shall blot out his name from under heaven and the Lord shall separate him to evill out of all the Tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the Covenant that are written in this book of the Law Mark the grand reason of all this fierce anger of the Lord against such vers 25. Because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers For breaking of Covenant God caused Achan and all his to be stoned and burnt in the sire Iosh 7.11.15 and all Israel suffere I with him they could not stand before their enemies but were routed and smitten before th m. For this very thing Sauls breaking the Covenant made with the Gibionites though long before his time God punished all Israel with three yeers famine and in the end with the death of seven of Saith sons 2 Sam. 21. therefore also God rent the Kingdom from Solomon and gave ten Tribes to his servant Ieroboam 1 King 11 11. All these things give weight to this duty and the point in hand Thus we have seen it opened what a Covenant is what it is to keep it and how Also the point or duty cleerly proved That a Covenant once made may not be broken but must be carefully kept Thus of a Covenant in generall Now with the good leave of the great Assembly I will here take occasion to speak something concerning our Nationall Covenant Vow or Protestation in particular And here I will first set down the Protestation prudently commended to us by the Honorable House in these words I A. B. Do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and estate the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same Doctrine And according to the duty of my Allegiance His Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate As also the Power and Priviledges of Parliaments the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects and every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practice counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained And further that I shal in all just and honorable ways endeavor to preserve the union and peace betwixt the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland And neither for hope fear nor other respect shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation Touching this Nationall Covenant or Protestation we may here observe and consider 1. What we here promise and vow to maintaine and so what we here renounce 2. What it is to maintaine and defend the true Protestant Religion 3. Why for what ends we entred into this Protestation 4. How far this promise and Protestation doth bind us First What we here promise vow and protest viz. divers things which I conceive are in number 7. And the First is to maintaine and defend with our lives power and estate The true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrary to the same Doctrine I will not set downe the principall Doctrines of the true reformed Protestant Religion and the Anti. See M Ley his book entituled A comparison betwixt the late Oath c. Protestant or Popish Doctrines and Innovations which we here protest against I will only set downe some Arguments and Reasons why we should with our lives power and estates maintaine and defend the true reformed Protestant Religion in the generall and consequently every particular branch and part of it against all Popery and Popish Innovations and every part and parcell of Popery and they are these 1. Because God hath commanded it and every one ought to make conscience of the commands of God and to his uttermost power observe and keep them JVDE v. 3. It was needfull for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith viz. the Doctrine of faith which was once delivered to the Saints Not only contend but contend earnestly with all vehemency and intention of spirit with all our might To this purpose also is that of the Apostle to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me and 1 Cor. 16.13 Stand fast in the faith that is both in the doctrine and grace of faith And no lesse is pressed on us Levit. 18.4 5. Deut. 4.40 and 5.32 33. and 6.3 17. and in very many other places Ye shall keep my statutes my iudgemonts my ordinances and commandements And if we cannot without drawing guilt on our soules breake the lawfull just and good commands of superiours how much lesss may we breake the righteous lawes of God 2. Our eternall salvation is built upon this There is no other Religion no other way or meanes in the world by which we can be saved Acts 4.12 1 Cor. 15. â— By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory or hold fast what I preached unto you If we deny renounce or forsake this never looke to goe to Heaven never hope to see the face of God with joy 3. Gods glory is greatly promoted and advanced hereby as by the deny all of the true faith or Religion he is greatly dishonoured it confirmes others in their idolatrous false or superstitious wayes and opens the mouths of the adversaries and wicked men to speake evill of and blaspheme the truth and good wayes of God 4. The true reformed Protestant Religion is the badge of the true Christian and true servants of God their Livery and Cognisance whereby they are distinguished from all I dolaters Pagans Mahumetans Papists and Jewes that still cleave to the Mosaicall Rights long since abolished by Christ Yea by the sincere embracing and profession hereof the true Christians and servants of God are distinguished from all hypocrites 5. The Gospell upon which the true reformed Protestant Religion which we professe and is established as the publick doctrine of this Church of England is undoubtedly built was confirmed by many miracles from Heaven and truly divine Look throughout the whole Book of God and see how many divine Ratifications there have been of the Gospell and consequently of the true Religion which we doe now publickly through Gods great mercy professe It is the same with that of the Apostles and people of God in those first primitive times and which our blessed Saviour himselfe taught professed and sealed with his bloud and this should be a great inducement to us to embrace maintain and defend it to the death 6. This hath been recommended to us by the
