aggravation to forsake a Covenant of so long standing a perpetual Covenant Jer 50 5. A Covenant so holy Dan 11 30. A Covenant so solemnly engaged into Jer 34 18 so frequently renewed and under such sanctions certifications adjurations and curses in this chap Josh 24 and Jer 11 2 3. Further it is a forsaking of the Covenant of the Lord God. Tho it were but a mans Covenant yet it could not be forsaken without the basest of treacherie much more to forsake Gods Covenant which is to forsake Himself a dreadful sin so much aggravated in Scripture Deut. 31.16 Deut. 32.15 Josh 24.19 20. Judg. 10.13 2 Chron. 24.20 Isa 1 4 Jer. 2.10 11 13. To forsake the Covenant of the of the Lord our Husband is Adultery To forsake the Covenant of the Lord our King is unnatural Rebellion To forsake the Covenant of the Lord our God is Idolatry worse than is to be found among Heathens who will not disown their gods Finally it s a forsaking of the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which He made with them when He brought them out of the Land of Egypt Forsaking a Redeemers Covenant who had delivered their Fathers from Slavery whose mercy and faithfulness their Fathers had experienced and from their experience of the good of keeping Covenant with Him had commended it to their posterity A Covenant not of a late date or a new invention but transmitted from their Fathers A Covenant which upon that head the Lord hath respect unto and for which sometimes He will not destroy but have compassion upon the unworthy posterity 2 King. 13 23. This is charged as a great aggravation of breaking Covenant Jer. 11.10 Mal. 2.10 Because it was the Covenant of their Fathers or of the God of their Fathers 2. Here is specified the particular way of their forsaking the Covenant v 26 For they went and served other gods Vers 26 and worshiped them Indeed this is the grossest way of breaking Covenant to serve and worship other Gods But this hath also its degrees whether this Idolatry be considered as a breach of the First or of the Second Commandment as was shewed before and undeniable in the Scriptures There is external and internal Idolatry There is Idolatry that hath a wrong object and Idolatry also that may pretend the true object of worship but consisting in a worship not of His appointment However by the way it may be noted that Service and Worship is all one Hence the Popish distinction of Dowleia and Latreia is groundless and Anti-scriptural This Serving or Worshiping of other gods is aggravated from two grounds 1 They were gods whom they knew not worshiping an unknown god according to the Motto of the Athenian Alter is a peculiar stretch of of Idolatrous superstition Act. 17 22 23 Ignorance then of the object or of the way of worship is not the Mother but the Murther of true Devotion The Introduction of any unknown or uncouth thing whether it be in the object or manner of worship or any New Invention or Innovation in the service or worship of God is hence inferred to be a breach of Covenant 2 They were gods whom he had not given unto them If any thing then be received admitted or allowed in worship or Religious service which God hath not given granted or commanded it is a breach of His Law and Covenant His Law is so perfect that not only what He hath forbidden is sin but what He hath not commanded in Religious service 3. Here is justified the punishment of that forsaking of the Lords Covenant ver 27 28 Vers 27 28 1 In vindicating the justice of it in that all the effect of the Anger of the Lord kindled against the Land v 27 was according to the Curses that are written in this book The punishment of a Land breaking Covenant is only what it deserves and what the Lord hath threatned in the Scriptures 2 In indicating and acknowledging the severity of it v. 28. How the Lord rooted them out of their Land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation c. Hence it may be inferred that if Covenanters will not extirpate what pollutes the Land according to their Engagements the Lord will be provoked to extirpate them out of the Land according to His Word VI. In the close vers ult there is a Conclusory Corollary subjoined to all Vers 29. The secret things belong unto the Liad our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law. This may be taken either abstractly as an Apothegm by it self or with relation to what follows in the next chapter or to what preceeds in this Sin and Duty is here clearly revealed and that should be the matter of our exercise But Events are secrets belonging to the Lord. He hath revealed it is our duty to keep the words of this Covenant and do them But who shall endure to the end so doing is a secret known to Himself He hath revealed it is our duty to enter into Covenant with the Lord our God that He may establish us for a people unto Himself But who shall get this priviledge made good unto them without reversion Or who shall turn away and have a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood c. is a secret In the general it is revealed that the keepers of the Covenant shall have the blessings of it secured and the breakers shall have the curses ratified But who they shall be by name and surname is a secret belonging unto the Lord. He hath clearly revealed that the great procuring cause of Divine Vengeance is Forsaking the Covenant But when He will inflict and execute this Vengeance how and upon whom and by whom or what Instruments or in what measure or how long These are secrets Again in the following Chap. He hath clearly revealed when these Threatnings have come upon us and we shall call them to mind even in captivity and shall return unto the Lord our God and shall obey His voice that then the Lord our God will turn our Captivity and will have Compassion upon us c. But as for the seasons of it it is not for us to know them Act. 1.7 Whither it shall be at this time in our day or afterwards whether by these dispensations or instruments now made use of or others are secret things belonging to the Lord our God. But to put a Close to this Introduction it is apparent from what is said there can be very few doubts or dark difficulties about National Covenants but what may be resolved from this Chapter and seen to be not among the secrets not to medled with but among the Things Revealed belonging to us and our Children Particularly these Questions here touched which have been strumbling stones to many and Topicks of objections against our National Covenants are in some measure cleared Which may here together
