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
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
ever from all idle or idolizing worship to observe do all the Commandements of God thus they animate the children of Zion going before them in the meanes of sanctification and thus they seeke not to establish but to depresse iniquity by a law Hearken to me yee that have deviated from the sonnes of Levi you stile your selves Priests and lay claime to the office as if God had onely intayled the Priest-hood upon you what will you yet be as a snare on Mizpah and as a net spread upon Tabor Hos 5.1 will you yet as troopes of Robbers wait for a man murder in the way and that by consent Hos 6.9 why doe you still desire to sell the righteous for silver to turne aside the way of the meeke and to drinke the wine of the condemned or of good men fined in the house of your God Amos 2.6.7.8 See see these Priests the subject of our discourse read another lecture to your soules These breath not out threatnings against the Church they rather cry out what shall we doe for the Church these are not cruell thirsting after bloud the precious bloud of Gods indeered ones their armes and their hearts are both open not onely with tender imbracements to receive them but to support them it doeth not vexe them that they are zealous for the Lord neither doe they seeke to finde them or punish them for the strict service of their God their forwardnesse to forsake wickednesse is the joy of their spirits their precisenesse in the way of holinesse is as marrow to their bones and their covenant for new obedience is that they further by their owne president These are not dismayed with the thoughts of more paines unto themselves if thus they covenant to keepe strictly all the statutes of the Lord they prize Gods mercy to the people before their toyle and their hearers wellfare before their labour for though never so much sedulity may be expected from them Non in verborum splendore sed in operum virtute praedi candi fiductam ponant non vocibus delectem tur populi ac clamantis sed sterihuâ— nec plausum expedeat sed gemâ—…oâ—n pros per Lib. 1. Cap. 23. vitacontemplat A Pastore exigetur quicquid perinertiam non custoditur Cypiran de sing Cleric they will not flinch off but in the present covenant adhere unto them Before like Herod they solaced themselves in their peoples acclamations now their teares and their prayers are prime pleasures to their soules time was when breaking the bonds of doctrine and knapping asunder the cords of discipline was their delight now their fulgency in vertue demonstrated by their resolutenesse for exact obedience is the musick in their eares the hony in their mouthes and the very rejoycing of their hearts They know they must give account for their peoples soules and that if they perish God will require them at their hands they give them up therefore now by vow unto the Lord and in this their surrender they seeme to say Lord here we are and all our people the children that thou hast given unto us They are not ignorant that much trouble from them who are without may arise by reason of this covenant they feare no colours they put on their auditors they are resolved to eat of the same dish to taste of the same sauce and if they suffer to suffer with them this must needs hearten them for couragious Souldiers goe not weeping nor sighing after their Commanders It may bee they apprehend some malevolent and malignant creatures to be among the people ready like scab'd sheepe to infect the flock like Peters false Prophets by damnable heresies laying aspersions upon the truth and like cunning and crafty seducers using all diligence to make them the divells Proselytes like themselves These have not their favourable aspect these have not their hearts their hands their estates these are cashiered the yeilding the mourning yet the resolving Israelites have their affections amongst these onely they are personally present with these they side and to these they joyne in covenant with the Lord They are not as time serving Sycophants onely respective to great men their deportment is indifferent they take care for the poore aswell as the rich it is not their owne preferment but every mans wellfare that they looke for Therefore as by their forwardnesse they excite all so by their actuall performance withall they shew their tender of the happinesse and prosperity of all Learne then from these Priests and Levites I beseech you my Brethren I stile you so because I would have you so First Directions to Ministers not to thinke it strange that others with you run not into the same excesse of riot that they keepe not out of Covenant aswell as your selves they see their misery and this to be their remedie and they know that your non-seeing or else perverse slighting of your owne estates can be no healing plaisters to their soules It behoves every man to looke to his owne standing and to bee carefull to prevent his owne damnation Secondly Doe not pine the Lords people through destructive ignorance doe not conceale the benefit of a sacred Covenant from the eye of their spirits left God complaine that his people perish for lacke of knowledge and lay the guilt of their bloud upon your soules Thirdly doe not pernitiously poyson by corrupt principles those that are your hearers teach not exorbitant errors for sacred truthes doe not through airy ambages and false glosses steale away their affections and make them heartlesse to holy vowes thus doing you shall still keepe them out of the way cause them to stumble at the Law and in the end be charged your selves for corrupting the covenant of Levi Malach. 