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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36441	A phenix, or, The Solemn League and Covenant whereunto is annexed : 1. The form and manner of His Majesties coronation in Scotland, with a sermon then preached on that occasion, by Robert Douglas of Edenburgh, II. A declaration of the Kings Majesty to all his loving subjects of the Kingdoms of Scotland, &c. in the yeare 1650, III. The great danger of covenant-breaking, &c., being the substance of a sermon preached by Edm. Calamy, the 14 of Jan., 1645, before the then Lord Mayor of the city of London, Sir Tho. Adams : together with the shieriffs [sic], aldermen, and Common-Councell of the said city : being the day of their taking the Solemn League and Covenant at Michael Basenshaw, London.	Douglas, Robert, 1594-1674.; Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666. Great danger of covenant-breaking.; England and Wales. Sovereign (1660-1685 : Charles II)	1662 (1662)	Wing D2034; ESTC R5271	65,771	176

A PHENIX OR The Solemn LEAGUE and COVENANT Whereunto is annexed I. The Form and manner of His Majesties Coronation in Scotland With a Sermon then preached on that occasion by Robert Douglas of Edenburgh II. A Declaration of the Kings Majesty to all His loving Subjects of the Kingdoms of Scotland c. in the Yeare 1650. III. The great Danger of Covenant-breaking c. Being the substance of a Sermon preached by Edm. Calamy the 14. of Jan. 1645. before the then Lord Mayor of the City of London Sir Tho. Adams together with the Shieriffs Aldermen and Common-councell of the said City being the day of their taking the Solemn League and Covenant at Michael Basenshaw London EDINBVRGH Printed in the year of Covenant-breaking To the Reader Reader THou mayst expect some Reasons by way of Preface why these things thus collected are presented to thy consideration the principall part thereof having been the occasion of so much contest and trouble in these Nations and therefore desired by many it should have been buried in its own ashes But for that things of such publique concernment have been acted by the Heads of these Nations and in so solemn a manner in the presence of Almighty God it cannot so soon be forgotten but ought to be weighed and layd to heart with the good or evil consequences that have or shall accrew thereby it is therefore left to thy serious consideration A solemn League and Covenant For Reformation and defence of Religion the Honour and Happines of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland WE the Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our Eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happiness of the Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true Publick Liberty Safety peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included calling to mind the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts Practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their Rage Power and Presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our Selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a Mutuall and Solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear 1. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion confession of faith form of Church-government Directory for worship and catechising That we and our posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavor the extirpation of popery prelacy that is Church-government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy superstition heresie schism prophanness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and therein be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the rights and priviledges of the parliaments and the Liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that the World may bear witnesse with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and Greatnesse 4. We shall also with all Faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from His People or one of the three Kingdomes from another or making any faction or parties among the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick Tryal and receive condign Punishment as the degree of their Offences shall require or deserve or the Supream Judicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the Happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes denied in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both the Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity and that Justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Articles 6. We shall also 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 pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn 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 the good of the Kingdomes and the honour of the King but shall all the dayes 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 our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All

