by and for them that have so acted and for the Parliament to act freely for the glory of God is their greatest priviledge and highest right and for the Kingdome to be set in such a condition as they may freely worship God and walke in their severall places and callings in the discharge of their duties according to the Word of God is the greatest liberty that can befall a Kingdome or Kingdomes and such a condition have they been instrumentall to set this Kingdome in at present and that the Kingdome might be eased of those burthens hath been their desire and endeavours by their Remonstrance and Petitions for many burthens to be removed and they have endeavoured it by their actings also and still they continue to be sollicitous that way and for the Kings Person they did defend it after they had gotten it into their possession and would have defended it still and his authority also if they could have done it in the preservation of the true Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and the Liberties of the Kingdome and also they would not have diminished his just power and greatnesse which was to be shewed forth in acting for the glory of God in the good of his Kingdomes but they kept his Person from putting forth his authority power and greatnesse in unjust waies and to the overthrow of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes in the Reformation of them according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches all which the Covenant doth binde them unto 4. They have indeavoured to discover Incendiaries Malignants evill Instruments that have hindred the reformation of Religion and sought to make divisions and also those that have made Factions and Parties among the people and have brought them to triall that they might receive condigne punishment according to the degree of their offences witnesse their dealing with Duke Hambleton Lord Goring Lord of Holland Lord Capâ—ll â—nd the chiefe of those that rose in Wales nay they have not spared the King himselfe so faithfull have they been in performance of their Covenant nor have they spâ—red any in Parliament that have acted that way 5. They have endeavoured that Justice might be done upon the wilfull opposers of the peace and union made between the Kingdomes witnesse their dealing with the Scots and those that adhered in that designe 6. They have assisted those that have stood in the performance and pursuance of this Covenant against all that have opposed them witnesse their dealing with the Scots when they opposed and with the King and with some in Parliament and with those parties before named when they opposed and as this may be said for the Army so the like may be said for the Parliament that now sit who have stood to owne them and have approved of what hath been done in these kinds by adding their authority to it And the like may be said of the godly part of people of the Kingdome who in their placâ— have showne themselves destrous those things might be done whereby the Covenant might be performed as hath appeared by their many Petitions so that those that are cryed out against to be Covenant breakers are those that have been the most faithfull in keeping their Covenant of any men in the Kingdome for the Parliament and Army have not effected these things but in hazard of their estates and lives and yet they have gone thorow with it in such a sort that the Generations to come may call them blessed and the present Generation especially the godly party of the Kingdome may say of the present Parliament and Army as they spake of Joseph Thou hast saved our lives And now let us examine their accusers which doe so cry out of the breach of Covenant and â—â—â—k arâ— many people by their so doing and see whether themselves have not broken the Covenant 1. They have been zealous for the preservation of that reformation of Religion here that
whom you load with so many sad aspersions as rending the Church and hindring of Reformation and of Schisme and warn your people to take heed of them and of their doctrine as being strict above what is written c. And does not all this shew what is formerly said is apparent the Lord help you to consider it that so you may take heed how you load others with such aspersions especially such as your owne conscience will tell you walke with God in uprightnesse Would it not be better for you to lay before them the truth of your waies by the word of God and confute them by the word of God if you be able so to doe But your taking this course will give wise men to thinke or at least to feare you are not able so to doe or else that you have not found by experience the power of the truth of God in your selves for if you had you should not need to feare but that it is of farre more power to convince and prevaile with persons then all such waies as you take for all arguments although they be according to the word of God are not able to convince any except the Lord go with it by his Almighty power and therfore not such kind of courses as these be which his word allows not of and therefore you cannot have the least hope to prevaile with persons by them but you may fear the Lord will appeare against you for them and so blast you and your wayes which you seek to set up by such kind of doings I dare not think you are so little acquainted with the Lord and his power that he puts forth in his word when it is purely and truly held forth as that he is not able and willing to vindicate his owne truth when it is held forth in an humble manner without such sinfull waies as you take nay assuredly he will never owne much lesse goe out with such waies I beseech you therefore feare and tremble to goe on in them for it is just from him that you should not onely lose your labour but should meet with disgrace and if not contempt for