in Covenant with God the best work of love and Christian Communion to joyn in Covenant with the people of God the best work of the best zeal to joyn in Covenant for Reformation against the enemies of God and Religion the best work of true loyaltie to joyn in Covenant for the preservation of our King and Superiours and the best proof of naturall affection and to be without naturall affection is one of the great sinnes of the Gentiles to joyn in Covenant for defence of our Native Countrey Liberties and Lawes Such as for these necessary ends to withdraw and are not willing to enter into Covenant have reason to enter into their own hearts and to look into their Faith love zeal loyalty and naturall affection As it is acceptable to God so have we for it the precedent and example not onely of the people of God of old of the Reformed Churches of Germany and the Low Countreyes but of our owne Noble and Christian Progenitors in the time of the danger of Religion which is expressed in the Covenant it self The defect was They went not on throughly to enter in a solemne Covenant an happinesse reserved for this time which had they done the corruptions and calamities of these dayes might have been prevented And if the Lord shal bee pleased to move loose and enlarge the hearts of his people in his Majesties Dominions to take this Covenant not in simulation nor in luke warmnesse as those that are almost perswaded to bee Christians but as becommeth the people of God it shall bee the prevention of many evils and miseries and a meane of many and rich blessings spirituall and temporall to our selves our little ones and the Posterity that shall come after us for many Generations The neere and neighbouring example of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland is in this case worthy of our best observation When the Prelates there were grown by their rents and Lordly Dignities by their exorbitant power over all sorts of his Majesties subjects Ministers and others by their places in Parliament Councel Colledge of Justice Exchequer and High Commission to a monstrous dominion and greatnesse and like Gyants setting their one foot on the neck of the Church and the other on the neck of the State were become intolerable insolent and when the people of God through their oppression in Religion Liberties and Lawes and what was dearest unto them were brought so low that they chused rather to die then to live in such slavery or to live in any other place rather then in their own native Countrey Then did the Lord say I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people and I have heard their groaning and am come downe to deliver them The beginnings were small and contemptible in the eyes of the presumptuous enemies such as use to be the beginnings of the greatest works of God but were so seconded and continually followed by the undeniable evidences of Divine Providence leading them forward from one step to another that their Mountain became strong in the end No tongue can tell what motions filled the hearts what teares were poured forth from the eyes and what cryes came from the mouthes of many thousands in that Land when they found an unwonted flame warming their breastes and perceived the power of God raising them from the dead and creating for them a new world wherein should dwell Religion and Righteousnes When they were destitute both of moneys and munition which next unto the spirits and armes of men are the sinews of Warre the Lord brought them forth out of his hid treasures which was wonderfull in their eyes and matter of astonishment to their hearts When they were many times at a pause in their deliberations and brought to such perplexity that they knew not what to chuse or to do for prosecuting the work of God onely their eyes were toward him not onely the feares and furies but the plots also and policies of the Adversaries opened the way unto them their devices were turned upon their own heads and served for the promoting of the work of God The purity of their intentions elevated above base and earthly respects and the constant peace of their hearts in the midst of many dangers did bear them out against the malicious accusations and aspersions put upon their actions all which were sensible impressions of the good providence oâ— God and â—egâ—â—e characters of his work which as the Church and Kingdom of England exercised at this time with greater difficulties then theirs have in part already found so shall the Parallel be perfected to their greater comfort in the faithful pursuing of the work unto the end Necessity which hath in it a kind of Soveraignty is a Law above all Laws and therfore is said to have no Law doth mightily presse the Church and Kingdom of Scotland at this time It is no small comfort unto them that they have not beene idle and at ease but have used all good and lawfull means of Supplications Declarations and Remonstrances to his Majestie for quenching the combustion in this Kingdome And after all these that they sent Commissioners to his Majestie humblie to mediate for a reconcilement and Pacification But the offer of their humble service was rejected from no other reason but that they had no warrant nor capacity for such a Mediation And that the intermixture of the Government of the Church