reprove them rebuke them drive them by the sight of sin with your owne president to see a necessity as a chiefe preservative of an especiall covenant that so they being ingaged to God and in that ingagement apprehensive of their owne mercy they may rejoyce that though they were brands they are now pluckt out of the fire that though they were aliens to God yet now by a religious covenant they have entered into a sweet communion with the Lord. Sixtly you are or at least should be the Chariots and the horsemen of Israel carry them up speedily with a swift motion by your prayers to Heaven looke upon our crying sins with a bleeding heart for the Vine of England is as the Vine of Sodome and the grapes of our Nation doe wholly resemble the clusters of Gomorrah view our lamentable distractions with mournefull affections see see wrath is gone forth and the plague is begun Justice is incensed and we turne our backes upon our adversaries jealousie is kindled and the sword is almost drunke with the bloud of the slaine your neighbours houses are on fire for shame sit not still bring prayers as waters and poure them on as fast as you can that you may slake the burnings doe not stand gazing about you it is time for you to be up and be doing unlesse you meane that all our soules shall faint because of the murderers the banners of Gods displeasure are displayed and now like a man of warre hee hath begun to strike the stroake yea the sword already reacheth to the very heart O doeth not our land cry out as sometime Hierusalem did woe is come upon me because that I have sinned doth shee not bemoane her selfe unto you daily asking you if you have no pitty if your hearts bee wholly shut up in obduracy me thinkes these expressions should set you to your prayers oh then if you will be accounted the Ministers of the Lord weepe between the Porch and the Altar and say Spare thy people O Lord questionlesse these Priests joyned with their Nobles as well in prayers as in covenant for the Church Lastly be not averse to take this binding and obliging vow uppon your selves these Priests and Levites have observed its equity taken notice of its necessity and found it the sole remedy for the curing of their sores they doe not scruple it our case is as bad if not worse then theirs why are you shie bind your selves with a curse and an oath with the people to stand out against Popery and in spirit and truth to serve the Lord. This will be a good incentive to your hearers if you goe before they will the willinglier follow after your forwardnesse will make many to come in who otherwaies it may be will still stand out to lift up their hands against Heaven you see this in effect in these Priests and in this people who in this very particular Cleave unto their brethren the Nobles The Porters A Potter is a Doore-keeper which hath authority to admit Observat 1. Every Christian a porter to his own heart and let in and out of the house where his charge is such were Obed Edom the sonne of Ieduthun and Hosah in the daies of David to the house of the Lord 1 Chr. 16.38 These were to let in the Iewes not they that contemned their worship these were to keep out the uncleane not they that were cleansed according to the Sanctuary the true Israelites were to be admitted but the idolatrous heathens were by them to be excluded Every Christian must be a Porter to his owne heart whatsoever he is that covenants with God must looke narrowiy to himselfe have a watchfull eye over his spirit and with all diligence keepe his soule that wicked lusts vile affections and vaine thoughts get not in at the doore of his heart these will make hubbubs in this spirituall Temple these will disturb and strike with violence at the sanctifying motions of the blessed Spirit these like the strong man armed will so keepe possession that godlinesse shall get no entrance without strugling and much disturbance these are ill guests where they come in they pretend friendship but intend mischiefe they pay no reckoning they are cheaters they doe but deceive the creature with the counterfeit silver of sinfull pleasures these are like drunken and deboyst strangers who by vomit easing their stomacks leave nothing but stinch loathsome filth and noysome savours in the roome behind them A Sparrow pursued by a Hawk fled into the bosome of Xenocrates he refused to put it out saying it is a dishonest thing to betray a guest D ogen in vit Doe not thou thus kindly deale with thy sins it is not inhumanity to refuse them it is a piece of the best policy forth-with to expell them Let lusts accuse thee of discourtesie better they complaine than thou bleed for sin is the soules murderer therefore O Hierusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy soule like an Inne and thy heart like a Harlot harbour corruption We must not be fickle constancy must crowne our actions Observat 2. POrters are continuall attendants they wait daily at the Gates depart not from their service 2 Chro. 35.15 we must not be fickle like Lots wife we must not looke back to Sodome there must be constancy in all our vowes it is dishonesty with man but impiety to breake with the Lord thou must not vow and not pay but as without delaies so constantly thou must pay thy vowes Call to mind thy first vow remember all thy promises and