your so doing for God will resist you in such waies And beside the persons you write to exhort I hope have not lived so long within the bounds of the Province of London where the word of God hath been so long taught and in such a manner as it hath beene and is still taught by some faithfull Ministers of the word of God but they have learned to esteeme more of one Argument out of the Word of God then of thousands of such kind of expressions nay I hope they have learned to know the Lord above such kind of expressions in such a way and therefore all such who are godly will be so farre like unto him as they will doe the like especially when they are brought forth against the generation of the just as your owne Consciences cannot but tell you these be as hath been formerly said at least some of them and therefore you must not thinke to prevaile with any that feare God by such Arguments or rather by such revilings and I desire for your sakes you be not judged at the last day for Raylers and I feare you see so much your selves that if those you so speake against if they should speake so of you it would be esteemed rayling by you and that you would make the world take notice you did so esteeme them but blessed be the Lord they doe not so nor I hope wil not deale so by you but will rather say the Lord rebuke you or rather him that furthers such courses and also pray that the Lord would please to honour you so farre as to make you see the evill of such waies and be humble and also will bring the Word of God and such Arguments therefrom as the Lord may be pleased to goe with all as may convince you and all those to whom you write and all those that shall read what you write as you and they may have cause to blesse God for while they live in this world and to all eternity and be a meanes to make you and them to study and pray the Lord to bring your hearts into such a frame that you may be willing to finde and also to submit unto the way that the Lord Jesus Christ hath appointed his people to worship him in which I hope will be the end and â—yme of all such as take pen in hand to write to answer you in this Book that so truth and not victory and the glory of God and his Will may be submitted unto and not their owne wills may be obtained of all that love the Lord Jesâ—â— in sincerity and unity and love procured therein and contention and divisions may cease among us and that we may come to serve him and one another in love that so the Lord Jesus may take deliâ—ht in us and dwell with us and in us and among us while as he shall see we seeke not our owne ends but his glory walking in selfe deniall and humility and keeping to his truth exactly and not doe as you have done to wâ—rne people to reject such doctrines as hold forth a strictnesse above what is written and therein bring in all such as teach that whosoever will enter into Church Fellowship must first take a Church Covenant I pray consider if it be not necessary they should so doe for are not all men free where they will sit down and dwell and when they are set down are they not still free whether they will joyne to the Church or not and if they doe not if they offend you may tell them if they refuse to heare you goe and tell the Church and if they send for him if he refuse to come you can proceed no further against him by your Church-way and what is meant by joyning if it be not by covenanting to walke together with the Church in the waies of the Gospel and if a person so doe then you have power over him so as the Covenant gives you all the power you have over a person to exercise the Church Discipline upon him or else you have none and if you have not power over them that are in the Church then wherefore is Church Discipline and therefore the Covenant giving you that power it must needs be necessary for that the Church hath such a power is written and must exercise it upon the offending Brother and therefore by necessary consequence from Scripture-grounds there must be a Church Covenant which you may see far more at large and more clearly inreverend M. Hookers Book of the survey of Church Government and therefore it is not a doctrine above what it written and therefore not to be rejected but such as we must have an eare to heare and a heart to beleeve being agreeable to the Word of God and for what you speake of the Lords Supper that
A Word to LONDONS Provinciall Assembly OR A View of some Passages in the Ministers late Vindication of their Government To which is added A Vindication of the Covenant against all Intruders and Opposers By NEHEMIA CENT Isa 62.1 For Sions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake will I not rest c. Jer. 5.30.31 A wonderfull and horrible thing is committed in the Land The Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests beare rule by their meanes and my people love to have it so and what will yee doe in the end thereof Jer. 23.39.40 Therefore behold I even I will utterly forget you and I will forsake you and the City that I gave you and your Fathers and cast you out of my presence And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetuall shame which shall not be forgotten LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the Crowne in Popes-head Alley 1650. TO THE Christian Reader Christian Reader WHEN I consider the divisions that are among us arising from the diversities of the Judgements and opinions of men and the dangers we are in thereby it makes me feare we are fallen into those times which are said shall come which are called perillous times 2 Timothy 3.1 Men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers c. And from selfe it is that men seek to set up themselves and the brats of their owne braine and fall so in love with them as for the obtaining of their desires they run desperate hazzards