of England with the Civill government of the kingdom was such a mistery as could not be understood by them Althoug it be true which was at that time often replyed that the eighth demand of the Treatie and the answer given thereunto concerning the Uniformity of Religion was a sufficient ground of capacity and the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament against Episcopal Government as a stumbling block hindering Reformation and as a prejudice to the Civil State was ground enough for their information The Commissioners having returned from his Majestie without successe and the miseries of Ireland the distresses of England and the dangers and pressures of the kingdom of Scotland growing to greater extremity such as were intrusted with the publick affairs of the Kingdome 〈…〉 according to the practise of former times his Majesty having denyed a Parliament to call a Convention of the Estates for considering of the present affairs and for providing the best remedies which immediatly upon their meeting by the speciall providence of God did receive information of diverse treacherous attempts of Papists in all the three Kingdomes as if they had been called for that effect And by the same providence Commissioners were sent from both Houses of Parliament to consider with the Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland of such Articles and Propositions as might make the conjunction betwixt the two Nations more beneficiall and effectuall for the securing of Religion and Libertie against Papists and Prelates with their adherents Their Consultations with the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly did
amongst us Come therefore I speak in the words of the Prophet let us joyne our selves to the Lord and one to another and each to all in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten We are now entring upon a work of the greatest moment and concernement to us and to our posterity after us that ever was undertaken by any of us or any of our Forefathers before us or neighbouring Nations about us if the Lord shall blesse this our beginning it will bee a happie day and we shall be a happy people An Oath is a duty of the first commandment and therfore of the highest and noblest order and rank of duties therefore must come foorth attended with choycest graces especially with these two humility and fear Fear not onely of God which ought to bee in an eminent measure Gen. 31. 53. Iacob swear by the feare of his father Isaac as if hee coveted to inherit his fathers grace as well as his fathers God But also feare of an Oath it being a dreadfull duty and hath this peculiar it is established by the Oath of God I have sworne that unto mee every tongue shall sweare Isa 45. 23. It is made the very Character of a Saint hee feares an Oath Eccles. 9. 2. Humility is another grace requisite set your hearts before God in an humble obedient frame Deut. 6. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and sweare by his Name The Apostle Paul was sensible of this engagement even in the very act of this duetie Rom 1. 9 I call God to witnesse whom I serve in my spirit Although it be a work of the lips yet the heart and the whole man must be interessed if we expect this worship to be acceptable Psal. 119 108. Accept the free will offering of my mouth and teach me thy judgements Also it must bee done in the greatest simplicity and plainnesse of spirit in respect of those with whom wee Covenant We call God as a witnesse betwixt us who searcheth the heart With him is wisedome and strength the deceived deceiver is his Iob 12. 19. He hath wisedome to discover and strength to punish if our hearts be not upright to our Brethren in this matter Let us be contented with this that the words of our Covenant be bands it may not be so much as in the desire of our harts that they should become snares no not to the weakest and simplest person that joyneth with us In the whole work make your addresse unto God as Iacob did to his 〈…〉 there bee the like fear and jealousie over your spirits Gen. 27. 12. My Father peradventure will feel me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing I take liberty with more earnestnesse to presse this care upon you because I have observed Oaths and Covenants have been undertaken by us formerly and by the command of authority the fruit whereof though great yet not answered our expectation the Lord surely hath been displeased with the slightnesse of our hearts in the work I beseech you bee more watchfull and stirre up your hearts with more industry this day then ever before As it is the last Oath you are likely to take in this kinde so it is our last refuge tabula post naufragium If this help not wee are likely to remaine to our dying day an unhappy people but if otherwise You will indeed sweare with all your hearts and seek the Lord with your whole desire God will bee found and give you rest round about 2 Chor. 15 15. And having sworn and entred into this solemne engagement to God and man make conscience to doe accordingly otherwise it is better thou shouldest not vow Ecclesiast 5. As it is said of fasting it is not the bowing down of the head for a day so of this solemne swearing it is not the lifting up of the hand for a day but an honest and faithfull endeavouring after the contents of this Covenant all our dayes A truce breaker is reckoned up amongst the vilest of Christians 2. Tim. 3. 