selfe engagements unto God in the late daies of thy humiliation be not unfaithfull doe not like a broken bow start from them thou canst never lose by keeping touch with the Lord of Heaven These Porters leave not their Places because of a covenant like idle drones prophane seers and atheisticall wretches they steale not away leave their charge take up armes and desert their Nobles because of a strict tye unto Gods service They were Porters before and they are Porters still now they are content to doe more than formerly they did they will keep the doore of the Temple and withall looke carefully to the gate of their owne heart lest at any time it should run out and depart from the living God They are not friends to them that hate peace favourites to them that delight in warre they take no pleasure in the tents of Kedar they desire yet to be doore-keepers in the house of the Lord for now as Porters they take the covenant with their Nobles Austerity and magnanimity become the Professors of Christianity POrters for the most part are men of a sterne countenance Observat 3. men of strength and men of couragious spirits for that sometimes they may meet with resistance Austerity and magnanimity doe well become the professors of Christianity we cannot looke too sternely uppon our lusts we cannot be too strong
let their God be our God their Gospell be our Gospell let not their bondage be our freedome their death be our life let us like brethren dye with them dye for them in the maintenance of this covenant for keeping off all the judgements of Jehovah They are not onely brethren but they are Noble brethren they are in high place they are in great authority his Majesty hath made them his Counsellors by his owne Writt you have made them Patriots of your Country by your own choyse Remember what Paul saith Let every soule be subject to the higher powers hee speaks not in the singular but in the plurall number denoting that there is more powers then one I suppose you cannot deny them this priviledge they have a prelation above you though they be your brethren yet they are to you as these were to Israel your brethren the Nobles Listen to their edict they require that you sorrow for your sins and amend your lives they are willing with you to take out the same lesson therefore with them make a firme covenant to turne from the evill of your waies Lastly doe but compare the times past with the time present formerly you put on mourning as a garment were ever and anon ready to hide your selves whilest men of corrupt minds corrupt concerning the faith were the sole counsellors of estate Prov. 28.28 The wind is turned the case is altered your righteous your religious Nobles are now in authority and that they may the better appeare to be so to the eye of your soules consider a little the particulars First what counsell they give to our Soveraigne is it not like that of the Seniors of Israell doe they not advise him if he will be the servant of this people to speake good words unto them that they may be his servants for ever 1 King 12.7 Secondly what is the charge they give unto the Iudges of the land Is it not that they must take heed what they doe because they judge not for man but for the Lord that they let the feare of God be upon them with whom there is no iniquity nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts 2 Cro. 19.6.7 Thirdly what injunctions doe they lay upon the Ministery Doe they not bid the Levites sanctifie themselves Sanctifie the house of the Lord and carry forth the filthinesse out of the holy place 2 Chro. 29 5 6. Fourthly have they not formerly put you upon fasting and still continue your dayes of humiliation that you may afflict your selves before your God to seeke of him a right way for you your little ones and all your substance Ezra 8.21 And have they not now framed a Covenant for them and for us to seeke the Lord God of our fathers with all our heart and with all our soul O then having uch mercies by them let us adjoyne our selves unto them They tender us a covenant it is for holy observance their counsell is wholsome their demand is equall and their tender is lawfull themselves have led the way let us with Iudah rejoyce at the Oath 2 Chr. 15.12 13 14 15. every one with them subscribe for himelfe that he will keepe close unto the Law of the Lord. Quest Wherein must we cleave unto our Nobles Answ First in obeying them this the Doctour of the Gentiles imposeth as a duty upon us when he bids us be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates and to be ready to every good worke Tit. 3.1 and for this those Iewes are a faire president before our eyes Secondly in hauing a reverent esteeme of them as they are the Lords Vicegerents so they are stiled Gods Exod. 22.28 and it is our duty to render honour to whom honour is due Rom. 13.7 Thirdly in being faithfull to them we have ingaged our selves by solemne protestation to maintaine and defend them We cannot maintaine the priviledges of Parliament and destroy the members of Parliament Let us be loyall not perfidious let us have no hand in any thing that may hurt them if we know of any plot or projects against them let us quickly and timely discover them Fourthly in praying for them Pray for Kings and all that bee in authority saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.2 Preces lachrymae arma ecclesiae your prayers may keepe off their enemies strong cries and earnest entreaties may be prevalent for your Nobles safeties Consider First that your Worthies as they are now assembled are the foundation and Basis of government and consequently of the peace and happinesse of the Kingdome for as they create Law by which we are governed in peace and quietnesse so they uphold the power and authority of the Law so that if through the neglect of prayer you suffer the foundation to decay the maine building cannot long stand For where no counsell is the people fall but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety Pro. 11.14 Secondly that they are to you as Gideon and the Judges were to Israell A hedge to keepe you within your bounds and a strong tower to keepe off the maine body of your sinnes Judg. 2.19 8. 33. Breake downe your hedge you may ramble whither you please demolish your Fortresse and you lye open to the batteryes of all corruptions whatsoever their dying may prove Idolatries Vivification their death is likely to be the life of mens lusts they may then goe a whoring after their owne inventions therefore as you desire the death of your sins pray for the life of your Nobles Thirdly how comes it to passe that hitherto notwithstanding the malice of your bloudy adversaries your Gospell hath had free passage and your Lawes have bin in force Remember that all the dayes of Samuel the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines 1 Sam. 7.13 you had need pray for them if they be once removed your enemies will breake in and if they prevaile where is your life nay the life of your life your law and religion Fourthly the Heathens abhor'd ingratitude wee professe our selves to be Christians our prayers are our thankes they expect that and well may they looke for it in respect of their unwearied paines Indeed when we call to minde what they have done for us and suffered in our behalves our lives should not be deare unto us for their sakes but I scarce beleeve that they will afford them their lives who seldome or never vouchsafe them their prayers O ingratefull wretches let not such unthankefulnesse be found amongst our English spirits They clave to their brethren c THey were brethren quoad carnens as having reference to the flesh they all descended from the loynes of Abraham Ioh. 8.39 They were brethren quoad fidem they all laid claime to the Promise and they which are of faith the same are the children of Abraham Galat. 3.7 They are brethren in respect of affection Brotherly love continues amongst them for now like brethren they seeke to doe them good
purposeth a speedy returne she is privy to her precedent rebellion now she vowes though a sudden yet a true not a fained reformation she is conscious that she hath provoked the eyes of his glory she now promiseth not againe to offend but in every duty to please his Majesty and in all her endeavours to promote his honour And because she would not be fickle but keepe fast bound to her word she enters into a serious and a solemn oath She sweares in truth for now seeing her selfe in the glasse of the Law she beholds her sinnes as so many spots neither is her purpose meerely formall but reall for cleansing nor her intention hypocriticall but sincere for the removall of the evill of her doings from before the Lord so that her oath is not devoyd of truth Secondly she considers what she binds her selfe from viz. her former Idolatries and what she engageth her selfe unto viz. to walke in spirit and truth in the presence of Jehovah so that she sweares in judgement Thirdly her oath is in righteousnesse for as she sweares to please God so that she may please him she sweares onely obedience to his commands Observat Wee may vow against Sin we may swear obedience unto God Wee may vow against sinne we may sweare obedience unto God I thinke Saul did not ill in swearing that David should not be slaine when Ionathan asked him VVherefore he would sinne against innocent bloud to kill him without a cause 1 Sam. 19.56 neither did Iob offend protesting his innocency and attesting his sincerity by a solemne oath As God liveth who hath taken away my judgement and the Almighty who hath vexed my soule all the while my breath is in me and the Spirit of God is in my nostrills my lips shall not speake wickednesse nor my tongue utter deceit Iob 27.2 3 4. Thus did Asa with his people 2 Chro. 15.14 And this is the present act of these Israelites with their Nobles Isaiah Prophesying of the conversion of the Gentiles saith That they shall sweare by the God of truth Isai 65.16 What are we but Gentiles nay doe we not professe our selves to be converted Gentiles Why doe we then still sit in sinne by consent lye in it by working it and by continuall custome sleepe in it as upon a bed of Downe Let us now awake and stand up from the dead let it be seene that our eyes are in our head to fore-see sinnes misery and to hide our selves that our heart is at our right hand to withstand temptation and with violent blowes to keepe off insinuating and ensnaring corruption and that we are not rash in making of vowes Let it appeare that deliberatenesse hath curb'd rashnesse by a solemne oath against the evill of our wayes And to this