instance if which God forbid we should see or know any person that should rise up against the King or Parliament wilfully infringe their just and good orders and priviledges or indeavour to set or maintaine division or dis-affection betweene the King and Parliament or betwixt the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland be his pretence as Papists and Popish persons want not excuses and colourable pretences he is declared a publick enemy of the State and peace of the Kingdome See the Declar. of Parl. Ian. 17. 1641. and we are by this Protestation bound by all lawfull means to bring such a person to condigne punishment So againe doe we see or heare any seeking wittingly and wilfully to disgrace suppresse or bring into contempt the true Reformed Protestant Religion or to vent and advance Popery or Popish Innovations within this Realme to set up any woodden stone or painted Image Crosse or other scandalous resemblances we are by vertue of this Protestation bound by all lawfull meanes and wayes according to the rules of Christian wisdome and prudence to bring that person or persons to condigne punishment for his demerits And we have warrant for this in the word of God Husha◠the Archite did prevent the dangerous plot against David and discovered it to him 2 Sam. 17.7 8 15. c. Mordecai discovered treason against Ahasuerus Hest c. 6. You the very Pagans would doe thus endeavour to bring to deserved punishment those that were enemies to their Idoll gods Religion King Country or publick-wealth And Gods word requires this of us Pro. 24 21 22. My sonne feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change that is to bring in any Doctrine worship or discipline or any thing contrary to the true Religion or word of God and the wholesome and good Lawes of the Land especially such as are fundamentall for their calamity shall rise-suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Yea in case of seducing from the true to false Religion or worship of God as is well observed by a godly * M. I. G. Divine it is cleare that we must bring any to punishment how neare or deare so ever unto us See Deut. 13.6 7 8 9 10. If thy Brother the sonne of thy mother or thy sonne or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosome entise thee saying let us goe and serve other gods Thou shalt not consent unto them nor hearken unto them neither shall thy eye pitty them Our love to God and the true Religion ought to over-rule our affections to our friends and naturall Parents in the flesh much more our affections towards others which our Saviour confirmes Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more then me 〈◊〉 not worthy of me And in case of the publicke weale if any person be an enemy to it and will not be reclaimed our affection to our Country and the Common-wealth must over-rule naturall and private affection even to such as are neare and deare unto us and Cicero an Heathen determines this among other cases Cicero de Ossicijs l 3. That if a mans owne Father would betray his Country and do any thing that tends to the apparent ruine of the Common-wealth he must not keepe silence but preferre the safety of his Country before a Father and indeavour to hinder him or complaine of him This is just and reasonable for a publicke good of such concernement ought to bee preferred before a private Seventhly we also promise In all just and honourable wayes to indeavour to preserve the Vnion and Peace betweene the thrée Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland And there is great reason for it because they being now as it were one the division of them or disturbing their peace is the way to ruine all especially in these evill times when all our forces united together will be little enough and too little without Gods more then ordinary assistance to preserve our peace yea to keepe them from sinking and ruine by the common enemy to our Religion to our King and Kingdom And this is the first thing I here promised to speake off viz what we doe here promise vow and protest Now for The second What it is to maintaine and defend the true Protestant Religion or Doctrine and oppose the contrary viz. in our hearts to beleeve imbrace love professe and walk according to the Rules of the true Reformed Protestant Religion to justifie and defend the same as occasion requireth and calleth on us and to disavow the Popish Doctrine and Innovations which are contrary hereunto and set our selves against it and them or any that shall endeavour to attempt any thing contrary to the true Protestant Religion the Person Honour and Estate of the King the power and Priviledges of Parliament c. Thirdly The grounds and reasons of making and entring into this Protestation or Nationall Covenant are included in the preamble to the Protestation to which I referre you for fuller satisfaction only thus much here in a few words I conceive it may be of use 1. To binde all true Protestants more firmely to God his truth wayes and worship and to prevent the growth of Popery and Popish Innovations and in time to root out both as in conscience reason Religion and policy we should And this is a very speciall meanes to effect it for this binds us not only to embrace maintaine and defend the true Religion but also to reject Popery yea to oppose it and all such as seeke to advance or uphold it 2. To discover all Popish persons and such as stand disaffected to the true Religion and the peace and welfare of the King and Kingdome Church or State that they may be dealt with according as to justice doth appertaine 3. Thereby also the better to disappoint all the Adversaries plots and designes against true Religion the King Kingdome Church and State And 4. To continue and increase the honour peace and welfare of the same to all which purposes this bond may be of speciall use and the most effectuall meanes to accomplish such blessed ends Now Fourthly How far and how firmely this bond or Covenant bindeth us 1. How far in respect of the wayes and meanes to be used and that is only to lawfull wayes to doe all these things as far as lawfully I may and by all good wayes and meanes that is by such wayes and meanes as are warrantable by the Law of God and the wholsome and good Lawes and Statutes of this Realme As for instance when we see any Popery or Popish Ceremonies and Innovations in the Church which we have protested against we may not in a violent and tumultuous way without any lawfull call and warrant set our selves against them and remove them but by our prayers to Almighty God and petitions to his Majesty the honourable Assembly or others