2.8 Fourthly doe not over-lade your faint and your feeble brethren with the onerous burthens of unnecessary things these burthens may lye heavy upon their shoulders they will case themselves by covenant Luk. 11.40 but as you shall have the practise of the Primitive times to passe a sentence condemnatory upon you Act. 15.10.28 so one day they like Scorpions will sting your consciences when Christs woe like a Hue and Cry shall arrest your soules These Pastors stand not upon circumstance they looke to the substance the pious vow that they and their people must make to God Fiftly be examples to your flocks in word in conversation and in charity 1 Tim. 4.12 Let your words utter the Will of Jehovah your conversations testifie the uprightnesse of your hearts and your charity witnesse that in all meanes and wayes you seeke the salvation of their poore soules speake you to them that they may speake from you to themselves saying what have we done be as lights set upon a Hill that those who are without may be convinced by your lives Love with pitty perswade them wooe them win them yea and because that corrosives are sometimes both more needfull and helpefull then mild and pleasing cordialls
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
often rap out oathes against their sins and yet doe considering what they have done and what they should doe forthwith double both their sins and their Oathes If Israels Nobles first ordaine it take it and subscribe it she hath then good ground to accept it we have a faire call our Worthies are gone before us let their President be our encouragement they propound it to us and require the taking of it at our hands we shall resist authority in their publique call if we take not the Oath against our sins Gratum est deo qâ—um videt non sponte donuo confirmare votis nostris que ante c. 2 Chro. 15.15 Fourthly doe it cheerefully not unwillingly doe it freely in taking it expresse alacrity Forced service is not pleasing service constrained obedience neither with God nor man receives acceptance It is said of Iudah that they all rejoyced at this oath could we doe thus and sweare with all our hearts against our lusts seeking the Lord with our whole desires we should have more hope than wee yet have that God would bee found of us and that in stead of our feares and present distractions in respect of our bloudy warres he would give us rest round about us Fiftly if thou doe it doe it without any reservation take it against every sin and by it bind thy selfe to all the duties of Pietie whatsoever one dead flie spoiles the whole oyntment one sin reserved one duty left out and secretly excepted by thee will make thee guilty of perjury before the Lord. For tell me I appeal to thy conscience canst thou swearing to keep all Gods Statutes willingly commit the least sin or with selfe allowance omitt any duties and not falsifie thy oath Lastly be not onely resolved of the Lawfulnesse of it in respect of the authority that imposeth it and the subject matter of the same neither be thou onely perswaded of its necessity as it is a heavy weight to depresse thy corruptions and as it is a strong bar to keep in thy soule from stragling Dinah-like in the way of transgression but in taking it avoyd wavering for as whatsoever is not of faith is sin So a wavering minded man is unstable in all his wayes I oppose wavering to constancie be thou resolute ever to keep it resolve peremptorily with thy selfe never to be found guilty of the breach thereof Thus doe these Nobles thus doe these Israelites and thus observing these rules in thy oath for God and against thy sins thou shalt sweare in verity not falsely in judgment not rashly in righteousnes and not wickedly To walke in Gods Law THeir own fancies shal not now be the rule of their actions Observat Gods Statutes the Christians way the hethenish practises of wicked Idolaters shall not now be the helm with which they will steere the course of their lives their doings shall be such as will endure the touchstone it is to the Law and to the Testimony that they goe for direction And no marvaile for a conscionable walking according to Gods will and exact observance of his sacred Statutes is the christians way the Saints path and the onely high road that leades to eternall life I have gone astray saith David like a lost sheep seeke thy