3. so a Covenant-breaker is listed amongst the worst of Heathens Rom. 1. 31 But hee that sweareth and changeth not though he swear to his hurt that is he that wil keep his Covenant and Oath though the contents of it prove not for him nay possibly against him yet hee will keep it for his Oaths sake such a one shall have his habitation with the most High and dwell in his Tabernacle Psal. 15. And as for you Reverend Brethren that are Ministers of the Gospel there is yet another obligation will lie upon you let us look to our selves and make provision to walk answerable to this our Covenant for the Gospels sake it will reflect a great aspertion upon the truth of the Gospel if wee should bee false or unconstant in any word or purpose though in a matter of lesse consequence as you can easily collect from that apology of Paul 2 Cor. 1 17 18. how much more in such a case as this is if we should bee found to purpose nay more to vow and covenant and swear and all this according unto the flesh and with us there should be notwithstanding all these obligations yea yea and nay nay That we may all who take the Covenant this day he constant immoveable and abound in this work of the Lord that we may not start aside or give back or goe on uncomfortably there is a twofold grace or qualification to bee laboured after 1 Wee must get courage spirits that are bold and resolute It is said in Haggai that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel Governour of Iudah and the spirit of Ioshua the High Priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they came and did work in the house of the Lord the vvork of Gods house Reformation-work especially is a stirring work read Stories you finde not anywhere Reformation made in any age either in Doctrine or Discipline without great stirre and opposition This was foretold by the same Prophet Chap. 2. vers. 7. the promise is Hee will fill his house with glory but what goeth before vers 6 Yet once it is a little while and I will shake the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and the dry land that is all Nations as in the words following This place is applyed Heb 12 to the removing Jewish Rites the moveables of Gods house The like you 〈◊〉 in the Apostles times Acts 17 the truth beiâ—â— preached some beleeved others did not here beginnetâ— the stirre vers. 6. those that beleeved not tooke untâ— themselves certaine lewd fellows of the baser sort and gathered a company and set all the City in an uproare and vvhen they had done so complained of the brethren to the Rulers as men that turn the world upside down ver. 6 Read also Acts 21. 27 30. 31. In such a work therefore men had need bee of
stout resolute and composed spirits that vve may bee able to goe on in the maine and stirre in the middest of such stirres and not bee amazed at any such doings It may possibly happen that even amongst your selves there vvill bee out cryes Sir you vvill undo all saith one you vvill put all into confusion saith another if you take this course saith a third vve can expect nothing but bloud but a vvise States-man like an experienced Sea-man knovveth the compasse of his vessel and though it heave and tosse and the passengers cry out about him yet in the middest of all hee is himself turneth not aside from his work but steereth on his course I beseech you let it be seriously considered if you meane to doe any such work in the house of God as this is if you meane to pluck up what many yeares agoe was planted or to build up what so long agoe was pulled downe and to goe thorough with this work and not bee discouraged you most begge of the Lord this excellent spirit this resolute stirring spirit otherwise you will bee out spirited and both you and your cause slighted and dishonoured 2 On the other hand wee must labour for humility prudence gentlenesse meeknesse A man may bee very zealous and resolute and yet very meek and mercifull Jesus Christ was a Lyon and yet a Lambe also in one place hee telleth them hee commeth to send fire on the earth and in another place rebuketh his Disciples for their fiery spirits Luk. 9. 54 There was the like composition in Moses and in Paul and it is of great use especially in this worke of Reformation I have not observed any disputes carried on with more bitternesse in mens writings and with a more unsanctified heat of spirit yea and by godly men too then in contraversies about discipline Church Government Ceremonies and the like Surely to argue about Government with such ungoverned passions to argue for Reformation with a spirit so unreformed is very uncomely Let us be zealous as Christ was to cast out all to extirpate and root out every plant his heavenly Father hath not planted and yet let us doe it in an orderly way and with the spirit of Christ whose servants we are The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all men apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. We solemnly engage this day our utmost endeavours for Reformation let us remember this that too much heat as well as too much coldness may harden men in their wayes and hinder Reformation Brethren let us come to this blessed work with such a frame