for they are not willing that truth should prevaile nor those that seeke to hold it forth in their practises and therefore they indeavour to make all stoope to them and to that end they use all meanes to obtaine their owne wills and therefore they that stand against them they indeavour to loade with reproach and slander and to draw off peoples hearts from them and after themselves nay they give many privy nips at the power of Godlinesse under smooth pretences and expressions which is very sad to thinke of especially comming from such men as Ministers and Elders and in the Province of London the cheife City and place in the Kingdom which makes it the more dangerous and the more to be lamented And therefore my desire is for thy good that thou wouldest begge of God such a heart that thou maiest observe what our Saviour sayes that thou wouldest Take heed what thou doest heare or read and that of the Apostle Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or not and that try all things and hold fast that which is good For it is said by our Saviour that there shall arise many false Prophets and shall deceive many nay if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect and therefore we had need watch and pray that we enter not into temptation and therefore be very carefull when thou art to read the booke called the vindication of the Presbyterian Government and Ministers for although there be many faire words and pretences yet thou shalt finde many things in it which if thou doest not take heede may prove very dangerous unto thee for there thou mayest see godlinesse pretended but those that desire to walke up to the power of godlinesse reproached and called Schismaticks c. and charged with rending the Church and people warned to reject their doctrine and many such kind of aspersions they are laden with in many parts of that booke which is sad to thinke of But my intent is to speake but a word to them in this booke nor to say more of them at this time But my intent is as thou maiest see mainly to answer a booke that was set out with forty seven of their names to it which I think were all of the same society the reason that causes me to thinke so is because many of them are known to be of them and yet there is not a word spoken against their proceedings in that booke which may give occasion to fear they are all of one mind which is sad to think of there being so much sin in it and that thou mayest not think it strange that it should come forth row so long after I had brought it neare to a readinesse for the Presse a good while since but seeing so many Answers come to it I resolved to let it alone But now seeing a book come forth with such a dresse as A Vindication of the Presbyterian Government and Ministery I tooke it and did read it and finding still the same frame of spirit as before so farre as I was able to perceive although it were in a smoother way It put me upon thoughts to put forth what I had formerly taken some paines in especially concerning the Nationall Covenant it being that which I perceive is their strong hold to runne unto upon all occasions and also that is one of their maine Pillars to beare them up in what they do speake and write against such as walk more strictly in the wayes of God then themselves doe And besides I perceive that many of those that I beleeve fear God are much stumbled at it and caused to thinke and speake evill of the present Parliament and Army for their late actings and therefore for the vindication of the Covenant Parliament and Army and yeelding some little light to the godly Readers I have brought it forth that so if it bee the will of God people may bee more settled in the way the Lord hath cast us into and give him that praise which is his due and their duty to give him And that it may appeare neither the Parliament nor Army in what they have acted nor the godly people in what they have Petitioned have broken the Covenant especially in such a manner as some would make the world beleeve they have but those that cry out so of the breach of Covenant are the greatest breakers of it themselves and therefore that prejudice may bee taken off from the Parliament Army and godly people and the thoughts of unbyassed Readers may bee established and those that have beene and are the great Censurers of others may come to see their sinne and bee willing to take the shame of it and so cease to condemne others and learne to condemne themselves by owning their owne sinnes and that the consideration thereof may be a meanes to stop them from such high and violent courses and also from such uncharitable ways and practises And others may be kept from doing or approving these or the like practises is and shall bee my earnest desire And therefore Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest reade this booke with such a frame of spirit as may cause thee to read it with judgement and consideration of every part of it so as to be willing to see the truth and to stoope to it so as thou mayest understand love and practise it and therefore my desire is