servant for I do not forget thy Commandements Psal 110.176 Peccare est deviare whilst men sin they straggle whilst they yield unto their vile affections they deviate from the Lords Statutes VVhich was given That which was given is still continued for as there is a freenesse so there is a constancy in all Gods mercies God is not as man that he should repent the gifts and calling of God are without repentance It was mercy not merit that brought her the Law the cause moving was in the bestower not the receiver she was as well as others in the bloud of her sins she before God cast an eye of pitty upon her Observat The Law an effect of Gods love unwashed unbathed unswadled as well as the Heathen The Law and the continuance of the Law is an effect of Gods love Because he affected her he chose her from amongst the Nations and further to testifie his love to her hee pluckt up the floud-gates and let forth the streames of the Law unto her that so shee might cleanse her selfe from all uncleanenes whatsoever He sheweth his World unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not knowne them Psal 147.19 20. By Moses the servant c. This title is as a glittering Diamond upon Moses breast it is not so base a thing as the world accounts it to bee the Lords servant Gods service is the Christians honour not his disgrace The Jewes doe not thus stile him in any disparagement their thus calling him tends wholly to his praise Socrates reports of Constantinus Valentinianus and Theodosius three renowned Emperours in their times that they called themselves Vassallos Christi the vassals of Jesus Christ Looke at it therefore as one of the fairest flowers in thy garden that God hath entertained thee into his worke glory not in thy wealth thy friends thy preferments that man onely hath the Crowne and the cause of daily rejoycing that can say unto God Lord I am thy servant Deo servire regnare est To observe and doe all c. GOds revealed Will is here set forth by foure severall termes Law Commandements Judgements Statutes it is a Law for it hath a legislative power to bind over the soule to exact obedience none may plead Ignoramus all are bound to looke that they have the knowledge of the same It is a command we are intrusted with it faithfully to observe it it is a statute for as it is prescribed and appointed so it containes the whole duties of our lives It is a judgement for as there is involved in it the judgement and judiciall sentence of Almighty God concerning its equity for our observance so it will judge us at the last day in case of contempt and negligence As it is a Law it is worthy to be read as it is a Command it is not to be slighted as it is a statute it must be the rule of our life And as it is a judgement we may see what it thinkes of our waies and what shall be our censure for the breach thereof There is none of all this but Israel seemes to take notice of and to witnesse the Universality of her respect she vowes and promiseth obedience unto all Christians must not be their owne Carvers they must not picke and chuse they must not take what they please Observat Gur obedience must bee universall and leave what they list in the worke of the Lord they must yeeld obedience and shew a like tender respect unto the all Commandements of Jehovah Was not this the lecture which Moses read unto his people when he told them If
follow the advice of their Phisitions men by vertue of an order from their Nobles to bind themselves by promise to do according to the law of God O that England would make use of Israels covenant it may he is would prove a divine balsome for the curing of her bleeding wounds we have as much need to apply this plaister and to take this course as ever this people had First doe not our sins hold parallel'd with theirs if we goe not before them we follow them at the heels But who dare say this Nation hath bin obstinate obdurate against the meanes that she hath bin Idolatrors yeelding to superstitious vanities that she hath bin cruell mis-using and dispitefully striking the Lords Messengers that she hath bin ingratefull not rendring thankes according to her mercies but growne worse by her glorious favours or that from the highest to the lowest from the tallest Cedars to the meanest shrubs she is shamefully corrupted I I cannot excuse her I must lay my hand upon my mouth if I may not bring in an accusation against her my conscience tells me shee is guilty But if of sins which are of a scarlet dye continually crying like the bloud of Abel for the execution of vengeance in the eares of heaven will not move us yet we thinke the wrath that is gone forth and the plague is begun amongst us by the hurtfull the oppressing and destroying sword should forth-with awake us O consider it is not onely drawn out of the scabberd but it is new sharpened and furbushed and given into the hand of the stayer Hath it not already cut off many thousands in the bowels of this our Kingdome Is not the point thereof set against all our gates I wish