shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of Gods fearful Judgement And seing that many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman Antichrist to promise swear subscribe and for a time use the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully against their own Consciences minding thereby first under the external Cloak of Religion to corrupt and subvert secretly Gods true Religion within the Kirk and afterward when time may serve to become open Enemies and Persecutors of the same under vain hope of the Popes Dispensation devised against the Word of God to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus We therefore willing to take away all suspicion of Hypocrisie and of such double dealing with God and His Kirk Protest and call The Searcher of all hearts for witness that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this Our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that We are not moved for any worldly respect but are perswaded only in Our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in Our Hearts by the Holy Spirit as we shall answer to Him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceive that the quietness and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of * The lawfully established Suprem Magistrat the Kings Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of Gods Mercy granted to this Country for the maintaining of this Kirk and ministration of Justice amongst us we protest and promise with our Hearts under the same Oath Hand-writ and Pains that we shall defend his Person and Authority with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Countrey ministration of Justice and punishment of Iniquity against all Enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our God to be a strong and merciful Defender to us in the day of our death and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory Eternally Like as many Acts of Parliament not only in general do abrogate annul and rescind all Laws Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civil or municipal with all other Ordinances and practick Penalties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professors thereof Or of the true Kirk discipline Jurisdiction and Freedom thereof Or in favours of Idolatry and Superstition Or of the Papistical Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 13. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12 of King James the sixth That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. King James 6th And to that end they ordain all Priests to be punished by manifold Civil and Ecclesiastical pains as Adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realm Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6th As common Enemies to all Christian Government Act 18. Parl. 16. King James 6th As Rebellers and Gain-standers of our Soveraign Lords Authority Act 47. Parl. 3. K. James 6. And as Idolaters Act 104. Parl. 7. King James 6. But also in particular by and attour the Confession of Faith do abolish and condemn the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land and orders the Maintainers thereof to be punished Act 2. Parl 1. Act 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. King James 6. Do condemn the Popes erroneous Doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publickly preached and by Law established in this Realm And ordains the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels or Letters or Writs of that nature to be punished Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. King James 6. Do condemn all Baptism conform to the Popes Kirk and the Idolatry of the Mass and ordains all Sayers wilful hearers and concealers of the Mass the mantainers and resetters of Priests Jesuits traffiquing Papists to be punished without any exception or restriction Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 120. Parl. 12. Act 164. Parl. 13. Act 193. Parl. 14. Act 1. Parl. 19. Act 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. Do condemn all erroneous Books and Writes containing erroneous Doctrine against the Religion presently professed or maintaining superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papistical whereby the People are greatly abused and ordaines the home bringers of them to be punished Act 25 Parl 11 K. James 6 do condemn the monuments and dregs of by gone Idolatry as going to the Crâ—sses observing the Festival dayes of the Saints and such other superstitious and Papistical Rites to the dishonour of God contempt of true Religion and fostering of great errour among the People and ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act 104 Parl 7 K James 6. Like as many Acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the liberty and freedom thereof in her National Synodal Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Policy Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the Reformation of Religion in this Realm As for instance The 99 Act Parl 7 Act 23 Parl 11 Act 114 Parl 12 Act 160 Parl. 13. of King James 6. Ratified by the 4 Act of King Charles 1. So that the 6 Act Parl. 1. and 68 Act Parl. 6. of K. James 6. in the year of God 1579. Declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom God of His Mercy had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and Administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as He was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirks of this Realm they were publickly administrat according to the Confession of Faith to be the True and Holy Kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realm and decerns and declares all and sundry who either gain-sayes the Word of the Evangel received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith professed in Parliament in the year of God 1560. Specified also in the first Parliament of K. James 6. And ratified in this present Parliament more particularly do specifie or that refuses the administration of the Holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be no Members of the said Kirk within this Realm and true Religion presently professed so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christs Body And the subsequent Act 69. Parl. 6. of K. James 6. declares That