of heart with such a minde for the present with such resolutions for the time to come let us not bee wanting to the opportunity God hath put into our hands this day and then I can promise you as the Prophet Consider this day and upwards even from this day that the foundation of the Lords work is laid Consider it from this day will I blesse you saith the Lord Nay we have received as it were the first fruits of this promise for as it is said of some mens good works they are manifest beforehand 1 Tim. 5. Even so may be said of the good work of this day it is manifest before hand God hath as it were before hand testified his acceptance while wee were thinking and purposing this free will Offering he was protecting and defending our Armie causing our enemies the enemies of this work to flie before us and gave us a victory not to be despised surely this Oath and Covenant shall be Iudahs joy the joy and comfort of this whole Kingdome yea of all three Kingdomes Jesus Christ King of the Saints govern us by his Spirit strengthen us by his power undertake for us according as he hath sworn even the Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that hee would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Luke 1. Grant unto us also that when this life is finished and wee gathered to our Fathers there may be a generation out of our loynes to stand up in this cause that his great and reverent Name may be exalted from one generation to another untill hee himself shall come and perfect all with his own hand by his own wisedome even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen A Speech delivered by M. Alexander Henderson immediatly before the taking of the Covenant by the House of Commons and Assembly of Divines ALthough the time bee farre spent yet am I bold Honourable Reverend and beloved in the Lord to crave your patience a little it were both sin and shame to us in this so acceptable a time in this day which the Lord hath made to bee silent and to say nothing If we should hold our peace wee could neither be answerable to God whose cause and worke is in hand nor of this Church and Kingdome unto which we have made so large profession of duty ow much more nor to our Native Kingdome so abundant in affection toward you nor to our own heart which exceedingly rejoyce to see this day We have greater reason then the leprous men sitting in a time of great extremitie at the gate of Samaria to say one to another We do not well this day is a day of good tydings and we hold our peace it is true the Syrians are not yet sted but our hope is through God that the worke begun this day being sincerely performed and faithfully pursued shall put to flight not onely the Syreans and Babylonians but all other enemies of the Church of God of the Kings honour and of our liberty and peace For it is acceptable to God and well pleasing in his sight when his people come willingly in the day of his power and how shall they not be willing in the day of his power to enter a religious Covenant with him and amongst themselves whatsoever be the condition of the people of God whether in sorrow and humiliation before deliverance or in rejoycing thanksgiving after deliverance this is it which the Lord waits for at their hands which they have been used to performe and with which hee hath been so well pleased that it hath been the fountaine of many deliverances and blessings unto them When a people beginneth to forget God he lifteth up his hand against them and smitteth them And when his people humbled before him lift up their hands not only in supplication but in covenant before the most high God he is pleased such is his mercy and wonderfull compassion first to lift his hand unto them saying I am the Lord your God as we have it three times in two verses of the 20. of Ezekiel and next he stretcheth out his hand against his enemies and thers It is the best work of Faith to joyn
concernment as I can truly say it is worthy of us yea of all these Kingdomes yea of all the Kingdomes of the world for it is swearing fealty and allegeance unto Christ the King of Kings and a giving up of all these Kingdomes which are his inheritance to be subdued more to his thron and ruled more by his Scepter upon whose shoulders the government is laid and in the increase of whose Government and peace there shall be no end Esay 9. Yea we finde this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it to have been the Oath of the greatest Angel that ever was who setting his feet upon two of Gods Kingdomes the one upon the Sea the other upon the Earth lifting up his hand to heaven as you are to doe this day and so swearing Rev. 10 The effect of that oath you shall finde to be this that the Kingdomes of the world become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ and hee shall reigne for ever Rev. 11 His Oath was for the full and finall accomplishment this of yours for a graduall yet a great performance towards it That which the apostles and primitive times did so much and so long pray for though never long with much quietnesse enjoyed that which our Fathers in these latter times have fasted prayed and mourned after yet attained not even the cause which many dear Saints now with God have furthered by extreamest sufferings poverty imprisonment banishment