extent Alâ—uda 3 the Object The Oath the Covenant for cleaving to the true God true Religion This is registred for our learning hence then All that are truly Godly Doct. should rejoyce at a Nationall Covenant made for the suppressing of the false and the preservation of true Religion 2 Chro. 30 21 23. We see joy at the restauration of Religion then how much more when it is done by Covenant yea after they counselled to keepe other 7 dayes not another Passeover but to spend seven days in the service of GOD and who knowes whether this counsell were not such as Ezra's by Covenant Ezra 10 3. It s most probable it was and it was with joy how ever we may argue a maiori so also from that of the Psalmist Psal 122 1. But more full to our purpose is that 2. Chro. 23 16 17. Where you have the Covenant the fruite of it and how it was entertained with joy ver 21. so 2 Chro. 29 10. And this was not personall but without question Nationall He did it as a King and so the Kingdome with him as appeares by the Issue ver 20. The Elders goe along v. 28. there 's a Congregation and was not this with joy See verses 25 28 30 36. Because this is a signe of the graces of God Reason 1 not only residing but excelling in the people of God To keep up Religion in purity requires grace but to renew it that by Covenant argues zeale and undaunted and unconquered resolutions as it was sayd of Iehosaphat 2 Chro. 17 6. his heart was lift up in the wayes of God caried on the growne wings of Faith and zeale over all impediments And should not we rejoyce in this to see such signes of grace in a Kingdome I am sure had we Davids Spirit we should 1 Chro. 29 9. See what joy there was for that one discovery of good affection to God Phil. 4 10. The Apostle rejoyced greatly that their care of him did flourish againe not for the profit he reap't but for the grace they shewed in such a Nationall Covenant mens care of God doth flourish againe care of his service and should not we much more rejoyce sure we should and will if wee be not wicked and so hating grace or proud and envying it which far be they from us A Nationall Covenant for reformation Reason 2 is an excellent meanes of reformation of suppressing the false and setting up the true Religion so it is to be rejoyced at That it is a meanes of reformation experience may shew Where ever was it undertaken that it fayled See here in Asa in Hezekiah in Joash or Jehoaida's time when this was made Idolls and Idolatry went presently downe and the service of God as fast up see 2 Chro. 15 16 and 2 Chro. 23 17 18 and 29 10 35 36. and 34 31 32 33. So Ezra 10.3 5 17. And how should it be otherwaves For entering into Covenant shewes zeale courage and resolution and when it is Nationall there is outward strength added to strength of Spirit and what can let 2 Chro. ult he did it with all his heart and prospered When men Covenant they do it with all their might and will prosper when men come to this to renew their Covenant with God he will renew his Covenant with them and blesse their undertakings And if God be â—ith us who can be against us Iosh 1 5 6. There be two promises made to Ioshua one subordinate to the other The maine the Apostle makes common and with the same reason we may infer the latter the Condition is this ver 7. Be strong Now the Covenanting shewes this strength of Spirit or resolution and therefore all lets come downe and reformation will come up and if reformation be effected then there is cause of joy Reformation is a thing that the people of God have alwaies and should rejoyce in Nehem. 8. the restauration of one ordinance what joy it caused ver 17. So likewise 2 Chro. 30. and if any thing be cause of joy Reformation is That which removes causes of sorrow and brings many causes of joy that will be rejoyced in But this reformation doth It removes causes of sorrow for it removes sin It 's an healing of our backslidings which is cause of sorrovv so of all corruptions in Religion novv vvhat cause of sorrovv these be see Ezra 93. Pet. 10. 1. Ezek. 36 33. It removes feares and feare hath torment 1 John 4 18. When vve are in our sinnes vve have cause to tremble at the threatnings as Ezra 9 3.4 It removes Iudgments so Hezekiah aymed and found 2 Chor. 29 10. and 2 Chro. 15.2 3 4 5. Againe it brings causes of joy For hereby God is glorified God is exalted vvho vvas before neglected false vvorship is a provocation giving his glory to another going a whoring Reformation is a setting up his word for rule and giving him the worship he requires Now when God is glorified should not we rejoyce Psal 97. 1. Psal 42 10. He that was so wounded at Gods dishonours would not he as greatly rejoyce at Gods glory without question and nothing else was the cause of the joy 1 Chro. 29 9. Againe the good of mens soules is furthered for hereby men are brought into the way of life and salvation Poyson is taken out of their food leaven out of their services their Soules will be edified services respected persons saved and that we should rejoyce in There 's joy in heaven for this if for one soule much more for many Act. 11 18. 