People at Lauerk before their discomfiture at Peniland-hills And perceiving that this Duty when gone about out of Conscience hath very often been attended with a reviving out of troubles and with a Blessing and Success from Heaven We do humbly and sincerely as in His sight who is the searcher of hearts Acknowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the Land We have done wickedly our Kings our Princes our Nobles our Judges our Officers our Teachers and our People Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly spoken unto us we have not hearkned unto His voice Albeit He hath followed us with tender mercies we have not been allured to wait upon Him and walk in His way And thô He hath stricken us yet we have not grieved Nay thô He hath consumed us we have refused to receive correction We have not remembred to render unto the Lord according to His goodness and according to our Vows and Promises But have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding And have most sinfully and shamefully broken the National Covenant and all the Articles of the Solemn League and Covenant which our Fathers swore before God Angels and Men. Albeit there be in the Land some of all ranks who be for a Testimony to the Truth and for a name of Joy and Praise unto the Lord by living Godly studying to keep their Garments pure and being stedfast in the Covenant and Cause of God Yet we have reason to acknowledge that most of us have not endeavoured with that reality sincerity and constancy that did become us to preserve the work of Reformation in the Kirk of Scotland As we are obliged by the 1. Article of the Solemn League and Covenant and by the National Covenant wherein we Promise and Swear by the Great Name of the Lord our God that we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our Lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of Gods fearful Judgement And resist all contrary Errors and Corruptions according to our Vocations and the uttermost of that power GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life According to these Scriptures Ezra 9.10 Isa 24.5 Jer. 9.13 Dan. 7 25. Gal. 5.1 1 Tim. 4.16 2 Tim. 1 13. Rev. 3.10 11. But we have been so far from such endeavours that we have stupidly submmitted to our Rulers and great Ones breaking down and overturning the whole Work of Reformation razâ—ng the Bulwarks thereof rescinding the Laws in favours of the same and not only breaking but burning the Covenants for preserving it enacting the Breaches thereof and declaring the Obligation thereof void and criminal to be owned And upon the ruines thereof settieg up abjured Diocesan Errastian Prelacy with its concomitant bondage of Patronages a Blasphemous Sacrilegious Supremacy and Arbitrary Power in the Magistrate over Church and State. We made little conscience of constant endeavours to preserve the Reformation when we did not in season testifie against those audacious and Heaven-daring Attempts When our Ministers were by a wicked Edict ejected from their Charges both they and the people too easily complyed with it And albeit in the National Covenant we are obliged to defend this Reformation and to labour by all means lawful to recover the Purity and Liberty of the Gospel by forbearing the practises of all Novations introduced in the Worship of GOD or approbation of the Corruptions of the Publick Government of the Kirk Yet we gave all the approbation required by Law of the Novation and corruption of Prelacy by hearing the Prelatick Curates We and our Teachers in a great measure complyed with submitted unto and connived at the encroachments of the Supremacy and Absolute Power both in Accepting and Countenancing the former Indulgences and the late Tolleration We have taken and subscribed Oaths and Bonds all which have been imposed these Twenty Eight years for pressing Conformity with the present Establishments of Church and State have been contrary unto the Reformation we swore to preserve Some of them restraining us from all endeavours to preserve it as those that renounced the Priviledge of Defensive Arms Some of them Abjuring the Covenants expresly and condemning the prosecution of the ends of them as Rebellion viz. The Declaration and Test We have Issachar-like couched under all burdens in maintaining and defending an Arbitrary Power and Absolute Tyranny wholly imployed and applied for the destruction of the Reformation and paying such Subsidies and Supplies as were declaredly imposed for upholding of Tyrants Usurpations and suppressing all endeavours to preserve the Reformation We have not constantly endeavoured to maintain the Doctrine of this Reformed Church Many of our Ministers have in sinful silence succeased from bearing witness to some persecuted Truths and from applying their Doctrine to the sins and corruptions of the Times Whereby many of the People have been overcome with snares and left to seek and maintain other Principles to justifie their practices of complyance or extravagance on the right and left hand not consistent with the Doctrines and Rules of the Church of Scotland Others of us have been ignorant of the Doctrines not constant in confessing them before men when called to suffer for and avouch them Hypocritical in professing them without a suitable practice and conversation becoming the Gospel Cause and Cross of Christ And studying more the Controverted than the Fundamental and Practical Truths of