otherwise That He will seek their good and to the utmost employ His Royal Power That they may be protected and defended against the unjust Violence of all men whatsoever And albeit His Majesty desires to construct well of the Intentions of those in reference to his Majesty who have been active in Council or Arms against the Covenant yet being convinced that it doth conduce for the Honour of God the Good of his Cause and His Own Honour and Happinesse and for the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms That such be not employed in Places of Power and Trust He doth Declare That He will not employ nor give Commissions to any such until they have not onely taken or renewed the Covenant but also have given sufficient evidences of their Integrity Carriage and Affection to the Work of Reformation and shall be declared capable of Trust by the Parliament of either Kingdom respective And His Majesty upon the same grounds doth hereby recal all Commissions given to any such persons conceiving all such persons will so much tender a good Understanding betwixt Him and His Subjects and the settling and preserving a firm Peace in these kingdoms That they will not grudge nor repine at His Majesties Resolutions and proceedings herein much less upon discontent act any any thing in a divided way unto the raising of New Troubles especially since upon their ●ious and good deportment there is a Regresse left unto them in manner above express'd Sect. 4. And as His Majesty hath given satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of the kirk and kingdome of Scotland so doth He hereby assure and declare That He is no less willing and desirous to give satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of his good Subjects in England and Ireland and in token thereof if the Houses of Parliament of England sitting in Freedome shall think fit to present unto Him the propositions of Peace agreed upon by both kingdoms He will not only accord to the same and such alterations there anent as the Houses of Parliament in regard of the Constitution of affairs and the good of his Majesty and His Kingdoms shall judge necessary but do what is further necessary for prosecuting the ends of the Solemne League and Covenant especially in those things which concern the Reformation of the Church of England in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government That not only the Directory of Worship the Confession of Faith and Catechism but also the Propositions and Directory for Church-Government accorded upon by the Synod of Divines at Westminster may be settled and that the Church of England may enjoy the full Liberty and Freedome of all Assembles and power of Kirk-Censures and of all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ according to the Rule of his own Word And that whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven may be diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven and whatever heretofore hath been the suggestions of some to him to render his Majesty jealous of His Parliament and of the Servants of God Yet as He hath declared that in Scotland He will hearken to their Counsel and follow their Advice in those things that concern that Kingdome and Kirk So doth he also declare His firm Resolution to manage the Government of the Kingdome of England by the Advice of His Parliament consisting of an House of Lords and of an House of Commons there and in those things that concern Religion to prefer the Counsels of the Ministers of the Gospel to all other counsels whatsoever And that all the world may see how much he tenders the safety of his people and how precious their bloud is in his sight and how desirous he is to recover his Crown and Government in England by peaceable meanes as he doth esteem the service of those who first engaged in the Covenant and have since that time faithfully followed the ends thereof to be Duty to God and Loyalty to Him so is he willing in regard of others who have been involved in these late commotions in England against Religion and Government to passe an Act of Oblivion excepting only some few in that Nation who have been chief Obstructers of the work of Reformation and chief Authors of the change of the Government and of the Murther of his Royal Father Provided That these who are to have the benefit of this Act lay down Armes and return unto the obedience of their lawful Soveraign Sect. 5. The Committee of Estates of the Kingdome and General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland having declared so fully in what concernes the Sectaries and the present Designes Resolutions and Actings of their Army against the Kingdome of Scotland And the same Committee Assembly having sufficiently laid open publick Dangers Duties both upon the right hand the left It is not needful for His Majesty to adde any thing thereunto except That in those things He doth commend and approve th●m and that He Resolves to live and dye with them and his loyal Subjects in prosecution of the Ends of the Covenant Sect. 6. And whereas that prevailing party in England after all their strange Usurpations and insolent Actings in that Land Do not only keep His Majesty from the Government of that Kingdome by force of Armes but also have now invaded the Kingdome of Scotland who have deserved better things at their hands and against whom they have no just quarrel His Majesty doth therefore desire and expect That all his good Subjects in England who are and resolve to be faithful to God and to their King according to the Covenant will lay hold upon such an