3. This is the way to prosperity to have God blesse us in all we put our hands unto for now we keepe Covenant with him he will likewise keepe Covenant with us and that is to blesse us in all we put our hands unto Deut. 28. So 2 Chro. 15 15. And so in Hezekias time the Land recovered its pristine honour and strength lost by wicked backsliding Abaz So then there is great cause to rejoyce in a Nationall Covenant of Reformation because it will produce Reformation which is comfortable many wayes It s the regeneration of a Nation A Nationall Covenant is a thing that in time of need all Godly hearts do earnestly desire and pray for therefore they will rejoyce at it Reason 3 they see the need of it because without it the worke will not be done The opposites while the standers for purity stand single are too hard for them by some way or other they see the use of it in examples as hath been layd out they see it is an ordinance of God and being regulate by the word they cannot but desire and pray that God would stir up the hearts of men to it how often have you in this place heard and joyn'd in prayer with this Petition that God would move our Soveraigne with Josiah to bring us into a Covenant of reformation Now what we pray for we should praise God for and can we praise God
IUDAHS IOY AT THE OATH LAYD OVT IN A SERMON ON the 2 Chro. 15 15. for Englands example in embracing the Parliamentary Covenant with readinesse and rejoycing Hereunto is annexed a briefe and moderate Answere to the Protestation Protested discovering the unsoundnesse of that interpretation of the Nationall Covenant and the weaknesse of the grounds there suggested for Separate and independant Churches By IOHN GEREE Master of ARTS and PREACHER of GODS WORD in TEWKESBURY Published by order of the House of Commons PSALME 76.11 Vow and pay unto the LORD your GOD. LONDON Printed by R. Oulton for John Bartlet and are to be sould at the signe of the gilt Cup by Saint Austins Gate 1641. TO THE Right VVorshipfull NATHANAEL STEPHENS Esquire one of the Knights of Parliament for the County of Glocester Grace and peace in CHRIST JESUS SIR YOur courteous intelligence touching the Parliamentary Vow occasioned these meditations presented unto you It is our Office to communicate the good which we our selves are partakers of That good newes much refreshed me The next day after the opening of this text there entred into the Protestation above 400 of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Tewkesbury I thought it my duty to comfort others with the same consolations that endeavor wanted not present fruite some expressing present Joy and very many quickly Ioyning in so good a worke This incouraged me to make more common what was first provided for a few and then I could think of no fitter Patron then your selfe not only for your long continued and great respect to me but especially because this whatsoever it is had its first rise occasionally from you J expect not this should add any light to you but to others it may and to you life The worke you have in hand needs much incouragement not only in regard of many difficulties which require Industry but many affronts and censures which need patience to digest them and some congratulations to ballance them the best need Incouragement And respective expressions even of Inferiours sometimes enliven Superiours in place and grace When Sant Paul saw the Brethrens respect in meeting him Act. 28 15. he thanked God and tooke courage This Treatise may a little discover unto you what good acceptance your Indeavors find with the best affected They rejoyce in you blesse God for you and this I hope will make you with Saint Paul thanke God and if not adde to yet confirme your courage for all good causes whatsoever the effect be that is the ayme and shal be the continuall and earnest prayer of him who is Yours much obliged in the Lord Jesus JOHN GEREE From my Study in Tewkesbury Maii 24 1641. IUDAHS IOY AT THE OATH 2 CHR. 15.15 And all Judah rejoyced at the Oath TO be civilly wise they say it is requisite that we not only study Bookes but men Experience of the dispositions of men being no lesse necessary to compleate prudence then the rules of wisdom but he that would be wise to salvation needs but the study of GODS Booke which God hath so contrived that in studying it we study men also For it containes not only hagiographa 2 Tim. 3 15. holy writings holding forth precepts of divine wisdome but historica deciphering the tempers and dispositions of all men in Spirituall matters that it may make us expert to worke and wyn upon them when we are to deale with them in Spirituall things And as all sacred