Christianity We have come short in Real Sincere and constant endeavours to preserve the Worship of GOD Publick and Private Many of our Ministers have left off Preaching and the People hearing in times of hazard We have been negligent and remiss in Family-Worship And in stead of preserving it many of us have done much to discourage and hinder it in some Families And in secret Worship we have been Formal and careless Many have satisfyed themselves with the Purity of the Ordinances neglecting the Power thereof yea some have turned aside to crooked wayes destructive to both We have not been careful to preserve the Discipline and Government Church Censures being laid aside and not impartially exercised against Scandals Personal and publick Scandalous persons heing admitted to hold up their Children to Baptism and to the Communion of the LORDS Table and other priviledges of the Church without respect to the Rules of Christ or constitution of this Church And many of us have been untender in giving in taking and removing Offences without observing the Rules and Order of Christ And some inclining sometimes to wayes tending either to the dissolution of all Discipline or Usurpation of an Independent or Popular way of exercising it And whereas in the same first Article of the Solemn League we are bound to endeavour the promoting and propagating of the Reformation and Vniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church
as to exclude themselves from coming under the Bond of it And in that case they must have some to tender it to them we find the Officers of the Church as Moses also was an extraordinary one imposing it as Jehojadah both to King Joash and to the People 2 Kings 11.17 2 Chron. 23.16 a precedent justifying Mr Robert Douglass by Commission from the Gen. Assembly his tendering the Covenant to King Charles the II. at his Coronation And Ezra made the Priests the Levites and all Israel to swear it and it was acknowledged that this matter belonged unto him Ezra 10.4 5. even without the consent of the Magistrate or him to whom they were subject at that time then a Heathen the King of Persia And if it be so tendered and taken without the consent of the Magistrate yet his after dissent or discharge cannot loose the obligation of it As to that of Numb 30. It is altogether beside the purpose For the Magistrate is neither the Father nor Husband of the Church thô in some sense to the Church Isa 49.23 having a power as a nursing Father not as a generating Father Comulative not Privative Nor hath he such power over his Subjects as a Father over his Child or Husband over his Wife Certainly these heads of Tribes vers 1. were Politick Fathers as Magistrates yet it is not allowed to them to Disanul Vacate or make void these Vows but to the Father or Husband of the Party making them from whom these heads of Tribes are spoken to as distinct and the command is given to these Magistrats only to see it observed and ratified Again National Covenants for Religious Ends and Interests are not to be supposed of that nature of these Vows which were not about necessary but indifferent things and it seems rashly and unadvisedly engaged into for the Father had no power to make null or of no effect the Maids engagements to necessary and indispensable Duties And as to these things which he might disallow and disanul it is said The Lord shall forgive her intimating there was something iniquous in it However as the Father holding his Peace did ratifie the Vow verse 4 and was not to rescind it afterwards verse 15. So this Achillean Argument of the Prelatical and Malignant Party against our Covenants adduced from this place hath no Nerves because the Father as they sense it or the Magistrate held his peace at and gave his consent to the Renewing both the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant thô afterwards he made Inquiries Prov. 20.25 and rescinded it by an audacious Heaven-dating Law. But dare these Gentlemen say that it was in the power of such a politick Father as Ahaz or Joash or Jeconiah or Zedekiah who after Vows made Inquiry to disallow or disanul the Covenant of Israel and yet it was without their consent and against their will that any such Covenant was made being made in their Minority or in their extremity when forced to it Quest 4 A Fourth Question may be If the Covenant be to be Renewed in what form Whether in the first unalterably Or may it be Renewed with Alterations Ans As it is plain here is someway another Covenant beside the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb So it is as evident it is rather a Renovation of the former than a Substitution of another rather a Translation of the Form than of the Matter with accommodation to the Circumstances Sins and Duties of that time when they were in the Land of Moab someway altered from the case they were in at Horeb Which were the Motives of their Renewing it at this time and may conduce for our direction at other times when to Renew National Covenants For then at Horeb they were newly delivered out of Egypt and had seen the Wonders done there and at the Red sea and in conducting them to Horeb. Now after their abuse of these and many superadded Priviledges afterwards after they had gone through the weary Wilderness they were arrived at the Borders of Canaan and put in expectation of the complement of their promised Deliverance when they were to receive and did receive from the Lord right Judgements true Laws good Statutes and Commandements Covenant wise with alluring Proposalls that if they would obey His Voice and keep His Covenant then He would make them His peculiar Treasure and a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation Exod. 19.5 c. Now they had forsaken broken and forgotten in a great measure this Covenant Then they were solemnly adopted into a Covenant relation with GOD