Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A42361
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A sermon preach'd upon breach of covenant by that reverend and worthy servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Guthrie ... 1663.
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Guthrie, John, 1632-1669.
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1663
(1663)
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Wing G2268; ESTC R7776
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15,177
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15
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it which I will not grant for there was at that time a Power for it I will not take upon me to dispute the Power that Parliaments have without a King it 's far above my hand yet I say the Parliament has Power to put Folk to Duty nill they will they IV. For making the Covenant valid and lawful something may be added to it afterward though not at the present time yet seeing it is afterwards added it is enough but so was it with our Covenant there was a frequent Consent given to it by our King and also it was subscribed by him which is sufficient to make our Vows stand Numb 30. we see if a Husband or Parent hold their Peace when they heard a Woman vow the Vow did stand much more if the Husband or Parent take the Vow upon themselves I know no shadow imaginable of Excuse for them the Word of God which stands sure makes against them and since it is so our King and Parliament cannot retract what they have done Objection 2 d. Some will say there is no Man but knows that the King has taken the Covenant for it was not done in a Corner but he may break because he was forced to it and he was not absolutâ—ly free Answ I. We did not hear tell of this before now if any Man would have said at that time that he was constrained to take it he would be counted a very uncharitable Constructer II. Suppose that he was not free which I will never grant and â—â—ppose he was forced to the Oath yet Scripture makes it out that a Man's Swearing though he was not free must stand to it Though it was â—â—t a spontaneous Act yet at was a most voluntary Act. Again Consider this in Zedekiah he was a Captive to whom To a Heathen now no Man will say a Captive is a free Man and a liberate Man yet he swearing to the King of Babylon a Heathen and breaking his Oath afterwards God's Vengeance came upon him for there is no dallying with God in these Matters for all Casuists say If a Man swear to a Robber to give him so much to spare his Life he must keep his Oath if it be in his power though it be to his hurt I shall say no more on this but I am hopeful if you will receive the Word in Love ye shall have wherewith to answer your Adversaries in the Gate Objection 3 d. The solemn League and Covenant must be broken because we are not bound to keep with them that brake to us first but it is so betwixt Us and England Ergo. Ans Is there not many make this Objection which I dare say never read the Covenant Thou poor blind Creature how dare thou speak of it These that will say so it seems they never understood the League and Covenant because it is not a Bargain betwixt two Parties on Earth the one whereof breaking the other is free but these 3 Lands is one Party and the God of Heaven is the other Party therefore though England should break should Scotland break also the Covenant It is not after this Tenor We will endeavour Reformation in these Lands but if you break we will break also No it 's each Man swearing for himself that he shall in his Place and Station endeavour Reformation so that if it were left all to one Man he must endeavour Reformation For consider the last words of the Article each of them for themselves did lift up their hands to the Most High and so these 3 Lands are one Party and the other Party is the God of Heaven Consider seriously upon it for it 's the thing you must either suffer for or sin ere it be long without Remedy Whatever England and Ireland have done in breaking the Covenant we say they justly must smart for it according to the Word of God if God in mercy prevent it not nevertheless as long as there is in these Lands any who keep the Covenant we are bound to keep it and suppose there are many who had rather suffer for it than sin as Witness the many scattered Flocks and Shepherds in these Lands and supposing this were not though both England and Ireland should â—uite it yet Scotland is bound to it Objection 4 th We swear in the League and Covenant to that which is impossible and therefore it cannot be keeped Answâ—â— If all these 3 Kingdoms who have taken the Oath upon them would â—incerely stand to it I hope there should be no need to stand out agaiâ—â—t it The Objection is in this We have sworn to reform England noâ— for Answer We are not sworn to reform England neither is England â—worn to reform Scotland but that which is sworn is this Each of them are to endeavour in their Places and Callings the Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government in these Lands and to reform England according to the Word of God and the best Reformed Churches For though we had never sworn an Oath we are bound to promote the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ So that the Objection is rather out of Malice against the Word of God than any conscionable Principle he is not worth the Name of a Christian that condemns this for it is contrary to the Petition Thy Kingdom come So that we should study all Kingdoms Reformation that they may become the Kingdoms of our Lord. If the King and Parliament were studying to reform as much as they are studying to deface and deform there should be no need of this Objection Objection 5 th The Covenant which these Kingdoms entred into as to their own Reformation and as to the Reformation of all the rest it was too rashly and inconsiderately gone about Answer I. I question if any of you who moves the Objection knows what Consideration is was there not Deliberation when there was Protestants and Remonstrators for the poor Lands and at last they came to this with it to enter into Covenant wherefore it seems it was not indeliberate II. There was more Deliberation in it than many other Oaths in Scripture and yet they did stand as Judges 11.35 the Vow of Jephâ—hah when he met his Daughter who will deny but that was a rash Oath to vow whatsoever came out of his door first he should offer it up to the God of heaven And yet it did bind him while he says Alace my daughter thou hast brought me very low And might not his Daughter have said Father it 's but a rash Vow break it Nay says he I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back III. To confirm it more What would you think of a Covenant made between the People of the Lord and Heathens and no Counsel sought from the Lord Jos 9. The Covenant is made there with the People of Israel and the Gibeonites there you will see a Vow very rashly taken yea not so much as to seek Counsel from the Lord