our ruines be not multiplyed and that it be not yet for a sorer slaughter Are not our houses daily plundered our estates violently extorted our men murdered our women ravished and our virgins defloured Listen and you may heare the mournfull expressions and the dolefull lamentations of wounded persons nay their groanings gasping upon the ground for life wives daily become widowes and children are bereaved of their fathers ringing of hands sadnesse of spirit and brinish teares almost in all quarters may become the objects of your fight O England England ihis is the fruit of thy sin wherefore doth a living man complaine a man for the punishment of his sins Lam. 3.39 O now search and try thy waies and turne againe unto the Lord use not complements perfunctory performances are but as figtree leaves It is time for thee to bestir thy selfe lift up thy heart with thy hands to God in the Heavens thou hast transgressed thou hast rebelled and God hath not pardoned hee hath sounded out the Trumpet stricken up the Alarme for war and caused his jealousie to breake forth like fire against thee O see now with thy brethren thy Nobles what thou canst doe covenant against thy sins it may be thou shalt obtaine a covenant of peace with the Lord thy God I doe not conceive thy estate desperate be not dismayed though God be angry it may be he will repent him of our evill he will not retaine his anger for ever There is yet hope in Israel concerning our deliverance if we would but make a free a firme and a fast covenant with God against our lusts Ezra 10.2.3 Tell me did God ever call forth a people to bind their soules in covenant to himselfe and not intend their prosperity covenanting times are but discovering times and therefore he promiseth his people that when he brings them into the bond of covenant he will purg out the Rebels from amongst them and them that transgresse against him bellow hearted persons loose livers and prophane creatures will not willingly meddle with sacred oaths and holy vowes And why will hee purge them out Surely it is for the peace and quiet of his Saints Peruse the place Ezek. 20.37.38 Againe shew me when or where any more sincerely covenanted with God and received not mercy from God Mercy is so intayled upon faithfull covenanters that it cannot be reversed Isa 56.6.7 They of all others shall be brought to his holy mountaine and made joyfull in his house of prayer Quest But why will God have us thus to enter into a curse and an oath to serve him Answ First because he knowes that being once ingaged by a sacred vow to the acts of holinesse our credit reputation and fidelity lies at the stake for our obedience and that therefore we will be more carefull of our selves and not willingly violate our faith God cannot abide we should have revolting and rebellious hearts to depart from him Jerem. 5.23 Secondly because these free promises ishuing from an upright heart are an open mark and a professed badge of a thankfull soule as these evidence our thankes so they ingage us to gratefull expressions upon the receipt of mercies God would not have us without a spur to put us on to duties Thirdly that we may the more see the boldnesse and shamefulnes of sin like the divell the more it is opposed the more violently it sets upon the soule Rom. 7.7.8.9.10.11 Lands Statutes covenants will not keep it off were we not put upon vowes wee should scarse believe this Fourthly that having covenanted and apprehending our owne weaknesse in sins resistance we may be stir'd up with more earnestnesse to seeke his ayd his grace and strength to withstand it Psal 119.8.26 Fiftly that if we be not carefull to obey that our owne vowes may rise up in judgment against us and that upon the breach of them his justice with the more equity may seize upon our soules Rom. 3.19.20 Lastly that by these morall covenants our spirits may be raised up higher stird up to seek after investment in the new covenant even that which is ratified by the bloud of Christ Galat. 3.21.22 But what must I covenant against Principally against thy sins temptations and occasions that lead unto them with those God is much offended and his Name is much dishonoured Sinne for a time may be as sugar under thy tongue take heed spit it forth it will prove Rats-bane when it comes into thy bowels Doe not trust it it deceives thee it will oppresse thy conscience and damne thy soule Vow against it Sin made the Divell who was a most glorious Angel an infernall fiend if thou doe not breake off its communion it will bring thee in very little better condition As well as men are conceited of it it is worse then Hell for that is good being prepared by God for sinners Therefore say as St. Anselme said if sin and hell were set before me the one on the one side the other on the other and that I must needs goe through one of them I would rather enter upon hell than sin God will assuredly keep them from hell whose hearts are thus set to keepe themselves from sinne But what must I vow and covenant