to be His People Now they had made Apostasie and Defection in many respects In a word they had received many more Mercies and had committed many more Sins now then at that time Therefore it was expedient they should Renew it And it is easie to observe several Alterations as to the Form of it from that in Horeb Exod. 19 and Exod. 24.3 7. The former was more full and particular suiting all â—imes The Book of the Covenant contained all the Judgements promulgaâ—ed upon Mount Sinai This as here Renewed did also contain the â—ame but more generally proposed with a particular Acknowledgement of the Sins against and Breaches of that Covenant from verse 2. â—o 9. and with a new Engagement to the Duties thereof and a more express explication and application of the universality and extent of its Obligation As we find likewise in all the Renovations of the Covenant of Israel formerly mentioned Which makes it lawful for a People that would now Renew Scotlands Covenants to do it with suitable explications and applications to the times II. The following part of the Chapter from verse 2 to verse 9 doth hold forth to us both their Acknowledgement of Sins introductory and their Motives inducing to take on new Engagements Quest 5 Quest What may be the Motives to Renew the Covenant Ans 5. The first thing here is the consideration of the Wonders of Wisdom Faithfulness Power Justice and Goodness of the Lord appearing in their Deliverance out of Egypt which they had seen done before their Eyes v. 2. The great Temptations wherewith He proved their Faith Vers 2.3 Patience Humility and Love and the great Temptations wherewith they provoked Him to Anger the Signs of His presence protection and power continued many great Miracles wrought in their behalf notwithstandâ—ng of all these Temptations v. 3. Which consideration should exceedingly aggravate their Sins or their Acknowledgement and animate their Zâ—al in taking on new Engagements This also may be a Motive to the Godly in Scotland to Renew their Covenant with GOD with humble acknowledgement of the Breaches thereof aggravated from all the wonderful appearances of GOD in ordinances and providences boâ—h of Judgement and Mercy wherewith this poor place of the world hath been signalized beyond others We are called to remember what the Lord did in delivering this Land from the darkness of Paganisme Popery and Prelacy
attaining all things we Covenant for but to the aim desire design and endeavour to live in no sin Covenanted against never to approve our selves in it to omit no known duty engaged unto and to leave no mean unesayed for attaining the whole of it See Mr Durham on 3 Command concerning the obligation of Vowes Page 133. c. III. In the following words from vers 10. to vers 15 or 17. Moses proposes the matter more closely shewing the extant of the obligation thereof in a threefold respect 1. In respect of the Universality of the Persons obliged 2. In respect of the sacredness and inviolable strictness of its Obligation 3. In respect of the perpetuity of its Obligation First In respect of the Persons obliged it is of universal extent binding and obliging all the Members of the Church and Common-wealth of Israel of all sorts qualities ranks vocations ages sexes none excluded for these things 1. All of all qualities Captains Vers 10. Elders or Magistrates Officers both of Church and State with all the Men of Israel Accordingly we find Josiah taking all engaged all the Men of Judah and the Priests and the Prophets and all the People both small and great 2 Kings 23.2 And Ezra made the chief Priests and Levites and all Israel to swear the Covenant Ezra 10.5 None are so high that they are above the obligation of it None so smal or base that they are below it It s very encouraging when there are Nobles and Captains c. to take the Covenant It s very necessary they should go before others in it but it does not only belong to them Quest 7 Quer. May the Covenant be renewed without these Captains Elders Officers or Primores Primates Regni when they will not concur Ans Certainly this extensive obligation reaching all Persons is to be understood positively that all these are obliged to enter into Covenant but not negatively that without any of these the Covenant should not be entered into The Motives mentioned are common to the smal as well as the great and without them as well as with them the Articles of it and the keeping and doing them are common to both alike The relation that the smal and meaner sort of People have to God the other contracting party is the same that the Nobles and Great-ones have vers 12. and the Priviledges of it to be established as a People unto Himself and to have him for their God vers 13. do no more belong to the one than to the other and consequently the Smal may renew it as well as the Great but not Nationally to bind the whole Nation formally to which indeed the concurrence of its Representatives is necessary 2. Vers 11. All of all Ages and Sexes even their Little-ones and their Wives vers 11. are obliged to take it if they be capable Concerning which Quest 8 Quer. If Children may be admitted to the Covenant Ans It cannot be doubted but they are under the bond of it materially being Children of the â—ovenant Act. 3.25 to whom belong the promises and also the duties how soon they are capable of the Covenant of Grace Act. 2 29. and that they are obliged to take it if they be capable otherwise their Parents are to engage for them Accordingly in Scotland it hath been in use for faithful Ministers to take Parents engaged to the covenants when they presented their Children to Baptism 3. All of all ranks of relations even Strangers Servants frâ—m the hewer of wood to the drawer of water Quest 9 Quer. If Strangers be obliged or to be admitted to the Covenant Ans As in Israel Strangers being admitted to the covenant