opportunity and use their utmost endeavours to promote the Covenant and all the ends thereof and to recover and re-establish the Ancient Government of the Kingdome of England under which for many Generations it did flourish in peace and plenty at home and in Reputation abroad and Priviledges of the Parliament and Native and Just Liberty of the People His Majesty desires to assure himself That there doth remain in these so much confidence of their duty to Religion their King and Countrey and so many sparkles of the ancient English Valour which shined so eminently in their Noble Ancestors as will put them on to bestir themselves for the breaking the Yoak of those mens Oppressions from off their Necks Shall men of Conscience and Honour set Religion Liberties and Government at so low a rate as not rather to undergo any hazard before they be thus deprived of them Will not all generous men count any Death more tolerables than to live in servitude all their dayes And will not Posterity blame those who dare attempt nothing for themselves and for their Children in so good a Cause in such an Exigent Whereas if they gather themselves and take courage putting on a Resolution answerable to so Noble and just an Enterprize they shall honour God and gain themselves the Reputation of Pious men worthy Patriots and

loyal Subjects and be called The Repairers of the Breach by the present and succeeding Generations and they may certainly promise to themselves a Blessing from God upon so just and honourable undertaking for the Lord and for his Cause for their own Liberties their Native King and countrey and the unvaluable good and happinesse of their Posterity Whatever hath formerly been his Majesties guiltinesse before God and the bad successe that these have had who owned his Affairs whilst he stood in opposition to the Work of God yet the state of the question being now altered and His Majesty having obtained Mercy to be on Gods side and to prefer Gods Interest before his Own He hopes That the Lord will be gracious and countenance his own Cause in the hands of weak and sinful Instruments against all Enemies whatsoever This is all that can be said by His Majesty at present to those in England and Ireland at such a distance and as they shall acquit themselves at this time in the active discharge of their necessary Duties so shall they be accepted before God endeared to his Majesty and their Names had in remembrance throughout the World Given at Our Court of Dunfirmlin the sixteenth day of August 1650. and in the second year of Our Raign FINIS The great danger of Covenant-refusing and Covenant-breaking 2 Tim. 3.3 Truce-breakers or Covenant-breakers IN the beginning of the Chapter the Apostle tells us the condition that the Church of God should be in in the last dayes This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come In the second Verse he tells us the reason why these times should be such hard and dangerous times For men shall be lovers of themselves covetous c. The reason is not drawn from the miseries and calamities of the last times but from the sins and iniquities of the last times It is sin and iniquity that makes times truly perilous Sin and sin only takes away Gods love and favour from a Nation and makes God turn an enemy to it Sin causeth God to take away ●●e purity and power of his Ordinances from a Nation Sin makes all the creatures to be armed against us and makes our own conscience to fight against us Sin is the cause of all the causes of perilous times Sin is the cause of our civil warres 2 Sam. 12.11 Sin is the cause of our divisions Jam. 4.1 Sin is the cause why men fall into such dangerous errours 2 Thess 2.11 Sin brings such kinds of judgements which no other enemy can bring Sin brings invisible spiritual and eternal judgements It is sin that makes God give over a Nation to a sense Rom. 1.24 Sin makes all times dangerous Let the times be never so prosperous yet if they be sinful times they are times truly dangerous And if they be not sinful they are not dangerous though never so miserable It is sin that makes Afflictions to be the fruits of Gods revenging wrath part of the curse due to sin and a beginning of Hell It is sin and sin only that imbitters every affliction Let us for ever look upon sin through these Scripture spectacles The Apostle in four verses reckons up 19 sins as the causes of the miseries of the last dayes I may truly call these 19 sins Englands Looking-glasse wherein we may see what are the clouds that eclipse Gods countenance from shining upon us the Mountains that lye in the way to hinder the settlement of Church-discipline Even these 19 sim which are as an Iron whip of 19 strings with which God is whipping England at this day which are as 19 Faggots with which God is burning and devouring England My purpose is not t● speak of all these sins Onely let me propound a Divine project how to make the times happy for soul and body And that is To strike at the root of all misery which is sin and iniquity To repent for and from all these 19 sins which are as the Oyl that feedeth and encreaseth the flame that is now consuming of us For because men are lovers of themselves Vsque ad contemptum Dei Reipublicae Because men drive their own designes not