death ever since the first dawning of Reformation That and the very same is the very cause and work that wee are come now through the mercy of Jesus Christ not only to pray for but swear to And surely it can be no other but the result and answer of such prayers and teares of such sincerity sufferings that three Kingdomes should be thus born or rather new born in a day that these Kingdomes should be wrought about to so great an engagement then which nothing is higher for to this end Kings raigne Kingdomes stand and States are upheld It is a speciall grace and favour of God unto you Brethren Reverend and Honourable to vouchsafe you the opportunity and to put into your hearts as this day to engage your lives and estates in matters so much concerning him and his glory And if thou should doe no more but lay a foundation stone in this great work and by so doing engage posterity after you to finish it it were honour enough But there may yet further use be made of you who now are to take this oath you are designed as chief master Builders and choice instruments for the effecting of this setled Peace and Reformation which if the Lord shall please to finish in your hands a greater happinesse on earth nor a greater means to augment your glory and crown in heaven you are not capable of And this let me further adde for your encouragement of what extensive good and fruit in the successe of it this very oath may prove to be we know not God hath set his Covenant like the Heavens not onely for duration but like also for extension The Heavens move and roule about and so communicate their light and heat and vertue to all places and parts of the earth so doth the Covenant of God so may this gift bee given to other Covenants that are framed to that pattern How much this solemne League and oath may provoke other reformed Churches to a further Reformation of themselves what light and heat it may communicate abroad to other parts of the world it is only in Him to define to whom is given the utmost ends of the earth for his inheritance and worketh by his exceeding great power great things out of as small beginnings But howsoever this I am sure of it is a way in all probability most likely to enable us to preserve defend our religion against our common enemies and possible a more sure fundation this day will be laid for ruining Popery and Prelacy the chief of them then as yet we have been led unto in any age For Popery it hath been a Religion ever dexterous in fencing and muniting it self by association and joynt strength all sorts of Professors amongst them are cast into Fraternities and Brother hoods and these Orders carefully united by Vow one with another and under some more generall notion of common dependancie Such States also Kingdomes as they have thus made theirs they endeavour to improve and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to other witnesse of late yeares that La Sainte ligue the holy league It will not bee unworthy your consideration whether seeing the preservation of Popery hath been by Leagues and Covenants God may not make a League or Covenant to be the destruction of it Nay the very rise of Popery seemeth to bee after such a manner by Kings that is Kingdomes assenting and agreeing perhaps by some joynt Covenant the text saith with one minde why not then with one mouth to give their power and strength unto the Beast and make war against the Lamb Rev. 17. where you read the Lamb shall overcome the Beast and possibly with the same weapons hee is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings hee can unite Kings and Kingdoms and give them one minde also to destroy the Whore and bee her utter ruine And may not this dayes work be a happy beginning of such a blessed expedition Prelacie another common enemy that we Covenant and swear against what hath it been or what hath the strength of it been but a subtile combination of Clergy men formed into a policy or body of their own invention framing themselves into Subordination and Dependencie one upon another so that the interest of each is improved by all a great power by this means acquired to themselves as by sad experience we have lately found The joynts and members of this body you know were knit together by the sacred engagement of an Oath the Oath of Canonicall obedience as they called it You remember also with what cunning and industrie they endeavoured lately to make this Oath and Covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity And intended a more publike solemn and universal engagement then since Popery this cause of theirs was ever maintained or supported by And questionlesse Ireland and Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league with England But blessed be the Lord and blessed be his good hand the Parliament that from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid a yoke have dashed out the very brains of this project and are now this day present before the Lord to take and give possession of this blessed Ordinance even an Oath and Covenant as solemne and of as large extent as they intended theirs uniting these three Kingdoms into such a League and happy combination as will doubtlesse preserve us and our Reformation against them though their iniquity in the misteries of it should still be working