together with their circumcision was one bage of their being proselytes of which Strangers only this is to be understood so now thô the case differ very far such strangers as are natuâ—alized and reside in the country may be admitted to the National Covenant of that Nation whereof they are subjects and wherein they are Church Members O hers are only to be restrained from doing or saying any thing against it Quest 10 4. Neither only these that stood there before the Lord in that place but the absent also vers 13.14 Some might have had as good reason then to Object as many do now foolishâ—y that pâ—rsonally they never tâ—ok the Covenant being not present when it was â—â—ken But it is plain here absence will not absolâ—e from the obligation of it so it is in all real Covenants that are not meerly Personal All the Members of the Community covenanting are under the bond oâ— the common Covenant It would be a ridiculous exceptiâ—n fâ—r one to alledge they are not oblâ—ged to stand to the Allegiance sworn to a King or to a Covenant of Peace made with an Independant Nation by the Community of that Nation whereof they are Members because they were abroad when these Transactions were made But with reference to all these it may be a Question Quest 11 May the Covenant universally be imposed upon all ranks and sorts of Persons Or May all be admitted to take it Ans Thô all be under the obligation of it materially and all are bound to take it formally caeteris paribus if they be qualified yet neither ought it to be imposed nor should any be admitted but with respect to their capacities Gracious and Legal The Wicked that are scandalous and obstinate in Wickedness Error Profanity or Malignancy hating Instruction and casting the Lords Word behind them have not Gods right to it for unto such He saith what hast thou to do to take up may Covenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 17. Some were legally incapacitate as the Enemies of Truth and Godliness with whom they were not to associate Exod. 23.32 Exod. 34.15 Deut. 7.2 Judg. 2.2 Ezra 4.3 Ezra 9.14 Who is to be understood with this exception except they were Proselytes and Penitents such as Rahab Josh 2. It is clear frâ—m the Scriptures thô all are bound to it it is to be imposed upon and tendered to none but those that subscribe to it with choise and resolution Josh 24.15.22 Nâ—ne but such as are reformed from the Defections and Complyancies of the time Neh. 10.28 None but such as have knowledge and understanding of the Sins and Duties contained in the Covenant ibid. None but such as can swear and subscribe it according to these qualifications of an Oath Jer. 4.2 in truth in judgement and in righteousness Secondly Ver 12 The Obligation of this Covenant is shewed to be very great not only ext nsively but intensively Vers 12.13 It must be very sacred inviolable strictissimi juris since 1. it is a Covenant and Oath mutually entered into by Israel with the Lord their God and by the Lord with them ver 12 and consequently cannot be dissolved but by consent of both Parties Quest 12 It is a grave Question Can nothing loose the Obligation of a lawful Oath Answ 1. It
the Lord and His jealousie shall smoke against that man. O who can express or conceive the horror of that misery of being the object of Divine indignation in its full vigor and rigor as the smoking of it imports Yet this is the doom of the Apostatizing presumptuous self-flatering Covenant-breaker Deut 31 16 17. They will break my Covenant then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will foresake them and I will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befal them c. Josh 23. ult When ye have transgressed the Covenant of the Lord your God then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you Mal. 3.5 The Lord will come near to judgement and will be a swift witness against false swearers c. 3. And all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him All Covenants have a Curse Neh. 10 29. The Curse of this Covenant is some way greater than the Curse of the Law deserving and procuring the Mediators vengeance which is a sorer punishment than vengeance of a btoken Law Heb. 10 28 29. Comprehending all Miseries Temporal Spiritual and Eternal This is the flying Roll the length whereof is twenty Cubits and the breadth thereof ten Cubits Zech. 5.2 3 4. We have a black and broad roll of Curses appointed unto Covenant-breakers Lev. 26.15 to the close Terrors Consumption Burning-agues Enemies prevailing Rage of Tyrants reigning Barrenness of Land Wild beasts devouring the raging Sword Pestilence Famine Desolation Faintness and pining away in Iniquities c. And another may Cubits long and broad Deut. 28. from 15. to the end We see what Curses are threatned against the Men that transgress His Covenant Jer. 34.18 20. c. He will give them into the hand of their Enemies and into the hand of them that seek their Life Ezek. 17.15 18 19. Shall he prosper shall he escape shall he break the Covenant and be delivered seing he despised the Oath by breaking the Covenant when to he had given his hand he shall not escape As I live I will recompence it upon his own head 4. And the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven Men think to escape by Iniquity and to purchase sometimes not only ease and rest but esteem and renown by perfidious and perjurious time-serving And the greatest Complyers who kept their houses when others for adhering to the Covenant of God lost or left them have thoughts that their houses shall continue for ever they call their Lands after their Names Psal 49.11 But the Spirit of God saith their name shall be blotted out and shall stink Job 18.17 Their remmembrance shall perish and they shall have no name in the street Job 20.7 He shall perish for ever like his own dung they which have seen him shall say where is he