how early Hâ— planted a Church in this Land how purely He purged it with whaâ— purity of Râ—formation and unity of Profession He beautified it witâ— what excelleâ—t Priviledges He honoured it especially in bringing it under the Bond of Solemn Covenants whereby its Name became Beulaâ— and Hephzihah and what excellent Testimonies for CHRIST's Prerogatives as King and His Kingdoms Libâ—rties He did concredit to it to contend for Our eyes also and our Fathers have seen great Temptations in Providences whence we might have learned great experiencâ— of the Lords Wisdom and our folly Alwayes when we were at the lowest extremity disspairing in our selves then He appeared in Mercy Aâ—wayes when we thought our selves strongeâ—t and were most consider in our selves then we were confounded The Lords Temptations tâ— try us have been manifold and our Tentations to provoke Him havâ— been as multifarious The Signs and Miracles in the conduct of His Providencâ—s in this day of Tentation have been observable As Israel in the Wilderness so we have had our Mara's and our Massa's and Meriba's Taberahs a d Kâ—broth Hattaavahs at Pentland hills Bothwell bridge Airds-moss c. But above all the passages of Providence since the late Popish King mounted the Throne raiâ—ed up wonderfully for our scourge have beâ—n wonderful both for the manner of his Advancement and subsequent Emergencies After all â—he â—oâ—mer breakings two Parties in both Kingdoms appearing against him very seasonaâ—ly when it would have bâ—en thought all would have concurred and concerted the same Cause against Popery and Tyranny yet were broken And nothing was like to withstand his dâ—signs of introducing the blackest of Popery basest of Slavery at the opâ—ned Gap of the Tolleration had not a Forreign Prince in Zeal for Religion Pity to these Lands and in pursuit of his own Right interposed for â—ur rescue by a very prâ—pitious prâ—vidence which in a way as of Signs and Miracles hath given us this enlargement and reviving in ouâ— Boâ—dage Shall not therefore the Godly from these considerations be â—tâ—â—ted up both to Acknowledgements of Sins and new Engagements 2. The consideration of their Obduration Vers 4. Occecation and Obstinacy supine Stupidity and unanswerableness to these great Mâ—racles and Mercies foremâ—ntioned which they had neither gotten Heaâ—ts to perceive nor Eyes to observe verse 4. is both a Motive to their acknowledgement of Sins and to their engagement to covenanted Du ies As this is a sad truâ—h as suitably applicable to Scotland as to Israel so the coâ—sideration thereof should hâ—ve moved the Godly to renew their Acknowledgements and Covenâ—nts if yet they had gotten Hearts to perceive and Eyes to see c. Alas all the pains the Lord hath takâ—n on us to â—â—claim and reforme us have not profited us Priviledgâ—s have not prevailed with us Prosperity hath not allured us Adversity hath not awakeneâ— us to our duty and all the fruit and effect of the Word and Works of Gâ—d seems to have produced nothing but the judicial Plague of hearing indeâ—d but nâ—t understanding seeing indeed but not perceiving and making our heart fat c. Isa 6.9.10 Is it not time then we wâ—râ— considâ—ring our wayes and turning to the Lord and Covenanting with Him. 3. Vers 5.6 The consideration of the Lords gracious Conduct of â—hem in the Wilderness fourâ—y Years providing them with all necessaries for Food Cloathing thô in an extraordinary way wherein they might know the care and kindness of and their relation to thâ— Lord their God vers 5.6 is made use of as a Motive to induce them to Acknowledgement of their Sins and a new Engagement to the dutie of their Covenant Since our Covenants were renewed in Scotland witâ— a Solemn Acknowledgement of the Sins and Engagements to the dutie thereof the Lord hath led us full 40 Years through the wilderness oâ— the Sectarian Invasions and the Prelatick Erastian and Antichristian Usurpations Wherein thô we did not meet with Miracles yet truly wâ— have experienced Wonders of the Lords care and kindness and for alâ— the Harassings and Huntings Spoilings and Depredations of Persecuterâ— the poor Wilderness wanderers have looked as Meat-like and Cloath like as we use to say as others that sat at ease in their houses and dranâ— their Wine and their strong drink 4. The consideration of the glorious Victory obtained iâ— thâ—s place in the Land of Moab over the King of Heshboâ—â— and the King of Bashan who withstood their progress unto the Rest theâ— were seeking whose Lands fell unto the two Tribes and the half for aâ— Inheritance vers 7.8 Vers 7.8 is likewise adduced as an Argument to exciâ—â— them to this duty So in our day the Trophees of Triumph that thâ— late revolutions of Providence have erected to the Honour of our God and the advantage of the Covenanted Reformation in removing out oâ— the way two Kings that were withstanding its propagation and seekinâ— its destruction and in abolishing two wicked Establishments set up oâ— the ruines thereof viz. Tyranny in the State and Prelacy in the