end consider Reasons First that naturally since the fall of Adam the Port-all of thy heart is very weake Sathan ever and anon makes it his inrode to infect thy spirit it stands in need of a strong bar A strict oath for ought I know is one of the best barrs wherewith thou maist bolt him out 2. An oath wil penetrate and make a deeper impression than a promise upon thy soul It wil be as a spur continually in thy sides to put thee on to act that whereunto thou hast engaged thy selfe After the children of Israel had sworne to come up to the Lord in Mizpeh and that whatsoever he was that did not vouchsafe his presence should be put to death When they were assembled the thoughts of their oath put them upon diligent inquest after the persons that had absented themselves they must needs for their oath sake looke strictly to them and therefore they cry out Who is there among all the Tribes of Israell that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord c. Judg. 21.5 And when the Benjamites after they had vowed against them lay still as a bait before them for being amongst them they were a daily object of their eye yet their oath kept them to their precedent promise made unto the Lord though they dwelt with them yet they would not marry their daughters unto them And therefore as to accuse themselves so to shew that oathes make an impresse upon the conscience with one voyce they give out this expression Though there must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin that a Tribe bee not destroyed out of Israell yet we may not give them wives of our daughters for we have sworne the contrary Iudg. 21.17.18 Promises for the most part with some are but as morning dewes when as a solemne oath is as a great raine that sinkes downe and is long seene upon the earth they are many times not so soone spoken but so soone forgotten when oathes ring in the eares and will be observed presse upon the soule and will not be kept out What is the reason that after so many vowes to God not onely in the dayes of distresse but upon the receipt of mercies you have againe corrupted your selves with your owne devices surely had you sworne as well as promised you would not like broken bowes have started from the Lord. Sauls subjects being sworne not to eate untill the evening though the Hony dropt they durst not put their hands to their mouthes for feare of the oath 1 Sam. 14.26 As there is glory so there is dread in the rayes of Majesty a remisse and a carelesse creature will remember himselfe what he should doe in the presence of his Prince God hath stampt a Majesty and power upon a solemne oath Quest But what shall I doe that swearing I may sweare aright both for God and against my sins Answ First be sure that sin and thy affections be at a distance that the league that was formerly betwixt them is quite broken that the loues of Christ are better than wine to the taste of thy soul and that because that thy heart is united to the God of Heaven that therefore thou art afraid to offend him For he that sweares against sin and yet doth not detest but love sin and sweares obedience unto God and hath not a spirituall panting and braying after God doth not deale fairely hee hath two faces under one hood he doth but dissemble with the Lord he sweares not truly that feares not God unfainedly Deut. 6.13 Paul is certaine that he serves God in the spirit before he call him to witnesse his actions Rom. 1.9 Secondly doe this deliberately considering sins sinfullnesse and strictly viewing the beauties of holinesse inconsiderate vowes are soone broken therefore be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God Eccles 5.2 Thirdly looke at thy call to thy oath a good call is a good warrant we must not be Knights of the Post By frequency and forwardnesse we must not give out suspition that wee are prodigall of our owne credit and of our owne salvation Prophane wretches
too couragious and too severe in keeping downe and in the constant suppression of our wicked desires The Divell the world and our owne base hearts would keepe us from pious and religious vowes we have need of more then an ordinary strength to repell these fiery darts lest by hindering our covenant they give a mortiferous and a deadly blow unto our soules Brethren be perswaded then to watch to stand fast in the faith 1 Cor. 16.13 to quit you like men to be strong and not to forsake or refuse the liberty wherewith Christ would make you free take heed that you doe not againe intangle your selves with the yoke of bondage Therefore that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke I pray that you may be strengthned with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse It is likely these men were austere in their place resolute in their office and stout towards all that opposed them in the execution of their charge yet you see in this action here is no gaine-saying no resisting no withstanding they are very tractable very flexible to a holy vow When God displayes the excellency necessity and efficacy of a sacred Covenant to the eye of mens soules Lions shall become Lambs wolves shall become sheep and Leopards shall be as Kids before the Lord. The Singers SIngers were such as played upon musicall Instruments Observat 4. who with Trumpets and Cymbals set forth