Job 27. ult Men shall clap their hands at him and shall hiss him out of his place Psal 37.35.36 Thô for a time he may be great in power and spread himself like a green bay tree yet he shall pass away and shall not be found Psal 52.5 6 7. He shall be pluckt out of his dwelling place and rooted out of the Land of the Living The righteous also shall see and fear and shall laugh at him Lo this is the Man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches and strengthned himself in his wickedness Prov. 10 7. The name of the wicked shall rot Prov. 13.9 The lamp of the wicked shall be put out when the light of the Righteous shall rejoice 5. And the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the Curses of the Covenant that are written in this book of the Law. vers 21. Verse 21. Thô all Sinners are obnoxious yet in a more special manner the Covenant-braker shall be separate or singled out to examplifie the Lords Indignation and Jealousie He shall particularly be the Butt of His vengeance Many evils shall befal him escape who will Deut. 31.17 according to all the Curses of the Covenant Temporal Spiritual and Eternal He shall be a prey to all the evils of sin given up to all the evils of trouble and devoted as a Faggot for Hells fire for ever Secondly National covenant-breaking is threatned with astonishing National judgements from vers 22. to 28. Wherein the observableness and astonishing greatness of them is not only threatned but predicted compare Deut. 31.16 17 c. with the event and described Shewing 1. The Observers 2. The thing observed or the occasion of their observations 3. Their enquiry upon their observations 4. Their Answer obvious and ready 1. The Observers of the Lords Judgements upon the Nation of Israel breaking Covenant with God are The Generation to come of their Children and the Stranger that shall come from a far Land vers 22. Vers 22 Yea even all Nations vers 24. The Justice of God in punishing National breach of Covenant will be so mainifected and magnified that all Men may know and must acknowledge it Not only the Godly will be affected with horror and rivers of Tears will run down their eyes and they will wish their heads were fountains of Tears at the sight of the sin procuring and the judgement punishing Nor only faithful Teachers that warned the people of these things before will observe when they come to pass Jer. 5.19 To whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that they may declare for what the Land perisheth who can easily tell that it is for forsaking the Lord and His Covenant Jer. 9.12 13. Jer. 16.10 11. Nor Covenant breakers themselves that are left in that day when many evils and troubles befall them will say are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us Deut. 31.17 And will be forced to acknowledge that the Lord is righteous 2 Chron. 12.5 6. But it shall be observed and acknowledged by the Generation to come and by Strangers and all Nations about 2 Chron. 7.19 c. Jer. 22.8 9. Yea by Adversaries imployed as the Instruments of these punishments Lev. 26.32 I will bring the Land to desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it Jer. 40 2 Nebuzaradan the chief Captain of the Guard said to the Prophet The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place now the Lord hath brought it and done according as He hath said because ye have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed his voice therefore this thing is come upon you Jer. 50.7 All that found them have devoured them and their Adversaries said we offend not because they have sinned against the Lord the habitation of justice even the Lord the hope of their fathers Quest 17 It may be a Question Why is the punishment of National breach of Covenant so publick that it is observed of Posterity and Strangers
with the People of these Abominations and taking into our bosome those Serpents which had formerly stung us almost unto death This as it would argue great madness and folly upon our part So no doubt if it be not avoided will provoke the Lord against us to Consume us until there be no remnant nor escaping in the Land. Many times have we been warned of the Sin of Complyance with Malignants both by faithful Instructions and fatherly Corrections from the Lord Yet after all these Punishments and after all these Mercies in mitigating these Punishments We have again joyned with the People of these Abominations The Lord is Righteous for we remain yet escaped as it is this day Behold we are before Him in our Trespasses and we cannot stand before Him because of this These Incendiaries Malignants and evil Instruments made many grievous Encroachments and prevailed much in the dayes of our Fathers But not without dissent Testimonies Warnings and Declarations to the Contrary But in our unhappy dayes they have been suffered yea encouraged without any significant joynt Testimony not only to hinder the Reformation of Religion but to overturn the whole Work of Reformation to Burn and Bury the Covenants for it to re-establish abjured Prelacy erect a monstrous Christ-exauctorating and Church-enslaving Supremacy attempt the introduction of Popery and Slavery at the gate of an Antichristian Tolleration and to persecute and destroy the Godly who durst not in conscience comply with them And not only to divide the King from his People or one of the Kingdoms from another but first to divide the bulk and body of both Kingdoms and make them pursue divided Interests from the Interest and Cause of Christ And then to divide the remnant of such as adhered to it among themselves by Indulgences and other bones of contention in order to get them more easily destroyed And at length to engage the King into such a division from the People as to make him in stead of their Protector their declared Destroyer And not only to make parties among the People