Church maâ— stir up all Lovers of Reformation to the same duty of Covenanting for its Restauration and Preservation 5. Finally he moves them to it vers 9. Vers 9. by a promise oâ— prosperity to ensue upon their keeping and doing this Covenant which now they were about to Renew Which he presses as nâ—cessary duty from all these Considerations Quest 6 It may be Questioned here What is it to keep the words of thâ— Covenant and do them Is any Man able to keep the Covenanâ— more than the Command And if not why is this further burden imposed are not the Commands themselves Bonds strict enough An. The Covenant is kepâ— and done 1. By a constant and suitable Profession of the duties thereoâ— keeping the way of the Lord. 2. By a tenacious Confession of the Testâ—monies thereof against all opposition never denying or forbearing thâ— asserting the obligation thereof nor turning aside therefrom to thâ— right hand or to the left Josh 23.6 keeping it without spot unrebukâ—able 1 Tim. 6.14 especially when it becomes the word of His Patience Rev. 3.10 3. By a mindful careful entertainment of it in the mind and memory never forgetting what we are bound to thereby 4. By a strict observance thereof in the practise in all manner of conversation Which is to be understood in the Gospel sense not absolutely but respectively with respect to our Nature now corrupt weak and perverse For though we be bound by the Law of God to be perfectly Holy yet our Covenants do not tye us to this perfection and this obligation is not from our Covenant but from the Law for our Covenants do not oblige to the victory over all sin but to wrestle for it not to the event but to the means which are in our power and therefore the People of God plead they had not broken Covenant Psal 44.17 thô they had sins and not to the
harbour or supply the Persecuted decline to venture in lawful and necessary attempts for their relief or withdraw from their dutiful support And being thus united and Associate in this Cause as we resolve and oblige our selves to abide in this firm conjunction and neither consent nor concede to any Combination or Counsel suggestion perswasion allurement or terror that may have any direct or indirect tendency tentation or influence to seduce us either to division among our selves or defection to our Adversaries or a base indifferency neutrality between the two but shall with all Zeal Fidelity and constancy communicate our best help counsel and concurreâ—ce for the promoving all resolutions as by common consent shall be found to conduce for the good of the cause And endeavour to discover oppose and suppress all contrivances or counsels that may cast in any let or â—mpediment that may be obstructive or prejudicial to the cause So we shall likewise desire design and endeavour to get the defections unworthy neutralities and unhappy divisions that have long and lamentably wounded and wrâ—cked this Church removed Differences settled and Breathes healed in such a way and upon such terms as may be honourable and advantagious for the Cause And if our Brethren and we between whom such differences have fallen in and have been sadly fomented on all hands will search and try our wayes respectively how far they and we have recedâ—d from the good Old Way of the Church of Scotland and in our impartial search shall find out our respective defections and breaches of Covenant on the one hand and on the other and unite in confessing these by joyning in this or the like acknowledgement of publick sins and keeping days of Humiliation and Mourning for the same And as we offer and promise to confess our sins here acknowledged or any other so far as we can be convinced any manner of way that they shall desire or appoint So if they will at least confess theirs Doctrinally and they and we both forsake them mutually And forsaking concur in procuring the condemnation of them in Ecclesiastical Synods or Assemblies and so return unto and fix our ground on the Old established Foundations according to the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Church settled before the Covenanted Reformation stopped We will then embrace and maintain Union and Communion with them and offer and avouch our concurrence with them and submission to them in the LORD And shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terror to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction And because there be many who heretofore have not made Conscience of the Oath of God but some through fear others by perswasion and upon base ends and humane Interests have entered thereunto who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord in swearing falsly by His Name Therefore We who do now renew our Covenants in reference to these duties and all other duties contained therein Do in the sight of Him who is the searcher of hearts Solemnly Profess that it is not upon any Politick advantage or Private Interest or by-end or because of any terror or perswasion from men or hypocritically or deceitfully that we do again take upon us the oath of God But honestly and sincerely and from the sense of our Duty And that therefore denying our selves and our own things and laying aside all self-interests and ends we shall above all things seek the Honour of GOD the good of His Cause and the wealth of His People And that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood and not leaning upon Carnal confidence we shall depend upon the LORD walk by the Ruâ—e of His Word and hearken to the voice of His Servants In all which professing our own weakness we do earnestly pray to GOD who is the Father of Mercies through His Son Jesus Christ to be merciful unto us and to enable us by the power of His-Might that we may do our Duty unto the praise of His Grace in the Churches AMEN FINIS