bloud of all the Martyrs of our blessed Saviour himselfe of his Apostles and Disciples they all suffered for this they loved not their lives unto the death they willingly suffered the losse of all for and in the defence of it and sealed it with their bloud stucke to it to the death and so recommended it to us as a most precious jewell and rich treasure much better then life it selfe and surely this should much animate us to sticke close to our Religion the true Reformed Protestant Religion to the death seeing we have so many thousands yea hundred thousands that have dyed in the defence and cause of it 7. This hath hitherto and will ever preserve us As it is our Religion for which we are maligned hated and plotted against by the Papists and other Adrersaries of the truth so it is that or rather God because of that that hath hitherto preserved us in spight of all the Devils in Hell and wicked men on earth and all their hell-bred desperate plots and malignant designes against it and us that we have been and still are preserved to the admiration even of the enemies themselves And this will ever preserve and protect us if we sticke close unto it we have Gods word for it Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the earth to try them that dwell upon the earth And if we deny or forsake this never looke to prosper the promises even of temporall bleslings are made on this condition that we sticke close to it See Deutr. 5.32 33. and 6.17 and Chap. 28. Rev. 1.3 So that if either we regard the command of God or the glory of God or our owne temporall or eternall good of soule or body we must maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion against all Popery and Popish Innovations we must sticke close to it and maintaine our Religion unlesse we will lese soule body our estates and all at least the true comfort of all And what doe we protest against is it not Popery and Antichristianisme a doctrine containing many positions blasphemous against God and Jesus Christ and destructive to all Christian Magistrates Kingdomes Common-wealths a Doctrine to use the words of learned Master Bolton in his Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse most false and accursed from Heaven and is ever attended with this inseparable curse that it will plague the Kingdome that nourisheth it and pay it home at length with a witnesse except some right round and resolute course be taken in the meane time to root it out as in conscience policy reason and Religion it ought to be which if once effected would cut the thread of the Papists hopes for ever making a party or faction here cut the throat of all plots against the Kings person crush the Popes heart for any probability or possibility of ever re-establishing or erecting his accursed tyranny in this Island again and preventing such most bloudy barbarous and unheard of usage or butchery rather as there hath been of late and still is in Ireland Secondly We promise vow and protest with our lives power and estates to maintaine and defend as we are by our Allegiance bound his Maiesties Royall Person Honour and Estate Rom. 13.1 2. And there is great reason for it Of each severally 1. His Royall Person because as the Jewes said of Josiah he is the breath of our nostrils under whose shadow we shall be preserved alive Lam 4.20 We are all bound by the sixth Commandement to preserve as our owne person so the person of our Neighbour though our inferiour much more his who is our Soveraigne and the Lords anointed who is worth ten thousand of us as the people said of King David 2 Sam. 18.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe pillar of the Common-wealth 2. His Honour dignity and Majesty that it may have it's due respect esteeme and reverence which belongs to it 1 Pet. 2.17 Feare God honour the King and that both inwardly reverencing him in the heart Eccles 10.20 and outwardly in speech gesture and action as Nathan and Bathsheba did Salomon 1 King 1.23 31. We ought by the sixth Commandement to maintaine the good esteeme and dignity of our Neighbour by all good and lawfull meanes much more the Kings 3. His Estate i.e. his just and lawfull revenue or maintenance The Apostle saith 1 Tim. 5.17 that they that rule well are worthy of double honour i.e. honour of maintenance as well as of esteeme and reverence much more he who is custos utriusque tabulae the Father of the Common-wealth and Soveraigne Patron of the publicke good whose care is for the whole Kingdome So Rom. 13.6 7. For this cause pay you tribute also for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their due tribute c. Thirdly We promise vow and protest with our liues power and estates to maintaine and defend the power and Priviledges of Parliament What these are we may in part see in their owne Declaration published Jan. 17 th and some others of theirs published since And there is great reason why we should maintaine them in all their iust Rights and Priviledges 1. Because these are the most happy Constitutions and most effectuall for the publicke good that this or any Kingdome can have In his 3d speech in Parl. 1641. Ian. 25. A Princely resolution Earle of Strafford in his last speech on the Scaffold And this his Royall Maiesty himselfe hath most Princely professed That often Parliaments are the fittest meanes to keep correspondency between his Maiesty and his people and that He will alwayes maintaine their Priviledges as his owne Prerogative and their persons as the persons of his dearest children Yea this was acknowledged and professed by the Earle of Strafford a little before his death I did alwayes thinke the Parliaments of England were the happiest Constitutions that any Kingdome or any Nation lived under and under God the meanes of making King and People happy Parliaments are as one saith truly the glory safety and sinewes of our Nation the priviledges whereof if once impeached farwell all that is glorious in free Subjects These have been secunda Tabula post naufragium the only meanes to save a sinking state the refuge of the oppressed The want and breach of which was a maine cause of all our miseries of late yeares and is now in a manner the only meanes of recovery 2. In these our welfare Lawes and Liberties and the comfortable enioyment of all we have is involved we stand or fall with them if they be broken and destroyed we all extreamely suffer and perish with them if they be kept and preserved we prosper and flourish therefore great reason we should endeavour what in us lyeth to defend and maintaine the power and Priviledges of Parliament 3. They are persons chosen and intrusted by our selves to