contrary to this League and Covenant but to draw and divide the whole People to party with their perjuries And yet so far have we been from endeavours to have them brought to tryal and condign punishment as the supreme Judicatories of the Kingdom should judge convenient that they have been suffered to obtain and manage the whole Administration of Judgement in their own hands and to sit and act as the sole Representatives of the Kingdom Yea not only have we suffered them so to sit and act but have owned them as our Representatives in complying with their Mischiefs framed into Law in abetting strengthening and encouraging the Prelatical faction in their avowed opposition to the Covenant The generality have owned Allegiance to the Head of these Incendiaries and Malignants yea a Popish Incendiarie because he wore a Crown on his head And have payed the Cess imposed for the maintenance and encouragement of Malignants Many have Associated with them in Expeditions of War drawing up with them in their Musters and Rendezvouses thereby countenancing a Malignant cause and listing themselves under a Malignant yea Popish Banner Many have subscribed yea sworn themselves of their Faction contrary to the Covenant by taking Tests Oaths and Bonds obliging them to suâ—cease from Covenanted Duties and to keep the peace and good behaviour with them whom they were obliged by the Covenant to seek to bring to punishment yea some and not a few were inveigled in the snare of the Oath of Delation to Delate the persecuted People of GOD to their Courts and thereby made in stead of discovering Malignants according to the Covenant to discover their Brethren to Malignants And very many almost the universality of the Land were involved in the snare of the Oath of Abjuration renouncing the principle of declating War against a Malignant King and of asserting the lawfulness of bringing his murdering complyces and Incendiaries to condign punishment But on the other hand some of us have sometimes exceeded the bounds of Moderation in this matter in usurping the sword without GODS Call without respect to the Rule and against the scope of our own Declarations to take vengeance on them at our own hand yea even to that degree of taking the Lives of * such at the Curate of Carspharn and some others some of them in an extravagant manner For which we have been sadly rebuked of GOD and occasion hath been given and taken to reproach and blaspheme the Way of God upon that account In the 5th Article we are bound according to our peace and Interest to endeavour that the Kingdoms may remain Conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity and that Justice may be done on the willful opposers thereof According to Gal. 5 12. Isa 2.2.3 Isa 19.23.24.25 Jer. 50.4 5. Ezek. 37.16.17 Zech. 2.11 Zech. 8.20.22.23 But thô the Peace and Union betwixt the Kingdoms be a great blessing of God unto both and a Bond which we are obliged to preserve unviolated And to endeavour that justice may be done upon the opposers thereof Yet some in this Land who have come under the Bond of the Covenant have made it their great study how to dissolve this Union and few or no endeavours have been used by any of us for Punishing of such Yea very litle or not at all have the most of us been concerned about this Article whether there be Peace with or holiness and truth in the other Kingdoms or what sort of Peace or on what Foundations it be settled Both Kingdoms are mutually guilty of dissolving this Covenanted Union in Invading each other at several times contrary to the Covenant The English Nation in subjecting us to their Conquest and forcing us to a submission and Union with their Sectarian Usurpations on Church and State And this Nation in giving such provocations to them by the Unlawful Engagement in the year 1648 By treating with setting up and entertaining the Head of the Malignant party their Enemy and ours both as our King in the year 1650 And inwading them upon his quarrel in the Worcester expedition Anno 1651. Since which time after that Kingdom and this both united in that unhappy course of restoring the King without respect to the Covenant And re-establishing Prelacy which broke our Covenanted Union and Conjunction That Nation hath sometimes sent aid to our Persecutors for suppressing our Attempts to recover our Religion and Liberties And this Nation hath sent Forces to help their Destroyers and to suppress their Endeavours for the recovery of their Priviledges And in the mean time we have been very litle solicitons for Correspondence to settle Union with such of them as owned the Covenant Or for giving to or receiving from them mutual Informations of our respective cases and conditions under all our Calamities and Calumnies cast upon us Nor have we studied to keep up Sympathie or Communion of Saints or a
mutual bearing of one anothers burdens as became Covenanted Brethren On the other hand in stead of Union in Truth and Duty according to the Bond of the Covenant a Confederacy hath been studied in defection from the Covenant And an Union and Peace which wanted the foundation laid down in the foregoing Articles of the Covenant to wit Uniformity in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against Popery Prelacy Schism or Sectarianism for our Religion Laws and Liberties and the discovering suppressing and punishing the enemies of these Interests Such an Union hath not been studied or sought but on the contrare an Union against the Reformation and Uniformity for Prelacy or Sectarian Multiformity by maintaining Tyranny and strengthening Malignancy In the 6th Article We are bound according to our Places and Callings in this common Cause of Religion Liberty and Peace to assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining thereof And in the National Covenant in like manner we are bound to stand to the mutual defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause with our best Counsel our Bodies Means and whole Power against all sorts of persons what soever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that Cause should be taken as done to us all in general and to every one of us in particular A duty very clear in the Scriptures Judg. 5.23 1 Chron. 