the praise of God hence it is that some interpreters give out the word Musitians not Singers in the text Singing is no Embleme of sadnesse it denotes cheerfulnesse it betokens alacrity therefore well said St. Iames If any be merry let him sing Psalmes Sacred covenanes doe not unbeseeme the most cheerefull spirits expressions of joy arising from gladnesse of heart may be concomitants in a Christians vowes Observat Sacred Covenants doe not unbeseeme the most cheerefull spirits This Oath ordained and confirmed by their Worthies doth not marre their musick they can still be Singers and yet covenanters with their Nobles they see it is the way for pacification the onely Antidote to prevent destruction and the sole remedy to cure their misery the thoughts of it lightens their hearts vivifies their spirits and causeth them so to perke up the head that now with thankesgiving they can take their vow before the Lord well beloved Gods vowes are upon us wee are now to covenant with our God let us by a cheerefull acceptance set forth his praise Psal 56.12 Iehovah requires a cheerefull giver Shall we not therefore sing praise to his name for ever that we may daily performe our vowes Psal 61.8 But who are we that should be able willingly after this sort to offer before the Lord 1 Chro. 29.14 The Nethinims THe Nethinims were such as carried water for the use of the Temple this they drew for the Congregation and for the Altar of the Lord. Iosh 9.27 The labour and drudgery of their outward callings doth not so drinke up their time but the expresse carefullnesse to lay hold of opportunity Observat Worldly affāres should not shoulder out christian duties for working out of their owne salvations Worldly busines must not shoulder out Godlinesse Throng in carnall affaires will not excuse us from sprituall imployments wee must set seasons apart for God domestique occasions must not steale away our hearts I and my Houshold saith Ioshuah will serve the Lord. It is an ill trouble in earthly matters or about many things that keepes thee thy children or thy servants from sitting at the feet of Christ Observat The water that the Nethinims brought unto the Sanctuary was for cleansing they are instruments in purging of the Temple and they are now by closing in this covenant coe-workers with God for the purification of their owne soules Let us wash our hands in innocency before wee compasse the Altar let us rub off the soyle of sin and then fall upon our spiritual imployments wee must wash us and make us cleane from the evill of our doings before God and our soules by way of Covenant can converse together Draw water out of the well of thy heart I weane the teares of contrition drench thy soule in them and powre them out abundantly before the Lord neither stay here but that thy conscience may be cleansed from dead workes carry thy soule with her sorrow to that fountaine that is set open for the house of David and inhabitants of Ierusalem O rince it rince it thoroughly in those clear streames of Christs precious bloud that so thou mayst stand spotlesse pure and blamelesse at the bar of justice In the time of the Law uncleannesse was cured by washing for uncleane touchings the parties washed their cloathes Levit. 11.40 for uncleane issues they washt thesmelves and their cloathes Levit. 15. 13. But for the uncleannes of leprosy they washt themselvs their cloths shaved off all their haire and stayed 7 dayes without the Campe Levit. 14.8.9 Dear brethren our pollution is of the worst kind it is no other then the leprosie of sin that wee are infected with as it hath spread it selfe all over us so it hath made our whole man subject to the dreadfull curse of Allmighty God Rom. 5.18 Doth any thing proceed from us but what is foule and damnable Are not our splendid performances glittering sins and our most glorious actions as menstruous ragges doe wee touch any thing that wee taint not where come we that wee leave not an ill sent behind us Let us all then generally apply water to our foule parts scoure off the scurfe of prophanenesse and free our selves of all filthynesse of flesh and spirit whatsoever Take the Apostles advice cleanse your hands you sinners Jam. 4.8.9 and purifie your hearts you double minded bee afflicted mourne and weepe let your laughter bee turned into mourning and your joy to heavinesse bee yee humbled and make a holy Covenant with your God Those Nethinims were but water bearers they had one of the meanest Offices appertaining to the Temple Observat 3 Meannesse of place and calling debarres not any by vowing from binding themselves to Religion yet these you see come into covenant with their Nobles Meannesse of place and calling debarres not any by vowing from binding themselves to Religion A poore Sacrifice in the time of the Law received acceptance where a rich one could not be brought the widowes mite had its welcome aswell as the treasure of the wealthy A Nethinim in his place may bee as deare to God as a Priest with God there is no respect of persons he that worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Therefore you that are meane you that are despicable in the eye of the world be not afraid let not your meanenesse and poverty dismay you come in if you be for God your Nobles are brethren therefore joyne with them in