perswaded unto This Oath is such and in the matter and consequence of it of such concernement 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 fearly and allegiance unto Christ the King of Kings and a giving up of all these Kingdomes which are his inheritance to be subdued more to his Throne and ruled more by his Scepter upon whose shoulders the government is laid and in the encrease of whose Government and peace there shall be no end Esa 9. Yea wee finde this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it to have beene 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 Revel 10. The effect of that Oath you shall finde to bee this that the kingdomes of the world become the kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reigne for ever Revel 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 deare Saints now with God have furthered by extreamest sufferings poverty imprisonment banishment death even ever since the first dawning of Reformation That and the very same is the very cause and worke that we are come now through the mercy of Jesus Christ not only to pray for but sweare to And surely it can bee no other but the result and answer of such prayers and teares of such sincerity and sufferings that three Kingdomes should be thus born or rather new borne 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 Honorable 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 you should doe no more but lay a foundation stone in this great worke and by so doing engage posterity after you to finish it it were honour enough But there may yet further use bee made of you who now are to take this Oath you are designed as cheife master Builders and choyce 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 meanes to augment our glory and crowne 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 heare 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 patterne How much this solemne League and Oath may provoke other Reformed Churches to a further Reformation of themselves what light and heate it may communicate abroad to other parts of the world it is onely 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 however this I am sure of it is a way in all probability most likely to enable us to preserve and defend our Religion against our common enemies and possible a more sure foundation this day will be laid for ruining Popery and Prelacie the cheife 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 mounting it selfe by association and joynt strength all sorts of professors amongst them are cast into Fraternities and Bother-hoods and these Orders carefully united by Vow one with another and under some more generall notion of common dependency Such States also and 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 be unworthy your consideration whether seeing the preservation of Popery hath been by Leagues and Covenants God may not make a League or Covenant to bee 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 strength unto the Beast and make war against the Lambe Revel 17. where you reade the Lambe shall overcome the Beast and possibly with the same weapons he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings he can unite Kings Kingdoms and give them one minde also to destroy the Whore and be her utter ruine And may not this dayes work be a happy beginning of such able sed expedition Prelacie another common enemie that we Covenant and sweare against what hath it been or what hath the strength of it been but a subtile combination of Clergy-men foâ—med into a policy or body of their own invention framing themselves into Subordination and Dependency one upon another so that the interrest of each is improved by all and a great power by this meanes acquired to themselves as by sad experience wee 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 industry they endeavoured lately to make this Oath and Covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity And intended a more publike solemn and universall engagement then since Popery this cause of theirs was ever maintained or supported by And questionlesse Ireland Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league with England But blessed be the Lord and ble sed be his good hand the Parliament that from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid a yoke have dashed out the very braines 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 Kingdomes into such a league and happy combination as will doubtles preserve us and our
Reformation against them though their iniquity in the misteries of it should still be working among us Come therefore I speake in the words of the Prophet let us ioyne our selves to the Lord and one to another and each to all in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten We are now entring upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment to us to our posterity after us that ever was undertaken by any of us or any of our fore-fathers before us or neighbouring Nations about us if the Lord shall blesse this our beginning it will be a happy day and we shall be a happy people An Oath is a duty of the first Commandement and therefore of the highest and noblest order and rank of duties therefore must come forth attended with choysest graces especially with these two humility and feare Feare not only of God which ought to be in an eminent measure Gen. 31.53 Jacob sware by the feare af his father Isaac as if he coveted to inherite 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 s established by the oath of God I have sworn that unto me every tongue shall sweare Isa 45.23 It s made the very Character of a Saint he 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 feare 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 duty 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 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 be done in the greatest simplicity and plainnesse of spirit in respect of those with whom we covenant Wee call God as a witne se betwixt us who searcheth the heart With him is wisedome and strength the deceived and deceiver is his Job 12.19 He hath wisedome to discover and strength to punish if our hearts be not upright to our brethren in this matteâ— 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 hearts that they should become snares no not to the weakest and simplest person that joyneth with us In the whoâ— worke make your addresse unto God as Jacob did to his father Isaac and let there be the like feare and jealousie over your spirits Gen. 27.12 My father peradventure will feele me and I shall seeme to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me 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 worke I beseech you be more watchfull and stir 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 is it our last refuge tabula post naufragium If this help us not we are likely to remaine to our dying day an unhappy people but if otherwise You will indeed sweare with all your hearts and seeke the Lord with your whole desire God will be found and give you rest round about 2 Chron. 