12.1 18. Nehem. 4.14 Prov. 24.11.12 But alas Little Conscience hath been made of this Duty We have suffered many of out Brethren in several parts of the Land to be oppressed of the common Enemy without compassion or relief There hath been great murmuring and repining because of expence of means and pains in doing of our duty And not only so but many have Sworn and Subscribed Oaths and Bonds engaging against such assistances very directly and to condemn all such endeavours to assist defend or rescue them as Sedition and Rebellion And obliging them to assist their murdering Malignant Enemies by such concurrences as they required Yea many instead of coming out to the help of the Lord against the Mighty and defending their Brethren have come out to the help of the Mighty against the Lord His Cause Covenant and oppressed People concurring in Armes against them at all the Appearances that have been astayed for the cause of Christ Appearing at Courts held for informing against and Condemning their Brethren that were Present at or concerned in such Appearances for the Covenanted Cause And coming in as Witnesses against them Sitting in Assyses for Condemning them And guarding them to their Executions when Martyred for their Duty and the Interest of Truth Many again have denied to Reset Harbour and Entertain their Brethren Persecuted for maintaining the Covenanted Reformation And some have raised the Hue and Cry after them thereby occasioning and assisting in the cruel Murder of several faithful Brethren The most part have owned the Great Murderer who authorized all the rest and enacted all these Murders And assisted him and his Complices and Executioners of his murdering Mandats with their Purses and Estates in paying the Supplies professedly demanded and declaredly imposed for enabling them to accomplish these Mischiefs Yea many of our Brethren have been so far from assisting that they have added afflâ—ctions to their afflicted Brethren by their Reproaches and persecuting by the Tongue whom the Lord had smitten and talking to the grief of those whom He had wounded And as all sorts of us have been wanting in our Sympathie with and endeavouring succour to our suffering Brethren let be to deliver them from their Enemies hands according to capacity especially if they were such as differed from us in their Judgement So we cannot forbear with shame and sorrow to confess that many Ministers have all alongst discovered great unconcernedness with and contempt of poor despised and reproached Sufferers Condemning the Heads of their Sufferings Forgetting or refusing to pray for them publickly And declining yea disswading to contribute for the relief of the Banished of late Which hath been very discouraging to the afflâ—cted and stumbling to many In the same Article we are bound not to suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever Combination or Terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction Whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves unto a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause And in the National Covenant That we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terror from this Blessed and Loyal Conjunction According to Scripture warrands Gen. 13 8. Psal 133. throughout Zech. 8.19 Heb. 12 14. 1 Cor. 1.10 Eph. 4 3. Phil. 1.27 and 2.1 2. Jer. 9.3 Ezek. 22.25 2 Tim. 4.10 Hag. 1.2 Phil 2.21 Rev. 3.15 16. But alas It is long since our Fathers had reason to complain and confess that many in their day by perswasion or terror suffered themselves to be divided and withdrawn to make defection to the contrary part Many had turned off to a detestable indefferency and Neutrality in this Cause which so much concerneth the Glory of God and the good of these Kingdoms Nay many had made it their study to walk so as they might comply with all times and all the revolutions thereof It was not their care to countenance encourage intrust and employ such only as from their hearts did affect and mind Gods work But the hearts of such many times had been discouraged and their hands weakned their sufferings neglected and themselves slighted And many who had been once open Enemies and alwayes secret Underminers countenanced and employed Nay even those who had been looked upon as Incendiaries and upon whom the Lord had set Marks of desperate Malignancy Falshood and Deceit were brought in as fit to manage publick Affairs All which Sins and Breaches of Covenant have now encreassed to a greater height of heinousness For in our day these Incendiaries desperate and ingrained Malignants have only been imployed in and admitted to the management of Affairs in Church and State and none but they have been accounted Habile by Law And such divisions from this Covenanted Conjunction and defections to the contrary part have been enacted and established by Law. Yea all the unhappy divisions that have been in our day have been the woeful consequents and effects of Defections to the contrary part At the first erection of Prelacy many both Ministers and Professors partly by Terror and partly by Perswasion did withdraw from this Covenanted Conjunction and make defection unto Prelacy with which they combin'd in conforming with it and submitting unto the Ministry of the conforming Curats And afterwards by the terror of the fear of Men and the perswasions of their Counsels and Example many of us have been seduced into a Combination with Malignants in taking Oaths and Bonds contrary to the Covenants thereby