only to the neglect but contempt of God and the Common-wealth Because men are covetous lovers of the world more then lovers of God Because they are proud in head heart looks and apparel Because they are unthankful turning the mercies of God into instruments of sin and making Darts with Gods blessing to shoot against God Because men are unholy and beady and make many covenants and keep none Because they are as the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Devils acting the Devils part in accusing the brethren and in bearing false witnesse one against another Because they have a form of godlinesse denying the power thereof c. hence it is that these times are so sad and bloudy These are thine enemies O England that have brought thee into this desolate condition if ever God lead us back into the wildernesse it will be because of these sinnes And therefore if ever you would have blessed dayes you must make it your great businesse to remove these 19 mountaines and repent of these land-devouring and soul-destroying abominations At this time I shall pick out the first and the tenth sin to speak on The first is self-love which is placed in the forefront as the cause of all the rest Self-love is not only a sin that makes the times perilous but it is the cause of all those sins that makes the times perilous For because men are lovers of themselves therefore they are covetous proud unholy c. The tenth sinne is truce-breaking and for fear lest the time should prevent me I will begin with this sinne first The tenth sin then is truce-breakers or as Rom. 1.33 Covenant-breakers The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth three things First such as are foederis nescii as Beza renders it or as others infoederabiles that is such as refuse to enter into Covenant Or secondly such as are foedifragi qui pacta non servant as Estius hath it or sine fide as Ambrose that is such as break faith and Covenant Or thirdly such as are implacabiles or as others sine pace that is such as are implacable and haters of peace According to this threefold sense of the word I shall gather these three observations Doct. 1. That to be a Covenant-refuser is a sin that makes the times perilous Doct. 2. That to be a Covenant breaker is a sin that makes the times perilous Doct. 3. That to be a peace hater or a truce-hater is a sin that makes the times perilous To begin with the first Doctrine the first That to be a Covenant-refuser is a sinne that makes the times perilous To be foederis nescius or indefoederabilis For the understanding of this you must know that there are two sorts of Covenants There are divellish and hellish Covenants and there

are godly and religious Covenants First there are divellish Covenants such as Acts 23.12 and Isaiah 28.15 such as the holy league as it was unjustly called in France against the Hugonites and that of our Gunpowder Traytors in England Now to refuse to take such Covenants is not to make the times perilous but the taking of them makes the times perilous Secondly there are godly Covenants such as Job 31.1 I have made a Covenant with mine eyes why then should I think upon a maid Such as Psal 119. I have sworn I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgements such as 2 Chron. 15.14 And such as this is which you are met to take this day For you are to swear to such things which you are bound to endeavour after though you did not swear Your swearing is not solum vinculum but novum vinculum is not the onely but onely a new and another bond to tye you to the obedience of the things you swear unto which are so excellent and so glorious that if God give those that take it a heart to keep it it will make these three Kingdomes the glory of the world And as one of the Reverend Commissioners of Scotland said when it was first taken in a most solemn manner at Westminster by the Parliament and the Assembly That if the Pope should have this Covenant written upon a wall over against him sitting in his chair it would be unto him like the hand-writing to Belshazzar causing the joynts to loose and his knees to smioe one against another And I may adde that if it be faithfully and fully kept it will make all the Divels in Hell to tremble as fearing lest their Kingdome should not long stand Now then for a man to be an Anticovenanter and to be such a Covenant-refuser it must needs be a sin that makes the times perilous And the reason is Reason 1. Because you shall find in Scripture that when any Nation did enter into a solem religious Covenant God did exceedingly bless and prosper that Nation after that time As appears 2 Chron. 15.19 2 Kings 11.20 And we have a promise for it Deut. 21.12 13. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God c. That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that he may be unto thee a God c. And therefore to be a Covenant-refuser is to make our miseries perpe●ual Reason 2. Because as it is the highest act of Gods love to man to vouchsafe to engage himself by Oath and Covenant to be his God so it is the highest demonstration of mans love to God to bind himself by Oath and Covenant to be Gods There is nothing obligeth God more to us then to see us willing to tye and bind our selves fast unto his service And therefore they that in this sense are Anti-covenanters are sons of Belial that refuse the yoak of the Lord that say as Psalm 2.3 Let us break his bands asunder and cast away his cords from us such as Oderunt vincula pietatis which is a soul-destroying and land-destroying sin Reason 3. Because that the union of England Scotland and Ireland into one Covenant is the chief if not the onely preservative of them at this time You find in our English Chroniclers that England was never destroyed but when divided within it self Our civil divisions brought in the Romans the Saxons Danes and Normans But now the Anti-covenanters he divides the Parliament within it self and the City within it self and England against it self he is as a stone separated from the building which is of no use to it self and threatneth the ruine of the building Jesus Christ is called in Scripture the corner-stone which is a stone that unites two ends of a building together Jesus Christ is a stone of union and therefore they that sow division and study unjust separation have little of Jesus Christ in them When the ten tribes began to divide from the other two tribes they presently began to war one against another and to ruine one another The Anti-covenanter he divides and separates and disunites and therefore he makes the times perilous My chief aim is at the second Doctrine which is Doct. 2. That for a Covenant-taker to be a Covenant-breaker is a sin that makes the times perilous For the opening of this point I must distinguish again of Covenants There are civil and there are religious Covenants A civil Covenant is a Covenant between man and man and of this the Text is primarily though not onely to be understood Now for a man to break promise and Covenant with his brother is a land-stroying and soul-devouring abomination We read 2 Sam. 21. that because Saul had broken the Covenant that Joshua made with the Gibeonites God sent a famine in David's time of three years continuance To teach us that if we falsifie our Word and Oath God will avenge covenant-breaking though it be forty years after Famous is that text Jer. 34.17 18 19 20. Because the Princes and the People brake the covenant which they had made with their servants though but their servants God tells them Because ye have not hearkned unto me in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother c. Behold I proclaim liberty for you saith the Lord to the sword to the pestilence and and to the famine and I will make you to be removed into all the Kingdomes of the Earth c. We read also Ezek. 17.18 19 20. That God tells Zedekiah because he brake the covenant he had made with the King of Babylon that therefore he would recompence upon his head the oath that he had despised and the covenant that he had broken and would bring him to Babylon and plead with him there for the trespasse which he had trespassed against the Lord. David tells us Psal 15.4 that it is a sin that shuts a man out of heaven The Turkish histories tell us of a covenant of peace made between Amurath the great Turk and Ladislaus King of Hungary and how the Pope absolved Ladislaus from his oath and provoked him to renew the war In which war the Turk being put to the worst and despairing of victory pulls out a paper which he had in his bosome wherein the league was written and said O thou God of the Christians if thou beest a true God be revenged of those that without cause have broken the league made by calling upon thy name And the story saith that after he had spoken these words he had as it were a new heart and spirit put into him and his souldiers and that they obtained a glorious victory over Ladislaus Thus God avenged the quarrel of mans covenant The like story we have of Rodolphus Duke of Swevia who by the Popes instigation waged war with Henry the fourth Emperour of Germany to whom he had sworn the contrary The Pope sent a Crown to him with this Motto Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema

God and his righteousnesse c. And most people seek this last of all The third text is Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that endureth for ever c. And most people labour not for the meat that endureth for ever but for the meat that perisheth As these three texts are kept so do many people keep this part of the Oath for there were never more divisions and differences in the Church never more difformity and pleading against uniformity then now there is 5. We swear to endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme c. And yet notwithstanding there are some that have taken this Oath that contend earnestly for a Toleration of all Religions 6. We swear against a detestable indifferency and Neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God c. And yet how many are there amongst us that are like unto Gallio that care not what becomes of the cause of God so they may have peace and quiet That will not be the backwardest of all and yet will be sure not to be too forward for fear lest if the times turn they should be noted amongst the chief of the Faction That are very indifferent which side prevail so they may have their trading again That say as the Polititian that they would be carefull not to come to near the heels of Religion lest it should dash out