is in Scotland which the Covenant doth not at all binde unto here in England and Ireland for there is a manifest difference put between us and them as I conceive for that here and in Ireland must be according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and no mention is made of the example of Scotland which shewes they were doubtfull of that but they would be sure of the best Reformation and therefore they put in according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches but you have not endeavoured such a Reformation in England in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as that before named which the Covenant doth binde unto witnesse your taking up with that which is in Scotland you have that manner of Worship Discipline and Government confuted by that reverend Mr. Hooker and we cannot but take it that you are convinced it is confuted for if you were not you would confute his Arguments and shew the falsnesse of them and untill you have so done we shall take what he hath said are such truthâ— as you are not able to answer according to the Word of God and therefore such as you are bound by your Covenant to reforme unto that being also the example of the best reformed Churches so far as yâ—â— doth appeare which while you doe not confute or reforme to it let the Reader consider if you breake the Covenant and live in the breach of it you having liberty so to doe and so you have not endeavoured to bring the three Kingdomes to the nearest uniformity in that way nay have you not and doe you not oppose that Government although you have not answered those Arguments neither have you so confirmed that way you walke in by arguments and grounds out of the Word of God so as might establish the people and leave them without doubt that you walke in that way which Christ hath set up to be worshipped in now in the times of the Gospel but the people must take it upon trust and so can never be soundly established in it 2. Although you have extirpated Popery and Prelacy in thâ— bulke of it in Church Government yet if you observe diligently some passages and Arguments in reverend Mr. Hooker you may see you have not wholly done it but the stumps of that Dagon doe still remaine and is stood for and upholden by you neither have you opposed Errors Superstition Schisme and Prophanesse as you ought to doe for although you speak against them in the generall you do it in such a manner that cannot in the largest breadth of charity be taken to come from love there is so much bitternes in the manâ—r of your expressions and in your so speaking in the general you cause those that are godlie in your own Judgements free from error as your selves be only they disscent from you in their judgement practise and yet you render them as odious to all your errors as those that hold and practise the greatest are the grossest blasphemers and so you condemne the generation of the Just and you know what is said he that justifies the Wicked and condemnes the Righteous are both alike in Gods esteeme And what a sad thing it is that you that call your selves and would have the people think you are the Servants and Ambassadours of Christ should be found in the number of those that speake against and condemne his Servants and Children I beseech you consider how you will answer it before him at his comming for by your preaching the people are not able to know who you meane except you meane all those that are not just of your Judgement and Practise and therefore if this be not your mind distinguish who they be that you may not lead people in a mist or else how can they be convinced for truth is plaine and open and therefore you neede not bee ashamed nor afraid to speak it and therefore while you forbear so to do we cannot but looke at you as Covenant-Breakers except it be so you cannot do it for you have Covenanted to doe what you can and for opposing whatsoever is against the power of godlines I wish you do not countenance incourage such as if you be asked or at least if you will seriously aske your own consciences you will say they have it not appearing in them yet you admit them into your choise societie and make them partakers of the choisest Ordinances and incourage them therein and how this can stand with your Covenant I leave the Reader to judge 3 You have not preserved the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament nor the Liberties of the Kingdome as you should have done formerly as doth appeare to the world in Print and of late it hath appeared more clearlie for whereas it is their Right and their greatest Priviledge to act freely for the glorie of God you have not encouraged them â—n the so acting nor yet have you incouraged them that have been a meanes to set them in such a condition wherein they might so act and the like may be said for the liberties of the Kingdom for the Parliament have been acting for the liberties of the Kingdome and you have not incouraged them therein and the Armie have been instrumentall to set them in such a condition as they might so act and you have not incouraged them therein for is it not the greatest libertie to the Kingdom when they can injoy to have the Ordinances of God in a powerfull manner according to his Word freelie and without controle and likewise to have Justice executed impartially and it doth not appeare that you have been any meanes to further it notwithstanding you know what the Word of God holds forth that Justice exalteth a Nation nay which might make a gracious consciencious heart to tremble to think that you who have incouraged to the taking of the Covenant and gone before others in so doing by taking it your selves that you should so faile as not to incourage them that have done it Nay which is farre worse have cast dirt and filth in the faces of the Parliament and trampled their honour under your feet and caused all others so to doe so far as have laine in your power and that for their faithfull discharge of the Covenant And you have done the like by the Army which have so often ventured their lives and estates as they have done and you also have Covenanted to doe the like so farre as in you lies Nay have you not been Incendiaries to stirre up people to a dislike and contempt of Parliament and Armie in what they have done Nay I desire that it may not trulie be said of some of you at the least that you have in a sort cursed them but which is most hideous to consider have you not prayed to that God against them in their proceedings to whom you have lifted up your hand that you