15.15 And having sworn and entred into this solemn engagement to God and man make conscience to doe accordingly otherwise it is better thou shouldst not vow Eccles 5. As is said of fasting it is not the bowing down of the head for a day so of this solemn 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 lifted among the worst of Heathens Rom. 1.31 But he that sweareth and changeth not though hee sweare to his hurt that is he that will keep his Covenant and Oath though the contents of it prove not for him nay possibly against him yet he will keep it for his Oaths sake such a one shall have his habitation with the most High and dwell in his Tabernacle Psalm 15. And as for you Reverend Brethren that are Ministers of the Gospell there is yet anather obligation will lye upon you let us looke to our selves and make provision to walke answerable to this our Covenant for the Gospells sake it will reflect a great aspersion upon the truth of the Gospell if we should be 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 wee should be found to purpose nay more to vow and covenant and sweare and all this according unto the flesh with us there should be notwithstanding all these obligations yea yea and nay nay That we may all who take the Covenant this day be constant immoveable and abound in this work of the Lord that we may not start aside or give backe or goe on uncomfortably there is a two-fold grace or qualification to be laboured after 1. We 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 Judah and the spirit of Joshuah the high Priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they came and did worke in the house of the Lord the work of Gods house Reformation work especially is a stirring work read Stories you finde not any where Reformation made in any age either in Doctrine or Discipline without great stir and opposition This was foretold by the same Prophet chap. 2. vers 7. the promise is He 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 finde in the Apostles times Acts 17. the truth being preached some beleeved others did not here beginneth the stir vers 6. those that beleeved not tooke unto themselves certain lewd fellows of the baser sort and gathered a company and set all the City in an uproare and when they had done so complained of the brethren to the Rulers as men turne the world upside down vers 6. Read also Acts 21.27.30.31 In such
THE EXCELLENCY AND LAWFVLNESSE of the Solemne League and COVENANT Set forth in a Speech or Exhortation made by Mr. Phillip Nye to the Honorable House of Commons and Reverend Assembly of Ministers at their taking the said Solemne LEAGVE and COVENANT LONDON Printed by W. Wilson for Tho. Vnderhill at the signe of the Bible in Wood-street 1646. An Exhortation made to the Honorable House of Commons and Reverend Assembly of Ministers by M. Nye at their taking the Solemne League and Covenant Sept. 25. 1643. A Great and solemne worke Honorable and Reverend this day is put into our hands let us stir up and awaken our hearts unto it We deale with God as well as with men and with God in his greatnesse and excellencie for by him we sweare and at the same time wee have to doe with with God and his goodnesse who now reacheth out unto us a strong and seasonable arme of assistance The goodnesse of God procuring succour and helpe to a sinfull and afflicted people such as we ought to be matter of feare and trembling even to all that beare of it Jer. 33.9 Wee are to exalt and acknowledge him this day who is fearefull in praises sweare by that name which is holy and reverent enter into a Covenant and League that is never to be forgotten by us nor our posterity and the fruit I hope of it shall be so great as both we and they shall have cause to remember it with joy and such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances the like hath not beene in any age or Oath we reade of in sacred or humane Stories yet sufficiently warranted in both The parties ingaging in this league are three Kingdomes famous for the knowledge and acknowledgement of Christ above all the Kingdomes in the world to sweare before such a presence should mould the spirit of man into a great deale of reverence what then to be engaged to be incorporated and that by sacred Oath with such an high and Honorable Fraternity An Oath is to be esteemed so much the more solemne by how much greater the persons are that sweare each to other as in heaven when God sweares to his Son on earth when Kings sweare each to other so in this businesse where Kingdomes sweare mutually And as the solemnitie of an Oath is to be measured by the persons swearing so by the matter also that is to be sworne to God would not sweare to the Covenant of workes he intended not to honour it so much it was not to continue it was not worthy of an Oath of his but to the Covenant of grace which is the Gospel he sweares and repents not of it God sweares for the salvation of men and of Kingdomes And if Kingdomes sweare what subject of an Oath becommeth them better then the preservation and salvation of Kingdomes by establishing the Kingdome of a Saviour amongst them even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is a Mediator and saviour for Nations as well as particular persons The end also is great and honorable as either of the former Two is better then one saith he who best knoweth what is best and from whom alone every thing hath the goodnesse it hath Association is of divine Ofspring not only the being of Creatures but the putting of them together the cluster as well as the grape is the worke of God consort and harmony amongst men especially amongst Saints is very pleasâ—ng unto the Lord. If when but two or three agree and