stories conduce to this holy prudence so non more then these of Chronicles and yet some it may be may count them superfluous because in many things so jumping with what we reade in Samuel and Kings but that Argument is as strong against Deuteronomy and 3. of the Evangelists as against this of Chronicles Besides this is not a bare repetition but with weighty supplements After Davids possessing the Kingdome of Israel there were some Additions to the Ordinances of Moses and that more then of meere order as Musick This might have bred scruples in the minds of men that this was a usurpation by David or governors have more power of adding to the Ordinances of God then other Scriptures allow them had not the story of Chronicles informed us that the rise of this Addition was the command of God by his Prophets 2 Chro. 29 25. Furthermore betweene the former stories and this there is this remarkable difference These after the division of the Kingdomes into Israel and Iudah are exact in the story of the Kings of Israel and touch Iudahs story lightly on the contrary Chronicles touch Israels story obiter but that of the Kings of Iuda at large as may appeare by this one story of Asa which in Kings is comprised in a few verses of one but here comprehends 3 whole Chapters Two of which set forth his excellency the third his infirmity the one for imitation the other for caution the one teaching what we should be the other what after a long profession we may come to be though we belōg to God that we may neither be secure of our standing nor austere in our censures In the first Chapter is set downe his carriage in War and peace In peace there is declared his piety and policy His piety is commended v. 2. proved v. 3 4 5. it was compleate in putting away evill and setting up good and that by command Things thus settled least Asa should Act Rehoboams part and forsake the Lord Zera is sent with a mighty Army to try and exercise his graces Asa makes preparation but relyes and prays to God and becomes victorious This done he returnes and while their hearts were warme with fresh mercy Azariah who knew how good a word is spoken in due season comes in the Spirit of the Lord and strikes while the Iron is hot and gives good counsell shewing in Gods way what helpe they should still find amplifyed by the contrary in Israell forsaking God and thence he infers a strong exhortation v. 7. The Son it seemes was seconded by the Father which did so worke on the good King that his heart is lifted up in the wayes of God and sets to a more through Reformation puts away the Idols Idols should be put downe aswell as Jdolatry and he made this reformation as large as his dominion and that with great successe God doth use to prosper that courage that is from him and for him stirred and directed by his word and tends to his glory The people assemble offer first their Cattle in Sacrifice and then themselves in Covenant make a league offensive and defensive with God and that with abundance of affection as appeares ver 19. and not only in but after the doing as you heare And all Iudah rejoyced at the Oath Joy is the inlargment of the heart for some present good This Covenant joyned with an Oath was apprehended as a Spirituall good so they rejoyced Here 's then 1 An affection Rejoyced 2 The Subject Iudah with its
substance with Satan so som there be that be in word with us in heart with Rome Now these will take the Protestation if urged so that cannot discover them but they will not rejoyce in it they will not be Cordiall this will convince them A Iew indeed will not only take it but rejoyce at it he that loves a thing will rejoyce at the promotion of it and no man is Religious indeed but he that loves Religion 2 Thes 2 10. Now this Covenant is a meanes to promote Religion Never did Shiboleth better distinguish an Ephraimite then this Ioy an Hyppocriticall professor of our Religion He may offer to take the Protestation but he wil say but siboleth he wil lispe he will not speake out cordially rejoycing at the Oath so is layd open This is for reproofe of such as doe not joy at the Oath Vse 3 at our Nationall Covenant that have not their hearts in larged with consideration of the graces of God shining in our Parliament-men with the hopes of the flourishing of Religion to see the expectation of Papists utterly dashed be not these matters of greatest joy Are you not then like those that dreame doubting whether these things be so because they are so transcendent If not if you want Ioy then tell mee where is your zeale for GOD Where is your love to Religion See you not your desires fulfilled your prayers returned and are you yet heart-bound What will then in large you Our Brethren of Scotland when they renewed their Nationall Covenant they of them especially that had seene the making the breaking and renewing of their Nationall Covenant wept as fast