its brains And as the King of Arragon told Beza that he would wade no further into the sea of Religion then he could safely return to shoar In all these six particulars let us seriously search and try our hearts whether we be not amongst the number of those that make the times perilous The third use is for Humiliation Let the consideration of our Covenant-breaking be a heart-breaking consideration to every one of us this day Let this be a mighty and powerful Argument to bumble us upon this day of humiliation There are five considerations that are exceedingly soul-humbling if God bless them unto us 1. The consideration of the many commandements of God that we have often often broken 2. The consideration of the breaking of Jesus Christ for our sins how he was rent and torn for our iniquities 3. The consideration of the breaking of the bread and the pouring out of the wine in the Sacrament which is a heart-breaking motive and help 4. The broken condition that the Kingdome of England Scotland and Ireland and that Germany is in at this time 5. The many Vowes and Covenants that we have broken our Sacrament-covenants our Fasting-covenants our Sick bed-Covenants And especially the consideration of our often breaking of our Nationall-covenant which you come this day to renue This is a sin in Folio a sin of a high nature and if ever God awaken conscience in this life a sin that will lye like a heavy Incuba upon it A greater sin then a sin against a Commandement or against an Ordinance A sin not only of disobedience but of perjury A sin of injustice of spiritual Adultery A sin of Sacriledge A sin of great unkindnesse A sin that makes us not only disobedient but dishonest For we account him a dishonest man that keeps not his word A sin that not only every good Christian but every good Heathen doth abhor A sin that not onely brings Damnation upon us but casteth such into horrible disgrace and reproach upon God that it cannot stand with Gods honour not to be avenged of a Covenant-breaker Tertullian saith that when a Christian forsakes his Covenant and the colours of Christ and turnes to serve as the Divels souldier he puts an unspeakable discredit upon God and Christ For it is as much as if he should say I like the service of the Divel better then the service of God And it is just as if a souldier that hath waged war under a Captain and afterwards forsaking him turnes to another and after that leaves this other Captain and returns to his former Captain This is to prefer the first Captain before the second This makes God complain Jer. 24. What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they are gone far from me c. And in the 11 ver Hath any Nation changed their God which are yet no Gods but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Basill brings in the Devil insulting over Christ and saying I never created nor redeemed these men and yet they have obeyed me contemned thee O Christ even after they have Covenanted to be thine And then he addes Equidem ego istam futuram adversus Christum gloriationem hostis insolentem gravius longe esse statuo quam Geheimae supplicia That is I esteem this insulting of the Devill over Jesus Christ at the great day to be more grievous to a true Saint then all the torments of hell A saying worthy to be written in letters of gold Seeing then that covenant-breaking is so great an abomination the Lord give us hearts to be humbled for this great abomination this day And this will be a notable preparation to sit you to the renuing of your Covenant For we read that Nehemiah first called his people to fast before he drew them into a Covenant According to which pattern you are here met to pray and humble your soules for your former covenant-breaking and then to bind your selves anew unto the Lord our God As wax when it is melted will receive the impression of a seal which it will not do before so will your hearts when melted into godly sorrow for our sins receive the seal of God abidingly upon them which they will not do when hardned in sin Is every man that sins against the covenant to be accounted a covenant-breaker and a perjured sacrilegious person By no means For as every failing of a Wife doth not break a Covenant between her and her Husband but she is to be accounted a Wife till she by committing adultery break the Covenant So every miscariage against the covenant of grace or against this National-covenant doth not denominate us in a Gospell-account covenant-breakers But then God accounts us according to his Gospel to break Covenant when we do not only sin but commit sin against the Covenant when we do not only sin out of weaknesse but out of wickednesse when we do not only faile but fall into sin when we forsake and renounce the Covenant when we deal treacherously in the Covenant and enter into League and covenant with those sins which we have sworn against When we walk into Anti-covenant paths and willingly do contrary to what we swear then are we perjured and unjust and sacrilegious and guilty of all these things formerly mentioned The fourth Use presents unto you a Divine and therefore a sure project to make the times happy And that is Let all Covenant-takers labour to be covenant-keepers It hath pleased God to put it in your hearts