assent upon any thing on earth it shall bee confirmed in heaven and for this because they gather together in his name much more when two or three Kingdomes shall meet and consent together in his name and for his name that God may be one and his name one amongst them and his presence amidst them That prayer of Christs seemeth to proceede from a feeling sense of his own blessednesse Father that they may be one as thou in me c. Unity amongst his Churches and Children must needs therefore be very acceptable unto him For out of the more deepe sense desires are fetcht from within us the more pleas ng will be the answer of them unto us Churches and Kingdomes are deare to God his patience towards them his compassions over them more then particular persons sheweth it plainely But Kingdomes willingly engaging themselves for his Kingdome his Christ his Saints the purity of Religion his worship and Governement in all particulars and in all humility fitting downe at his feet to receive the law and the rule from his mouth what a price doth he set upon such Especially when as we this day sensible of our infirmity of an unfaithfull heart not steady with our God but apt to start from the cause if we feele the knife or the fire who binde our selves with cords as a sacrifice to the hornes of the Altar Wee invocate the name of the great God that his vowes yea his curse may be upon us if we doe not this yea though wee suffer for so doing that is if wee endeavour not so far as the Lord shall assist us by his grace to advance the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ hereupon earth and make Jerusalem once more the praise of the whole world notwithstanding all the contradictions of men What is this but the contents and matter of our Oath What doe wee covenant What doe we vow Is it not the preservation of Religion where it is reformed and the Reformation of Religion where it needs Is it not the Reformation of three Kingdomes and a Reformation universall Doctrine Discipline and Worship in whatsoever the Word shall discover unto us To practise is a fruit of love to reforme a fruit zeale but so to reforme will be a token of great prudence and circumspection in each of these Churches And all this to be done according to Gods word the best Rule and according to the best reformed Churches the best interpreters of this Rule If England hath obtained to any greater perfection in so handling the word of righteousnesse and truths that are according to godlinesse as to make men more godly more righteous And if in the Churches of Scotland any more light and beauty in matters of Order Discipline by which their Assemblies are more orderly Or if to any other Church or person it hath been given better to have learned Christ in any of his waies then any of us we shall humbly bow and kisse their lips that can speake right words unto us in this matter and helpe us in the nearest uniformity with the word and minde of Christ in this great worke of Reformation Honorable and Reverend Bretheren there cannot be a more direct and effectuall way to exhort and perswade the wife and men of sad and serious spirits and such are you to whom I am commanded to speake this day then to let into their understandings the weight and worth and great importance of the worke they are
a work therefore men had need be of stout resolute and composed spirits that we may be able to goe on in the maine and stir in the midst of such stirs and not be amused at any such doings It may possibly happen that even amongst your selves there wil be out-cries Sir you will undoe all saith one you will put all into confusion saith another if you take this course saith a third we can expect nothing but blood but a wise States man like an experienced Sea-man knoweth the compasse of his Vessell and though it heave tosse and the passengers cry out about him yet in the midst of all he 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 ago was planted or to build up what so long agoe was pulled downe and goe through with this worke and not be discouraged you must beg of the Lord this excellent spirit this resolute stirring spirit otherwise you will be out-spirited and both you and your cause slighted and dishonoured 2. On the other hand we must labour for humility prudence gentlenesse meekenesse A man may be very zealous and resolute and yet very meeke and mercifull Jesus Christ was a Lion and yet a Lambe also in one place he telleth them he commeth to send fire on the earth and in another place rebuketh his Disciples for their fiery spirits Luke 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 anâ— disputes carried on with more bitternesse in mens writings and with a more unsanctified heate of spirit yea and by godly men too then in controversies about Discipline Church Governement Ceremonies and the like Surely to argue about Governement with such ungoverned passions to argue for Reformation with a spirit so unreformed is very uncomly 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 solemnely engage this day our utmost endeavours for Reformation let us remember this that too much heate as well as too much coldness may harden men in their waies and hinder Reformation Brethren let us come to this blessed worke with such a frame of heart with such a mind 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 can I promise you as the Prophet Consider this day and upwards even from this day that the foundation of the Lords worke is laid Consider it from this day will I blesse you saith the Lord Nay wee have received as it were the first fruits of this promise for as it 's said of some mens good workes they are manifest before hand 1 Tim. 5. Even so may be said of the good work of this day it 's manifest before hand God hath as it were beforehand testified his acceptance while we were thinking and purposing this free-will Offering hee was protecting and defending our Armie causing our enemies the enemies of this worke to fly before us and gave us a victory not to be dispised 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 sworne even The Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that he 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 reverend Name may be exalted from one generation to another untill he himselfe shall come and perfect all with his owne hand by his owne wisedome even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen FINIS