for joy at the renovation as ever they had for griefe at the breach of the Covenant And shall we have no inlargement of heart what shame what sinne is this When we bring a man some speciall thing which we suppose he highly prizeth If he looke disdainfully nay carelesly upon it we will presently repent that we have done it for him Is not this Covenant a mercy that God lookes England should prize Will not sleighting of it in not being affected with it show an unworthinesse of it and make God blast it curse it Oh then let them be grieved and ashamed that joy not in it It shewes a cold Spirit a carnall Spirit not like that of the godly whose praise is in the Scripture Hence we may draw a threefold Exhortation Vse 4 1 To rejoyce in this Covenant was there ever such a worke in the Church without joy Let not us degenerate Doe you love God Rejoyce to see him glorified Doe you love the Parliament Rejoyce to see their zeale and other graces flourish Doe you love your selves Rejoyce to see salvation coming to you Doe you love the Nation Rejoyce to see Gods displeasure removed his favor procured feare of judgments vanishing peace and prosperity approaching Do you love your Brethren Rejoyce that the evil shall be restrained the weake preserved the good protected If Ministers now be silenced against Law for Preaching downe Innovations or people vexed for refusing subjection to them they may goe to any Peere or Parliament-man and by his Nationall Covenant he himselfe having first taken it require and enjoy his assistance to be righted and to have his oppressing persecutor punished what ever he be lay-man or Prelate Nay if thou canst not looke so high as these Spirituall considerations yet our Covenant is such as may make thee glad For if any shall now come upon thee with unlawfull taxes will streyne thy goods imprison thy person c. thou mayst goe to any Peere or Parliament-man and by vertue of this require assistance and is not here cause of joy Oh then be joyfull all the People of the Land and serve the Lord with gladnes But because it is the worke of our Office not to have dominion over your faith but to be helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 1 24. Give me leave to lay downe a few meanes to further this joy in you Then ponder the benefits of this Covenant Meanes 1. It s the head that must move the heart holy motions flow from holy notions the more you apprehend and ponder the cause of any affection the more it stirs what the eye sees not the heart rues not it is true in evils and it is as true in goods What the minde apprehends not the heart joyes not Psal 63 5 6. David was satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse with joy in God but it was by meditating on him So we by meditating on this Covenant and the benefits of it may have our hearts delighted as with marrow and fatnesse you may be helped in pondering to see the good in it by the reasons before alleaged which are convincing 2. Looke upon the examples of Scripture in this and other places and that will worke upon you affection is very catching seeing others griefe or joy is very apt to move us and so will the consideration of the affection of the Saints in Scripture The Scriptures are a glasse but they are a strong glasse a transforming glasse that changeth our soules to the likenesse of that we see 2 Cor. 3 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory so is the worde to us when in it as in a glasse we behold the gracious affections of the Saints Sure I am they will make us blush if we be far short and unlike them and shame will stir us up to reforme as 2 Chro. 30 15. The forwardnesse of the people did shame the Preists and Levites and make them sanctify themselves 3. Excite and stir up your hearts you know though a man finde a dampe on his Spirit sometimes yet if he see cause of joy and set himselfe to be cheerefull he may attaine it as they did Nehem. 8.9 10 11 12. Call upon your hearts then to be merry in the Lord and say it 's not a time of drooping but of rejoycing 4. If you finde any of this holy flame inkindled in you by this Sermon cherish it blow it up keepe it up The word is moving for the present but the impression will not stay long without renewing it Repeate it therefore in your houses in your minds rub it againe and againe upon your Soules 5. Pray Joy is the fruite of the Spirit pray for the Spirit to worke this affection to annoynt you with this oyle of gladnesse to inlarge you to rejoyce in this good worke this will be acceptable to God and no lesse to us for when we rejoyce in Gods service God will blesse us as may be seene 2 Cro. 30.26 27. We should praise God for it alwaies Exhor 2. that which is matter of joy is matter of praise too For they are both for good things wherein we are interested That praise is heartlesse that comes not from joy and that joy is carnall which ends not